Color Picker (4096 colors)

What is the 4096-color picker?
The 4096-color picker is a tool that lets you choose from a palette of 4096 distinct colors. It’s based on a 16x16x16 color cube, where:

• Red has 16 possible levels
• Green has 16 possible levels
• Blue has 16 possible levels

Since 16 x 16 x 16 = 4096, you get 4096 unique color combinations.

Why a 4096-color picker?

• Balanced variety: It gives a wide range of colors without the full 16.7 million colors of 24-bit RGB.
• Simplified color choices: It’s a good middle ground between small palettes (like the 216 web-safe colors) and full RGB.
• Efficiency: Useful for older systems or applications where fewer colors save memory and processing power.

How does the 4096-color picker work?
Each of the 16 levels for red, green, and blue is typically represented by a 4-bit value (hexadecimal from 0 to F).
For example:

• Red = A (10 in hexadecimal)
• Green = 5 (5 in hexadecimal)
• Blue = F (15 in hexadecimal)

This combines into a 12-bit Hex color code like #A5F. Some systems expand this to the 6-digit format: #AA55FF.

When would you use a 4096-color picker?

• Graphics for older systems: Some vintage devices and early games used 12-bit color depth.
• Pixel art and stylized designs: It keeps a distinct, slightly limited aesthetic.
• Simplified color mapping: Easier to manage and categorize than full 24-bit color spaces.