Build a UI Color Palette
A useful interface palette needs more than one attractive color. This workflow helps designers create shade ramps, test contrast, and prepare gradient accents that are ready for buttons, panels, charts, and status states. This use case connects focused browser tools so you can move from messy input to a publishable result without uploading private files or switching between heavyweight apps.
When this workflow helps
A useful interface palette needs more than one attractive color. This workflow helps designers create shade ramps, test contrast, and prepare gradient accents that are ready for buttons, panels, charts, and status states.
- Generate shade scales from a base color
- Check readable text and background combinations
- Create gradient accents for UI surfaces
Recommended workflow
Work through the task in a predictable order: prepare the source material, verify the result, then export or reuse the finished output in the destination channel.
- Start with a brand or accent color and generate lighter and darker shades.
- Test foreground and background combinations against contrast requirements.
- Create optional gradients and copy the final color values into your design system.
Tools to use together
The linked tools cover the main task and the checks around it. Use the primary tool first, then use the related tools to validate, resize, format, encode, or package the result.
- Generate shade scales from a base color
- Check readable text and background combinations
- Create gradient accents for UI surfaces
- Document colors before handing off to development
Related tools
Related workflows that combine this tool with others.
Related tools
Related workflows that combine this tool with others.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many colors should a UI palette include?
Start with a small set: primary, neutral, success, warning, and danger colors, then expand each into usable shades only when the interface needs them.
Is contrast checking necessary for decorative colors?
Yes when text, icons, controls, or important states use those colors. Decorative-only backgrounds still need enough separation from nearby content.