Color Pix – a tool that lets you identify the colors that you see on your computer.

Color Pix in Action - I love BLUE #0000ff!

Color Pix: The color picker tool that I keep coming back to, (and I try a lot of them) is Color Pix.  It is a little eyedropper that you can hover over anything on your screen, and find out what color it is!

• It tells you the color values that different color formats use to describe it.
• It tells me where I am on the screen: 136x 272 means 136 pixels over from the left and 272 pixels down from the top.
• It has a built-in magnifier, so that you can zoom in on the exact pixel you want.  The zoom goes from 1-2800%, so you can get just the one you want.
• You can click on the value of the color and it copies the numbers right to your clipboard so you can use them in a different application.
• You can even make it stay on top of the other applications, and out of your way.
• Best of all, it is FREE!  There are no ads or spyware or toolbars – just a nice tool provided by Color Schemer.  They have other nice tools available on their site – like a nice color scheme maker, and I return there often to use their other tools.

Color Values

ColorPix gives you four sets of color numbers:

• RGB: it tells you the amount of red, green and blue in the format  as three numbers.  They range from 0-255 for each number.
• Hex: This is a hexidecimal code that was developed to identify colors.  It tells you the amount of red, green and blue as six digits, from 0-9 and A-F.
• HSB: This code tells you the hue, saturation and brightness for each color.  It is coded according to its hue (0-360),  the percent of saturation (color vs black), and its percent of brightness.
• CYMK: These four numbers are especially important to commercial printers.  The ink is put on the paper in precise combinations of Cyan (aqua blue), Yellow, Magenta, and Black.

Why are the color values important? Let me give you a simple example.  The screenshot above is taken from the Beadtrotters website.  When we first decided that our logo was going to be four crystal beads in each of our favorite colors, we knew immediately how to identify them to each other.  We gave each other the names of our favorite Swarovski crystals, and instantly each of us knew what color that was.  Swarovski crystals are only made by one company and the colors are remarkably consistent.  But, we didn’t know exactly what color that was when printed on a piece of paper or a displayed on a website.

So I sent them to the Visibone Color Lab. There is a color wheel with the 216 primary colors that are used on websites, all nicely arranged and labeled.  I said click on the colors, see which one  is closest to your favorite color and send me the big six-digit code that pops up.  Then, it will be consistent in all of our printed materials and our website.

So here is a list of the Beadtrotter’s official colors, as expressed in Swarovski Crystal and Hex Codes.

Beadtrotters Logo: Sue, Judy, Cindy, Paulette

• Sue Stachelski loves FUSCHIA – hex #cc0066
• Judy Menting (me) loves COBALT – hex #0000ff
• Cindy Collins loves FIRE OPAL – hex#ff6600
• Paulette Biedenbender loves BLUE ZIRCON – hex #33ccff

Next time – I will talk more about the different color values.

Twist-n-Coil – S002   Beginner Wirework and Stringing

Presented by the Beadtrotters – taught by my good friend Sue Stachelski

08 Jul 2009 Wednesday 6:00pm-9:00pm
01 Aug 2009 Saturday 9:00am-12:00pm

Where: Masterpiece Art Supply
Teacher: Sue Stachelski

Class Size: 3-8 students
Level: All Levels (Age 16+)

Class Description

This bracelet consists of beads, coils of wire, and jump rings embellished with dangles. Learn to make the simple loops for the dangles, jump rings, and coil wire to make bracelet components. String the components all together for a fun bracelet.

Kit Includes:

Practice wire and all supplies for one bracelet, and illustrated instructions. Choose copper or silver tone when you register. Beads will vary. The instructor will have additional kits available for purchase.

Materials to Bring:

• Round nose pliers
• Chain nose pliers
• Be sure that your pliers are smooth inside; if they have ridges, you will put marks on your wire.
• Jump ring and coiling tool will be available for class use. If you wish to purchase this tool, a limited number will be available for $20.00

Class S002 — Twist-n-Coil Bracelet—$60

Register for Class at the Beadtrotters

Next, I want to introduce you to some artists who can teach you about how to use color in your beadwork.

Artists Teaching  About the Use of Color

Margie Deeb is a skilled graphic artist who is also a very skilled beader, whose primary love is working in seedbeads. Her website is full of articles about using color in your beadwork.  She has written two wonderful books, has a monthly article, and has absolutely beautiful beadwork for sale on her site.  I highly recommend getting on her mailing list.  My favorite links are her site are:

• The Muse & Podcast
• Classes & Lectures & Events
• Margie’s Books

Connie Fox is a beader who loves to use wire.  She is famous for her wire bangles that incorporate twisted wire and beads to create wonderful jewelry.  She has a great visual tour of her own jewelry studio, lots of free videos to help you make better jewelry, and some very cool color tools for you. My favorite links on her site are: 

• Color Tools
• Studio Tour
  
• Education Page

Joen Wolfram is a quilter, but her book, Color Play, is totally relevant to beading and web design.  She explains the color wheel,  how it works, and shows you examples of color combinations using quilt designs.  The beauty of it is that she shows you how to combine colors by using photos from nature transformed into beautiful quilts, along with guidelines to actually achieve the effects you are looking for in your creations.

Be sure to get the excellent color tool that she has developed.  It is like the color swatches you get at a paint store, but on the back of each swatch are tips for combining those colors in the most effective way.  If you are having trouble finding it the color tool, go to Connie Fox’s site.

• The book:  Color Play
• The color tool: 3-in-1 Color Tool

These are three of my favorite color artists.  In my next post – I will give you some of my favorite online color tools for creating color schemes.

In searching the web, I have found some beautiful and useful sites that helped me understand how color works and how to tell my computer to give me that exact color.

Learn about the physical characteristics of color:

• Real Color Wheel:  Learn about color from a painter.  Colors mix differently in physical pigments than they do with light.  Don Jusko has made extensive studies of the physical properties of paint, and then translated the paint colors into the codes we use on our computers.

• Handprint: Learn about color and color theory from another painter, Bruce MacEvoy.  His extensive website is a comprehensive resource for watercolor painters, papers, brushes, color theory, painting techniques, and more.

• Color Schemer – This color scheme maker is based on the the color theories of Johannes Itten – one of the founding fathers of color theory.

Next Post:  My Favorite Color Sites – Part Two

Beginner Wirework Class - 7 July 2009

07 Jul 2009 Tuesday 6:00pm-9:00pm
11 Aug 2009 Tuesday 6:00pm-9:00pm

Where: Masterpiece Art Supply
Teacher:Judy Menting

Class Size: 3-8 students
Level:Beginner (Age 16+)

Class Description

Make a freeform cuff with copper wire and beads. This is good for beaders who are intimidated by wire. You can’t make design mistakes because you make it up as you go along!! This is a simple wire rectangle of thicker wire, secured with thinner wire and wrapped with beads in a freeform manner. Once you get the beads secured to the thicker wire, you shape it into a cuff, and make a simple hook clasp to keep it closed. You will learn how wire responds to your attempts to wrap it and manipulate it. Don’t be afraid of it –it is lumpy, bumpy and handcrafted, just like people.
Class Kit Includes:

16 gauge &24 gauge copper wire and assorted porcelain and glass beads to decorate it with, and illustrated instructions.
Materials to Bring:

• Flush cutter
• Chain nose pliers
• Round nose pliers
• Be sure that your pliers are smooth inside; if they have ridges, you will put marks on your wire!

Class J006—Crazy Copper Cuff—$55

Click on the picture to register for class!

Jewelry Lessons: Did you ever want to learn how to make your own jewelry? We have made it easy to get beading instructions. Each jewelry class has a kit with all the beading supplies that you need to complete your beading project, and clear, detailed instructions with pictures.

I am one of the Beadtrotters in Harmony, a group of four beading teachers who love beading, polymer clay, wirework, and chain maille. We can bring our jewelry, kits and classes to you! You can sponsor a trunk show or private classes, or throw a beading party for your friends.

Not only do I love to teach, but I discovered that I love to build websites, especially for beaders.  I love the challenge of putting a lot of color and design into the tightly controlled structures of a website.  For me, it is like beading with my computer.  I am the web mistress for the Beadtrotters,  so feel free to contact me if you are looking for your own website.

Hello! I am Judy “Morningprayers” Menting

Hello!  I am Judy “Morningprayers” Menting.  My day starts with a kiss and a morning prayer from my husband.  It is wonderful to meet you, and I pray that you are blessed with such a joyful start to your day.

I love to make beaded jewelry, teach others how to create their own jewelry, and design web sites for other jewelry artists.

This site is about the resources I have discovered to help me do that.