How do you show the hex code in Photoshop?

You can easily find the hex code for any color in Photoshop by using the Color Picker, which displays the code at the bottom of its window.

Finding Hex Codes in Photoshop

Hexadecimal color codes (hex codes) are crucial for web design and digital projects, providing a standardized way to represent specific colors across different platforms. Photoshop makes it straightforward to identify these codes for any color you're working with.

Step-by-Step Guide to Locate a Hex Code

Follow these simple steps to reveal the hex code for a chosen color in Adobe Photoshop:

Open the Color Picker:
- Locate the Foreground Color swatch (the top-left color square) in the Tools panel (usually on the left side of your screen).
- Double-click this swatch to open the Photoshop Color Picker dialog box.
- Alternatively, if you have the Color panel open (Window > Color), you can double-click a color swatch within that panel to access the Color Picker.
Select Your Desired Color:
- To select an existing color on your canvas: With the Color Picker open, your cursor automatically turns into an Eyedropper tool (or you can manually select it from the Tools panel). Click anywhere on your image or canvas to sample a color. As you click, the Color Picker will update to show the precise values of the sampled color.
- To choose a new color: Drag the vertical color slider on the right side of the Color Picker to select a hue. Then, click and drag within the large color field to pick the exact shade and saturation.
Locate the Hex Code:
- Once a color is selected (either by sampling from your image or choosing a new one), its numerical values will populate various fields within the Color Picker.
- Look towards the bottom of the Color Picker dialog box. You will find the hex code displayed next to a pound sign (#). This is the six-character alphanumeric code representing your selected color.
- For example, pure red would appear as #FF0000.
Copy the Hex Code:
- Click on the hex code value to highlight it.
- Press Ctrl + C (Windows) or Command + C (Mac) to copy the code to your clipboard for use in other applications or web development.

Understanding Color Models in Photoshop

Photoshop displays several color model values within the Color Picker, allowing you to work with the format most suitable for your project.

Color Model	Description	Common Use Case	Example (Pure Red)
Hex	Hexadecimal value (e.g., `#RRGGBB`) for digital displays.	Web design, UI/UX	`#FF0000`
RGB	Red, Green, Blue values (0-255 each) for screens.	Digital photography, monitors	`R: 255, G: 0, B: 0`
CMYK	Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key (Black) percentages for print.	Print media, offset printing	`C: 0%, M: 100%, Y: 100%, K: 0%`
Lab	Luminance and two chromaticity components (a and b) for device-independent color.	Professional printing, color correction	`L: 54, a: 80, b: 69`

Practical Tips for Working with Hex Codes

Consistency is Key: Use consistent hex codes across your digital projects (websites, apps, presentations) to maintain brand identity and visual harmony.
Global Colors: For frequently used colors, consider saving them as "Global Colors" in the Swatches panel (Window > Swatches). This allows you to update a color across multiple elements simultaneously if its value changes. Learn more about Photoshop's color features.
Third-Party Tools: While Photoshop provides the hex code directly, many online tools can also help you identify colors from images or generate color palettes based on a hex code.

By mastering the Color Picker, you can quickly and accurately retrieve any hex code needed for your design workflow.