Color Temperature Chart
Convert Kelvin (K) values to RGB and hex. Understand how light color temperature — from warm candle glow to cool blue sky — translates to actual color values. Used by photographers, videographers, and lighting designers.
Common Light Sources & Their Color Temperature
| Color swatch | Light source | Temperature |
|---|---|---|
FF7 | Candle flame | 1,800K |
FFA | Incandescent bulb (40W) | 2,700K |
FFA | Incandescent bulb (100W) | 2,850K |
FFB | Warm white LED | 3,000K |
FFB | Halogen lamp | 3,200K |
FFC | Morning/evening sunlight | 4,000K |
FFD | Neutral white LED | 4,500K |
FFE | Daylight fluorescent | 5,000K |
FFE | Midday sunlight | 5,500K |
FFF | Studio daylight (D65) | 6,500K |
F3F | Overcast sky | 7,000K |
DDE | Shade (blue sky reflected) | 8,000K |
CAD | Clear blue sky | 10,000K |
Click any row to load that temperature into the tool above.
Understanding Color Temperature
Color temperature describes the hue of light based on the Planckian locus — the color a theoretical "black body" radiator glows at a given temperature in Kelvin. Counterintuitively, lower Kelvin values produce warmer (amber/orange) light, while higher values produce cooler (blue) light.
Why photographers care: Camera white balance settings (Tungsten 3200K, Daylight 5600K, Shade 7000K) correct for the dominant light source so colors appear neutral in the final image. Mixing light sources without balancing creates unwanted color casts.
Why web designers care: Monitors are typically calibrated to D65 (6500K), the standard for computer graphics and video. D50 (5000K) is used for print workflows. If you're designing interfaces, your screen is showing you content at approximately 6500K.
Note on accuracy: The RGB conversion is a mathematical approximation of the Planckian locus (Tanner Helland's algorithm). Real light sources may deviate from this curve, and screen colors cannot fully reproduce physical light.