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Color Theory for Devs

Practical color theory: choosing palettes, contrast ratios, and dark mode design.

Color theory for developers: Start with one brand color. Generate a palette: HSL is easiest to manipulate — keep hue constant, vary saturation and lightness. Dark mode: reduce saturation 10-20% and increase lightness slightly. Contrast ratios: 4.5:1 minimum for text (WCAG AA), 7:1 for AAA. Common mistake: using pure black (#000) for dark backgrounds — use #0a0a0b or #111 for softer contrast. Use StyleForge's contrast checker to validate.