I need to add a very specific color background to an image I am
editing using ms-paint. The color code in frontpage and photoshop in
hex is (#3d5078) .

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Request for Question Clarification by tlspiegel-ga on 13 Aug 2004 21:51 PDT

Hi tctech,

Would you please clarify if this is the color you're trying to
duplicate in MsPaint?

http://68.15.21.151/uploads/researchers/new_page_4.htm

Best regards,
tlspiegel

As you mentioned, the HEX code for the color is used on the web.

You can convert the hex code to an RGB code (each color in a range
from 0-255) using:
    http://www.321webmaster.com/colorconverter.php

The decimal Red/Green/Blue coding is 61/80/120 (from that web site converter).

In MS Paint, to create a custom color:

1. Double-click on one of the colors at the bottom of the screen.  
2. Click "Define Custom Colors"
3. In the right-most bottom column of the window, enter 61, 80, and
120 for the Red, Green, and Blue boxes (respectively)
4. Click "Add to Custom Colors"

Your color is now added as an MS Paint color at the bottom of the
screen.  You can use Paint tools (such as the paint-bucket fill tool)
with this color as necessary.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

--Joey

Searching strategy: Hex to RGB

Excellent answer...with a clear explanation. Thanks for the reference link !

Please disregard my clarification... I transposed a decimal number and
came up with the wrong color.

The answer posted by researcher joey is correct.  :)

Best regards,
tlspiegel

You don't need to use a converter to get the RGB values.  It's just
simple math. In #3d5078, 3d is the R value, 50 is the G, and 78 is the
B.  Those are in hexadecimals, though.  In hexadecimals, a=10, b=11,
c=12, d=13, e=14, and f=15.  To convert to decimal values, you take
the left digit and multiply by 16, and then add the right digit.  For
example: 3d.  3*16=48.  48+d[which is 13]=61.  Next: 50.  5*16=80. 
80+0=80.  Finally: 78.  7*16=112.  112+8=120.  So the values are 61,
80, and 120.

cubehead00, You're absolutely right ! That is how I was trying to
convert in the first place but its been a a while so I'am a bit rusty
since I did any hex to dec . I had 61 + 80 but blew the 120 instead I
had 240.
Thanks again guy ...

Doing this manually is always possible as well, as cubehead mentioned.
 Back when web-safe colors were actually important, I had those
conversions memorized:

00 - 0
33 - 51
66 - 102
99 - 153
CC - 204
FF - 255

The web safe colors used R, G, and B codes which were all multiples of
decimal 51 or hex 33.  You could then count back or forward from one
of these.

You can configure Photoshop to provide both Hex and RGB.

And, most exciting and useful of all is a very small application
called Eyedropper, which puts an icon in the system tray.  When you
click on it, it gives you a little magnifying glass that attaches to
the mouse pointer and which will tell you the hex, RGB, and CMYK code
for the pixel you're currently touching.

It can be downloaded for free at http://eyedropper.inetia.com/

Oh, you'll want to click "English Version" on the right side of the
screen if you aren't a polyglot ;-)

--Joey