Image color vs color picker

[YalithKBK]

   

Super n00b here. My colors are appearing very desaturated compared to how they appear in the color picker (see attached). Does anyone know why this is happening or how to fix it? Thanks!

[rich2005]

Welcome to gimp-forum.net

Could do with more information. A full screenshot complete with layers, brushes, tools dialogs is always best.

Is the image indexed or RGB mode. You see this top of the Gimp window.

If indexed change to RGB mode File Image -> Mode -> RGB then try again.

Other possibilities,
Painting on a transparent layer with reduced opacity.
The brush has a reduced opacity setting.

A long shot for a beginner, You have color management in operation. Turn it off. Edit -> Preferences -> Color Management Select NONE

[YalithKBK]

I was in indexed mode! I didn't know such a thing existed. Thank you so much!

[Ofnuts]

(07-08-2017, 11:40 PM)YalithKBK Wrote: I was in indexed mode! I didn't know such a thing existed. Thank you so much!

This is how the GIF image format works(*), so when you load a GIF, GIMP makes a color-indexed image. There are several restrictions to know:

1. No more that 256 color total in the image.
   
2. All additional colors are converted to the closest color in the color map.
   
3. No partial opacity, things are either opaque or transparent.
   
4. Many tools/filters are disabled
   

You can convert to RGB to work around these restrictions, but if you have to export to a color-indexed format again, the limit on the number of colors will apply again so quality loss can (of often will) occur.


(*) there is also a color-indexed mode in PNG, but it is much less often used.