RGB vs. HEX: Decoding the Secret Language of Colors
If you are a web designer or developer, you see codes like #FF5733 every day. But have you ever stopped to think about what those letters and numbers actually mean?
It's not magic—it's just math. Specifically, it's Base-16 math.
The RGB Model: Mixing Light
Screens work differently from paint. When you mix paint, colors get darker. When you mix light (pixels), colors get brighter.
Every pixel on your screen is made of three tiny lights: Red, Green, and Blue (RGB). By varying the intensity of these three lights, we can create over 16 million colors.
Decoding the HEX Code
A HEX code is just a shorter way to write RGB values. Let's break down #FF5733:
- The first two digits (FF) represent Red intensity.
- The middle two (57) represent Green intensity.
- The last two (33) represent Blue intensity.
FF is the highest number in hexadecimal (equal to 255 in decimal), meaning "Maximum Red". That's why #FF0000 is bright red!
Why Use Gradients?
Gradients are simply the smooth mathematical transition between two HEX codes. Our CSS Gradient Tool calculates the intermediate steps for you, creating a seamless flow from one color to another.