For Instagram Stories
Color Story Palette
Using the same text and pen colors in every story? Save one palette, paste it in and pick its colors with the eyedropper. 48 palettes, from autumn and muted tones to pastels, Korean style and fan colors, all free.
- Free, no sign-up
- 48 palettes
- Photos are never uploaded
All 48 Color Story Palettes
Pick a palette to see how it looks in a story. Save the image, then pick its colors with the eyedropper.
Autumn8
Halloween4
Winter & Christmas6
Muted6
Pastel5
Korean style5
Retro5
Monotone4
Fan colors5
Autumn Leaves
On iPhone, tap “Save Image” in the share sheet to add it to Photos.
Make a Color Story Palette from Your Photo
A photo of your favorite idol, a trip, today's outfit: pull five colors out of it and save them as a palette image. The photo is processed on this device and never uploaded anywhere.
Choose a photo and its five-color palette appears here.
How to Use a Color Story Palette
Paste the palette image into your story and pick its colors with the eyedropper. The steps are the same on iPhone and Android.
- 1
Save a palette
Pick a palette on this page and tap “Save image”. It goes to your camera roll.
- 2
Add it to your story
In the story editor, open stickers, tap the photo sticker and choose the palette image. Pinch to make it smaller.
- 3
Pick a color
Select text (Aa) or the pen, then tap the eyedropper at the left end of the color row. Drag it onto a palette color and let go.
- 4
Color your text and pen
Using only one palette's colors makes the whole story look put together.
- 5
Remove the palette
When you're done, press and hold the palette image and drag it to the trash at the bottom of the screen.
Color Tips for Stylish Stories
One base color, one accent
Keep most of the text in a calm color and save the accent for the words that matter. Starting with two colors keeps things tidy.
Contrast in brightness
Dark text on light photos, light text on dark ones. Pairing colors from opposite ends of a palette keeps text easy to read.
Three colors per story at most
The more colors you add, the messier it looks. Three per story is a good limit.
Borrow from the photo
Choose colors from the same family as your photo so the edits blend in. If you're not sure, make a palette from the photo.
Color Story Palette FAQ
Updated October 15, 2026
What is a color story palette?
It's a swatch image of the colors you'll use in an Instagram Story. Paste it into your story and pick its colors with the eyedropper to color your text and pen. This page has 48 you can save for free.
Where is the eyedropper?
Select text (Aa) or the pen in your story and a row of colors appears at the bottom. The eyedropper icon is at its left end. Hold it, drag it across the screen and let go over the color you want.
Does it work on Android?
Yes. The Instagram app has the same eyedropper on iPhone and Android, and the steps are the same.
How do I save a palette image?
Pick a palette and tap “Save image”. On iPhone, tap “Save Image” in the share sheet to add it to Photos. On a computer, it downloads.
What's the difference between Full story and Sticker?
Full story is a tall 1080×1920 image you can open as a story on its own. Sticker is a square 1080×1080 image, made to sit small on top of a photo while you pick colors with the eyedropper.
Why do the colors look slightly different after posting?
Instagram compresses stories when you post them, so pale colors can look a little duller. If that bothers you, choose the next darker color in the palette.
Can I make a palette from my own photo?
Yes. Choose a photo under “Make one from a photo” and five of its colors become a palette image. It all happens on your device; the photo is not uploaded.
What's a HEX code?
A six-digit color code such as #FFFFFF. It gives you exactly the same color in other apps like Canva or Photoshop. Tap any color to copy it.
Is it free? Do I need an account?
It's all free and you don't need an account. Use the saved images in your stories however you like.
Can I use it in a shop or brand's stories?
Yes, use the colors freely in shop and brand stories. Please just don't redistribute the palette images themselves as design assets.
What color is today's story?
Pick from 48 color story palettes or make one from your photo. Both are free.
Pick a palette