Color Converter

What is a color converter?

A color converter translates color values between different color models — HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV, and CMYK. Designers and developers frequently need to switch between formats: CSS uses HEX and RGB, design tools often use HSL for intuitive color picking, and print workflows require CMYK. This tool handles all conversions instantly.

Each color model represents colors differently. RGB (Red, Green, Blue) mixes light — it is used for screens. CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) mixes ink — it is used for printing. HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) describes colors the way humans think about them — pure color, vividness, and brightness. HEX is just RGB written in hexadecimal.

Color models explained

• HEX — a six-digit hexadecimal code (#FF5733). Compact and widely used in web development.
• RGB — three values (0-255) for red, green, and blue. The native color model for screens.
• HSL — hue (0-360 degrees), saturation (0-100%), and lightness (0-100%). Intuitive for creating color palettes.
• HSV/HSB — similar to HSL but uses value/brightness instead of lightness. Common in graphic design tools.
• CMYK — four values (0-100%) for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Used in print production.

How to use this tool

Enter a color value in any supported format and all other representations are calculated instantly. Use the color picker for visual selection. The tool shows a preview swatch and the converted values in HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV, and CMYK formats, ready to copy and paste into your code or design tool.

Colors in web development

CSS supports multiple color formats: hex (#ff5733), rgb(255, 87, 51), hsl(11, 100%, 60%), and named colors (tomato). Modern CSS also supports oklch() and oklab() for perceptually uniform color spaces. When choosing between formats, HEX is most compact, HSL is easiest to adjust programmatically (lighten by increasing L, desaturate by decreasing S), and RGB is the most widely supported.

Frequently asked questions

Why do colors look different on screen and in print?

Screens emit light (RGB, additive color mixing) while printers use ink that absorbs light (CMYK, subtractive mixing). The RGB color gamut (range of possible colors) is larger than CMYK, so some vibrant screen colors cannot be reproduced in print. This is why designers should work in CMYK when creating print materials and use Pantone colors for critical color matching.

What is the difference between HSL and HSV?

Both use hue and saturation, but differ in the third component. HSL's lightness ranges from 0 (black) through 0.5 (pure color) to 1 (white). HSV's value ranges from 0 (black) to 1 (full brightness). In HSL, a saturation of 100% at lightness 50% gives the purest color. In HSV, saturation 100% and value 100% gives the purest color. HSL is generally more intuitive for web design.