Color spaces and conversions
Color Pick supports common digital representations including HEX, sRGB, HSL, and OKLCH, plus planning representations such as CMYK and CIE Lab. Conversions are mathematical approximations constrained by browser color handling and the assumptions of each conversion method.
OKLCH is used in several palette-generation and adjustment workflows because lightness, chroma, and hue can be modified more predictably than raw RGB channels. CIE Lab is used for perceptual distance calculations.
Contrast calculations
The Contrast Checker evaluates defined foreground and background pairs using WCAG 2 contrast-ratio logic for normal text, large text, and relevant UI boundaries. Results depend on the exact colors entered and do not inspect every typography, opacity, image, state, or component in a finished product.
Recommended pairs prioritize combinations that pass the selected threshold while trying to preserve the intended hue or role.
Palette Readiness Score
The Readiness Score is an internal Color Pick metric from 0 to 100. It combines six sub-scores:
- Accessibility: useful text and UI contrast combinations.
- Color vision: distinction between important colors under simulation models.
- UI compatibility: coverage of practical surface, text, border, and action relationships.
- Semantic coverage: availability and assignment of expected interface roles.
- Print safety: approximate process-color and total-ink risk indicators.
- Palette balance: usable lightness range, distinct hues, and avoidance of unnecessary duplicates.
Smart Fix recommendations
Smart Fix adjusts colors and role assignments to improve the Readiness Score. Depending on the selected constraints, it may modify lightness, chroma, or hue; separate similar colors; create stronger text and surface pairs; and fill missing semantic roles.
Locked colors should remain unchanged. Recommendations are reviewable and reversible. Brand, cultural, product, and production requirements can justify rejecting an automated fix.
Color-vision analysis
Color-vision previews transform digital colors through approximate simulation models for common deficiency categories. Distinction scores compare how far important colors remain separated after simulation.
Simulation cannot represent every individual visual experience and is not a medical assessment. Combine it with redundant labels, shapes, icons, patterns, and real user testing.
CPS generation and matching
The Color Pick Spot Color System contains 1,386 independently generated digital references across 36 families. Chromatic families use defined tone and intensity profiles; neutral families use dedicated lightness and chroma rules.
Nearest-reference matching uses CIEDE2000 color difference in Lab space. A lower ΔE00 value indicates a closer mathematical match within the digital data. It does not prove that two physical materials or inks will look identical.
CPS does not map to Pantone or reproduce a proprietary third-party library. The complete generation and validation process is documented in the CPS methodology, with versioned files on the CPS dataset page.
CMYK and print planning
CMYK approximations are derived from digital color values without a printer-specific ICC workflow. Total-ink estimates, paper simulations, grayscale previews, and gamut warnings are useful for early planning but cannot model every press, ink set, coating, substrate, or viewing condition.
For production, use the correct color profile, calibrated proof, substrate, and printer-approved specification.
Updates, reproducibility, and reported issues
Algorithms and thresholds may change when Color Pick corrects defects or improves usefulness. The application version and documentation changelog identify material updates.
To report a reproducible result, include the application version, exact input values, selected settings, browser, and device. See Contact Color Pick.