Color Palette question

[Diane]

Robyn's post about doing a Color Challenge on alternating months, and my wanting to participate, prompted me to finally ask this question and hope I understand the answer - LOL!!

When you are given a color palette to use, is there some way that particular palette can be "anchored" in your layers palette so you can just click on the color you want to access? I seem to think that it is possible, yet I haven't the foggiest on how to achieve what seems to be a very easy and simple way to access the colors. I am using PSE7, so maybe what I think I saw is only possible in PS(?).

When I want to use a color palette, I print out a copy (with the numbers) for reference, and when I click on the color picker, I add that number in the appropriate box, so that exact color will come up on the picker. I can't tell you how many times I have had to type in that same color number (plus the others if I used them). There has GOT to be an easier way!!!!!:eek: Please help! Thanks.

[GreenEyedLadyDesigns]

You're right, Diane! There IS a way to do this.

Select the color you want in the Color Picker - make sure it is the foreground color - then close the Color Picker.

Open your Swatches Panel (Window, Color Swatches) and look at the very bottom of that panel (I have PSE 8, so yours may be at the top of the panel) for the little square icon that has a folded corner (it looks just like the "add a new layer"). Click that and your foreground color will become a new swatch. You can right click and give it a name or number.

Once you've got all your colors in the swatches, you can save them as a set in case you ever want to use them again.

To do this, from the Edit Menu, choose Preset Manager. From the "Preset Type" drop down box, choose Swatches. All your colors will come up. Select all the colors you want to save, then click Save Set. You'll get to give it a name and save it to a directory of your choice.

When you want to load the swatches again, you can go back to the Preset Manager, Color Swatches and then click Load.

You can also get to the Preset Manager from the little tiny icon at the top right of each Panel (styles or swatches or whatever) but it's really tiny and usually hard to see.

Let us know how it goes, ok?

vick

[MsKaty]

Thank you Vicki!!! I knew this once...... I forget now in my old age! :D :D I love this reminder and just might print it so I won't forget again. Then I might ask where you put this info, when I lose my printout! :D

[GreenEyedLadyDesigns]

Thank you Vicki!!! I knew this once...... I forget now in my old age! :D :D I love this reminder and just might print it so I won't forget again. Then I might ask where you put this info, when I lose my printout! :D

LOL, Kay! I got your back!! :p

[Karen]

I save all my colour swatches in an dedicated folder in My Documents and load the required swatch into PSE when I want it.

Karen

[robyn]

Thanks for answering this one Vicki. I will have that palette ready for the August colour challenge by the end of next week.

[Diane]

You're right, Diane! There IS a way to do this.

Select the color you want in the Color Picker - make sure it is the foreground color - then close the Color Picker.

Open your Swatches Panel (Window, Color Swatches) and look at the very bottom of that panel (I have PSE 8, so yours may be at the top of the panel) for the little square icon that has a folded corner (it looks just like the "add a new layer"). Click that and your foreground color will become a new swatch. You can right click and give it a name or number.

Once you've got all your colors in the swatches, you can save them as a set in case you ever want to use them again.

To do this, from the Edit Menu, choose Preset Manager. From the "Preset Type" drop down box, choose Swatches. All your colors will come up. Select all the colors you want to save, then click Save Set. You'll get to give it a name and save it to a directory of your choice.

When you want to load the swatches again, you can go back to the Preset Manager, Color Swatches and then click Load.

You can also get to the Preset Manager from the little tiny icon at the top right of each Panel (styles or swatches or whatever) but it's really tiny and usually hard to see.

Let us know how it goes, ok?

vick


Thanks so much, Vicki! I knew there HAD to be an easier way! I am going to print this out (in a large font) and tape it up somewhere at eye level so I won't lose it! (Now when I see color challenges/color palettes, I won't have to groan and quietly tiptoe away!) Sure will let you know how good I am following directions!:rofl2:

[cats4jan]

This is an excellent thread for "scrap tools" - hope TPTB can move it.

[Reene]

Great question and one that has been in the back of my mind. I was saving pages with numbers/colors in a folder. But the folder keeps moving and I can't always find it! Thanks for a better way.

[robyn]

This is an excellent thread for "scrap tools" - hope TPTB can move it.

I've moved it for you.

[JodyT]

Thanks for this tip.. I am going to give it a go.

[Andrea]

Thanxs for that great tip Vicki... thanxs for asking Diane!