Apps to Match and Find Paint Color Palettes from a Photo

We’re back with the next installment of, er, what do we call it, fancy technology ways to find paint colors? We talked about web-based programs to help you try paint colors on your own room photos, and then mobile apps that let you virtually paint your own rooms, and today we have a list of apps that will help you find the perfect paint color palette from an inspiration image. Modern technology is pretty darn amazing.

You can use these apps to create color schemes (for decorating, not just for painting) based on inspirational room photos, color palettes (like you might find on Pinterest), mood boards, or another image — perhaps a rug, a piece of art, or a pillow that you are using to anchor your whole home color scheme — which makes these very useful apps not just for painting but for all sorts of decorating and inspiration.

Obviously these apps can only use the color information in the photo, so if the lighting is a warmer yellow or a cooler blue, the generated color scheme will reflect that. You may get better results from different apps, or by using a program like Photoshop or Picmonkey to tinker with the color temperature and/or lighting in your inspiration photo, especially if it’s one you took yourself, and especially if it’s on your phone. Mobile apps were tested using Samsung Galaxy S5 and iPhone 6, and you can see the difference in the palettes based on the differences between the cameras. The web-based apps were tested using two photos we’ve featured that we have frequent paint color requests: this blue kitchen island and this coral barn door.

And again, if you prefer a certain brand of paint, you can start with that service/app — but remember that any color formula can be matched to any brand of paint, so don’t feel limited by the brand whose app you use. Your mileage may vary depending on your project, but these tools are pretty cool! Let’s get started…

6 Apps to Create a Color Palette from a Photo

Sherwin-Williams Chip It & ColorSnap

Sherwin-Williams Chip It

Visit Chip It website

• Use the easy bookmarklet, upload a photo, or enter a URL
• Generates a full color palette
• “Edit colors” gives you a different, complimenting palette
• Log in required to save palettes
• Note that when using the bookmarklet tool, if you are on a site that uses other roll-over features (such as a pin button), sometimes the Chip It button won’t show up (in my short experience). You can solve this by right-clicking and opening the image in a new tab before clicking the bookmarklet, or by using the website to upload or enter the URL of the page.

Color Snap for Android

ColorSnap for iPhone

Get the ColorSnap app: Google Play // iTunes
also available: ColorSnap Studio for iPad

• Pulls a full varied color palette from the photo
• Click to get suggestions for a specific color from the photo
• Scan a paint chip number to see more info
• You can also test different paint colors with stock photos

ColorSmart for Android

ColorSmart for iPhone

Behr ColorSmart App

Get it: Google Play  // iTunes

• Gives you 3 similar color selections based on the part of the photo you click
• Scan a paint chip to see examples of rooms using that paint color
• You can also try out different paint colors with stock photos

ColorClix for Android

ColorClix for iPhone

ColorClix by Olympic

Get it: Google Play  //  iTunes

• Easily select colors from a photo
• Choose shades of one color, complementary colors, or see paint collections that the color is included in
• Clunky on Android, smoother on iPhone

PPG Paint Color Sampler

PPG Paint Color Sampler

Visit website

• Upload photo only (no bookmarklet)
• Generates a color palette from the photo
• Easily tweak the color palette by selecting a color and then clicking the area on the photo
• Option to save to project (for using the paint color visualizer) or add color to shopping list

Glidden Match My Color

Glidden Match My Color

Visit website

• Same interface as PPG (since they are under the same company) but obviously this gives Glidden names/formulas instead.
• Again, easy to use
• No option to save

Color Capture for Android

Color Capture for iPhone

Benjamin Moore Color Capture

Get it: Google Play  //  iTunes

• Easy to use
• Select a photo and generate a color palette
• Save/share options

Looking for paint and color ideas? Visit our Color Files and Paint Palette Library. 

See all of the paint color tools we tested here.

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