Color Converter: HEX, RGB, HSL, HSB
Convert colors between HEX, RGB, RGBA, HSL, HSV, and CMYK instantly with a free online color converter.
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Tags: color converter HEX RGB HSL, hex to rgb converter, color code converter
Color Converter: HEX, RGB, HSL, HSB A color converter translates a color value from one notation to another — HEX to RGB, RGB to HSL, HSL to CMYK — without any calculation on your part. Paste any color code, get every equivalent format back instantly. For an overview of all browser-based color utilities, see the Color Tools for Designers and Developers guide. --- What Formats Does a Color Converter Handle? A full-featured converter handles six formats: | Format | Example | Channels | |---|---|---| | HEX | | R G B (base-16) | | RGB | | R 0–255, G 0–255, B 0–255 | | RGBA | | R G B + alpha 0–1 | | HSL | | Hue 0–360°, Saturation %, Lightness % | | HSV/HSB | | Hue 0–360°, Saturation %, Value/Brightness % | | CMYK | | Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black 0–100% | --- What is How Each Format Works? HEX…
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert HEX to RGB?
Split the six-digit hex string into three two-character pairs and convert each from base-16 to decimal. #FF8040 becomes R=255 (FF), G=128 (80), B=64 (40). JavaScript: parseInt('FF', 16) returns 255. Most color converter tools handle this automatically.
How do I convert RGB to HSL?
Normalize R, G, B to the 0–1 range, then calculate lightness as (max + min) / 2. Saturation is (max - min) / (1 - |2L - 1|) when L ≠ 0.5. Hue uses the ratio of the channel differences to determine the angle. A color converter tool computes this instantly.
What is the difference between HSL and HSV?
HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) and HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value) both use a hue angle, but differ in their third axis. In HSL, a lightness of 100% always yields white. In HSV, a value of 100% with full saturation yields a pure hue. HSL is preferred in CSS; HSV is used in most design tools including Photoshop and Figma.
How do I convert a color code to CMYK?
First normalize RGB to 0–1 range. K (black) = 1 - max(R, G, B). C = (1 - R - K) / (1 - K), and similarly for M and Y. Note that CMYK is a subtractive model with print-specific gamuts — RGB colors that look vivid on screen may shift when printed. A converter gives you CMYK starting values, but print proofing is still necessary.
What is the most versatile color format for web?
HSL is the most versatile CSS color format for dynamic manipulation. Because hue, saturation, and lightness are separate channels, you can darken a color by reducing L, or create hover states by adjusting S — without recalculating the whole color. HEX remains the most common format for static values in design handoffs.
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