Color Temperature Helper

Summary

Convert color temperature in Kelvin to RGB and hex values, and see the perceived light color for photography, lighting design, and display calibration.

How it works

1. Enter a color temperature in Kelvin (1000–20000 K) or use one of the preset light sources.
2. The tool applies the Tanner Helland algorithm to map the Kelvin value to approximate RGB channels.
3. The resulting color swatch, RGB values, and hex code update instantly in the browser.
4. Use the hex output directly in CSS, photo editing, or lighting software.
5. Switch to RGB-to-Kelvin mode to find the nearest color temperature for a given color.

Use cases

• Set camera white balance by identifying the Kelvin value for your light source.
• Match gel colors to a target color temperature in studio lighting.
• Calibrate monitor white point for photo editing and print work.
• Choose warm or cool LEDs for interior lighting design.
• Explain color temperature concepts visually in photography courses.
• Cross-reference color temperature with hex/RGB for graphic design work.

Frequently Asked Questions