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How to grab the hex code for any color on your screen

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Finding HEX color code using MS Paint

The other day I had someone make a request for a specific color in a design in one of my shops at Zazzle. For the sake of this particular lens, lets pretend that they wanted to find a color to match some roses that their sweetie got them for Valentine's Day.

In this lens, I'll show PC owners how to find the hexadecimal color code for any color on your screen without having to download a programmer. You can pick out hex codes for colors using the accessory programs MS Paint and Windows Picture and Fax Viewer.

Capturing A Screen Print

Creating a screen print is as simple as hitting the "Prt Scrn/Sys Rq" function key on the top right of your keyboard. In this case, I opened my own photo with Windows Picture and Fax Viewer and hit that "Prt Scrn" button". But, you can also choose an image on the Internet.

Pink Roses Screen Print

Paste Image into MS Paint

You can find the MS Paint program by using the clicking your Windows start button then choosing All Programs > Accessories > Paint and open the program. Microsoft gives away this freebie tool with Windows for customers and it is a handy tool. To paste an image into Pain, choose the option Edit > Paste. (My system operates Windows XP.)

Paste Screen Print in MS Paint

Using the Pick Color Tool

1) Use the "Pick Color" tool and 2) run the eye dropper over image until you find a 3) shade that you like.

Using the Pick Color Tool


You can see the individual pixels in an image if you choose 1) View > Zoom > Custom... and then when the pop-up box appears 2) choose 800% magnification.

Custom Zoom on Image

Defining Custom Colors with MS Paint

Go to 1) Colors > Edit Colors... and then when pop-up box appears 2) choose Define Custom Colors >>

Defining Custom Colors with MS Paint



You will need the RGB values ... which stands for the amount of red, green and blue in the color.

Edit Custom Colors with MS Paint

Online HTML Color HEX Code Calculators

This site has a simple to use RGB and Hexadecimal Color Code Conversion Calculator. You go there and plug in the RGB values.

RGB and Hexadecimal Color Code Conversion Calculator

Color Code Conversion

Plug in the RGB values, and get the HEX or Hexadecimal code ... in this case #E72FCB.

Color Code Conversion

Generate Your Own Custom Hex Colors

Fine Tune with Color Generator

This online color generator will allow you to fine tune your pick by moving the tiny crosshairs. (Goodness gracious ... is that violent rhetoric?)

Color Generator

Using Color Codes in Web Design

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Create Your Own iPhone and iPad Cases

Add Your Favorite Color to iPhone and iPad Cases

Want an iPhone case that matches a certain dress? It might be difficult to get the exact shade, but you'd be pretty close. At Zazzle.com, you can use the color codes in creating your own customized iPhone Cases. Chose the "customize it" feature and change the pink background.

Add Your Favorite Color to this speckcase
Add Your Favorite Color to this iPhone 4 Case by designs4you
Add Your Favorite Color to this iPhone 3 Speck Cas speckcase
Add Your Favorite Color to this iPhone 3 Speck Case by designs4you
Add Your Favorite Color to an iPad Speck Case speckcase
Add Your Favorite Color to an iPad Speck Case by designs4you

Any questions? Or Suggestions?

I hope you found this simple tutorial helpful!


  • JoshK47 May 9, 2012 @ 10:02 am | delete
    What a cool trick! Thanks for sharing - blessed by a SquidAngel!
  • Deadicated Apr 19, 2012 @ 4:46 pm | delete
    Great tutorial, useful on alot of levels.
  • Deadicated Apr 19, 2012 @ 4:46 pm | delete
    Great tutorial, useful on alot of levels.
  • chasz-manequin Apr 17, 2012 @ 6:32 am | delete
    I never thought of this method thanks
  • goo2eyes Apr 14, 2012 @ 5:37 pm | delete
    this is cool. i love fuschia color and enjoyed the photos of the roses. thank you for sharing.
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by

AnnaleeBlysse

I'm a romance author and digital artist and photographer. A lot of my lenses link to Zazzle.com. Though I do post about my own products, I regularly point... more »

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I Use Paint Shop Pro 

Corel PaintShop Photo Pro X3 [OLD VERSION]

Corel PaintShop Photo Pro X3 [OLD VERSION]

Amazon Price: $10.98 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now

I tend to use Corel Paint Shop Pro when I'm picking custom colors. It eliminates a step as the program has a built in calculator that computes the HEX code from RGB values.

My PSP Lenses 

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