colorcet
Collection of perceptually uniform colormaps
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. Colorcet is actively maintained, has zero known vulnerabilities, installs with no dependencies, and supports current Python versions. The only caveat is verifying CC-BY-4.0 licensing terms for your specific use case—if you're using it for visualization in research, education, or open-source work, it's a straightforward choice.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.10 or greater.
- Low install friction with no runtime dependencies.
- Active maintenance with a recent release 108 days ago and ongoing commits; supports current Python versions 3.10 through 3.14.
License · maintenance · safety
CC-BY-4.0 (unclear) — Licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0). The license treatment is marked unclear in the metadata, so you should verify the specific terms for your use case, particularly if redistributing or modifying the colormaps.
last release 2026-04-28 (108 days) · last repo commit 2026-05-13 · 751 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 2,592,884 downloads/mo, #2,978 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install colorcet
import colorcet as cc
# Access a colormap by name
colormap = cc.cm.viridis- Whether CC-BY-4.0 licensing applies to the colormap data itself or only to documentation/code, and what attribution is required for use in applications
What it is and what it does
Colorcet is a curated library of perceptually uniform colormaps built on research by Peter Kovesi at the Center for Exploration Targeting. It provides over 100 named colormaps optimized for scientific visualization, where color perception remains consistent across the full range of values—avoiding the perceptual distortions that can mislead viewers in standard colormaps.
The package integrates directly with popular Python plotting libraries (matplotlib, bokeh, holoviews, datashader) and requires no external dependencies beyond Python itself. It's actively maintained, supports modern Python versions, and is designed as a drop-in replacement for standard colormap collections when perceptual uniformity matters for your visualization.
Use it for
- Create scientific plots where color gradients must represent data magnitude accurately without perceptual bias.
- Build interactive dashboards with bokeh or holoviews using consistent, research-backed color schemes.
- Visualize large datasets with datashader using colormaps optimized for high-density point rendering.
- Generate publication-quality figures in matplotlib where colormap choice affects reader interpretation.
- Ensure accessibility in visualizations by selecting colormaps designed for perceptual uniformity across viewers.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
Colorcet is actively maintained, has zero known vulnerabilities, installs with no dependencies, and supports current Python versions. The only caveat is verifying CC-BY-4.0 licensing terms for your specific use case—if you're using it for visualization in research, education, or open-source work, it's a straightforward choice.
Install
colorcet on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with no runtime dependencies. Active maintenance with a recent release 108 days ago and ongoing commits; supports current Python versions 3.10 through 3.14.
Requires Python 3.10 or greater.
License in practice
Licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0). The license treatment is marked unclear in the metadata, so you should verify the specific terms for your use case, particularly if redistributing or modifying the colormaps.
Quickstart
pip install colorcet
import colorcet as cc
# Access a colormap by name
colormap = cc.cm.viridisVerify before relying
- Whether CC-BY-4.0 licensing applies to the colormap data itself or only to documentation/code, and what attribution is required for use in applications
Package facts
| License | CC-BY-4.0 unclear |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 108 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 2,592,884 / month, #2,978 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Typing :: Typed |
Evidence: colorcet-3.2.1-py3-none-any.whl
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