ColoRotate is a new color picker panel for Photoshop. The project comes from IDEA, a nonprofit organization that helps improve scientific and artistic literacy. Here’s a quick demo:
The plug-in costs $39. For $49/year, you can also link your plugin to your online account, sync palettes between multiple computers, and share palettes with colleagues, collaborators, or clients.
In a related vein, developer Anastasiy Safari has created MagicPicker, a $7 non-modal color picker/color wheel that builds on his free ColorPicker panel (see my earlier post for details). Here’s a screenshot:
And, of course, don’t forget about the excellent Adobe Kuler, integrated into Photoshop CS4 and other CS4 apps via its own panel (screenshot). Choose Window->Extensions->Kuler to try it out.
It’s a cool interface, but I really have to question the usefulness of ColoRotate. I’m not sure where the bit about how the brain naturally understands color in 3D – I can’t deny it, but it seems like a good way to complicate the UI, and I’m not sure it’s a good idea.
MagicPanel, however, may be something I buy, since it looks to be very useful.
Totally agree with ValkyrieStudio on ColoRotate – just more BS novelty 3D UI. Note to developers – I don’t think about color in 3D. I don’t presume to be special or exceptional, so I bet there are a lot of other people out there who also do not think of color in 3D. Someone didn’t do their homework.
“Link your plugin to your online account, sync palettes between multiple computers, and share palettes with colleagues, collaborators, or clients.”
This would be great for cs5 and kuler too! Imagine you can synchronize your color shemes (like your colormanagement settings via Bridge) for the entire suite and keep them up-to-date online. That would be very great.
Raph
PS: Is there an official feature request list for PS CS5?
[Do you have a time machine? 🙂 Just kidding, but the next version is all set by now. We’re working to create a really solid idea gathering/sharing/rating system for the future. –J.]
Is that colour picker a direct copy of the one in Corel Painter?
I fully agree: a 3D model might look nice and depicts the math behind color-spaces, but I’d argue that no painter on this planet ever thought of mixing them in “3D”. Dip the brush into the color bucket, mix’em on your palette, add blacks or whites etc. and you have it.
The HSL/HSV-type picker as seen in MagicPicker makes much more sense and seems more *natural* to how colors in the real world are “created”.
Thus, 40 bucks for a colorpicker with an interface that’s slower and even more complicated to “learn” and use than any standard picker?
Why would I pay for a “service” to exchange palettes with clients? Hello?
In 20+ dealing with colors this typically happens *once* per project and all is set and done: attach the swatch file to a mail and even if it get’s tunes during the process.
Maybe I’m missing some super smart workflow here, but to me that’s the biggest nonsens I ever heard of.
For the records: I don’t use Kuler either.
i really don’t see how the 3D would help. it seems more complex and confusing.
$7 or $14? Am I missing a promotion or a discount somewhere?