As an SEO writer assistant, I’ll provide some quick answers to your question in the opening paragraphs and expand on them throughout the article. Identifying colors in Google can be done in a few different ways depending on your specific needs.
Using the Google Color Picker Tool
One of the easiest ways to identify a color in Google is to use their built-in color picker tool. This tool allows you to click on any image in the Google search results or on any webpage and it will give you the hex code for the exact color your mouse clicked on.
To use the color picker, simply right click on the color you want to identify and select “Inspect Element” from the menu. This will open the developer tools in your browser. In the developer tools, you’ll see a small eye dropper icon in the toolbar. Click this eye dropper and then click on the color in the webpage or image that you want to identify.
The eye dropper will drop down and show you the hex code for that exact color. For example, if you clicked on a red color, it might show the hex code #FF0000. This hex code identifies that specific shade of red. You can also see the RGB and HSL values for the color in the developer tools.
The Google color picker makes it quick and easy to identify any color you see on a webpage or image search result. Just right click, inspect the element, click the eye dropper, and click on the color. The hex code and other color values will be displayed instantly.
Searching for a Color Name in Google Images
If you don’t have a specific image or webpage with the color you want to identify, another option is to do a Google image search for the color name. For example, search for “blue” or “green” and scroll through the image results.
When you see a shade of blue or green that matches or closely resembles the color you have, you can right click on that image and use the color picker tool mentioned above to get the hex code. This allows you to identify the exact shade of any basic color name.
You can do this for colors like red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, black, white, gray, and brown. Just search for the basic color name and browse the images until you find the precise shade you’re looking for. The color picker will give you the code.
Using Reverse Image Search
Google’s reverse image search is another great way to identify colors. If you have an image with the color but don’t know the exact name or code for the color, you can use reverse image search to find out.
Simply go to Google Images and click on the camera icon in the search bar. This allows you to upload an image to search instead of typing text. Upload your image with the mystery color and search. Google will show you webpages and images that contain the same or similar colors to the one in your image.
As you browse through the results, click on any images that have the color you’re looking for. Use the color picker to get the hex code and identify that exact shade from your original image.
Using Online Color Identification Tools
There are also many online color identification tools and apps that you can use besides the native Google options. These websites allow you to either enter a hex code to get the name or upload an image and they will tell you the code.
Some examples include:
- Name to Hex – Enter a color name and get the exact hex code
- Hex Color Codes – Enter hex code and get the name
- Image Color Picker – Upload image and get hex codes
- Color Identifier – Drag and drop image to identify
These tools make it easy to quickly identify any color you have either by name or by uploading a sample image. They provide the hex codes, RGB values, HSL values, and common color names.
Asking the Google Assistant
If you have a Google Home smart speaker or the Google Assistant app on your phone, you can also verbally ask it to identify colors for you.
For example, you can say “Hey Google, what color is this?” and then hold your phone up to a physical object with the color you want to identify. The Google Assistant will analyze it and tell you the approximate hex code.
You can also show photos of colors on your phone screen to the Assistant. It works fairly well at identifying basic color names like red, blue, yellow, etc. The accuracy depends on factors like lighting conditions, but it can be a handy option to quickly get a color name or code.
Converting Codes Between Formats
Once you identify a color using one of the above methods, you may need to convert the code to another format. The main color code types are:
- Hex code – A 6-character code from 0-9 and A-F. E.g. #FFA500
- RGB – Values for Red, Green and Blue. E.g. RGB(255, 165, 0)
- HSL – Hue, Saturation and Lightness values. E.g. HSL(39, 100%, 50%)
- CMYK – Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black values. E.g. CMYK(0, 35, 100, 0)
Luckily, most online color tools mentioned above allow you to easily convert between these formats. You can enter a hex code and get the RGB value or enter RGB and get the nearest named color.
There are also dedicated color code converters available like:
- Colorizer – Supports hex, RGB, HSL and CMYK
- Color Code Converter – Convert between formats
- Color Hexa – Detailed color code conversions
Using these converters, you can take any color code from Google and convert it to your required format.
Matching Physical Colors to Online Codes
Identifying colors for digital projects is straightforward using the above steps. But what if you need to match a physical object’s color to an online code? This is where digital color identification gets a bit more complex.
Here are some tips for matching physical colors to online hex codes:
- Take a photo of the object in good natural lighting. Avoid shadows and use flash if needed.
- Use the photo with an online color identification tool as mentioned previously.
- Buy a physical color code reader device. These scan objects and provide codes.
- Get physical swatch books like Pantone to cross-reference colors.
- Use online tools like Nix Pro which match real photos to codes.
- Look for online stores that provide official color codes like automotive paint codes.
The best results will come from taking accurate photos, trying multiple online tools, and cross-checking physical swatch books. Matching real-world colors to digital codes takes patience but delivers the closest matches.
Choosing the Right Color Code Type
Once you’ve identified a color, the last step is to determine which type of color code you actually need for your project. Here are some guidelines:
| Code Type | Use Cases |
|---|---|
| Hex | Web design, HTML, CSS |
| RGB | Digital design, video editing |
| HSL | Adjusting color tones |
| CMYK | Print design and production |
| Pantone | Professional printing and manufacturing |
Hex is used for web colors, RGB for anything digital, HSL to tweak saturation and lightness, CMYK for printing, and Pantone for commercial manufacturing. Choose the code type that makes sense for your specific design or production needs.
Conclusion
Identifying exact colors in Google is easy thanks to the built-in color picker, reverse image search, and third party web tools. Look for images of the color, extract codes, convert between formats, and match real objects to digital codes. Make sure to choose the right type of color code for your end use. With some trial and error, you can identify any color seen online or in the physical world.
