Last updated: June 2026
Industry Tool · Free · No Registration RequiredColor Converter for Garments & Textiles
Color accuracy in garment production depends on clear communication between designers, buyers, and manufacturers. This free tool converts between all major color formats — HEX, RGB, CMYK, CIE LAB, LCH, HSL, HSV, NCS, Pantone TCX, RAL Classic, Munsell, and XYZ — so your color intent carries correctly from screen to fabric.
Use the interactive color wheel, paste a HEX code, or enter RGB values manually. All 13 color space values update instantly. The Delta E calculator lets you compare two colors for lab dip approval or pre-shipment inspection, with plain-language quality ratings aligned with industry tolerance standards.
Related tools: Fabric GSM Converter · HEX to RGB · RGB to CMYK · CMYK to RGB · Delta E Calculator · Pantone to HEX
Color Space Converter — All 13 Formats
Click anywhere on the color wheel, enter a HEX code, or use the RGB inputs. All values update instantly. Copy any result directly into your tech pack, design file, or spec sheet. All calculations use D65 illuminant and 2° standard observer.
Interactive Color Wheel & Shade Palette
Closest Named Textile Colors
Click any swatch to load that color into the converter.
All Color Space Conversions
D65 illuminant · 2° standard observer · Copy any value into your spec sheet.
Enter Color Value Manually — HEX, RGB, CMYK, LAB
Paste a color value from your design software or tech pack. Supported: 6-digit HEX (#FF0000), RGB (rgb(255,0,0)), or use the individual R/G/B number inputs. All color space values update immediately.
HEX or Color Name Input
RGB Number Input
85+ Named Textile Colors — Quick Swatch Reference
Common garment color names from neutrals to seasonal fashion tones. Click any swatch to load it into the converter and get its Pantone TCX match, LAB values, and all formats instantly. Covers Ivory, Ecru, Sand, Beige, Camel, Navy, Royal Blue, Teal, Emerald, Burgundy, Wine, Coral, Rust, Mustard, Charcoal, Gold, Rose, Lavender, Turquoise, Indigo, and more.
How to Convert HEX to Pantone TCX for Garment Production
This is one of the most common color tasks in garment sourcing — translating a digital color from a design file into a Pantone TCX code that a dye house can work with. The process takes under a minute using the converter above.
- Enter your HEX code Type your 6-digit HEX color code into the manual input field above, for example #2C3E7A. You can also click a color on the wheel or select a named swatch. The converter accepts any valid 6-digit hex value.
- Read the Pantone TCX match The Pantone TCX row in the conversion panel shows the nearest match from the TCX database. The result updates instantly as you change the color. The colored swatch next to it shows what that TCX color looks like on screen.
- Check the Delta E distance The ΔE vs TCX row shows how close your input color is to the Pantone match. Below 1.0 means the difference is imperceptible to the human eye. Below 3.0 is a close match. Above 5.0 means you may want to choose a different base color that has a better TCX equivalent.
- Verify with a physical swatch Before writing the TCX code into a purchase order, always verify against a physical Pantone TCX swatch book. Screens display color in RGB light — dye on cotton absorbs light differently. The Delta E shows mathematical closeness but cannot replicate the actual fabric result.
- Copy the TCX code into your tech pack Click Copy next to the Pantone TCX result. Paste the code into your tech pack, bill of materials, or factory brief. Include the Delta E value in your color notes so the factory understands the expected tolerance from the start.
The same process applies when converting RGB to Pantone TCX — enter R, G, B values in the RGB input and the Pantone TCX match updates automatically. For a dedicated tool, see the Pantone to HEX converter.
Delta E Calculator — Color Distance for Garment Quality Control
Compare two colors and get Delta E 2000, 1994, and 1976 values. Enter the approved standard as Color A and the production sample as Color B. The tool shows the mathematical color distance and a plain-language quality rating. Used for lab dip approval, pre-shipment inspection, and checking production samples against buyer references.
Color A — Standard / Approved
Color B — Production Sample
Delta E Results
Color A — Standard
Color B — Sample
Color Systems Used in Garment & Textile Production
Different parts of the production chain use different color formats. Knowing which system to use — and when — prevents miscommunication between designers, buyers, and factories.
HEX & RGB — Digital Design
Used in design software (Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Figma) and digital communication. HEX is the web standard. RGB is the underlying additive model — it mixes light, not dye. These are starting points for color selection, not production standards. Always convert to TCX before sending to a factory.
Pantone TCX — Garment Manufacturing
The global standard for textile colors. Each TCX code corresponds to a color dyed onto a real cotton swatch. When you give a Pantone TCX code to a dye house, they work from an established formula for that specific cotton substrate. Always use TCX, not PMS, for fabric production briefs.
CIE LAB — Spectrophotometer Measurement
LAB is device-independent and models color the way human vision perceives it. Spectrophotometers in dye labs measure fabric in LAB values. All Delta E calculations happen in LAB space. It is the most accurate system for comparing two colors mathematically across different materials and substrates.
CMYK — Textile Printing & Trims
Used for screen printing, heat transfer printing, and producing labels, patches, and woven trims. CMYK is subtractive — it describes ink on a surface. CMYK behavior differs between paper and fabric due to absorption differences. Always do a press proof on the actual substrate before bulk production.
RAL — Hardware, Trims & Accessories
RAL is a European standard for paints and coatings. In garment production it is useful for metal zippers, alloy buttons, plastic buckles, painted hardware, and retail packaging where the component is not a textile. The converter finds the nearest RAL Classic match for any input color.
NCS — European Textile Sourcing
Natural Color System is based on human perceptual color description. Used by Scandinavian designers and some European mills. If you receive NCS references from European fabric suppliers, this converter translates them to Pantone TCX or LAB values for use with your factory.
Pantone TCX vs Pantone PMS — What Garment Manufacturers Need to Know
Pantone PMS (Pantone Matching System) colors are designed for printing inks on coated and uncoated paper. They are mixed inks that sit on top of a surface. Pantone TCX colors are dyed into cotton fiber. Light absorption and visual result differ fundamentally between paper and fabric even when using the same Pantone number.
A dye house that receives a PMS code has to make a judgment call about which dye formula to use, which introduces variation and requires extra lab dip rounds. A dye house that receives a TCX code works from an established formula built specifically for cotton. The color approval process is faster and more accurate. This converter always returns the nearest TCX match — the correct format for any textile production brief.
Color Tolerance Standards by Market Segment
Delta E tolerance limits vary by buyer type and garment category. These ranges reflect common industry practice and should be agreed in writing within the purchase order before production starts.
| Market Segment | Delta E 2000 | Match Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium / Luxury Brands | 0.0 – 1.0 | Excellent | Imperceptible difference. Required for solid-color garments at premium retail. |
| Mid-Tier Branded Apparel | 1.0 – 2.0 | Good | Slight difference, not visible under normal viewing. Acceptable for most branded collections. |
| High Street / Fast Fashion | 2.0 – 3.5 | Acceptable | Visible under close inspection. Acceptable where speed and cost are higher priorities. |
| Basics & Commodity Garments | 3.5 – 5.0 | Marginal | Noticeable. Only acceptable for plain basics where color matching is low priority. |
| Any Category | Above 5.0 | Poor — Reject | Obvious mismatch. Lab dip or production lot should be rejected and reworked. |
Tolerance limits above are industry guidelines. Final limits must be agreed between buyer and supplier in writing. Always evaluate under D65 daylight and TL84 store-light conditions before approving.
Color Converter FAQ — Textile & Garment Color Questions
Pantone PMS is designed for printing inks on paper. Pantone TCX (Textile Cotton eXtended) colors are dyed onto real cotton swatches — the correct reference for fabric dyeing. The same number in PMS and TCX can look similar on screen but produce different results in production because paper printing and fabric dyeing behave differently. For any garment production brief, always specify Pantone TCX codes.
TPX (Textile Paper eXtended) was the previous Pantone system for textiles, printed on paper cards. It has been discontinued and replaced by TCX, where colors are applied to actual cotton swatches. TCX is the current industry standard for all garment and textile color communication. Old TPX references should be updated to the nearest TCX equivalent before placing production orders.
Delta E gives a single number that describes how different two colors are, removing subjectivity from visual color approval. A Delta E 2000 value below 1.0 means the colors are indistinguishable to the human eye. Between 1 and 2 is acceptable for most branded garments. Above 5 is a visible mismatch that most buyers will reject. Specifying a Delta E tolerance in your purchase order reduces disputes at the approval stage.
Enter your HEX code into the converter above. It calculates the nearest Pantone TCX match and shows the Delta E distance between your HEX color and that TCX color. A Delta E below 3 means the match is reasonably close. Always verify with a physical Pantone TCX swatch book before sending to production, as monitors cannot accurately represent how a dye will look on cotton.
Enter your RGB values into the converter. The CMYK result uses standard mathematical conversion through the subtractive color model. CMYK values for screen printing on fabric differ from offset printing on paper because fabric absorbs ink differently. Always request a print sample on the actual fabric substrate before approving bulk production.
Screens display color in RGB light, which is additive. Fabric color comes from dye absorption, which is subtractive. Even a perfectly calibrated monitor cannot show exactly how a color will look on cotton, polyester, or a blended fabric. Screen colors are useful starting points for communicating intent but are not production standards. The only reliable reference is a physical Pantone TCX swatch or an approved lab dip on the actual production fabric.
Delta E 1976 is the original formula — straightforward but less accurate because human eyes are not equally sensitive to all colors. Delta E 1994 added weighting for hue and chroma to improve accuracy. Delta E 2000 is the current industry standard, compensating for perceptual non-uniformity especially in blues and greens. For garment quality control, always use Delta E 2000 when specifying tolerance limits with buyers.
Metamerism is when two colors look the same under one light source but differ under another. A garment that passes color approval in a factory under fluorescent light may look different from its reference swatch under D65 daylight in a store. Always evaluate lab dips and production samples under at least three light sources: D65 daylight, TL84 fluorescent (store light), and tungsten incandescent. The Delta E calculator quantifies the difference but cannot test for metamerism — that requires physical samples under multiple light sources.
Use HEX and RGB for design files and digital communication. Use Pantone TCX for all fabric color references sent to dye houses. Use CIE LAB for spectrophotometer-based QC measurements. Use CMYK for printing on labels, heat transfers, and packaging. Use RAL for accessories, trims, and hardware that are not textile components.
Use a physical Pantone TCX swatch as the color standard throughout the order. Specify a Delta E tolerance in writing before production starts, typically below 2.0 for branded garments. Measure lab dips and production samples with a spectrophotometer and record the LAB values and Delta E against the standard. Keep dye lot records for reorders. Avoid relying on visual checks alone, especially across different factories or production runs.
NCS (Natural Color System) was developed in Sweden and is based on how human vision perceives color. An NCS code describes blackness, chromaticness, and hue angle. Used in Scandinavian and European design and textile industries. If you receive NCS references from European fabric suppliers, this converter translates them to Pantone TCX or LAB values for your factory.
Color fastness measures how well a dye holds up to washing, rubbing, and light. Color conversion ensures initial color accuracy. Color fastness testing — done to ISO or AATCC standards — confirms the color stays correct over the garment's life. Both are needed for a complete quality process. Common tests include wash fastness (ISO 105-C06), light fastness (ISO 105-B02), and rubbing fastness (ISO 105-X12).
RAL is a European color standard for industrial paints and coatings. In garment production it is relevant for non-textile components that need to coordinate with a fabric color: metal zippers, alloy buttons, plastic buckles, painted hardware, hang tags, and retail packaging. This converter finds the nearest RAL Classic match from any color input.
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