A hex code is a way to represent a color digitally using the numbers 0-9 and the letters A-F. Hex codes are commonly used for web design, digital design, printing, and more. Many people are curious if a hex code can be accurately translated into a real-world paint color for use in physical spaces like homes or offices. Luckily, the answer is yes! With the right tools and some clever translation, hex codes can be matched to real paint colors quite well. In this article, we’ll explore what hex codes are, how they work, and the various methods for turning a hex code into a usable paint color. Read on to learn everything you need to know about matching hex colors to paint.
What is a Hex Code?
A hex code is a six-digit code that represents a specific color. Hex codes always start with a hash symbol “#” and then are followed by six characters that can include numbers 0-9 and/or letters A-F.
For example, pure red would be represented in hex code as #FF0000. This code is telling a computer or other digital device to use the maximum values for red, zero for green, and zero for blue to make the color red.
Hex codes use the RGB color model to create colors on screen. The RGB color model combines levels of red, green, and blue light to make all the possible colors we see on a screen. Hex codes simply provide an easy way for computers to understand what levels of red, green, and blue are needed to produce a given color.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how hex codes work:
| Position | Meaning |
|---|---|
| # | Denotes that this is a hex code |
| FF | Amount of red (256 possible values from 00 to FF) |
| 00 | Amount of green (256 possible values) |
| 00 | Amount of blue (256 possible values) |
As you can see, hex codes provide a standard way for computers, apps, and websites to all denote colors on screens and digital projects. But can these digitally-represented colors be accurately matched to real paint for use in interior design? Let’s explore.
Translating Hex Codes to Paint
Hex codes were created specifically for displaying color digitally on screens. Paints use a different system for creating their spectrum of colors. Paints gain their hues from pigments, dyes, and other analog ingredients, while screens use combinations of LED or LCD lights.
This means that translating a hex code directly into a paint color is not always perfectly accurate. However, paint companies have gotten quite good at creating paint formulas that closely match most hex codes. There are also a few different methods you can use to find the closest paint match to any given hex code.
Paint Company Matching Services
Many major paint companies now offer online matching services where you can input a hex code and they will provide the closest paint color match in their collection. Here are some of the top services:
– Benjamin Moore: Their Color Portfolio app allows you to snap a photo of anything, extract the dominant color, and get a paint match for Benjamin Moore paints. You can also enter hex codes.
– Sherwin-Williams: Their ColorSnap Visualizer tool lets you enter a hex code and provides the closest matching paint color along with paint chips delivered to your door.
– Behr: Behr’s ColorSmart app also has a hex matching feature paired with paint chips delivered.
– Valspar: Valspar’s ColorMaster app matches hex codes to paint swatches that can be bought at Lowe’s stores.
Using these services provides a high level of accuracy since the paint companies have carefully calibrated their paint colors to match common digital colors. The apps provide both the closest named paint color and the ability to have a custom color formulated.
Online Hex to Paint Calculators
In addition to paint company matching services, there are also several handy online calculators you can use to match a hex code to a major paint brand. Useful calculators include:
– EasyRGB: Insert a hex code and pick a paint brand to see the closest color match along with the specific name to request from your local paint store.
– Color-Hex: Much like EasyRGB, start by entering a hex code and selecting a paint company to match with. Provides paint names and sometimes codes.
– Hex Color Codes: This tool again allows hex code input and paint brand selection but also lets you alter the hex code using RGB sliders to preview and adjust colors before matching to paint.
These calculators work by maintaining enormous databases of paint colors from all the major brands and their digital hex code equivalents. Some even allow adjusting a hex code to make it easier to match more accurately.
Buying Digital Color Fans
Paint brands like Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams sell physical color fans that show small swatches of their colors along with each color’s digital hex code equivalent printed right on the fan.
You can use fans like these to visually scan for the swatch that looks closest to your target hex code. While not as precise as the matching services, it gives a quick analog option for converting a hex code into paint. You get an instant physical reference point for the color that you can then easily match to a larger sample or full can of the paint.
Challenges of Matching Hex and Paint
While matching hex to paint has certainly gotten much easier, there are still a few challenges to be aware of when translating digital colors into the real world:
– **Screen Variation:** Not all screens represent color the same, so a hex code may look slightly different on one device versus another. This can impact how accurately you perceive the hex color when attempting to match it.
– **Metamerism:** This phenomenon means colors that match on one material under one light source may no longer match under different materials and lighting. Hex codes viewed on a screen may shift compared to paint on a wall.
– **Formula Adjustments:** To match a hex code, paint companies may have to tweak their formulas, such as adding tints. This can shift paint colors slightly away from their original digital representation.
The best way to address these issues is to order physical paint swatches of the closest hex match and view them on the actual wall you intend to paint before finalizing your color selection. While not exact, hex codes still get you incredibly close as a starting point.
Conclusion
In summary, translating hex color codes into real paint colors is totally achievable thanks to handy matching services, calculators, and color fans. Paint technology has come a long way in accurately representing digital colors in paint form. However, for the most precise final shade, always order swatches of the closest paint match to your target hex color and test out on your wall before fully committing. With the right tools and a bit of refinement, you can successfully turn any hex color into a usable interior paint color for your next design project.
