ofxColorTheory

ofxColorTheory started as an openFrameworks addon, but the core library is generic C++ and can be used without openFrameworks.

What It Does

Generates color palettes from classic color-theory rules:

• Analogous
• Complementary
• SplitComplementary
• Compound
• FlippedCompound
• Monochrome
• Tetrad
• Triad

Interpolation supports RGB, HSB, and CIELCh (ColorSpace::Rgb, ColorSpace::Hsb, ColorSpace::Lch).

Use With Plain C++ (No openFrameworks)

The library is template-based and works with any color type T that provides the required interface.

Required Interface For T

Your color type must provide:

• static float limit()
• channels: r, g, b
• float getHue() const
• float getHueAngle() const (degrees 0..360)
• float getSaturation() const
• float getBrightness() const
• void setHue(float)
• void setSaturation(float)
• void setBrightness(float)
• static T fromHsb(float hue, float sat, float bri)
• T& lerp(const T& other, float amt)

A complete reference implementation is in tests/color_theory_tests.cpp.

Minimal Usage

#include "ColorWheelSchemes.h"

int main() {
    auto scheme = ofxColorTheory::ColorWheelSchemes_<MyColor>::make(ofxColorTheory::ColorRule::Triad);
    scheme->setPrimaryColor(MyColor(/* ... */));
    scheme->regenerate();

    auto palette = scheme->interpolate(64, ofxColorTheory::ColorSpace::Lch);
}

C++-Only Example In This Repo

A full standalone example (custom color type + palette generation + console output) is available at:

examples/cpp_only/main.cpp

Build and run it:

cd examples/cpp_only
make run

Build (Plain C++)

c++ -std=c++17 -I./src your_app.cpp src/ColorUtil.cpp -o your_app

Use With openFrameworks

#include "ColorWheelSchemes.h"

auto scheme = ofxColorTheory::ColorWheelSchemes_<ofColor>::make(ofxColorTheory::ColorRule::Triad);
scheme->setPrimaryColor(ofColor::orange);
scheme->regenerate();

std::vector<ofColor> palette = scheme->interpolate(64, ofxColorTheory::ColorSpace::Lch);

API Notes

• Factory returns fresh instances (std::unique_ptr) to avoid shared mutable state.
• Use ColorWheelSchemes_<T>::make(...).
• ColorScheme_ and ColorWheelScheme_ have virtual destructors and checked accessors.
• Integer color-space constants remain for compatibility, but ColorSpace is preferred.

Tests

Standalone C++ smoke tests (no openFrameworks required):

cd tests
make run