About PIGMENTUM
PIGMENTUM is a color reference platform built on a simple idea: every color deserves a name. All 16,777,216 colors a screen can display are catalogued here, each with its own unique name, its values in twelve color formats, and a set of tools to help you actually work with color.
What this project is
Most color tools treat color as a number. A hex code, an RGB triplet, a slider position. That works for machines, but it is not how people remember or talk about color. We remember the rust of an old gate, the particular green of moss after rain, the blue that a screen glows at midnight. PIGMENTUM tries to bridge that gap by giving every single RGB color a name and a dedicated page, so a color is no longer just a code but something you can find, recognise and return to.
The catalogue covers the full 24-bit RGB space: 256 levels each of red, green and blue, which multiply out to exactly 16,777,216 distinct colors. Every one of them has a page showing its name, its hex value, and its representation across RGB, RGB percentages, HSL, HSV, CMYK, LAB, LCH, sRGB, an eight-digit hex with alpha, the matching named CSS color where one exists, and the decimal identifier used internally.
How a color gets its name
Each name is generated once and then stored permanently, so a given color always keeps the same name. The naming draws on the position of the color within the spectrum, its lightness and saturation, and a vocabulary of evocative words, combined so that neighbouring shades read differently rather than blurring into near-identical labels. The aim is not a scientific description but a memorable handle: something closer to how a painter or a poet might point at a shade.
Because the names are fixed, they double as stable references. If you bookmark a color today, the same name and the same page will be there next year.
The 139 named CSS colors
A small, special subset of the catalogue are the colors that the web platform itself names — like tomato, rebeccapurple or steelblue. These have their own well-established identities, and we treat them as reference anchors throughout the site. You can browse the full list on the named CSS colors page.
The color tools
Beyond the catalogue, PIGMENTUM offers a set of free tools that run entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded; the calculations happen on your device.
- Color picker — pick any color visually and read off its values in every supported format.
- Contrast checker — test two colors against the WCAG accessibility thresholds for readable text.
- Color blindness simulator — preview how a color is perceived across eight types of color vision.
- Gradient generator — build smooth CSS gradients between colors and copy the code.
- Color mixer — blend two colors and explore the shades in between.
- Named CSS colors — the complete reference of colors the browser knows by name.
- Color names A–Z — browse the catalogue alphabetically by name.
- Palette of the day — a fresh, hand-arranged set of colors each day.
Who uses it
The site is built for anyone who works with or is curious about color: designers hunting for a precise shade, developers looking up a hex code or a contrast ratio, photographers naming the tones in an image, and people who simply enjoy exploring color for its own sake. There is no account to create and no paywall — the catalogue and the tools are open to everyone.
How the site is run
PIGMENTUM is an independent project, not backed by a company or investor. It is built and maintained by a single person in Germany and funded through unobtrusive advertising, which keeps the catalogue and all tools free to use. The project is operated in accordance with German law; full operator details are available in the imprint, and how data is handled is described in the privacy policy.
Frequently asked questions
Are the color values accurate?
The numeric values (hex, RGB, HSL and the rest) are computed directly from the color and are exact. How a color actually looks, however, depends on your screen: calibration, color profile and ambient light all shift perception. Treat the on-screen swatch as a close guide rather than a guaranteed match.
Can I use the color names in my own work?
The names are original creative content. For personal reference and everyday use you are welcome to refer to them freely. For systematic or commercial reuse of the name set, please see the terms or get in touch first.
Why does my color not show up in the alphabetical index?
The A–Z index and sitemap focus on the named CSS colors and the name listings. Every other color still has its own live page — reachable by searching its hex or RGB value, or by using the random button — but the full set is intentionally not all submitted for indexing, to keep the catalogue meaningful rather than overwhelming.
How do I find a specific color?
Use the search on the home page: type a hex code such as #FF9800 or an RGB value such as 255,152,0 and you will jump straight to that color's page. The color picker is handy when you want to find a shade by eye instead.