Help Desk Geek – Help Desk Tips For IT Pros

There are many tools out there that allow you to obtain a color from a part of a website, and we have previously written about one in the following article, Grab the Hex and RGB Codes for Any Color on the Screen.

We have found another color picker tool, called DCPicker, that allows you to grab colors from anywhere on your screen, convert them into 6 different code formats or your own custom format, and save the colors as favorites for future use.

Download DCPicker from http://hide-inoki.com/en/index.html.

Installation of DCPicker

DCPicker does not need to be installed. Just unzip the downloaded file and run the CHunter.exe file.

NOTE: The Language.ini file included in the zip file is used to translate the program into English. If you need to use the program in English, do not delete this file.

You can choose to create a shortcut on your desktop for easier access. Right-click on the CHunter.exe file and select Send To | Desktop (create shortcut) from the pop-up menu.

Rename the created shortcut to a desired name.

Using DCPicker

Here is the DCPicker main window that displays on startup. All the tools in the program are within easy reach.

The nine boxes on the right side of the dialog box hold the nine most recent color selected on the screen.

To grab a color from the screen, drag the dropper icon to the desired color on the screen and let go. DCPicker zooms in on the selected area of the screen, and a little box indicates the location of the dropper. The code for the color displays in the edit box below the zoomed-in picture. You can copy the color code to the clipboard from this edit box.

If you want the color code in a different format, select a color format type from the Type menu. You may also click the arrows to the right of the edit box to switch formats.

To add the color to your favorites, click the Add Current Color to Favorite button on the toolbar.

The Add to Favorite dialog box displays. Click the Create New Favorite File button to the right of the Favorite drop-down list.

The Create new favorite file dialog box displays. Type a name for your favorite file in the edit box and click OK.

NOTE: Sometimes there may be some questions marks on some of the buttons, title bars, etc. DCPicker is written by a Japanese company. The questions marks may be a result of a translation error.

You are returned to the Add to Favorite dialog box and the new favorite file is added to the Favorite drop-down list. If you want to add the nine most recent colors from the boxes on main window to your new favorites file, click the Add Recent 9 colors check box. Click OK.

To access a color you saved as a favorite, click the Favorite button on the toolbar.

The Favorite dialog box displays.

Select the desired favorites file from the drop-down list.

NOTE: DCPicker comes with a Web safe color favorites file from which you can select colors to obtain their codes.

Double-click on the desired color in the list.

The Favorite dialog box automatically closes and the color is added to the first position in the most recent colors list on the right side of the DCPicker main window. The color code displays in the edit box where you can select it and copy it.

NOTE: If you want to close the Favorite dialog box without selecting a color, click the X in the upper, right corner of the dialog box.

To select a different most recent color, left-click on the color once in the most recent colors list on the right. The selected color moves to the first position and the color code displays in the edit box.

You can delete a favorites file by clicking the Favorite button on the toolbar (as mentioned earlier) to access the Favorite dialog box. Select the favorites file you want to delete from the drop-down list and click the Delete Selected Favorite File button.

A confirmation dialog box displays. Click the (Y) button if you are sure you want to delete the favorite file.

Setting Options and Creating Your Own Color Code Formats

To access the options for DCPicker and to be able to add your own custom formats, click the Options button on the toolbar.

The Options dialog box allows you to specify that DCPicker will stay on top of all other programs using the Stay on Top check box. Enter how many colors you want saved in the history by changing the number in the Save History edit box.

Use the Custom Format section to define your own custom color code formats. Use the top button to the right of the Custom Format box to add a custom format.

NOTE: See the help file that comes with DCPicker for more information about the options in the Format section of the Create Format dialog box.

The pencil and pad button in the Custom Format section of the Options dialog box allows you to edit a custom format, and the red X allows you to delete a custom format selected in the list.

This can be a very useful tool if you design websites or need color codes for other types of programming. What’s nice about this tool as compared to some other tools, is the ability to save the color codes for later reference and to convert the codes into different formats quickly and easily.

by Lori Kaufman