• grandMA3 User Manual
    • About the manual
    • Device Overview
      • grandMA3 consoles
        • grandMA3 full-size
        • grandMA3 full-size CRV
        • grandMA3 light
        • grandMA3 light CRV
        • grandMA3 compact XT
        • grandMA3 compact
      • grandMA3 extension
      • grandMA3 replay unit
      • grandMA3 processing units
      • grandMA3 Nodes
      • grandMA3 Nodes DIN-Rail
      • grandMA3 I/O Node
      • grandMA3 I/O Node DIN-Rail
      • grandMA3 onPC command wing XT
      • grandMA3 onPC command wing
      • grandMA3 onPC fader wing
      • grandMA3 onPC rack-unit
      • Screen allocation
      • Keyboard shortcuts
      • Keys
        • . [Dot]
        • <<< [GoFastBackward] | Black
        • >>> [GoFastForward] | Flash
        • - [Minus]
        • + [Plus]
        • / [Slash] | * [Asterisk/Multiply]
        • At
        • Assign
        • Align
        • Blind
        • Clear
        • Channel
        • Copy
        • Ctrl
        • Cue
        • Down
        • Delete
        • Esc
        • Edit
        • Freeze
        • Full
        • Fixture
        • Group
        • Goto
        • Go+ [large]
        • Go- [large]
        • Go+ | Temp
        • Go- | Top
        • Help
        • Highlt [Highlight]
        • If
        • Learn | Rate1
        • List
        • MA
        • Menu
        • Move
        • Next
        • Numeric keys | arrows
        • Oops
        • On
        • Off
        • Pause [large]
        • Pause | Fix
        • Page+
        • Page-
        • Please
        • Power
        • Preset
        • Prvw [Preview]
        • Prev [Previous]
        • Select
        • SelFix [SelectFixture]
        • Sequ [Sequence]
        • Set
        • Solo
        • Stomp
        • Store
        • Thru
        • Time
        • Up
        • Update
        • U1
        • U2
        • X1 | Clone
        • X2 | Link
        • X3 | Grid
        • X4 | Layout
        • X5 | Step
        • X6 | TC
        • X7 | View
        • X8 | DMX
        • X9
        • X10
        • X11
        • X12
        • X13 | Phaser
        • X14 | Macro
        • X15 | Page
        • X16 | Exec
        • Xkeys
      • Control elements
        • Command area
        • Master area
        • Custom area
        • Dual encoders
        • Level wheel
        • Grand master
        • Executor elements
      • Connector pin assignment
      • UPS battery
    • System Overview
      • Standalone device
      • Locally networked devices
      • World server
      • Parameters
        • Calculate parameters
        • Expand the amount of parameters
    • First Steps
      • Unpack the device
      • Check scope of delivery
      • Position the device
      • Connect power
      • Connect desk light
      • Connect external screens
      • Connect USB devices
      • Connect DMX
      • Connect Audio In
      • Connect MIDI
      • Connect LTC
      • Connect Ethernet
      • Connect DC Remote In
      • Connect grandMA3 extension
      • Connect grandMA3 fader wing
      • Turn on the device the first time
    • grandMA3 onPC
      • System requirements grandMA3 onPC
      • Windows installation
      • Optimize Windows
      • macOS installation
      • Optimize macOS
      • onPC Terminal App
      • onPC settings
    • Show File Handling
    • Workspace
      • User interface
        • Configuration of displays
        • Desk lock
        • User-defined area
        • Command line
        • Control bar
        • View bar
        • Tables in general
        • Trackpad window
      • Gestures
      • Command area
      • Master controls
      • Playback controls
      • Displays in grandMA3 onPC
      • Encoder bar
        • Feature group control bar
        • Encoder toolbar
      • Calculator
      • Playback bar
      • Command wing bar
      • Colors
        • System
        • Markers
        • Color theme
    • Command Syntax and Keywords
      • General syntax rules
      • General keywords
        • ; [Semicolon]
        • / [Slash]
        • . [Dot]
        • .. [DotDot]
        • = [Equal]
        • <<< [GoFastBackward]
        • >>> [GoFastForward]
        • - [Minus]
        • * [Asterisk]
        • % [Percent]
        • + [Plus]
        • Absolute
        • Acceleration
        • Action
        • ActivationGroup
        • Agenda
        • Align
        • AlignTransition
        • Appearance
        • Assign
        • At
        • Attribute
        • AutoCreate
        • Black
        • Blind
        • Block
        • BPM
        • Call
        • Camera
        • Capture
        • ChangeDestination
        • Channel
        • ChannelSet
        • Chat
        • ChatJoin
        • ChatLeave
        • Cleanup
        • Clear
        • ClearActive
        • ClearAll
        • ClearSelection
        • Clone
        • CommandDelay
        • Collect
        • Collection
        • Color
        • ColorDef
        • ColorTheme
        • Configuration
        • Console
        • Cook
        • Copy
        • Cue
        • CueAbs
        • CueDelay
        • CueFade
        • CueInDelay
        • CueInFade
        • CueOutDelay
        • CueOutFade
        • CueRel
        • CueUpdate
        • CurrentEnvironment
        • CurrentUser
        • CurrentUserProfile
        • Cut
        • DataPool
        • Deceleration
        • Decimal8
        • Decimal16
        • Decimal24
        • Default
        • Delay
        • Delete
        • DeleteOtherVersions
        • DelGlobalVar
        • DelUserVar
        • Dismiss
        • Display
        • DMXLayer
        • DMXAddress
        • DMXReadout
        • DMXUniverse
        • DoubleSpeed
        • Down
        • DumpLog
        • Drive
        • Echo
        • Edit
        • EditSetting
        • Eject
        • Effect
        • EndIf
        • Environment
        • Exchange
        • Executor
        • Export
        • Extract
        • Extension
        • Fade
        • Fader
        • FaderMaster
        • FaderRate
        • FaderSpeed
        • FaderTemp
        • FaderTime
        • FaderX
        • FaderXA
        • FaderXB
        • FeatureGroup
        • Filter
        • Fix
        • FixtureClass
        • FixtureLayer
        • Fixture
        • FixtureType
        • Flip
        • Flash
        • Fog
        • Font
        • Freeze
        • Full
        • Gel
        • GetGlobalVar
        • GetUserVar
        • Go+
        • Go-
        • Goto
        • Grid
        • GridPos
        • Group
        • HalfSpeed
        • HardwareKey
        • Help
        • Helplua
        • Hex8
        • Hex16
        • Hex24
        • Highlight
        • Houselights
        • Hz
        • If
        • IfActive
        • IfOutput
        • IfProg
        • Image
        • Import
        • Index
        • Insert
        • Integrate
        • Interface
        • Invert
        • Invite
        • IP
        • JoinSession
        • Key
        • Keyboard
        • KeyboardShortcuts
        • Knockin
        • Knockout
        • Label
        • Language
        • Layout
        • LearnSpeed
        • LeaveSession
        • Library
        • List
        • ListOwner
        • ListRef
        • Load
        • Loaded
        • LoadShow
        • Lock
        • Login
        • Logout
        • Lowlight
        • Lua
        • LuaFile
        • Macro
        • MArker
        • Master
        • MAtricks
        • Measure
        • Media
        • MemInfo
        • Menu
        • Mesh
        • MessageCenter
        • Monitor
        • Move
        • Multipatch
        • MyRunningMacro
        • MyRunningPreset
        • MyRunningSequence
        • Natural
        • NDI
        • NewShow
        • NextY
        • NextZ
        • Next
        • Node
        • NonDim
        • Normal
        • Off
        • Offset
        • On
        • onPC
        • OSC
        • Oops
        • OutputLayer
        • Page
        • Part
        • Park
        • Paste
        • Patch
        • Pause
        • Percent
        • PercentFine
        • Phase
        • Physical
        • Plugin
        • Preset
        • PresetUpdate
        • Press
        • Preview
        • PreviousY
        • PreviousZ
        • Previous
        • Programmer
        • Property
        • PU
        • Pyro
        • Rate1
        • RDM
        • Readout
        • Reboot
        • Recast
        • Record
        • Relation
        • Relative
        • Release
        • ReloadPlugins
        • ReloadUI
        • Remote
        • RemoteHID
        • RemoteCommand
        • Remove
        • RenderQuality
        • Reset
        • Restart
        • Root
        • RTChannel
        • RunningMacro
        • RunningPreset
        • RunningSequence
        • RunningTimecode
        • SaveShow
        • ScreenConfig
        • ScreenContent
        • Scribble
        • Seconds
        • Select
        • Selection
        • SelFix
        • Sequence
        • SendMIDI
        • SendOSC
        • Set
        • SetGlobalVar
        • SetUserVar
        • Shuffle
        • Shutdown
        • SnapDelay
        • SoftwareImport
        • SoftwareUpdate
        • SoundChannel
        • Solo
        • SpecialExecutor
        • Speed
        • Speed1
        • Stage
        • Station
        • Step
        • Stomp
        • SwitchGma2Mode
        • Swop
        • Store
        • Temp
        • Texture
        • Thru
        • Time
        • Timecode
        • TimecodeSlot
        • Toggle
        • TopUp
        • Top
        • Transition
        • Type
        • UIChannel
        • UIGridSelection
        • UnBlock
        • Universal
        • UnLock
        • UnPark
        • UnPress
        • Up
        • Update
        • UpdateContent
        • User1
        • User2
        • User
        • UserProfile
        • Video
        • Version
        • View
        • ViewButton
        • Width
        • World
        • Xkeys
        • Zero
      • Option keywords
        • /Active
        • /ActiveForSelected
        • /AddNewContent
        • /All
        • /AllForSelected
        • /Ask
        • /Auto
        • /CopyCueDst
        • /CopyCueScr
        • /CreateReferenceObject
        • /CreateSecondCue
        • /CueOnly
        • /Date
        • /Default
        • /DiscardChanges
        • /DMX
        • /Embed
        • /Enumerate
        • /File
        • /ForceGlobal
        • /GDTF
        • /Gaps
        • /Global
        • /GridMergeMode
        • /Indirect
        • /KeepActivation
        • /Look
        • /Merge
        • /NoConfirm
        • /OriginalContentOnly
        • /Overwrite
        • /Path
        • /Release
        • /Remove
        • /Screen
        • /Selective
        • /Universal
      • Extended command line syntax options
    • Windows, Views, and Menus
      • Add window
      • Rearrange
      • Store and recall views
      • Remove windows from a screen
      • Window settings
      • Menus
      • Change menu locations
      • Pool windows
        • Create pool object
        • Label pool objects
        • Move pool objects
        • Insert pool objects
        • Copy pool objects
        • Lock and unlock pool objects
        • Delete pool objects
    • Networking
      • Interfaces and IP
      • Session
        • Create a session
        • Join a session
        • Leave a session
        • Invite to a session
        • Dismiss from session
        • Create a custom key
        • Session master selection
      • Web remote
    • DMX In and Out
      • DMX port configuration
      • Ethernet DMX
        • Art-Net menu
        • sACN menu
        • Transmit DMX using Art-Net
    • Single User and Multi User Systems
      • Create User
      • User settings
    • Patch and Fixture Setup
      • What are fixtures
      • Add fixtures to the show
      • Add multipatch fixtures
      • MVR
      • Live patch
      • DMX sheet
      • DMX universes
      • Remove fixtures from the show
      • Position fixtures in the 3D space
      • 3D
      • Camera Pool
      • Stages
      • Classes and Layers
      • Attribute definitions
        • Activation group
        • Feature group
        • Deactivation group
      • Parameter list
      • DMX curves
    • Operate Fixtures
      • Select Fixtures
      • What is the programmer
      • Fixture sheet
      • Encoder resolution
      • Using the color picker
      • Gel pool
      • Selection bar
      • Align
      • Selection Grid
      • Smart view
      • General parent.child structure
    • Scribbles
      • Create scribbles
      • Edit scribbles
      • Assign scribbles
      • Delete scribbles
    • Images
      • Screenshots
    • Video
    • Appearances
      • Create appearances
      • Use appearances
      • Delete appearances
    • Groups
      • Create groups
      • Edit groups
      • Delete groups
      • Group masters
    • Presets
      • Preset pools
      • Create new presets
      • Recipe presets
      • Use preset
      • Edit or Update presets
    • Worlds and Filters
      • At filter
      • Create a world
      • Create a filter
      • Use a world or filter
      • Delete a world
      • Delete a filter
    • MAtricks and Shuffle
      • Blocks
      • Groups
      • Wings
      • Widths
      • Shuffle
      • Transform
    • Cues and Sequences
      • What is tracking
      • Sequences sheet
      • Content sheet
      • Sequence settings
      • Store cues
      • Update cues
      • Copy cues
      • Cue recipes
      • Store settings and preferences
      • Play back cues
      • Move in black
      • Cue timing
      • Renumber cues
      • Delete cues
    • Executors
      • Assign object to an executor
      • Executor configurations
      • Running playbacks
      • Special executors
    • Masters
      • Selected masters
      • Grand masters
        • Time Control
      • Speed masters
      • Playback masters
    • Recipes
    • Phasers
      • Phaser editor
      • Create sinus dimmer phaser
      • Create circle phaser
      • Create circle phaser around position
      • Create color rainbow phaser
    • XYZ
      • Activating XYZ for fixture types
      • MArker fixture
    • Macros
      • Create macros
      • Edit macros
      • Assign macros to keys and buttons
      • Variables
      • Examples
    • Agenda
      • View modes
      • Create an agenda entry
      • Edit an agenda entry
      • Agenda toolbar
    • Timecode
      • What are timecode slots
      • Timecode settings
      • Track groups
      • Time ranges and events
      • Toggle view mode
      • Record a timecode show
      • Record an external timecode show
      • Edit a timecode show
    • Layouts
      • Create a layout
      • Assign multipatch fixtures
      • Edit layout
      • Layout view settings
      • Edit layout view
      • Edit layout elements
      • Layout encoder bar
    • Plugins
      • What is Lua?
      • Handle
      • Functions - Object-Free API
        • BuildDetails
        • CloseUndo
        • Cmd
        • CmdIndirect
        • CmdIndirectWait
        • CmdObj
        • Confirm
        • CreateUndo
        • DataPool
        • DefaultDisplayPositions
        • DeskLocked
        • Echo
        • ErrEcho
        • ErrPrintf
        • Export
        • ExportCSV
        • ExportJson
        • FromAddr
        • GetPath
        • GetShowFileStatus
        • GetSubfixture
        • GetSubfixtureCount
        • HandleToStr
        • HandleToInt
        • HookObjectChange
        • HostOS
        • HostSubType
        • HostType
        • Import
        • IntToHandle
        • MasterPool
        • MessageBox
        • ObjectList
        • Patch
        • PopupInput
        • Printf
        • ProgrammerPart
        • ProgressBar
        • Pult
        • Root
        • SelectedSequence
        • Selection
        • SelectionCount
        • SelectionFirst
        • SelectionNext
        • SerialNumber
        • ShowData
        • StrToHandle
        • ShowSettings
        • TextInput
        • Timer
        • UserVariables
        • Version
      • Functions - Object API
        • Addr
        • AddrNative
        • Children
        • Dump
        • Export
        • HasActivePlayback
        • Import
        • ToAddr
    • Data Pools
    • System
      • Date and time
      • Clock
      • Desk lights
      • System information
      • System monitor
      • Info Window
    • Sound
      • Sound Window
    • Remote In and Out
      • DC remotes
      • MIDI remotes
      • DMX remotes
      • OSC
      • PSN
      • MIDI
    • RDM
    • Control other MA Devices
      • grandMA3 Nodes
      • MA Network Switch
      • RemoteHID
    • Update the Software
      • Update grandMA3 consoles
      • Update grandMA3 Nodes
      • Update grandMA3 onPC windows hardware
      • Update grandMA3 viz-key
      • Network update
      • Delete update files
      • Troubleshooting
    • Fixture Types
      • Import fixture types
        • Import GDTF
        • Conflicts in fixture types
      • Build fixture types
        • Insert fixture types
        • Insert DMXModes
        • Insert geometries
        • Insert models
        • Link models to geometries
        • Link DMX modes to geometries
      • Export fixture types
        • Export GDTF
    • File Management
      • SFTP connection
      • Import / Export Menu
      • Folder Structure
    • Shut down the System
    • Troubleshooting
      • Clean start
  • grandMA3 Quick Start Guide
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual consoles
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual processing units
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual Nodes
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual Nodes DIN-Rail
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual onPC command wing XT
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual onPC command wing
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual onPC fader wing
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual onPC rack-unit
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual viz-key
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual I/O Nodes
  • Release Notes
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Version 1.8

Using the Color Picker

The Color Picker is a window that can be used to select a color in fixtures with a mix color system.

It does not affect color wheels, only color mixing systems.

The color picker provides convenient access to mixing the desired color using several color mixing and selection options. The method used is independent of the fixture's actual color mix system (LED emitters or color subtraction).


Open the Color Picker

To open the color picker window, see Add windows. It is found in the Common tab.

RGB and HSB color space:

Tap RGB/HSB Space in the title bar of the color picker to switch the color picker's color space. There are four options:

Fixture TypeThe color space is defined by the emitters of the respective fixture type.

StandardPlasa Standard E1.54 for Color Communication in Entertainment Lighting.

Rec.2020: ITU-R BT.2020 or Rec. 2020, is an audiovisual industry standard for ultra high definition (UHDTV).

Rec.709: ITU-R BT 709 or Rec. 709 is an audiovisual industry standard for high definition (HDTV).


Tap MA in the top left corner of the color picker to open the settings.

Color Picker Window Settings

The mode can be selected using the buttons in the title bar. This is a short description of the different modes.

CIE: A CIE color space area picker with Brightness, Quality, x, and y on-screen faders.

HSB: An HSB area with Brightness and Quality on-screen faders.

Fader: On-screen faders to adjust RGB, CMY, HSB, Brightness, and Quality.

Book: This is a swatch book with colors from different filter manufacturers.

Quality

The Q fader or quality fader is available when the fixtures have a color mix system of more than three colors. It controls how the colors are mixed.
Q at 100 results in kind of small band mixing (the specialized emitters are used). 0% results in a broad band mix. That uses as much emitters as possible to mix the color.

Hint:
The Align function can be used together with the color picker.

CIE

The CIE (Commission Internationale de l’éclairage) standard uses a figure that indicates the visible light spectrum. 

Color Picker in CIE mode and a selected fixture

The RGB triangle shows the colors that the specific fixture can mix.

  • To select a color, tap inside this area.

If the fixture has more than 3 mixing colors, the shaded part will become smaller.

The color picker offers the Constant Brightness Mode. The Constant Brightness mode can be enabled by tapping Constant Brightness in the title bar. The default setting is off.

If the constant brightness is disabled, the selected color is mixed with maximum brightness when the brightness fader is set to 100%. In this case, the fixture's output intensity is not kept constant but changes with the color. If the constant brightness mode is enabled, the maximum overall brightness is limited to the brightness of the fixture's darkest emitter. Changing the color in constant brightness mode does not change the output intensity of the fixture. 

Hint:
When enabling the constant brightness mode while the brightness fader is currently positioned above the constant brightness color mixing range, the CONST B fader will become red, showing a value of > 100 %. To ensure constant brightness color mixing, the fader needs to be moved to <= 100 %.
Hint:
The color mixing and the constant brightness mode works the better, the more precise the fixture type's emitter data is.

Except for the Fixture Type color space, the gamut of the selected color space is displayed in the CIE color picker with a white line. The shaded area only depends on the emitters of the fixture. It does not change with the Color Space (only the small white triangle changes with the selected color space). Color mixing in the RGB tab and the HSB Color Picker depends on the color coordinates of the RGB primaries of the selected color space.

Hint:
If a color is picked in the CIE Color picker outside of the gamut of the selected color space, the faders in the RGB tab will show values below 0% or above 100%. 

The CIE Color Picker displays the spectral profile (or curve) at a specific temperature that corresponds to a specific peak wavelength, and vice versa. As the temperature of the black body increases, the peak wavelength decreases (Wien's Law). The intensity (or flux) at all wavelengths increases as the temperature of the blackbody increases. That is what we call the black body curve.


Color Picker

Tap the HSB field symbol in the title bar, also known as a Color Picker, to adjust the color mix.

Color Picker HSB mode

Here it is possible to tap a color in the HSB field. The x-axis (left/right) is the Hue value. The y-axis (up/down) is the Saturation value, and the B-fader on the right side is Brightness.


Fader

On-screen RGB, CMY, HSB, Brightness, and Quality faders.

On-screen fader

Here it is possible to adjust the colors using RGB, CMY, or HSB. The Three-color systems are interlinked. This means that adjusting the colors in RGB also moves the CMY and HSB faders.


Book

The swatch book is a library of filter colors from different manufacturers. This can also be accessed using the Gel keyword.

The manufacturers are listed on the left side, and the right side displays the manufacturer's colors.

Color picker book mode

There are three buttons at the top of the window.

  • Filter is to enter a name or a key of the color to limit the list of colors.
  • View defines how the color list is displayed. It is a swipe button with the following options:
    • Big Icons - This displays a big color example. Below the color are the name and color key.
    • List - This displays a list with Name, Key, and Color columns.
    • Small Icons - displays a small color field only.
  • Sort by has three different ways to sort the displayed colors. It has the following options:
    • None - the list is not sorted and is displayed in the order in the library.
    • Key - Sorted by the color key number.
    • Name - The colors are sorted by the color name.

The manufacturer list includes many of the filter manufacturers. It also includes MA Lighting. The MA Lighting library contains all the primary colors and the most used colors.


Color Wheels

When working with fixtures that have color wheels, the software chooses the color that is as close as possible to the picked color from the color picker. When the fixture has two or more color wheels the software will use all wheels (also combined) to get a color as close as possible.

To change the wheel mix mode, tap MA in the title bar. The Color Picker Window Settings opens.

There are three different Wheel Mix Modes available:

  • Mix Color Only:
    Uses only color mixing engine attributes, for example RGB.
  • Color Wheel Only:
    Uses only color wheel attributes.
  • Prefer Mix Color:
    Uses mainly the color mixing engine attributes. If needed the color wheels will be used as well.
Restriction:
When a fixture type has more than one color wheel, the color picker can only handle up to 255 different color combinations across the color wheels.

The Fixture Sheet shows the selected color for the individual wheels. The combined color output is displayed in the sheet.


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