kuler – Adobe’s version of Color Scheme Designer

kuler

Kuler is a great tool for all designers. It’s really similar to the Color Scheme Designer in the aspect that it composes several colors for you to use in your design.

It has several other features that make it even BETTER than CSD but there are tons of features missing too. Let’s start with the good stuff

What’s good

• pre-made themes including “random”, “newest”, “most popular”, and “highest rated” categories
• RSS feed for the “highest rated”
• Ability to create theme from an image (upload an image, or choose an image from flickr and select colors)
• community
• Presets for uploading an image (called “moods”)
• Ability to register and sign in to save and share themes

What’s not so good

• there are some reservations about the interface
• rather confusing color picking interface

What’s missing

• export features (you can’t export to PSD, CSS, or HTML as you can in CSD)
• no example sites (CSD allows you to look at example coloring)
• VERY limited color options
• no permalink

“What’s missing” seems not to be such a big deal, but it actually is. The “example site” feature on CSD is amazing and very useful. It can kick-start your imagination and it’s just really cool.

I don’t use the export features but it’s nice to know they’re available. Also, the color options in CSD are virtually LIMITLESS. There are TONS of presets while Kuler does not really have any of those great presets.

Kuler is great if you’re looking for pre-made color schemes and themes but it’s nothing compared to the Color Scheme Designer.

One feature though, that could win me over, is the “Create From An Image” ability that lets you use an image for the scheme. I will definitely try that out and report on it.