HSL to CMYK converter
Paste a HSL value, get CMYK instantly. Any other format works too.
HSL to CMYK examples
About HSL and CMYK
HSL describes hue in degrees, saturation and lightness in percent. It is easy to read, but its lightness is not perceptually even: yellow at 50% looks much lighter than blue at 50%.
CMYK is cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black) ink in percent. The conversion here is the simple device-independent formula, so for print always check with your printer profile.
How the conversion works
We read the HSL value, convert it to CIE XYZ with the matrices from the CSS Color 4 specification and then into CMYK. Values outside the target gamut are mapped by the CSS Color 4 algorithm, which keeps lightness and hue and reduces chroma.
Questions and answers
How do I convert HSL to CMYK?
Paste or type a HSL value into the field above. PickShade converts it with the CSS Color 4 formulas as you type, and one click copies the CMYK value.
Is the HSL to CMYK conversion exact?
The math is exact and the result is rounded only for display, with enough digits to convert back to the same color. If the color does not fit the target gamut, PickShade warns you and shows the nearest color that fits.
Can I get other formats at the same time?
Yes. Every other format, including OKLCH, Display P3, Tailwind, SwiftUI, Flutter and Android, is listed below the result and copies with one click.
Is this converter free?
Yes. It is free, needs no sign-up and runs entirely in your browser.