Color Picker Tool for Visual Studio

An integrated inline Color Picker extension for Visual Studio that enables real-time color visualization, editing, and conversion directly within the code editor.

🔗 Plugin Home | VS 2019 Download | Review

Ideal for web developers and UI designers who want precise color control without leaving Visual Studio.

Extract Color

Contrast Check

⚠️ Licensing Notice: This extension will remain free to use until January 1, 2027. Starting January 1, 2027, the Color Picker tool will transition to a paid model, offering both a perpetual license with a one-time purchase and a yearly subscription option.

The tool has been free since 2014, and this change will help support its continued development, maintenance, and the addition of new features.

An early-bird offer will be announced by the end of November.

Key Features

Editor Color Highlighting

• Displays inline color swatches in the Visual Studio code editor
• Enabled by default for the following file types: htm, html, cshtml, vbhtml, css, scss, less, styl, pcss, asp, aspx, cs, vb, xaml, axaml
• Additional file extensions or global enablement can be configured via: Tools → Options → Color Picker
• For very large documents, inline swatches may be skipped to maintain performance; editing a section enables color visualization for that area

Dockable Color Picker Window

• Access via View → Color Picker
• Fully dockable tool window
• Supports Visual Studio themes

Color Editing & Insertion

Edit colors with a single click

• Convert colors to any supported format
• Insert colors into the active text document, Replaces selected text if present
• Copy and paste color codes easily

Color Sources

• Color Canvas
• Custom Colors (import HEX codes)
• Named Colors
• Favorite Colors (add from selected color or import from HEX lists)
• Web Colors
• Eyedropper tool

Supported Color Formats

• Name
• HEX, #HexShort
• rgb, rgba
• hsl, hsla
• hsb / hsv, hwb
• cmyk
• lab, oklab
• lch, oklch
• Programming-specific formats

Additional Capabilities

• Save and reuse color selections
• View and adjust color Scale, Tint, Shades, and Tones
• Extract colors from image
• Extensive configuration options

Support

If you find this extension useful, please consider leaving a review on the Marketplace. Your feedback helps improve and maintain the tool.

Integrated Inline Color Picker for Visual Studio. This tool will very useful if you are working as a Web Developer or UI designer, who mainly uses Visual Studio for the day to day assignments. This tool provides a color tool window, color visualization in editor.

Version & Changes

• 3.3.0.2 - Licensing updated
• 3.3.0.1 - Color Format Options window Transparent color display fixed
• 3.3.0.0 - Option to Hide Canvas and Buttons, Supports large files, Contrast Checker
• 3.2.0.1 - HueSlider hides HueCanvas.
• 3.2.0.0 - Added - Addnl. Slider Options, Color Extractor.
• 3.1.2.0 - Eyedropper fix when clicking on other applications, Icon updated.
• 3.1.1.0 – XNA Format added, FromArgb fix for color swatches
• 3.1.0.0 – Eyedropper Fixes, UI redesign and more functionalities
• 2.0.0.0 – Skipped
• 1.0.0.0 – Initial release

Screenshots

Menu

Tools → Options → Color Picker

Color Picker Tool Window

Main Buttons

Configure - Color Formats

Switch Color Format

Pick Color - Eyedropper

Import Hex Codes , Delete - Favorites & Custom

VB Code - Light Theme

CSharpCode - Dark Theme

CSS