Color Picker outside the Gimp Window?

[Finn Jierdon]

Hi, I'm new here and just installed Gimp 2.10.20. I used PS for years...

I like what i see and want to transfer to Gimp. But I ran into a problem now: How can I use the color picker outside of the Gimp window, eg to pick an  original color from my web browser to get it as a foreground color or its hexcode? I couldn't solve the problem with YT tutorials. So I try, if maybe someone in this forum hopefully knows an answer. 

Ok, I could import a screenshot and use the picker inside Gimp, but I need this so often, that I think maybe there's a trick cos in PS I just moved the eyedropper to an open browser and I had exactly the color of the pixel under the cursor, no matter where ever I clicked. If I try this in Gimp, the picker turns into a standard windows picker, as soon as it leaves the Gimp area, what normally makes sense, but not, if I need a color from my desktop window. Sorry for still being a noob, but maybe someone is so nice to help me.  

Thanks, Finn

[rich2005]

Quote: I used PS for years...

...I am so sorry for you.  Works ok in linux (where Gimp is developed)

It is a Windows thing


Maybe try this little utility, got it from a  quick search, using the portable version. http://instant-eyedropper.com/  Only just tried it, needs a little setting up.

Slightly better than using a screenshot. Pick the colour in hex, paste into the Gimp colour swatch.

example: https://i.imgur.com/sB6KXKI.mp4 (edit: forgot to show key monitor, that is a regular ctrl-v to paste)

[Finn Jierdon]

➤ Maybe try this little utility, got it from a  quick search, using the portable version. http://instant-eyedropper.com/ 

thanks, I will check it. 

[David34]

(07-17-2020, 02:54 PM)Finn Jierdon Wrote: Hi, I'm new here and just installed Gimp 2.10.20. I used PS for years...

I like what i see and want to transfer to Gimp. But I ran into a problem now: How can I use the color picker outside of the Gimp window, eg to pick an  original color from my web browser to get it as a foreground color or its hexcode? I couldn't solve the problem with YT tutorials. So I try, if maybe someone in this forum hopefully knows an answer. 

Ok, I could import a screenshot and use the picker inside Gimp, but I need this so often, that I think maybe there's a trick cos in PS I just moved the eyedropper to an open browser and I had exactly the color of the pixel under the cursor, no matter where ever I clicked. If I try this in Gimp, the picker turns into a standard windows picker, as soon as it leaves the Gimp area, what normally makes sense, but not, if I need a color from my desktop window. Sorry for still being a noob, but maybe someone is so nice to help me.  

Thanks, Finn

What I used is a website called https://pickcoloronline.com/ With this tool I'm able to pick colors from anywhere on the screen without installing a software for it... 

However you have to use a modern browser (like Chrome with latest updates) to use it

[rich2005]

Hmmm....not using an out-of-date browser, just not chrome ..

   

[Ofnuts]

(08-18-2022, 01:25 PM)rich2005 Wrote: Hmmm....not using an out-of-date browser, just not chrome ..

I wonder how you can make such as site work without allowing any random site you visit to take screenshots on your PC, so any decent browser should have become incompatible with it now.

[rich2005]

(08-18-2022, 02:09 PM)Ofnuts Wrote:

(08-18-2022, 01:25 PM)rich2005 Wrote: Hmmm....not using an out-of-date browser, just not chrome ..

I wonder how you can make such as site work without allowing any random site you visit to take screenshots on your PC, so any decent browser should have become incompatible with it now.

You always have to assume these sites ..."data slurp" in the best of Google / Twitter / Facebook .. and the rest ... traditions.  Users be aware.

[denzjos]

@rich, instant-eyedropper, nice find. I usual used a screenshot and pasted it as a layer in gimp. Then I used the gimp colour picker tool to use the colour. This is a quicker workflow. Thanks for the link. 
[url=http://instant-eyedropper.com/][/url]

[Blighty]

(07-17-2020, 02:54 PM)Finn Jierdon Wrote: How can I use the color picker outside of the Gimp window, eg to pick an  original color from my web browser to get it as a foreground color or its hexcode?

For Windows:

1) Click on the FG swatch in the tool box.

2) In the change colour pop up window, click on the eye-dropper icon.

3) The cursor changes to an eye-dropper when inside the Gimp window. When the cursor moves out of Gimp it changes to the standard Windows cursor, but still works to set the FG colour in Gimp.

[Krikor]

I had to try, and I found a solution (at least it worked for me.)

Having both windows open (browser and Gimp), juxtaposed (side by side), in a way that facilitates the collection of colors, clicking and while keeping the left mouse button pressed drags it out of the Gimp window , and voila!

I don't know how to explain myself well, so a little clip at https://imgur.com/h3DmEnb