Color picker (6x6x6 = 216 colors)

What is the 6x6x6 (216 colors) Color Picker?
It’s a color selection tool based on a 216-color "web-safe" palette. These colors were designed to display consistently across older computer monitors and web browsers.

• 6 levels of red, green, and blue: 00, 33, 66, 99, CC, and FF (hexadecimal values).
• Combining those gives 6 x 6 x 6 = 216 distinct colors.
• Example colors: #33CCFF, #996600, #FF99CC.

Why use a 6x6x6 (216 colors) Color Picker?

• Historical consistency: Older displays (especially 8-bit monitors) couldn’t handle the full 24-bit color range, so these 216 colors ensured they’d show up the same everywhere.
• Web safety: They were called "web-safe colors" because they wouldn’t dither (get distorted) on limited-color screens.
• Simplicity: It offers a manageable, easy-to-use palette without overwhelming choices.

How does the 6x6x6 (216 colors) Color Picker work?

• Each color is a combination of one value from each of the 6 possible red, green, and blue levels.
• For example:
  • Red = 66
  • Green = 99
  • Blue = CC
  • Combined Hex Code = #6699CC
• A visual color picker usually lays these out in a 6x6x6 grid, grouping similar shades together for easy navigation.

When would you use the 6x6x6 (216 colors) Color Picker?

• Old-school web design: If you’re working on retro-style or vintage-themed digital projects.
• Pixel art: Limited palettes are great for creating crisp, defined visual styles.
• Designing for compatibility: Rare, but if you expect your content to be viewed on older hardware or systems with limited color support.