Visualize Any Color in Five Color Spaces Visualize any color across HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV, and CMYK with bar charts.

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Color Space Visualizer

Visualize any color across HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV, and CMYK with bar charts.

Pick a Color

Select any color with the picker or type a HEX code.

Compare Spaces

See the color represented in HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV, and CMYK simultaneously.

Copy Any Format

Copy the color value in any format.

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What Is Color Space Visualizer?

The Color Space Visualizer shows any single color represented across five major color spaces: HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV/HSB, and CMYK. For each space, it displays the exact values and visual bar charts showing each channel's proportion. This tool is educational and practical — it helps you understand how the same color is described differently in each model, why certain operations are easier in certain models, and how to communicate color specifications across different tools and workflows. Seeing all representations simultaneously demystifies color theory and builds intuition about these conversions. Each format has a copy button so you can grab the value in whatever notation your current task requires.

Why Use Color Space Visualizer?

Five color spaces shown simultaneously for any color
Visual bar charts for each channel in each space
Educational — understand how the same color differs across models
Copy button for each format for practical use
Large preview swatch for accurate visual assessment

Common Use Cases

Color Education

Learn how the same color is represented in different color models.

Cross-Tool Reference

Get color values in whatever format your current tool requires.

Color Theory Study

Understand relationships between RGB, HSL, HSV, and CMYK models.

Development Reference

Quickly see any color in all common formats for API parameters and CSS.

Technical Guide

The visualizer performs real-time conversions between color spaces. RGB is the base model, with channels representing additive light intensity (0-255). HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) is a cylindrical rearrangement where L=50% is the pure hue. HSV/HSB (Hue, Saturation, Value/Brightness) differs from HSL: V=100% is the pure hue, and the saturation definition differs. CMYK represents subtractive ink coverage for printing. HEX is a hexadecimal encoding of RGB. Each conversion is mathematically deterministic. The bar charts normalize each channel to its maximum value (R:255, H:360, S:100, etc.) for visual comparison. Understanding these spaces helps you choose the right model for the task: RGB for mixing light, HSL for intuitive color manipulation, HSV for color picking interfaces, CMYK for print preparation.

Tips & Best Practices

1
HSL and HSV have the same H (hue) but different S and L/V values — they are not interchangeable
2
Use RGB for Canvas/WebGL, HSL for CSS theming, CMYK for print preparation
3
Pure colors (fully saturated) have S=100% in both HSL and HSV but different L/V values
4
The bar chart visualization makes it intuitive to see which channels dominate a color
5
Gray colors have S=0 in both HSL and HSV, with H=0 (undefined but conventionally zero)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q What is the difference between HSL and HSV?

Both use hue (0-360°) and saturation, but define the third component differently. HSL lightness: 0%=black, 50%=pure color, 100%=white. HSV value: 0%=black, 100%=pure color. White requires V=100%, S=0% in HSV.

Q Which color space should I use for web development?

HEX or HSL for CSS properties. RGB for Canvas API and JavaScript color manipulation. CMYK is rarely used on the web — it is for print preparation.

Q Why does the same color look different in different tools?

Different tools may use different color spaces, color profiles (sRGB vs Display P3), or rendering. The numerical values shown here are mathematically correct for sRGB.

About This Tool

Color Space Visualizer 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.