What is the conversion chain used here?

The tool uses the standard chain: CIE L*a*b* → XYZ (D65) → linear sRGB → sRGB (gamma) → HSV. Each step follows the IEC 61966-2-1 sRGB standard and the CIE 1976 LAB definition.

What illuminant does this tool use?

D65 standard illuminant (daylight, ~6500 K) with reference white Xn=95.047, Yn=100.000, Zn=108.883. D65 is the default for sRGB and the most common choice for web and display color work.

What is the valid range for L*, a*, and b*?

L* ranges from 0 (black) to 100 (white). a* typically spans −128 to +127 (negative = green, positive = red). b* spans −128 to +127 (negative = blue, positive = yellow). Values outside the sRGB gamut will be clamped to the nearest representable color.

Why does the output sometimes show H=0 with S=0?

When the color is achromatic (R = G = B, i.e., a pure gray, white, or black), saturation is 0 and hue is undefined — conventionally set to 0.

What is the difference between HSV and HSB?

HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value) and HSB (Hue, Saturation, Brightness) are the same color model, just named differently. Photoshop calls it HSB; most other tools call it HSV.

Does this tool send any data to a server?

No. All computation runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No data is sent anywhere.

LAB to HSV Converter

Name: LAB to HSV Converter
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Enter CIE L*a*b* values and instantly get the equivalent HSV (hue, saturation, value) color with a live preview swatch.

CIE Lab* Input

L* (Lightness) 53

a* (green – red) 80

b* (blue – yellow) 67

rgb(213, 0, 0)

HSV Output

H (Hue)

S (Saturation)

V (Value)

Conversion Steps

1 LAB → XYZ (D65): X=0.2034, Y=0.1046, Z=0.0089
2 XYZ → Linear RGB: Rl=0.6387, Gl=0.0000, Bl=0.0000
3 Linear RGB → sRGB: R=213, G=0, B=0
4 sRGB → HSV: hsv(0°, 100%, 83%)

Copied!

Summary

Enter CIE L*a*b* values and instantly get the equivalent HSV (hue, saturation, value) color with a live preview swatch.

How it works

Enter L* (lightness, 0–100), a* (green–red axis, −128 to +127), and b* (blue–yellow axis, −128 to +127) in the input fields.
LAB is converted to XYZ using the inverse CIE f() function and D65 reference white (Xn=95.047, Yn=100.000, Zn=108.883).
XYZ is multiplied by the inverse sRGB matrix to produce linear RGB values.
Linear RGB is gamma-encoded with the sRGB transfer function (IEC 61966-2-1) to produce standard 0–255 RGB.
RGB (0–255) is normalized to 0–1 and converted to HSV: V = max(R,G,B), S = (V − min) / V, H computed from the dominant channel.
A color swatch previews the resulting color using the intermediate sRGB values.
Click "Copy HSV" to copy the hsv() string, or use individual copy buttons for H, S, V, or RGB.

Use cases

Convert perceptual LAB color specifications into HSV for use in image editors like Photoshop or GIMP.
Map L*a*b* palette entries from color science pipelines into HSV for creative tools.
Cross-reference LAB measurement data with HSV-based color pickers.
Validate color transformations in graphics or print workflows.
Build HSV-based color palettes from device-independent LAB reference values.
Quickly check the hue angle of a LAB color when working on color harmony.
Convert L*a*b* values from colorimeter readings into HSV for further processing.
Understand the full LAB → XYZ → RGB → HSV conversion chain step by step.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related tools

Cmyk To Hsv Hsl To Hsv Hex To Hsv

Last updated: 2026-05-28 · Reviewed by Nham Vu