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.
For CSS named colors, the hex value is the one defined in the W3C CSS Color specification. For other names, we use the most widely cited value; many color names have variants in the wild, and the hex shown is one common definition, not the only one.
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.
RAL and NCS equivalents are the nearest entries in those systems by RGB color distance. They are shown only when a reasonably close match exists, and they are approximations — always confirm against a physical fan deck for paint or manufacturing 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, history, and cultural associations. This text is drafted with the help of AI language models and curated by the author; the most-visited colors get longer, individually written sections on their origin, notable uses, design use and pairings.
Everything numeric is computed, not written: conversions, shades and tints, the 50–900 scale, WCAG contrast ratios, color-blindness simulations and ΔE distances are all calculated from the hex code at build time.
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When a factual error is identified — wrong hex value, incorrect etymology, outdated brand association — we correct it within 5 business days of confirmation.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.
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?