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meodaion Show HN: A color name API that maps hex to the closest human-readable name

nước đái I use it for all kinds of color generators.

meodaion Show HN: A color name API that maps hex to the closest human-readable name

If you scroll down a bit, you will see that the api provides all kind of lists, there are plenty that are more descriptive or simpler depending on what you are going for.

meodaion Show HN: A color name API that maps hex to the closest human-readable name

I provide all kind of name lists. Depends a lot on what you are trying to accomplish. But there are plenty of lists providing more recognizable ones.

meodaion Show HN: A color name API that maps hex to the closest human-readable name

Unfortunately most of the names are pretty bad.

meodaion Show HN: A color name API that maps hex to the closest human-readable name

Because a) I keep adding names and b) the list weights over 1mb https://github.com/meodai/color-names

meodaion Show HN: A color name API that maps hex to the closest human-readable name

yes! but I could add a second button at the footer. (it also respects the reduced motion flag, if you set it in your OS)

meodaion Show HN: A color name API that maps hex to the closest human-readable name

I just did, using `npx palette-aldente hn-colors.yml --formats name --namelist bestOf`: https://codepen.io/meodai/pen/ByNqbKE

meodaion Show HN: A color name API that maps hex to the closest human-readable name

That's great to hear! I've gotten some very positive feedback from sight-impaired users for this little tool that uses the API: https://words.github.io/color-description/ — it turns colors into descriptive text (no AI involved)

meodaion Show HN: A color name API that maps hex to the closest human-readable name

PS: I've added a section to the Readme: https://github.com/meodai/color-name-api?tab=readme-ov-file#...

meodaion Show HN: A color name API that maps hex to the closest human-readable name

nice its very addicting :D

meodaion Show HN: A color name API that maps hex to the closest human-readable name

Thanks! Good question – it's mostly about readability and communication. Hex codes are precise but not intuitive. Names give context, like saying “salmon” instead of #fa8072. That’s helpful in design tools, UI previews, generative art, or even debugging.

Also, the API works the other way around too – you can search by name to get the matching color: https://api.color.pizza/v1/docs/#api-Default-getColorNames. I did not add it to the website yet, because I don't have good UI ideas for it yet.

meodaion Show HN: A color name API that maps hex to the closest human-readable name

Oh I mostly use it for my own apps – it just feels more human-readable than hex codes. But yeah, you're right, I should add some example use cases to the readme!

Like here:

https://farbvelo.elastiq.ch/ or https://meodai.github.io/poline/

Thanks a lot for the feedback, I really appreciate it!

meodaion Show HN: A color name API that maps hex to the closest human-readable name

CIEDE2000 ΔE: https://github.com/meodai/color-name-api/blob/main/src/close...

meodaion Poline – An enigmatic color palette generator using polar coordinates

ah nice thanks! il change it

meodaion Poline – An enigmatic color palette generator using polar coordinates

thanks for letting me know

meodaion Poline – An enigmatic color palette generator using polar coordinates

Polar Lines -> poline

meodaion Poline – An enigmatic color palette generator using polar coordinates

My process was honestly a lot of: “oh, that looks good.” That’s what I meant by “not backed by science” — I didn’t even try to base it on color theory. Thanks so much for the treasure trove of references — can’t wait to sink my teeth into it!

meodaion Poline – An enigmatic color palette generator using polar coordinates

thanks! Collecting them has been my hobby for the past few years: https://github.com/meodai/color-names

meodaion "poline" is an enigmatic color palette generator using polar coordinates

thanks! that means a lot

meodaion Poline – An enigmatic color palette generator using polar coordinates

To those not into the mythical vibe: I totally get it. I stumbled onto something that looked good by accident and thought it’d be fun to lean into the mystical theme — especially since there’s no real science or theory behind it (that I know of). Mostly, I just wanted an excuse to build a fun website around it.

And to everyone else — thanks for the kind words, really appreciate it!

meodaion Poline – esoteric color palette generator

I could definitely add this somewhere :D

meodaion Poline – esoteric color palette generator

I did scroll to the veery bottom

meodaion Poline – esoteric color palette generator

good point let me add that

meodaion Poline – esoteric color palette generator

should be fixed now right?

meodaion Poline – esoteric color palette generator

thank so much for this comment!

meodaion Poline – esoteric color palette generator

try changing the Position Function to "linear"

meodaion Poline – esoteric color palette generator

I think this should work now

meodaion Poline – esoteric color palette generator

ah thats a cool idea, il try to make this happen!

meodaion Poline – esoteric color palette generator

I tried my best to fix it (I can't actually test on non IOS devices, this was a vacation project). Can you let me know if it works for you now?

meodaion Poline – esoteric color palette generator

as most people don't code on mobile phones I did not put too much effort in making it responsive. I'm happy to accept your pull-request if you feel strongly about it.