Setting Up Custom Palette Tip

I was getting annoyed working with colors on my current project with trying to set up a palette. I'm not especially good at such things and needing a way to change things like gradients quickly is useful for me. In my pixel-art software, you can pick two colors and have the program 'fill in' the transitions. Xara doesn't have anything like that, at least contextually to the palette. Then I remembered the Blend Tool! So I set up the amount of colors I wanted to use for my palette's gradient and then I could easily adjust the colors and test them out quickly by selecting them and using the eye dropper.

I've included a screenshot to somewhat illustrate it. And depending on your needs, using a multi-blend allows shifting hue through the gradient as well. I think some folks who end up fiddling with colors a lot may find this tip useful.

Attachment 127613

Good tip. Blends are a very good way to get a range of colors.

Also, you can blend two of the same color with the Alt Rainbow option to get in between colors with the same value and saturation.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gwpriester

Good tip. Blends are a very good way to get a range of colors.

Also, you can blend two of the same color with the Alt Rainbow option to get in between colors with the same value and saturation.

---

I don't think I've ever used that option. Thanks.

I also forgot to add it's useful to play around with the attributes curve as well. It may be handy depending on how you're using the colors for shading and such.

There's a reason you are using the Blend Tool and not the Fill Tool, but I can't think why. Something to do with the number of steps?

Chris - You could use the Fill Tool but blending is creating a palette of individual colors.

I did a XaraXone Workbook back in June 2005 http://archive.xaraxone.com/webxealo...tml/page_1.htm that shows how different Hues relate to metallic colors. I used blends of pale and dark versions of the same color to create a range.

the blend tool gives you a quick way of fixing intermediate colours - it's a good tip

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gwpriester

Chris - You could use the Fill Tool but blending is creating a palette of individual colors.

I did a XaraXone Workbook back in June 2005 http://archive.xaraxone.com/webxealo...tml/page_1.htm that shows how different Hues relate to metallic colors. I used blends of pale and dark versions of the same color to create a range.

---

Still don't get it, but this is out of my typical Xara usage. I'll have a look at the workbook for enlightenment.

@handrawn: You can add nodes onto the Fill line to change intermediate colours. It's not the how, it's the why. I'm missing a piece of knowledge, and I'd like to understand.

Just to throw some extra carnage into the debate ;)

I had a quick look at the Workbook and fired up XWDP to have a play...no Blend Tool. I do have access to XDP, but not unfettered access, so I'll thank everyone for their comments and bow gracefully away from the stage.

ive not watched the video - the blend tool gives you fixed steps - with the fill tool you are winging it

No reason why you can't use a blend step but Xara only allows one Base colour & two darker & lighter shades.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chris M

I had a quick look at the Workbook and fired up XWDP to have a play...no Blend Tool. I do have access to XDP, but not unfettered access, so I'll thank everyone for their comments and bow gracefully away from the stage.

---

Chris, with XWD(P) you can still manipulate Blends created elsewhere (XPDX).

Ctrl+select an end shape and alter its colour:

:pointAttachment 127620

Acorn

I get it, but I think it's one of those things where I'm not creative or art orientated enough for it to fit into my world. Same way as I don't know how to hold a golf bat correctly, I don't venture into those areas.

bat :eek: you must be in the wrong club :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chris M

I don't know how to hold a golf bat correctly, I don't venture into those areas.

---

Wow, Australia must be cool - golf bats flying in sub-tropical and temperate rain-forests. If rabid, you should be using a thick arm-length glove. I assume the bats are almost hunted to extinction, what with the sought-after bits being their gonads.

Acorn

Copy/paste from Wikipedia Down Under:

"The Australian Golf Bat: A vampiric member of the Chiroptera species thought to have been introduced by Hungarian settlers in 900BC. They are widely hunted for their eggs which they keep tucked inside their ears during incubation. Sometime in the 17th century, Australians changed the traditional hunting weapon from the boomerang to the snooker stick."

;)

Acorn

that smells more bovine than chiropteran to me, but full marks for most of it.. right on cue with the snooker stick, I've seen the way you lot hold them :p

:-O