Color Converter
Convert any color between HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV and CMYK formats instantly. Pick a color or enter a value — all formats update in real time.
HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
Understanding Color Models
Colors can be represented in many different formats, each designed for specific use cases. Whether you're a web developer, graphic designer, or print specialist, understanding these color models helps you work more efficiently.
HEX Colors
HEX (hexadecimal) is the most common color format on the web. It uses a six-character code preceded by a hash symbol (#), representing Red, Green, and Blue channels. Each pair of characters ranges from 00 to FF (0 to 255 in decimal). For example, #FF0000 is pure red, #00FF00 is pure green, and #0000FF is pure blue.
RGB Color Model
RGB stands for Red, Green, Blue — the three additive primary colors of light. Each channel ranges from 0 to 255. RGB is the native color model of screens and displays, making it ideal for web and digital design. When all three channels are at 255, you get white; when all are 0, you get black.
HSL Color Model
HSL represents colors as Hue (0-360°), Saturation (0-100%), and Lightness (0-100%). This model is more intuitive for humans because it separates the color itself (hue) from how vivid (saturation) or bright (lightness) it appears. HSL is great for creating color palettes and adjusting colors programmatically.
HSV / HSB Color Model
HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value) — also called HSB (Brightness) — is similar to HSL but uses Value instead of Lightness. It's commonly used in color pickers in design software like Adobe Photoshop. The difference from HSL is how brightness is calculated: HSV 100% value means the purest form of the hue.
CMYK Color Model
CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black). Unlike RGB which is additive (light-based), CMYK is subtractive (ink-based) and is the standard for print design. When designing for print, converting your digital RGB colors to CMYK helps you understand how they'll appear on paper.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert HEX to RGB?
Simply enter your HEX color code in the HEX field above. The RGB values will update automatically. Each pair of hex digits (e.g., FF = 255, 80 = 128, 00 = 0) maps directly to the Red, Green, and Blue channels.
What's the difference between HSL and HSV?
Both use Hue and Saturation, but HSL uses Lightness while HSV uses Value (Brightness). In HSL, 50% lightness gives the purest color; 0% is black and 100% is white. In HSV, 100% value gives the brightest version of the color, while saturation controls how vivid it is.
Why do my colors look different in print vs screen?
Screens use RGB (additive light), while printers use CMYK (subtractive ink). The CMYK color gamut is smaller than RGB, so some bright screen colors can't be perfectly reproduced in print. Use our CMYK preview to get an idea of how your color will translate.
Can I use HSL in CSS?
Yes! Modern CSS fully supports HSL with hsl(h, s%, l%) syntax. HSL is often preferred in CSS because it makes it easy to create color variations by adjusting just one value — for example, changing the lightness to create hover states.
Is this tool free?
Yes, Color Converter is completely free to use. All conversions happen instantly in your browser — no data is sent to any server, and your colors remain private.