From f696aeb5c23ef8ed527fca1682c02079f135e64d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: lorenzo <lorenzo.cerrone@uzh.ch>
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2025 14:52:23 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 1/2] minor channel improvements

---
 .../ome_zarr_meta/ngio_specs/_channels.py     | 34 +++++++++----------
 1 file changed, 16 insertions(+), 18 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/ngio/ome_zarr_meta/ngio_specs/_channels.py b/src/ngio/ome_zarr_meta/ngio_specs/_channels.py
index 5360d588..b14cfd88 100644
--- a/src/ngio/ome_zarr_meta/ngio_specs/_channels.py
+++ b/src/ngio/ome_zarr_meta/ngio_specs/_channels.py
@@ -102,6 +102,20 @@ def valid_hex_color(v: str) -> bool:
     return True
 
 
+def into_valid_hex_color(v: str) -> str:
+    """Convert a string into a valid hexadecimal color.
+
+    If the string is already a valid hexadecimal color, return it.
+    Otherwise, return a hexadecimal color based on the hash of the string.
+    """
+    # strip leading '#' if present
+    v = v.lstrip("#")
+    if valid_hex_color(v):
+        return v
+
+    return NgioColors.semi_random_pick(v.lower()).value
+
+
 class ChannelVisualisation(BaseModel):
     """Channel visualisation model.
 
@@ -135,13 +149,10 @@ def validate_color(cls, value: str | NgioColors) -> str:
         """
         if value is None:
             return NgioColors.semi_random_pick().value
-        if isinstance(value, str) and valid_hex_color(value):
-            return value
+        if isinstance(value, str):
+            return into_valid_hex_color(value)
         elif isinstance(value, NgioColors):
             return value.value
-        elif isinstance(value, str):
-            value_lower = value.lower()
-            return NgioColors.semi_random_pick(value_lower).value
         else:
             raise NgioValueError(f"Invalid color {value}.")
 
@@ -159,19 +170,6 @@ def check_start_end(cls, data):
             data["end"] = start + 1
         return data
 
-    @model_validator(mode="after")
-    def check_model(self) -> "ChannelVisualisation":
-        """Check that the start and end values are within the min and max values."""
-        if self.start < self.min or self.start > self.max:
-            raise NgioValidationError(
-                f"Start value {self.start} is out of range [{self.min}, {self.max}]"
-            )
-        if self.end < self.min or self.end > self.max:
-            raise NgioValidationError(
-                f"End value {self.end} is out of range [{self.min}, {self.max}]"
-            )
-        return self
-
     @classmethod
     def default_init(
         cls,

From 1458d3405f5eb2001b727ba4ef53d4f174edcdea Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: lorenzo <lorenzo.cerrone@uzh.ch>
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2025 14:54:57 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 2/2] update changelog

---
 CHANGELOG.md | 7 +++++++
 1 file changed, 7 insertions(+)

diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index cef81dfc..992dd7ca 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [v0.4.4]
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- Fix bug in channel visualization when using hex colors with leading '#'.
+- Remove strict range check in channel window.
+
 ## [v0.4.3]
 
 ### Bug Fixes