Import Colours from Image

This screen enables colours to be imported from an image of colour samples into a Catalogue. Once created, the catalogue can be exported to an external file and shared with your friends, family or students. 

To export a catalogue, use the 'open catalogue' action from the view palette screen and press export.

The Import Colours screen steps through a sequence of actions:

1. Open the colour samples image.

The manufacturer of your paints may have suitable colour samples available on their website. If not, you can create your own colour samples and create an image of them.

The image must be a good bright image with as little colour cast, such as White Balance (WB) and shading as possible. 

In general, we have found that colour samples should not be applied thickly. If the paint is too densely applied, it becomes darker, and the hue is not captured correctly. If necessary, you can adjust the saturation and brightness later when capturing the colour.

If possible, it is recommended to use a scanner to create the colour sample image. This will significantly reduce exposure and colour casting issues that are likely when using a camera.

Alternatively, the image can be captured using a camera although it is essential to set the WB correctly and also pay attention to the exposure settings. For example, if your colour samples are applied to a white background, the camera's auto exposure setting is likely to under-expose the image causing the colour samples to be darker than they should be. This will impact the quality of the colour capture. It is better to over-expose than to under-expose the image. 

If your colour samples are on a darker surface such as wood, it is likely that the camera's auto exposure setting will work better. However, the auto WB setting may not work so well. Including a sample of white within the colour samples may help with this.

2. Enter / Select a catalogue to contain the imported colours.

Enter a catalogue name or select a previously created catalogue to contain the imported colours.

3. Colour Cast Adjustment

This is an optional step. If there is a small amount of colour cast in the image, it can be identified from any white within the image. Selecting a white sample within the image will allow any colour cast in the image to be removed from the imported colours. From version 5.2.2 the colour cast adjustment will also try to compensate for under-exposure. 

Note: If the colour cast or shading is significant it is unlikely that the colours will be imported accurately. We would recommend improving the image by scanning the colour samples or increasing the exposure.

4. Import Colours

This step repeats until the user navigates back, either to the previous step or the View Palette screen. Using the back action button ( top left of screen) will go directly back to the View Palette screen. Using the back button on the navigation bar will move back 1 step allowing the previous steps to be changed.

Selecting a colour from the samples image will open the 'Add to Catalogue' panel. This panel can be dragged around the screen so you can place it near the sample being imported.