System identity
Official name: Color Pick Spot Color System.
Abbreviation: CPS.
Current dataset: version 2.0.0, containing 1,386 independently generated digital references across 36 families.
Canonical code structure
The canonical machine code has no spaces: CPS01300B. The public display form inserts one space after the prefix: CPS 01300B.
CPS 01300B resolves to family 01 Red, tone 300 Bloom, intensity B Balanced, producing the public name Balanced Bloom Red.
Color Pick accepts equivalent input forms such as CPS01300B, CPS 01300B, and CPS-01-300-B, then normalizes them to the canonical code.
Family number registry
Family numbers are permanent after publication. New families are appended after the last assigned number; released family numbers are not reordered.
REDROSCRLSALCOPORGAMBGLDYLWLIMAQUCYNMNTLEFGRNEMRTEATRQOLVSKYAZRBLUCOBINDVIOPURPLMORCMAGPNKPPRWRMNTRCLGSTNINKTone registry
Tones use fixed three-digit values to prevent ambiguity between family and tone segments.
| Tone | Name | General role |
|---|---|---|
050 | Veil | Very light surfaces and subtle fills |
100 | Mist | Very light surfaces and subtle fills |
200 | Haze | Very light surfaces and subtle fills |
300 | Bloom | Light accents and supporting colors |
400 | Glow | Light accents and supporting colors |
500 | Core | Core brand and interface colors |
600 | Pulse | Core brand and interface colors |
700 | Deep | Strong actions, text, and deep surfaces |
800 | Shade | Strong actions, text, and deep surfaces |
900 | Night | Dark anchors and high-contrast surfaces |
950 | Abyss | Dark anchors and high-contrast surfaces |
Intensity registry
| Code | Name | Definition |
|---|---|---|
S | Soft | Reduced chroma for calm supporting color. |
B | Balanced | Moderate chroma for broad practical use. |
V | Vivid | High chroma for strong brand and action color. |
E | Electric | Highest profile for expressive digital accents. |
N | Neutral | Dedicated profile used by neutral families. |
Public naming rules
Chromatic names follow Intensity + Tone + Family. Example: Vivid Core Blue.
Neutral names normally use Tone + Family. Example: Night Ink. The N segment remains in the code even when “Neutral” is omitted from the public name.
Local custom references
Browser-local custom colors use CPSX0001, displayed as CPS X0001. They are user-created references and are not part of the core CPS dataset.
Shared or exported custom records must include both the custom code and a digital fallback value such as HEX.
Aliases and compatibility
Version 2 keeps aliases for earlier alphanumeric codes, such as CPS-RED-300-B. Applications should display the numeric code while preserving older imports and saved projects.
See the CPS changelog for migration notes and the CPS methodology for generation and validation details.