Watercolor paintings, tutorials, and videos
Want to see how I transformed my color skills? Try out the ChromaMagic app.
Brand new interface and lots of new features!
The original free version will always be available. But, seriously, the app is so good I’m not going back.
I’ve made some downloadable Munsell color charts and wheels available based on the ChromaMagic data.
Have you ever looked at a scene or a photo reference and thought ‘What is that color?’ As artists our color perception is crucial in knowing what we see and how we translate it onto canvas or paper. ChromaMagic was developed to help us quickly sharpen our skills in color perception and improve our paintings. It can show you the three Munsell components of color for any color in a photo reference and display them in the relevant color chart.
ChromaMagic uses the Munsell Color System to define color. As artists it is a wonderful way to define and mix color. Munsell classifies color into 3 components of hue, value and chroma. If you’re new to this way of thinking about color it can take a little while to get into the swing of things. But it is well worth it. I can personally say that it transformed my paintings almost overnight.
When you first load up the ChromaMagic tool it has a color wheel photo displayed in the photo area. At the top on the left is the full photo and, on the right, is a zoomed in region. To load up your own photo click the black button on the top right.
Click anywhere on either the left or right photo regions to select a color. The zoom panel on the right will center on that pixel and display a red cross-hair on the selected color.
Below the photo are 3 representations of that color. On the left are rectangles displaying the exact color and also the nearest Munsell chip color. On the right is the color highlighted in the relevant color chart.
This reference is one I have used in a beginners class. It’s great for honing your skills identifying and mixing colors. See the link for a full step by step watercolor tutorial and video.
I’ve come a cropper with beach paintings many a time. Finally, with the help of ChromaMagic, I could work out and learn where my colors were wrong. The result was that my paintings were much more successful.
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I am FIRST IN LINE!!! We need to talk….this is FABULOUS
Thanks Suzanne. I’m pretty happy with it so far. I’ve been using it a little in classes already.
This looks great – congratulations
This looks very useful!
How much is it?
Hi Bernie,
Many thanks for the interest! This version is free (it’s a web app and will likely remain so). A small donation is always welcome and helps pay for the domain and keeps the servers running. If you make a donation now then I’ll put you on the list and you’ll get the next version free which will have lots of extra tools (learning mode, chroma curves, multiple chip selection, output options and wheel display).
Great contribution
I need this! Please
This is genius!!!! Thank you so much. I will be contributing today. I’ve tried doing something similar with photoshop to find the colors i couldn’t see correctly but it never really worked. This is the best art tool ever!!!!
So glad you like it!! And thank you so much for the donation – you’ll get the next version early and for free. Let me know you get on – any feedback welcome.
Oh and can I ask to use your quote on the web page?
Just sent you a donation. I am excited to give it a try.
Just saw that! Thank you so much. Let me know how you get on.
Would love this!!
Will this work on a Mac?
Absolutely! We do a lot of testing on macs so it should work in any browser.
I just tried this with a photo of a hydrangea I am painting. I had chosen several Munsell Chips from the actual flower and my choices are very close to what comes up with your ChromaMagic using the photo. What’s great is that there are so many subtle changes in this flower and it helps me to see those hue changes and the deep shadows.
This is really a brilliant tool. Thank you so much for sharing this!
So glad you like it! And very happy it’s useful. And flowers are so hard to see the colors accurately. Using this a few times definitely helps me see colors better in real life.
Do I need to use jpeg format to load a file? PSD doesn’t seem to work. This is so awesome. I sent you a donation. Hope it was enough…
Hi Kathy – and many thanks for the donation! Definitely enough!
Yes right now it has to be an image file like jpeg, gif or png. I’ll have a look into parsing psd files but if there isn’t a stable library for reading photoshop files it may be more trouble than it’s worth.
Hi Michele, this is brilliant! I tried it with a photo of my setup and the painting next to it. Luckily the hvc is the same. I will use this to tool to help double check some subtle shifts. I would like to donate via PayPal instead of cc. Is that possible?
Just emailed you Julie. Thanks again!
This is a great tool, Michele!
Can I make a donation via Paypal?
All best, christine
Amazing. How do I donate?
jeff
Thanks Jeff! There’s a button at the top of the page or you can use https://square.link/u/CziANCIt?src=embed
This is excellent and resolves so many issues. Plz let me know what is a reasonable contribution.
Do I receive a download of this for use?
I do not have a website so how are things done?
As indicated above
I will also need to know how to make a donation. I do not have PAYPAL.
Hi Alan – just emailed you.
What a wonderful thing this is. I can’t wait to try it. I have the big Munsell book but I’ll be curious to see what this tool helps to clarify, especially in those really difficult to see places. Thank you. I will be donating. Is there a PayPal link?
Hi Jerri, Many thanks for commenting! I also have the Munsell book but I find the tool complements it. I start out with the tool then move onto the real chips when I’ve worked out the lay of the land. I’d be interested to hear how you find they work together too. There isn’t a PayPal link but you can send a donation directly to my PayPal email. I’ll contact you privately with the address.
Very interested in understanding the Munsell method.
It’s well worth it. I ignored it for years as I thought ‘oh far too technical – I don’t need that’. I was wrong on both counts. Paul Foxton’s YouTube videos are really helpful to get a hold of the fundamentals.
Holy moly Michele – this is absolutely genius!! I’ve just uploaded a portrait photo I’ve been working up the courage to paint, and it clarified so many of the subtle value shifts. Like another commenter I’d been trying to use Photoshop to help, and while it was useful, this is a zillion times better. THANK YOU for developing this. I may actually be ready to go for it now on the portrait!! Donation on the way.
Hi Cathy – so glad you like it!! And yes Photoshop doesn’t really get you there. One thing I really like about ChromaMagic is that it shows you the color *on the card* so it gives you a visual guide as to where the color sits. Just getting the number notation isn’t quite enough. And good luck with that portrait – would love to hear how it turns out.
Hello Michele. Was referred to this tool from Paul Foxton’s YouTube channel. Just donated. This is a very nice tool to check if your eye is close to choosing the actual color. Looking forward to the latest version.
Thank you very much Peggy. You’re absolutely right about checking the color. I find it very useful for that. I will keep you updated about ChromaMagic and you’ll get a free upgrade to the new version when it comes out.
This is invaluable! Thank you so much!
My pleasure. Thank you for writing and I hope it continues to be useful for you!
Hi Michelle,
Did you design this tool? I have been having fun with it. If I recommend it to other artists I want to make sure that I tell them how it was made and by who etc. thanks for sharing this great info!
Yes I did!! So glad you like it. I was going to drop you a note a while ago but wasn’t sure if it was your thing or not. And please do recommend to people – it’s there to be used. I’m currently finishing up the next version which has some nice new features in. I’ll drop you a line when it’s ready. Nice to hear from you btw – been enjoying your beautiful work as always.
Hi Michele,
Brilliant tool. Just made a donation, so sign me up for next version. Much appreciated!
Paul
Many thanks Paul and you’re definitely on the upgrade list!
This is brilliant! Thank you for making it available for free at this time but I did make a small donation so you can continue to do this sort of work for us! Thank you so much.
Thank you so much Donna! And thank you for the donation – saw it come in last night. Much appreciated.
This is marvelous Michele. Have made donation. Impressive!
Wonderful Lesley! Hope it’s useful for you. And many thanks for the donation.
Greetings Michele! This looks fabulous & I can’t wait to use it. I tried to donate through PayPal & was hoping (after pressing the link) that it would take me to a page, your page where I could just donate to you. As I don’t have your specific information (making sure it goes to you), I couldn’t donate. Forgive my ignorance here.. I’m not sure what to do.
Sending the best of warm wishes &
Cheers to you on this accomplishment!
Ginia (see you in class!) 🙂
Hi Ginia,
There’s a PayPal link on this page https://micheleclamp.com/chromamagic-munsell-color-tool/ It should take you to a donate page that says something like ‘Donate to
Michele Clamp LLC, ChromaMagic Paypal Donation’ If this isn’t working for you let me know.
Hi Michele…it’s still a generic page… I have to put your information in to get it to you & I don’t know what your PayPal information is…?
I have your name… need your PayPal username & email address or mobile number. That’s what the info said when I looked up how to send $ on PayPal.
Am I missing something simple? I don’t know. I’ll try your link again.
Hi…I went ahead with square. I hope it’s enough. Cheers!
Ginia
Absolutely! Thank you so much – very generous. Let me know how you get on.
Hi Michele, Thank you-a clear and concise explanation. This site might interest you and the coloring community: Color Mixing Tools – UniBS Zsolt M. Kovacs-Vajna
unibs.it
https://zsolt-kovacs.unibs.it › color…
It is called Real Paint mixing tools (RealPaint) and was created by AI4res. This version has a much more precise Munsell coordinate converter (for example …
I’ve been looking for a tool just like this for ages. Great work! Please dear god do not let this lapse into oblivion! I need a desktop application and a phone app! If this becomes unavailable please, oh please, make the code public domain! On another note, it would be useful if the closest Pantone could be indicated. Sadly, many businesses are unaware of the superior Munsell system.
Thanks Shane!
Funny you should comment about the site becoming unavailable. I’ve been thinking about what would happen if I dropped dead. Hopefully not likely to happen and the domain is paid for for a few years but I should probably put some thought into it.
As for Pantone I haven’t really thought about that. Are there freely available Pantone to rgb mappings? I don’t want to get into any copyright wars..
One of the best and most useful tools for identifying and being able to paint true colors.
Wow!!! Amazing! I can’t wait to try it! Congratulations!
I’m so happy and appreciative to have this wonderful resource, a great help. Now to incorperate the extra steps as I paint both digitally using Rebelle 6 Pro. and on real surfaces using professional coloured pencils, oil pastels and so on.