As a color lover, and even a color nerd, I am always finding apps out there that excite my interest. I love color both as a designer and photographer and there are a number of Mac apps out there that are made with these interests in mind.
These apps run the gamut from developer’s color tools to color scheme generators to apps that make the color in photographs more exciting. There is even a bonus game included in the round-up. Read on to find out more about these fun apps for color lovers.
Color Explorer
Color Explorer
Color Explorer is a simple and elegant color picking app. It is a menu bar app that comes out whenever you need it. The app freezes the screen and creates a zoom window that shows wherever the mouse is hovering.
Clicking on a pixel gives the color of that pixel in a number of formats. Graphics folks will find that the color formats come in hexadecimal, decimal, percentages and more. Programmers will appreciate the creation of colored objects for a variety of programming languages. The app is simple, cheap and convenient. It launches quickly and does its job well.
Price: $0.99
Requires: Mac OS X 10.7
Developer: Mobility Dreams AB
Hues
Hues
Hues does a simple task that, up until now, often required an intense program like Photoshop. Hues allows you to grab a color from an image, make the color a bit darker, and then get the brand new hex value. Opening Photoshop takes a while. Hues allows you to get it done without waiting around.
This picker is lightweight and utilizes the Mac OS X color picker that comes with your computer. It is handy, showing the hex, RGB(a) and HSL(a) values for all colors. If you work with colors in a way that might benefit from this tool, definitely consider investing a few bucks in this convenient little app.
Price: $2.99
Requires: Mac OS X 10.6 or later
Developer: Giant Comet
Kuler Desktop
Kuler Desktop
These next couple of applications are great for anyone who has ever had to make a color scheme. These apps are for graphic designers, interior decorators, developers, costume designers and even just those who are redecorating their home.
Kuler Desktop is the first and definitely most light-weight of these applications. The desktop version of Kuler allows you to download and view any pre-existing color schemes. This is great for inspiration, not so great if you can’t find something that works for you. There is an online component that allows you to create themes, but the desktop version is best for inspiration only.
Price: Free
Requires: Adobe Air, Mac OS X 10.6 or later
Developer: Adobe
Color Brain
Color Brain
Color Brain is a bare-bones but still more fully featured application. Color Brain is geared more towards those who use computer-based colors, whether you are a designer, developer or programmer. This application allows you to manage various sets of ten colors.
Once the sets have been created, the color values are available in a number of different formats, to work with any program or situation. There are a number of great features for developers and designers, even if it’s not the most exciting program out there. Stay away if you’re looking for something to help with the smart creation of themes, but definitely check it out if you work with digital color schemes a lot.
Price: $3.99
Requires: Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later
Developer: BrainScan Software
ColorSchemer Studio
ColorSchemer Studio
This application is definitely the most full-featured and user friendly of the color theme applications. It markets itself towards a more general population. While developers and graphic designers will still appreciate ColorSchemer, it’s also great for those who are just painting their living room.
ColorSchemer allows you to create color palettes from photos, from a single color, or completely on your own. You can explore pre-made palettes, use a color wheel and mix colors. Then, preview your color scheme on a variety of pre-made blog, website, print and even pattern layouts.
Price: $19.99
Requires: Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later
Developer: CHROMAom, Inc.
iDeveloper – Color Code Converter
iDeveloper – Color Code Converter
Simplicity shines bright in this tool, which is made specifically for iOS developers and designers. This application allows the simple conversion of Hexcolor codes to RGB based NSColor and UIColor codes. That is all it aims to do, and it does it well. If this niche application is up your alley, it’s well-worth the dollar to buy it.
Price: $0.99
Requires: Mac OS X 10.6 or later
Developer: Untamed Interactive
Color Wash
Color Wash
The next two apps are dedicated to making the color in photographs exciting. ColorWash is a simple and straight-forward app that allows the selective coloring of photography. While selective coloring can often be overdone, it is sometimes a great tool to use to make colors pop. ColorWash provides a simple interface and set of tools allowing anyone to selectively color parts of a photograph.
Price: $0.99
Requires: Mac OS X 10.6 or later
Developer: Arkadiusz Mlynarczyk
NIR Color
NIR Color
This app is another one geared towards editing the colors in photographs. NIR Color does something unique, however, playing with infrared light technology. NIR Color allows you to transform any photograph into a fantastically eerie image.
NIR Color utilizes near infrared light technology and infrared color filters to create these images. There are presets for beginners and great customization options for advanced users. If surrealist color is up your alley, check out NIR Color.
Price: $5.99
Requires: Mac OS X 10.6 or later
Developer: JixiPix Software
Color Sudoku
Color Sudoku
Last but not least, we have a little bonus. Color lovers will often find that they enjoy thinking in color as well. Color Sudoku provides a great way for color lovers to exercise their brain in a fun and colorful way. Color Sudoku works just like regular sudoku, but with colors instead of numbers. It’s a fun twist on a popular puzzle, and worth checking out if you really love color.
Price: $4.99
Requires: Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later
Developer: baKno Games
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many, many tools out there that exist to help color decisions and problems. Color lovers will always find apps dedicated to them, whether the apps create themes for designs, convert color values or even challenge the brain with some sudoku.
So then, calling all color lovers. What are your favorite apps? Do you use any of these or do you have something completely different?