CMYK to HEX Color Converter

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About CMYK and HEX Colors

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) and HEX (Hexadecimal) are two important color models used in different media.

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key)

CMYK is a subtractive color model used in color printing. It works by partially or entirely masking colors on a lighter background (usually white). Each component represents the amount of ink used (0-100%). Unlike RGB which adds light to create colors, CMYK subtracts light through ink absorption. For example, pure cyan is (100%, 0%, 0%, 0%), while black is (0%, 0%, 0%, 100%). CMYK has a smaller color gamut than RGB, which is why printed colors sometimes look different from screen colors.

HEX (Hexadecimal)

HEX codes are a compact way to represent RGB colors using a six-digit hexadecimal (base-16) notation, prefixed with #. Each pair of digits corresponds to the red, green, and blue components, with values from 00 to FF (equivalent to 0-255 in decimal). For instance, #FF0000 is pure red, and #FFFFFF is white. HEX is commonly used in web design for its brevity and compatibility with HTML/CSS.

CMYK to HEX Conversion

  1. Convert CMYK values (0-100%) to decimal (0-1) by dividing by 100
  2. Calculate RGB values using the CMYK to RGB conversion formula
  3. Convert each RGB component (0-255) to two-digit hexadecimal
  4. Combine the hexadecimal values with a # prefix

Example #1

Convert pure cyan CMYK (100%, 0%, 0%, 0%) to HEX:

CMYK = (100, 0, 0, 0)

RGB = (0, 255, 255)

HEX = #00FFFF

Example #2

Convert rich black CMYK (70%, 50%, 30%, 90%) to HEX:

CMYK = (70, 50, 30, 90)

RGB = (8, 13, 18)

HEX = #080D12

Common CMYK to HEX Examples

  • (0, 0, 0, 0) → #FFFFFF (white)
  • (0, 0, 0, 100) → #000000 (black)
  • (100, 0, 0, 0) → #00FFFF (cyan)
  • (0, 100, 0, 0) → #FF00FF (magenta)
  • (0, 0, 100, 0) → #FFFF00 (yellow)

HEX is widely used in web design and digital media, while CMYK is essential for professional printing. Converting between them helps maintain color consistency across different media.

CMYK to HEX FAQ

Why do CMYK colors sometimes look different when converted to HEX?

CMYK has a smaller color gamut than RGB/HEX, so some CMYK colors can't be perfectly represented in HEX. This is especially true for bright, vibrant colors that can be displayed on screens but are hard to reproduce with ink.

Is there a loss of quality when converting CMYK to HEX?

There can be, since CMYK and RGB/HEX use different color models. Some colors that can be represented in CMYK (especially certain shades of cyan and yellow) may not have exact equivalents in HEX.

When should I use CMYK to HEX conversion?

This conversion is most useful when you need to take a color from a print design and use it in a digital format (website, app, etc.). However, for best results, it's recommended to start with the original RGB/HEX values if available.