Color Converter
Convert colors between HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV, and CMYK color codes for web and design.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between HEX and RGB color codes?
HEX color codes represent colors as a six-digit hexadecimal number (e.g., #FF5733), where each pair of digits represents red, green, and blue channels from 00 to FF. RGB uses three decimal values from 0–255 for the same channels (e.g., rgb(255, 87, 51)). Both represent identical information in different formats. HEX is commonly used in CSS and design tools while RGB is preferred in digital imaging and programming. Converting between them is straightforward since hex and decimal are related number systems.
What is HSL color format?
HSL stands for Hue, Saturation, and Lightness — an alternative to RGB designed to be more intuitive for humans. Hue is the color angle (0–360°), where 0° is red, 120° is green, and 240° is blue. Saturation (0–100%) indicates color intensity from gray to vivid. Lightness (0–100%) ranges from black to white with the pure color at 50%. Designers often prefer HSL because adjusting individual properties feels more natural than modifying RGB values when tweaking colors in CSS or design software.
When should I use CMYK instead of RGB?
Use CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) for print design, and RGB for digital screens. CMYK is a subtractive color model — inks absorb light — while RGB is additive, with light sources combining. Because monitors and printers use fundamentally different technologies, colors can look different between screen and print. Designers preparing materials for professional printing should always work in CMYK and perform print proofs, since some vibrant RGB colors cannot be reproduced accurately with physical inks on paper.