D. McC: Nov 17 2005 - Three things I don't find satisfactory about tk_chooseColor are (1) it doesn't continuously update the color display as you move the sliders; (2) it only shows you a tiny approximation of what color you will get if you move a slider to an area of the scale, and (3) it doesn't let you select colors by name. Here's some code that, whatever may be its shortcomings, doesn't have these three. Just configure the color-display button (.colo.color) to do what you want (e.g., "puts $color" in the code below); then save it as a file, source the file, and run the "wishcolor" command. In this self-contained version, the color names and components are explicitly included; of course you could modify the code if you really want to refer to "rgb.txt" and use "winfo rgb" and whatnot.
set colorlist [list \
{255 250 250 snow} \
{248 248 255 GhostWhite} \
{245 245 245 WhiteSmoke} \
{220 220 220 gainsboro} \
{255 250 240 FloralWhite} \
{253 245 230 OldLace} \
{250 240 230 linen} \
{250 235 215 AntiqueWhite} \
{255 239 213 PapayaWhip} \
{255 235 205 BlanchedAlmond} \
{255 228 196 bisque} \
{255 218 185 PeachPuff} \
{255 222 173 NavajoWhite} \
{255 228 181 moccasin} \
{255 248 220 cornsilk} \
{255 255 240 ivory} \
{255 250 205 LemonChiffon} \
{255 245 238 seashell} \
{240 255 240 honeydew} \
{245 255 250 MintCream} \
{240 255 255 azure} \
{240 248 255 AliceBlue} \
{230 230 250 lavender} \
{255 240 245 LavenderBlush} \
{255 228 225 MistyRose} \
{255 255 255 white} \
{0 0 0 black} \
{47 79 79 DarkSlateGray} \
{105 105 105 DimGray} \
{112 128 144 SlateGray} \
{119 136 153 LightSlateGray} \
{190 190 190 gray} \
{211 211 211 LightGray} \
{25 25 112 MidnightBlue} \
{0 0 128 NavyBlue} \
{100 149 237 CornflowerBlue} \
{72 61 139 DarkSlateBlue} \
{106 90 205 SlateBlue} \
{123 104 238 MediumSlateBlue} \
{132 112 255 LightSlateBlue} \
{0 0 205 MediumBlue} \
{65 105 225 RoyalBlue} \
{0 0 255 blue} \
{30 144 255 DodgerBlue} \
{0 191 255 DeepSkyBlue} \
{135 206 235 SkyBlue} \
{135 206 250 LightSkyBlue} \
{70 130 180 SteelBlue} \
{176 196 222 LightSteelBlue} \
{173 216 230 LightBlue} \
{176 224 230 PowderBlue} \
{175 238 238 PaleTurquoise} \
{0 206 209 DarkTurquoise} \
{72 209 204 MediumTurquoise} \
{64 224 208 turquoise} \
{0 255 255 cyan} \
{224 255 255 LightCyan} \
{95 158 160 CadetBlue} \
{102 205 170 MediumAquamarine} \
{127 255 212 aquamarine} \
{0 100 0 DarkGreen} \
{85 107 47 DarkOliveGreen} \
{143 188 143 DarkSeaGreen} \
{46 139 87 SeaGreen} \
{60 179 113 MediumSeaGreen} \
{32 178 170 LightSeaGreen} \
{152 251 152 PaleGreen} \
{0 255 127 SpringGreen} \
{124 252 0 LawnGreen} \
{0 255 0 green} \
{127 255 0 chartreuse} \
{0 250 154 MediumSpringGreen} \
{173 255 47 GreenYellow} \
{50 205 50 LimeGreen} \
{154 205 50 YellowGreen} \
{34 139 34 ForestGreen} \
{107 142 35 OliveDrab} \
{189 183 107 DarkKhaki} \
{240 230 140 khaki} \
{238 232 170 PaleGoldenrod} \
{250 250 210 LightGoldenrodYellow} \
{255 255 224 LightYellow} \
{255 255 0 yellow} \
{255 215 0 gold} \
{238 221 130 LightGoldenrod} \
{218 165 32 goldenrod} \
{184 134 11 DarkGoldenrod} \
{188 143 143 RosyBrown} \
{205 92 92 IndianRed} \
{139 69 19 SaddleBrown} \
{160 82 45 sienna} \
{205 133 63 peru} \
{222 184 135 burlywood} \
{245 245 220 beige} \
{245 222 179 wheat} \
{244 164 96 SandyBrown} \
{210 180 140 tan} \
{210 105 30 chocolate} \
{178 34 34 firebrick} \
{165 42 42 brown} \
{233 150 122 DarkSalmon} \
{250 128 114 salmon} \
{255 160 122 LightSalmon} \
{255 165 0 orange} \
{255 140 0 DarkOrange} \
{255 127 80 coral} \
{240 128 128 LightCoral} \
{255 99 71 tomato} \
{255 69 0 OrangeRed} \
{255 0 0 red} \
{255 105 180 HotPink} \
{255 20 147 DeepPink} \
{255 192 203 pink} \
{255 182 193 LightPink} \
{219 112 147 PaleVioletRed} \
{176 48 96 maroon} \
{199 21 133 MediumVioletRed} \
{208 32 144 VioletRed} \
{255 0 255 magenta} \
{238 130 238 violet} \
{221 160 221 plum} \
{218 112 214 orchid} \
{186 85 211 MediumOrchid} \
{153 50 204 DarkOrchid} \
{148 0 211 DarkViolet} \
{138 43 226 BlueViolet} \
{160 32 240 purple} \
{147 112 219 MediumPurple} \
{216 191 216 thistle} \
{255 250 250 snow1} \
{238 233 233 snow2} \
{205 201 201 snow3} \
{139 137 137 snow4} \
{255 245 238 seashell1} \
{238 229 222 seashell2} \
{205 197 191 seashell3} \
{139 134 130 seashell4} \
{255 239 219 AntiqueWhite1} \
{238 223 204 AntiqueWhite2} \
{205 192 176 AntiqueWhite3} \
{139 131 120 AntiqueWhite4} \
{255 228 196 bisque1} \
{238 213 183 bisque2} \
{205 183 158 bisque3} \
{139 125 107 bisque4} \
{255 218 185 PeachPuff1} \
{238 203 173 PeachPuff2} \
{205 175 149 PeachPuff3} \
{139 119 101 PeachPuff4} \
{255 222 173 NavajoWhite1} \
{238 207 161 NavajoWhite2} \
{205 179 139 NavajoWhite3} \
{139 121 94 NavajoWhite4} \
{255 250 205 LemonChiffon1} \
{238 233 191 LemonChiffon2} \
{205 201 165 LemonChiffon3} \
{139 137 112 LemonChiffon4} \
{255 248 220 cornsilk1} \
{238 232 205 cornsilk2} \
{205 200 177 cornsilk3} \
{139 136 120 cornsilk4} \
{255 255 240 ivory1} \
{238 238 224 ivory2} \
{205 205 193 ivory3} \
{139 139 131 ivory4} \
{240 255 240 honeydew1} \
{224 238 224 honeydew2} \
{193 205 193 honeydew3} \
{131 139 131 honeydew4} \
{255 240 245 LavenderBlush1} \
{238 224 229 LavenderBlush2} \
{205 193 197 LavenderBlush3} \
{139 131 134 LavenderBlush4} \
{255 228 225 MistyRose1} \
{238 213 210 MistyRose2} \
{205 183 181 MistyRose3} \
{139 125 123 MistyRose4} \
{240 255 255 azure1} \
{224 238 238 azure2} \
{193 205 205 azure3} \
{131 139 139 azure4} \
{131 111 255 SlateBlue1} \
{122 103 238 SlateBlue2} \
{105 89 205 SlateBlue3} \
{71 60 139 SlateBlue4} \
{72 118 255 RoyalBlue1} \
{67 110 238 RoyalBlue2} \
{58 95 205 RoyalBlue3} \
{39 64 139 RoyalBlue4} \
{0 0 255 blue1} \
{0 0 238 blue2} \
{0 0 205 blue3} \
{0 0 139 blue4} \
{30 144 255 DodgerBlue1} \
{28 134 238 DodgerBlue2} \
{24 116 205 DodgerBlue3} \
{16 78 139 DodgerBlue4} \
{99 184 255 SteelBlue1} \
{92 172 238 SteelBlue2} \
{79 148 205 SteelBlue3} \
{54 100 139 SteelBlue4} \
{0 191 255 DeepSkyBlue1} \
{0 178 238 DeepSkyBlue2} \
{0 154 205 DeepSkyBlue3} \
{0 104 139 DeepSkyBlue4} \
{135 206 255 SkyBlue1} \
{126 192 238 SkyBlue2} \
{108 166 205 SkyBlue3} \
{74 112 139 SkyBlue4} \
{176 226 255 LightSkyBlue1} \
{164 211 238 LightSkyBlue2} \
{141 182 205 LightSkyBlue3} \
{96 123 139 LightSkyBlue4} \
{198 226 255 SlateGray1} \
{185 211 238 SlateGray2} \
{159 182 205 SlateGray3} \
{108 123 139 SlateGray4} \
{202 225 255 LightSteelBlue1} \
{188 210 238 LightSteelBlue2} \
{162 181 205 LightSteelBlue3} \
{110 123 139 LightSteelBlue4} \
{191 239 255 LightBlue1} \
{178 223 238 LightBlue2} \
{154 192 205 LightBlue3} \
{104 131 139 LightBlue4} \
{224 255 255 LightCyan1} \
{209 238 238 LightCyan2} \
{180 205 205 LightCyan3} \
{122 139 139 LightCyan4} \
{187 255 255 PaleTurquoise1} \
{174 238 238 PaleTurquoise2} \
{150 205 205 PaleTurquoise3} \
{102 139 139 PaleTurquoise4} \
{152 245 255 CadetBlue1} \
{142 229 238 CadetBlue2} \
{122 197 205 CadetBlue3} \
{83 134 139 CadetBlue4} \
{0 245 255 turquoise1} \
{0 229 238 turquoise2} \
{0 197 205 turquoise3} \
{0 134 139 turquoise4} \
{0 255 255 cyan1} \
{0 238 238 cyan2} \
{0 205 205 cyan3} \
{0 139 139 cyan4} \
{151 255 255 DarkSlateGray1} \
{141 238 238 DarkSlateGray2} \
{121 205 205 DarkSlateGray3} \
{82 139 139 DarkSlateGray4} \
{127 255 212 aquamarine1} \
{118 238 198 aquamarine2} \
{102 205 170 aquamarine3} \
{69 139 116 aquamarine4} \
{193 255 193 DarkSeaGreen1} \
{180 238 180 DarkSeaGreen2} \
{155 205 155 DarkSeaGreen3} \
{105 139 105 DarkSeaGreen4} \
{84 255 159 SeaGreen1} \
{78 238 148 SeaGreen2} \
{67 205 128 SeaGreen3} \
{46 139 87 SeaGreen4} \
{154 255 154 PaleGreen1} \
{144 238 144 PaleGreen2} \
{124 205 124 PaleGreen3} \
{84 139 84 PaleGreen4} \
{0 255 127 SpringGreen1} \
{0 238 118 SpringGreen2} \
{0 205 102 SpringGreen3} \
{0 139 69 SpringGreen4} \
{0 255 0 green1} \
{0 238 0 green2} \
{0 205 0 green3} \
{0 139 0 green4} \
{127 255 0 chartreuse1} \
{118 238 0 chartreuse2} \
{102 205 0 chartreuse3} \
{69 139 0 chartreuse4} \
{192 255 62 OliveDrab1} \
{179 238 58 OliveDrab2} \
{154 205 50 OliveDrab3} \
{105 139 34 OliveDrab4} \
{202 255 112 DarkOliveGreen1} \
{188 238 104 DarkOliveGreen2} \
{162 205 90 DarkOliveGreen3} \
{110 139 61 DarkOliveGreen4} \
{255 246 143 khaki1} \
{238 230 133 khaki2} \
{205 198 115 khaki3} \
{139 134 78 khaki4} \
{255 236 139 LightGoldenrod1} \
{238 220 130 LightGoldenrod2} \
{205 190 112 LightGoldenrod3} \
{139 129 76 LightGoldenrod4} \
{255 255 224 LightYellow1} \
{238 238 209 LightYellow2} \
{205 205 180 LightYellow3} \
{139 139 122 LightYellow4} \
{255 255 0 yellow1} \
{238 238 0 yellow2} \
{205 205 0 yellow3} \
{139 139 0 yellow4} \
{255 215 0 gold1} \
{238 201 0 gold2} \
{205 173 0 gold3} \
{139 117 0 gold4} \
{255 193 37 goldenrod1} \
{238 180 34 goldenrod2} \
{205 155 29 goldenrod3} \
{139 105 20 goldenrod4} \
{255 185 15 DarkGoldenrod1} \
{238 173 14 DarkGoldenrod2} \
{205 149 12 DarkGoldenrod3} \
{139 101 8 DarkGoldenrod4} \
{255 193 193 RosyBrown1} \
{238 180 180 RosyBrown2} \
{205 155 155 RosyBrown3} \
{139 105 105 RosyBrown4} \
{255 106 106 IndianRed1} \
{238 99 99 IndianRed2} \
{205 85 85 IndianRed3} \
{139 58 58 IndianRed4} \
{255 130 71 sienna1} \
{238 121 66 sienna2} \
{205 104 57 sienna3} \
{139 71 38 sienna4} \
{255 211 155 burlywood1} \
{238 197 145 burlywood2} \
{205 170 125 burlywood3} \
{139 115 85 burlywood4} \
{255 231 186 wheat1} \
{238 216 174 wheat2} \
{205 186 150 wheat3} \
{139 126 102 wheat4} \
{255 165 79 tan1} \
{238 154 73 tan2} \
{205 133 63 tan3} \
{139 90 43 tan4} \
{255 127 36 chocolate1} \
{238 118 33 chocolate2} \
{205 102 29 chocolate3} \
{139 69 19 chocolate4} \
{255 48 48 firebrick1} \
{238 44 44 firebrick2} \
{205 38 38 firebrick3} \
{139 26 26 firebrick4} \
{255 64 64 brown1} \
{238 59 59 brown2} \
{205 51 51 brown3} \
{139 35 35 brown4} \
{255 140 105 salmon1} \
{238 130 98 salmon2} \
{205 112 84 salmon3} \
{139 76 57 salmon4} \
{255 160 122 LightSalmon1} \
{238 149 114 LightSalmon2} \
{205 129 98 LightSalmon3} \
{139 87 66 LightSalmon4} \
{255 165 0 orange1} \
{238 154 0 orange2} \
{205 133 0 orange3} \
{139 90 0 orange4} \
{255 127 0 DarkOrange1} \
{238 118 0 DarkOrange2} \
{205 102 0 DarkOrange3} \
{139 69 0 DarkOrange4} \
{255 114 86 coral1} \
{238 106 80 coral2} \
{205 91 69 coral3} \
{139 62 47 coral4} \
{255 99 71 tomato1} \
{238 92 66 tomato2} \
{205 79 57 tomato3} \
{139 54 38 tomato4} \
{255 69 0 OrangeRed1} \
{238 64 0 OrangeRed2} \
{205 55 0 OrangeRed3} \
{139 37 0 OrangeRed4} \
{255 0 0 red1} \
{238 0 0 red2} \
{205 0 0 red3} \
{139 0 0 red4} \
{255 20 147 DeepPink1} \
{238 18 137 DeepPink2} \
{205 16 118 DeepPink3} \
{139 10 80 DeepPink4} \
{255 110 180 HotPink1} \
{238 106 167 HotPink2} \
{205 96 144 HotPink3} \
{139 58 98 HotPink4} \
{255 181 197 pink1} \
{238 169 184 pink2} \
{205 145 158 pink3} \
{139 99 108 pink4} \
{255 174 185 LightPink1} \
{238 162 173 LightPink2} \
{205 140 149 LightPink3} \
{139 95 101 LightPink4} \
{255 130 171 PaleVioletRed1} \
{238 121 159 PaleVioletRed2} \
{205 104 137 PaleVioletRed3} \
{139 71 93 PaleVioletRed4} \
{255 52 179 maroon1} \
{238 48 167 maroon2} \
{205 41 144 maroon3} \
{139 28 98 maroon4} \
{255 62 150 VioletRed1} \
{238 58 140 VioletRed2} \
{205 50 120 VioletRed3} \
{139 34 82 VioletRed4} \
{255 0 255 magenta1} \
{238 0 238 magenta2} \
{205 0 205 magenta3} \
{139 0 139 magenta4} \
{255 131 250 orchid1} \
{238 122 233 orchid2} \
{205 105 201 orchid3} \
{139 71 137 orchid4} \
{255 187 255 plum1} \
{238 174 238 plum2} \
{205 150 205 plum3} \
{139 102 139 plum4} \
{224 102 255 MediumOrchid1} \
{209 95 238 MediumOrchid2} \
{180 82 205 MediumOrchid3} \
{122 55 139 MediumOrchid4} \
{191 62 255 DarkOrchid1} \
{178 58 238 DarkOrchid2} \
{154 50 205 DarkOrchid3} \
{104 34 139 DarkOrchid4} \
{155 48 255 purple1} \
{145 44 238 purple2} \
{125 38 205 purple3} \
{85 26 139 purple4} \
{171 130 255 MediumPurple1} \
{159 121 238 MediumPurple2} \
{137 104 205 MediumPurple3} \
{93 71 139 MediumPurple4} \
{255 225 255 thistle1} \
{238 210 238 thistle2} \
{205 181 205 thistle3} \
{139 123 139 thistle4} \
{169 169 169 DarkGray} \
{0 0 139 DarkBlue} \
{0 139 139 DarkCyan} \
{139 0 139 DarkMagenta} \
{139 0 0 DarkRed} \
{144 238 144 LightGreen}]
set colorlist [lsort -dictionary -index end $colorlist]
# Procedure for setting up color selection box:
# RGB Color-setting Scale
# from Graphical Applications with Tcl and Tk, 2nd edition, Chapter 3
# by Eric Foster-Johnson
# modified by David McClamrock
# Thanks to Ulrich Schöbel for suggesting that I add color names,
# and for contributing some code!
proc wishcolor {} {
# Set variables for red, green, blue, color selected,
# and hexadecimal code color; set background
# (number 128 will be midpoint of color scale):
global red green blue color hex colorlist showname
toplevel .colo
wm title .colo "WISH Color Picker"
tk_setPalette background bisque selectBackground cyan
set red 255
set green 204
set blue 153
set color ""
set showname nothing
set hex black
grid [label .colo.pick -text "Right-click or double left-click\
color name (or move sliders)" -bg "#FFF0E4" -pady 4] \
-row 0 -column 0 -columnspan 5 -sticky news
# Sliding scale to change the amount of red:
set scaleng 200 ; # Length of scales
set scalwid 12 ; # Width of scales
set slidleng 24 ; # Length of sliders
grid [label .colo.reddo -text "Red : "] \
-row 1 -column 0 -sticky news
grid [scale .colo.red -from 0 -to 255 -orient horizontal \
-length $scaleng -width $scalwid -sliderlength $slidleng \
-variable red -activebackground red -tickinterval 64 \
-command "modify_color red"] \
-row 1 -column 1 -columnspan 2 -sticky news
# Same for green and blue:
grid [label .colo.greeno -text "Green : "] \
-row 2 -column 0 -sticky news
grid [scale .colo.green -from 0 -to 255 -orient horizontal \
-length $scaleng -width $scalwid -sliderlength $slidleng \
-variable green -activebackground green -tickinterval 64 \
-command "modify_color green"] \
-row 2 -column 1 -columnspan 2 -sticky news
grid [label .colo.bluey -text "Blue : "] \
-row 3 -column 0 -sticky news
grid [scale .colo.blue -from 0 -to 255 -orient horizontal \
-length $scaleng -width $scalwid -sliderlength $slidleng \
-variable blue -activebackground blue -tickinterval 64 \
-command "modify_color blue"] \
-row 3 -column 1 -columnspan 2 -sticky news
foreach scala [list .colo.red .colo.green .colo.blue] {
bind $scala <ButtonRelease-1> {
catch {.colo.list selection clear 0 end}
}
}
# Scrolling listbox for color names:
grid [listbox .colo.list -bg "#FFFFF0" -width 20] \
-row 1 -column 3 -rowspan 4 -sticky news
grid [scrollbar .colo.rolly -width 12 -command ".colo.list yview"] \
-row 1 -column 4 -rowspan 4 -sticky news
.colo.list configure -yscrollcommand ".colo.rolly set"
foreach couleur $colorlist {
.colo.list insert end [lindex $couleur end]
}
.colo.rolly configure -command ".colo.list yview"
bind .colo.list <Double-Button-1> {
set item [.colo.list curselection]
set showname [.colo.list get $item]
pickname $item
}
bind .colo.list <Button-3> {
.colo.list selection clear 0 end
set clixel %y
set clickline [.colo.list nearest $clixel]
.colo.list selection set $clickline $clickline
set item [.colo.list curselection]
set showname [.colo.list get $item]
pickname $item
}
# Labeled button to show the color selected:
grid [label .colo.pico -text "PICK: "] -row 4 -column 0 -sticky news
grid [button .colo.color -textvariable color -border 4 -pady 4] \
-row 4 -column 1 -sticky news
grid [button .colo.close -text "Close" -command {destroy .colo}] \
-row 4 -column 2 -sticky news
# Tell the color-selection button what to do
# (modify this to fit the purpose at hand):
.colo.color configure -command {puts $color}
}
# Procedure for changing the color selected:
proc modify_color {which_color value} {
global color red green blue showname
switch $which_color {
red {set red $value}
green {set green $value}
blue {set blue $value}
}
if {[expr $red + $green + $blue < 480] && \
[expr $green < 180]} {
set hex white
} else {
set hex black
}
if {$color ne $showname} {
set color [format "#%2.2X%2.2X%2.2X" \
$red $green $blue]
}
.colo.color configure -background $color \
-foreground $hex
}
# Procedure for getting a color name selection
# to make the sliders move and the color code change:
proc pickname {item} {
global color colorlist red green blue showname
set listline [lindex $colorlist $item]
set red [lindex $listline 0]
modify_color red $red
set green [lindex $listline 1]
modify_color green $green
set blue [lindex $listline 2]
modify_color blue $blue
set color $showname
set showname nothing
}
# Test in interactive mode, after saving as "wishcolor.tcl":
source wishcolor.tcl
wishcolorRLH 2005-11-17: I would have expected the scrollbar for the colors to be on the right and not the left.
D. McC Nov 18 2005 - Many months ago, if I recall correctly, I tried putting it on the right, and I thought it looked funny because there wasn't a clear enough separation between the listbox (which scrolled) and the scales (which didn't). Today I tried it again, and it looked OK on the right after all, so I changed the code above to put it on the right. Thanks!
TWu 2025-02-26 - Removed an essential space in the last line of code ;-)
As mentioned in other color pickers/selectors, we can get the color values for color names by 'winfo rgb window color', so the list could be more compact and open for future changes.