HEX vs RGB vs HSL

HEX is compact

HEX is the short code format you often see in CSS and design tools, such as #6C5CE7. It is easy to copy, easy to store in design tokens, and common in palette libraries. Use HEX when you need a clean reference color.

RGB is channel-based

RGB writes color as red, green, and blue light values. It is useful when you need to understand or manipulate channels, especially in code. If you need opacity, CSS can use rgba() or modern rgb() syntax with alpha values.

HSL is intuitive for adjustment

HSL describes hue, saturation, and lightness. It can be easier for designers to reason about: change lightness for a softer background, reduce saturation for a calmer mood, or shift hue to explore adjacent colors.

When to use each

• Use HEX for palettes, CSS variables, and handoff.
• Use RGB when working with screens, canvas, or channel values.
• Use HSL when adjusting brightness and saturation.

PhotoColor includes HEX to RGB and RGB to HEX converters for quick format changes.

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