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What is ColoRotate?

ColoRotate is a revolutionary tool that changes the way people choose colors on computers.

What makes ColoRotate innovative?

Usually, choosing color on computers is a drab experience. It requires an understanding of color theory and its related concepts like luminescence, saturation, and brightness. This was (and is) almost exclusively the realm of graphic design artists and those with an innate sense of color. For the vast majority of users however, choosing a color is a tedious and often unrewarding process. Palettes are either too simplistic, with a limited choice of colors, or too complex, requiring at least an appreciation of color models and how color works in the RGB (red, green, blue) spectrum. A proper understanding of color and its application is a core competency in itself.

ColoRotate removes the conventional complexity in color selection on computers. Based on the HSL 3D color model, ColoRotate is more intuitive and easier to use than traditional computer palettes. At a glance, users can see color relationships that in turn enable them to develop an aesthetic balance in color selection.

Who can use ColoRotate?

ColoRotate was developed with professional graphic designers and artists in mind, but even amateurs can utilize the tool. Users do not need any theoretical understanding of color systems nor any expertise in color selection (other than their normal sense of aesthetics). ColoRotate is an open, three dimensional color space that allows users to traverse over colors of various intensities. Color selection is simply a matter of navigating the color space until one adjusts the hue and tint to the exact level required. There are no color combinations or numbers to be memorized or written down. Everything is intuitive.

What is ColoRotate’s underlying technology?

ColoRotate’s interface is entirely coded using Adobe Flash, with a custom 3D display engine. The palettes and user data are securely stored using Google App Engine, programmed in Python.

Who created ColoRotate?

ColoRotate was set into motion by Michael Douma, the executive director of the Institute for Dynamic Educational Advancement. He brought together a team of programmers, designers, and other creative people from around the world to develop ColoRotate.

How does ColoRotate differ from Adobe Kuler?

Adobe Kuler is an excellent online tool for creating and browsing color palettes. It is available via Adobe’s web site, and integrated with Adobe Creative Suite 4 software and via desktop applications and widgets. (Read more about Kuler at Adobe’s site.) Kuler uses sliders and traditional two-dimensional methods to edit colors, and employs harmony rules. In contrast, with ColoRotate, the process of viewing and editing colors leaps into 3D, and users can edit colors in a way that matches how our eyes and mind truly see color.

What about other color editors?

The key innovation of ColoRotate is the 3D visualization. For information about other color pickers, see these blog posts:

(ColoRotate is not affiliated with these blogs.)