colorPOKI, poking around for colors

ColorPoki :: Using the Color Mixer

About the Color Mixer

The color mixer in ColorPoki 2 is one of the most usefull utilities when trying to find color combinations. The mixer is based on a few basic rules of color theory. The color theory defines a a set of rules that can help you find harmonious combinations of color. In color theory the relationships of hues (colors) is represented on a color wheel.

The Color Mixer Window

The basic of the color mixer is the base color. All suggestions and variations displayed in the color mixer are for the base color. The base color is displayed on the left corner of the window.

In the rigth side of the window we find the color harmonies and variations for the base color.

On the top left side is where you make adjustments to the base color. You can control the RGB channels, the Hue, Saturation and Luminosity of the color.

Bellow you can mark up to 10 base color to use with the Color Mixer. You also have an unlimited history.

In the middle we have the color wheel. You use the color wheel to see variations of a color and find color harmonies. You can change the wheel view from a selection of presets using the wheel options menu right above the wheel

In the color palatte bellow the wheel you can save colors. Just like with the palette editor you can save this palette. You can also load a palette by dragging a ACO file to the color mixer window.

Selecting a base color

The base color is displayed in the upper left corner of the window. There are various ways to change the base color:

- Like with almost everything in ColorPoki you can drag & drop a color.

- Click on the color swatch to pick a color using the standard color picker of the operating system.

- Clik and drag the eye-dropper anywhere on the screen to pick a color.

- Double click on a color inside the color wheel.

- Click on any color swatch.

When you select a base color the mixer will display all the basic color harmonies for the selected base color. You can change the format of the base color value by control clicking (right click) on the base color label.

Color Harmonies and Variations

Color harmonies and variations are displayed on the right side of the window. You can click on any of these swatches to change the base color.

Complementary Color

In color theory two colors opposite each other are know as complementary colors. Complementary colors offer the best contrast.

Split Complementary Color

The Split complementary colors is a variance of a color's complement. Instead of using the complement it uses the two colors adjacent to the complement.

Triadic Color

The Triadic is any three colors at an equal distance in the color wheel.

Analogous Colors

Analogous Colors are any three colors adjacent to each other. Usually one of the color dominates the others in saturation and light (luminosity). To balance a design is a good idea to select a dominant color and use the other two to complement the design.

Monochromatic Variations

Monochromatic variations are the product of changing the luminosity of the base color.

Red, Green and Blue Variations

These variations are created by adding Red, Green and Blue to the base color.

The Color Wheel

The color wheel allows you to view variations of a color and its harmonies. The main wheel view is the hues wheel. When you click on a color the complementary color, the split complementary and the triadic colors are marked. You can select a color from the wheel by double clicking a color.

The wheel has four views available. You can view the variations of saturation and luminosity. You can also view a saturation and luminosity spectrum.

Making adjustments to the base color

The color mixer allows you to modify the RGB value of the base color. You can also adjust the Hue, Sataturation and Luminosity of the base color. You can drag a color to any of these sliders to change the value. When your drop a color on a slider the respective value will be change. For example if I drop a color into the RED slider the value will change to match that of the color. This is very practical for example when you want a base color to match the saturation or luminosity of another color.

Working with multiple base colors

The mixer allows you to select up to 10 base colors. You change from one base color to another by clicking on the color swatch of the desired base color. You also have a history of colors used in the mixer. To change a color from the history click on the left and right arrows on top.

Recommended Links

http://www.mezzoblue.com/archives/2004/05/14/colour_schem/