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E
ethandale
Known Participant
May 3, 2017
Answered

Hex Codes in Photoshop?

  • May 3, 2017
  • 6 replies
  • 100884 views

Hello!

I'm currently trying to follow a Bob Ross painting video (yes, I am that bad, but he makes it so much easier) and he lists the colors he uses at the start of the video. I have all of the hex codes for that supposed "exact" color in terms of digital art, but I can't find where to enter it in photoshop. Could anybody give me a hand? Thanks!

    Correct answer Semaphoric

    It's at the bottom of the Color Picker:

        

    6 replies

    F
    Felix Garcia
    Participant
    August 27, 2022

    So I was confused for the longest time I was in 32-bit and there was no hex code I since changed to 8-bit and it has magically appeared but now I don't know why that is. to my understanding 8-bit is a lower quality but that all I know.

     

    oh and its under image>mode if someone is wondering how to change over to get hex codes.

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 27, 2022

    Hi

    Hex codes are just RGB numbers expressed in Hexadecimal. So instead of 0 to 255 you have 00 to FF.

    Incidentally both are meaningless unless expressed in the context of a particular colour space. So the same numbers in decimal or hex, represent different colours in sRGB, Adobe RGB, Prophoto. I add this only because many people think that a Hex code is less ambiguous that a set of RGB decimal values. They are equally accurate or inaccurate depending on whether the color space is given.

     

    To the other part of your question. 8 bit and 16 bit integers represent the same range of values but 16 bit divides that range into smaller increments.  However 32 bit floating point numbers are very different. They represent an extended dynamic range and have the capability to express darker values than can be represented by 8 bit 0, and lighter values than can be represented by 8 bit 255 (or FF in hexadecimal). As such, hex codes have no place in 32 bit/channel.

     

    Dave

     

     

      I
      ingik43405778
      Participant
      September 3, 2023

      Interesting conversation. I for one have never heard anyone in his right mind use HEX code to describe anything but sRGB colours.
      HEX codes are used for screen colour only. For physical media, LAB is used to describe a colour in technical terms, - so it can be reproduced correctly.
      If you replace a HEX code with a generic RGB value however, you ARE in trouble, since in this case, - if this is for instance used in a brand manual to describe the colour of a brand, the RGB value could just as well be picked up by the designer when he or she is working in Adobe RGB mode preparing a job for print - and trust me, I have seen this in lofty brand manuals created by big advertising agencies who should know what they are doing.
      A single RGB value is about as useful as presenting a print colour with a single CMYK value, without referring to a print standard - say Fogra 39 or Gracol xxx (if you are American). 

      I for one strongly recommend using the HEX code to describe web colours. 

      Y
      Yacine5ED1
      Participant
      October 29, 2021

      I am in the latest version of Photoshop, using 16 and 8 bits, and there is no way I can add my HEX code.

      T
      Test Screen Name
      Legend
      October 29, 2021

      Yacine,

      1. Tell us the actual version of Photoshop please. Not "latest"

      2. Please show a screen shot of your colour picker, when in RGB 8 bit mode. 

      Y
      Yacine5ED1
      Participant
      October 29, 2021

      Sorry I found. It was my mistake.

      jane-e
      Community Expert
      jane-eCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      October 23, 2020

       

      In addition to being at the bottom of the Color Picker, you can use the Color panel and set the sliders to Web Color Sliders to get Hexadecimal. Note that you can then copy the code from the menu and paste it into your web application.

       

      ~ Jane

       

        Tina-Soulelle
        Tina-Soulelle
        Participating Frequently
        July 13, 2020

        In the Photoshop 2020 this lovely hex code in the bottom has disappear and I wonder why? I really need this  when I'm working with the color.

        davescm
        Community Expert
        davescmCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        July 13, 2020

        Are you working in 8 bit or 16 bits/channel ?

        If you are in 32 bit linear then a different colour picker is used and hex codes would be completely meaningless in such a colour space.

         

        Dave

        Tina-Soulelle
        Tina-Soulelle
        Participating Frequently
        July 13, 2020

        I am working in 8 bits/ channel.

        D Fosse
        Community Expert
        D FosseCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        May 3, 2017

        Hex is not "exact". People believe that, but it's a misunderstanding. In reality it's just a different notation for RGB values.

        If you want exact, hex color is subject to the same requirements for proper color management. A given hex number is undefined until you assign a color space to that number. Only then does it refer to a specific color.

        However, a safe assumption with hex is that it refers to sRGB. Hexadecimal notation has its origin before modern color management, and it was used as a convenient way to refer to screen colors.

        The only reason I can think of why hex has survived, is that it has a geeky, computerish sound to it. It sounds like it should be accurate. Today it's really outdated.

          anonyms
          anonyms
          Known Participant
          October 22, 2020

          This is helpful. I would note, however, that when programming CSS code and specifying color, Hex code still must be used and is used thus if you are designing a composition or scheme for what ultimately will be part of a web site (as in an HTML 'page' controlled re styles by CSS), specifying color via Hex code still would be a better way to go than simply using RGB sliders. It is for this reason that both as a professor and a teacher in K12 classrooms that when I teach digital image making and manipulating of all varieties (from painting to drawing to graphic design to simply 'coding' to motion graphics), I still require students utilize Hex code or at least fully understand enough such that they are equipped to choose whether or not to use it in compositing and just plain creating cool stuff.

            davescm
            Community Expert
            davescmCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            October 22, 2020

            It is not the use of a Hex code that is bad, it is just three numbers after all, and a very quick way of expressing those three numbers. What is wrong is the expectation that a Hex code refers to a specific colour. It does not. Any numeric representation of a colour be it in base 2, base 10 , base 16 or base 123 will only refer to a specific colour when used in the context of a specific colour space.

            So no problem with use of Hex codes as such, I programmed in hexadecimal using "machine code" instructions many years ago, it's just when they are misrepresented as being more accurate than any other number that I frown 🙂

             

            Dave

              Semaphoric
              Community Expert
              SemaphoricCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
              Community Expert
              May 3, 2017

              It's at the bottom of the Color Picker:

                  

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