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WPF: A Simple Color Picker With Preview

By , 17 Apr 2012
 

Contents

Introduction

Yesterday, I posted an article about creating a WPF Graph, and when I post a new article, I always have a look at the new articles, including those awaiting public status. Yesterday, someone published a WPF color picker that looked really cool. The only problem was the code was not attached to that article and the article text gave you no clue as to how the damn thing worked. I joked to a fellow CodeProject author that I just may have to try and write a color picker for WPF, as this article sparked my interest a bit.

As luck would have it, I woke up today (Monday) and tried to get into work (I work in London and live 50 miles away), but was faced with the worst snow storm in the UK for some time. No trains/buses/taxis were on, so guess what I did? That's right, I wrote a color picker.

This article is it.

It is very simple actually. I should point out before I start that I did borrow an idea or two from other excellent sources from the www. So I would like to start by having a special thanks section.

Special Thanks Goes Out To

The Code

So how does it all work? Well, it is actually so simple you probably would think "Ha, is that it". Well yep, this next section explains all that is involved, which ain't that much. Simplicity is good.

There is a WPF Window called ColorDialog which holds the actual ColorPicker control. Here is the XAML:

<Window x:Class="WPFColorPickerLib.ColorDialog"
      xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
      xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
      xmlns:local="clr-namespace:WPFColorPickerLib"
      Icon="Images/ColorSwatchSquare.png"
      Title="Pick Color" Height="370" 
      KeyDown="Window_KeyDown"
      Width="520" 
      WindowStartupLocation="CenterOwner">
    <local:ColorPicker x:Name="colorPicker"/>
</Window>

This ColorDialog window is the one you can use from your own code. The ColorDialog window exposes a single property which is really just the value of the currently selected color within the contained ColorPicker control.

Here is the code-behind for the ColorDialog window:

public partial class ColorDialog : Window
{
    #region Ctor
    public ColorDialog()
    {
        InitializeComponent();
    }
    #endregion

    #region Public Properties
    public Color SelectedColor
    {
        get { return colorPicker.SelectedColor; }
    }
    #endregion

    #region Private Methods
    /// <summary>
    /// Closes the dialog on Enter key pressed
    /// </summary>
    private void Window_KeyDown(object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
    {
        if (e.Key == Key.Enter)
        {
            this.Close();
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// User is happy with choice
    /// </summary>
    private void btnOk_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
    {
        DialogResult = true;
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// User is not happy with choice
    /// </summary>
    private void btnCancel_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
    {
        DialogResult = false;
    }
    #endregion
}

And here is how you could use it from your own WPF code to set a Color:

private void btnPickColor_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
    ColorDialog colorDialog = new ColorDialog();
    colorDialog.Owner = this;
    if ((bool)colorDialog.ShowDialog())
    {
        RectColorPicked.Fill = new SolidColorBrush(colorDialog.SelectedColor);
    }
}

The actual ColorPicker control works as follows:

There are a number of static swatch images:

that the user may pick from, using the image buttons provided at the top of the ColorPicker control. The user is then able to use the mouse to move around the image, and also adjust the Alpha value using the slider. The SelectedColor is worked out based on where the mouse is in relationship to the current static swatch image. Basically, a single pixel under the mouse is retrieved from the current static swatch image, and this is made into a 1*1 byte array, and then the values within this 1*1 byte array are used to create a Color, taking into account the current Alpha slider value.

The following diagram may help to explain it a little better.

One of the nice things about this control is the Preview, which is simply using a WPF InkPresenter control and showing some strokes on it. And the nice checker background is easily achieved in WPF using a DrawingBrush.

In essence, that is how it works, so probably time for some code.

Here is the entire XAML for the ColorPicker control:

<UserControl x:Class="WPFColorPickerLib.ColorPicker"
      xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
      xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
      Height="340" Width="510">
    <UserControl.Resources>
        <DrawingBrush x:Key="CheckerboardBrush" 
        Stretch="None" TileMode="Tile" 
                 AlignmentX="Left" AlignmentY="Top" 
                 Viewport="0,0,10,10" ViewportUnits="Absolute">
            <DrawingBrush.Drawing>
                <DrawingGroup>
                    <GeometryDrawing Brush="sc# 1,1,1">
                        <GeometryDrawing.Geometry>
                            <RectangleGeometry Rect="0,0,10,10" />
                        </GeometryDrawing.Geometry>
                    </GeometryDrawing>
                    <GeometryDrawing Brush="sc# 0.5,0.5,0.5">
                        <GeometryDrawing.Geometry>
                            <RectangleGeometry Rect="0,0,5,5" />
                        </GeometryDrawing.Geometry>
                    </GeometryDrawing>
                    <GeometryDrawing Brush="sc# 0.5,0.5,0.5">
                        <GeometryDrawing.Geometry>
                            <RectangleGeometry Rect="5,5,5,5" />
                        </GeometryDrawing.Geometry>
                    </GeometryDrawing>
                </DrawingGroup>
            </DrawingBrush.Drawing>
        </DrawingBrush>
    </UserControl.Resources>

    <Grid Background="White">

        <Grid.RowDefinitions>
            <RowDefinition Height="35"/>
            <RowDefinition Height="230"/>
            <RowDefinition Height="70"/>
        </Grid.RowDefinitions>

        <StackPanel Grid.Row="0" Height="35" 
                    HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"
                    Orientation="Horizontal" 
                    Background="Black">
            <Label Content="Pick swatch type" 
                   Foreground="White" FontWeight="Bold" 
                   VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
            <Image x:Name="ImgSqaure1" 
                   Height="20" Width="20" 
                   Source="Images/ColorSwatchSquare.png" 
                   Margin="45,0,0,0" 
                   ToolTip="Square swatch1" 
                   MouseLeftButtonDown="Swatch_MouseLeftButtonDown"/>
            <Image x:Name="ImgSqaure2" 
                   Height="20" Width="20" 
                   Source="Images/ColorSwatchSquare2.png" Margin="5,0,0,0" 
                   ToolTip="Square swatch2" 
                   MouseLeftButtonDown="Swatch_MouseLeftButtonDown"/>
            <Image x:Name="ImgCircle1" Height="20" Width="20" 
                   Source="Images/ColorSwatchCircle.png" Margin="5,0,0,0" 
                   ToolTip="Circle swatch1" 
                   MouseLeftButtonDown="Swatch_MouseLeftButtonDown"/>
        </StackPanel>

        <Grid Grid.Row="1" Height="230" 
                       VerticalAlignment="Top">
            <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
                <ColumnDefinition Width="170"/>
                <ColumnDefinition Width="170"/>
                <ColumnDefinition Width="170"/>
            </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>

            <!-- Colorbox, Column1-->
            <Grid Grid.Column="0" 
                     Grid.Row="0" Margin="10,30,0,0" >

                <Border BorderBrush="Black" BorderThickness="2" 
                    HorizontalAlignment="Center" 
                    VerticalAlignment="Top"
                    Background="White"
                    Width="154" Height="154">
                </Border>
              
                
                
                <Image x:Name="ColorImage" 
                       Width="150" Height="150" 
                       HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                       VerticalAlignment="Top" Margin="2"
                       Source="Images/ColorSwatchSquare.png"/>

                <Canvas x:Name="CanvImage" 
                       Width="150" Height="150" 
                       HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                       Background="Transparent"
                       VerticalAlignment="Top" Margin="2"
                       MouseDown="CanvImage_MouseDown"
                       MouseUp="CanvImage_MouseUp"
                       MouseMove="CanvImage_MouseMove">
                    <Ellipse x:Name="ellipsePixel" Width="10" 
                       Height="10" Stroke="Black" Fill="White" 
                       Canvas.Left="0" Canvas.Top="0"/> 
                    
                </Canvas>


            </Grid>

            <!-- Preview, Column1-->
            <StackPanel Grid.Column="1" Orientation="Vertical" >
                <Label Content="Preview" Margin="5,0,0,0" 
                     HorizontalAlignment="Left" 
                     Foreground="Black" FontWeight="Bold" 
                     VerticalAlignment="Center"/>

                <Border Margin="4,5,10,0" Width="154" 
                        Height="154" 
                        HorizontalAlignment="Left" 
                        BorderBrush="Black" BorderThickness="2"
                        Background="{StaticResource CheckerboardBrush}">
                    <InkPresenter Name="previewPresenter" 
                        Margin="0" Width="150" Height="150"
                        Strokes="AOcBAxdIEESAgYAERYQBGwIAJAFGhAEbAgAk
                         AQUBOBkgMgkA9P8CAekiOkUzCQD4nwIBWiA6RTgIAP4DAAAAg
                         H8RAACAPx8JEQAAAAAAAPA/CpYBNIfm3uajgcQgUUiUkjUelE
                         al0KkUBh0HichlM1mtJotZp9JodDl8jk8ZgcBiUOjUYl08
                         m0+l0+lFCjksjESAh+kg6auNwaEwSBQiEQyLRKTRiVSiUSSORy
                         LQ6JQSBIPFYnKZTL5fOZfMZXL4/H47DYLBYHFoJLIpEo9GgIP3OB5
                         PlxLCJiZmU1MISSi4SJiS74+D4+4o" />
                </Border>

            </StackPanel>

            <!-- TextBoxes, Column2-->
            <StackPanel Grid.Column="2" Orientation="Vertical" >

                <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" Margin="0,30,0,0">
                    <Label Content="A" Margin="5,0,0,0" 
                            HorizontalAlignment="Left" 
                            Foreground="Black" FontWeight="Bold" 
                            VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
                    <Border CornerRadius="5" 
                            BorderBrush="Black" Background="LightGray" 
                            BorderThickness="2" 
                            Width="50" Height="30">
                        <TextBox x:Name="txtAlpha" 
                            BorderThickness="0" Background="LightGray" 
                            BorderBrush="Transparent" 
                            Margin="5,1,5,1" IsReadOnly="True"/>
                    </Border>
                    <Border CornerRadius="5" 
                            BorderBrush="Black" Background="LightGray" 
                            BorderThickness="2" Margin="10,0,0,0" 
                            Width="50" Height="30">
                        <TextBox x:Name="txtAlphaHex" BorderThickness="0" 
                            Background="LightGray" BorderBrush="Transparent"
                            Margin="5,1,5,1" IsReadOnly="True"/>
                    </Border>
                </StackPanel>

                <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" Margin="0,5,0,0">
                    <Label Content="R" Margin="5,0,0,0" 
                            HorizontalAlignment="Left" 
                            Foreground="Black" FontWeight="Bold" 
                            VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
                    <Border CornerRadius="5" BorderBrush="Black" 
                            Background="LightGray" 
                            BorderThickness="2" Width="50" 
                            Height="30">
                        <TextBox x:Name="txtRed" 
                            BorderThickness="0" Background="LightGray" 
                            BorderBrush="Transparent" 
                            Margin="5,1,5,1" IsReadOnly="True"/>
                    </Border>
                    <Border CornerRadius="5" 
                            BorderBrush="Black" Background="LightGray" 
                            BorderThickness="2" Margin="10,0,0,0" 
                            Width="50" Height="30">
                        <TextBox x:Name="txtRedHex" 
                            BorderThickness="0" Background="LightGray" 
                            BorderBrush="Transparent" 
                            Margin="5,1,5,1" IsReadOnly="True"/>
                    </Border>
                </StackPanel>

                <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" Margin="0,5,0,0">
                    <Label Content="G" Margin="5,0,0,0" 
                            HorizontalAlignment="Left" 
                            Foreground="Black" FontWeight="Bold" 
                            VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
                    <Border CornerRadius="5" 
                            BorderBrush="Black" Background="LightGray" 
                            BorderThickness="2" Width="50" Height="30">
                        <TextBox x:Name="txtGreen" BorderThickness="0" 
                            Background="LightGray" BorderBrush="Transparent" 
                            Margin="5,1,5,1" IsReadOnly="True"/>
                    </Border>
                    <Border CornerRadius="5" 
                            BorderBrush="Black" Background="LightGray"
                            BorderThickness="2" Margin="10,0,0,0" 
                            Width="50" Height="30">
                        <TextBox x:Name="txtGreenHex" BorderThickness="0"
                            Background="LightGray" BorderBrush="Transparent" 
                            Margin="5,1,5,1" IsReadOnly="True"/>
                    </Border>
                </StackPanel>

                <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" Margin="0,5,0,0">
                    <Label Content="B" Margin="5,0,0,0" 
                           HorizontalAlignment="Left" 
                           Foreground="Black" FontWeight="Bold" 
                           VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
                    <Border CornerRadius="5" BorderBrush="Black" 
                           Background="LightGray" 
                           BorderThickness="2" Width="50" Height="30">
                        <TextBox x:Name="txtBlue" 
                           BorderThickness="0" Background="LightGray" 
                           BorderBrush="Transparent" 
                           Margin="5,1,5,1" IsReadOnly="True"/>
                    </Border>
                    <Border CornerRadius="5" BorderBrush="Black" 
                            Background="LightGray" 
                            BorderThickness="2" Margin="10,0,0,0" 
                            Width="50" Height="30">
                        <TextBox x:Name="txtBlueHex" BorderThickness="0" 
                            Background="LightGray" BorderBrush="Transparent" 
                            Margin="5,1,5,1" IsReadOnly="True"/>
                    </Border>
                </StackPanel>

                <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" Margin="0,5,0,0">
                    <Border CornerRadius="5" Margin="22,0,0,0" 
                            Background="LightGray" 
                            BorderBrush="Black" BorderThickness="2" 
                            Width="112" Height="30">
                        <TextBox x:Name="txtAll"
                            BorderThickness="0" Background="LightGray" 
                            BorderBrush="Transparent" 
                            Margin="5,1,5,1" IsReadOnly="True"/>
                    </Border>
                </StackPanel>
                
            </StackPanel>
            
        </Grid>

        <!--AlphaSlider-->
        <Border x:Name="AlphaBorder" Grid.Row="2" Grid.ColumnSpan="2" 
                BorderBrush="Black" Height="60"
                BorderThickness="2" CornerRadius="5" Margin="10,5,10,5">
            <Slider x:Name="AlphaSlider" Orientation="Horizontal" 
                Minimum="0" Maximum="255" 
                SmallChange="1" LargeChange="25"
                VerticalAlignment="Center" Margin="5" 
                Value="255"
                ValueChanged="AlphaSlider_ValueChanged"/>
        </Border>
    </Grid>
</UserControl>

And here is all the C# code-behind for the ColorPicker control:

public partial class ColorPicker : UserControl
{
    #region Data
    private DrawingAttributes drawingAttributes = new DrawingAttributes();
    private Color selectedColor = Colors.Transparent;
    private Boolean IsMouseDown = false;
    #endregion

    #region Ctor
    public ColorPicker()
    {
        InitializeComponent();
        this.Loaded += new RoutedEventHandler(ColorPicker_Loaded);
    }
    #endregion

    #region Public Properties
    /// <summary>
    /// gets or privately sets the selected
    /// Color. When the Color is set 
    /// the CreateAlphaLinearBrush()/UpdateTextBoxes()
    /// and UpdateInk() methods are called
    /// </summary>
    public Color SelectedColor
    {
        get { return selectedColor; }
        private set
        {
            if (selectedColor != value)
            {
                selectedColor = value;
                CreateAlphaLinearBrush();
                UpdateTextBoxes();
                UpdateInk();
            }
        }
    }
    #endregion

    #region Private Methods
    /// <summary>
    /// Start with a default Color of black
    /// </summary>
    private void ColorPicker_Loaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
    {
        SelectedColor = Colors.Black;
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Creates a new LinearGradientBrush background for the
    /// Alpha area slider. This is based on the current color
    /// </summary>
    private void CreateAlphaLinearBrush()
    {
        Color startColor = Color.FromArgb(
                (byte)0,
                SelectedColor.R, 
                SelectedColor.G, 
                SelectedColor.B);

        Color endColor = Color.FromArgb(
                (byte)255,
                SelectedColor.R, 
                SelectedColor.G, 
                SelectedColor.B);

        LinearGradientBrush alphaBrush = 
            new LinearGradientBrush(startColor, endColor, 
                new Point(0, 0), new Point(1, 0));

        AlphaBorder.Background = alphaBrush;
    }


    /// <summary>
    /// apply the new Swatch image based on user requested swatch
    /// </summary>
    private void Swatch_MouseLeftButtonDown(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e)
    {
        Image img = (sender as Image);
        ColorImage.Source = img.Source;
    }


    /// <summary>
    /// Simply grab a 1*1 pixel from the current color image, and
    /// use that and copy the new 1*1 image pixels to a byte array and
    /// then construct a Color from that.
    /// </summary>
    private void CanvImage_MouseMove(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
    {
        if (!IsMouseDown)
            return;

        try
        {
            CroppedBitmap cb = new CroppedBitmap(ColorImage.Source as BitmapSource,
                new Int32Rect((int)Mouse.GetPosition(CanvImage).X,
                    (int)Mouse.GetPosition(CanvImage).Y, 1, 1));

            byte[] pixels = new byte[4];

            try
            {
                cb.CopyPixels(pixels, 4, 0);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                //Ooops
            }

            //Ok now, so update the mouse cursor position and the SelectedColor
            ellipsePixel.SetValue(Canvas.LeftProperty,
                                 (double)(Mouse.GetPosition(CanvImage).X-5));
            ellipsePixel.SetValue(Canvas.TopProperty, 
                                 (double)(Mouse.GetPosition(CanvImage).Y-5));
            CanvImage.InvalidateVisual();
            SelectedColor = Color.FromArgb((byte)AlphaSlider.Value, 
                                            pixels[2], pixels[1], pixels[0]);
        }
        catch (Exception exc)
        {
            //not much we can do
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Update text box values based on SelectedColor
    /// </summary>
    private void UpdateTextBoxes()
    {
        txtAlpha.Text = SelectedColor.A.ToString();
        txtAlphaHex.Text = SelectedColor.A.ToString("X");
        txtRed.Text = SelectedColor.R.ToString();
        txtRedHex.Text = SelectedColor.R.ToString("X");
        txtGreen.Text = SelectedColor.G.ToString();
        txtGreenHex.Text = SelectedColor.G.ToString("X");
        txtBlue.Text = SelectedColor.B.ToString();
        txtBlueHex.Text = SelectedColor.B.ToString("X");
        txtAll.Text = String.Format("#{0}{1}{2}{3}",
                txtAlphaHex.Text, txtRedHex.Text, 
                txtGreenHex.Text, txtBlueHex.Text);
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Updates Ink stroked based on SelectedColor
    /// </summary>
    private void UpdateInk()
    {
        drawingAttributes.Color = SelectedColor;
        drawingAttributes.StylusTip = StylusTip.Ellipse;
        drawingAttributes.Width = 5;

        // Update DA on previewPresenter
        foreach (Stroke s in previewPresenter.Strokes)
        {
            s.DrawingAttributes = drawingAttributes;
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Update SelectedColor Aplha based on Slider value
    /// </summary>
    private void AlphaSlider_ValueChanged(object sender, 
        RoutedPropertyChangedEventArgs<double> e)
    {
        SelectedColor = 
            Color.FromArgb(
                (byte)AlphaSlider.Value,
                SelectedColor.R, 
                SelectedColor.G, 
                SelectedColor.B);
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Change IsMouseDown state
    /// </summary>
    private void CanvImage_MouseDown(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e)
    {
        IsMouseDown = true;
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Change IsMouseDown state
    /// </summary>
    private void CanvImage_MouseUp(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e)
    {
        IsMouseDown = false;
    }
    #endregion
}

So What Do You Think?

I would just like to ask, if you liked the article, please vote for it, and leave some comments, as it lets me know if the article was at the right level or not, and whether it contained what people need to know.

More News

One of the readers of this article, a one Mark Treadwell, has taken this idea further and enhanced this dialog to allow the dialog to also show a selected Color on ShowDialog(), and also done various other enhancements. You can read more about this over at Mark's blog post at http://geekswithblogs.net/mtreadwell/archive/2010/01/03/137314.aspx, and here is a link to his source code: Marc's better ColorPicker.

A few people have asked for this, but I have been too busy, so thanks Marc.

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

About the Author

 Sacha Barber
Software Developer (Senior)
United Kingdom United Kingdom
Member
I currently hold the following qualifications (amongst others, I also studied Music Technology and Electronics, for my sins)
 
- MSc (Passed with distinctions), in Information Technology for E-Commerce
- BSc Hons (1st class) in Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence
 
Both of these at Sussex University UK.
 
Award(s)

I am lucky enough to have won a few awards for Zany Crazy code articles over the years

  • Microsoft C# MVP 2013
  • Codeproject MVP 2013
  • Microsoft C# MVP 2012
  • Codeproject MVP 2012
  • Microsoft C# MVP 2011
  • Codeproject MVP 2011
  • Microsoft C# MVP 2010
  • Codeproject MVP 2010
  • Microsoft C# MVP 2009
  • Codeproject MVP 2009
  • Microsoft C# MVP 2008
  • Codeproject MVP 2008
  • And numerous codeproject awards which you can see over at my blog

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Comments and Discussions

 
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First PrevNext
QuestionVery nice SachamemberMike Hankey18 Apr '12 - 1:31 
When are you going to reach God status in Author category? Smile | :)
VS2010/Atmel Studio 6.0 ToDo Manager Extension
Version 3.0 now available.
There is no place like 127.0.0.1
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AnswerRe: Very nice SachamvpSacha Barber18 Apr '12 - 2:23 
Thanks glad you like it, its an old one, I just did small update is all
Sacha Barber
  • Microsoft Visual C# MVP 2008-2012
  • Codeproject MVP 2008-2012
Open Source Projects
Cinch SL/WPF MVVM

Your best friend is you.
I'm my best friend too. We share the same views, and hardly ever argue
 
My Blog : sachabarber.net
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QuestionChanging form backroundmemberkumika16 Jan '12 - 8:59 
This is good stuff. However the slider does not work when you set form background. You get a dark colour. Why is that? Thanks
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Questionreally nicememberCIDev13 Dec '11 - 6:28 
For some reason I have always liked Color Pickers and this is a really nice one and the article is well written.
Just because the code works, it doesn't mean that it is good code.
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AnswerRe: really nicemvpSacha Barber13 Dec '11 - 20:19 
Make sure you grab Mark Treadwells one, he did a load of enhancements.
 
http://www.narboza.com/files/WPFColorPicker.zip
Sacha Barber
  • Microsoft Visual C# MVP 2008-2011
  • Codeproject MVP 2008-2011
Open Source Projects
Cinch SL/WPF MVVM

Your best friend is you.
I'm my best friend too. We share the same views, and hardly ever argue
 
My Blog : sachabarber.net
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QuestionLicensememberHabufe24 Jul '11 - 23:03 
Hello Sacha,
 
I have recently found this wonderful control and wanted to use it in a free application I am developing, however the license you chose (CPOL) is relatively restrictive in terms of what I am trying to do. Is it possible that you release it under a more permissive license such as GPL, MIT or even LGPL?
 
Regards,
Habufe
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AnswerRe: LicensemvpSacha Barber24 Jul '11 - 23:09 
Ah its just the codeproject license, as far as I am concerned do what you like with it, use it however you want
 

Make sure you check near the end of the article there is a couple of enhancements and there is a link to a chaps web site where he took this code and made it better.
 
This is the link : http://geekswithblogs.net/mtreadwell/archive/2010/01/03/137314.aspx
Sacha Barber
  • Microsoft Visual C# MVP 2008-2011
  • Codeproject MVP 2008-2011
Open Source Projects
Cinch SL/WPF MVVM

Your best friend is you.
I'm my best friend too. We share the same views, and hardly ever argue
 
My Blog : sachabarber.net
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GeneralRe: LicensememberHabufe24 Jul '11 - 23:41 
Hello Sacha,
 
Firstly, thanks for linking me to the updated version.
The CPOL license is very restrictive. It requires, for every modification done to the code, to "insert a prominent notice in each changed file stating how, when and where You changed that file.". It also forbids using the code "for illegal, immoral or improper purposes, or on pages containing illegal, immoral or improper material" which restricts a lot of possible uses because "immoral" and "improper" are very vague terms. It also does not state whether it is possible to use code under this license in a combination with other licenses or link it to programs licensed under other licenses, which is a problem because my program is largely GPL\MIT.
 
Regards,
Habufe
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GeneralRe: LicensemvpSacha Barber24 Jul '11 - 23:47 
It is quite restrictive I guess, have not checked truth be told. Its just what gets applied when you write for codeproject.
 
I have no issues people doing anything with any of my articles code though. Go ahead
Sacha Barber
  • Microsoft Visual C# MVP 2008-2011
  • Codeproject MVP 2008-2011
Open Source Projects
Cinch SL/WPF MVVM

Your best friend is you.
I'm my best friend too. We share the same views, and hardly ever argue
 
My Blog : sachabarber.net
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Questionthe codememberiNemo20 Aug '10 - 1:44 
Hello, nice control, used it as quick fix for feature request Smile | :) , however i'm little confused, why the code for picking the pixel color is so complicated (any special reason)? For ex. this is what I came up with after a while:
 
instead of this combo:
 
<Image x:Name="ColorImage" Width="150" Height="150" 
        HorizontalAlignment="Center"
        VerticalAlignment="Top" Margin="2"
        Source="..\Resources\ColorSwatchSquare.png"/>
<Canvas x:Name="CanvImage" Width="150" Height="150" 
        HorizontalAlignment="Center"
        Background="Transparent"
        VerticalAlignment="Top" Margin="2"
        MouseDown="CanvImage_MouseDown"
        MouseUp="CanvImage_MouseUp"
        MouseMove="CanvImage_MouseMove">
    <Ellipse x:Name="ellipsePixel" Width="10" 
        Height="10" Stroke="Black" Fill="White" 
        Canvas.Left="0" Canvas.Top="0"/>
</Canvas>
 
I use this:
 
<Canvas x:Name="CanvImage" Width="150" Height="150" HorizontalAlignment="Center" Margin="2" VerticalAlignment="Top" 
        MouseMove="CanvImage_MouseMove"
        MouseDown="CanvImage_MouseDown"
        MouseUp="CanvImage_MouseUp">
    <Canvas.Background>
        <ImageBrush>
            <ImageBrush.ImageSource>
                <BitmapImage x:Name="swatchBitmap" UriSource="..\Resources\ColorSwatchSquare.png"/>
            </ImageBrush.ImageSource>
        </ImageBrush>
    </Canvas.Background>
    <Ellipse x:Name="ellipsePixel" Width="10" 
        Height="10" Stroke="Black" Fill="White" 
        Canvas.Left="0" Canvas.Top="0"/>
</Canvas>
 
and the modification of code behind:
 
private void SetSolidColor()
{
    try
    {
        var mousePos = Mouse.GetPosition(CanvImage).CoerceToRectangle(new Size(swatchBitmap.PixelWidth, swatchBitmap.PixelHeight));
 
        var pixel = new byte[4];
        swatchBitmap.CopyPixels(new Int32Rect((int)mousePos.X, (int)mousePos.Y, 1, 1), pixel, 4, 0);
                
        ellipsePixel.SetValue(Canvas.LeftProperty, (mousePos.X - (ellipsePixel.Width / 2)));
        ellipsePixel.SetValue(Canvas.TopProperty, (mousePos.Y - (ellipsePixel.Height / 2)));
        CanvImage.InvalidateVisual();
        SelectedColor = Color.FromArgb((byte)AlphaSlider.Value, pixel[2], pixel[1], pixel[0]);
    }
    catch
    {
        //not much we can do
    }
}
 
private void CanvImage_MouseMove(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
    if (e.LeftButton == MouseButtonState.Pressed)
        SetSolidColor();
}
 
private void CanvImage_MouseDown(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e)
{
    SetSolidColor();
    CanvImage.CaptureMouse();
    //_isMouseDown = true;
}
 
private void CanvImage_MouseUp(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e)
{
    CanvImage.ReleaseMouseCapture();
    //_isMouseDown = false;
}
 
this runs much more efficient and also enables user to move cursor out of canvas and still get proper color preview etc
 
the CoerceToRectangle method is simple extension that just ensures that a point is within bounds (to avoid out of range exception in CopyPixels)
 
public static Point CoerceToRectangle(this Point position, Size rectangleSize)
{
    if (position.X < 0.0) position.X = 0.0;
    if (position.Y < 0.0) position.Y = 0.0;
 
    if (position.X >= rectangleSize.Width) position.X = rectangleSize.Width - 1.0;
    if (position.Y >= rectangleSize.Height) position.Y = rectangleSize.Height - 1.0;
 
    return position;
}
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About Article
A simple Color Picker with preview.
Type Article
Licence CPOL
First Posted 2 Feb 2009
Views 102,113
Downloads 2,701
Bookmarked 113 times

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