Color Picker from Image

Upload or paste any image, then click to pick colors. Get HEX, RGB, and HSL values instantly with a magnifier loupe.

Last reviewed: April 2026
Reviewed by , software engineer · last updated April 2026

New to this tool? Click here for instructions

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Drop an image here, click to upload, or paste (Ctrl+V)
Upload or paste an image to start picking colors.

How to Use the Image Color Picker

To use the Image Color Picker, follow these steps:

1. Load an Image: Drag and drop an image file onto the drop zone, click to open a file picker, or paste an image from your clipboard with Ctrl+V.

2. Pick Mode: Move your mouse over the image to see the magnifier loupe showing zoomed pixels. Click anywhere to pick that color.

3. View Color Values: The picked color appears as HEX, RGB, HSL, and HSV. Click any Copy button to copy that format.

4. Color History: Your last 20 picked colors are saved as swatches. Click any swatch to restore that color's values.

5. Palette Mode: Switch to Extract Palette to automatically extract the 6-8 dominant colors from the image. Export them as CSS custom properties.

When to Use the Tool in Real Workflows

The Image Color Picker is ideal for designers and developers who need to extract exact color values from existing images. It's particularly useful for:

1. Matching brand colors from a logo.

2. Recreating a color scheme from a photograph.

3. Identifying the colors used in a competitor's design.

4. Generating a harmonious color palette inspired by natural photography.

How It Works

The Image Color Picker works by allowing users to upload or paste an image. Once the image is loaded, users can click on any part of the image to pick a color. The tool then displays the color in various formats (HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV) and provides options to copy these values. Additionally, the tool can extract up to 8 dominant colors from the image and export them as CSS variables.

Tips, Edge Cases, or Limitations

1. Privacy: Your image never leaves your browser. All processing happens locally using the HTML5 Canvas API.

2. Supported Formats: The tool supports most common image formats such as JPEG, PNG, GIF, and BMP.

3. Color Formats: The tool supports multiple color formats including HEX, RGB, HSL, and HSV.

4. Limitations: The palette extraction feature samples approximately 2,000 pixels, which may not capture all subtle color variations in complex images.

5. Browser Compatibility: Ensure you are using a modern browser that supports the HTML5 Canvas API.

Frequently Asked Questions

The image color picker allows users to upload or paste an image and click on any part of the image to pick a color. It displays the color in various formats (HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV) and provides options to copy these values. Additionally, it can extract up to 8 dominant colors from the image and export them as CSS variables.
Yes, you can paste an image directly into the tool without uploading a file.
The dominant color extraction feature samples approximately 2,000 pixels distributed evenly across the image in a grid pattern. Similar colors within a certain RGB distance are clustered together, and the most represented color from each cluster is returned. This produces a palette of the most visually prominent colors in the image.
No, your image never leaves your browser. All processing happens locally using the HTML5 Canvas API.
The tool supports most common image formats such as JPEG, PNG, GIF, and BMP.

Quick reference

Color Picker from Image Quick Reference
Color Format Description Common Values
HEX Hexadecimal color code #FF5733
RGB Red, Green, Blue values rgb(255, 100, 51)
HSL Hue, Saturation, Lightness hsl(20, 100%, 50%)
CMYK Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key cmyk(0%, 50%, 75%, 25%)
PANTONE Named color in Pantone system PANTONE 18-1438 TCX
RGB Percentage Red, Green, Blue as percentages rgb(100%, 39%, 19%)