How Can We Generate N Visually Distinct Colors Automatically?

How to Automatically Generate N "Distinct" Colors?

The question poses the challenge of creating N visually distinct colors. While piecewise linear functions on the RGB cube can generate colors, they may not always be noticeably different. Other methods include dividing the RGB cube into a lattice and sampling points.

However, the provided solutions still fall short of optimality.

Arbitrary N

• "Colour displays for categorical images" provides a free downloadable solution.
• "A WEB SERVICE TO PERSONALISE MAP COLOURING" offers a webservice solution that will be available soon.
• "An Algorithm for the Selection of High-Contrast Color Sets" provides a free C implementation.
• "High-contrast sets of colors" presents the first algorithm for solving this problem.

N is Finite and Relatively Small

Given a small N, consider using lists of predefined colors:

• Boynton's list of 11 almost never confused colors
• Kelly's 22 colors of maximum contrast
• A list created by an MIT student

The mentioned articles also offer useful tools for converting between color systems:

• Color Theory: How to convert Munsell HVC to RGB/HSB/HSL
• http://chem8.org/uch/space-55036-do-blog-id-5333.html
• https://metacpan.org/pod/Color::Library::Dictionary::NBS_ISCC

Code Implementations of predefined color lists in C#:

• Kelly's Max Contrast Set
• Boynton's Optimized

Predefined Colors in Hex and 8-Bit-Per-Channel:

• Python implementation of Kelly's colors
• JavaFX implementation of Kelly's colors

Additional Tips:

• Remember to sort colors based on hue to ensure maximum distinction.
• Avoid colors in Boynton's and Kelly's lists for people with defective color vision.

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