The health percentage in PaletteRx's header is your single-number summary of palette readiness. It measures five things, each worth 20%, and each tied to a specific step in the workflow.
Checkpoint 1: Enough Colors (20%)
You need at least 3 colors. A one or two color palette cannot provide the variety needed for a full design system. Most professional palettes have 6 to 10 colors. PaletteRx allows up to 12.
Checkpoint 2: Light and Dark Bases (20%)
Your palette must include at least one light base color (lightness above 85%) and one dark base color (lightness below 20%). These are the background and text colors that make everything else usable.
Checkpoint 3: Accessible Pairs (20%)
Every chromatic color needs at least one other color in the palette that provides 4.5:1 contrast (WCAG AA). If a color has zero accessible partners, it is effectively unusable for text.
Checkpoint 4: All Roles Assigned (20%)
Your palette should cover all four roles: Primary, Supporting, Light Base, and Dark Base. A system missing any role is incomplete.
Checkpoint 5: Favorite Pairings (20%)
You need to have selected at least one favorite color pairing in Step 3. This signals that you have actively reviewed your contrast pairs and chosen the combinations you intend to use.
Reaching 100%
The health score is designed to be achievable by any palette that follows good design system practices. You do not need perfect contrast scores or ideal balance. You need a complete, intentional system.