Plan a simple illustration
5 colors · prioritize the largest coverage swatches
Keeps the visual language compact and easier to control.
Browser-based tool · Free core workflow
Free Color Palette Generator from Image
Use this color palette generator to extract the dominant colors from a reference image. Choose 5, 8, or 12 colors, set a custom 2–24-color palette, copy HEX values, or download a palette PNG.
Use Free Color Palette Generator
Private image processing Your reference stays in this browser
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About Color Palette Generator
Use this color palette generator from image to find a compact set of dominant swatches for drawing, painting, illustration, or craft planning. Choose 5, 8, or 12 colors, set a custom 2–24-color palette, copy the HEX values, and download a labeled palette PNG.
FEATURED INSIGHT01 / 04
What Is a Color Palette Generator from an Image?
A color palette generator from an image reduces a reference to a manageable group of representative colors. It is useful when a photo contains more variation than you want to reproduce: the palette shows which colors carry the overall mood while leaving room for your own material choices.
Foundational Principles
PART 02
Choosing Five, Eight, or Twelve Colors
Start with five colors when you want a restrained study or a simple illustration palette. Eight colors offer more room for lights, midtones, and accents without making the palette too difficult to scan. Twelve colors can help with detailed references, but do not mistake extra swatches for extra accuracy. Changing the count recalculates every color cluster, so existing swatches and percentages may also change.
PART 03
Use Extracted Colors as a Starting Reference
The generated swatches represent sampled screen colors, not guaranteed paint, ink, yarn, or print matches. Test the HEX values in the medium you will use, compare them under the intended lighting, and adjust the final palette when the physical material behaves differently.
PART 04
Private, Browser-Based Image Processing
The reference image is decoded and sampled locally in your browser. Art Grid Maker does not upload the image for palette extraction, and the page can produce a labeled PNG without a server-side image job.
Three useful palette setups
Choose the palette size based on the next decision, then validate the extracted colors in your actual medium.
Build a painting reference
8 colors · start from the dominant swatches
Preserves a useful range while leaving room for material-specific mixing.
Study a detailed photo
12 colors · check small accent swatches
Retains more local variation without copying every pixel.
Works best with
- References with a clear subject and readable lighting
- Digital illustration and painting preparation
- First-pass color selection for craft and textile projects
Expect extra cleanup with
- Treating sampled HEX values as exact physical pigment matches
- Adding colors simply because the source contains noise
- Using a tiny or heavily compressed image as the only color authority
Key features of Color Palette Generator
Find the colors worth keeping
100% On-Device Browser Processing
Downloadable results
No login required for core workflow
/01
Presets or Custom Count
Choose a restrained, balanced, or detailed preset, or set any palette size from 2 to 24 colors.
/02
Dominant Color Swatches
See representative colors with HEX values and the approximate share of pixels assigned to each extracted cluster.
/03
Copy HEX Values
Copy one swatch or the complete palette for another design, drawing, or coding workflow.
/04
Palette PNG Export
Download a labeled palette image that is easy to keep beside a reference or print as a study aid.
/05
Local Processing
Decode and sample the reference in your browser without uploading the image for conversion.
/06
Coverage Percentages
Compare approximate cluster coverage rather than treating the percentages as exact paint or material mixing ratios.
Choosing a palette size
Use the fewest colors that still support the project decision. A smaller palette often produces a clearer result.
| Option | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5 colors | Restrained | Good for simplified studies, icons, and a clear overall mood. |
| 8 colors | Balanced | A practical default for preserving variety without overwhelming the project. |
| 12 colors | Detailed | Useful when nearby accents and midtones need to stay visible. |
| Custom 2–24 | Project-specific | Use when a material limit, brand system, or established workflow requires an exact count. |
How to use Color Palette Generator
1
Load a reference image
Drop a JPG, PNG, GIF, or WebP image into the tool. The reference remains in your browser.
2
Choose the palette size
Start with eight colors, then compare five for simplicity or twelve for additional variation. Each count fully recalculates the palette.
3
Copy or download
Copy individual HEX values, copy the full palette, or download a labeled PNG for your project.
Ways to use Color Palette Generator
01 / CASE
Painting and illustration planning
Turn a photo into a manageable set of colors before mixing paint or building a digital illustration.
02 / CASE
Drawing reference studies
Keep a compact color guide beside a reference while focusing on shape, value, and composition.
03 / CASE
Craft and textile planning
Use the swatches as a first-pass guide for yarn, paper, fabric, or other material selections.
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Color Palette Generator FAQs
Q1.
What is a color palette generator from an image?
A color palette generator from an image samples the reference and groups similar pixels into a small set of representative colors. The result helps you plan a painting, illustration, design, or craft project.
Q2.
How many colors should I extract?
Choose 5 colors for a restrained palette, 8 colors for a balanced starting point, or 12 colors when you need more variation. Use Custom for any count from 2 to 24. More colors are not automatically more useful.
Q3.
Why does the whole palette change when I change the color count?
Each palette size recalculates all color clusters across the image. The tool does not keep the previous swatches and simply add or remove one, so representative colors and coverage percentages may all change.
Q4.
Can I copy HEX color values?
Yes. Click any swatch to copy its HEX value, or use Copy all HEX to copy the complete palette as a list.
Q5.
Does my image leave the browser?
No. The image is decoded and sampled locally in your browser. It is not uploaded to Art Grid Maker for palette extraction.
Q6.
Can I use the palette for drawing or painting?
Yes. Use the extracted swatches as a starting reference, then test colors against your actual paper, paint, yarn, or screen because materials and lighting change the final appearance.
Q7.
Can I download the palette?
Yes. Download the selected palette as a PNG image with HEX labels, or copy the values for use in another app.
