Colors RGB and RGBA
What are RGB colors?
RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is a color model used to display colors on the screens of electronic devices such as televisions, computer monitors, smartphones, and others.
How does it work?
In the RGB model, each color is created by mixing three primary colors: Red, Green, Blue in varying proportions. Each of these colors has its own intensity, which can vary from 0 to 255. By combining these three colors in different proportions, you can get millions of different shades.
Where is RGB used?
The RGB model is used wherever you want to display colors on the screen. Here are some examples:
- TVs and monitors: RGB is used to create images on the screen. Each pixel on the screen is made up of three subpixels: red, green, and blue. By varying the brightness of these subpixels, any color can be produced.
- Smartphones and tablets: The screens of these devices also use the RGB model to display colors.
- Digital cameras: RGB is used to record color information. Every photo taken by a digital camera contains information about the intensity of the red, green, and blue colors for each pixel in the image.
- Graphic design and web design: RGB is used to create color images that are then displayed on screens.
- Lighting: Some LED lights use the RGB model to create colored lighting. By varying the intensity of red, green, and blue, you can achieve any shade of light.
Example
Using RGB colors when styling a web page:
body {
background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); /* White Background */
color: rgb(0, 0, 0); /* Black Text */
}
Advantages of RGB:
- Wide range of colors: RGB allows you to create millions of different shades of colors.
- Ease of use: The RGB model is easy to understand and use.
Disadvantages of RGB:
- Device Dependency: RGB colors may appear differently on different screens, as each device has its own way of displaying colors.
- Not suitable for printing: The RGB model is not suitable for printing, as printing inks are mixed according to different principles. For printing, the CMYK model is used.
How to get an RGB color?
To get an RGB color, you can use an RGB calculator.
RGB Colors
RGB color values are supported in all browsers.
An RGB color value is specified with: rgb(red, green, blue).
Each parameter (red, green, and blue) defines the intensity of the color as an integer between 0 and 255.
For example, rgb(0, 0, 255) is rendered as blue, because the blue parameter is set to its highest value (255) and the others are set to 0.
Try it Yourself
RGB color values are supported in all major browsers.
Example
<style>
div {
background-color: rgb(0, 191, 255);
color: rgb(255, 255, 255);
}
</style>
Try It Yourself »
RGBA Color Values
RGBA color values are an extension of RGB color values with an Alpha channel — which specifies the opacity for a color.
An RGBA color value is specified with:
rgba(red, green, blue, alpha)
The alpha parameter is a number between 0.0 (fully transparent) and 1.0 (not transparent at all):
Example
<h1 style="background-color:rgba(255, 99, 71, 0.2);">rgba(255, 99, 71, 0.2)</h1>
<h1 style="background-color:rgba(255, 99, 71, 0.4);">rgba(255, 99, 71, 0.4)</h1>
<h1 style="background-color:rgba(255, 99, 71, 0.6);">rgba(255, 99, 71, 0.6)</h1>
<h1 style="background-color:rgba(255, 99, 71, 0.8);">rgba(255, 99, 71, 0.8)</h1>
Try It Yourself »
