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kims02
Inspiring
May 4, 2009
Answered

eyedropper tool not picking up color (InDesign) - LOCKED

  • May 4, 2009
  • 18 replies
  • 93602 views

Hi,

I'm trying to pick up color from an image using the eyedropper tool.

But it only will pick up white as a color and fill the other object with white, and not the actual pixel color I am trying to grab.

This doesn't always happen but I can't figure out why it is happening in this instance.

Thanks!

Kim

      Correct answer Barb Binder

      it's not working at all  - for color or for text. I just recently had to re-download all of my programs because I had to get a new hard drive. I didn't want CC, I wanted to stick with CS6. Don't know if that version is faulty now or what the heck happened -  but I'm hating not to be able to use it.

      ~ Personal info removed by moderator


      I have CS6 installed and the eyedropper is working as expected.

      What operating system are you using? Is CS6 supported on it? If you are on an unsupported OS, then that could be the issue.

      • WIN: Microsoft® Windows® XP with Service Pack 3 or Windows 7 with Service Pack 1. Adobe® Creative Suite® 5.5 and CS6 applications also support Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. See the CS6 FAQ for more information about Windows 8 support.*
      • Mac: Mac OS X v10.6.8 or v10.7. Adobe Creative Suite 5, CS5.5, and CS6 applications support Mac OS X v10.8 or v10.9 when installed on Intel-based systems.**

      Did you read this whole post? Reasons for it not appearing to work on any version include:

      • Clicking on a empty frame that is above the object you think you are clicking on (try bringing your object to the front)
      • Having already clicked the Eyedropper once, and forgetting to Alt/Opt click for additional attempts
      • Disabling one or more checkmarks in Eyedropper Options (visible when you double click the Eyedropper tool in the Toolbox.)

      18 replies

      Om Nath Jha
      Om Nath Jha
      Legend
      June 13, 2017

      Hi Cheryl,

      Just a suggestion, please refrain from sharing personal information on a public forum link this one. If you are replying to the notification email, please make sure you remove your details from your signature, it may invite unwanted junk.

      Regards,

      Om

      Colorado Dream House
      Colorado Dream House
      Participant
      May 15, 2017

      Is there a solution for this? I keep running into this issue often

      Steve Werner
      Community Expert
      Steve WernerCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 15, 2017

      @Colorado Dream House, Are you having this problem in InDesign? If so, which version? What are you trying to sample?

        Barb Binder
        Community Expert
        Barb BinderCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        June 12, 2017

        I now use windows 10 - OMG, is that the problem?

        ~Personal info removed by Moderator


        InDesign CS6 is not supported on Windows 10—so it's possible. Did you rule out all other potential user errors?

        The rule of thumb on upgrades it to remember that if you don't want to upgrade your software, refrain from upgrading your operating system.

        ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
        Mike Witherell
        Community Expert
        Mike WitherellCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        February 2, 2017

        Barb, I had the same problem, and I opened up Photoshop, and played around with the Eyedropper tool, and I felt better, somehow.

        Mike Witherell
          Barb Binder
          Community Expert
          Barb BinderCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          February 2, 2017

          You still make me laugh out loud, Mike, after all these years.

          ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
          M
          MikeRon
          Participant
          February 2, 2017

          Hi, i had the same problem. i investigated the settings and it turns out i didn't set the Sample to "All Layers". it was set for "Current layer" thats why it dont pick color sample from you entire page because it was only set to a certain area where your current layer was. hope this helps. thanks!

          Barb Binder
          Community Expert
          Barb BinderCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          February 2, 2017

          Hi Mikron—this is the InDesign forum, and the subject line specifies InDesign in parentheses. It's very easy to get into the wrong forum, but for clarification InDesign doesn't offer the feature you are showing in your Photoshop screenshot.

          ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
          jennyr49706109
          jennyr49706109
          Participant
          January 19, 2017

          Hey guys,

          I've just had the same problem and for me I solved it by making sure when selecting the colour with the pipette make sure sample size is on:  point sample and the sample drop down box says: all layers

          Hope this fixes it x

          jane-e
          Community Expert
          jane-eCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          January 19, 2017

          jennyr49706109 wrote:

          I've just had the same problem and for me I solved it by making sure when selecting the colour with the pipette make sure sample size is on: point sample and the sample drop down box says: all layers.

          Hope this fixes it x

          Jenny, once again—this is the InDesign forum, and InDesign does not have a point sample or an all layers dropdown. Photoshop does. The eye dropper behaves differently in different programs.

          T
          tikosar
          Participant
          September 26, 2016

          I had this problem in Illustrator. Eyedropper options box is a little buggy. Appearance was checked, which should mean that all appearance settings are being picked, but when I twirled it open, there were unchecked boxes.

          Barb Binder
          Community Expert
          Barb BinderCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          September 26, 2016

          tikosar this is the InDesign forum. You'll want to post that question (if it is a question) on the Illustrator forum.
          Illustrator

          ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
          T
          tikosar
          Participant
          September 26, 2016

          I'm sorry if I broke the rules. Google brought me here by "Illustrator" keyword. I thought my answer might be useful for those looking for the answer to the question applied to Illustrator, as well as also be applicable to InDesign.

            Tram1
            Tram1
            Participant
            January 13, 2016

            In ADOBE EDGE eyedropper works ONLY on main stage, not inside symbol (very convenient isn't it?)

            A
            Anithing
            Participating Frequently
            March 2, 2016

            It is the sample size. It needs to be point sample in the drop down menu. In Photoshop anyway. Hope that helps. It resolved it for me Thank you.@angiesing

            rob day
            Community Expert
            rob dayCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            March 2, 2016

            You're in the InDesign forum. ID doesn't have a sample size for its Eyedropper tool

            O
            ohnho
            Participant
            January 7, 2016

            I just ran into the same issue, but realized I had a locked layer with a transparent image above my current layer. Turned that layer off and eyedropper worked as expected. Hope this comment helps someone out!

              A
              angiesing
              Participant
              November 17, 2015

              I was having this issue in Photoshop. I finally figured out that I clicked something under 'Sample Size' so it was reading where I was clicking as well as the surrounding area, which was washing out the color I needed. I changed it back to 'point sample' and then it read only where I was clicking. I don't know when I changed it, but putting it back to 'point sample' fixed it.

              P
              PointerDesigner
              Known Participant
              August 11, 2015

              Struggled with this for years. Make sure the desired effects you want to pull are actually set on the individual object, and not a grouped object. Couldn't figure out why my settings for a group weren't being pulled. This is why. It will only pull from the object.

              Especially helpful if your drop shadows and other effects don't seem to be pulling. This may be why.

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