Learn About Color
Plain-English guides to the color formats and ideas behind the tools: HEX, RGB, HSL and CMYK, color theory, contrast and accessibility, and choosing a palette that works.
Guides
HEX Color Codes Explained
What the six digits mean, how shorthand works and how to read any #RRGGBB value.
RGB Colors Explained
How screens mix red, green and blue light, and how to write RGB values.
HSL Colors Explained
Hue, saturation and lightness, and why HSL is handy for building color scales.
CMYK Colors Explained
The print color model, and why CMYK values from a screen conversion are only a reference.
Color Theory Basics
The color wheel, hue, saturation, lightness and the main color harmonies.
Color Contrast and Accessibility
How contrast ratios work, the WCAG thresholds, and how to pick readable text colors.
How to Choose a Color Palette
A practical method for choosing colors that match, from first color to final export.
Put it into practice
Every guide links to a free tool you can try straight away. Start with the color picker, check text with the contrast checker, or build a scheme with the palette generator.