How do I pick colours from a bitmap image to create a vector colour palette?

Step 1: Import the bitmap image

1. Import the bitmap image you want to pick colours from. Check About Importing Bitmap Images for more information.

Step 2: Create a new palette

1. Do one of the following to create a new palette:
   • In the Colour View, click the New Palette button.
   • From the Colour view menu, select Palettes > New
     
2. The Palette Browser: Create Palette window appears:

3. In the New Palette Name input box, type the chosen name for the new palette.
4. In the Palette Type dropdown, choose Colour for the palette type.
5. At the bottom, click the OK button.

Step 3: Add new colour swatches

1. In the Colour view, select the new palette and then click the Add Colour button.

2. Add as many colour swatches as needed. More can always be added later.
3. Double-click on a colour swatch name to rename it. Alternatively you can also name the swatch by using the Colour Picker window shown below.

Step 4: Pick the colours from the bitmap image

1. In the Colour view, double-click on the coloured rectangle of the first colour swatch. 

2. The Colour Picker window appears:

3. On the right side of the Colour Picker window, locate the Eyedropper tool. 

4. Click and drag the Eyedropper tool over the imported image in the Camera view, and release it when it is hovering over the desired colour, as shown below:

5. If you didn’t name the swatch before, you can name it now by using the field in the Colour Picker window.

6. While the Colour Picker window is still open, click on the next colour swatch in the Colour view. This will switch the Colour Picker window to the selected swatch without having to close and open it for every swatch.

7. Repeat steps three to six as many times as necessary to create the full palette.
8. Close the Colour Picker window when finished.

Q&A 

Question: 

The image is really blurry and I’m having difficulties colour picking from it.

Answers: 

1. The imported image might have a low resolution. Double check the original bitmap’s DPI and canvas size and re-import the image with a higher resolution if possible.
2. Try adjusting the Bitmap Image Display Quality in Harmony. See Adjusting the Bitmap Image Display Quality for more information.

Question: 

Why has my imported image disappeared in the Camera view?

Answers: 

1. Check that the bitmap layer is selected in the Node view or in the Timeline view.
2. Check the bitmap image has an exposure, or a visible frame on the Timeline, and that your playhead is positioned on it.
3. Make sure you have the Camera view tab selected.

Question: 

Why doesn’t my New Palette Browser window look like the image in the article?

Answer: 

1. You may have the advanced palette activated. If you’d like to deactivate it, open the Preferences dialog box, go to the Advanced tab, and uncheck the Advanced Palette Lists option.

Question: 

Why do the colours of the image look different in Harmony when compared to the software it was made in?

Answer: 

It may be a colour space issue. The default colour space in Harmony is sRGB, if the colour space of your image is different, it can affect how the colours display. You may need to adjust your colour space in Harmony. See About Colour Space Management for more information.