HSL Adjuster
An online tool to intuitively adjust Hue, Saturation, and Lightness with sliders, and convert/copy color codes in HEX, RGB, and HSL formats.
HSL Adjuster
What is HSL Adjuster?
HSL Adjuster is an online tool that allows you to adjust the Hue, Saturation, and Lightness values of a color in real-time using intuitive sliders. Enter a HEX or RGB code, and it will be converted to HSL, allowing you to fine-tune each property individually.
You can compare the original color and adjusted color side by side while working, making it optimized for precisely tuning colors in design work. Adjusted colors can be instantly copied and used in HSL, HEX, and RGB formats.
When to Use This Tool
- Creating Brand Color Variations – When creating consistent color variations by adjusting only lightness and saturation from a base color
- UI Hover/Active State Colors – When generating state-specific colors by adjusting only the lightness of button or link base colors
- Color Tone Matching – When creating harmonious color sets by changing only the hue while maintaining saturation and lightness
- Accessibility Improvement – When adjusting the lightness of existing colors to increase contrast
- Color Exploration and Experimentation – When quickly trying various color combinations during the ideation stage
- CSS Color Code Conversion – When converting HEX codes to HSL or RGB for use
Key Features
- Intuitive HSL Sliders – Adjust Hue (0-360°), Saturation (0-100%), and Lightness (0-100%) with individual sliders and see color changes in real-time.
- Multiple Color Input Methods – Select directly with the color picker or enter a HEX code to specify the starting color.
- Original vs Result Comparison – Display the original and adjusted colors side by side to intuitively compare changes.
- Multiple Code Outputs – Provides codes in HSL, HEX, RGB, and CSS formats simultaneously for instant copying.
- Auto-Save History – Adjusted colors are automatically saved to history, making it easy to recall previous work.
- Favorites Storage – Save frequently used colors to favorites for quick access.
How to Use
- Select Start Color – Click the color picker or enter a HEX code and click the “Apply” button.
- Adjust HSL Values – Move the Hue, Saturation, and Lightness sliders to create your desired color. Changes are reflected in real-time.
- Check Results – Compare the original and adjusted results, and use the copy button to copy your preferred code format to the clipboard.
- Save and Manage – Add colors you like to favorites, and recall previous colors from history.
Understanding the HSL Color Model
HSL is a color model that represents colors in a way that closely matches human perception:
- Hue (0-360°) – Represents position on the color wheel. 0°/360° is red, 120° is green, 240° is blue.
- Saturation (0-100%) – Represents color vividness. 0% is gray, 100% is fully vivid color.
- Lightness (0-100%) – Represents brightness. 0% is black, 50% is pure color, 100% is white.
The advantage of HSL is that you can adjust saturation or lightness while maintaining the hue. This makes it easy to create lighter/darker variations of the same color family.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between HSL and RGB?
RGB represents colors by mixing the three primary colors of light (red, green, blue), while HSL represents them through hue, saturation, and lightness. HSL allows intuitive adjustments like “a bit brighter” or “less saturated,” making it more convenient for design work.
How is the Hue value determined?
Hue is expressed as an angle (0-360 degrees) on the color wheel. 0° is red, 60° is yellow, 120° is green, 180° is cyan, 240° is blue, and 300° is magenta. 360° returns to red.
What’s the difference between 0% and 100% Saturation?
At 0% saturation, the color becomes completely desaturated (grayscale), while at 100%, it becomes the most vivid and pure color for that hue. Lowering saturation creates a softer, pastel-like feel.
How do I create a button hover color?
Simply lower the Lightness (L) value of your base button color by 10-15% to create a natural hover effect. Keep the hue and saturation the same to maintain color consistency.
Where are history and favorites stored?
They are stored in your browser’s local storage. They persist even when you close the page in the same browser, but cannot be seen in different browsers or devices. History stores the 10 most recent colors, and favorites can store up to 20.
What are the advantages of using HSL in CSS?
HSL makes it easy to calculate color variations in CSS. For example, adjusting only the lightness easily creates lighter/darker versions of the same color. Combined with CSS variables and calc(), you can implement dynamic color themes.