<Return to the Table of Contents> Color Selection Tools Color Picker Using the Color Picker, you can select colors based on any reasonable color model (RGB, CMYK, etc.). You can also specify colors using hexadecimal values (if you're a nerd) or use Web safe colors. To launch the Color Picker, click the color swatch next to any color control. If you don't know how to use a color picker, consult your host program's documentation. Color Cube To the right of the color swatch, you'll notice a color selection tool, which offers the following options: Eyedropper—Select the Eyedropper to sample a color from anywhere in the preview window. Foreground or Background Color—Choose either of the two. Black or White—Choose either of these timeless colors. Six Previous Colors—You can choose any of the six most recently chosen colors, which is good: you probably chose them for a reason. Gradient Editor Use the Gradient Editor dialog box to create custom gradients by modifying old ones. You can add colors to the gradient to blend more than two colors. Let's start with the basics. Take a long, hard look at the illustration below. Familiarize yourself with the elements of the gradient editor. Smoothness Slider (A): Use this slider to even out color and opacity transitions in gradients. Opacity Stops (B): Opacity stops build a bridge between differing levels of opaqueness. The midpoint (diamond shaped buttons) and smoothness controls establish where and how quickly opacity transitions take place. Slide them around to get a feel for how they work. Adding Opacity Stops: Click above the gradient bar to add an opacity stop. Modifying Opacity Stops: Position the cursor over any opacity stop and click it. Tweak the opacity slider. Deleting Opacity Stops: Click and drag the stop off the gradient bar. Color Stops (C): Color stops add colors to your gradient and establish transitions to neighboring hues. The midpoint (diamond shaped buttons) and smoothness controls establish where and how quickly the color transition will take place. Slide them around to get a feel for how they work. Adding Color Stops: Use color stops to add a new colors to your gradient. To add a color stop, click below the gradient bar. Editing Color Stops: Once you've added that color stop, you'll want to choose a color for it. Position the cursor over any color stop and click it. Using any of the color picking tools, choose a color, and click OK. Deleting Color Stops: Easy. Just click and drag the stop off the gradient bar. <Return to the Table of Contents>