Free Color Picker

Pick colors and convert between HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV, and CMYK formats. Generate color harmonies and find the perfect palette for your project.

#3498DBrgb(52, 152, 219)

Input Color

R
G
B
H (0-360)
S (%)
L (%)

Color Formats

hex
#3498DB
rgb
rgb(52, 152, 219)
rgba
rgba(52, 152, 219, 1)
hsl
hsl(204, 70%, 53%)
hsv
hsv(204, 76%, 86%)
cmyk
cmyk(76%, 31%, 0%, 14%)

Preset Colors

Color Harmony

Complementary
Triadic
Analogous
Split Comp.

How to Use the Color Picker

Select or Enter a Color

Use the color picker wheel to visually select a color, or enter a specific value in HEX, RGB, or HSL format in the input field.

View All Color Formats

Once you select a color, instantly see its value in HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV, and CMYK formats. Click any format to copy it to your clipboard.

Explore Color Harmonies

Discover complementary, triadic, analogous, and split-complementary colors based on your selection. Use these harmonies to build cohesive color schemes.

Copy and Use Your Colors

Click the copy button next to any color format to copy it to your clipboard. Use the copied values in your CSS, design software, or print projects.

Pro tip: Your data is processed entirely in your browser. Nothing is sent to any server, ensuring complete privacy.

About Color Formats

Colors can be represented in many formats, each with its own use cases. Web developers typically use HEX or RGB for CSS, while designers often prefer HSL for its intuitive adjustments. Print designers need CMYK values for accurate color reproduction.

Supported Color Formats

  • HEX: 6-character hexadecimal code (#RRGGBB) - most common in web development
  • RGB: Red, Green, Blue values (0-255) - standard for digital displays
  • HSL: Hue, Saturation, Lightness - intuitive for color adjustments
  • HSV: Hue, Saturation, Value - popular in graphic design software
  • CMYK: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key - essential for print design

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a color picker tool?

A color picker is a tool that allows you to select, create, and convert colors between different formats. It helps designers, developers, and artists work with colors by providing values in HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV, and CMYK formats.

What is the difference between HEX and RGB?

HEX (hexadecimal) and RGB (Red, Green, Blue) both represent colors using the same color model, but in different notations. HEX uses a 6-character code (#RRGGBB), while RGB uses three decimal values (0-255) for each channel. They are interchangeable, with HEX being more compact for CSS.

What is HSL color format?

HSL stands for Hue, Saturation, and Lightness. Hue is the color type (0-360 degrees on the color wheel), Saturation is the intensity (0-100%), and Lightness is how light or dark the color is (0-100%). HSL is often more intuitive for adjusting colors.

What is CMYK and when is it used?

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) is a subtractive color model used in print. Unlike RGB which mixes light, CMYK mixes inks. Our converter provides CMYK values to help prepare colors for print projects.

What is color harmony?

Color harmony refers to aesthetically pleasing color combinations. Common harmonies include complementary (opposite on the color wheel), triadic (three evenly spaced colors), analogous (adjacent colors), and split-complementary. Our tool shows these harmonies for any selected color.

How do I find the contrast color for text?

Our color picker automatically shows the appropriate contrast color (black or white) that ensures readability when used as text on your selected background color. This follows WCAG accessibility guidelines for color contrast.