HSL to RGB

About the HSL to RGB

This tool converts hsl() values to rgb(), which some tools and older browsers prefer. It accepts alpha (hsla to rgba) and values with or without the wrapper. Convert several at once, one per line.

Internally the conversion derives a chroma value from the saturation and lightness, works out which sixty-degree sector of the wheel the hue falls into, assigns the largest, middle and smallest channel from that sector, then lifts all three by a constant so the lightness comes out right. That sector logic explains a pattern you can see in the output: colours sitting on a boundary, at hue 60, 120, 180 and so on, always have at least one channel at exactly 0 or 255.

A frequent surprise is that saturation is relative rather than absolute. At 50 percent lightness, full saturation gives a vivid colour, but at 95 percent lightness the same full saturation gives a pale pastel, because there is barely any room left between the top and bottom channel for chroma to occupy. So when a colour looks washed out, bring the lightness down before you reach for more saturation. Pushing saturation alone will do almost nothing.

To convert back, use RGB to HSL; for every format at once, the Color Converter. To blend the result with a second colour rather than convert it, the Color Mixer interpolates the RGB channels directly.

How to use

1. Paste hsl() values, one per line.
2. Copy the rgb() values.