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The world is becoming more digital and visual, and with that comes the need for more accurate color selection in various design projects. However, choosing the right color can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not sure which color will suit your vision. This is where color pickers come in handy; they help you select the right color by providing features such as color palettes, RGB sliders, and eyedroppers, among others.
In this article, we will review the seven best color pickers for Windows in 2021 and beyond. We will provide an in-depth description, pros, and cons, comparison table, download link, and FAQs for each tool. By the end of this post, you will discover the perfect color picker to suit your specific needs.
Video Tutorial:
What is a color picker?
A color picker is a software tool that assists designers, developers, and editors in selecting colors in digital projects. It offers a scalable color palette with a range of pre-selected colors, RGB/HSV sliders, and an eyedropper to select the exact color from anywhere on the screen. Some color picker tools allow users to save custom colors, and others enable you to inspect and match colors from images.
Best 7 Color Pickers for Windows
Top 1: ColorPic
ColorPic is an advanced color picker that offers a wide range of features and capabilities. It’s lightweight, easy to use, and provides a real-time preview of selected colors, which makes it perfect for web and graphic designers. Some of the features in ColorPic include a zoom lens, color history, and the ability to extract colors from images. The only downside is that it’s not compatible with the latest versions of Windows, hence its late update.
Pros:
-Free to use
-Real-time preview of colors
-Advanced features for professionals
Cons:
-Not compatible with the latest versions of Windows.
Download Link: ColorPic
Top 2: Just Color Picker
Just Color Picker is another simple, lightweight, and free color picker for Windows. It has a simplistic interface that allows users to select accurate colors using RGB, HSL, and CMYK sliders. The tool also offers a palette of pre-selected colors, and it can save custom colors for future use. Additionally, Just Color Picker is multilingual, which makes it convenient for non-English speaking users.
Pros:
-Free to use
-Simple and easy to use
-Offers multiple color modes
Cons:
-Not suitable for professionals
-May not work with some software programs
Download Link: Just Color Picker
Top 3: Pixie
Pixie is a free color picker developed by Nattyware. It offers a simple GUI and compact size. Pixie allows users to choose colors from anywhere on the screen and provides instant RGB, HEX, CMYK, and HSV values. Additionally, the tool has a magnifier to help select accurate colors. Pixie is portable, which means it can run without installation on any Windows computer via USB.
Pros:
-Free to use
-Simple and easy to use
-Portable option
Cons:
-Tiny interface
Download Link: Pixie
Top 4: ColorMania
ColorMania is a powerful color picker tool designed for professionals. It offers a range of features such as color history, eyedropper, color-wheel, and zoom. The tool supports multiple color modes such as RGB, HSL, and CMYK and includes a color palette with various shades, tones, and hues.
Pros:
-Free to use
-Advanced features for professionals
-Multiple color modes supported
Cons:
-Not the most intuitive interface
Download Link: ColorMania
Top 5: Adobe Color CC
Adobe Color CC is a free color picker tool that enables users to create, save, and share color palettes online. The tool has a vast library of pre-made schemes, and it allows users to customize colors according to their preferences. Adobe Color CC is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of applications, and its interface is quite user-friendly and intuitive.
Pros:
-Free to use
-Very user-friendly
-Vast library of custom color palettes
Cons:
-Requires Adobe creative cloud account
Download Link: Adobe Color CC
Top 6: ColorSchemer
ColorSchemer is a powerful color picker for Windows that offers a wide range of features for professionals. The tool allows users to create, save, and share custom color schemes, and it offers various modes such as RGB, CMYK, and HSL. Additionally, ColorSchemer has a color wheel, a palette creator, and a color mixer. The only downside is that it’s not free.
Pros:
-Advanced features for professionals
-Creates custom color schemes
-Multiple color modes supported
Cons:
-Expensive
Download Link: ColorSchemer
Top 7: Microsoft Office Color Picker
Microsoft Office has a built-in color picker that is perfect for users who frequently work with Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The tool allows users to select colors from a palette, and it provides various hex codes for easy coding. While it’s limited in terms of advanced features, it’s suitable for everyday use.
Pros:
-Free to use
-Convenient for Microsoft Office users
-Easy to use
Cons:
-Limited in advanced features
Download Link: N/A
Comparison Table of the Best 7 Color Pickers for Windows
| Free Trial | Price | Ease-of-use | Value for Money | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ColorPic | No | Free | Easy | High |
| Just Color Picker | No | Free | Easy | High |
| Pixie | No | Free | Easy | High |
| ColorMania | No | Free | Medium | High |
| Adobe Color CC | No | Free | Easy | High |
| ColorSchemer | Yes | $49 | Hard | Medium |
| Microsoft Office Color Picker | No | Free | Easy | High |
Our Thoughts on Color Pickers
Color pickers are essential tools for developers, designers, and editors who work daily with digital media. After analyzing and reviewing the above, we highly recommend ColorPic as the best color picker for Windows. Its real-time color preview, advanced features, and ease of use make it perfect for both beginners and professionals alike.
However, suppose you’re looking for a free and straightforward tool for everyday use with a simple interface. In that case, we recommend Just Color Picker.
FAQs about Color Pickers
Q1: What is the difference between RGB and HSL in color pickers?
A: RGB and HSL are the two most widely used color modes in color pickers. While RGB describes color in terms of red, green, and blue components, HSL describes colors in terms of hue, saturation, and lightness.
Q2: Can I use the color picker tool to match colors from images?
A: Yes, color picker tools that offer an eyedropper feature enable you to select colors from images or any part of the screen.
Q3: What is the importance of a color picker for graphic designers?
A: A color picker tool offers accurate and precise color selection, which is essential for creating a visually appealing design.
Q4: Can I create my color palette with a color picker tool?
A: Yes, most color picker tools allow you to create and save custom color palettes.
Q5: Is it possible to use a color picker tool to select colors for web design?
A: Yes, a color picker is the perfect tool for web designers as it provides the necessary color codes, such as RGB, HEX, and HSL, for web development.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, a color picker tool is an essential asset for any designer, editor, web developer, or anyone looking to enhance their color selection experience. In this article, we have provided a review of the seven best color pickers for Windows. Each of the reviewed color picker tools offers unique features and capabilities, but we highly recommended ColorPic as the best color picker for Windows.