What the palette fixer checks
It checks five things: whether any color pair reads well as text, whether some colors look the same, whether two colors get mixed up for color-blind people, whether there are too many strong colors or none at all, and whether a neutral for backgrounds and text is missing. Each problem is flagged above the color that causes it.
How it fixes the colors
It changes the lightness or saturation of the colors causing the problem but keeps their hue, so your palette keeps the same feel. Locked colors are never touched, and it protects neutrals and the lightest and darkest colors. Then it checks the palette again so one fix doesn't create a new problem.
A score from 0 to 100
Every palette starts at 100 and each problem takes points off, from −10 for having no neutral to −40 for unreadable text. You'll see the score before and after the fix, and “How we score” has the full table.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fix my color palette online for free?
Yes. The fixer is free and works online in your browser: nothing to download, no sign-up and no watermark. Fix as many palettes as you like and download the before-and-after image.
How does the palette fixer work?
It checks text contrast, colors that look the same, colors that get mixed up with color blindness, colors that are too strong or a muddy palette, and whether a neutral is missing. Then it adjusts the lightness or saturation of the problem colors without changing their hue.
What makes a color palette look bad?
It's almost always the same things: no pair reads as text, two colors are so close they look like one, several intense colors fight each other, everything looks grayish with no accent, or there's no calm white, gray or dark color for backgrounds and text.
How do I make my palette accessible?
Make sure at least one pair reaches a contrast of 4.5:1, the WCAG AA minimum for normal text, and separate colors by lightness so color-blind people can tell them apart. Choose “Strong” in “What we fix” to aim for 7:1 (WCAG AAA).
Will it change my brand colors?
Not if you lock them. Tap a color's lock and the fixer works around it, changing only the others.
How is the score calculated?
Every palette starts at 100 and each problem takes points off, from −10 for having no neutral to −40 for unreadable text. In “How we score” you'll see the table and your palette's deductions.
Can I fix a palette from an image or from Coolors?
Yes. Upload or paste a screenshot of any palette and we pick its five main colors, or paste the HEX codes from Coolors, Adobe Color or your CSS.