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Black & white are always included for shading and highlights
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Black & white are always included for shading and highlights
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While this is intended as a challenge, you don't have to be strict about it. It's meant to be fun! Think of it more as an exercise and an exploration rather than a rigid requirement. There will always be moments of frustration where things don't look the way you intended, but pushing through these frustrating moments often leads to the most learning. Don't be afraid to repaint something, use a different color, or try something else..
When you save a palette, it's stored locally in your browser using localStorage. This means your saved palettes never leave your device and are completely private. You can save as many palettes as you want with no practical limit. However, saved palettes will be lost if you clear your browser data, use private/incognito browsing, or switch to a different browser or device. If you want to keep a palette permanently, consider downloading it as an image or using the share URL feature to save the link somewhere safe. Saved palettes are tied to your specific browser on your specific device, so they won't sync across multiple devices.
The Palette Challenge uses color harmony theory to create balanced, aesthetically pleasing color combinations. When you generate a palette, the tool starts with a random base color, then applies mathematical relationships based on the selected harmony mode to determine the other colors in the palette. Each harmony mode uses specific angles on the color wheel to ensure colors work well together. For example, complementary colors are opposite each other, while triadic colors form an equilateral triangle on the color wheel.
The paint matching system uses a color science technique called Delta E (ΔE), which measures the perceptual difference between two colors in a way that closely matches how the human eye perceives color differences. When you generate a palette, the algorithm compares each color against our database of paints from major manufacturers. It calculates the Delta E distance between your palette color and every paint in the database, then shows you the closest matches. The system ensures you get at least two paint options from each brand, giving you flexibility based on what's available in your collection or local hobby store. You can also filter colors by brand to see only what you want.
The percentage shows how closely a paint matches your palette color. A higher percentage means a closer match. The algorithm considers the color's hue, saturation, and lightness to calculate the overall similarity. Even a 70-80% match is typically very close to the original color and will work well for your project. In practice, most colors won't have exact matches since paint manufacturers each have their own unique formulations, but the recommended paints will still appear visually similar and work well,
The palette generator applies intelligent filters to ensure you get useful, paintable color combinations. The saturation filter removes overly gray or washed-out colors, while the lightness filter excludes colors too close to pure black or white. These filters prevent monotonous palettes and ensure you get distinct, vibrant colors.
Black and white are always implicitly included in every palette for shading, highlighting, and mixing. The four colors in your palette represent your primary working colors, but you're encouraged to use black for shadows and white for highlights to add depth and dimension to your art.
Absolutely! Each harmony mode creates a different mood and relationship between colors. Complementary mode creates bold, high-contrast pairs, while split complementary offers softer contrast with more variety. Triadic mode produces vibrant, balanced combinations, and analogous mode gives you harmonious, adjacent colors. Tetradic mode provides rich, complex four-color combinations, while compound mode creates sophisticated, nuanced palettes. Experiment with different modes to find combinations that inspire you!
Check out Jamie's amazing miniature painting work, live streams, game design projects, and community contributions across her social media platforms!
Follow MeJamie Daggers was one of the main inspirations behind the site. She's known for her live four-color palette challenges on her Twitch stream, which have become something of a signature for her. She's also an award-winning miniature painter, full-time content creator, and game designer who has made significant contributions to the miniature painting community. As a professional artist and educator, she teaches miniature painting techniques at conventions across the United States, sharing her expertise with hobbyists and aspiring painters alike.
Check out Skellebee's amazing work, whether it's cosplay or miniatures, you'll find incredible inspiration across her social media!
Follow MeSkellebee was one of the first miniature painting streamers I ever watched, and her influence on my journey has been tremendous. Without her and the welcoming community she's built, I don't think I would be where I am today. She's an incredibly talented artist whose work spans both miniature painting and cosplay. I highly encourage you to check out her amazing work across her social media, you'll find inspiration in her detailed miniatures, stunning cosplay creations, and the genuine passion she brings to both crafts.
Follow Walter on Instagram to see his incredible miniature work and competitive painting journey!
Follow MeFollowing Walter's journey into competitive miniature painting has been amazing to watch, and I'm glad I've been able to grow alongside him. His help in running Mecha May has been invaluable. Winning the first annual Mecha May really cemented my aspirations for my own miniature painting journey. Walter creates incredible work and has some awesome partnerships. Check out his stream or catch him on Colors of Conquest on the para_bellum_games Twitch channel!
Check out Fungalforge's beautiful handcrafted dice on her social media!
Follow MeWhat can I say, having a supportive partner is invaluable to any creative journey. Fungalforge has supported me in everything I do, from late-night painting sessions to chasing ambitious projects, and I'm incredibly thankful for her. Beyond being my biggest supporter, she's also a talented artist who creates stunning handmade dice. Each one is uniquely crafted with incredible attention to detail and creativity. You'd be doing yourself a disservice not to check out her work, trust me, it's worth the roll.
Check out Doc's incredible work and keep an eye on his upcoming game design projects!
Follow MeI wanted to give Doc a well deserved shoutout for some exciting projects we have in the works and for the invaluable wisdom he's shared with me about game design. Doc is an incredibly talented painter whose stunning army work has been featured on Play On Tabletop. He's also a passionate game designer with multiple projects in development, including Psychopomp, a game I had the pleasure of playtesting at AdeptiCon last year. Doc's creativity spans both the visual and mechanical aspects of the hobby, making him someone truly worth following.