Bright, vivid, saturated
People use "bright" for two things: colors that are light, and colors that are intense. The swatches here are both: high saturation and middle-to-high lightness, picked from every part of the wheel so you can build a rainbow palette or choose one star color.
When bright colors help
- Calls to action: a single bright color against neutrals tells people where to click.
- Children's products and games: brights feel playful and energetic.
- Data visualization: distinct bright hues help separate categories, as long as the chart also works for color-blind readers.
- Events and posters: high saturation is visible from a distance.
Keeping it under control
Several brights together compete for attention. A few rules help:
- Let one bright color lead and use others sparingly.
- Ground brights with neutrals: white, charcoal or a soft gray.
- Vary lightness too, not just hue, so the palette has structure.
Text on bright colors
Bright yellows, limes and cyans need black text. Bright blues, purples and reds may take white. The "Aa" figure on each swatch shows the better choice and its contrast ratio.
The most extreme shades are on the neon colors page, and fresh seasonal brights on spring colors. The random color generator is good for discovering new combinations, and the contrast checker for checking them.