What is postcss-lab-function?
The postcss-lab-function package is a PostCSS plugin that allows you to use the CSS Lab color function in your stylesheets. This function enables you to define colors in the CIE LAB color space, which is a more perceptually uniform color space compared to RGB or HSL. This can be particularly useful for creating color schemes that are more consistent and visually appealing.
What are postcss-lab-function's main functionalities?
Convert LAB colors to RGB
This feature allows you to write colors in the LAB color space in your CSS, and the postcss-lab-function plugin will convert them to RGB for you. This makes it easier to work with LAB colors without worrying about browser compatibility.
/* Input CSS */
body {
color: lab(54.29% 80.82 69.88);
}
/* Output CSS */
body {
color: rgb(255, 0, 0);
}
Support for alpha transparency
This feature allows you to include an alpha transparency value in your LAB color definitions. The plugin will convert these to the appropriate RGBA values in the output CSS.
/* Input CSS */
body {
color: lab(54.29% 80.82 69.88 / 0.5);
}
/* Output CSS */
body {
color: rgba(255, 0, 0, 0.5);
}
Custom properties support
This feature allows you to use CSS custom properties (variables) with LAB colors. The plugin will convert the LAB colors to RGB and preserve the custom properties in the output CSS.
/* Input CSS */
:root {
--main-color: lab(54.29% 80.82 69.88);
}
body {
color: var(--main-color);
}
/* Output CSS */
:root {
--main-color: rgb(255, 0, 0);
}
body {
color: var(--main-color);
}
Other packages similar to postcss-lab-function
postcss-color-function
The postcss-color-function package allows you to transform colors using functions like color-mod(). It supports various color manipulations such as lightening, darkening, and adjusting hue, saturation, and lightness. Unlike postcss-lab-function, it does not specifically focus on the LAB color space but provides a broader range of color manipulation functions.
postcss-preset-env
The postcss-preset-env package lets you use modern CSS features, including color functions like lab(), in your stylesheets. It automatically converts these modern features into a form that is compatible with older browsers. While it includes support for LAB colors, it also provides a wide range of other modern CSS features, making it a more comprehensive solution compared to postcss-lab-function.
postcss-color-mod-function
The postcss-color-mod-function package allows you to modify colors using the color-mod() function. It supports various color adjustments such as lightening, darkening, and blending colors. This package is similar to postcss-lab-function in that it provides advanced color manipulation capabilities, but it does not specifically focus on the LAB color space.
PostCSS Lab Function
PostCSS Lab Function lets you use lab
, lch
, and gray
color functions in
CSS, following the CSS Color specification.
:root {
--firebrick: lab(40 56.6 39);
--firebrick-a50: lch(40 68.8 34.5 / 50%);
--gray-40: gray(40);
--gray-40a50: gray(40 / .5);
}
/* becomes */
:root {
--firebrick: rgb(178, 34, 34);
--firebrick-a50: rgba(178, 34, 34, .5);
--gray-40: rgb(94,94,94);
--gray-40a50: rgba(94,94,94, .5);
}
Usage
Add PostCSS Lab Function to your build tool:
npm install postcss-lab-function --save-dev
Node
Use PostCSS Lab Function to process your CSS:
import postcssLabFunction from 'postcss-lab-function';
postcssLabFunction.process(YOUR_CSS, , );
PostCSS
Add PostCSS to your build tool:
npm install postcss --save-dev
Use PostCSS Lab Function as a plugin:
import postcss from 'gulp-postcss';
import postcssLabFunction from 'postcss-lab-function';
postcss([
postcssLabFunction()
]).process(YOUR_CSS);
Webpack
Add PostCSS Loader to your build tool:
npm install postcss-loader --save-dev
Use PostCSS Lab Function in your Webpack configuration:
import postcssLabFunction from 'postcss-lab-function';
module.exports = {
module: {
rules: [
{
test: /\.css$/,
use: [
'style-loader',
{ loader: 'css-loader', options: { importLoaders: 1 } },
{ loader: 'postcss-loader', options: {
ident: 'postcss',
plugins: () => [
postcssLabFunction()
]
} }
]
}
]
}
}
Gulp
Add Gulp PostCSS to your build tool:
npm install gulp-postcss --save-dev
Use PostCSS Lab Function in your Gulpfile:
import postcss from 'gulp-postcss';
import postcssLabFunction from 'postcss-lab-function';
gulp.task('css', () => gulp.src('./src/*.css').pipe(
postcss([
postcssLabFunction()
])
).pipe(
gulp.dest('.')
));
Grunt
Add Grunt PostCSS to your build tool:
npm install grunt-postcss --save-dev
Use PostCSS Lab Function in your Gruntfile:
import postcssLabFunction from 'postcss-lab-function';
grunt.loadNpmTasks('grunt-postcss');
grunt.initConfig({
postcss: {
options: {
use: [
postcssLabFunction()
]
},
dist: {
src: '*.css'
}
}
});
Options
preserve
The preserve
option determines whether the original functional color notation
is preserved. By default, it is not preserved.
postcssImageSetFunction({ preserve: true })
:root {
--firebrick: lab(40 56.6 39);
--firebrick-a50: lch(40 68.8 34.5 / 50%);
}
/* becomes */
:root {
--firebrick: rgb(178, 34, 34);
--firebrick: lab(40 56.6 39);
--firebrick-a50: rgba(178, 34, 34, .5);
--firebrick-a50: lch(40 68.8 34.5 / 50%);
}