How do I convert RGB to a DMC thread color?

Paste the RGB value above, with or without rgb(). For example, RGB 255, 128, 0 is closest to DMC 971 Pumpkin (ΔE 1.7). Pick the thread with the lowest ΔE, then check it against a physical DMC color card.

Why does my pattern software suggest a different DMC number?

Pattern programs each ship their own DMC color list, and those lists differ. Open DMC lists disagree. Between the two independent ones we compared, the median difference is ΔE 6.9, and only 64 of the 482 threads both lists have agree within ΔE 3. We use one openly licensed list and mark those 64 as «stable in both lists».

Does this convert to Anchor or Madeira?

This tool covers DMC floss only. For Anchor, use DMC to Anchor: it finds the nearest Anchor thread by color, because we found no DMC-to-Anchor chart with a clean licence to copy. Madeira is not covered.

Why does the thread look different from the screen?

A screen emits light, while thread reflects it and has a sheen, and dye lots vary. Treat every match as a starting point and compare a real skein or color card in daylight before buying.

RGB to DMC Thread Colors

Paste an RGB value as pattern and photo software copies it — rgb(255, 128, 0) or just 255 128 0 — and get the five closest DMC floss colors by CIEDE2000 ΔE. RGB is read as sRGB, the color space of screens and most image files.

Your color

#FF8000

Click to copy

Closest DMC floss

DMC 971 Pumpkin≈ #F67F00GoodΔE 1.70In one list only
DMC 740 Tangerine≈ #FF8B00ApproximateΔE 3.56Lists disagree
DMC 970 Pumpkin Light≈ #F78B13ApproximateΔE 3.95Lists disagree
DMC 3853 Autumn Gold Dark≈ #F29746DistantΔE 6.70Lists disagree
DMC 922 Copper Light≈ #E27323DistantΔE 6.81Lists disagree

DMC 971 out of stock? Nearest other DMC threads · Anchor instead

Why DMC lists disagree. Open DMC color lists are measurements or estimates, not values from DMC. Between two independent lists the median difference is ΔE 6.9, and only 64 of the 482 threads both lists have agree within ΔE 3. Those are marked «Stable in both lists»; for the rest, compare a real skein.

RGB to DMC examples

Closest DMC floss for common RGB values, by CIEDE2000 ΔE. Bright screen colors often have no close thread.
RGB	Closest DMC	DMC ≈ HEX	ΔE
255 0 0	606 Orange Red Bright	#FA3203	2.9
255 128 0	971 Pumpkin	#F67F00	1.7
0 128 0	700 Green Bright	#07731B	5.4
0 0 255	32 Blueberry Dark	#4D2E8A	14.8
128 0 128	34 Fuschia Dark	#7D3064	9.7
128 128 128	169 Pewter Light	#848484	1.5

How the match is found

Your color and each of the 489 DMC colors are converted to CIELAB and compared with CIEDE2000. The five closest are shown with their ΔE: below 1 the difference is not visible, 1 to 3 is a good match, 3 to 6 is noticeable but similar, and from 6 up the thread is visibly different. Thread reflects light and has a sheen, dye lots vary, and a monitor emits light, so treat a match as a starting point and check it against a color card in daylight.

RGB to DMC: questions

How do I convert RGB to a DMC thread color?: Paste the RGB value above, with or without rgb(). For example, RGB 255, 128, 0 is closest to DMC 971 Pumpkin (ΔE 1.7). Pick the thread with the lowest ΔE, then check it against a physical DMC color card.
Why does my pattern software suggest a different DMC number?: Pattern programs each ship their own DMC color list, and those lists differ. Open DMC lists disagree. Between the two independent ones we compared, the median difference is ΔE 6.9, and only 64 of the 482 threads both lists have agree within ΔE 3. We use one openly licensed list and mark those 64 as «stable in both lists».
Does this convert to Anchor or Madeira?: This tool covers DMC floss only. For Anchor, use DMC to Anchor: it finds the nearest Anchor thread by color, because we found no DMC-to-Anchor chart with a clean licence to copy. Madeira is not covered.
Why does the thread look different from the screen?: A screen emits light, while thread reflects it and has a sheen, and dye lots vary. Treat every match as a starting point and compare a real skein or color card in daylight before buying.

Color data: craft-color-codes by MakeBead, licensed under CC BY 4.0. «Stable in both lists» compares it with the independent png2dmc list; only that yes/no is used, not its colors. Changes: we add that flag, compute nearest-color matches and substitutes and, on the diamond painting chart, show a subset of the codes; the colors are unchanged.

DMC is a trademark of DMC. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by DMC. All colors are on-screen approximations; check a physical DMC color card before buying thread.