Paste a hex color code and get its CIELCH values instantly. HEX and CIELCH describe the exact same color: base sixteen screen channels on one side, and the CIE 1976 L*a*b* space read in polar form as lightness, chroma (how colorful) and hue (its angle on the color wheel) on the other. See the live preview and the math worked out step by step.
Questions
- Are HEX and CIELCH the same color?
- Yes. HEX and CIELCH are two notations of one color; the converter changes the notation, not the color. Converting back returns the same value, apart from rounding in spaces that use decimals.
- How do I convert HEX to CIELCH by hand?
- Split the hex code into its red, green and blue pairs, read each pair as a number from 0 to 255, then apply the CIELCH formula shown in How HEX to CIELCH Works above. The worked example on this page follows every step with your own color.
- Where does the alpha channel go?
- A hex code with eight digits carries opacity in its last pair (FF is fully opaque). CIELCH has a matching form with an extra alpha value; both are listed in the Formats section of this page.
- Is the HEX to CIELCH converter free?
- Yes. It runs in your browser with no sign in and no limit; convert as many values as you like. The color itself is the link, so any conversion can be shared or bookmarked.
