What Is the Difference Between RGB, HEX, HSL and CMYK?.

These color formats describe color in different ways, for different jobs.

• RGB uses red, green and blue light. It is the natural model for screens.
• HEX is a compact six-character way of writing an RGB color in web code, such as #2563EB.
• HSL uses hue, saturation and lightness. It is often easier to adjust by eye: keep the hue, then make a color softer, darker or less intense.
• CMYK uses cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink. It is used for print production, where color is made by putting ink on paper rather than emitting light.

Which should you use?

Use HEX or RGB for websites and interfaces. Use HSL when designing color variations, such as hover states or a muted background. Use CMYK when a printer specifically asks for it or you are preparing artwork for print.

CMYK cannot reproduce every bright color that a screen can show, so a color may look less vivid in print. That is a limitation of the medium, not necessarily a mistake in the file.

The Color Converter lets you move between HEX, RGB, HSL and CMYK without retyping values. It is useful when a designer, developer and printer all need the same color expressed in their own format.

<div class=“author-bio”> <strong>About the author:</strong> Richard Shaw, 30+ yrs software eng. 20 yrs automotive software, globally used retention solutions. Prolific SaaS dev, runs Rezero Software with his family. Contact: rich@rezero.net | rezero.net | @RichShawX </div>