Every color in Coloripedia goes through a documented sourcing and verification process. Here's exactly how we build and maintain the encyclopedia.
HEX, RGB, HSL, CMYK accuracy.
Hex codes and RGB values are sourced from authoritative references and cross-checked against at least two independent sources before publication. When sources disagree (which happens more often than you'd expect), we document the discrepancy and use the most widely cited value, noting variants where relevant.
HEX and RGB are the primary values. All other formats (HSL, CMYK) are mathematically derived from the RGB triplet using standard conversion formulas — the same algorithms used in professional design software. We do not source CMYK values independently because print CMYK varies by ink, substrate, and printer profile.
HSL is computed via the standard RGB-to-HSL algorithm using floating-point precision, rounded to whole degrees/percentages for display.
Pantone® equivalents, where listed, are the closest match published in Pantone's own coated swatch libraries. Screen RGB values of Pantone colors are inherently approximate — physical swatches always take precedence for professional print work.
How we decide what to include.
A color name earns an entry in Coloripedia when it appears in at least one of the following authoritative sources:
We do not invent color names or publish names that appear only in a single marketing context without broader adoption.
Editorial standards for written content.
Each color page includes editorial content covering meaning, psychology, history, and cultural associations. This content is written and reviewed by a human editor — not generated wholesale by AI and published without review.
Primary sources for historical and cultural content include: published color theory literature (Albers, Itten, Pastoureau), Wikipedia with cited academic sources, Pantone Color Intelligence reports, and documented usage in art history, fashion, and corporate branding.
Color psychology claims are attributed to established research where possible. We avoid making unsourced psychological claims ("red makes you angry") and prefer describing documented associations and cultural contexts.
Brand associations (e.g. "used by Coca-Cola") are only included when the brand has publicly documented their use of that specific color or when it is widely recognized as a brand color in journalism and design writing.
How errors are handled.
When a factual error is identified — wrong hex value, incorrect etymology, outdated brand association — we correct it within 5 business days of confirmation. Corrections are made silently for minor value errors, and noted in the page content for substantive editorial corrections.
To report an error, use the contact page with the color name and a description of the discrepancy, plus a source if you have one. We review every report.
New color entries are added on a rolling basis as we expand family coverage. Priority is given to colors with the highest search volume and most documented cultural significance.
How the interactive tools work.
All interactive tools on Coloripedia (Hex Converter, Palette Generator, Contrast Checker, Image Color Picker) run entirely in your browser using standard browser APIs. No data is transmitted to our servers.
Color conversion formulas implement the standard algorithms from the IEC 61966-2-1 specification (sRGB) and the CSS Color Level 4 specification. Contrast ratios use the WCAG 2.1 relative luminance formula from W3C.
Palette generation uses standard color harmony theory (complementary, analogous, triadic relationships on the HSL color wheel) as documented in Itten's The Art of Color and the Munsell color system.
Image color extraction uses a pixel quantization algorithm running on an HTML Canvas element. The image is downscaled to a maximum of 200×200 pixels before processing to ensure performance. The image never leaves your device.
Questions about our methodology? Found a value that looks wrong?