Is the PNG palette extractor free?
Yes. This PNG palette extractor is free and runs entirely in your browser with no account required.
Does this work better on flat graphics than photos?
Yes. It is especially helpful on logos, stickers, icons, and simple PNG artwork where the palette matters as a practical asset.
Can I copy CSS variables directly?
Yes. The tool prepares a CSS variable export so the palette can move straight into frontend work, alongside HEX and JSON.
Does it upload the PNG to a server?
No. Palette extraction and export happen locally in your browser, so the file never leaves your device.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes. The palette extractor runs in any modern browser, including mobile, since all processing is done locally.
Why does my palette contain hundreds of nearly identical colors?
Because antialiasing creates them. Every soft edge in the image is a run of blend colors between the shape and its background, and each one is a distinct RGBA value the counter dutifully records. Sort by percentage and the real fills are at the top, while everything below a fraction of a percent is edge noise.
What is the difference between this and the image analyzer's dominant colors?
The analyzer quantizes, reducing the whole image to a handful of representative colors that approximate it. This one counts, reporting the literal values that exist in the file with their exact frequencies. Use the analyzer when you want the feel of an image's palette, and this one when you need the actual hex codes that are in it.
Should I set the limit to 64, 128, 256, or all?
The limit keeps the top entries by pixel count, so it never hides a major color, only the tail. For a logo or an icon, 64 is usually more than enough and the rest is antialiasing. Choose all only when you specifically want to see how many unique values are really in there, which is a good sanity check before quantizing a PNG down to PNG-8.
Can I paste the palette straight into my stylesheet?
Yes. The CSS export produces custom properties in frequency order, ready to drop into a :root block. Copy it, prune the entries that are clearly edge blends, and rename the ones you keep to something meaningful, since a variable called --png-color-03 is only useful for about ten minutes.
Does the PNG get uploaded?
No. The file is decoded to a canvas and every pixel is counted on your device, which means you can inspect an unreleased brand asset or a client's artwork without it going anywhere. The only network call is a credit counter carrying the tool name.