QR4 min
QR Codes: Content, Errors, and Scanning
Understand static QR payloads, error correction, quiet zones, sizing, privacy, and how to verify a code before printing it.
Read more→Color Picker & Converter
Free color picker tool: convert between HEX, RGB, HSL & CMYK instantly. Generate color palettes, check WCAG contrast ratios & copy CSS codes. 100% browser-based, no sign-up.
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Free Online Color Picker & Converter
Our color picker lets you work with any color format used in web and graphic design. Convert colors between HEX, RGB, HSL, and CMYK instantly, generate harmonious color palettes based on color theory, check WCAG contrast ratios for accessibility, and copy ready-to-use CSS codes for your projects.
Color Models Explained
HEX uses hexadecimal notation (#FF5733), the most common format in CSS and web design. RGB defines colors with Red, Green, and Blue values (0-255), the native model for digital displays. HSL describes colors by Hue (0-360), Saturation, and Lightness (0-100%), a more intuitive model for color adjustments. CMYK is used in professional printing, defining colors with Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (black).
Palette Generation
Generate harmonious color palettes automatically: complementary, analogous, triadic, and more. Each palette is based on color theory principles to ensure visually pleasing combinations. Ideal for designing interfaces, branding, and marketing materials.
WCAG Accessibility & Contrast
WCAG 2.1 guidelines require a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. Our tool automatically calculates these ratios and shows whether your color combination meets AA and AAA levels. Building accessible designs is not just good practice - it is a legal requirement in many countries.
HEX, RGB, or HSL: Which to Use in CSS
All three formats describe the same on-screen color, so the choice comes down to convenience. HEX is compact and common for fixed brand colors. RGB, and especially RGBA, is useful when you need to control transparency with the alpha channel. HSL is the most intuitive for tweaking a color by hand: changing only the lightness or saturation lets you generate lighter or darker variants of the same hue without recalculating everything. Our tool gives you all three so you can copy whichever fits your stylesheet best.
From Design to Print: RGB and CMYK
Screens mix light with RGB, while printing combines inks with CMYK, and each model can represent colors the other cannot reach. That is why a highly saturated color that glows on screen may look duller in print. The CMYK values this tool shows are an approximate guide: for exact print work, the color profile and the provider's proofs take precedence over any automatic conversion.
A worked example
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I convert HEX to RGB?
- Enter your HEX code (e.g. #FF5733) in the color picker and you'll instantly see the equivalent RGB, HSL, and CMYK values. You can also copy the CSS code directly.
- What is WCAG contrast?
- WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) defines minimum contrast ratios between text and background to ensure readability. A 4.5:1 ratio is the minimum for normal text (AA level) and 7:1 for AAA.
- Is the color picker free?
- Yes, the color picker is 100% free. All processing happens in your browser without sending data to any server.
- Can I generate color palettes?
- Yes, you can generate complementary, analogous, triadic, and more palettes from any base color.
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