Kuler Workflow
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars

Kuler Workflow

Posted on 05. Mar, 2009 by Jerzy Drozda Jr in After Effects

Ever worked with Adobe Kuler? Ever wanted to use it’s color schemes in After Effects? Now you can. It’s fast, it’s easy, it’s simple, and it’s free!


Adobe Kuler is a great website where designers from all over the world create and exchange color schemes. Kuler has several algorithms to help you create your very own color scheme, plus it allows rating and commenting on existing schemes, that can be downloaded in Adobe Swatch Exchange format.

Kuler Desktop is also available for download. It’s a small AIR application that connects with Kuler service and allows you to browse through the schemes directly from your desktop. It’s great.

However it is very hard to get the color schemes into After Effects. The simplest solution is to create a screen-grab and putting it in you project. Unfortunately that takes some time to do, especially when you are just starting your project and want to test out several different color palettes.

Jeff Almasol from redefinery.com has published a great set of useful scripts for After Effects that are available on Adobe Exchange. I just love his work. This package includes great script “Swatch You Want”, however I personally find it a little bit difficult to use.

That’s where this tutorial comes in. I found a very fast and efficient way of grabbing color palettes from Kuler Desktop and placing them directly in After Effects. Download the provided project file to check it out on your own. I hope you’ll like it.

Update!

I said that it is possible to sample colors directly from Kuler Desktop using the EyeDropper tool. Thats turns out not to be true (at least on Windows XP x64).

If you want to have my KulerSwatches project imported automatically when you open up your After Effects please check out Lloyd Alvarez script.

Happy AfterEffecting!

Download: Tutorial project file (After Effects CS3)

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Digg
  • Technorati
  • del.icio.us
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Wykop
  • Reddit
  • email
  • Print

Tags: , ,

62 Responses to “Kuler Workflow”

  1. Rafael Guerra

    05. Mar, 2009

    awesome!

    Reply to this comment
  2. Lubos Buracinsky

    06. Mar, 2009

    haha! pretty kuul!
    a must for a designer.
    Thanks Jerzy

    Reply to this comment
  3. Nick D. Clements

    06. Mar, 2009

    Super clever solution! Plus a “bonus” tip: guide layers.

    Reply to this comment
  4. rev_65

    06. Mar, 2009

    One word…SAHH-WEET!!!

    Reply to this comment
  5. James Wicks

    06. Mar, 2009

    You’re a genius!
    Thank you very much for this.

    Reply to this comment
  6. Bartłomiej

    06. Mar, 2009

    Dziękujemy;p

    Reply to this comment
  7. illd

    06. Mar, 2009

    Very, very usefull.
    Thank you Maltaannon!

    Reply to this comment
  8. illd

    06. Mar, 2009

    I want to setup the Kulerprojekt as Autostart Template in AE.
    I know this is possible but I cant find the Folder where I have to copy it. Can somebody help me?

    Reply to this comment
  9. Maltaannon

    06. Mar, 2009

    Here’s a link: http://aescripts.com/load-project-at-startup/ It’s a good idea to have that at startup. I’m going to update the tutorial and show how to do it.

    Reply to this comment
  10. Amit Zinman

    07. Mar, 2009

    As expected it is not working with Vista 64-bit. I copy and paste but perhaps Vista keeps separate clipboards for 32-bit and 64-bit because when I paste in AE it pastes something I copied in Firefox like a day ago, but when I paste in Notepad, it looks fine.
    So where is my 64-bit AE?

    Reply to this comment
  11. Maltaannon

    07. Mar, 2009

    That is a general issue with AE. It happens sometimes. Not always. Hard to say what’s causing it. Even with if you want to copy tracking data from Mocha to AE. Restarting AE helps. If you want to copy values from Kuler it’s always best to plan for it and do it when you start your project and open a fresh copy of AE.

    Reply to this comment
  12. illd

    08. Mar, 2009

    Concerning the 64 bit issue:
    You have to restart AE and then the copying of the data will work again. Sometimes for a minute sometimes for a hour – Microsoft you suck!

    Reply to this comment
  13. Mark Bowen

    08. Mar, 2009

    Thanks for the file that’s a brilliant solution. Always wondered if the copied values could somehow be integrated using Javascript and I’ve been proven right that it can be so very very thankful for this one. Well done.

    Just wondering though, how exactly does this work? I opened up the Paste Here layer and saw an expression with some javascript but couldn’t really understand it. What does it all mean?

    Best wishes,

    Mark

    Reply to this comment
  14. illd

    09. Mar, 2009

    @ Mark Bowen: Start the expressionhelpfile inside AE. It gives a really good intoduction to Expressions also with a lot of good examples

    Reply to this comment
  15. Maltaannon

    10. Mar, 2009

    Well… I’m not going to go through the code, since that would take up to mych time and explaining. The basic concept is to take the string (text) value, split it to five elements (based on comma separation), and then read the values.

    The color values are presented in HEX code (sometimes referred to as web code). It consists of six chars. Each pair of chars represents one of the RGB color values. They add up to a total of 3 pairs (two chars for each channel).

    Then simply convert the HEX number into DEC number and linearly change the range from <0,255> to <0,1> for each channel, make alpha channel opaque, and apply the results to an array [R, G, B, A].

    Reply to this comment
  16. Ei_b3low

    24. Jun, 2009

    in AECS3 not supported do that, how to can drag and drop kuler in AECS3 as comp?

    Reply to this comment
  17. peter

    26. Jun, 2009

    thank you. thats great stuff !!!

    Reply to this comment
  18. rudi

    01. Jul, 2009

    this has totally improved my workflow, thanks maltaannon =)

    Reply to this comment
  19. david

    29. Jul, 2009

    Excellant. I was using GenoPal, copying the hex values by hand and then using them in AE. The flow flows much easier.

    Reply to this comment
  20. crystal

    07. Aug, 2009

    I have the same issue as Ei_b3low… I can’t get drag and drop the kuler application to AECS3. What am I doing wrong? Thank you for your help! And thank you for all your great tutorials!!

    Reply to this comment
    • Jerzy Drozda Jr

      07. Aug, 2009

      That’s the thing. You can’t drag and drop the Kuleronto After Effects. That’s why I made the project file that you can use along with the color swatches value. Please watch the tutorial again. I’m sure you’ll see it this time.

      Reply to this comment
      • coolnails

        01. Nov, 2009

        I also have the issue,how can you drag and drop the kuler color theme to AECS3 as a comp. I have used the project file you provide and tried both cs3 and cs4 version .But both did not work. I already know how to use color swatches value to work. But in tutorial you did drag and drop a color theme into AE as a comp,how did you do that?

        Reply to this comment
      • coolnails

        01. Nov, 2009

        oh,I want one thing:My system is win7 64bit. Dose this matter?

        Reply to this comment
        • coolnails

          01. Nov, 2009

          LOL,
          I know why.You did not drag color theme ,you drag a project.
          Forgive my poor English.
          Thanks for the tutorial.

          Reply to this comment
  21. crystal

    12. Aug, 2009

    Oh, ok. Thank you for taking the time to respond! You’re the best!!

    Reply to this comment
  22. Eduardo

    20. Aug, 2009

    Great expression.
    Real usefull.

    Reply to this comment
  23. Steve Martin

    24. Aug, 2009

    Or, Mac fans can check this out http://tinyurl.com/6be3kg

    Reply to this comment
  24. dencit

    30. Aug, 2009

    it doesnt work in cs4

    Reply to this comment
    • SOSA

      08. Sep, 2009

      it works fine for me…I followed the tutorial and didn’t have any problem, and I’m using CS4

      Reply to this comment
  25. SOsa

    08. Sep, 2009

    OMG that was amazing, you’re a genius man!! this is huge and it’s gonna be so helpful!! thanx!!

    Reply to this comment
  26. swaroop

    01. Nov, 2009

    This is just great …. i try both ways but i love your method is so cool &easy !! basically its helpful when i pass project to some one.. its come in handy.

    Reply to this comment
  27. Nate Tull

    03. Nov, 2009

    I tried to drag the swatch from Kuler onto Ae and it didnt work. It just made a single swatch on my monitor, no import into Ae. Sucks cuz I could really use this.

    Reply to this comment
    • Jerzy Drozda Jr

      04. Nov, 2009

      It doesn’t work that way. I don’t understand how some of you think it does. I made it clear in the tutorial. Watch it again, you’ll see what I mean.

      Reply to this comment
  28. [...] 作者:maltaannon      原教程链接 [...]

    Reply to this comment
  29. O[range]

    18. Feb, 2010

    VERY useful tutorial, thank you!!!

    Reply to this comment
  30. Dimitris

    10. Mar, 2010

    BRAVO!!!!!!

    Jerzy

    Reply to this comment
  31. wholesale mlb jerseys

    15. Jul, 2010

    Thank you for your sharing.I’m very interested in wholesale mlb jerseys.There are so many famouse mlb stars jerseys,we have New York Yankees Derek Jeter Jersey.So I an fascinated to the Philadelphia Phillies Chase Utley Jersey,no matter any one of mlb stars juse like Minnesota Twins Joe Mauer Jersey and Boston RedSox Dustin Pedroia Jersey,which are my best witness as the St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols Jersey fans!

    Reply to this comment
  32. cheap handbags

    16. Jul, 2010

    notice me!

    Reply to this comment
  33. [...] color swatches.Jerzy Drozda, Jr. (Maltaannon) provides a video tutorial (and example project), Kuler Workflow, that shows how to copy and paste from the Adobe Kuler desktop application to bring color swatches [...]

    Reply to this comment
  34. Christophe

    20. Jan, 2011

    Don’t work on win7 x64 & Ae CS5

    Reply to this comment
  35. Megan

    24. Feb, 2011

    The main thing is: is it safe?

    Reply to this comment
  36. George Andreoni

    14. Apr, 2011

    Very wild.
    Thanks.

    Reply to this comment
  37. tiffany outlet

    18. Apr, 2011

    Thanks so much for the wonderful post on us! We’re going to send this around .The blog looks great!

    Reply to this comment
  38. [...] can easily select the color you want with they eyedropper tool. For more information on this, watch Maltaannon’s tutorial which comes up later in this [...]

    Reply to this comment
  39. g star jeans

    09. Aug, 2011

    i love you。

    Reply to this comment
  40. jordan air max

    15. Aug, 2011

    thanks for your job

    Reply to this comment
  41. ブランド 腕時計

    23. Aug, 2011

    へようこそ。当社は2004年に設立され、2006年にインターネットマーケティング事業にコミットされました。 の大きな需要が常にあり、よく販売している。最近、我々はいくつかの新しいsac à mainして、当社のウェブサイト上でそれらを更新。ここでは見つけることができるいくつかの稀少ある、他のウェブサイトから見つけることは困難れた。NBAジャージはhotsaleで常にもです。
    私たちは、お客様から多くの偉大なコメントを得て、外国のmakertsで良い評判を獲得している、90%以上のお客様は今すぐオンラインメンバーが80,000を超えてまで、当社の製品およびサービスに満足しています。今の時点で、我々は現在、18カ国以上から顧客にサービスを提供し、そして我々はまだ成長している。私たちは本当に世界中から個人や企業との協力を通じて事業拡大を願っています。

    Reply to this comment
  42. international trade

    08. Sep, 2011

    Hi, the article is so wonderful, I am interested in it. I will pay attention to your articles.

    Reply to this comment
  43. Name (required)

    08. Sep, 2011

    very nice information, i would surely come again, thanks

    Reply to this comment
  44. packers jersey

    21. Sep, 2011

    This article is very attractive and interesting, I will share it with my friends on Facebook.

    Reply to this comment
  45. canada goose jakker

    22. Sep, 2011

    you will find the amazing canada goose jacket you really want

    Reply to this comment
  46. louis vuitton sac

    22. Sep, 2011

    Fashional lv , just show yourself now

    Reply to this comment
  47. uggs schoenen

    22. Sep, 2011

    I like the shop: uggs schoenen. The service is really excellent.

    Reply to this comment
  48. canada goose jakker

    29. Sep, 2011

    finner du det fantastiske jakken du virkelig ønsker.

    Reply to this comment
  49. uggs norge

    06. Oct, 2011

    e deg de gode Uggs

    Reply to this comment
  50. canada goose jakker

    08. Oct, 2011

    Billig Canada Goose jakker .

    Reply to this comment
  51. Name (required)

    19. Oct, 2011

    Reply to this comment
  52. xsw123

    02. Nov, 2011

    バーバリー サングラス」は、1856年創業の、イギリスを代表するファッションブランド。
    創業者であるトーマス・バーバリー(Thomas Burberry)は、1835年イギリス・サリー州ブロッカムグリーンで誕生しました。 1924年有名な” バーバリー バッグ・チェック”が誕生。コートの裏地としてデザインされたのが起源で、いつの時代にも定番の柄として愛されています。人気の一流ブランド特集の第6弾は、 「バーバリー」のバッグ・財布などいろいろ御紹介します! バーバリー ベルト ( Burberry)は、 バーバリー マフラーブラックレーベル1856年にロンドンのベイジングストークにてトーマス・ バーバリー 財布が開業した洋服店で生まれたファッションブランドです。 バーバリー 財布はジョージ五世からコート・ジャケット部門のロイヤルワラント(英国王室御用達)を受け、コーチ バッグ英国王室で愛され続けることになります。有名な騎手と馬の バーバリー マフラーマークも英国王室から授与されたものです バーバリー コート.

    モンクレール キッズといえば、 モンクレールアウトレットヨーロッパのセレブから愛され続けている世界最高級の モンクレール ダウンベストレディースダウンウェアブランドです。 モンクレール ブーツ1968年のグルノーブルオリンピックでは、 モンクレール バッグサイズフランスナショナルチームの公式ウェアとなり、 モンクレール通販プレミアムダウンウェア モンクレール メンズの地位を確かなものにし、リーボック シューズ 世界中に知れ渡ることとなりました。 モンクレール メンズはもともとアルピニストの装備 モンクレール レディースを手掛ける企業でしたから、 ジャケットダウンモンクレール レディースグースの産毛5本指 シューズを使用した高品質のダウンウェアはプロのTOMS シューズ登山家の間では絶大な人気を誇っていました。 モンクレールアウトレットメンズダウンウェアというといかにも暖かいけれどいかにもアウトドアみないたテイストが多い中、 ジャケットダウンモンクレールはすごくファッショナブルで、Supra シューズタウンでも十分おしゃれに着こなせます。 モンクレールアウトレットしかもそこらのコートなんかよりも軽くて暖かい モンクレール通販サイズ。

    Reply to this comment
  53. UGG Kensington

    03. Nov, 2011

    The autumn collection of UGG Kensington are now in stock . The range features Kensington boots.
    UGG Kensington Boots catalog has boots, sneakers and slippers are for everyone that wants to keep warn and dry with the ultimate style. UGGs Kensington are the hot boots right now yet there are lots more Ugg cozy feet products to choose from. The winter season selection has an exiting choice in a number of colors.
    Kensington UGG Boots
    Kensington UGGs are fashionable biker type boots that are amazingly comfy. Totally Kensington UGG, 100 % cool. They really are warm too because the insole is authentic sheepskin and so are the lined uppers. The external soles are a particular EVA with synthetic rubber pod inserts, so no chance of slipping and they last forever too.

    Reply to this comment
  54. Angelia

    03. Nov, 2011

    The temptation of high-heeled shoes Wear women jordan high heels in a split second sexy, charm and confident outbreak, twisting the waist is born swaying pose. High heels as if the women winning weapons, a pair of high-heeled heels, the increase absolutely is not only highly, but from the heart of the confidence and poise.

    Reply to this comment
  55. ann

    03. Nov, 2011

    marlboro cigarettes for sale causes of this disease but homosexuality and poly sex may be major causes. These are not the only causes. Some hereditary disease may be anothercause which may be communicated or cigarettes online sale in very early life. It may be due to blood transfusion; use of reusable syringe which was used on HIV patient it also may be due to transfer of saliva from one body to another. For one or the other reason, the immune discount cigarettes online in the body acquires some deficiency. When the viruses of this disease enter the blood stream the immune system does not act properly and so HIV cannot be free shipping cigarettes online out. They make their home within the body and dwell there till the suffering person cheap cigarettes online

    Reply to this comment
  56. canada goose expedition

    04. Nov, 2011

    This is what i am looking for! i appreciate your great effort so much. hope more and more people will love your article!just keep going!

    Reply to this comment

Leave a Reply