|
Author: Stephen Bucaro Article source: http://www.hotlib.com/. Used with author's permission.
When designing elements for your webpage, you will often be called upon to specify a color. For example, the code for a span shown below specifies that the color of the text within the span will be yellow.
Text
Colors can be specified according to their names, for example "yellow", "green", or "blue". In many cases, these simple color names will work. But what if you want to specify a more sophisticated color like "cornflowerblue"? A particular browser may not recognize a particular color name. It's more reliable to specify colors with an "RGB triplet".
An RGB triplet specifies a color based upon the amounts of red, green, and blue, on a scale from 0 to 255, required to create the color. For example, to create the color cornflowerblue you need red=100, green=149, and blue=237. We could then specify the color of the text within a span using the rgb function as shown below.
Text
This will work fine with style notation, but what if you want to use straight html. Html doesn't recognize the rgb function. In that case, you can specify color using "hexadecimal" notation. Whereas the decimal numbering system uses the characters 0 through 9 to get 10 values, the hexadecimal numbering system uses the characters 0 through f to get 16 values. (After 9 the characters a, b, c, d, e and f are used, as shown below.)
Decimal Hexidecimal Equivilants
dec hex
0 = 0
1 = 1
2 = 2
3 = 3
4 = 4
5 = 5
6 = 6
7 = 7
8 = 8
9 = 9
10 = A
11 = B
12 = C
13 = D
14 = E
15 = F
On first appearance, this looks pretty simple but you need two hexadecimal characters to represent all decimal values from 0 to 255. When you increment decimal 9 by 1, you change the 9 to 0 and put 1 in the ten's place. When you increment hexidecimal F by one, you change the F to 0 and put 1 in the "sixteens" place. Sometimes it's not easy to convert between decimal and hexadecimal in your head.
RGB Triplet for Cornflowerblue
color dec hex
red 100 64
green 149 95
blue 237 ED
We could then specify the color of text within a span using the hexadecimal notation as shown below.
Text
Note that when we indicate the use of hexadecimal notation by placing a pound (#) sign in front of the number, and we don't use commas to separate the color components.
If it's not easy to convert between decimal and hexadecimal in your head, then how do you do it? You can use a calculator that has a decimal to hexadecimal coversion function, or you can learn to think in hexadecimal. For example, what's the next number after CE? That would be CF. what's the next number after CF? That would be D0. Which hexadecimal number is higher 99 or B2? B2 would be higher than 99. It gets easier with experience.
Here's Java Script code for a simple decimal to hexidecimal color converter
function convert(decvalue)
{
var num = parseInt(decvalue);
if(num >= 0 && num < 256)
{
var hexnum = num.toString(16);
alert("#" + hexnum);
}
else {alert("Error!");}
}
It's important to use hexadecimal notation to specify colors when you use DHTML with visual effects, because to create a dynamic color change you have to increment or add a value to a color. The vast amount of color specification on webpages is in hexadecimal notation, so it would be wise to become familiar with it.
Copyright(C) Bucaro TecHelp.
Permission is granted for the below article to forward, reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website, offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as long as no changes are made and the byline, copyright, and the resource box below is included. About The Author
To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on the Web visit bucarotechelp.com. To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter visit http://bucarotechelp.com/search/000800.asp
Tips For Breaking Away From White Wall Paint
Paint is one of the most affordable and easiest ways to change a room. But choosing the right paint colors for your home can seem like an overwhelming task.
5 Tips To Keep Happy... Even In Wartime
The world is going downhill faster than an Olympic skier. Terrorists lurk around every corner. Climate change will soon melt the tundra and turn Iowa into a d...
Patio Accessories – Complete The Great Outdoors
Patio accessories can add so much to your outdoor surroundings. Don't be afraid to think outside the box while decorating and look for unusual ways to make your...
Rich Career, Poor Career
A rich career is one that has a rich return on investment. What is career ROI? It is more than a paycheck and healthcare benefits. Your career ROI is the entir...
3 Special Benefits Every Customer Wants
Every customer looks for 3 special benefits when they do
business with you. They may not specifically ask for these
benefits. But you're losing sales if you don...
Dog Training - How To Win Your Dogs Confidence
Settling a puppy into a new home successful is often easier than an older dog because a young dog will adapt more willingly to joining what is, in effect, a new...
The Sign That Reveals Your Mind
The sign that your Mercury was in at the time you were born
shows how you take in information and how you communicate with
others. This is the thinking, logic...
Trade Show Videos Need to be Planned
So you are exhibiting at a trade show and you want to show everyone your latest marketing video? Trade show videos are a specialised promotional tool and need ...
Taking the True Relationship Test
Taking a relationship test on the internet or out of a magazine is not the way to figure out if you and your mate are compatible. This article discusses some wa...
Who Else Wants General Information on Arthritis?
Despite the widespread nature of arthritis (it affects more than 70 million Americans), many misconceptions about this set of diseases still exist. And these "...
What to Do One Week before Thanksgiving
You only have seven days until your Thanksgiving guests arrive. Is it time to panic or time to plan? You are going to need a clean house, a scrumptious meal an...
Italian Honeymoon Vacations
Going to Italy on a honeymoon vacation could be the best turning point in your romance as you venture in this place full of romantic pursuits and mesmerizing lo...
Your Guide to the Archangels
An angel can be your best friend. Angels have been known respond to prayers that contain the phrase "Hey, somebody, anybody up there HELP!!!"
but they come quic...
Combining the Mind and Effective Goal-Setting
You need goals in your life in order to achieve your dreams and have the success you desire. Many of us spend our lives without any definite purpose, simply dr...
Your Vibrational Meter
You have within you a god-given vibrational meter that tells you what is good for you and what is not good for you. That vibrational meter is your emotions. If ...
To The Next Level With Google Groups 2
If you haven't visited the Google Labs lately, they have released a beta of Google Groups 2 that you may want to check out. This is Google's answer to Yahoo Gro...
How to Maximize Paid Search Results
If you face pay-per-click marketing challenges, before you decide to drop the program, try these proven strategies to get it producing your desired results.
Digital Photography: The RAW vs JPG Debate
If you're serious about photography, shooting your digital photos in RAW format preserves detail and gives you the opportunity to get the most out of the photos...
Do You Have Disciples?
What is your style of leadership? Do you just have followers or have you been able to achieve more, by grooming some followers into disciples?
If you want to ma...
Individual Voluntary Arrangement IVA, an alternative to bankruptcy
Individual Voluntary Arrangement, IVA is an alternative to bankruptcy - which could provide you with a real solution to your debt problems.
Shattering the Branding Myths
If you've been online long, you're sure to have seen many "gurus" give their ideas about branding. However, much of what you read simply isn't true. Over the ye...
The Seven Most Traded Currencies in FOREX.
Currencies are always traded in pairs in the FOREX. The pairs have a unique notation that expresses what currencies are being traded. The symbol for a currency ...
How To Be A Good Pomeranian Dog Owner
Opening your heart to a Pomeranian can be fun, but you must be willing to take on the responsibility of dog ownership. Find out how to give your dog everything...
Saving Memories Without Losing Your Mind
What do you do with all of the photos you took of your vacation this summer? Are they
thrown in a drawer somewhere or are they still lying on the kitchen count...
|
Print this page