Convert values between RGB hex codes and xterm-256 color codes.

colortrans.py

#! /usr/bin/env python

""" Convert values between RGB hex codes and xterm-256 color codes.

Nice long listing of all 256 colors and their codes. Useful for
developing console color themes, or even script output schemes.

Resources:
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8-bit_color
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANSI_escape_code
* /usr/share/X11/rgb.txt

I'm not sure where this script was inspired from. I think I must have
written it from scratch, though it's been several years now.
"""

__author__    = 'Micah Elliott http://MicahElliott.com'
__version__   = '0.1'
__copyright__ = 'Copyright (C) 2011 Micah Elliott.  All rights reserved.'
__license__   = 'WTFPL http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/'

#---------------------------------------------------------------------

import sys, re

CLUT = [  # color look-up table
#    8-bit, RGB hex

    # Primary 3-bit (8 colors). Unique representation!
    ('00',  '000000'),
    ('01',  '800000'),
    ('02',  '008000'),
    ('03',  '808000'),
    ('04',  '000080'),
    ('05',  '800080'),
    ('06',  '008080'),
    ('07',  'c0c0c0'),

    # Equivalent "bright" versions of original 8 colors.
    ('08',  '808080'),
    ('09',  'ff0000'),
    ('10',  '00ff00'),
    ('11',  'ffff00'),
    ('12',  '0000ff'),
    ('13',  'ff00ff'),
    ('14',  '00ffff'),
    ('15',  'ffffff'),

    # Strictly ascending.
    ('16',  '000000'),
    ('17',  '00005f'),
    ('18',  '000087'),
    ('19',  '0000af'),
    ('20',  '0000d7'),
    ('21',  '0000ff'),
    ('22',  '005f00'),
    ('23',  '005f5f'),
    ('24',  '005f87'),
    ('25',  '005faf'),
    ('26',  '005fd7'),
    ('27',  '005fff'),
    ('28',  '008700'),
    ('29',  '00875f'),
    ('30',  '008787'),
    ('31',  '0087af'),
    ('32',  '0087d7'),
    ('33',  '0087ff'),
    ('34',  '00af00'),
    ('35',  '00af5f'),
    ('36',  '00af87'),
    ('37',  '00afaf'),
    ('38',  '00afd7'),
    ('39',  '00afff'),
    ('40',  '00d700'),
    ('41',  '00d75f'),
    ('42',  '00d787'),
    ('43',  '00d7af'),
    ('44',  '00d7d7'),
    ('45',  '00d7ff'),
    ('46',  '00ff00'),
    ('47',  '00ff5f'),
    ('48',  '00ff87'),
    ('49',  '00ffaf'),
    ('50',  '00ffd7'),
    ('51',  '00ffff'),
    ('52',  '5f0000'),
    ('53',  '5f005f'),
    ('54',  '5f0087'),
    ('55',  '5f00af'),
    ('56',  '5f00d7'),
    ('57',  '5f00ff'),
    ('58',  '5f5f00'),
    ('59',  '5f5f5f'),
    ('60',  '5f5f87'),
    ('61',  '5f5faf'),
    ('62',  '5f5fd7'),
    ('63',  '5f5fff'),
    ('64',  '5f8700'),
    ('65',  '5f875f'),
    ('66',  '5f8787'),
    ('67',  '5f87af'),
    ('68',  '5f87d7'),
    ('69',  '5f87ff'),
    ('70',  '5faf00'),
    ('71',  '5faf5f'),
    ('72',  '5faf87'),
    ('73',  '5fafaf'),
    ('74',  '5fafd7'),
    ('75',  '5fafff'),
    ('76',  '5fd700'),
    ('77',  '5fd75f'),
    ('78',  '5fd787'),
    ('79',  '5fd7af'),
    ('80',  '5fd7d7'),
    ('81',  '5fd7ff'),
    ('82',  '5fff00'),
    ('83',  '5fff5f'),
    ('84',  '5fff87'),
    ('85',  '5fffaf'),
    ('86',  '5fffd7'),
    ('87',  '5fffff'),
    ('88',  '870000'),
    ('89',  '87005f'),
    ('90',  '870087'),
    ('91',  '8700af'),
    ('92',  '8700d7'),
    ('93',  '8700ff'),
    ('94',  '875f00'),
    ('95',  '875f5f'),
    ('96',  '875f87'),
    ('97',  '875faf'),
    ('98',  '875fd7'),
    ('99',  '875fff'),
    ('100', '878700'),
    ('101', '87875f'),
    ('102', '878787'),
    ('103', '8787af'),
    ('104', '8787d7'),
    ('105', '8787ff'),
    ('106', '87af00'),
    ('107', '87af5f'),
    ('108', '87af87'),
    ('109', '87afaf'),
    ('110', '87afd7'),
    ('111', '87afff'),
    ('112', '87d700'),
    ('113', '87d75f'),
    ('114', '87d787'),
    ('115', '87d7af'),
    ('116', '87d7d7'),
    ('117', '87d7ff'),
    ('118', '87ff00'),
    ('119', '87ff5f'),
    ('120', '87ff87'),
    ('121', '87ffaf'),
    ('122', '87ffd7'),
    ('123', '87ffff'),
    ('124', 'af0000'),
    ('125', 'af005f'),
    ('126', 'af0087'),
    ('127', 'af00af'),
    ('128', 'af00d7'),
    ('129', 'af00ff'),
    ('130', 'af5f00'),
    ('131', 'af5f5f'),
    ('132', 'af5f87'),
    ('133', 'af5faf'),
    ('134', 'af5fd7'),
    ('135', 'af5fff'),
    ('136', 'af8700'),
    ('137', 'af875f'),
    ('138', 'af8787'),
    ('139', 'af87af'),
    ('140', 'af87d7'),
    ('141', 'af87ff'),
    ('142', 'afaf00'),
    ('143', 'afaf5f'),
    ('144', 'afaf87'),
    ('145', 'afafaf'),
    ('146', 'afafd7'),
    ('147', 'afafff'),
    ('148', 'afd700'),
    ('149', 'afd75f'),
    ('150', 'afd787'),
    ('151', 'afd7af'),
    ('152', 'afd7d7'),
    ('153', 'afd7ff'),
    ('154', 'afff00'),
    ('155', 'afff5f'),
    ('156', 'afff87'),
    ('157', 'afffaf'),
    ('158', 'afffd7'),
    ('159', 'afffff'),
    ('160', 'd70000'),
    ('161', 'd7005f'),
    ('162', 'd70087'),
    ('163', 'd700af'),
    ('164', 'd700d7'),
    ('165', 'd700ff'),
    ('166', 'd75f00'),
    ('167', 'd75f5f'),
    ('168', 'd75f87'),
    ('169', 'd75faf'),
    ('170', 'd75fd7'),
    ('171', 'd75fff'),
    ('172', 'd78700'),
    ('173', 'd7875f'),
    ('174', 'd78787'),
    ('175', 'd787af'),
    ('176', 'd787d7'),
    ('177', 'd787ff'),
    ('178', 'd7af00'),
    ('179', 'd7af5f'),
    ('180', 'd7af87'),
    ('181', 'd7afaf'),
    ('182', 'd7afd7'),
    ('183', 'd7afff'),
    ('184', 'd7d700'),
    ('185', 'd7d75f'),
    ('186', 'd7d787'),
    ('187', 'd7d7af'),
    ('188', 'd7d7d7'),
    ('189', 'd7d7ff'),
    ('190', 'd7ff00'),
    ('191', 'd7ff5f'),
    ('192', 'd7ff87'),
    ('193', 'd7ffaf'),
    ('194', 'd7ffd7'),
    ('195', 'd7ffff'),
    ('196', 'ff0000'),
    ('197', 'ff005f'),
    ('198', 'ff0087'),
    ('199', 'ff00af'),
    ('200', 'ff00d7'),
    ('201', 'ff00ff'),
    ('202', 'ff5f00'),
    ('203', 'ff5f5f'),
    ('204', 'ff5f87'),
    ('205', 'ff5faf'),
    ('206', 'ff5fd7'),
    ('207', 'ff5fff'),
    ('208', 'ff8700'),
    ('209', 'ff875f'),
    ('210', 'ff8787'),
    ('211', 'ff87af'),
    ('212', 'ff87d7'),
    ('213', 'ff87ff'),
    ('214', 'ffaf00'),
    ('215', 'ffaf5f'),
    ('216', 'ffaf87'),
    ('217', 'ffafaf'),
    ('218', 'ffafd7'),
    ('219', 'ffafff'),
    ('220', 'ffd700'),
    ('221', 'ffd75f'),
    ('222', 'ffd787'),
    ('223', 'ffd7af'),
    ('224', 'ffd7d7'),
    ('225', 'ffd7ff'),
    ('226', 'ffff00'),
    ('227', 'ffff5f'),
    ('228', 'ffff87'),
    ('229', 'ffffaf'),
    ('230', 'ffffd7'),
    ('231', 'ffffff'),

    # Gray-scale range.
    ('232', '080808'),
    ('233', '121212'),
    ('234', '1c1c1c'),
    ('235', '262626'),
    ('236', '303030'),
    ('237', '3a3a3a'),
    ('238', '444444'),
    ('239', '4e4e4e'),
    ('240', '585858'),
    ('241', '626262'),
    ('242', '6c6c6c'),
    ('243', '767676'),
    ('244', '808080'),
    ('245', '8a8a8a'),
    ('246', '949494'),
    ('247', '9e9e9e'),
    ('248', 'a8a8a8'),
    ('249', 'b2b2b2'),
    ('250', 'bcbcbc'),
    ('251', 'c6c6c6'),
    ('252', 'd0d0d0'),
    ('253', 'dadada'),
    ('254', 'e4e4e4'),
    ('255', 'eeeeee'),
]

def _str2hex(hexstr):
    return int(hexstr, 16)

def _strip_hash(rgb):
    # Strip leading `#` if exists.
    if rgb.startswith('#'):
        rgb = rgb.lstrip('#')
    return rgb

def _create_dicts():
    short2rgb_dict = dict(CLUT)
    rgb2short_dict = {}
    for k, v in short2rgb_dict.items():
        rgb2short_dict[v] = k
    return rgb2short_dict, short2rgb_dict

def short2rgb(short):
    return SHORT2RGB_DICT[short]

def print_all():
    """ Print all 256 xterm color codes.
    """
    for short, rgb in CLUT:
        sys.stdout.write('\033[48;5;%sm%s:%s' % (short, short, rgb))
        sys.stdout.write("\033[0m  ")
        sys.stdout.write('\033[38;5;%sm%s:%s' % (short, short, rgb))
        sys.stdout.write("\033[0m\n")
    print "Printed all codes."
    print "You can translate a hex or 0-255 code by providing an argument."

def rgb2short(rgb):
    """ Find the closest xterm-256 approximation to the given RGB value.
    @param rgb: Hex code representing an RGB value, eg, 'abcdef'
    @returns: String between 0 and 255, compatible with xterm.
    >>> rgb2short('123456')
    ('23', '005f5f')
    >>> rgb2short('ffffff')
    ('231', 'ffffff')
    >>> rgb2short('0DADD6') # vimeo logo
    ('38', '00afd7')
    """
    rgb = _strip_hash(rgb)
    incs = (0x00, 0x5f, 0x87, 0xaf, 0xd7, 0xff)
    # Break 6-char RGB code into 3 integer vals.
    parts = [ int(h, 16) for h in re.split(r'(..)(..)(..)', rgb)[1:4] ]
    res = []
    for part in parts:
        i = 0
        while i < len(incs)-1:
            s, b = incs[i], incs[i+1]  # smaller, bigger
            if s <= part <= b:
                s1 = abs(s - part)
                b1 = abs(b - part)
                if s1 < b1: closest = s
                else: closest = b
                res.append(closest)
                break
            i += 1
    #print '***', res
    res = ''.join([ ('%02.x' % i) for i in res ])
    equiv = RGB2SHORT_DICT[ res ]
    #print '***', res, equiv
    return equiv, res

RGB2SHORT_DICT, SHORT2RGB_DICT = _create_dicts()

#---------------------------------------------------------------------

if __name__ == '__main__':
    import doctest
    doctest.testmod()
    if len(sys.argv) == 1:
        print_all()
        raise SystemExit
    arg = sys.argv[1]
    if len(arg) < 4 and int(arg) < 256:
        rgb = short2rgb(arg)
        sys.stdout.write('xterm color \033[38;5;%sm%s\033[0m -> RGB exact \033[38;5;%sm%s\033[0m' % (arg, arg, arg, rgb))
        sys.stdout.write("\033[0m\n")
    else:
        short, rgb = rgb2short(arg)
        sys.stdout.write('RGB %s -> xterm color approx \033[38;5;%sm%s (%s)' % (arg, short, short, rgb))
        sys.stdout.write("\033[0m\n")

@TerrorBite, I made your code into a lib + stand alone hybrid. Also, I had to change your snaps definition to move the [1:] outside of the list comprehension. I don't know if that was an actual bug in your code or something wrong with how I used it in Python3. Thanks for your work.

Thanks! So in Python 2, the map() function returns a list, which you can slice. In Python 3, it returns a generator, thus the slice has to be done on the list comprehension after the whole thing is generated.

Thanks for the info! I wonder if exist a pure mathematical formula to get the conversion RGB to the nearest ANSI 256 color code. I would to like implement under C.

@Bedfford https://github.com/craigbarnes/dte/blob/ddb15ec011acfac35021225cd7b8a9ee1e6e62ef/src/terminal/color.c#L77-L103

Here's a web UI I made to do this conversion
https://hm66hd.csb.app/

Here's a web UI I made to do this conversion https://hm66hd.csb.app/

Thanks for that, quite helpful!

buggy script, the 256-color conversion is all wrong

Here's a web UI I made to do this conversion https://hm66hd.csb.app/

this is correct converter, but cannot found source code

On the off chance it helps anyone, I made a quick-and-dirty open source web app to show the top 10 closest colors: https://benh4ckett.github.io/hex-rgb-to-ansi-256/

At the time of writing here's the (terrible) UI:

... aaaaand I just saw https://stackoverflow.com/a/31057489 (WolframAlpha can already do this, it probably has a less naive algorithm, and unlike my webpage it isn't a pile of garbage--though I do like my decision to display the queried color as a side-by-side reference).