Pixel Joint Forum: Palette Help Needed!

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   Okay, I need a bit of help.

Assume that I want to make a palette of colors that looks similar to this:

(Above image taken from a color palette tutorial by Kiwinuptuo on DeviantArt. Credit where credit's due.)

Also assume that I start out with this palette of test colors:

(Not a trimmed-down version of the NES palette, I swear. I did have that in mind when I crafted this test palette, though.)

Also also assume that I may want to expand the number of colors so I can have a palette suitable for future usage across a number of different projects. (Think Dawnbringer's palettes or, as noted, the NES palette.)

Oh, and one more thing: assume that I am a complete dumbass without a lick of real knowledge when it comes to color theory and hue/luminescence/etc. (Trust me, that shouldn't prove hard.)

How would I go about turning that test palette into a palette that looks similar to the first image?

Author	Message
StoneStephenT Seaman Joined: 17 May 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	Topic: Palette Help Needed! Posted: 16 June 2013 at 8:58am
	Okay, I need a bit of help. Assume that I want to make a palette of colors that looks similar to this: (Above image taken from a color palette tutorial by Kiwinuptuo on DeviantArt. Credit where credit's due.) Also assume that I start out with this palette of test colors: (Not a trimmed-down version of the NES palette, I swear. I did have that in mind when I crafted this test palette, though.) Also also assume that I may want to expand the number of colors so I can have a palette suitable for future usage across a number of different projects. (Think Dawnbringer's palettes or, as noted, the NES palette.) Oh, and one more thing: assume that I am a complete dumbass without a lick of real knowledge when it comes to color theory and hue/luminescence/etc. (Trust me, that shouldn't prove hard.) How would I go about turning that test palette into a palette that looks similar to the first image?
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programgamer Seaman Joined: 04 April 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 35	Posted: 16 June 2013 at 9:32am
	First, learn about color theory. Then follow the noob tutorials on this site. Google is your friend when it comes to this.
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StoneStephenT Seaman Joined: 17 May 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	Posted: 16 June 2013 at 9:36am
	I've read the noobtorials and such, but my mind, she doesn't seem to grasp some of it. (Told you to assume you're working with a dumbass. :)
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DawnBringer Commander DuskTaker's Twin Joined: 20 August 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 269	Posted: 16 June 2013 at 12:05pm
	First realize that colors are 3-dimensional data (R,G & B), any 2-dimensional representation requires an information reduction. As such, two or more colors may want to occupy the same slot in your diagram. So simply put; the appearance of a ramp-chart (like your example) is largely arbitrary, and there's (usually) no one correct or perfect solution. So you're free to experiment with different arrangements. Commonly the ramps are divided into Hues and exapand over Brightness. Colors that are neutral or multi-purpose acts as hubs or cross-roads. However your current palette is pretty much a uniform spectrum, and there's little to gain from trying to map ramps with these colors. Also, the ten brightest and darkest colors are so similar that they can be fused to one color each. I get the sense you might be thinking about constructing the actual palette by expanding a ramp-diagram. While I won't say this is impossible...it's a bit like trying to build a house from a picture, rather than building a house and taking pictures of it. Anyways, here's a variation of diagrams for the DB32 palette. Edited by DawnBringer - 16 June 2013 at 12:21pm
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StoneStephenT Seaman Joined: 17 May 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	Posted: 16 June 2013 at 1:14pm
	*Originally posted by DawnBringer* I get the sense you might be thinking about constructing the actual palette by expanding a ramp-diagram. While I won't say this is impossible...it's a bit like trying to build a house from a picture, rather than building a house and taking pictures of it. One way of lookin' at it, yeah. I tend to do things ass-backwards at times, and I suppose this makes another one of those times. I'll just have to do more experimenting with ramps and such, I s'pose. I did just that on a few of my older works for the past hour to try and help myself understand HSL and whatnot. (I use Paint Shop Pro as my pixel art editor, for the record.) I think the gears have started to turn, but they still need a few more manual cranks before it becomes automatic.
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StoneStephenT Seaman Joined: 17 May 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	Posted: 17 June 2013 at 8:20am
	Okay, so, another question. That's the color picker for Paint Shop Pro (my image editor of choice). As you can see, the HSL stuff probably doesn't work the same as other editors you guys might use. So, my question goes like this: when editing colors, what directions should I go in regarding HSL to achieve specific effects (hue shifting, "dull"/"flat" colors, etc.)? I apologize if that question sounds odd or dumb. I have a hard time with phrasing when it comes to asking questions about things I don't generally "get".
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yrizoud Commander Joined: 10 October 2008 Location: France Online Status: Offline Posts: 164	Posted: 17 June 2013 at 8:34am
	With this representation: - rotating around the circle only changes the hue. - in the square, move up and down to change the lightness. (light is down, dark is up) - in the square, move right and left to change the saturation. Left side is minimum saturation (ie grayscale), right is maximum saturation ie very intense colors.
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StoneStephenT Seaman Joined: 17 May 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	Posted: 18 June 2013 at 8:33am
	I understand how the HSL stuff technically functions (it's one of the few things I do understand about all this!), but I suppose I meant to ask "how far should I go" when editing colors for a palette/piece of pixel art? What directions (and how far in those directions) would I go to create, say, a "bright" or "dull" color ramp? That's one of the few things I don't understand.
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cure Rear Admiral Joined: 23 October 2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2775	Posted: 18 June 2013 at 3:16pm
	'brightness' is technically luminosity, but I think you're looking for 'vivid' colors vs. dull colors, which will be saturation. saturation is horizontal in the square above, with completely desaturated (white/gray/black) on the left and full saturation (bright blue) on the right.
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