Wave Lab
Color Science LabsRGB (IEC 61966-2-1) • D65

HEX to RGB & Linear Color Engine

Deconstruct hex codes into sRGB channels, linear photon irradiance, CIE XYZ coordinates, and dominant spectral wavelength.

Color Space Decomposition
#5B5BF7
~450 nm (Blue-Cyan)
rgb(91, 91, 247)
sRGB 8-Bit
91, 91, 247
Linear RGB (D65)
0.1046, 0.1046, 0.9301
HSL Space
240°, 91%, 66%
CIE 1931 XYZ
0.2484, 0.1642, 0.8984
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The Physics of Digital Color Spaces

Digital monitors use three narrow phosphor or LED emission bands (Red, Green, Blue) to stimulate human photoreceptors. However, human brightness perception is non-linear: we are far more sensitive to subtle differences in dark shades than in bright highlights.

Gamma Decompanding (IEC 61966-2-1)

sRGB → Linear

Converts 8-bit encoded display values CsRGB into linear photon irradiance Clinear:

Clinear =
CsRGB / 12.92if CsRGB ≤ 0.04045
((CsRGB + 0.055) / 1.055)2.4if CsRGB > 0.04045
  • • CsRGB = normalized non-linear channel (C8-bit / 255 ∈ [0, 1])
  • • Clinear = physical photon radiance (0.0 … 1.0)
  • • γ = 2.4 = IEC exponent with linear toe slope of 12.92

Forward Gamma Companding

Linear → sRGB

Encodes physical linear light Clinear into perceptual sRGB for computer display:

CsRGB =
12.92 · Clinearif Clinear ≤ 0.0031308
1.055 · Clinear1/2.4 − 0.055if Clinear > 0.0031308
  • • C8-bit = round(CsRGB · 255) ∈ [0, 255]
  • • Rendering: Wave optics and dispersion must always use Linear RGB
Traian Anghel
Traian AnghelAuthor & Reviewer

Physics Teacher & Educational Technologist • Brăila, Romania

Last Reviewed: August 2026
Wave Lab calculators are constructed using rigorous peer-reviewed physics formulas from verified metrological repositories. Every equation, spectral conversion, and acoustic property is tested against NIST, CIE, and ISO datasets.
Verified Sources:NIST CODATACIE 1931 2° ObserverNASA Glenn Research

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