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Free Color Tools

Accessible Color Palette Builder

Build a tonal color scale and identify readable black or white text for every swatch.

What this tool does

Build a tonal palette with readable text choices visible.

The builder creates light-to-dark variations around one hue and calculates whether black or white text has stronger contrast on each swatch.

Every displayed text choice reaches at least 4.5:1 in the generated scale, while non-text states and real component combinations still need separate review.

Use the tool

Generate a contrast-aware color scale

Choose a hue, select the number of steps, and inspect the recommended text color.

Each swatch chooses black or white text with the stronger contrast. Always test real component states, adjacent colors, and non-text contrast separately.

How to use it

Three quick steps

  1. 1Enter a valid HEX base color.
  2. 2Review the tonal scale and contrast ratios.
  3. 3Copy candidates and validate complete component states in context.

Worked example

Prepare interface surface tokens

Generate seven steps from the primary brand blue.

Each swatch identifies the stronger readable choice between black and white.

FAQ

Questions about the accessible palette builder

Practical details about using the tool and understanding its result.

Keep working

From one asset to the whole workflow

Keep accessible color decisions visible from design through approval.

Draftroom keeps projects, creative files, feedback, revisions, and approvals connected in one workspace.

See Draftroom with your project