Color Spaces & Models
Understanding different color spaces is crucial for designers, developers, and anyone working with color across different media and devices.
What Are Color Spaces?
A color space (or color model) is a mathematical way to represent colors as numbers. Different color spaces are optimized for different purposes, from displaying colors on screens to printing on paper to matching human perception.
Each color space has its own strengths and limitations. Choosing the right color space for your project can mean the difference between colors that look vibrant and accurate versus dull or distorted.
Understanding color spaces helps you make informed decisions about color reproduction, ensure consistency across different media, and troubleshoot color-related issues in your projects.
The Four Essential Color Spaces
RGB
Red, Green, Blue
Additive color model used for digital displays and screens
Value Range:
0-255 for each channel
Best Used For:
- Web design
- Digital art
- Screen displays
- Video production
#FF6384
CMYK
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key (Black)
Subtractive color model used for printing and physical media
Value Range:
0-100% for each channel
Best Used For:
- Print design
- Magazines
- Brochures
- Business cards
#00FFFF
HSL
Hue, Saturation, Lightness
Intuitive color model that matches how humans perceive color
Value Range:
H: 0-360°, S: 0-100%, L: 0-100%
Best Used For:
- Color picker interfaces
- Design systems
- Color adjustments
- Accessibility
#00FF00
LAB
Lightness, A (green-red), B (blue-yellow)
Perceptually uniform color space covering the entire visible spectrum
Value Range:
L: 0-100, A: -128 to +127, B: -128 to +127
Best Used For:
- Color correction
- Professional photography
- Cross-device consistency
- Scientific applications
#4A90E2
When to Use Which Color Space
Digital Projects
Print Projects
Professional Work
Cross-Platform
Color Space Conversion & Workflow
Common Conversion Scenarios
Web to Print
Convert RGB colors to CMYK for printing. Expect some color shifts due to different gamuts.
Design Systems
Use HSL for easier color manipulation, convert to RGB for implementation.
Photography
Work in LAB for color correction, convert to RGB for web or CMYK for print.
Cross-Device
Use LAB as an intermediate space for accurate color matching across devices.
Best Practices
- Always work in the color space appropriate for your final output medium
- Use color profiles when converting between spaces to maintain accuracy
- Test color conversions early in your workflow to avoid surprises
- Document your color specifications clearly for team collaboration
Understanding Color Gamuts
Each color space has a different gamut - the range of colors it can represent. Understanding these limitations is crucial for color accuracy: