HEX to HSV Color Converter

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Color Picker

#FF5733

Color Shades

Color Combinations

About HEX and HSV Colors

HEX (Hexadecimal) and HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value) are two important color models used in digital design and development.

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 the standard color format for web design because of its compatibility with HTML/CSS and compact representation.

HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value)

HSV is a cylindrical color model that represents colors in a way that's more intuitive for human perception. 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 graphic design applications and color pickers because it allows easy adjustment of colors by modifying their hue, saturation, or value independently.

HEX to HSV Conversion Process

  1. Convert the HEX code to RGB values (each component 0-255)
  2. Normalize the RGB values to the range 0-1 by dividing by 255
  3. Find the maximum and minimum values among R, G, and B
  4. Calculate the Value: V = max(R, G, B)
  5. Calculate the Saturation:
    • If V = 0: Saturation = 0
    • Otherwise: S = (max - min) / max
  6. Calculate Hue based on which component is max:
    • Red: H = (G - B) / (max - min)
    • Green: H = 2 + (B - R) / (max - min)
    • Blue: H = 4 + (R - G) / (max - min)
  7. Convert Hue to degrees (0-360) and round all values

Example #1

Convert pure red HEX #FF0000 to HSV:

HEX = FF0000

RGB = (255, 0, 0)

Normalized RGB = (1, 0, 0)

max = 1, min = 0

V = max(1, 0, 0) = 1 (100%)

S = (1 - 0)/1 = 1 (100%)

H = (0 - 0)/(1 - 0) = 0°

HSV = (0°, 100%, 100%)

Example #2

Convert teal HEX #008080 to HSV:

HEX = 008080

RGB = (0, 128, 128)

Normalized RGB ≈ (0, 0.502, 0.502)

max ≈ 0.502, min = 0

V ≈ 0.502 (50%)

S ≈ (0.502 - 0)/0.502 ≈ 1 (100%)

H ≈ 2 + (0.502 - 0)/(0.502 - 0) ≈ 3 (180°)

HSV ≈ (180°, 100%, 50%)

Common HEX to HSV Examples

  • #FFFFFF → (0°, 0%, 100%) (white)
  • #000000 → (0°, 0%, 0%) (black)
  • #FF0000 → (0°, 100%, 100%) (red)
  • #00FF00 → (120°, 100%, 100%) (green)
  • #0000FF → (240°, 100%, 100%) (blue)
  • #FFFF00 → (60°, 100%, 100%) (yellow)
  • #00FFFF → (180°, 100%, 100%) (cyan)
  • #FF00FF → (300°, 100%, 100%) (magenta)
  • #808080 → (0°, 0%, 50%) (gray)

HSV is particularly useful in graphic design applications for creating color variations and schemes. For example, you can easily create a more saturated or desaturated version of a color by adjusting the saturation value while keeping the same hue and value.

HEX to HSV FAQ

Why use HSV instead of HEX or RGB?

HSV is more intuitive for humans to understand and manipulate. It's easier to create color variations by adjusting the saturation or value, or create harmonious color schemes by adjusting the hue while keeping saturation and value consistent. This makes it ideal for color pickers and design applications.

Is HSV supported in CSS?

While CSS doesn't natively support HSV color values, many design tools and graphics software use HSV for color selection. You can convert HSV to RGB or HEX for use in CSS. Some CSS preprocessors like Sass provide HSV/HSB color functions.

Can all HEX colors be converted to HSV?

Yes, every HEX color has an exact HSV equivalent since both are based on the RGB color model. The conversion is lossless and reversible.

When should I use HSV colors?

HSV is particularly useful in graphic design applications, photo editing software, and when you need intuitive color manipulation. It's great for creating color palettes, adjusting image colors, or when you want to give users intuitive controls to adjust colors in your application.