Can I use GitBlend themes with private repository contributions?

Yes! GitBlend supports private repository contributions. Use the include_private=true parameter in your URL to include private repo activity in your themed graph. Make sure you've enabled 'Include private contributions' in your GitHub profile settings.

Will using custom themes affect my actual contribution data?

No, GitBlend themes only change the visual appearance of your contribution graph. Your actual contribution data (commit count, dates, etc.) remains exactly the same. The themes are purely aesthetic overlays.

How often do GitBlend graphs update?

GitBlend graphs update every 4 hours through intelligent caching. If you set up GitHub Actions, you can regenerate them daily or on-demand. The cache ensures fast loading while maintaining accuracy.

Can I create my own custom theme colors?

Currently, GitBlend offers 20+ pre-built themes. While you can't create custom color schemes directly, you can use CSS overlays and background customization for additional styling. The GitBlend team regularly adds new themes based on community requests.

Do themed graphs work on GitLab profiles too?

Yes! GitBlend supports both GitHub and GitLab. Use the same URL structure but replace the platform parameter. The themes work identically across platforms, ensuring consistency if you maintain profiles on both services.

Customizing Your Contribution Graph Colors and Themes

> Summary: GitHub's native contribution graph uses a fixed green color scheme that can't be customized, but third-party tools like GitBlend offer 20+ themes including GitHub Dark, Dracula, Nord, Synthwave, and more. This guide covers how to match your contribution graph aesthetic to your portfolio, implement dark/light mode switching, and create visual consistency across your GitHub profile with practical examples and automated workflows.

Key Takeaways

•GitHub's native limitations - GitHub doesn't allow custom colors for contribution graphs; use GitBlend or other tools to generate themed visualizations instead.
•20+ GitBlend themes available - Choose from themes like Dracula, Nord, Synthwave, Ocean, Cyberpunk, Tokyo, and more to match your portfolio aesthetic.
•Dark/Light mode support - Use responsive picture tags with prefers-color-scheme to automatically switch between light and dark theme variants.
•Automated updates via GitHub Actions - Set up automated workflows to regenerate your themed graphs daily without manual intervention.
•Visual consistency matters - Align your contribution graph theme with your overall GitHub profile aesthetic for a cohesive professional appearance.

Your GitHub contribution graph is often the first thing recruiters and collaborators see when visiting your profile. While GitHub's native green squares serve their purpose, they offer zero customization options. What if you could transform this visual element into something that actually matches your personal brand and portfolio aesthetic?

GitBlend makes this possible with 20+ professionally designed themes, from sleek GitHub Dark to vibrant Synthwave. In this guide, you'll learn how to go from basic green squares to a customized contribution graph that enhances your professional image.

Default GitHub and GitLab Themes

GitHub and GitLab use dynamic color palettes for their native contribution graphs, with colors automatically adjusting based on activity intensity. GitHub displays shades of green, while GitLab uses a similar system with different color families. However, neither platform offers built-in customization for these colors.

i Info

Native Theme Limitations:

• GitHub: Fixed green color family (light to dark)

• GitLab: Fixed blue color family (light to dark)

• No user control over colors or themes

• Colors adapt dynamically based on activity levels

This is where GitBlend shines—it fetches your real contribution data but displays it using customizable themes, preserving your actual activity while giving you visual control.

Why Customize Your Contribution Graph

Customizing your contribution graph isn't just about aesthetics—it's about creating a cohesive personal brand that extends across all your developer profiles. A themed contribution graph immediately signals attention to detail and technical sophistication.

Professional Benefits:

•First impressions matter: Recruiters often spend seconds scanning profiles
•Brand consistency: Colors matching your portfolio create visual harmony
•Technical demonstration: Shows proficiency with GitHub Actions and automation
•Cultural fit: Dark/light mode preferences indicate attention to user experience

→ Tip

Use GitBlend's themes to match your portfolio's color scheme. If your personal website uses a purple gradient, the 'Lavender' or 'Synthwave' theme creates instant visual consistency.

The impact extends beyond individual profiles—when your contribution graph matches your blog, Twitter theme, and portfolio, you create a memorable brand experience that makes you more discoverable across platforms.

GitBlend Theme Options Overview

GitBlend offers an extensive theme library designed by developers, for developers. Each theme is carefully crafted to maintain readability while providing visual appeal across different display contexts.

Popular Themes:

•github: Classic GitHub appearance (light/dark variants)
•dracula: Popular dark theme with purple accents
•nord: Arctic-inspired blue color palette
•ocean: Deep sea blues and teals
•sunset: Warm orange and pink gradients
•synthwave: Retro 80s neon aesthetic
•cyberpunk: High-contrast futuristic design
•tokyo: Japanese-inspired color scheme
•forest: Nature-inspired greens and browns
•coral: Warm tropical color palette

i Info

Theme Categories:

• Dark themes: Dracula, Nord, Ocean, Cyberpunk (12 available)

• Light themes: Rose, Mint, Autumn, Solarized (8 available)

• High contrast: Designed for accessibility needs

• Colorblind-friendly: Optimized for different color vision deficiencies

All themes include both SVG and PNG variants, ensuring compatibility across different platforms and use cases.

Markdown

# GitBlend Theme URL Examples
![Dracula Theme](https://gitblend.com/api/contributions/github?username=sergebulaev&theme=dracula)
![Nord Theme](https://gitblend.com/api/contributions/github?username=sergebulaev&theme=nord)
![Synthwave Theme](https://gitblend.com/api/contributions/github?username=sergebulaev&theme=synthwave)

Matching Your Portfolio Aesthetic

Creating visual consistency between your contribution graph and portfolio requires strategic theme selection. The key is understanding color theory and how different themes complement various design styles.

Minimalist Portfolios

•Use github (light) or solarized themes
•Clean, unobtrusive colors that don't compete with content
•Excellent for portfolios with lots of negative space

Modern/Startup Portfolios

•dracula or cyberpunk for tech-forward aesthetics
•ocean or tokyo for innovative, dynamic brands
•Consider synthwave for retro-futuristic themes

Enterprise/Developer Tool Portfolios

•nord or github (dark) for professional appearance
•forest or lavender for approachable enterprise tools

◆ Example

A developer with a cybersecurity blog using a dark theme with green accents chose GitBlend's cyberpunk theme. The neon green highlights in the contribution graph perfectly matched their blog's syntax highlighting, creating seamless brand continuity.

Dark Mode and Light Mode Considerations

Modern developers expect seamless dark/light mode switching across all tools. GitBlend addresses this by providing theme variants that automatically adapt to user preferences using CSS media queries.

Implementation Strategy: Use the HTML picture element with media queries to serve different theme variants based on the viewer's preference:

! Warning

Don't use JavaScript for theme switching—it won't work in GitHub READMEs due to content security policies. Always use the picture element or CSS media queries.

HTML

<picture>
  <source
    media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)"
    srcset="https://gitblend.com/api/contributions/github?username=sergebulaev&theme=dracula">
  <source
    media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)"
    srcset="https://gitblend.com/api/contributions/github?username=sergebulaev&theme=github">
  <img
    src="https://gitblend.com/api/contributions/github?username=sergebulaev&theme=github"
    alt="GitHub contribution graph">
</picture>

Creating Visual Consistency Across Profiles

Visual consistency extends beyond just GitHub. Your contribution graph theme should align with your presence across GitHub, GitLab, personal portfolio, and even documentation sites.

Cross-Platform Consistency Framework:

Color Palette: Extract your brand's primary colors">

Theme Selection: Choose GitBlend themes that complement these colors">

Asset Creation: Generate themed graphs for all platforms">

Automated Updates: Use GitHub Actions to keep everything synchronized">

★ Pro Tip

Create a GitHub Actions workflow that generates multiple themed versions of your graph (light/dark for each platform) and pushes them to different branches. This ensures consistency even when platforms have different theme support.

YAML

# .github/workflows/update-themed-graphs.yml
name: Update Themed Graphs
on:
  schedule:
    - cron: '0 2 * * *'  # Daily at 2 AM UTC
  workflow_dispatch:

jobs:
  update-graphs:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Generate multiple themes
        run: |
          curl -o github-light.svg "https://gitblend.com/api/contributions/github?username=${{ github.repository_owner }}&theme=github"
          curl -o dracula-dark.svg "https://gitblend.com/api/contributions/github?username=${{ github.repository_owner }}&theme=dracula"

      - name: Commit updated graphs
        uses: EndBug/add-and-commit@v9
        with:
          add: '*.svg'
          message: 'Update themed contribution graphs'

Custom Color and Background Options

While GitBlend provides 20+ pre-built themes, you can achieve even more specific customization through background colors and additional styling options.

Background Customization:

•Transparent backgrounds: Use &bg=transparent for seamless integration
•Custom colors: Use &bg=%23RRGGBB format for specific hex colors
•Gradient backgrounds: Combine with CSS for advanced styling

→ Tip

Use transparent backgrounds with CSS gradients on your portfolio for stunning effects. The contribution graph becomes part of your overall design rather than a separate element.

CSS

.contribution-graph {
  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea 0%, #764ba2 100%);
  padding: 2rem;
  border-radius: 12px;
  box-shadow: 0 4px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
}

.contribution-graph img {
  filter: drop-shadow(0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1));
  transition: transform 0.3s ease;
}

.contribution-graph:hover img {
  transform: scale(1.02);
}

Conclusion

Transforming your contribution graph from basic green squares to a themed visual element is more than aesthetics—it's about creating a cohesive personal brand that resonates across all your developer profiles. With GitBlend's 20+ themes, automated workflows, and responsive design support, you can maintain visual consistency while showcasing your actual development activity.

The best part? Once set up, your themed graphs update automatically, ensuring your profile always reflects your latest contributions with your chosen aesthetic. Whether you prefer the professional look of GitHub Dark, the creative flair of Synthwave, or the elegance of Nord, GitBlend has a theme that matches your brand.

Ready to transform your contribution graph? Get started with GitBlend and choose from 20+ professionally designed themes. Set up your automated workflow in under 5 minutes and watch your GitHub profile come to life with colors that actually match your personal brand.

Customizing Your Contribution Graph Colors and Themes

Key Takeaways

Key Takeaways

Default GitHub and GitLab Themes

Why Customize Your Contribution Graph

GitBlend Theme Options Overview

Matching Your Portfolio Aesthetic

Minimalist Portfolios

Modern/Startup Portfolios

Enterprise/Developer Tool Portfolios

Dark Mode and Light Mode Considerations

Creating Visual Consistency Across Profiles

Custom Color and Background Options

Conclusion

Next Steps

Ready to enhance your profile?

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Articles

Understanding GitHub Contribution Graphs

How to Show GitLab Activity on Your GitHub Profile