Algorithm challenge: Generate color scheme from an image

Question

Background

So, I\'m working on a fresh iteration of a web app. And, we\'ve found that our users are obsessed with being lazy. Really lazy. In fact, the more wor

Answer 1

Similar to McWafflestix's solution, the specifics will need to be tweaked, but my general approach would be...

(I agree that HSV is the right space)

1. Grab a histogram of the image, filter it to smooth the noise, and find the highest score where V and S are in a (possibly dynamic) gamut of likely "subject" colors. A red bird on a blue sky will require that we be smart enough not to base our scheme on the blue, but on the red. This may require some guesses about photo composition, like "centered in the frame" and "rule of thirds" analysis could give you a probability of a color being relevant. Regardless, this is our the base color.

2. Along the lines of Kuler, calculate colors that compliment the base by moving around the color wheel. Extra points for a calculated compliment if it also appeared prominently in the histogram from step 1.

3. Use the base color and calculated compliments to derive pleasing adjunct colors, such as lighter and darker versions of each, more or less saturated, etc.