Is Spectrum free to use?

Yes, Spectrum is completely free. There are no paid plans, no trial periods, and no features locked behind a paywall. All 7 tools are free for everyone, forever.

Do I need to create an account?

No account is needed. Open the site and start using any tool immediately. Your color history is saved to your browser locally, not to a server.

Are my images uploaded to a server?

No. Images are processed entirely in your browser using the HTML Canvas API. Your files never leave your device and are never sent to any server.

How do I extract colors from an image?

Upload an image (drag & drop, URL, or paste), then click anywhere on it to pick the color at that pixel. The color appears instantly in HEX, RGB, HSL, and more formats.

What is WCAG contrast ratio and why does it matter?

WCAG contrast ratio measures how different two colors look against each other. A ratio of at least 4.5:1 is required for normal text (AA level) to be readable by people with low vision. Spectrum's contrast checker tests your color pairs against all WCAG 2.1 levels.

What is color blindness and how common is it?

Color blindness (color vision deficiency) is a reduced ability to distinguish certain colors. About 8% of men and 0.5% of women are color blind in some way. The most common types are red-green (protanopia, deuteranopia) and blue-yellow (tritanopia). Spectrum simulates 7 types of color vision.

What are complementary colors?

Complementary colors sit directly opposite each other on the color wheel — red and green, blue and orange, yellow and purple. Placed side by side, they create the highest possible contrast and make each color appear more vivid.

What color formats does Spectrum support?

Spectrum supports HEX, RGB, RGBA, HSL, HSLA, HSV, HWB, CMYK, LAB, LCH, XYZ, YUV, YCbCr, HSI, and several technical formats like integer, binary, and Base64. You can copy any format with a single click.

Legal

Terms of Service

Last updated May 29, 2026

Spectrum is a free set of color tools offered for everyone to use. By using the site you agree to these terms.

Using Spectrum

Spectrum is provided free of charge, with no account required. You may use it for personal and commercial work alike — pick colors, build palettes and gradients, check contrast, and use the values you generate however you like.

Acceptable use

Don't attempt to disrupt, overload, or reverse-engineer the service.
Don't use Spectrum to break the law or infringe others' rights.
Don't misrepresent Spectrum as your own product or remove its attribution where it applies.

Color data & output

Color values, names, conversions, and palettes are factual or generated data and are free for you to use without restriction. The Spectrum name, brand mark, and site design remain the property of their author.

No warranty

Spectrum is provided "as is" and "as available", without warranties of any kind. Color conversions and contrast results are provided for convenience; for accessibility-critical work, always verify against the official WCAG specification.

Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the author of Spectrum is not liable for any damages arising from your use of, or inability to use, the service.

External links

Spectrum links to third-party sites such as GitHub and PayPal. We are not responsible for the content or practices of those sites.

Changes

These terms may be updated from time to time. The date at the top reflects the latest revision, and continued use means you accept the current terms.

Contact

Questions about these terms? Email dominik.koenitzer@gmail.com.