CMYK to HSV Color Converter

Color Picker

0%, 100%, 100%, 0%

Color Shades

Color Combinations

About CMYK and HSV Colors

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) and HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value) are important color models used in different media - CMYK for print and HSV for digital design and color selection.

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black)

CMYK is a subtractive color model used in color printing. It works by partially or entirely masking colors on a lighter background (usually white). The CMYK model mixes these four ink colors in varying percentages (0-100%) to create a wide range of colors. For example, pure red is typically represented as (0%, 100%, 100%, 0%) in CMYK. This model is essential for professional printing as it directly relates to the ink mixing process.

HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value)

HSV is a cylindrical color model that represents colors in a way that's more intuitive for humans. Hue represents the color type (0-360° on the color wheel), Saturation is the intensity of the color (0-100%), and Value is the brightness (0-100%). For example, pure red is (0°, 100%, 100%) in HSV. This model is widely used in color pickers and digital design tools because it aligns with how people naturally think about and describe colors.

CMYK to HSV Conversion Process

  1. First convert CMYK to RGB (intermediate step)
  2. Then convert the resulting RGB values to HSV
  3. Normalize the HSV values to their standard ranges (H:0-360, S:0-100, V:0-100)

Example #1

Convert pure red CMYK (0%, 100%, 100%, 0%) to HSV:

CMYK = (0%, 100%, 100%, 0%)

RGB = (255, 0, 0) [after conversion]

Hue = 0° (red on color wheel)

Saturation = 100% (fully saturated)

Value = 100% (maximum brightness)

HSV = (0°, 100%, 100%)

Example #2

Convert dark blue CMYK (100%, 80%, 0%, 50%) to HSV:

CMYK = (100%, 80%, 0%, 50%)

RGB = (0, 26, 128) [after conversion]

Hue = 230° (blue hue)

Saturation = 100% (fully saturated)

Value = 50% (medium brightness)

HSV = (230°, 100%, 50%)

Common CMYK to HSV Examples

  • 0%, 0%, 0%, 100% → (0°, 0%, 0%) (black)
  • 0%, 0%, 0%, 0% → (0°, 0%, 100%) (white)
  • 100%, 0%, 100%, 0% → (120°, 100%, 100%) (pure green)
  • 0%, 100%, 100%, 0% → (0°, 100%, 100%) (pure red)

HSV is particularly useful in digital design applications like Photoshop, Illustrator, and web design tools because it provides an intuitive way to adjust colors by their hue, saturation, and brightness.

CMYK to HSV FAQ

Why convert from CMYK to HSV?

Converting from CMYK (print colors) to HSV is useful when preparing print designs for digital presentations or when you need to adjust colors in a more intuitive way for digital media. HSV provides a more human-friendly way to manipulate colors than CMYK or RGB.

Is CMYK to HSV conversion lossless?

No, some color information may be lost in conversion because CMYK and HSV represent colors differently and have different gamuts (ranges of representable colors). CMYK colors outside the RGB gamut (which HSV is based on) will be approximated.

When should I use HSV instead of CMYK?

Use CMYK for print design and physical production. Use HSV when working with digital displays, creating color schemes, or when you need to intuitively adjust hue, saturation, or brightness of colors in digital design applications.