The HKS® color system is a German spot color standard designed for professional offset and gravure printing. Introduced in 1968, it was developed to ensure consistent color accuracy in print production. The name HKS originates from the three founding manufacturers: Hostmann-Steinberg Druckfarben, K + E Druckfarben, and H. Schmincke & Co..
The system includes 88 base colors, tested on various paper types. These base inks can be mixed to create over 3,000 printable spot colors. Each HKS color is identified by a number (e.g. HKS 47) and a letter that indicates the paper type: K for coated, N for uncoated, Z for newsprint, and E for continuous paper.
HKS provides a precise and reproducible method for implementing brand-consistent colors in print, independent of the press or print shop used.
HKS colors are mainly used in offset printing, but also in screen printing and packaging. They are ideal for projects where color accuracy is critical — such as in corporate design, logos, magazines, catalogs, and labels.
Unlike CMYK, HKS inks are printed as spot colors, offering higher brightness, density, and consistency. They are especially suited for solid color areas and premium printed materials.
Modern design tools such as Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Affinity Publisher include official HKS libraries, allowing designers to work directly with authentic color definitions. Combined with CMYK or RGB values, HKS colors can easily be compared and simulated digitally.
HKS differs from systems such as Pantone® in that it is specifically tailored to the European printing industry. It provides more accurate color consistency across paper types and aligns closely with typical offset production standards.
The color guides are regularly updated to reflect new printing methods, pigments, and sustainability standards. HKS colors are also available in ISO-compliant profiles, ensuring precise CMYK conversion.
Designer’s note: When converting HKS to CMYK, color deviations may occur, particularly in bright orange, red, and green tones. For exact brand colors, it’s best to use the original HKS spot color in print.
Colors are displayed differently on each device. Please note that the colors do not always match 100%. Differences can occur when real colors are processed. We recommend a comparison of the real colors. We do not assume any liability.
Provide designers and agencies with accurate color values.
RGB to HEX
convert from RGB red green blue to #RRGGBB
RGB to CMYK
convert from RGB red green blue to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black
RGB to RAL®
convert from RGB red green blue to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)
RGB to HKS®
convert from RGB red green blue to HKS®-number (HKS 00)
RGB to PANTONE®
convert from RGB red green blue to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)
RGB to Sherwin Williams®
convert from RGB red green blue to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)
RGB to NCS®
convert from RGB red green blue to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)
RGBA to HEX
convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to #RRGGBB
RGBA to CMYK
convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black
RGBA to RAL®
convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)
RGBA to HKS®
convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to HKS®-number (HKS 00)
RGBA to PANTONE®
convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)
RGBA to Sherwin Williams®
convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)
RGBA to NCS®
convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)
CMYK to HEX
convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to #RRGGBB
CMYK to RGB
convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to RGB red green blue
CMYK to RGBA
convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to RGBA red green blue transparency
CMYK to RAL®
convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)
CMYK to HKS®
convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to HKS®-number (HKS 00)
CMYK to PANTONE®
convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)
CMYK to Sherwin Williams®
convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)
CMYK to NCS®
convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)
HEX to RGB
convert from #RRGGBB to RGB red green blue
HEX to RGBA
convert from #RRGGBB to RGBA red green blue transparency
HEX to CMYK
convert from #RRGGBB to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black
HEX to RAL®
convert from #RRGGBB to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)
HEX to HKS®
convert from #RRGGBB to HKS®-number (HKS 00)
HEX to PANTONE®
convert from #RRGGBB to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)
HEX to Sherwin Williams®
convert from #RRGGBB to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)
HEX to NCS®
convert from #RRGGBB to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)
RAL® to RGB
convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to RGB red green blue
RAL® to RGBA
convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to RGBA red green blue transparency
RAL® to CMYK
convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black
RAL® to HEX
convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to #RRGGBB
RAL® to HKS®
convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to HKS®-number (HKS 00)
RAL® to PANTONE®
convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)
RAL® to Sherwin Williams®
convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)
RAL® to NCS®
convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)
HKS® to RGB
convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to RGB red green blue
HKS® to RGBA
convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to RGBA red green blue transparency
HKS® to CMYK
convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black
HKS® to HEX
convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to #RRGGBB
HKS® to RAL®
convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)
HKS® to PANTONE®
convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)
HKS® to Sherwin Williams®
convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)
HKS® to NCS®
convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)
PANTONE® to RGB
convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to RGB red green blue
PANTONE® to RGBA
convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to RGBA red green blue transparency
PANTONE® to CMYK
convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black
PANTONE® to HEX
convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to #RRGGBB
PANTONE® to RAL®
convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)
PANTONE® to HKS®
convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to HKS®-number (HKS 00)
PANTONE® to Sherwin Williams®
convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)
PANTONE® to NCS®
convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)
Sherwin Williams® to RGB
convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to RGB red green blue
Sherwin Williams® to RGBA
convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to RGBA red green blue transparency
Sherwin Williams® to CMYK
convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black
Sherwin Williams® to HEX
convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to #RRGGBB
Sherwin Williams® to RAL®
convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)
Sherwin Williams® to HKS®
convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to HKS®-number (HKS 00)
Sherwin Williams® to PANTONE®
convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)
Sherwin Williams® to NCS®
convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)
NCS® to RGB
convert from NCS-number (S0000-X00X) to RGB red green blue
NCS® to RGBA
convert from NCS-number (S0000-X00X) to RGBA red green blue transparency
NCS® to CMYK
convert from NCS-number (S0000-X00X) to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black
NCS® to HEX
convert from NCS-number (S0000-X00X) to #RRGGBB
NCS® to RAL®
convert from NCS-number (S0000-X00X) to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)
NCS® to HKS®
convert from NCS-number (S0000-X00X) to HKS®-number (HKS 00)
NCS® to PANTONE®
convert from NCS-number (S0000-X00X) to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)
NCS® to Sherwin Williams®
convert from NCS-number (S0000-X00X) to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)