Color Converter

Features

The Color Converter lets you convert between the major color models. Enter a color value in any supported format - HEX/HEXA, RGB/RGBA, HSL/HSLA, HSV/HSVA, or CMYK/CMYKA - and the tool automatically detects it and outputs all equivalent representations, preserving the alpha (transparency) channel.

For example, entering #2e8b5799 instantly yields #2e8b57, rgb(46,139,87), rgba(46,139,87,0.60), hsl(146,50%,36%), hsv(146,67%,55%), cmyk(67,0,37,45), plus their alpha variants. Whether you are picking colors for the front end, matching a palette, or preparing print colors, you can compare every format in one place without manual calculation.

How It Works

The converter is built around a "unified intermediate model". First, any input color is parsed into RGB (0-255) channels plus an alpha value (0-1). Every other format is then derived from this intermediate value: HEX is produced by converting each RGB channel from decimal to hexadecimal; HSL/HSV are computed from RGB using hue, saturation, and lightness/value transforms; CMYK is derived from RGB by computing the cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink percentages.

Alpha is rendered as an 8-digit hexadecimal in HEXA (A x 255 converted to hex) and as a two-decimal fraction in RGBA/HSLA/HSVA/CMYKA. When no alpha is supplied, it defaults to 100% opaque. All conversions follow standard color-science formulas, so the results are stable and reproducible.

Use Cases

• Front-end development: turn design HEX values into CSS rgb()/rgba() or hsl() notation
• Design matching: switch between RGB and HSV/HSL to fine-tune hue and saturation for a harmonious palette
• Print prep: convert on-screen RGB colors to CMYK to estimate the difference between screen and print
• Transparency: convert between HEXA and rgba()/hsla() when you need a color with an alpha channel
• Learning: understand how each color model is built and how they relate

Color Basics

RGB is an industry-standard color model based on the additive combination of three channels - Red (R), Green (G), and Blue (B). By varying these channels and layering them, it can reproduce nearly every color perceptible to the human eye, making it one of the most widely used color systems.

HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) represents a point in the RGB color space in a cylindrical coordinate system.

• Hue (H) is the fundamental attribute of a color - the color name, such as red or yellow.
• Saturation (S) is the purity of a color. Higher values are purer, while lower values fade toward gray, on a 0-100% scale.
• Lightness (L): 0% is darkest, 50% is the middle, and 100% is brightest.

HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value), also known as the Hexcone Model, is a color space created by A. R. Smith in 1978 based on the intuitive characteristics of color.

CMYK is a subtractive color model used for printed materials that rely on reflected light. We read a newspaper when light from the sun or a lamp falls on the page and reflects into our eyes. Because it needs an external light source, you cannot read a newspaper in a dark room.

Converting RGBA to hexadecimal: R, G, and B are numbers from 0 to 255, so each can be converted directly from decimal to hexadecimal. Alpha A is a percentage from 0% to 100%; first convert it to a 0-255 value (A x 255), then to hexadecimal. For example, RGB 46,139,87 becomes #2e8b57, and RGBA 46,139,87,0.6 becomes #2e8b5799.

FAQ

Q: Is the # prefix required in HEX input?

A: No. HEX values are recognized with or without the # prefix, and 3- or 4-digit abbreviations are supported (for example, #0FF equals #00FFFF).

Q: What is the range of the hue in HSL/HSV?

A: Hue ranges from 0 to 360 degrees, while saturation and lightness/value range from 0 to 100%. The tool normalizes the hue to 0-360 automatically.

Q: How are colors without transparency output?

A: When no alpha is provided, it defaults to 100% opaque: HEXA becomes #RRGGBBFF and RGBA/HSLA alpha is 1.00.

Q: Why does CMYK differ from the on-screen color?

A: CMYK is a subtractive, reflected-light model used for print, whereas RGB is an additive, self-emitting model for screens. Their gamuts differ, so the conversion is a reference; precise proofing still requires validation in a professional print environment.

Examples

Enter a HEXA value:

Input: #2e8b5799
Output:
HEX: #2E8B57
HEXA: #2E8B5799
RGB: rgb(46,139,87)
RGBA: rgba(46,139,87,0.60)
HSL: hsl(146,50%,36%)
HSLA: hsla(146,50%,36%,0.60)
HSV: hsv(146,67%,55%)
HSVA: hsva(146,67%,55%,0.60)
CMYK: cmyk(67,0,37,45)
CMYKA: cmyka(67,0,37,45,0.60)

Enter an RGB value:

Input: rgb(255,0,0)
Output:
HEX: #FF0000
RGB: rgb(255,0,0)
HSL: hsl(0,100%,50%)
HSV: hsv(0,100%,100%)
CMYK: cmyk(0,100,100,0)

CSS Color Reference Table

The table below lists the 136 named CSS colors, including the English code, description, hexadecimal value, and RGB value. Click a row to copy the color for quick reference.

Related Tools

This tool pairs naturally with Base Converter, which also handles value conversions - base conversion works with numbers across different bases, while color conversion works with colors across different models. In design and development, it is often used alongside ASCII Lookup, Base64 Encode, MIME Type Lookup, Color Palette, Image Color Picker, Image to ICO Icon, and Image Compressor.