color picker?

squarebox · Post by **squarebox** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:17 pm

i was curious if anime studio has a color picker?
for example, i picked this cool green color then saved my project for the day
then when i came back the next day i totally forgot what exact color it was so i can't add a new shape with the same exact color
i know the smartest way is to keep a record of what hex colors i'm using, but i don't always remember them
most drawing programs have this feature but i can't seem to find it in anime studio
also, don't know if it matters but i don't have pro (yet)
thx

synthsin75 · Post by **synthsin75** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:56 pm

Ouch, no Pro. Pro lets you copy styles from a selected shape and paste it into the current style or selected shape. I don't know if Standard has this feature.

viewtopic.php?t=11394&highlight=color+colour+picker

Even with Pro I use the one in the link from this post. Even with Pro you can't get the color value from an image layer unless you've put it in your color palette. One warning with this color picker though, it steals focus a bit, so I just exit it when I'm done using it.

squarebox · Post by **squarebox** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:32 pm

cool, thanks synthsin75, i'll have to try that app out when i get off of work unless it's pc only

thats kinda upsetting that it doesn't have a good color picker even in pro...

because i'm using a mac, this might be a good option... but i won't know until i get home to check it out
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php? ... &lsrc=osxh

synthsin75 · Post by **synthsin75** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:45 pm

I think is for pc only. Sorry, I have no ideas what's available for mac.

synthsin75 · Post by **synthsin75** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:50 pm

Well, the only time I need it in Pro is for easier color matching for images. I guess you could always open it in another app that does have a color picker and then just copy the color's hexidecimal value.

Pro could use a zoom function when picking colors from the custom color palette, though.

squarebox · Post by **squarebox** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:03 pm

yea, what i did was take a screen shot and open the image in another program, but it took longer than i wanted it to...
i'll see what i can find for the best color picker for a mac and post it here when i make my decision

heyvern · Post by **heyvern** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:05 am

You can click on a shape in AS, then click the "Copy" button in the style palette. Click on another shape and click the "Paste" button in the style palette.

I prefer making styles so I can always use them anywhere in the document. I don't have to go to another layer to copy the style. I use to do that a long time ago. Drove me nuts.

I do create a "color palette" image for the color picker image in the style palette. You can also render out a small image with shapes of colors directly to the swatches folder. You have to reload AS to choose it though.

-vern

madrobot · Post by **madrobot** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 2:11 am

What do you guys do when you're picking colours from inside an effect window?

Like gradient effect on a shape for example - I'm currently
- applying the gradient with default colours
- exiting the window
- going into a shape colour settings, or using my custom palette (swatch) to assign shape colours
- going into the colour picker by clicking on the colour swatch in shape fill or outline settings
- copying the colour #
- going back into the shape effects gradient settings, and manually pasting in the colour #
- repeat for 2nd colour

There has got to be a better way?
How do you guys do it?

Also, the swatch (be it custom palette or whatever) when I click on it assigns the selected colour to Fill Colour only.
Is there a trick to having it assign Line colour? A hotkey or something I've overlooked?

It would be awesome if we could have a hotkey eyedropper, so when I hotkey-click in the swatch, the colour # is recorded by some means - even if it was as the actual colour # code as a string of letters and numbers - just that would save time.

Obviously keys or a tool for eyedrop select and then colour dump into whatever colour field "swatch" you click on would be ideal. We need better colour tools.

What do you guys think?

<whoops, just found a page full of colour picker threads in the search

I'll check thru it now and if most of my questions have been answered i'll truncate this post>

heyvern · Post by **heyvern** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 6:36 am

You've got it. That's basically how to do it. Unless you have a system color picker that allows you to save colors you have to copy and paste the colors to match in a fill effect. That's what I do.

I use to try and keep a list of the colors so I can type them in, but it's usually just as fast to copy and paste the way you describe. I also started using a third party system color picker that saves lists of colors that I can use in the effect color picker to pick the same colors.

I also have another way of using the gradient fills so picking the matching color isn't needed. If you set it up right using styles the starting color is "invisible". Only the "gradient" part overlays the shape. I often use a percentage of black or white. I really like this technique because I can use the same gradient fill "style" for multiple shapes with different colors and not have to worry about finding the right color to stick in there. Makes it easier for global color changes.

I wish there was a way to pick stroke colors from the swatch... there isn't. Hopefully someday there will be.

-------------------

p.s.

I look at these small inconveniences as just bumps in the road of artistic creation. Like many years ago when condensation from the air compressor got inside the hose of my airbrush and would splatter on my art work and ruin hours of hard work. After I stopped screaming and sobbing uncontrollably, uncurled myself from the fetal position under my work table, I would go out and by a new line filter and try to fix the mistake.

You just learn to work around these things anyway you can.

-vern

madrobot · Post by **madrobot** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 6:50 am

Thanks Vern, and thanks for the gradient tip I'll give that a shot too.

I think you're right, and I can live with AS's quirks (sheesh, I did a freelance gig using Lightwave, now that's quirky.)

In the meantime I'll daydream about a quick easy colour picker in AS across effects and so on.

Chucky pointed out that holding ALT while picking a colour off the swatch assigns it to outline instead of fill

Cheers
Adrian

heyvern · Post by **heyvern** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 7:49 am

madrobot wrote:
Chucky pointed out that holding ALT while picking a colour off the swatch assigns it to outline instead of fill

Cheers
Adrian

HOLY FREAKING COW! How in the world did I miss that one! YEEEHAAAA!

See what I mean? You learn something like that and it's like getting a brand new feature! That's why I don't read manuals. I like to be surprised.

-vern

chucky · Post by **chucky** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 9:27 am

WOW , really? I actually meant something else, but that's wicked thanks madrobot, umm ....thanks chucky

madrobot · Post by **madrobot** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 9:46 am

OK Chuck, now I'm curious - what DID you mean ! ?

synthsin75 · Post by **synthsin75** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 12:16 pm

Wow, nice mistake find Chucky!

p.s.Just checked the manual. Seems right clicking in the color swatch will also select outline color.