Color Converter

Color Converter - Convert Between Color Formats

A powerful color converter that converts between HEX, RGB, HSL, and CMYK color formats. Features a color picker with live preview, copy colors to clipboard, and color brightness detection. Perfect for web developers, designers, and anyone working with colors.

What are the different color formats?

Common color formats:

HEX (Hexadecimal):
- Format: #RRGGBB or #RGB
- Example: #FF5733, #F57
- Used in: HTML, CSS, design tools
- Range: 00-FF per channel (0-255)

RGB (Red, Green, Blue):
- Format: rgb(R, G, B)
- Example: rgb(255, 87, 51)
- Used in: CSS, programming, digital displays
- Range: 0-255 per channel

HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness):
- Format: hsl(H, S%, L%)
- Example: hsl(9, 100%, 60%)
- Used in: CSS, color manipulation
- Hue: 0-360°, Saturation: 0-100%, Lightness: 0-100%

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black):
- Format: cmyk(C%, M%, Y%, K%)
- Example: cmyk(0%, 66%, 80%, 0%)
- Used in: Printing, graphic design
- Range: 0-100% per channel

When should I use each color format?

Choose format based on context:

HEX:
- Best for: Web development, CSS
- Compact representation
- Easy to read and remember
- Standard in HTML/CSS
- Example use: background-color: #FF5733;

RGB:
- Best for: Programming, JavaScript manipulation
- Easy to manipulate individual channels
- Good for opacity (rgba with alpha)
- Intuitive for digital displays
- Example use: color manipulation, canvas

HSL:
- Best for: Color variations, themes
- Easy to adjust brightness/saturation
- Intuitive color wheel representation
- Great for generating color schemes
- Example use: Creating lighter/darker versions

CMYK:
- Best for: Print design
- Required by printers
- Different from screen colors
- Not for web (browsers use RGB)
- Example use: Preparing files for professional printing

How do I use the color picker?

Using the color picker:

1. Click on the color picker
2. Select your desired color from the palette
3. The tool automatically:
- Updates all color format fields (HEX, RGB, HSL, CMYK)
- Shows live color preview
- Calculates color brightness
- Determines if color is light or dark

4. You can also:
- Type HEX code directly (#FF5733)
- Enter RGB values (R, G, B)
- Adjust HSL values (Hue, Saturation, Lightness)
- Copy any format to clipboard

Changing any field updates all other formats automatically.

What is color brightness?

Color brightness (also called luminance) measures how light or dark a color appears:

Calculation:
- Uses perceived luminance formula
- Weighted by human eye sensitivity
- Formula: 0.299*R + 0.587*G + 0.114*B
- Result: 0-255 (0 = black, 255 = white)

Why it matters:
- Determines text color (white on dark, black on light)
- Accessibility (WCAG contrast requirements)
- UI design decisions
- Color scheme generation

Light colors (brightness > 128):
- Use dark text for readability
- Suitable for backgrounds
- Higher perceived brightness

Dark colors (brightness ≤ 128):
- Use light text for readability
- Good for emphasis
- Lower perceived brightness

This tool automatically detects and shows whether a color is light or dark.

Can I convert CMYK to RGB accurately?

CMYK to RGB conversion has limitations:

Important to know:
- CMYK is subtractive (ink on paper)
- RGB is additive (light on screen)
- Color spaces are different
- Conversion is approximate, not exact
- Colors may look different when printed

Conversion formula:
- R = 255 × (1-C) × (1-K)
- G = 255 × (1-M) × (1-K)
- B = 255 × (1-Y) × (1-K)

Limitations:
- Some CMYK colors can't be displayed on screen
- Some RGB colors can't be printed
- Conversion loses some information
- Professional printing needs color profiles

Best practices:
- For print: work in CMYK from start
- For web: always use RGB/HEX
- For both: consult a professional
- Test print before final production

This tool provides mathematical conversion, which is useful for approximate values but not for professional printing.

Key Features

• Convert between HEX, RGB, HSL, and CMYK
• Interactive color picker
• Live color preview
• Copy any color format to clipboard
• Brightness detection (light/dark)
• Support #RGB and #RRGGBB HEX formats
• Real-time conversion as you type
• Color brightness calculator
• 100% client-side processing
• No server communication
• Works offline
• Dark mode support
• Mobile-friendly