Color Schemer is a professional color matching application for anyone from hobbyists to advanced professionals whether you are on a mac, pc, or on the web. Finally an independent software company that gets it.

When you open the application you will see three columns. In the first column you will find your standard color mixing pallette where you can select your base color. In the main column you will see a tabbed color wheel that is created from your selected base color. And the third column is where you store your preferred colors.

This application is so intuitive there is really no need for a manual.

See a color you like on the color wheel? Drag it to the column on the right.
Need help selecting colors? Let Color Schemer make suggestions, in the bottom of the main window you have three selections:

1. Color Wheel
2. Harmonies
3. Suggested Colors

Switch to Harmonies and you can select from Compliments, Split-Compliments, Triads, Tetrads, Analogous,and Monochromatic color systems based upon your preferred color in the first column.

Still not sure? Switch to Suggested Colors and Color Schemer will show you a standard Inverted L web layout with text so you can see how the colors work together. Again you have color options: Complimentary, Analogous, Monochromatic Light, Monochromatic Dark, Monochromatic Muted, Vibrant, Muted, Complex, Minimalistic, and Gray.
But the fun does not stop there. The PhotoSchemer will build unique color schemes based on any picture, image or photograph. There is a built-in Color Mixer to create a single mixed color or a gradient path between two colors. The Color Scheme Analyzer tool will the best text & background color combinations from among your Favorite Colors. Select a background color and the Color Scheme Analyzer will automatically tell you which text colors would provide sufficient contrast and readability. Drag and drop colors onto the elements in the Quick Preview to test color combinations in a web page setting.

Use the built-in Print Utility to print your color schemes and their color values. Great for making hard-copy reference sheets or showing to clients.
Use the Import Wizard to import colors into Color Schemer from a number of different sources, including:

• Any web site or style sheet
• GIF images
• Photoshop Color Palettes (.aco)
• Color Table files (.act)

Use the Export Wizard to export your color schemes to a number of popular applications and formats:

• HTML color chart
• CSS style sheet
• GIF image
• Photoshop Color Palette (.aco)
• Illustrator Color Palette (.ai)
• Macromedia FreeHand/Adobe FrameMaker
• Corel Painter Color Set
• Color Table file (.act)

Here’s a small sample of some other cool features found in Color Schemer Studio OSX:

• Color Blindness Simulation
  See what your color schemes will look like to users with any one of 8 different types of color deficient vision.
• Convert to nearest WebSafe or WebSmart color
  Convert colors to their nearest WebSafe or WebSmart palette match at the click of a button.
• Screen Color Picker
  Grab colors from anywhere on your screen with the built-in screen color picker.
• Randomize!
  Stuck on inspiration for a new color scheme? Just click the “Randomize!” button to flip through random color schemes you might not have even thought of before!
• Drag & drop functionality to make building color schemes quick and easy
• Build a library of your own custom color schemes

One thing I like to do when looking at a new application is look in the preferences. This will usually tell me how much the application has to offer outside of its facial features, and also lets you know how deep the programmers when into allowing customization. Color Schemer has two preference settings, Favorites and Websafe. In Favorites you can set your favorite color, and in Websaf you can tell it to samp to either the 216 or 4096 Websafe pallette.

Not ready to purchase the application? Aside from downloading and using the demo, most of these features can be done online. You will also find a Color Scheme Gallery where other users have posted their favorite color schemes and a Color Scheme Forum to discuss on their website.