https://github.com/akcansoft/pixel-color
Get pixel color at mouse position
https://github.com/akcansoft/pixel-color
akcansoft application autohotkey autohotkey-v2 color pixel pixel-color source-code windows
Last synced: 4 months ago
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Get pixel color at mouse position
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/akcansoft/pixel-color
- Owner: akcansoft
- License: gpl-3.0
- Created: 2024-03-20T06:03:40.000Z (over 2 years ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-02-13T12:47:38.000Z (4 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-02-13T21:43:55.372Z (4 months ago)
- Topics: akcansoft, application, autohotkey, autohotkey-v2, color, pixel, pixel-color, source-code, windows
- Language: AutoHotkey
- Homepage:
- Size: 1.22 MB
- Stars: 2
- Watchers: 1
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# AS Pixel Color v2.5
[](https://www.autohotkey.com/)
[](https://www.microsoft.com/windows)
[](LICENSE)
[](https://github.com/akcansoft/Pixel-Color/releases)
[](https://github.com/akcansoft/Pixel-Color/releases)
**AS Pixel Color** is a professional, open-source real-time pixel color analysis tool built with [AutoHotkey](https://www.autohotkey.com) v2. It provides detailed pixel inspection, multiple color formats, and practical tools for designers, developers, and digital artists.
## 🌟 Key Features
- **Integrated Color Palette:** Save sampled colors to a persistent palette. Supports up to 52 colors with automatic persistence across sessions.
- **Smart Palette Management:** Automatically prevents duplicate colors and includes a "Sort" feature to organize colors by perceptual luminance (dark to light).
- **Modern Menu Bar Interface:** Quick access to all features via a structured menu system (File, Settings, Palette, Help).
- **GDI+ Pixel Zoom Preview:** Inspect screen pixels in detail with a real-time zoom preview from **2x to 72x**.
- **DPI-Aware Sampling:** Uses per-monitor DPI awareness and physical-coordinate capture for precise color picking on mixed-DPI multi-monitor setups.
- **Active Pixel Highlighting:** The center pixel is marked with a high-contrast double border (black + white) for clear visibility.
- **Flexible UI Controls:** Toggle Zoom, Grid lines, and Auto-Update via checkboxes or the menu bar.
- **Extensive Color Format Support:** HEX, DEC, RGB, RGB (%), RGBA, BGR, CMYK, HSL, and HSV.
- **Color Name Recognition:** Detects standard named colors (e.g., AliceBlue, Crimson) instantly.
- **Detailed RGB Analysis:** Displays channel values numerically and with visual progress bars that change color based on intensity.
- **Configurable Hotkeys:** F1/F2 shortcut keys can be customized via `settings.ini`.
- **Unified Settings Persistence:** All settings (zoom, grid, auto-update, always-on-top) and the palette are saved and restored from a single `settings.ini` file.
- **Keyboard Shortcuts Dialog:** View all active shortcuts at a glance via Help → Keyboard Shortcuts.
- **Precision Shortcuts:** Custom hotkeys for micro-movements and quick actions, scoped to the main window to avoid conflicts.
## ⌨️ Shortcuts and Usage
1. **Track Motion:** Move the mouse anywhere on screen to inspect the current pixel in real time.
2. **Pause/Resume Updates:** Press F1 to toggle live updates (or use the Update checkbox/menu).
3. **Save Color to Palette:** Press F2 (or use the Add button/menu) to save the current color.
4. **Precision Mouse Move** *(main window must be active)*:
- Ctrl + Arrow Keys: Move the cursor by **1 pixel**.
- Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Keys: Move the cursor by **10 pixels**.
5. **Adjust Zoom:**
- Use the **Mouse Wheel** to increase/decrease zoom.
- Use the **Zoom Slider** for direct level selection.
6. **Toggle Zoom/Grid:**
- Use the **Zoom** checkbox/menu to show/hide zoom preview.
- Use **Grid lines** checkbox/menu to switch grid overlay on/off.
7. **Copy Values:** Click any `Copy` button to send the selected value to clipboard.
8. **View Shortcuts:** Use **Help → Keyboard Shortcuts** to see all active key bindings.
> **Note:** F1 and F2 hotkeys are configurable via `settings.ini` (`[Hotkeys]` section). They are scoped to the main window and do not conflict with other applications.
## 🛠️ Technical Setup
### Standalone Version (.exe)
Download and run the `.exe` file for your system from the [releases](https://github.com/akcansoft/Pixel-Color/releases) page.
### Running from Source
1. Install [AutoHotkey v2](https://www.autohotkey.com).
2. Download the source `AS Pixel Color.ahk`, `color_names.ahk` and `app_icon.ico` files from the [src/](https://github.com/akcansoft/Pixel-Color/tree/main/src) folder.
3. Place required files in the same directory.
4. Run the script by double-clicking the `AS Pixel Color.ahk` file.
## 📝 Version History
- **v2.5 (2026-02-20):**
- Replaced `palette.txt` with a unified `settings.ini` file that persists **all** application state: zoom level, zoom/grid/auto-update/always-on-top toggles, and the color palette.
- Added **configurable hotkeys**: F1 (Toggle Update) and F2 (Add Color) can now be reassigned via `settings.ini` under the `[Hotkeys]` section.
- Added **Keyboard Shortcuts** dialog (Help → Keyboard Shortcuts) showing all active key bindings.
- Scoped F1/F2 hotkeys to the main window only (no longer global), preventing conflicts with other applications.
- Arrow-key precision movement hotkeys also scoped to main window active state.
- **v2.4 (2026-02-17):**
- Added **Color Palette system** with persistence (`palette.txt`).
- Implemented **Duplicate Prevention** and **Luminance Sorting** for the palette.
- Added a **Comprehensive Menu Bar** for better feature accessibility.
- Expanded UI layout to accommodate the palette and improved control grouping.
- Added F2 shortcut for adding colors to the palette.
- Refactored technical core with a centralized `CONFIG` object.
- **v2.3 (2026-02-16):**
- Added DPI-aware capture flow with physical cursor/pixel sampling support.
- Refactored screen capture and zoom rendering to a bitmap-based, nearest-neighbor pipeline.
- Improved edge behavior by capturing an extra ring and safely filling out-of-screen regions.
- Updated zoom step set to **2x-72x** with refined progression.
- Updated UI controls: dedicated `Zoom` toggle placement and `About` button.
- Kept refresh performance optimized with change-driven updates and render locking.
- **v2.2 (2026-02-14):**
- Added a `Grid lines` toggle for the zoom preview.
- Reworked zoom system with predefined zoom steps and improved slider/mouse-wheel behavior.
- Improved preview logic to keep an adaptive visible area and more stable centering.
- Improved multi-monitor and screen-edge capture safety.
- Refactored update flow with centralized APP/State objects and render lock.
- Optimized refresh behavior to redraw only when position/color/zoom changes.
- Improved color conversion flow by reusing shared HSX calculations.
- **v2.1 (2026-02-13):**
- Added high-contrast active pixel highlighting.
- Added precision keyboard shortcuts for 1px and 10px cursor movement.
- Refactored grid updates for smoother performance.
- **v2.0 (2026-02-12):**
- Introduced GDI+ advanced zoom grid.
- Added HSL, HSV, and CMYK color formats.
- Added color name identification.
- Redesigned and modernized UI.
- Added mouse wheel zoom control.
- **v1.4 (2025-05-04):**
- Code optimization and performance improvements.
- **v1.3 (2024-04-18):**
- Added `Always on Top` option and tray icon adjustments.
- **v1.0 (2024-03-20):**
- Initial release.
## 👤 Author
**Mesut Akcan**
Email: [makcan@gmail.com](mailto:makcan@gmail.com)
Blog: [akcanSoft Blog](https://akcansoft.blogspot.com) | [Mesut Akcan Blog](https://mesutakcan.blogspot.com)\
YouTube: [YouTube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/mesutakcan)
## 🤝 Contributing
Contributions are welcome. Open a [pull request](https://github.com/akcansoft/Pixel-Color/pulls) or submit an [issue](https://github.com/akcansoft/Pixel-Color/issues) to suggest features or report bugs.