Background
Color Lock Challenge was created as a small experiment in color perception. The idea came from observing how some people are naturally good at identifying and mixing colors without formal tools.
In particular, a family member was able to adjust paint colors by eye alone, relying on experience rather than numeric measurements. That observation led to the question: how accurately can most people identify a color when it is represented only by a screen?
This project translates that question into a digital format using RGB colors and hexadecimal color codes, which are widely used in web design and software development.
How the Hourly Challenge Works
The game presents one target color every hour. During that hour, the same color remains active and does not change when the page reloads.
Each hourly challenge is shared consistently. Players accessing the game within the same hour will see the same target color, creating a common reference point rather than a random experience.
While players may be located in different time zones, the challenge logic ensures that each hour corresponds to a single, fixed color. Once the hour changes, a new color is introduced.
How to Play
- Observe the displayed color carefully
- Enter a 6-digit hexadecimal color code (for example:
#3A7FBC) - Submit your guess to compare it with the target color
- Receive a similarity score based on how close your guess is
A perfect match results in a 100% similarity score. Small differences in red, green, or blue values will reduce the score accordingly.
Understanding Hex and RGB Colors
Digital colors on screens are commonly represented using the RGB color model. RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue.
Each color is created by combining different intensities of these three components. The intensity of each component ranges from 0 to 255.
A hexadecimal color code is simply another way to write these RGB values. Instead of decimal numbers, it uses hexadecimal notation (base 16).
Basic RGB and Hex Examples
-
Red:
RGB(255, 0, 0) → Hex
#FF0000 -
Green:
RGB(0, 255, 0) → Hex
#00FF00 -
Blue:
RGB(0, 0, 255) → Hex
#0000FF -
White:
RGB(255, 255, 255) → Hex
#FFFFFF -
Black:
RGB(0, 0, 0) → Hex
#000000
Most colors you see on screens are combinations of these values. Small adjustments can result in noticeable visual differences, which is what this challenge is designed to highlight.
Purpose of the Project
Color Lock Challenge is not a scientific test or diagnostic tool. It is a lightweight game intended for learning, experimentation, and casual self-assessment.
It can be useful for designers, developers, or anyone curious about how well they can visually estimate digital colors without relying on tools.