Comments on: Honey, I Blew Up The Color Panel

By: Joe Z.

Joe Z. — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 06:34:27 +0000

To open the magnifier quickly on Windows Vista, just hit Start, type mag, hit enter.

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:25:46 +0000

ColorSchemer
http://osx.iusethis.com/app/colorschemerstudio is quite awesome for this sort of stuff.
(I don’t work for the company, but work does own a copy)
It can export ASE (Adobe Swatch Exchange) format files so you can bring them into CS apps.

By: James Fritz

James Fritz — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:44:50 +0000

Here is a link to a web color picker for InDesign.

http://www.indiscripts.com/post/2009/06/web-color-picker

This is a new InDesign site focused on scripting InDesign.

By: Anne-Marie

Anne-Marie — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:41:29 +0000

The Magnify feature in Windows works just peachy in Parallels too.

Though it’s easier to use the Mac’s zoom controls, which work even when a Windows app is in focus.

By: Roland

Roland — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:36:05 +0000

@Deb: an alternative to opening the Run dialog in Windows is to press Windows-key + R, same as pressing Windows-key + E opens Windows Explorer, Windows-key + M minimizes all windows and Windows-key + F quickly opens Windows’ file search.

On-topic question: Any guess as to why Adobe even set the color picker to default to RGB in a DTP program with the main output (historically) being offset printing?

By: Mike Rankin

Mike Rankin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:58:25 +0000

Thanks all!

This is what I love about writing for this site. I post a little tip and in a few hours, it’s already evolved into something faster, slicker, and cross-platform thanks to you guys.

Steve-
Thanks for making the tip even better! The only problem is now David gets to avoid the Color Picker. I was picturing him putting on rubber gloves before double-clicking on the color. I’ll have to come up with another tip to make him confront his colorpickaphobia.

Terri-
To quote Rhino from “Bolt”: You’re beyond awesome. You’re… be-awesome!

And I hope you realize you’re only encouraging this behavior…

By: Deb Dewhirst

Deb Dewhirst — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:01:50 +0000

Windows XP has the magnifier tool:

Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > Accessibility > Magnifier

press CTRL+ESC, R, and type Magnify

See http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/windowsxp/usingmagnifier.aspx for more info.

By: Steve Werner

Steve Werner — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:58:29 +0000

Mike, blowing up the Color panel is a fantastic idea!

However, I have an even easier way of adding the color you picked from the Color panel to the Swatches panel and getting rid of the unsightly decimal numbers.

From the Swatches panel menu, simply choose Add Unnamed Colors. This simple command also gives you nice wholesome, whole numbers.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:37:33 +0000

The scaling of the color ramp is brilliant. I award it my highest honor: “I wish I’d thought of that!”

Thanks!

By: Bob Levine

Bob Levine — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:59:05 +0000

I hate those decimals. I discussed here: http://indesignsecrets.com/rgb-to-cmyk-0.php