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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.
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