This dialog box defines the colors used in Xclamation, for example, when adding color to frames or fonts. It matches color elements to color names.

Screen shot: Color dialog box

Left portion of the dialog box:

• The color list displays pre-defined colors. When a color from the list is selected, its compositional elements appear on the right. Several colors may be selected simultaneously by holding down the CTRL key. All pre-defined colors are stored in the configuration files.
   
• The text field beneath the list serves to modify the name of the selected color.
   
• The "add color" button creates a new color. By default this color will have the same characteristics as the color currently selected, as well as the same name followed by a number.
   
• The "delete color" button deletes a color. Colors utilized in the application or defined in the configuration files with the \LOCK paramater cannot be deleted.
   

Right Portion of the Dialog Box:

• The four buttons "CMYK", "RGB", "HSB", and "Gray" change the contents of the configuration section. Any of these modes may be used to define the selected color. If the "gray" button is engaged, the color is converted to a corresponding gray tone
   
• The "configuration" section displays the compositional elements of the selected chromatic mode:
  • CMYK chromatic mode
  • RGB chromatic mode 
  • HSB chromatic mode
  • Gray tones
     
     
• The "color preview" displays a color as defined by its compositional elements. This color sample is shown under ideal display conditions, therefore it's not exactly identical to the color obtained upon printing.
   
  

Lower Portion of the Dialog Box:

• "Ok" confirms all the modifications made to the color list and closes the box.
   
• "Annuler" cancels all operations on the list and closes the box.
   

Click on the CMYK button to activate this mode. The color is then defined by the elements Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black.

Description

Primary colors :

• Cyan (Green and Blue): complimentary color to Red
• Magenta (Red and Blue): Complimentary color to Green
• Yellow(Red and Green): Complimentary color to Blue
   

These primary colors are called "subtractive" because they must be removed to produce white.

CMYK chromatic mode is the one used by computer printers.

Creating a color

Text fields and vertical risers allow the user to set the level of a compositional element. These values demonstrate the amount of an element in a color in linear fashion. A 0% value indicates an absence of the element in the color; a value of 100% indicates the maximum possible amount of an element in the color.

When the primary colors C, M, and Y are combined, the theoretical result is black; however, when printed, the mixture of inks will produce a type of brown. To compensate for this problem when printing in four colors, the element "black" has been added. Adding 30% Black is equivalent to adding 30% Cyan + 30% Magenta + 30% Yellow.

Note: Xclamation optimises the color so that it utilises a maximum amount of pure Black; it's therefore possible that the values entered will be modified automatically when this dialog box is next displayed.

Click on the RGB button to activate this mode. The color is then defined by the elements Red, Green and Blue.

Description

primary colors:

• Red (Magenta and Yellow) - Complimentary color to Cyan
• Green (Cyan and Yellow) - Complimentary color to Magenta
• Blue (Cyan and Magenta) - Complimentary color to Yellow
   

These primary colors are called additives because they must be combined to produce white.

RGB chromatic mode is the one used by computer monitors.

Creating a color

Text fields and vertical risers allow the user to set the level of a compositional element. These values demonstrate the amount of an element in a color in linear fashion. A 0% value indicates an absence of the element in the color; a value of 100% indicates the maximum possible amount of an element in the color.

When the primary colors RGB are combined, the result is white. The absence of these colors creates black.

Click on the HSB button to activate this mode. The color is then defined by its Hue, Saturation, and Brightness.

Description

The common problem with CMYK and RGB modes is that they are difficult to understand intuitively. HSB mode is a more natural way of thinking about color.

Creating a Color

Hue
Hue values are set between O and 360 degrees. They are equivalent to the values of the color wheel, where 0 degrees is equal to 360 degrees.
The primary color values:

Saturation
Saturation is associated with the intensity of a color. This value is given in the form of a percentage, from 0% (no hue present) to 100% (the hue is pure). The higher this value, the greater the presence of a particular hue in the color being created.

Brightness
Brightness refers to the quantity of black added to a color. This value is given in the form of a percentage, from 0% (pure black) to 100% (pure white). The higher the level of brightness, the lighter the color. The more black present in a color (low brightness), the darker it is.

Click on the "Gray" button to activate this mode. A color is then defined by its percentage of white [from 0% (black) to 100% (white)]. When entering into this mode, the selected color is transformed to gray and loses all trace of its hue.