Dark Mode Palette Builder
Start from your light-theme colors, tune darken/desaturate/hue, and export CSS variables for a paired dark theme—without a blunt invert.
Dark Mode Palette Builder
Generate a dark mode color palette from your base colors.
Adjust Dark Theme
Base Palette
Light Mode
Dark Mode
Generated CSS Variables
:root {
--primary: #3b82f6;
--secondary: #8b5cf6;
--accent: #ec4899;
--background: #f9fafb;
--text: #111827;
}
.dark {
--primary: #9fc1f8;
--secondary: #d0befa;
--accent: #e1207f;
--background: #050505;
--text: #f2f2f2;
}Why dark mode needs its own palette
Users ask for dark UI for comfort in low light, OLED battery savings on true black pixels, and personal preference. A good dark theme is not a photo-negative of the light theme.
- Eye comfort: Soft dark surfaces beat pure black with pure white text.
- Battery: On OLED, darker UIs can use less power; results vary by how much of the screen is actually black.
- Focus: Recessed chrome can make content and data viz stand out.
- Choice: Offering light and dark respects light sensitivity and ambient conditions.
How this builder works
- Enter base colors with names that match your system (Primary, Accent, or tokens like brand-500).
- Convert with rules—backgrounds move toward dark gray, body text toward off-white, and other hues lighten or darken based on starting brightness.
- Tune sliders: Darken Amount, Desaturate Amount, and Hue Shift for cohesion.
- Export CSS variables for :root and .dark (or your theme selector).
Frequently asked questions
Why avoid pure black (#000000) for dark backgrounds?
Pure black against bright text is harsh, and on OLED panels it can exaggerate smear as pixels flip fully off. Dark gray surfaces like #121212 (common in Material guidance) usually feel better and keep elevation visible.
How do I wire the exported CSS variables?
Put light values on :root and dark values under a .dark (or data-theme) selector on html/body. Toggle that class with JS from a user preference or system setting.
My brand colors look neon on dark backgrounds. What helps?
Raise the Desaturate Amount. Saturated accents that work on white often glow too hard on dark gray—slightly muting them keeps the brand without eye strain.
Does this guarantee WCAG contrast?
No. Always recheck text and control pairs in dark mode with a contrast checker. Lightness shifts can break ratios that passed in light theme.
Should every color just invert?
No. Inverting often creates muddy midtones. Backgrounds and text need special handling; accents may lighten or darken depending on starting luminance.
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