How do I build a color palette by hand?

Last verified 29 July 2026
Read time 2 min
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The short version

Open the palette creator, pick 2 to 5 swatches with the color picker or enter hex codes, optionally generate a random starting set, name it, and save. The palette becomes a file in your library you can reuse across your projects.

When you have exact colors in mind, you can build a palette from scratch rather than pulling one from an image. The result is a saved palette file you can use anywhere in your work.

Build the palette

  1. Open the palette creator. Start a new palette. You will see Create a palette file with a prompt to Select 2 to 5 swatches to create a palette file and use in your projects.
  2. Choose your colors. Click a swatch to open the color picker, where you can dial in a color or enter a hex code. To insert a swatch between two others, hover the edge of a swatch and use Add color. To drop one, use Remove color. You can reorder swatches by dragging them.
  3. Name and save. A palette needs between two and five swatches. When you are happy, add a name in the File name (optional) field and choose Save. Choose Cancel to discard it.
Tip

Use Generate random palette for a starting set of swatches, then adjust each one until the palette feels right.

Use your saved palette

Your palette is saved as a file in your library, under the Palettes tab. From there you can rename or edit it, search your library by its colors, and drop it into your designs. To pull colors out of a photo instead, see How do I create a color palette from an image?.

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