Color Format Overview
HEX Colors
HEX colors use hexadecimal notation to represent RGB values. Each pair of digits represents red, green, and blue channels (00-FF). Example: #FF5733
RGB Colors
RGB (Red, Green, Blue) uses decimal values from 0-255 for each channel. CSS syntax: rgb(255, 87, 51)
HSL Colors
HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) is often more intuitive for designers:
- Hue: Color wheel position (0-360°)
- Saturation: Color intensity (0-100%)
- Lightness: Light/dark balance (0-100%)
HSV/HSB Colors
HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value) is similar to HSL but uses Value (brightness) instead of Lightness. Common in design software like Photoshop.
When to Use Each Format
- HEX: Most common in web development, compact notation
- RGB: When you need alpha transparency (RGBA)
- HSL: When adjusting colors programmatically (easy to lighten/darken)
- HSV: Common in design tools and color pickers