Select colors – color picker
A sensitive topic is the question of how we determine and describe the colors of a mineral or rock. Color names such as ghost white, slate blue or tomato red may be familiar to some, but at the latest with brick colors one becomes aware of the many shades and hues of bricks. Comparative color names are often very subjective and linked to personal experience and are therefore often unsuitable for specifying a color.
We therefore use the Munsell color system, which has international significance. Colors are reduced to basic hues and described with additional attributes. Color names such as “Strong yellow green” or “Vivid greenish yellow” avoid descriptive terms that often deviate in color, such as “raspberry”. Is the berry still unripe, ripe, fully ripe, or just before spoiling? The color is always different. The plan to use the Munsell color system for minerals is currently suspended.
The color can be selected from a list of more than 1,000 names with on-screen color display. Only part of the color name needs to be entered and then the color selected. Alternatively, the color can be chosen from a color wheel or color panels.
In order to be able to change the color system at a later date, we do not store the color name but the corresponding color code. This is determined from a color palette or via the selected color name.
In the image you can see one of the possible color selection views. (1) A color wheel, (2) the color selection cursor, (3) the name of the selected color, (4) the determined color code, (5) the selection button for additional and custom images, (6) the area to select “colorless”.
You can also use a previously uploaded image by clicking on, for example, the mineral with the color picker and saving the color determined in this way. This also offers color-blind people the possibility to select a color. Click on the corresponding object and save the color.
Another image for color selection, especially for lighter tones
Even in this way, the problem of specifying colors cannot be completely resolved. The illumination of the object, monitor calibration, and individual visual ability are just some of the parameters that can distort results. This could be addressed by using color measurement devices that determine color under standardized conditions.
