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LAB Color Converter

Convert CIELAB to HEX and RGB, and measure ΔE between colours.

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CIELAB

The CIEDE2000 difference between the two is shown below.

CSS 
The lab() value appears here

Quick Tool Overview

The LAB Color Converter moves between CIELAB and sRGB in both directions and measures CIEDE2000 ΔE between any two colours — the number print quality control is actually written against.

What it does
Converts CIELAB to HEX and RGB, and measures ΔE
You give it
A colour, or two to compare
You get back
L, a, b values, CSS lab() and the ΔE verdict
Best for
Print work, colour matching and quality checks
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About the LAB Color Converter

CIELAB places a colour in three dimensions: L for lightness from 0 to 100, a for green through red, and b for blue through yellow. It was designed in 1976 to be perceptually uniform, meaning equal numeric distances should look like equal differences, and it is still the space colour science and the printing industry measure in.

That is what makes it useful here rather than just historical. Because distances in LAB correspond to perceived differences, it is where ΔE is calculated — the number quality control uses to decide whether a printed sheet matches the proof, or whether two batches of dye are the same colour.

This converter goes both ways and includes a ΔE comparison between any two colours using CIEDE2000, the current formula, with a plain reading of what the result means. CSS lab() values are produced as well, since CSS Color 4 made the space directly available in stylesheets.

Key features of the LAB Color Converter

ΔE built in

CIEDE2000 between any two colours, with the plain-language reading of what the number means.

CSS lab() output

Ready to paste, since CSS Color 4 made the space directly usable in a stylesheet.

Both directions

HEX in to see the components, or components in to see the colour.

D65 throughout

The white point sRGB and CSS use, stated explicitly so figures from a D50 print tool can be reconciled.

Opponent axes explained

a runs green to red, b blue to yellow, and both are zero for any neutral grey — shown on the page, not assumed.

How to use the LAB Color Converter

  1. 1

    Enter a colour

    A HEX code to see its LAB components, or lab() values to convert the other way.

  2. 2

    Read the components

    L, a and b, with the CSS lab() notation ready to copy.

  3. 3

    Compare two colours

    Add a second colour to get the CIEDE2000 ΔE between them.

  4. 4

    Read the verdict

    The ΔE is translated into what it means: invisible, slight, noticeable or clearly different.

Frequently asked questions

They are opponent axes: a runs from green (negative) to red (positive), b from blue (negative) to yellow (positive). Both are zero for a neutral grey, whatever its lightness.

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