Color schemes

You can define different color schemes in your theme settings and apply the color schemes to different sections throughout your online store with a color scheme picker. A color scheme is a set of colors. Your theme has a set of default color schemes applied that you can change at any time in the theme editor. You can add your brand colors to ensure a cohesive application of your color palette across your online store.

Color scheme theme settings

Color schemes are a theme setting that group elements and their respective colors in a visually representative way. You can assign different colors to various elements in a cohesive color scheme that can be applied across your theme where a color scheme picker is available. You can have up to 21 color schemes. You can also preview how your colors are displayed in the scheme's preview.

Setting

Description

Background

Color is applied to the background of some sections and to the outline button background.

Background gradient

A gradient of colors is applied to the background of some sections. Background gradients replace the background where possible.

Text

Color is applied to the section or block text.

Solid button background

Color is applied to the primary button background.

Solid button label

Color is applied to the primary button text.

Outline button

Color is applied to the secondary button text and border.

Shadow

Color is applied to the shadows.

Manage your color scheme

Your store's color scheme and color options are set within your theme settings. For solid colors, use the color picker to select a new color or enter the value of the color in the text field. The color field accepts the following color names and values:

color names such as red, black, or blue
RGB color codes
hexadecimal color values

Steps:

From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes.
Click Customize next to the theme that you want to customize.
Click the gear icon, and then click Colors.
In the Schemes section, click an existing scheme or click Add scheme to add a new color scheme.
Click the color swatch for the content type color that you want to change.
To set your color, enter a hex color code or choose the color from the color picker. To set the color to transparent, delete the hex code from the text field.
Click Save.

Applying your color scheme

After you define your color scheme in your theme settings, you can assign a color scheme using the color scheme picker in your theme's sections and blocks. The color scheme picker is available only in certain sections, blocks, and general theme settings.

Gradients

You can set up a gradient of colors in some themes for visually interesting background options. The color_background setting is used to customize the CSS background property.

Tip

To learn more about gradients and CSS backgrounds, refer to Mozilla's linear gradient and CSS background documentation.

The gradient picker allows you to select the colors, gradient style, angle, position, and opacity of the gradient. The options selected in the gradient picker are previewed in real time in the theme editor. You can also create a gradient background using CSS code, which includes a validation checker.

Set up gradients

From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes.
Click Customize next to the theme that you want to customize.
Click the gear icon, and then click Colors.
In the Schemes section, click an existing scheme that you want to edit.
Click the gradient color swatch option, such as Background gradient.
If you haven't previously set up a gradient, then some preset options are displayed for you to choose from. Select any preset gradient to open the options panel.
Select your gradient options:

Choose between a linear or radial gradient. Use the buttons to select your preferred gradient style.
Set the angle of your gradient with the up and down arrows. Clicking the up or down arrow increases or decreases the angle percentage by 5.
Use the slider to select the position of your gradient, or enter a numeric value in the field.
Enter a specific color hex code or use the color slider to choose a hue. Recently selected colors are displayed at the bottom of the gradient options panel.
To make your gradient opaque, use the slider on the right to select the transparency of your gradient. You can also enter a percentage in the field next to the hex color code.

Click Save.

Use CSS to set gradients

Most CSS background property values can be used to set a background color. You can use this field for solid colors (for example, #000000, black, rgb(0,0,0,0), rgba(0,0,0,0), hsl(0, 0%, 0%), and hsla(0, 0%, 0%, 1) all produce a solid black background), or for gradients (for example, linear-gradient(red, green), radial-gradient(red, green), or conic-gradient(red, green)). Gradients can also be repeated.