The color wheel is a circular diagram of colors arranged by their chromatic relationship. It helps designers understand color harmony, create balanced palettes, and make informed color decisions.
Hover over the color wheel to see hue values, click to select a color. The center dot shows your selected color. Use the brightness slider to adjust the value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is hue?
What is hue? Hue is the pure color itself, measured in degrees on the color wheel (0-360).
Q: How do I use the color wheel for design?
How do I use the color wheel for design? Pick a base hue, then use color theory rules to build a harmonious palette.
Q: What are complementary colors and when should I use them?
What are complementary colors and when should I use them? Complementary colors are opposites on the color wheel (e.g., blue and orange). They create maximum contrast and are ideal for call-to-action buttons and attention-grabbing elements.
Q: Can I save my color wheel selections?
Can I save my color wheel selections? Click a swatch to lock it. The color wheel remembers your locked colors when you generate new schemes. Use the copy button to save all hex values.
Q: How do I choose a base color for my scheme?
How do I choose a base color for my scheme? Start with your brand color or choose a color that matches the mood you want: blue for trust, green for growth, red for energy, purple for creativity.
CSS Named Colors & Color Psychology
The web has 148 named colors built into CSS, from Coral to Goldenrod. Beyond the code, color psychology shapes how users feel about interfaces — warm tones energize, cool tones calm, and neutrals build trust. This palette mixes CSS classics with the psychology behind them.
Coral #FF7F50Warm and friendly — popular for CTAs in lifestyle brands
Tomato #FF6347Energetic red-orange, great for urgent accents
Goldenrod #DAA520Earthy gold associated with quality and heritage
Teal #008080Balanced blue-green — calm, trustworthy, professional
Indigo #4B0082Deep violet tied to wisdom and premium brands
Crimson #DC143CBold red for passion, alerts, and strong emphasis
SlateBlue #6A5ACDSoft purple-blue common in SaaS dashboards
ForestGreen #228B22Nature and growth — the color of eco and finance brands
HotPink #FF69B4Playful and bold, the signature of youth-oriented design
Navy #000080Authority and stability — the suit-and-tie of colors
Q: What are CSS named colors?
What are CSS named colors? CSS defines 148 named colors like Coral and Goldenrod that work in any stylesheet without hex codes. They are great for prototyping but designers usually switch to hex or HSL for precise brand colors.
Q: How does color psychology affect design?
How does color psychology affect design? Warm colors (red, orange, yellow) create energy and urgency; cool colors (blue, green, teal) create calm and trust. CTAs often use warm tones while financial and health brands prefer blues and greens.