Comments on: select a color

select a color

nickyskye — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:29:37 -0800

"Being a typical guy, I have no clue what the colors Lavender and Mauve look like. You can show me Indigo and I won't know if it's more like Violet or Purple. So I made this little app, Name That Color, where you can create a color on the screen (or copy-paste CSS hex# color) and find out the name of the closest matching color." Innovated by MeFite chime.

By: DU

DU — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:36:56 -0800

Ummmmmmm

By: substrate

substrate — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:38:01 -0800

Typical guy? Hah! You know the difference between violet and purple. I say that if a colour wasn't in a 1972 box of 8 crayola crayons it's not a real colour. There's Blue, Black, Brown, Orange, Yellow, Red, Purple and Green.

By: DU

DU — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:38:14 -0800

OIC, you copied the text--it isn't a post to your own thing on your own blog (or is it?). Still, not sure this really warrants alerting the internets.

By: Faint of Butt

Faint of Butt — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:39:55 -0800

This is a neat little tool, and it's not a self-link. Sure looks like one, though-- perhaps a mod should put the FPP text in italics or something?

By: Faint of Butt

Faint of Butt — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:42:15 -0800

Oh, and if I ever ordered a pizza and was served something colored #C99415, I'd send it back.

By: liquorice

liquorice — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:44:21 -0800

Quote marks would be handy, dear. Being a typical girl, I have no clue how to change a tyre! Tee hee! (That was all me, no italics or quote marks needed).

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:46:37 -0800

nickyskye, you typical guy, you!

By: nickyskye

nickyskye — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:51:00 -0800

lol, it was fun being a typical guy for a minute. :) Even as a typical girl, I loved the app.

By: Kattullus

Kattullus — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:52:40 -0800

It doesn't include my favorite color, cyan... blood vendetta!

By: louche mustachio

louche mustachio — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:52:56 -0800

There is a color called "Underage Pink." I'm outta here.

By: Mblue

Mblue — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:53:02 -0800

Dark green, light blue. When I say "all the same" I mean colorblind.

By: louche mustachio

louche mustachio — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:54:02 -0800

Kattullus: #0FFFFD

By: Kattullus

Kattullus — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:54:22 -0800

Oh... never mind... there's "aqua/cyan" but no cyan. Well... is it too nerdy to mention that cyan, while also just meaning bluegreen, is also a specific shade of bluegreen? Either way, I just mentioned it.

By: nickyskye

nickyskye — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:00:25 -0800

Kattallus, that's my favorite color too! It does have it, in a number of variations, like hex#00FFEE. The pale version #E3FBFC, Foam, is also nice.

By: autodidact

autodidact — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:01:05 -0800

There's a difference between violet and purple?

By: Kirth Gerson

Kirth Gerson — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:13:52 -0800

Christ, what a guy.

By: Floydd

Floydd — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:16:48 -0800

Being a typical guy, I don't know the names of colors. But I do know a lot about PMS.

By: quonsar

quonsar — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:18:53 -0800

nickyskye, if you're a typical guy, i wanna be gay.

By: Jofus

Jofus — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:19:22 -0800

What the fuck is a froly?

By: delmoi

delmoi — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:19:24 -0800

There's a difference between violet and purple? Well, I think the difference is that 'purple' is just blue mixed with red, while 'violet' is actual violet colored light, which triggers both blue and red cones in the eye. But if that were the case you could never 'see' violet on a computer monitor, only fake it using purple. I could be totally wrong, though.

By: fermezporte

fermezporte — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:21:08 -0800

I've always loved the names of the more obscure colors. Some new names for me: Froly; Wewak; Paarl; Barberry; Anakiwa; Zircon; Heliotrope. Also, the color "java" was much closer to turquoise than the dark brown I'd associate with it.

By: nickyskye

nickyskye — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:24:46 -0800

Kattallus, in Wikipedia "Cyan is also called aqua", a mix of blue and green in a number of variations. Is purple more blue and violet more pink? Purple #6E05C2 and Electric Violet #8D0AF5. fermezporte, Like you I love the poetry of color names, especially the obscure ones. aww quonsar, I love you. Thanks for the astonishing compliment. :)

By: MtDewd

MtDewd — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:29:51 -0800

What's the difference between violet and purple? #41F659

By: Floydd

Floydd — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:30:08 -0800

I'd always heard that the color naming conventions were established in 1729 by Roy G. Biv, an hermaphrodite capuchin monk who sequestered himself for 27 years in the far-flung Isles of Langerhans with a fulsom prism given to him by Sir Isaac Newton. But The Google, she gives me nothing.

By: Dataphage

Dataphage — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:36:19 -0800

Well, it fails on Firefox on a Mac, screengrab. Otherwise, pretty cool.

By: sveskemus

sveskemus — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:37:52 -0800

It doesn't know MeFi blue (a.k.k. THE blue). Useless.

By: majick

majick — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:38:22 -0800

There's a color called "Horses Neck?" Wow. I never knew!

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:38:31 -0800

Thanks, nick--bookmarked. Still pretty subjective. If the color names are derived from real things, like cornflowers and lavender, then an image search gives pretty consistent results. But mauve is all over the map.

By: sveskemus

sveskemus — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:38:45 -0800

(I think it's pretty cool, actually.)

By: StickyCarpet

StickyCarpet — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:40:33 -0800

I've got the discontinued light purple crayon called "thistle" sitting right here on my desk. 'Cause I like the name. Once after a demo one of the clients picked it up and said to the other: "and if that didn't impress you, thistle."

By: StickyCarpet

StickyCarpet — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:45:34 -0800

But mauve is all over the map. You can read up on it.

By: empath

empath — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:47:24 -0800

Also: Colour Lovers

By: Sparx

Sparx — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:48:01 -0800

blood vendetta! Actually, I say it was more Claret, or perhaps Rose Bud Cherry.

By: blacklite

blacklite — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:50:17 -0800

Apparently one of my favourite colours is "temptress." That seems accurate.

By: Avenger

Avenger — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:56:21 -0800

I'd say that MeFi seems to be #3C7BE7, which the FPP defines as "Royal Blue". I always figured Royal Blue would be darker.

By: ObscureReferenceMan

ObscureReferenceMan — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 07:03:32 -0800

I have nothing to add here, except to say to StickyCarpet - I have that book!!! Picked it up remaindered in my local book store, just for the title. Yes, I'm weird.

By: MtDewd

MtDewd — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 07:09:33 -0800

MeFi blue is #006699 Closest match is Bahama Blue

By: MrMoonPie

MrMoonPie — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 07:23:28 -0800

Ice, ice baby: #F4D7E5

By: nicolin

nicolin — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 07:30:48 -0800

Excellent, thanks

By: Totally Zanzibarin' Ya

Totally Zanzibarin' Ya — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 07:47:53 -0800

Pharlap? *shoots self in head*

By: delmoi

delmoi — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 08:06:10 -0800

Purple, Violet, Purple vs. Violet.

By: desjardins

desjardins — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 08:08:21 -0800

It would have been nice to use the named web colors, along with the others, for reference.

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 09:19:23 -0800

LOL colours

By: Skygazer

Skygazer — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 09:33:01 -0800

Porsche is peachy. -----> #EAAE69 and Persian Blue ---> #1A4AC1 Rocks!!

By: sarahnade

sarahnade — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 09:36:04 -0800

Holy crap, there are books about the history of individual colors? That's straight up fantastic. This is a great app! (Wish it were on Projects so I could vote it up!)

By: dash_slot-

dash_slot- — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 09:59:04 -0800

fulsom prism...blues?

By: quin

quin — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 10:05:01 -0800

Blood vendetta is my favorite crayon to use.

By: jfwlucy

jfwlucy — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 10:07:32 -0800

As an artist, I find this app cute but a bit useless. "Venus," "Tuatara," and "Zydeco" are NOT color names -- they are marketing gimmicks designed to set a mood that might appeal to someone choosing paint for a room. Pantone color names and numbers are the gold standard in visual arts. With that database plugged in rather than an obscure paint manufacturer's, it would be fantastic. But since Pantone probably doesn't give that db away for free, it's a nice effort. By the way, you should all go to Pantone's Colorstrology site to find out what color you are. I'm Jadesheen.

By: stavrogin

stavrogin — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 10:21:42 -0800

Mauvelous? Was that color really necessary?

By: Alvy Ampersand

Alvy Ampersand — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 11:10:20 -0800

As someone who is (marginally) more familiar with hex codes than actual names, this is incredibly handy! Thanks!

By: delmoi

delmoi — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 11:43:18 -0800

Pantone color names and numbers are the gold standard in visual arts. With that database plugged in rather than an obscure paint manufacturer's, it would be fantastic. But since Pantone probably doesn't give that db away for free, it's a nice effort.

_{Later in the evening, I was chatted up by the Pantone CEO, a grizzled guy in a rumpled suit. He asked "Is there anything Pantone could do to make its mark on this new Internet thing?".

The answer seemed obvious. I said "Well, color online mostly sucks, and that's partly because computer geeks mostly totally don't understand it. Why don't you guys write some software that takes a Pantone number as input and really works hard, using everything it knows about your computer and operating system and monitor and video card, to come as close to that color as you're gonna get, on-screen."

He asked "Well, how do I make money?"

I said "Give the software away to Netscape and Microsoft (for IE). If it's good, millions of page designs on the Net will be specced in Pantone numbers. Your upside is huge."

He looked at me like I was completely fucking nuts. To his credit, he was polite, but it was obvious he thought I was from another planet.}

By: fermezporte

fermezporte — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:05:28 -0800

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:21:49 -0800

[added quote marks, hope that's okay.]

By: nickyskye

nickyskye — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:39:01 -0800

Of course it's ok jessamyn. :) Thanks

By: mrgrimm

mrgrimm — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:49:27 -0800

I like it. Very much. Thanks!

By: Ynoxas

Ynoxas — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:05:31 -0800

fermezporte: a double post 6 hours apart? How did you do that?

By: Many bubbles

Many bubbles — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:32:25 -0800

I actually heard somewhere that you can't see [spectral] indigo, that our eyes aren't equipped for it. There was even a book about it (titled Indigo). This seems to be totally false, though, so I'm now unsure where the idea came from. /random

By: supercres

supercres — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:38:13 -0800

What the fuck is a froly? The name of the first baby born in twenty years, unless Bazooka wins out. Or Dylan.

By: nickyskye

nickyskye — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 14:23:15 -0800

Marvelous Pantone anecdote delmoi. Love those wonderful web history stories. jfwlucy, chime didn't use obscure paint manufacturing names. He says, "The color names in this list were found via Wikipedia, Crayola, and Color-Name Dictionaries like Resene." Recently I learned I could collect colors or color combos I like and keep them on del.icio.us by typing color: followed by the hex#. Like color:82e3ff,ceebce,e6ffe6,e9e9e9f3f3f3,FFFFCC,E0F6F7,EAF9F9,EFFAF7,e6ffe5,D1EDE1

By: small_ruminant

small_ruminant — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 14:37:40 -0800

Ynoxes: better yet- it's a triple post.

By: wfc123

wfc123 — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 14:59:53 -0800

You're gay if you can see a difference between violet and purple- or if you even care that there is.

By: Twang

Twang — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 15:10:23 -0800

You're gay if you can see a difference between violet and purple Oh, is that the trick? Oh, that's much easier than gaydar.

By: jfwlucy

jfwlucy — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 15:18:09 -0800

nickyskye, Resene = obscure paint manufacturer Wikipedia is not an expert in color. Crayola -- again with the marketing appeal in the name. Pantone = GOLD STANDARD in color designation. Period. Great anecdote, delmoi. I can totally see it. Pantone is such a dinosaur -- but they are IT in the entire industry.

By: jfwlucy

jfwlucy — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 15:25:58 -0800

And a PAINT MANUFACTURER! They aren't interested in accurate color names -- they want an effect for fantasy decorating -- like you could call it pale yellow, or you can really get people's interest by calling it Apricot Dream, or Tahitian Morning, or Lexington, or Afternoon Linen, all of which are designed to establish a mood or feeling for the consumer, rather than accurately describe the paint color.

By: nickyskye

nickyskye — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 15:57:31 -0800

Resene = obscure paint manufacturer oops! You're right jfwlucy. Thanks for correcting me. but they are IT in the entire industry I wonder why? How did one company come to monopolize names/color-matching/categorizing of colors? It seems like it would be something so easily created, books with colors listed. And a PAINT MANUFACTURER! Their business is based on pigments and color names, why not a paint manufacturer? accurately describe the paint color There are so many shades, it would seem impossible to have pigment word descriptions of all the variations, so variations of light cyan get labeled seafoam etc.

By: jfwlucy

jfwlucy — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:30:03 -0800

you are quite right, nickyskye -- Pantone uses numbers as well as names for that very reason, but there are colors that are universally known by names that are often trademarked as well; e.g. Marlboro Red and Barbie Pink, though these are also Pantone number colors as well. I love color names in marketing and the imagination and thought that goes into them -- in makeup, clothing, paint colors, etc. How much more thrilling to buy Russian Red than MAC1507B. I love my Anthracite sweater so much more than my plain black one. jfwlucy = romantic sucker.

By: languagehat

languagehat — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 07:07:31 -0800

"Venus," "Tuatara," and "Zydeco" are NOT color names -- they are marketing gimmicks Yeah, that's what bothers me about this. It's a great concept, and I enjoyed playing with the wheel, but those fake names really got to me after a while. If you scroll down the pull-down menu of names, it's one bullshit marketing name after another. But I guess that's par for the 21st century.

By: StickyCarpet

StickyCarpet — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 09:38:54 -0800

Pantone owns the printing industry, but art students dream in Color-aid.