Color Preview
Understanding Color Formats
A guide to different color code systems
HEX
Hexadecimal color codes used in web design. 6 characters after # symbol.
RGB
Red, Green, Blue values from 0-255. Common in CSS and design tools.
HSL
Hue (0-360°), Saturation (0-100%), Lightness (0-100%). Intuitive for adjustments.
Color Theory Basics
Essential concepts for effective color selection
🎨 Primary Colors
Red, Yellow, and Blue are primary colors. They cannot be created by mixing other colors and form the basis of all other colors.
🔄 Complementary Colors
Colors opposite each other on the color wheel. They create high contrast and visual interest when paired together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about color picking
What is a HEX color code?
HEX is a 6-digit hexadecimal code representing colors. It starts with # followed by pairs of characters for Red, Green, and Blue (e.g., #FF0000 = red). It's the most common format for web colors.
How do I convert RGB to HEX?
Our color picker automatically converts between all formats. Simply select or input a color in any format, and you'll instantly see equivalent values in HEX, RGB, and HSL.
Which color format should I use for my website?
HEX is most commonly used in CSS for simplicity. Use RGBA when you need transparency. HSL is great for creating color variations programmatically as it's more intuitive to adjust.
What's the difference between RGB and RGBA?
RGBA adds an Alpha channel (0-1) for transparency. rgb(255, 0, 0) is solid red, while rgba(255, 0, 0, 0.5) is 50% transparent red. Use RGBA for overlays, shadows, and transparent elements.
Pro Tips for Color Selection
Design better with these expert tips
60-30-10 Rule
Use 60% dominant color, 30% secondary, and 10% accent for balanced, visually appealing designs.
Test Accessibility
Always check contrast ratios. Use our Contrast Checker tool to ensure text is readable for all users.
Use HSL for Variations
Adjust lightness in HSL to create hover states and dark/light theme variations of the same color.