Multicolr Search Lab, developed by the TinEye team to whom we owe an online tool for searching the internet using an image, is a free tool that will allow you to perform an image search by color based on one or more dominant colors.
Multicolr Search Lab: An image search tool based on dominant colors
In some cases, it may be necessary to obtain images in a specific color. This color search is offered in Google's advanced search tools... but the only problem is that Google only offers to search for a single color. If you need to work on more than one color, Multicolr Search Lab is made for you since this tool will analyze up to 5 colors in an image in order to refine your search.
For example, you can search for an image with a predominance of red by determining that you need 50% red, 15% purple, and 35% yellow. You can also refine your search by entering keywords.
Limitations of Multicolr Search Lab
There is, however, a limitation to the use of Multicolr Search Lab: it is limited to images under Creative Commons license available on Flickr. This still represents more than 20 million images but it is below what can be found using Google Images.
How to use Multicolr Search Lab to find images based on their dominant colors
To use it, nothing could be simpler, you just have to choose up to 5 colors of which you can determine the dominance.
- Visit the Multicolr Search Lab website.
- Click on the colored squares on the right side of the screen to add a color. You can select up to 5 colors from the color palette provided.
- If you choose 5 colors they will each have 20% importance by default but you can adjust the weight of each of them.
- Then enter keywords to refine your search. It is recommended to use keywords in English to have a better chance of finding results.
- Image search by color updates automatically whenever you change anything in the settings.
In the example below, I searched for photos of sky with a purple cast (100%):
It's really very effective!
Now I add a bit of orange, thinking that I will find sunsets. So I add a second color, orange, but I put it at 29% so that it is always the purple that is dominant. And here is what it gives:
The result is really very good quality since most of the photos What comes out of my search are indeed photos of sky with a dominant purple and a little orange. So I manage to find quite a few choices for a sunset!
Multicolr Search Lab is a handy and easy-to-use tool for finding images that match a specific color palette. Although limited to Flickr images, it's a great complement to the advanced search tools offered by other sites!
F.A.Q
What are the benefits of image search based on dominant colors?
Searching for images based on dominant colors can be especially useful when you need to find images that match a specific color palette, such as for a design project or to illustrate an article or social media post. This can help you quickly and efficiently find images that fit your needs and are visually consistent.
What online tools allow you to search images based on dominant colors?
There are several online tools that allow you to search images based on dominant colors, such as Multicolr Search Lab and Google Images Advanced Search. These tools analyze the colors in an image and allow you to determine the dominance of each color to refine your search.
What are the limitations of these dominant color-based image search tools?
Image search tools based on dominant colors may be limited in terms of the number of colors analyzed and the available image base. For example, Multicolr Search Lab is limited to Creative Commons licensed images available on Flickr, which is still over 20 million images. Other tools may be limited in terms of the available image base or the quality of the images found.
What are the best practices for using these dominant color-based image search tools?
It is recommended to use relevant keywords and in English to refine your search and maximize your chances of finding relevant results. You should also be specific in defining the dominance of each color and try different combinations of colors and keywords to find the best results. Finally, don't forget to check the licenses of the images found and respect copyright by using the images according to the terms of the license.
Article updated on May 7, 2025 by Byothe
