COLOR LAB
Interactive 3D gamut explorer and uniform palette generator
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What is COLOR LAB?
Color Lab is an interactive 3D gamut explorer and uniform palette generator that bridges the gap between color theory and practical asset generation. The tool allows users to visualize and slice 3D color spaces directly in the browser, making it possible to explore color gamuts in three dimensions.
Key features include support for multiple color spaces (Oklab, CIELAB, XYZ, RGB, Luma) and various display gamuts (sRGB, P3, Rec.2020, NTSC, EBU, SMPTE-C, CIE RGB). Users can slice through 3D color spaces using cylinder or planar slices, create pin palettes, and view colors through different vision modes including colorblind simulations (Protan, Deutan, Tritan). The tool actively generates perceptually uniform color ramps and cohesive color sets.
Color Lab is designed for designers, developers, and data visualization specialists who need to create design systems with perceptually uniform color transitions. It's particularly useful for web developers working with modern CSS color features and anyone needing to understand color gamut differences between display standards.
The tool is browser-based and requires no installation. A desktop-first interface is recommended for the interactive tutorial, though a mobile version is available. The tool uses WebGL2 for rendering RGB gamut solids with spectral-locus overlay.
COLOR LAB pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Free - The tool appears to be completely free with no paid tiers or subscription mentioned on the website. It runs entirely in the browser without requiring any account or payment.
COLOR LAB pros
- Browser-based with no installation required
- Interactive 3D visualization of color gamuts
- Supports multiple color spaces including modern Oklab
- Generates perceptually uniform color ramps
- Creates cohesive color sets for design systems
- Colorblind vision simulation modes included
- Planar and cylinder slicing options
- Pin palette feature for saving colors
- Supports wide gamuts like P3 and Rec.2020
- WebGL2 rendering for smooth 3D graphics
- Spectral-locus overlay for reference
- Touch-friendly mobile version available
- Useful for data visualization color selection
- Helps understand gamut differences between displays
- Direct bridge from color theory to practical assets
COLOR LAB cons
- Desktop-first design less ideal for mobile
- Mobile tutorial needs reworking for smaller screens
- No explicit pricing information visible
- Limited documentation available
- No exported color format options shown
- No save/export palette functionality visible
- No color value input fields apparent
- Requires modern browser with WebGL2 support
- No offline mode mentioned
- Tutorial only on desktop initially
Frequently asked questions about COLOR LAB
What is Color Lab?
Color Lab is an interactive 3D gamut explorer and uniform palette generator that lets you slice through 3D color gamuts, visualize different color spaces, and generate perceptually uniform ramps and cohesive color sets for design systems and data visualization.
What color spaces does Color Lab support?
Color Lab supports Oklab, CIELAB, XYZ, RGB, and Luma color spaces. Oklab is a modern perceptually uniform color space included in CSS Color Level 4 and 5 drafts.
What display gamuts can I explore?
You can explore sRGB, P3 (Display P3), Rec.2020, NTSC, EBU, SMPTE-C, and CIE RGB gamuts. This includes modern wide gamuts like P3 for newer displays and Rec.2020 for HDR content.
Is Color Lab free to use?
Yes, Color Lab appears to be completely free with no paid tiers mentioned. It runs entirely in your browser without requiring an account or payment.
Do I need to install anything?
No installation is required. Color Lab is a browser-based tool that works directly in your web browser using WebGL2 for 3D rendering.
Can I use Color Lab on mobile?
Yes, a mobile version is live with touch support for orbit, pinch zoom, and solid inspect interactions. However, the desktop version is recommended for the interactive tutorial as the mobile tutorial layout is being reworked.
What is the pin palette feature?
The pin palette feature allows you to add and save specific color points within the 3D color space for reference and palette creation.
Does Color Lab support colorblind simulation?
Yes, Color Lab includes vision modes for Normal, Protan (red-blind), Deutan (green-blind), and Tritan (blue-blind) to help you see how colors appear to users with different types of color vision deficiency.
How do I slice through the 3D color space?
You can slice using the Slice tool (ctrl+drag) for planar slices or the Cylinder tool for cylindrical slices. The touch controls include drag for orbit, pinch for zoom, and slice/cylinder modes.
What is Color Lab best used for?
Color Lab is best for creating perceptually uniform color ramps for data visualization, developing cohesive color sets for design systems, understanding gamut differences between display standards, and bridging color theory with practical asset generation for web development.