How Do Hex Codes Work: Detailed Guide

Color grading and hex codes?

What’s brewing here?

Well, you see, color grading is a term that is used for the post-production process of visuals like videos or images. You can think of it as altering the color tone inside a visual to make it match the theme. The process mostly involves the adjustment of hue, brightness, and saturation.

While using the hex codes is not recommended for the color grading process, today most of the developers use hex codes while making visuals. 

This means if the visual that you want to edit is in hex codes, you have to know how do hex codes work, as in, decode them. 

That’s exactly what we are going to tell you in this blog. 

We’ll tell you how you can decode hex codes before starting to do color grading of visuals. 

But for a better understanding, let’s have a look at the basics first.

Types of codes used in color grading

Different types of code combinations can be used for the color grading process. 

Some common among them include:

• RGB: Those that are based on mixing red, green, and blue light to create other colors.
• CMYK: They are used in printing that combines inks, i.e., cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.
• HSB: These colors are based on hue, saturation, and brightness.
• LAB: These colors are based on human vision. They mostly use lightness and two-color components (a & b).

Now, with the types of codes used in color grading covered here, let’s move on to learning what the hex codes are. 

What are hex codes?

Hex codes, also known as hexadecimal colors, involve a six-digit combination of numbers & letters and always start with the “#”.  

Combining these numbers and letters represents a specific color. 

They are commonly used by developers while writing code for a web design. It is stated that the combination of the hex color codes can give 16,777,216 different colors. 

How do they differentiate from RGB codes?

Both hex and RGB codes can represent the same colors. 

But RGB colors are easier to adjust because in RGB you are working with individual colors. That is why they are used in most of the color grading programs. 

Besides this, they also have some other differences:

• Hex codes use a 6-character string like #FF5733. RGB codes are written with three numbers like RGB (255, 87, 51).

• Hex codes are based on 6 hexadecimal numbers. RGB codes use decimal numbers (0–255).

• Hex codes are more compact. RGB codes are easier to understand for beginners because they use regular numbers.

Now, all this impressive information, but why are hex codes not used in color grading?

Let’s find out ahead.

Reasons why hex codes are not used in color grading

Technically, there is no hurdle in using hex codes in the color grading process, but they are not recommended. 

Here are the key reasons behind that:

• Hex codes are difficult to handle when it comes to bringing precise adjustments to a specific range. 

• RGB values are simple to manipulate, which is why they are preferred. 

• Most of the color grading software does not support hex codes. 

• Hex codes are fixed, which means it is difficult to bring in the desired subtle shifts in colors of the visual.

• Hex codes offer limited color variations as compared to RGB. 

• Look-Up Tables (LUTs) are crucial for color grading. But they cannot be applied with hex codes. 

So, the verdict: Can you use hex codes in color grading?

Well, mostly indirectly. 

You can pick specific colors for highlights, shadows, and midtones using hex codes, but most grading tools use HSL, RGB, or LAB instead of hex.

Now, the question comes: how to read hex codes? Like, how do you decode them?

Allow us to explain.

How to decode hex codes? 

There are multiple ways to decode hex codes if you use them in color grading. 

One is the manual way to decode them, and the other is using online tools. 

Below, we are going to walk you through both ways one by one.

Manual way to decode hex codes

As we mentioned earlier, hex codes involve 6 characters (both numbers and alphabets) and start with “#”. 

These codes look something like #1A2B3C. The six characters inside the code are divided into three parts. These three parts represent red, green, and blue (RGB) values in hexadecimal format. 

Here are the steps you need to take to break down these codes manually. 

Step 1: Break down the code

Start by splitting the hex codes into three pairs. For example, if the code is #1A2B3C, you can break it like this:

• 1A (Red)
• 2B (Green)
• 3C (Blue)

Step 2: Convert hex to decimal

Now pick up a hexadecimal number table; you can find them online for free and start converting hex values to decimals. For example, the code #1A2B3C should be like this:

• 1A = 26 
• 2B = 43
• 3C = 60

Upon combining these values, your RGB code will be like (26, 43, 60).

Using online hex to RGB converter

Converting hex codes into RGB values manually is a very time-consuming task. 

However, various online tools are now available that let users convert hex codes into RGB for free. 

One such tool is the Hex to RGB converter by Minifier. 

Here’s how you can use this tool:

1. Upon visiting the converter, you’ll see an input box in front of you. 

2. Paste your hex code inside the tool’s input box and hit the convert button. As an example, we have added the code #1A2B3C into the tool, and here’s the conversion we got from it. 

The tool has converted the code instantly. 

Plus, the good thing is that it also shows what the color looks like. 

Additionally, we don’t have to search for hex values inside large hexadecimal tables. The tool has done the accurate work within seconds. 

Final talk

Hex codes are common in web design; they’re not ideal for color grading due to their limitations.

That is why it is important for you to know how to decode hex code to RGB color value. 

Above, we have mentioned two different ways that help you decode the hex codes. 

Opt for a way and start grading your visuals.

Frequently asked questions

1. How can I convert hex codes to HSL for better color grading?

You can manually convert hex to HSL using online tools or by using a formula that translates RGB values to HSL. Many design programs allow you to switch between hex, RGB, and HSL formats.

2. Why do web designers prefer hex codes over RGB?

Hex codes are more compact and readable in web development (e.g., #FF5733 vs. RGB(255, 87, 51)). However, RGB is easier for manual adjustments because it directly separates red, green, and blue values.

3. What’s the easiest way to experiment with hex colors before color grading?

You can use various tools to test different color schemes and palettes before applying them in RGB-based grading software.