Color Picker Interactive color picker with HEX, RGB, HSL, and CMYK outputs.

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Color Picker

Interactive color picker with HEX, RGB, HSL, and CMYK outputs.

Select a Color

Click on the color canvas, use the native picker, or adjust HSL sliders.

See All Formats

View the color in HEX, RGB, HSL, and CMYK simultaneously.

Copy Any Format

Click Copy next to any format to grab its value for your project.

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What Is Color Picker?

An interactive color picker that lets you select any color and instantly see its values in four major color formats: HEX, RGB, HSL, and CMYK. The tool features a saturation-lightness canvas, a hue slider, and a native color input, giving you multiple ways to find the exact color you need. Whether you are a designer looking for the perfect shade, a developer who needs color values for CSS, or anyone who works with color, this tool provides all the values you need in one place. The canvas renders a full saturation-lightness grid for the currently selected hue, allowing you to visually explore color variations. All four format outputs update in real-time and include copy buttons, so you can quickly grab the value you need for any context — web development, print design, or application development.

Why Use Color Picker?

Multiple input methods: canvas, native picker, and HSL sliders
Four simultaneous output formats: HEX, RGB, HSL, CMYK
Large color preview swatch for accurate visual assessment
Canvas-based saturation-lightness picker for precise color exploration
One-click copy for every format

Common Use Cases

Web Development

Find and copy the perfect color in any CSS-compatible format (HEX, RGB, HSL).

Design Work

Explore colors visually using the canvas and get exact values for design tools.

Cross-Format Reference

See how a single color translates across HEX, RGB, HSL, and CMYK simultaneously.

Print Preparation

Pick a color visually and get CMYK values for print specification.

Technical Guide

The color picker renders a 256×256 canvas where the X-axis represents saturation (0–100%) and the Y-axis represents lightness (100–0%). For each pixel, the HSL to RGB conversion is computed and drawn. The hue slider controls which hue is displayed on the canvas, giving you access to every tone across the full spectrum. The canvas uses HTML5 Canvas API for real-time rendering. When the user clicks on the canvas, the mouse position is mapped to saturation and lightness values, which are then converted to all four output formats. The native HTML color input provides an alternative selection method and syncs bidirectionally with the HSL sliders. The CMYK output uses the mathematical RGB-to-CMYK conversion formula. All conversions happen in real-time without any server interaction, making the tool responsive and private.

Tips & Best Practices

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Click anywhere on the canvas to quickly find a color in the current hue family
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Use the hue slider to sweep through the spectrum, then fine-tune with the canvas
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The native color picker gives access to your OS color dialog for maximum precision
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Copy HEX for web, RGB for Canvas/JavaScript, HSL for CSS theming, CMYK for print
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HSL values are often the most useful for creating design system color scales

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q Why do I need a color picker?

A color picker helps you find and select exact colors visually, then provides the precise values needed for implementation in any format. It eliminates guesswork and manual conversion between formats.

Q What is the difference between the canvas and the native picker?

The canvas shows a 2D saturation-lightness grid for precise exploration within a hue. The native picker uses your operating system color dialog, which may offer additional features like an eyedropper.

Q Can I pick colors from my screen?

The native color input on some browsers (Chrome, Edge) includes an eyedropper tool that lets you pick any color visible on your screen.

Q Are the four format outputs always synchronized?

Yes, all formats always represent the exact same color. Changing the color through any input method updates all four outputs simultaneously.

About This Tool

Color Picker is a free online tool by FreeToolkit.ai. All processing happens directly in your browser — your data never leaves your device. No registration or installation required.