Spectrum
Color wheel
A color wheel lets users visually change an individual channel of a color on a circular track.
Table of contents#
Anatomy#
Options#
Background#
The background of the color wheel is a visual representation of the range of values that a user can select from. It can represent color properties such as hues or color channel values (such as RGB or CMYK levels). The exact format this background property takes will depend on what implementation you are working with. Some examples of the format include image, canvas, and gradient.
Value, min value, max value, step#
The value is the number selected within the color wheel’s range, from the min value to max value.
The min and max values can also be customized appropriately for what the color wheel is being used for. By default, the min value starts at 0 and max value is set to 360.
The step refers to the increment by which these values increase or decrease. A step value of 1 (default) allows a user to only select whole numbers within the min and max range.
Size#
A color wheel’s size can be customized appropriately for its context. By default, the size is size-2400 (192 px on desktop, 240 px on mobile).
Disabled#
A color wheel in a disabled state shows that an input exists, but is not available in that circumstance. This can be used to maintain layout continuity and communicate that the wheel may become available later.
Table of options#
From the design point of view, each component has a number of options. These options and their names are platform agnostic, and each implementation should adapt these to fit into their framework.
| Property | Values | Default value |
|---|---|---|
| background | – This will vary depending on implementation. | – |
| value | number (from min to max) | – |
| min value | number | 0 |
| max value | number | 360 |
| step | number | 1 |
| size | number | size-2400 |
| is disabled | yes / no | no |
Behaviors#
Keyboard focus#
A color wheel can be navigated using a keyboard. The keyboard focus state enlarges the handle to become twice as large.
Minimum size#
A color wheel’s minimum size is the same as its default: size-2400 (192 px on desktop, 240 px on mobile).
Usage guidelines#
Placing a color area inside a color wheel#
The color wheel is often used together with the color area component for color selection. When placing the color area inside the color wheel, make sure to leave enough of a margin between the two components to ensure there’s enough space for the both handles.
Display color selection#
When using color areas, it’s important to clearly display the color selection in real time. It can be in a color swatch, directly on the canvas, or both.
Color loupe on down/touch state#
The color loupe component can be used above the handle to show the selected color that would otherwise be covered by a cursor, stylus, or finger on the down/touch state. This can be customized to appear only on finger-input, or always appear regardless of input type.
Keyboard interactions#
| Key | Interaction |
|---|---|
| Tab | Places focus on the handle. If the handle is already in focus, moves focus to the next element in the page tab sequence. |
| Shift + Tab | Places focus on the previous element in the page tab sequence. |
| Right Arrow | Moves the handle clockwise. |
| Left Arrow | Moves the handle counter-clockwise. |
Changelog#
| Date | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 06, 2022 | 3.0.0 |
|
| May 13, 2020 | 2.0.0 |
|
| Mar 26, 2020 | 1.0.1 |
|
| Apr 20, 2019 | 1.0.0 |
|
Design checklist#
All interactive states
Includes all interactive states that are applicable (hover, down, focus, keyboard focus, disabled).
All color themes
Works properly across all four color themes (lightest, light, dark, darkest).
All platform scales
Includes a desktop scale (UWP, macOS, web desktop) and a mobile scale (iOS, Android, web mobile).
Accessible use of color
Color is not used as the only visual means of conveying information (WCAG 2.0 1.4.1).
Accessible contrast for text
Text has a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for small text and at least 3:1 for large text (WCAG 2.0 1.4.3).
Accessible contrast for UI components
Visual information required to identify components and states (except inactive components) has a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 (WCAG 2.1 1.4.11).
Content design
UI language and information design considerations have been incorporated into component design.
Defined options
Includes relevant options (variant, style, size, orientation, optional iconography, decorations, selection, error state, etc.)
Defined behaviors
Includes guidelines for keyboard focus, layout (wrapping, truncation, overflow), animation, interactions, etc.
Usage guidelines
Includes a list of dos and don'ts that highlight best practices and common mistakes.
Writing guidelines
Includes content standards or usage guidelines for how to write or format in-product content for the component.
Internationalization guidelines
Works properly across various locales and includes guidelines for bi-directionality (RTL).
Keyboard interactions
Follows WCAG 2.0 standards for keyboard accessibility guidelines and includes a description of the keyboard interactions.
Design tokens
All design attributes (color, typography, layout, animation, etc.) are available as design tokens.
UI kit
Includes a downloadable XD file that shows multiple options, states, color themes, and platform scales.
Generated UI kit
Includes a downloadable XD file, generated by code using design tokens defined in Spectrum DNA, and shows multiple options, states, color themes, and platform scales.
In Spectrum for Adobe XD plugin
Component is included in the Spectrum for Adobe XD plugin.
Color slider