LAB to HSV Converter

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

1. Enter L* (lightness, 0–100), a* (green–red axis, −128 to +127), and b* (blue–yellow axis, −128 to +127) in the input fields.
2. LAB is converted to XYZ using the inverse CIE f() function and D65 reference white (Xn=95.047, Yn=100.000, Zn=108.883).
3. XYZ is multiplied by the inverse sRGB matrix to produce linear RGB values.
4. Linear RGB is gamma-encoded with the sRGB transfer function (IEC 61966-2-1) to produce standard 0–255 RGB.
5. 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.
6. A color swatch previews the resulting color using the intermediate sRGB values.
7. 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