I have a hex color, e.g. #F4F8FB
(or rgb(244, 248, 251)
) that I want converted into an as-transparent-as-possible rgba color (when displayed over white). Make sense? I'm looking for an algorithm, or at least idea of an algorithm for how to do so.
For Example:
rgb( 128, 128, 255 ) --> rgba( 0, 0, 255, .5 )
rgb( 152, 177, 202 ) --> rgba( 50, 100, 150, .5 ) // can be better(lower alpha)
Ideas?
FYI solution based on Guffa's answer:
function RGBtoRGBA(r, g, b){
if((g == null) && (typeof r === 'string')){
var hex = r.replace(/^\s*#|\s*$/g, '');
if(hex.length === 3){
hex = hex.replace(/(.)/g, '$1$1');
}
r = parseInt(hex.substr(0, 2), 16);
g = parseInt(hex.substr(2, 2), 16);
b = parseInt(hex.substr(4, 2), 16);
}
var min, a = (255 - (min = Math.min(r, g, b))) / 255;
return {
r : r = 0|(r - min) / a,
g : g = 0|(g - min) / a,
b : b = 0|(b - min) / a,
a : a = (0|1000*a)/1000,
rgba : 'rgba(' + r + ', ' + g + ', ' + b + ', ' + a + ')'
};
}
RGBtoRGBA(204, 153, 102) == RGBtoRGBA('#CC9966') == RGBtoRGBA('C96') ==
{
r : 170,
g : 85 ,
b : 0 ,
a : 0.6,
rgba : 'rgba(170, 85, 0, 0.6)'
}
Take the lowest color component, and convert that to an alpha value. Then scale the color components by subtracting the lowest, and dividing by the alpha value.
Example:
152 converts to an alpha value of (255 - 152) / 255 ~ 0.404
152 scales using (152 - 152) / 0.404 = 0
177 scales using (177 - 152) / 0.404 ~ 62
202 scales using (202 - 152) / 0.404 ~ 123
So, rgb(152, 177, 202)
displays as rgba(0, 62, 123, .404)
.
I have verified in Photoshop that the colors actually match perfectly.