HSV to CMYK Color Converter

Color Picker

hsv(120, 100%, 100%)

Color Shades

Color Combinations

About HSV and CMYK Colors

HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value) and CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) are two important color models used in digital design and print production.

HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value)

HSV is a cylindrical color model that represents colors in a way that's 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 represents brightness (0-100%). For example, pure green is (120°, 100%, 100%) in HSV. This model is widely used in graphic design applications and color pickers because it closely matches how humans perceive color relationships.

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 values represent the percentages of each ink component needed to reproduce the color. For example, pure red is approximately (0%, 100%, 100%, 0%) in CMYK. This model is essential for print design as it represents the actual ink combinations used in printing processes.

HSV to CMYK Conversion Process

  1. Convert HSV to RGB values (each component 0-255)
  2. Normalize the RGB values to the range 0-1 by dividing by 255
  3. Calculate the Key (black) component: K = 1 - max(R, G, B)
  4. Calculate the Cyan component: C = (1 - R - K) / (1 - K)
  5. Calculate the Magenta component: M = (1 - G - K) / (1 - K)
  6. Calculate the Yellow component: Y = (1 - B - K) / (1 - K)
  7. Convert all components to percentages (0-100%) and round

Example #1

Convert pure green HSV (120°, 100%, 100%) to CMYK:

HSV = (120°, 100%, 100%)

RGB = (0, 255, 0)

Normalized RGB = (0, 1, 0)

K = 1 - max(0, 1, 0) = 0

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

M = (1 - 1 - 0) / (1 - 0) = 0 (0%)

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

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

Example #2

Convert dark blue HSV (240°, 100%, 50%) to CMYK:

HSV = (240°, 100%, 50%)

RGB ≈ (0, 0, 128)

Normalized RGB ≈ (0, 0, 0.5)

K ≈ 1 - max(0, 0, 0.5) ≈ 0.5 (50%)

C ≈ (1 - 0 - 0.5) / (1 - 0.5) ≈ 1 (100%)

M ≈ (1 - 0 - 0.5) / (1 - 0.5) ≈ 1 (100%)

Y ≈ (1 - 0.5 - 0.5) / (1 - 0.5) ≈ 0 (0%)

CMYK ≈ (100%, 100%, 0%, 50%)

Common HSV to CMYK Examples

  • hsv(0, 0%, 100%) → (0%, 0%, 0%, 0%) (white)
  • hsv(0, 0%, 0%) → (0%, 0%, 0%, 100%) (black)
  • hsv(0, 100%, 100%) → (0%, 100%, 100%, 0%) (red)
  • hsv(120, 100%, 100%) → (100%, 0%, 100%, 0%) (green)
  • hsv(240, 100%, 100%) → (100%, 100%, 0%, 0%) (blue)
  • hsv(60, 100%, 100%) → (0%, 0%, 100%, 0%) (yellow)
  • hsv(180, 100%, 100%) → (100%, 0%, 0%, 0%) (cyan)
  • hsv(300, 100%, 100%) → (0%, 100%, 0%, 0%) (magenta)
  • hsv(0, 0%, 50%) → (0%, 0%, 0%, 50%) (gray)

CMYK is particularly important for print design as it represents the actual ink combinations used in printing processes. When converting from HSV to CMYK, it's important to understand that some bright HSV colors may not be perfectly reproducible in CMYK due to the more limited color gamut of printing inks.

HSV to CMYK FAQ

Why convert HSV to CMYK?

While HSV is great for digital design and color selection, professional printing uses CMYK inks. Converting ensures your colors will print as expected. This is especially important when preparing designs for physical production like brochures, business cards, or packaging.

Are all HSV colors reproducible in CMYK?

No, some bright and saturated HSV colors (particularly in the blue and green ranges) may not be perfectly reproducible in CMYK due to the more limited color gamut of printing inks. This is known as "out of gamut" colors. Professional design software often provides gamut warnings for such colors.

When should I do the HSV to CMYK conversion?

You should convert to CMYK when preparing final artwork for printing. While designing, it's often better to work in HSV or RGB for the wider color range, then convert to CMYK at the end to ensure print accuracy.

How accurate is the HSV to CMYK conversion?

The conversion is mathematically accurate for the color model transformation, but the actual printed result may vary depending on the printing process, paper quality, and printer calibration. For critical color work, always consult with your printer and request a physical proof.