Is that Kule(r) or what?

I've been playing in Photoshop. Not in a look-at-my-fantastic-pictures sort of way, just trying to expand my knowledge of the software. I mean, once you've mastered the basics and get really good at removing ex-boyfriends from vacation pictures (long story, but they weren't mine), where else is there to go? Turns out, you can go lots of places.

One of the plug-in features I've discovered links to the most awesome website ever: an online community devoted totally and completely to color schemes! Color geeks all over the globe create and upload their own combinations for your viewing pleasure. You don't have to be a member check out the entries on the site or play to your heart's content.

It was designed as a place to experiment with color combinations and generate inspiration for print and web artists, but hello, quilters! If you haven't heard of Kuler, you really need to check it out! Just browsing through first page can conjure up a half dozen new projects!

All images from kuler.adobe.com

One of the functions enables you to pick a color and chose from seven different schemes (they call them "rules") to coordinate with it. In the spirit of Halloween, I chose orange...

Monochromatic

Analogous

Triadic, with the orange softened a bit

You can also just move those little nodes all over the place to create your own and see what your colors look like together.

Another function lets you extract colors out of an image to create a matching theme -- move the nodes to pinpoint colors in the image, and they appear below. Awesome.

It's serious color therapy! Cheaper than fabric and almost as fun!

Enjoy!