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Split-Complementary Color Palette Generator

Used by developers, writers, and creators worldwide.

A split-complementary color palette generator gives you a three-color scheme built on contrast without the harshness of a straight complementary pair. Pick a base hue (0–360) or leave it blank for a random starting point, then adjust the split angle to control how far the two flanking colors spread from the opposite side of the wheel. At 15–20 degrees you get a near-analogous feel with one strong accent. Push toward 45–60 and the palette opens up into bolder, more energetic territory. Designers, illustrators, and UI developers use this approach because the three colors map cleanly onto background, secondary, and accent roles without looking arbitrary.

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How to use

  1. Choose your options above
  2. Click Generate
  3. Copy your result

Detailed instructions

  1. Enter a hue value between 0 and 360 in the Base Hue field, or leave it blank to generate a random starting hue.
  2. Set the Split Angle to control how far the two flanking colors spread from the complement — start at 30 for a balanced result.
  3. Click Generate to produce your three-color split-complementary palette, displayed with hex codes.
  4. Copy each hex code individually and paste directly into your design tool, CSS file, or brand style guide.
  5. Adjust the Split Angle up or down and regenerate to explore bolder or subtler variations of the same base hue.

Use Cases

  • •Assigning primary, surface, and CTA token roles in a Figma design system
  • •Building a three-color startup brand identity with a locked brand hue
  • •Choosing a high-contrast color set for a Framer or Webflow hero section
  • •Generating palette options for editorial illustration before committing to finals
  • •Picking bold poster or packaging colors where the focal element needs to pop

Tips

  • →Lock your brand's primary color as the base hue, then iterate the split angle to find flanking colors that complement existing assets.
  • →A split angle between 20 and 35 degrees is the sweet spot for UI work — wide enough to distinguish roles, narrow enough to avoid triadic chaos.
  • →If the generated colors feel too saturated for a professional context, desaturate the flanking colors by 20–30% in an HSL editor while keeping the hue positions.
  • →Use the base color for 60% of your layout area, the softer flanking color for 30%, and the bolder flanking color for just 10% — this mirrors the 60-30-10 interior design rule.
  • →Generating with a random base hue is a fast way to break creative blocks — run five or six random palettes, then refine the most promising one.
  • →Split-complementary palettes pair especially well with a neutral (white, off-white, or dark gray) background — the three colors need room to breathe or they compete.

FAQ

how is split-complementary different from a regular complementary color scheme

A complementary scheme uses two colors directly opposite each other, which produces maximum contrast but can feel harsh in large layouts. Split-complementary replaces that single opposite with its two neighbors, giving you a third color and softening the tension — much easier to assign distinct roles like background, body text, and accent.

what split angle should I use for most design projects

30 degrees is the standard default and covers most use cases — distinct enough for real contrast without veering into triadic territory. Use 15–20 degrees for a subtler palette with one strong accent, or push to 45–60 degrees for poster art, children's branding, or anything that needs a bolder three-color spread.

does the split angle change saturation or only the hue positions

The split angle shifts only the hue positions of the two flanking colors clockwise and counterclockwise around the wheel. Saturation and lightness stay fixed at the generated values. To fine-tune those, paste the output hex codes into Figma, Adobe Color, or any HSL editor.