Stitchboard Support message #2
Re: Color Choosing Method
June 2, 2011 at 12:47:27 AM
 
Hi.  I'll be as non-technical as possible.  

The function of selecting Gradual tones or Artwork is only active when you have selected to manually limit the number of colors.  (Maybe I should disable it unless you choose to limit your colors).

When in Gradual color mode, it chooses the best matches of what's in the palette (i.e. Miyuki beads) with what's in your image.  It doesn't really care if two or more colors are close.  So, for example, you may get 5 similar blues.

In Artwork mode, it does this but also tries to weed out similar colors, so you get fewer total colors used.

As an example, I just tested the Pattern Wizard by feeding it a dull-colored image of a sock. Without making any setting changes, outputting it to the screen it created a pattern with 90 colors.  I then told it to limit the pattern to 15 colors and re-ran it (which defaults to the Gradual Colors mode).  It returned 15 colors, several of which look similar.  I then re-ran it with the Artwork setting and it actually returned the pattern with only 8 colors, since several of them would have been similar.  So in the Artwork mode, it tries to combine colors that are close.

Kind of technical but this is the easiest way I can explain it.  And, by the way, your question got me to thinking of whether I have my terms reversed.  In the Gradual artwork mode it gives a more even gradual result.  In the Artwork mode, it returns fewer colors, but those that it returns are less similar.  I may swap them at some point.

Bottom line, most of the settings are there to be played around with.  Some settings may give results more like what you may be looking for.  And some settings interact with others.

Let me know as questions come up, I'll be happy to answer them.  The subject you've already asked about is actually one of the most complex parts, so the rest should be easy!  

Terry

---