How to use the command 'colorpicker' (with examples)

The colorpicker command is a minimalist tool for X11 systems, designed to help users easily identify and capture the color values of pixels on their screen. When a user clicks on a specific pixel, the color’s hexadecimal and RGB values are printed, offering a seamless way to obtain color information for design, development, or personal use. Its intuitive simplicity and minimalistic design make it an ideal choice for designers, developers, and digital artists who frequently work with colors and need a straightforward method to determine precise color values.

Use case 1: Launch colorpicker and print the hexadecimal and RGB value of each clicked pixel to stdout

Code:

colorpicker

Motivation:
This is the basic and default use case of colorpicker, where it continuously runs and allows the user to click on multiple pixels, printing out their color values until the user decides to quit. This mode is highly beneficial when one needs to analyze various colors on the screen quickly, making it ideal for color matching tasks in design and graphics work.

Explanation:
Invoking colorpicker without any additional arguments tells the program to run in its default mode. In this state, colorpicker continues to function until the user exits using any mouse gesture other than a left click. The tool listens to every left mouse click, capturing colors of the pixels clicked and displaying their corresponding hexadecimal and RGB values in the terminal. This unrestricted mode is excellent for gathering color data over an extended session.

Example Output:

#FFFFFF rgb(255,255,255)
#000000 rgb(0,0,0)
#FF5733 rgb(255,87,51)

Use case 2: Only print the color of one clicked pixel and then exit

Code:

colorpicker --one-shot

Motivation:
This mode is perfect for users who need to quickly capture the color of a single pixel without the program continuing to run afterward. It saves time and resources by automatically terminating after the first pixel’s color data is extracted, which is particularly useful in scenarios where the user needs to repeatedly sample single-experiment colors.

Explanation:
The --one-shot argument modifies the standard behavior of colorpicker by restricting its operation to a single left click. After a pixel is clicked, its color information is printed, and the program subsequently exits. This single-action feature is beneficial for efficiency in tasks where only one color’s data is required, eliminating the need for manual quitting.

Example Output:

#7F8C8D rgb(127,140,141)

Use case 3: Print the color of each clicked pixel and quit when a key is pressed

Code:

colorpicker --quit-on-keypress

Motivation:
In situations where users anticipate needing to collect multiple color values but want a convenient way to exit, this use case provides flexibility. It offers all the functionality of the standard mode but includes the added ease of terminating the session with a keystroke, making it more user-friendly, especially for tasks involving extensive data collection.

Explanation:
Adding the --quit-on-keypress argument to the colorpicker command configures it to monitor both mouse clicks and keyboard inputs. While it captures and displays color information upon clicking pixels, the program will stay active until any key is pressed, providing an expedited exit mechanism that complements traditional mouse-based control.

Example Output:

#C0392B rgb(192,57,43)
#8E44AD rgb(142,68,173)

Use case 4: Only print the RGB value

Code:

colorpicker --rgb

Motivation:
This use case is intended for users who are specifically interested in the RGB values of colors, perhaps for programming or graphic design purposes where hexadecimal values might be unnecessary. Focusing solely on RGB ensures clear and uncluttered data when that format meets the user’s needs, streamlining the extraction process.

Explanation:
Utilizing the --rgb argument directs colorpicker to print only the RGB values of the colors captured. It simplifies the output by excluding hexadecimal values, which is advantageous when users need to import color data as RGB directly into software or when hexadecimal is not compatible with their immediate requirement.

Example Output:

rgb(236,240,241)
rgb(46,204,113)

Use case 5: Only print the hexadecimal value

Code:

colorpicker --hex

Motivation:
Some users, such as web developers and UI designers, often work exclusively with hexadecimal color codes. By customizing colorpicker to output only hexadecimal values, these professionals can easily integrate color selections into CSS or graphic design applications where this notation is preferred or required.

Explanation:
The --hex argument adapts the functionality of colorpicker to focus on outputting the hexadecimal value alone. This alteration minimizes distractions by removing unnecessary data, providing users with clean, easily transposable hexadecimal codes for use in coding or digital design workflows.

Example Output:

#3498DB
#2ECC71

Conclusion:

The colorpicker command is a powerful utility for those who frequently engage with digital colors, providing versatile options to capture color values conveniently. Whether you need quick sampling, an ongoing session, a choice between RGB and hexadecimal outputs, or require efficient single-action use, colorpicker caters to a broad set of requirements while maintaining simplicity in its interface and operation. Its various options make it adaptable to multiple use cases, ensuring that users can select the mode that best fits their specific needs in any digital color project.