Online Color Picker: Visually Select Colors & Get Codes (HEX, RGB, HSL)

How to Use Our Online Color Picker

This tool is designed to be a comprehensive hub for all your color selection needs. Here’s how to use its features to find the exact color you’re looking for.

• Visual Color Selector: The main color area allows you to intuitively find a color. Click anywhere in the large colored square to select the saturation and brightness. The color you’ve picked will appear in the preview box.

• Hue Slider: Use the vertical rainbow slider next to the main color area to control the hue. This slider allows you to move through the entire color spectrum—from red to green to blue and back to red—to choose the base color you want to work with.

• Color Value Fields: If you already have a color code, you can type it directly into the corresponding input fields (e.g., HEX, RGB, HSL). The tool will instantly update to show that color and provide all the other code conversions for it.

• Copy to Clipboard: Next to each color code output, you’ll see a copy button. Simply click it to copy the code, making it easy to paste directly into your design software, text editor, or stylesheet.

Understanding Your Results: Color Codes Explained

The main purpose of a color picker is to provide you with a color’s specific code. A color code is a way of representing a color in a format that computers and software can understand. Different codes are used in different situations, primarily for displaying colors on screens (web, apps) versus printing them on paper.

Our Online Color Picker provides the four most important color codes.

HEX (Hexadecimal Color Code)

A HEX code is a six-digit alphanumeric code that represents a color in the RGB color model. It’s the most common color code used in web design and development (CSS, HTML).

• Format: #RRGGBB

• Breakdown:

  • #: The hash symbol signifies that it’s a HEX code.

  • RR: Represents the amount of Red, from 00 (none) to FF (maximum).

  • GG: Represents the amount of Green, from 00 to FF.

  • BB: Represents the amount of Blue, from 00 to FF.

• Example: #FFFFFF is pure white, #000000 is pure black, and #FF0000 is pure red.

• Best for: Web design (CSS), as it’s compact and universally supported.

RGB (Red, Green, Blue)

RGB is another screen-based color model that defines colors by the intensity of Red, Green, and Blue light mixed together. It’s an additive color model—when you add all colors at full intensity, you get white.

• Format: rgb(R, G, B)

• Breakdown:

  • R: A number from 0 to 255 representing the amount of Red.

  • G: A number from 0 to 255 representing the amount of Green.

  • B: A number from 0 to 255 representing the amount of Blue.

• Example: rgb(255, 255, 255) is pure white. rgb(255, 0, 0) is pure red.

• Note on RGBA: A variation, rgba, adds an alpha channel for transparency: rgba(R, G, B, A). The alpha value ranges from 0 (fully transparent) to 1 (fully opaque).

• Best for: Web design, digital photography, and any on-screen design work.

HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness)

HSL is a more intuitive color model because it aligns with how humans perceive color. Instead of mixing light, you choose a color and then adjust its intensity and brightness.

• Format: hsl(H, S%, L%)

• Breakdown:

  • H: Hue is the color itself, represented as an angle on the color wheel from 0 to 360 degrees (e.g., 0 is red, 120 is green, 240 is blue).

  • S: Saturation is the intensity or purity of the color, from 0% (grayscale) to 100% (full color).

  • L: Lightness is how light or dark the color is, from 0% (black) to 100% (white). 50% is the “true” color.

• Example: hsl(0, 100%, 50%) is pure red. hsl(0, 100%, 75%) is a lighter red (pink).

• Best for: Web design (CSS), especially when you need to programmatically create color variations (e.g., a lighter version of a brand color for a hover effect).

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black)

Unlike the other three, CMYK is a subtractive color model used for printing. It works by subtracting brightness from a white background (like paper). Think of it like mixing paint—the more you add, the darker the result.

• Format: cmyk(C%, M%, Y%, K%)

• Breakdown:

  • C: The percentage of Cyan ink.

  • M: The percentage of Magenta ink.

  • Y: The percentage of Yellow ink.

  • K: The percentage of Key (Black) ink.

• Best for: Any project that will be physically printed, such as business cards, brochures, posters, and books. Do not use CMYK for websites or digital designs.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I use RGB vs. CMYK?

This is the most critical distinction for any designer. The rule is simple:

• Use RGB (or HEX/HSL) for anything that will be viewed on a screen. This includes websites, mobile apps, social media graphics, videos, and digital presentations. Screens emit light, which is exactly what the RGB additive model is designed for.

• Use CMYK for anything that will be physically printed. This includes flyers, business cards, t-shirts, and magazines. Printing presses use these four ink colors to create images on paper. If you send an RGB file to a professional printer, the colors will be converted and may look dull or different than you expected.

What is color theory and why is it important?

Color theory is the study of how colors mix, match, and contrast. Understanding the basics can help you create visually appealing designs. A color wheel is central to this. Here are a few basic schemes:

• Complementary: Colors opposite each other on the color wheel (e.g., red and green, blue and orange). This creates high contrast and makes things stand out.

• Analogous: Colors that are next to each other on the color wheel (e.g., red, orange, yellow). This creates a harmonious and cohesive look.

• Triadic: Three colors that are evenly spaced on the color wheel (e.g., red, yellow, blue). This creates a vibrant, balanced palette.

How do I create a color palette from a single color?

You can create a professional monochromatic palette by starting with one base color and creating variations.

• Tints: Add white to your base color to make it lighter.

• Shades: Add black to your base color to make it darker.

• Tones: Add gray to your base color to make it less saturated. Our Online Color Picker is perfect for this. Find your base color, then adjust the lightness (in HSL) or the black/white balance in the main selector to find perfect tints and shades.

What is web accessibility (WCAG) for colors?

Web accessibility means designing websites that can be used by everyone, including people with visual impairments. For colors, the most important factor is contrast ratio—the difference in brightness between the text and its background. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) recommend:

• A contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

• A contrast ratio of at least 3:1 for large text. Failing to meet these standards can make your website difficult or impossible to read for people with low vision or color blindness. Always check your color combinations with a contrast checker tool.

How do I use these color codes in my project?

For web developers using CSS, you can apply these codes to various properties.

Concrete Example: To set the background color of a button and the color of its text:

.my-button {
  /* Using a HEX code for the background */
  background-color: #3366CC;

  /* Using an RGB code for the text color */
  color: rgb(255, 255, 255); /* white */

  /* You could also use HSL */
  border: 2px solid hsl(220, 60%, 40%); /* a darker blue */
}

What’s the difference between HEX and RGB?

Functionally, for modern web design, there is almost no difference. Both are ways of representing the same RGB color model. rgb(255, 0, 0) is identical to #FF0000. Most developers prefer HEX because it’s shorter and more compact, but the choice is largely a matter of personal or team preference. The one advantage of RGB is the rgba() format, which provides an easy way to control transparency.

Why does a color look different on my screen versus my phone?

This happens because different screens have different calibrations. Factors like the screen’s manufacturing process, age, brightness settings, and even the ambient light in the room can affect how a color is perceived. While you can’t control how a color looks on every device, starting with a well-calibrated monitor and using standard color models will ensure the most consistency possible.

What are “web-safe” colors?

The concept of “web-safe colors” is mostly historical. In the early days of the internet, computer monitors could only display a limited palette of 216 specific colors. Designers were encouraged to stick to this palette to ensure colors looked consistent. Today, virtually all modern devices can display millions of colors, so this restriction is no longer necessary.

How do I convert a HEX code to RGB manually?

You can convert a HEX code to RGB by converting each pair of hexadecimal digits into its decimal equivalent.

Concrete Example: Convert #2A64C8 to RGB

1. Red: 2A. In hexadecimal, A is 10. So, (2 * 16) + 10 = 32 + 10 = 42.

2. Green: 64. In hexadecimal, (6 * 16) + 4 = 96 + 4 = 100.

3. Blue: C8. In hexadecimal, C is 12. So, (12 * 16) + 8 = 192 + 8 = 200. The resulting RGB value is rgb(42, 100, 200).

A great design is both beautiful and functional. Once you’ve picked your brand colors, ensure your website’s backend is secure with a strong password from our Password Generator. And since color models like HSL and CMYK rely on percentages, you can sharpen your understanding of them for design or any other purpose with our Percentage Calculator.