Color Palette from Image

Upload any image and instantly extract its dominant colors. 100% client-side - your images never leave your browser.

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Drag & drop an image here
Supports JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP, SVG

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How Color Extraction Works

This tool uses a technique called median cut color quantization to identify the most important colors in your image. When you upload a photo, the image is drawn to a hidden canvas element and its pixel data is read directly in your browser. No server is involved - everything runs locally using the HTML5 Canvas API.

The algorithm works by placing all sampled pixels into a single group, then repeatedly splitting the group with the greatest color range along its widest channel (red, green, or blue). Each split divides pixels at the median value, creating two new groups. This process continues until we reach 8 color groups. The average color of each group becomes one swatch in your palette, and the group size determines dominance percentage.

For performance, large images are scaled down to 200x200 pixels before sampling. This keeps extraction fast (typically under 200ms) without meaningfully affecting color accuracy, since dominant colors are preserved at any resolution.

Using Image Colors for Your Brand

Extracting colors from images is one of the most effective ways to build a brand palette that feels cohesive and intentional. Designers commonly start with mood boards - collections of photos, textures, and artwork that capture the feeling they want their brand to convey. By extracting colors from these reference images, you get palettes grounded in real-world visual harmony rather than abstract color theory alone.

Nature photography is an especially rich source for brand palettes. Sunsets, forests, oceans, and seasonal landscapes produce color combinations that humans instinctively find pleasing. Product photography and interior design images also work well, since they have already been curated for visual appeal.

Once you have extracted a palette, consider which colors should serve as your primary, secondary, and accent. The most dominant color from an image is not always the best choice for a primary brand color - sometimes the accent colors with smaller percentages are more distinctive and memorable. Use the "Use in Brand Kit" button to save your selection and continue building your brand identity.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does color extraction from images work?
The tool uses a technique called median cut color quantization. It reads every pixel from the image, groups similar colors together, then repeatedly splits the largest color groups along their widest color channel until it reaches the desired number of palette colors. The result is a set of colors that best represents the visual character of the image.
Is my image uploaded to a server?
No. All processing happens entirely in your browser using the HTML5 Canvas API. Your image never leaves your device and is not sent to any server. This makes the tool fast, private, and usable even offline.
What image formats are supported?
Any image format your browser can display is supported, including JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, BMP, and SVG. For best results, use high-quality photos with distinct color regions.
How many colors does the palette extract?
The tool extracts 8 dominant colors from your image by default. Colors are ranked by how much of the image they represent, so the first color is the most dominant. You can sort the results by dominance, brightness, or saturation.
Can I use extracted colors for my brand?
Absolutely. Colors cannot be copyrighted, so any palette you extract is free to use in personal or commercial projects. Many designers use this technique to build brand palettes from mood boards, nature photography, or artwork that captures the feeling they want their brand to convey.