For designers and graphic artists of all types, color is a key component of the job.
How do you manage those colors?
How do you determine the right one?
How do you hone in on exactly the hue you want?
Turns out, there are free and open-source apps available to handle each of these tasks on Linux.
And the options available may be more diverse than you think.
Image Credit:apps.kde.org
Or so it may seem.
Do you want to select a color from another window or image on your screen?
you’re able to do that.
Color Picker lets you save colors to refer back to later.
Other apps have been quicker to port to GTK4 and libadwaita.
If you want a more modern look, you may want to check out the next option.
2.Eyedropper
Okay, all those features from Color Picker?
Eyedropper has them too.
But the difference between the two apps doesn’t merely come down to the use of newer code.
Eyedropper comes at the task of managing colors from a different angle.
Eyedropper prioritizes helping you copy and paste colors in various values.
You have hexadecimal, RGB, HSL, HSV, and CMYK.
Image Credit:apps.kde.org
But if you do know, there they are.
3.Pick
Do you listen to theBad Voltage podcast?
Co-host Stuart Langridge happens to be a developer, and Pick is one of his creations.
That fun fact aside, why might you want to pick Pick over the other options?
Pick doesn’t merely remember your colors, it helps you remember where those colors are from.
Each color pairs with a screenshot of the area of your screen you selected.
There’s a big caveat.
you could always switch back to X.org if you really want to use Pick.
The tool provides the GNOME color palette set forth in GNOME’s design guidelines.
5.Swatch
Say you like the look of Palette, but you need something a little less niche.
Swatch lets you create your own color palettes.
If you use GIMP, Swatch is a good companion.
you could import and export palettes between the two apps.
6.GNOME Color Manager
Many of us don’t give the technology behind color representation much thought.
How it appears on our screen is how it’s supposed to look.
Turns out, color management can get rather complicated.
Many designers or gamers purchase monitors based on how accurately they display colors.
If you work with printed materials, this is information you’re likely going to need to know.
GNOME Color Manager provides you with technical information about the color profiles on your system.
This helps youcalibrate your monitor, printer, and camera to get colors just right.
7.KColorChooser
If you feel this list has been very GNOME-heavy, that’s valid.
So here’s one for KDE Plasma fans.
Like many KDE apps, KColorChooser is sort of a one-size-fits-all tool.
you could save the colors you’ve selected before.
you could create your own color palettes.
Some even come included, such as those used in KDE’s Oxygen theme.
And if not, GNOME apps run just fine on the Plasma desktop.
This is less so with Colorway.
You don’t need to know what colors complement one another.
If you select one, Colorway can select a suitable matching color automatically.
If that’s basic, it’s possible for you to turn up the complexity.
Colorway can determine a suitable trio of colors, or it can pick four that work.
9.Emulsion
Okay, what more is there to do with palettes?
It’s a great-looking app that’s pleasant to use.
The app displays multiple palettes at one time, helping you see your full collection at a glance.
it’s possible for you to also import palettes you’ve found elsewhere.
10.ColorMate
Do you primarily design web interfaces?
GNOME falls into this category.
ColorMate is a tool for converting between these three notations.
It’s a niche tool and a useful one.
There are varied types of design-oriented apps available, and the number is growing.
