Color Converter & Palette Generator

Convert HEX, RGB, HSL, and CMYK codes. Build palettes, design linear CSS gradients, extract colors from images, and verify contrast ratios.

Visual Color Picker
#14b8a6
Color Conversions

Complementary Palette

Analogous Palette

Triadic Palette

Monochromatic Palette

135°

Drag & Drop Image or Click to Browse

Supported: JPEG, PNG, GIF, SVG, WebP (max 10 MB)

Extracted Details
Hover Pixel Color:
#ffffff
Selected Color:
—

Hover over the image to preview pixel colors. Click to select and load that color into the main converter fields (HEX, RGB, HSL, CMYK).

Sample Text Display
Contrast Ratio 4.5:1
Small Text (WCAG AA - 4.5:1) Pass
Large Text (WCAG AA - 3.0:1) Pass
Small Text (WCAG AAA - 7.0:1) Pass
Large Text (WCAG AAA - 4.5:1) Pass

Quick Color Conversions

Select a specific conversion pair for dedicated instructions and quick lookup calculators:

HEX to RGB Converter RGB to HEX Converter HEX to HSL Converter HEX to CMYK Converter RGB to CMYK Converter RGB to HSL Converter HSL to RGB Converter HSL to HEX Converter HSL to CMYK Converter CMYK to RGB Converter CMYK to HEX Converter CMYK to HSL Converter

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What is the Color Converter & Palette Generator?

Color spaces define how colors are encoded for screens, print, and design systems. HEX and RGB represent additive light used by displays — HEX as a compact six-character code, RGB as three decimal channels. HSL maps color to human-intuitive hue, saturation, and lightness axes, making it easier to reason about color relationships. CMYK models subtractive ink mixing for professional print production. This converter translates between all four formats instantly, generates harmonious palettes using color-theory algorithms (complementary, analogous, triadic, monochromatic), evaluates WCAG 2.1 contrast ratios for accessibility compliance, builds ready-to-use CSS linear and radial gradients, and extracts precise color values from uploaded images via HTML5 Canvas — all processed entirely in your browser with zero data uploads.

How to use the Color Converter & Palette Generator?

  1. Use the visual color picker or type a value directly into the HEX, RGB, HSL, or CMYK input fields. All other formats update instantly as you type.
  2. Switch to the Palette Generator tab to create monochromatic, analogous, triadic, complementary, or split-complementary color schemes from any base color.
  3. Open the Gradient Builder to design linear or radial CSS gradients. Pick start and end colors, adjust the angle or position, and copy the generated CSS code.
  4. Upload an image in the Color Extractor tab. Click or hover over any pixel on the canvas to grab its exact HEX value and load it into the converter.
  5. Use the WCAG Contrast Checker to evaluate foreground/background color pairs. The tool reports contrast ratios and pass/fail status for AA and AAA levels.
  6. Copy converted values in any format using the one-click copy buttons next to each output field. Values are formatted ready to paste into CSS, design tools, or code.
  7. Bookmark specific conversion pairs (e.g., HEX to RGB) from the Quick Conversions grid below for dedicated calculators with step-by-step formulas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this color converter safe and private?

Yes. The entire tool runs client-side in JavaScript. Your uploaded images, color values, and palette exports never leave your browser and are never stored on any server. There are no cookies, no tracking pixels, and no analytics tied to your color data.

What is the difference between HEX, RGB, HSL, and CMYK?

HEX is a compact six-character notation representing red, green, and blue channels in hexadecimal (e.g., #14B8A6). RGB expresses the same channels as decimal values from 0 to 255. HSL describes color in human-friendly terms — hue (0–360°), saturation (0–100%), and lightness (0–100%). CMYK is a subtractive model used in print that defines cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (black) ink percentages.

What are WCAG contrast ratios and why do they matter?

WCAG 2.1 defines minimum contrast ratios between text and background colors to ensure readability for users with low vision. Level AA requires at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. Level AAA raises the bar to 7:1 and 4.5:1 respectively. The Contrast Checker in this tool evaluates your color pairs against these thresholds and reports pass or fail instantly.

How does the palette generation algorithm work?

The Palette Generator converts your base color to HSL, then rotates the hue angle by fixed intervals to produce harmonious schemes. Complementary uses a 180° rotation, triadic uses 120° steps, analogous uses ±30° offsets, and monochromatic varies only the lightness channel. Each generated swatch includes HEX, RGB, and HSL values ready to paste into CSS variables.

How does image color extraction work?

Drag and drop any image onto the Extractor canvas. The file is rendered locally on an HTML5 Canvas element — nothing is uploaded to a server. When you click or hover over a pixel, the tool reads its RGBA values via the Canvas getImageData() API and loads the color into the main converter. This is useful for pulling brand colors from logos, photos, or screenshots.

What is a CSS gradient and how does the builder help?

A CSS gradient is a smooth transition between two or more colors, rendered by the browser without image files. Linear gradients transition along a straight axis (defined by an angle), while radial gradients radiate from a center point. The Gradient Builder lets you pick colors, adjust the angle or position, add multiple color stops, and preview the result in real time — then copy the generated CSS code directly into your stylesheets.

Color Converter Features

Multi-Format Conversion

Instantly convert any color between HEX, RGB, HSL, and CMYK. All values update in real time as you type or pick colors visually.

Palette Generation

Generate monochromatic, analogous, complementary, triadic, and split-complementary palettes from any base color with one click.

WCAG Contrast Checker

Evaluate foreground/background color pairs against WCAG 2.1 AA and AAA contrast thresholds. Get instant pass/fail results for normal and large text.

CSS Gradient Builder

Design linear and radial gradients visually. Adjust colors, angle, and stops, then copy the generated CSS code directly into your stylesheets.

Image Color Extraction

Upload any image and click pixels to extract exact color values. Uses HTML5 Canvas locally — your images are never uploaded to any server.

Client-Side Processing

All conversions, palette generation, and image analysis run entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No data leaves your device, ever.

Related Developer Tools

Working with colors in your project? These tools on InstantToolsHub complement the converter:

  • CSS Minifier & Beautifier — Minify or format CSS containing your generated color values and gradients
  • Markdown Editor — Write documentation with color references and preview rendered output in real time
  • JSON Formatter & Validator — Format and validate design token JSON files containing color palettes
  • Regex Tester — Build and test regex patterns for matching HEX codes, RGB values, or CSS color functions