Why is the color theme tool (eyedropper) in InDesign so difficult to use?

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
August 4, 2023
2 replies
1859 views

Why is the color theme tool (eyedropper) in InDesign so difficult to use... Can't it be as simple and intuitive as Illustrator?

Feature request

This topic has been closed for replies.

Steve Werner

Community Expert

In the headline of your query, you equate the Color Theme tool with the Eyedropper tool.

They are not the same. Look at the illustration below. I wanted to be clear about which tool you are referring to:

boarueyAuthor

Known Participant

Firstly, thank you for your response. I'll use an image to illustrate

How can I use the eyedropper tool here to change the grass green color to the same deep green color as on the right?

I've been trying for a while, but I just can't figure it out. If I'm mistaken, please correct me. Thank you!

boarueyAuthor

Known Participant

Correction... is to make it the same color as the one on the left.

E

Eugene Tyson

Community Expert

Hello

It's difficult to know how to help you - certainly have no issue with it - and it's relatively easy to use.

That being said I don't use it a lot. I actually dislike these shortcut tools to creating colours, as I work in print mainly and typically create my own specific colours/swatches that are required for production.

I always just kinda looked at these tools for a microsecond and shrugged. Useful, maybe.

boarueyAuthor

Known Participant

I understand your example. For instance, if there is a fill color in the artwork with values C80, M30, Y0, K0, and you want to sample this color to apply it to other elements like text, shapes, or lines. However, after sampling, the resulting color may always appear slightly different, even though it looks similar. The numerical values could be something like C83, M28, Y11, K5 instead of the exact C80, M30, Y0, K0. Is there a specific setting I might have missed?

rob day

Community Expert

if there is a fill color in the artwork...Is there a specific setting I might have missed?

Hi @boaruey , Are you sampling from a placed artwork? If that’s the case the file format affects the sampled colors. If the artwork is an image format, the eyedropper will accurately sample the image’s actual pixel colors. If the artwork is a vector object (.AI or PDF), the eydropper samples the vector art’s RGB preview proxy—the conversion to CMYK would depend on your document’s color profile assignments and would not come from the actual file values.

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