iWantHue

iWantHue is a palette generator for data visualization, aimed especially at data scientists and developers. It is a strong fit when you need control over color separation and want to carry palettes into JavaScript; it is less suited to people seeking a broad, decorative palette library.

Overview

iWantHue computes colors in CIE Lab and uses HCL to constrain hue, chroma, and lightness. That perceptual approach makes it useful for building palettes around legibility and distinction rather than choosing colors by appearance alone. You can refine the output by sorting on color difference, hue, chroma, lightness, or randomly, giving you another way to adapt a set to a visualization.

Generation uses k-means clustering or force-vector repulsion to distribute colors. The colorblind improvement option adds a practical accessibility consideration, and the JavaScript settings include colorblind distance functions. These are meaningful controls for data work, but can be unnecessary complexity if you only need a handful of colors for a one-off design.

Key features

The web interface exports HEX, RGB, HCL, and LAB JSON, CSS color lists, and JavaScript settings. This makes it straightforward to move a refined palette into code or stylesheets without manually translating formats. The npm package supports Node.js and browser use, and the project documents palette generation in JavaScript.

A seed can reproduce the same palette from a data attribute, which is useful when consistent colors matter across repeated runs. The package also includes precomputed palettes from 2 to 15 colors, including colorblind alternatives. The main caveat is scale: when a requested palette is too large for its selected color space, some colors may be similar, even though the first colors are sorted to be as distinct as possible. The Fancy preset is narrower still, producing generic palettes only up to 10 colors because of its restricted chroma and lightness ranges.

Pricing

iWantHue is free, with a free plan and no free trial. That makes it an easy option to adopt for individual projects or development workflows without a subscription decision. There are no paid tiers to weigh against usage needs.

Platforms

The listed platforms are web, Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows, alongside an API. For developers, the documented npm package runs in Node.js and browsers. The project documents npm use; it does not describe other product integrations. Help, bug reports, and contact are directed to GitHub Issues.

No security certifications or compliance claims are stated. Teams with formal security or compliance requirements should not treat iWantHue as a documented fit on those grounds.

Who it's for

Choose iWantHue if you work with data visualizations and want to constrain palettes, sort results, consider colorblind accessibility, or reproduce palettes in code. The web exports suit people who want usable color values without a JavaScript workflow, while the npm package and seed support developers who need repeatability. Look elsewhere if your priority is a large collection of ready-made decorative palettes or if a palette needs more distinct colors than its color space can support.

Pros and cons

Pros

Perceptual controls: Hue, chroma, and lightness constraints give data practitioners direct ways to shape palette separation.

Useful output options: HEX, RGB, HCL, LAB JSON, CSS, and JavaScript settings cover both visual review and implementation.

Repeatable developer workflow: JavaScript generation accepts a seed, and the package includes precomputed palettes up to 15 colors.

Accessibility option: Colorblind improvement and distance functions can inform palette selection.

Cons

Large palettes can converge: Colors may become similar when the chosen color space cannot accommodate the requested number.

Fancy is capped: Its narrow chroma and lightness ranges limit generic palettes to 10 colors.

Focused audience: Its data-visualization emphasis and technical controls are less compelling for users who only need quick decorative choices.

No stated security claims: It is not a documented choice for buyers who require named certifications or compliance assurances.

Alternatives

Pantone Connect Palette Generator is worth considering if access to a library of more than 15,000 colors and search, pick, and measure tools matters more than iWantHue's perceptual palette-generation controls; its Basic plan is free with an account.

ColorDesigner may suit users who want a broader set of color tools and project features: its free plan includes 12 tools, saving up to five colors and five palettes, one project, and HEX export.

Atmos is an alternative for readers considering a paid product with a free plan and trial; its lifetime plan has custom pricing.

Color Palette Generator AI may fit users seeking a free web and API option with unlimited generations, every export format, shareable links, and no account requirement.

Gpick is a free Linux alternative for readers who want a platform-specific option; no paid plans or usage limits are stated.

Grabient may suit users who need documented API reads: it requires no API key or signup for those reads, with a limit of 300 requests per 10 seconds per IP across API, PNG, and JSON reads.

For more options, see Color Palette Generators.

Verdict

iWantHue is a sensible choice for data scientists and developers who need tunable, repeatable palettes for visualization, especially when perceptual constraints and code-ready exports matter. Its free access and JavaScript package are compelling strengths. Look elsewhere when the job calls for very large distinct palettes, broader decorative inspiration, or documented security assurances.