Color Picker

System-wide color picker with multiple format support and color history

Overview

Color Picker is a system-wide utility that allows you to pick colors from anywhere on your screen and copy them in various formats. It includes color history management and supports multiple color format outputs.

Color Picker can be launched programmatically via the ColorPickerService API for integration with other applications.

Activation

1. Enable Color Picker

   Open PowerToys Settings and enable Color Picker in the utilities list

2. Launch Picker

   Press the activation shortcut (default: Win+Shift+C)

3. Select Color

   Click anywhere on screen to pick the color at that location

Programmatic Launch

// Launch Color Picker from code
using ColorPicker.ModuleServices;

await ColorPickerService.Instance.OpenPickerAsync();

File reference: src/modules/colorPicker/ColorPicker.ModuleServices/ColorPickerService.cs:34

Key Features

Color Picking Modes

Screen Picker

Pick any color from your screen

Magnified view for pixel-perfect selection

Color History

Access previously picked colors

Stored in colorHistory.json

Fine-Tune Zoom

Zoom in for precise color selection

Adjustable zoom level

Multi-Format Copy

Copy color in multiple formats simultaneously

Configurable format list

Supported Color Formats

Color Picker supports numerous color format outputs:

Web Formats

• HEX - #FF5733
• RGB - rgb(255, 87, 51)
• RGBA - rgba(255, 87, 51, 1.0)
• HSL - hsl(14, 100%, 60%)
• HSLA - hsla(14, 100%, 60%, 1.0)
• HSV - hsv(14, 80%, 100%)

Design Formats

• CMYK - cmyk(0%, 66%, 80%, 0%)
• HSB - hsb(14, 80%, 100%)
• HSI - hsi(14, 73%, 67%)
• HWB - hwb(14, 20%, 0%)
• NCol - R10, 80%, 100%

Programming Formats

• Decimal - 16737075
• Float RGB - (1.0f, 0.34f, 0.2f)
• C# Color - Color.FromArgb(255, 87, 51)
• VEC4 - (1.0, 0.34, 0.2, 1.0)

Color History

Automatic tracking of picked colors:

// Retrieve saved color history (ColorPickerService.cs:39)
public Task<OperationResult<IReadOnlyList<SavedColor>>> GetSavedColorsAsync()
{
    var historyPath = Path.Combine(
        Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.LocalApplicationData),
        "Microsoft", "PowerToys", "ColorPicker", "colorHistory.json"
    );
    
    // Returns list of SavedColor objects with:
    // - Hex representation
    // - ARGB values
    // - Formatted strings for all enabled formats
}

History file location:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\PowerToys\ColorPicker\colorHistory.json

Zoom and Precision

Enhanced color picking accuracy:

• Magnified Viewport: Enlarged pixel view under cursor
• Pixel Grid: Clear pixel boundaries for exact selection
• RGB Preview: Real-time color value display
• Mouse Wheel Zoom: Adjust magnification level dynamically

Configuration

Activation Shortcut

activation_shortcut · hotkey · default: "Win+Shift+C"

Global hotkey to launch Color Picker

Configurable modifier keys:

• Win (Windows key)
• Alt
• Shift
• Ctrl

Plus any virtual key code

// Hotkey structure (from dllmain.cpp:)
struct Hotkey {
    bool win;     // Windows key
    bool alt;     // Alt key
    bool shift;   // Shift key
    bool ctrl;    // Ctrl key
    UINT code;    // Virtual key code
};

Configuration file: PowerToys settings JSON

Color Format Selection

Choose which formats to include when copying colors:

1. Open PowerToys Settings
2. Navigate to Color Picker
3. Scroll to “Color formats”
4. Check formats to enable
5. Reorder formats by dragging

When you pick a color, all enabled formats are copied to clipboard as multi-line text.

Editor Integration

Optional: Configure which editor opens color history:

• Default: Internal viewer
• Custom: Specify external color management tool

Appearance Options

show_color_name · boolean · default: "false"

Display color names (e.g., “Red”, “Midnight Blue”) alongside hex values

activation_behavior · enum · default: "openEditor"

What happens when activation shortcut is pressed:

• openEditor - Open color picker interface
• openColorPickerAndThenEditor - Pick color, then open editor

color_format_for_clipboard · enum · default: "hex"

Default format for quick copy operations

Use Cases

Web Development

1. Pick Brand Colors

   Sample colors from design mockups or competitor websites

   1. Open design in browser
   2. Press Win+Shift+C
   3. Click on color to sample
   4. Paste into CSS: #FF5733
   
2. Extract Color Palettes

   Build color schemes from existing designs

   Pick multiple colors, check history, export palette

3. Accessibility Testing

   Verify color contrast ratios:

   1. Pick foreground color
   2. Pick background color
   3. Calculate contrast ratio
   4. Ensure WCAG compliance

Graphic Design

Color Matching

Match colors across different applications:

• Sample from reference image
• Copy in design tool format (HSB, CMYK)
• Paste into design software
• Ensure exact color reproduction

Brand Consistency

Maintain consistent branding:

1. Pick brand colors from official assets
2. Save to color history
3. Reference when creating new designs
4. Copy in required format (HEX, RGB, CMYK)

Color Exploration

Discover interesting color combinations:

• Sample from photos or artwork
• Build color palettes from nature
• Experiment with color relationships
• Document successful combinations

UI Development

C# / WPF

// Pick color from screen: #FF5733
// Use in XAML:
<SolidColorBrush Color="#FF5733" />

// Or programmatically:
var color = Color.FromArgb(255, 87, 51);

// Pick color from screen: rgb(255, 87, 51)
// Convert to UIColor:
let color = UIColor(
    red: 255/255.0,
    green: 87/255.0,
    blue: 51/255.0,
    alpha: 1.0
)

/* Picked color formats */
.element {
    background: #FF5733;                  /* HEX */
    color: rgb(255, 87, 51);             /* RGB */
    border: 1px solid hsl(14, 100%, 60%); /* HSL */
}

// Pick color: #FF5733
// Use in Android:
int color = Color.parseColor("#FF5733");
// Or:
int color = Color.rgb(255, 87, 51);

Digital Art & Photography

Color Grading

Sample colors from reference images for consistent grading

Palette Generation

Extract color palettes from photographs for design projects

Color Theory

Study color relationships in existing artwork

Style Matching

Match colors when editing photos or creating digital art

Keyboard Shortcuts

Global

Shortcut	Action
Win+Shift+C	Open Color Picker (default, configurable)

During Color Picking

Shortcut	Action
Left Click	Pick color and copy to clipboard
Esc	Cancel and close picker
Mouse Wheel Up	Increase zoom level
Mouse Wheel Down	Decrease zoom level
Arrow Keys	Fine-tune cursor position (pixel by pixel)

In Color History

Shortcut	Action
Click Color	Copy color to clipboard
Delete	Remove color from history
Ctrl+C	Copy selected color

Technical Details

Architecture

Color Conversion Engine

Built-in conversion between color spaces:

// Format conversion (ColorPickerService.cs:66)
private static Dictionary<string, string> BuildFormats(
    Color color, 
    ColorPickerSettings settings)
{
    var formats = new Dictionary<string, string>();
    
    // Add each enabled format
    if (settings.ShowHex)
        formats["HEX"] = $"#{color.R:X2}{color.G:X2}{color.B:X2}";
    
    if (settings.ShowRgb)
        formats["RGB"] = $"rgb({color.R}, {color.G}, {color.B})";
    
    // ... additional format conversions
    
    return formats;
}

Module Integration

Color Picker implements PowerToys module interfaces:

// Module interface (from dllmain.cpp)
class ColorPickerModule : public PowertoyModuleIface
{
public:
    virtual void enable() override;
    virtual void disable() override;
    virtual bool is_enabled() override;
    
    // Hotkey handling
    virtual bool on_hotkey(DWORD hotkeyId) override;
    
    // Settings management
    virtual void set_config(const wchar_t* config) override;
};

Event Signaling

Uses Windows events for inter-process communication:

// Signal Color Picker to show (ColorPickerService.cs:90)
private static Task<OperationResult> SignalEventAsync(
    string eventName, 
    string actionDescription)
{
    using var eventHandle = new EventWaitHandle(
        false, 
        EventResetMode.AutoReset, 
        eventName
    );
    
    if (!eventHandle.Set())
        return Task.FromResult(OperationResult.Fail(
            $"Failed to signal {actionDescription}."));
    
    return Task.FromResult(OperationResult.Ok());
}

Event name: Defined in Constants.ShowColorPickerSharedEvent()

History File Format

[
  "#FF5733",
  "#3498DB",
  "#2ECC71",
  "#F39C12",
  "#9B59B6"
]

Stored as array of hex color strings, parsed to full SavedColor objects on retrieval.

Troubleshooting

Color Picker doesn't open

Check:

• PowerToys is running
• Color Picker is enabled in settings
• Hotkey is correctly configured
• No conflicting application using same shortcut

Debug:

# Test programmatic launch
# In PowerShell with PowerToys running
[ColorPicker.ModuleServices.ColorPickerService]::Instance.OpenPickerAsync()

Colors not copying to clipboard

Possible causes:

• Clipboard locked by another application
• No color formats enabled in settings
• Clipboard manager interfering

Solutions:

1. Close clipboard managers temporarily
2. Enable at least one color format
3. Check Windows clipboard permissions

Zoom not working

Verify:

• Mouse wheel is functioning
• Color Picker window has focus
• Graphics drivers are up to date

Alternative: Use arrow keys for fine positioning

Color history not saving

Check file location:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\PowerToys\ColorPicker\colorHistory.json

Verify:

• Directory exists and is writable
• File is not corrupted (valid JSON)
• Sufficient disk space

Reset: Delete file, it will be recreated

See Also

• PowerToys Run - Quick color lookup
• Image Resizer - Process images
• Screen Ruler - Measure screen elements