Hi: Can someone help my aging brain? Years ago everyone used to praise a certain brand of colored paper cards that you bought in packages to help design colors for a project. They weren't exclusive to weavers but for any art work. I cannot remember the brand or the official name of the object and google is really letting me down. Name? Where to buy them? Any help appreciated.- Kate

Comments

Thu, 06/27/2013 - 15:36

sally orgren

You can still get them at art stores—like Dick Blick and Jerry's Art Supply. But they are pretty expensive. I bought my last block of them about 10 years ago, so I imagine the price has gone up since.

There are a lot of Internet based color tools, so perhaps if you explain what you are looking to do, someone may have an alternate suggestion for you?

Fri, 06/28/2013 - 18:11

JPMorabito

Color Aid is a good tool for personal color study, it's often used in color theory instruction. Paint swatches from the hardware store also work there, and do pretty much the same thing. These methods are only helpful for personal study, neither are standards in any way. Pantone is a color specification system that is standardized throughout many facets of the design industry. There are literally thousands of colors, and each color comes with a number. I highly recommend the Pantone system, it can be quite expensive but it is something of a global standard (you can also replace a color you ran out of by ordering more of that color). Alternatively, I have build color libraries with embroidery floss. This method isn't standard, but being able to twist the fibers together is very helpful in coloring a textile. DO NOT USE any computer screen based coloring system. Computer screens are not a reliable tool for viewing color. Period. Every monitor is calibrated differently and what the printer spits out will be very different from what you see on screen, even if monitor and printer have been calibrated together. Color is one of the most difficult things to work with, it is compeltely subjective and utterly mutable. Even the subtlest shift in light can skew what you see, and therefore the final result of your project. This is why we remove as many variables as possible when working with color. I hope this is helpful.