Color Code Converter

Convert between HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV, and CMYK color formats

rgb(52, 152, 219)

hsl(204, 70%, 53%)

hsv(204, 76%, 86%)

cmyk(76%, 31%, 0%, 14%)

Color Palettes

#3498DB

#3344DB

#33DBCA

Contrast Checker

Sample Text

Contrast Ratio

3.15:1

WCAG AA ✗WCAG AAA ✗

How to Use This Tool

1

Select a Color

Use the color picker, enter a hex code, or adjust RGB/HSL/HSV/CMYK values directly.

2

View All Formats

See your color automatically converted to HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV, and CMYK formats.

3

Copy Color Values

Click the copy button next to any format to copy the color code to your clipboard.

4

Generate Color Palettes

Choose from analogous, complementary, triadic, or monochromatic palette types.

5

Check Contrast

Test color combinations for WCAG AA/AAA compliance with the contrast checker.

Pro Tips

  • •RGB values range from 0-255, while HSL/HSV percentages range from 0-100
  • •CMYK is used for print design, while RGB/HEX are for digital displays
  • •WCAG AA requires a contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text
  • •WCAG AAA requires a contrast ratio of 7:1 for enhanced accessibility
  • •Click any color in the generated palettes to set it as your active color
  • •Use the 'Random Color' button to explore new color combinations

What is a Color Converter?

A color converter is an essential tool for designers and developers that transforms color values between different color models and formats. Whether you're working with HEX codes for web development, RGB values for digital displays, HSL for intuitive color selection, or CMYK for print design, our converter seamlessly translates between all major color spaces. Understanding how colors work across different formats is crucial for maintaining consistency across digital and print media, ensuring accessibility compliance, and creating harmonious color schemes for your projects.

Key Features

Convert between HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV, and CMYK color formats instantly

Visual color picker with real-time preview

Generate color palettes (analogous, complementary, triadic, monochromatic)

WCAG contrast ratio checker for accessibility compliance

Support for CSS color names and their conversions

Copy color values in any format with one click

Random color generator for inspiration

Precise sliders for fine-tuning each color channel

Live updates across all color formats as you adjust

Export palette colors for design workflows

Common Use Cases

Web Development: Convert design colors from Photoshop or Figma (often in HEX or RGB) to CSS-friendly formats, ensure consistent colors across different CSS properties, and maintain brand colors across projects.

UI/UX Design: Check contrast ratios between text and background colors for WCAG compliance, generate accessible color palettes, and ensure your designs are readable for all users including those with visual impairments.

Brand Design: Convert brand colors between digital (RGB/HEX) and print (CMYK) formats, maintain color consistency across different media, and create variations of brand colors for different use cases.

Digital Art: Fine-tune colors using HSL for intuitive adjustments to hue, saturation, and lightness, or use HSV for more artistic control over color value and vibrancy.

Print Design: Convert screen colors (RGB) to print-ready CMYK values, understanding how colors will appear in print media, and adjusting for the differences between additive and subtractive color models.

Theme Development: Generate complete color schemes for websites or applications, create dark/light mode variations, and export color tokens for design systems and style guides.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between RGB and HEX colors?

▼
RGB and HEX are two ways of representing the same color model. RGB uses decimal numbers (0-255) for red, green, and blue channels, like rgb(255, 0, 0) for red. HEX uses hexadecimal notation, like #FF0000 for the same red color. HEX is more compact and commonly used in CSS, while RGB is more intuitive for understanding color channel values. Both represent colors in the additive color model used by screens.

When should I use HSL instead of RGB?

▼
HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) is more intuitive for color manipulation than RGB. Use HSL when you need to: adjust color brightness while maintaining the hue (change only L), create color variations with the same base hue (adjust S and L), generate color harmonies (change H by specific degrees), or work with color in a more human-friendly way. HSL makes it easier to create lighter/darker or more/less saturated versions of a color.

Why do colors look different in CMYK?

▼
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) is a subtractive color model used for printing, while RGB is additive (used for screens). CMYK has a smaller color gamut than RGB, meaning some bright, vibrant RGB colors cannot be reproduced in print. When converting RGB to CMYK, colors often appear duller or shifted because printers use ink that absorbs light rather than screens that emit light. Always check CMYK values when designing for print.

What are WCAG contrast ratios?

▼
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) defines minimum contrast ratios between text and background colors for accessibility. Level AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18pt+ or 14pt+ bold). Level AAA requires 7:1 for normal text and 4.5:1 for large text. Higher contrast ratios ensure text is readable for users with visual impairments or in challenging viewing conditions.

How do I create a cohesive color palette?

▼
Use color theory principles: Analogous colors (adjacent on color wheel) create harmony, Complementary colors (opposite) create contrast, Triadic colors (120° apart) provide vibrant diversity, and Monochromatic schemes (single hue with different saturations/lightness) ensure unity. Start with a base color and use our palette generator to explore these relationships, then fine-tune for your specific needs.

What's the difference between HSL and HSV?

▼
HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) and HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value/Brightness) are similar but handle brightness differently. In HSL, 50% lightness gives pure color, 100% is white, and 0% is black. In HSV, 100% value gives pure color regardless of saturation, making it more intuitive for artists. HSL is better for generating tints and shades, while HSV is preferred in color pickers and image editing software.

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