Image Color Palette Extractor - Online Upload & Get Hex

An Image Color Palette Extractor is a tool that analyzes an uploaded image and identifies its most dominant or representative colors. It uses color quantization algorithms (like Median Cut) to extract a cohesive palette of hex color codes that designers can use for branding, web design, UI projects, and creative inspiration.

This tool uses the Median Cut algorithm — a classic color quantization technique. It works by treating all pixels in the image as points in a 3D RGB color space, then repeatedly splitting the color buckets at the median of the widest color channel until the desired number of colors is reached. Each bucket's average color becomes a swatch in the final palette. This method preserves visual accuracy and produces balanced, representative palettes.

We support JPG (JPEG), PNG, GIF, WebP, and BMP formats. The maximum file size is 10MB. For best results, use images with good contrast and a variety of colors. Note that SVG files are not supported because they are vector-based and cannot be processed by the canvas-based color extractor.

You can choose from 5, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, or 24 colors using the selector above the palette. Fewer colors give you the most dominant, high-impact shades; more colors provide a nuanced, detailed palette. The tool is optimized to handle all these options efficiently, processing images in under a second.

Yes! You can paste an image URL into the input field and click "Load." However, due to browser security policies (CORS), some external URLs may not allow pixel-level access. If that happens, simply download the image and upload it directly using drag-and-drop or the file browser.

No. All processing happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript and the HTML5 Canvas API. Your image never leaves your device — it is not uploaded to any server. This makes the tool fast, private, and secure.

HEX (e.g., #FF5733) is a 6-character hexadecimal representation commonly used in web design and CSS. RGB (e.g., rgb(255, 87, 51)) specifies the red, green, and blue channels as decimal values from 0-255. HSL (e.g., hsl(11, 100%, 60%)) represents hue, saturation, and lightness — often more intuitive for designers. You can switch between formats using the toggle buttons.

After extracting a palette, click any color swatch to copy its hex code to your clipboard. You can also click "Copy All" to get all colors at once. Use the copied values directly in your CSS: color: #FF5733; or background: rgb(255, 87, 51);. The "Export PNG" button lets you download the palette as an image for sharing or reference.

The extracted colors are mathematical averages of all pixels within each color cluster. This means very subtle shading or gradients may blend into a single representative color. The algorithm prioritizes overall palette accuracy over picking exact spot colors. For more precise color picking, try extracting a higher number of colors (e.g., 20 or 24).