iWantHue

Colors for data scientists. Generate and refine palettes of optimally distinct colors.

iWantHue allows you to generate palettes of colors. It is about mastering the properties of a palette by setting a range of Hue, Chroma (unbiased saturation) and Lightness. You can generate palettes of any size or just get the generator for a javascript project. The algorithm optimizes the perceptive distance in the color subspace, ensuring an optimal readability.

How it works

1. K-means or force vector repulsion algorithms ensure an even distribution of colors
2. The CIE Lab color space is used for computation, since it fits human perception
3. The Hue/Chroma/Lightness color space is used to set constraints, since it is user-friendly

Examples and a tutorial

Idea

The idea behind iWantHue is to distribute colors evenly, in a perceptively coherent space, constrained by user-friendly settings, to generate high quality custom palettes.

Explanations and an experiment on color theory

More info

• The tool itself is available online
• Its source code is available on GitHub
• If you have issues or requests, tell us about them
• You will find more tools on Médialab Tools