Matching a design's color scheme to a photo, logo, or moodboard image usually starts with eyeballing colors — which rarely lands on the exact palette a designer actually used.
This guide covers how to extract a color palette from an image for free, with exact HEX codes for every dominant color.
Key Takeaway: The palette bar isn't just decorative — its segment widths are proportional to how much of the image each color actually covers, giving you a quick read on which color dominates versus which is just an accent.
Color Palette Extractor vs. Color Picker
| Tool | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| Color Palette Extractor | Automatic top 10 dominant colors, ranked by coverage |
| Color Picker | The exact color of one specific pixel you hover or click |
Use the palette extractor for a quick overview of an image's color scheme, and the color picker when you need one exact pixel's value.
Tip: Use Copy All HEX when building a CSS variable set or design token list — it copies all 10 codes at once in a comma-separated string.
Step by Step: How to Extract a Color Palette
TinyPNG Now includes a free color palette extractor that runs entirely in your browser.
- Open the Color Palette tool and upload your photo or graphic.
- View the 10 most dominant colors as swatches with HEX codes.
- Click any swatch to copy its HEX code, or click Copy All HEX for the entire palette.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colors does it extract?
The 10 most dominant colors in the image, ranked by how much of the image they cover.
How do I copy a color code?
Click any individual color swatch to copy its HEX code instantly, or use Copy All HEX to copy every code from the palette at once.
Is the color palette extractor free?
Yes, completely free with no signup and no limits.
What is the palette bar below the swatches?
It's a proportional color bar — each segment's width reflects how much of the image that color actually covers.
Is my image uploaded to a server?
No. Colors are extracted entirely in your browser using the Canvas API. Your image is never uploaded anywhere.
Summary: Open the free TinyPNG Now color palette extractor, upload, copy the codes you need — free, private, and instant.
Ready to extract a palette?
Free, private, and instant — no signup required.
Try the Color Palette Extractor →