Build Your Own Color Picker API

The "Color Picker Tool API" project aims to create an API that allows users to interact with a color picker tool via a web or mobile application. The API will enable users to select colors, convert between different color formats (e.g., HEX, RGB, HSL), and retrieve color details such as complementary colors, shades, and tints. The goal of this API is to provide developers with an easy-to-use tool for integrating color selection and conversion features into their applications.

Detailed Description

Color selection and conversion are important in various fields such as web development, design, and digital art. The "Color Picker Tool API" will allow users to select a color in one format (e.g., HEX) and convert it into other formats (e.g., RGB or HSL). Additionally, the API will provide useful features such as generating complementary colors, shades, and tints. The API will be designed to easily integrate into web, mobile, and desktop applications, giving developers a versatile tool to work with colors programmatically.

Here’s a detailed look at how users will interact with the API:

1. Color Selection:

   • Input Color: Users can input a color value in any supported format (HEX, RGB, or HSL).

   • Color Picker: The API will allow users to programmatically select a color using a standard color picker tool.

2. Color Conversion:

   • HEX to RGB: Convert a HEX color code (e.g., #FF5733) into its RGB equivalent (e.g., rgb(255, 87, 51)).

   • RGB to HEX: Convert an RGB color (e.g., rgb(255, 87, 51)) into its HEX equivalent (e.g., #FF5733).

   • RGB to HSL: Convert an RGB color into its HSL equivalent (e.g., hsl(14, 100%, 60%)).

   • HSL to RGB/HEX: Convert an HSL color back to RGB or HEX.

3. Color Information:

   • Complementary Color: Retrieve the complementary color of the selected color.

   • Shades and Tints: Generate lighter (tints) or darker (shades) variations of the selected color.

   • Color Harmonies: Generate color harmonies such as analogous, triadic, or tetradic color schemes.

4. Optional Features:

   • Color Palette Generator: Generate a color palette based on the selected color (e.g., monochromatic or analogous color palettes).

   • Save Colors: Users can save favorite colors or palettes for later use.

Real-World Example

Consider a designer named Mia who is building a web application. She uses the Color Picker Tool API to integrate a color selection feature that allows users to customize the colors of their website themes. Mia selects a primary color in HEX format (#3498db), and the API instantly converts it to RGB and HSL formats. She then retrieves complementary colors and shades to ensure a consistent design palette. Finally, Mia generates a triadic color scheme to add more variation to the design.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Objectives

3. Functional Requirements

4. Non-Functional Requirements

5. Use Cases

6. User Stories

7. Technical Requirements

8. API Endpoints

9. Security

10. Performance

11. Documentation

12. Glossary

13. Appendix

1. Introduction

The "Color Picker Tool API" project will provide an API that allows users to select colors, convert between color formats, and retrieve useful color information like complementary colors and color harmonies. The API will support easy integration into web and mobile applications, providing developers with a tool to work with colors programmatically.

2. Objectives

• Allow users to input color in various formats and convert between HEX, RGB, and HSL.

• Provide additional color information such as complementary colors, shades, and tints.

• Allow developers to generate color palettes and color harmonies programmatically.

• Ensure the API is fast, reliable, and easy to integrate into existing applications.

3. Functional Requirements

Color Selection

• Input Color: Accept colors in HEX, RGB, or HSL formats.

• Color Picker: Programmatically generate a color picker interface for selecting colors.

Color Conversion

• HEX to RGB: Convert HEX values to RGB.

• RGB to HEX: Convert RGB values to HEX.

• RGB to HSL: Convert RGB values to HSL and vice versa.

Color Information

• Complementary Colors: Return the complementary color of a given color.

• Shades and Tints: Generate a list of shades (darker) and tints (lighter) based on the input color.

• Color Harmonies: Provide color harmonies, including analogous, triadic, and tetradic schemes.

Optional Features

• Color Palette Generator: Create monochromatic, analogous, or triadic palettes based on the input color.

• Save Colors: Enable users to save colors and palettes for later reference.

4. Non-Functional Requirements

• Scalability: The API should be able to handle a growing number of requests from multiple users.

• Performance: Ensure that all conversions and color calculations are returned in under 100ms.

• Reliability: The API must return accurate color conversions and related data every time.

• Usability: Provide clear API documentation and ensure the endpoints are easy to use for developers.

5. Use Cases

• Color Conversion: A web developer inputs a HEX color and wants the RGB and HSL equivalents for use in CSS and design.

• Complementary Color: A graphic designer selects a color and retrieves its complementary color to create a balanced color scheme.

• Color Palette Generation: A developer generates a color palette from a primary color for a UI theme.

6. User Stories

1. As a designer, I want to input a HEX color and get the RGB and HSL equivalents so that I can use the correct color format in my designs.

2. As a developer, I want to retrieve complementary colors for the input color to create visually appealing UI designs.

3. As a user, I want to generate a color palette based on a primary color to build a consistent theme.

4. As a developer, I want to convert RGB values to HEX and vice versa to maintain color consistency across my application.

7. Technical Requirements

• Programming Language: Use a backend technology such as Node.js, Python, or Ruby.

• Framework: Use Express.js (Node.js), Flask (Python), or Rails (Ruby) to manage routing and API logic.

• Color Libraries: Utilize color libraries (e.g., chroma.js, color-convert, or color) to handle color conversions and palette generation.

• RESTful API: Ensure the API follows REST principles for consistency.

• JSON Response: Return all responses in JSON format for easy parsing.

8. API Endpoints

Color Conversion

• Endpoint: POST /api/color-convert

• Request Body:

  json

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  { "color": "#3498db", "format": "rgb" }

• Response:

  json

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  { "rgb": "rgb(52, 152, 219)" }

Complementary Color

• Endpoint: POST /api/color-complementary

• Request Body:

  json

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  { "color": "#3498db" }

• Response:

  json

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  { "complementary": "#db5234" }

Shades and Tints

• Endpoint: POST /api/color-shades

• Request Body:

  json

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  { "color": "#3498db" }

• Response:

  json

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  { "shades": ["#2f7ebd", "#296aa2", "#235788"], "tints": ["#5faee3", "#86c5ec", "#abdcee"] }

Color Palette

• Endpoint: POST /api/color-palette

• Request Body:

  json

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  { "color": "#3498db", "type": "analogous" }

• Response:

  json

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  { "palette": ["#34db98", "#34dbf5", "#34d9db"] }

9. Security

• HTTPS: Use HTTPS for secure data transmission between clients and servers.

• Input Validation: Ensure that color values are validated to prevent malformed or malicious input.

10. Performance

• Low Latency: Ensure color conversions and data retrieval occur in under 100ms.

• Caching: Cache frequent requests (e.g., common color conversions) to reduce processing load.

11. Documentation

• Provide detailed API documentation using Swagger or Postman collections to make integration easy for developers.

• Include code examples and error-handling scenarios for different use cases.

12. Glossary

• HEX: Hexadecimal color format used in web design (e.g., #FF5733).

• RGB: Red, Green, Blue color format used in digital displays.

• HSL: Hue, Saturation, Lightness color model used for more intuitive color manipulation.

13. Appendix

• Include diagrams or flowcharts showing the conversion process between color formats.

Let me know if you need any further modifications or additional details!