Picking colors from a PDF - Skill Builder

[@daviddickmeyer5231]

Great tip for us Windows users Aaron. Thanks!

[@dymaxiondesign7477]

Once again Aaron, '"things I never knew" I could do with Sketchup on my iMac! Love these tips that go deeper into the (hidden) tools of Sketchup.

[@gusbert]

How does the Mac interface deal with multi-page pdfs?

[@tilmanbenatzky3480]

Thanks for the simple trick! Please make users (especially architects and designers) aware of color texture downloads from product manufacturers. And show the management of the data (in the background). That would be great...

[@keggyification]

Thanks Aaron, that's going to be really useful for this Windows Luddite!

[@JesarresWorld]

Can someone tell me what version he is using in here and also what version you are preferred to use?

[@andrewlangford524]

Hi Aaron, just used this to match colours from photos on site. Thanks!

[@stojanovik69]

Hi Arron, I still managed to restore the file. Sketchup trial version gave me a big scare last night. The days of work on the project had made SketchUp Pro trial version just disappear. Now I was able to find and restore the lost file.

[@HBSuccess]

More good stuff as always !

[@jimthomson6190]

Great video as always Aaron. I have to admit that I couldn't make this work at first and it took some searching on the forum to find out why. Did I miss it or did you mention that, when using the Windows method, that you need to HOLD the mouse button as you move to the desired color and THEN release the button once your over that color? I thought at first it was a two click process but I know better now. I found that I can choose colors right from the paint manufactures' website (no need for the PDF) instead of searching their exact RGB numbers. Thanx again!

[@Lewis_toole]

This is great thank you saved me faffing about with bespoke colours, Aaron next project I would like to see you model in the live sessions is The Simpsons house, or the boat from Jaws 👍🏻

[@Niceguyfrb]

Im sorry! I can't make this to work using SU2021 Pro under W10. I don't have a license for Acrobat but open pdf in Crome. I still wonder why its not possible importing .pdf directly in the Windows version when it is in the Mac!?

[@donsmith3167]

Erik, Just get 'Acrobat Reader" from adobe "get.adobe.com/reader/" It is Free. It will read all PDF files and you can do what Arron is doing.

[@Niceguyfrb]

​@@donsmith3167 Thanks Don for your answer! When I wrote my previous note I had just Adobe Acrobat DC - but now I followed your link and installed Acrobat Reader DC. I downloaded a colorsheet (pdf) from a local paint producer. When I use the eyedropper tool in the Color Edit tool like Aron shows, the cursor turns to a hand or bracket maker the moment it leaves SketchUp and enters the pdf - and won't let me pick any color!

[@Niceguyfrb]

....sorry the problem is that when I click-drag the cursor forms a rectangle and in that way selects the contained color!

[@donsmith3167]

@@Niceguyfrb Erik, I haven't tried it but was wondering if it may be a Mac thing and not work on a Windows system. Ill fire up Sketchup and give it a try on both systems.. ok here's what I found. You can use a pdf file on the mac SU by bringing it into the color select as a image file, but on the windows I can't get SU to read any pdf either inside or outside of SU. Don

[@Niceguyfrb]

@@donsmith3167 Hi Don! I regret having to admit that I was a little too fast complaining! Actually now I found out how to make it work: First thing is to change the cursor in Acrobat Reader from hand to arrow. Secondly - after the color picked shows up under Materials - "Create Material"is selected, the picked color shows up and can be renamed and saved!

[@warpman74]

Pretty neat tip, thanks!

[@rblihovde]

Simple but useful, thanks!

[@robinmorritt7493]

That's nuts. 😂 I can pick a colour from the paused video and turn it back on in one hit.

[@michalmarton2117]

thank you very much

[@SketchExpertAcademy]

Very very cool How do you run Windows on your Mac?

[@MikeBramm]

Using a virtual machine.

[@SketchUp]

Aaron runs a Windows install via Parallels

[@memclughlin72]

Great tip thanks!!

[@rshawiii]

Like as always with your videos. What I don't like is that there are these differences between mac and windows and the resultant confusion. Also why can't I import a PDF into sketchup on windows? I have to open in photoshop (an adobe product !!! ???? LOL) and export as an image and import that into sketchup. Do these "past decisions" really have to constrain us in 2021 ???

[@AaronMakingStuff]

Unfortunately, there are differences between the operating systems. What I am doing my best to do is educate on what those differences are and how to make the most of both! I cannot change the way the OS color tools work, but I can offer a few things I have learned about using them!

[@douglasmichel6361]

Be sure to calibrate your monitor :)

[@robinmorritt7493]

I turned my monitor backlight very low, but the colour picker picked the same shade of grey as when it was brightly lit.

[@douglasmichel6361]

@@robinmorritt7493 Use the RGB or CMYK numbers instead of the picker. If the source file came from an uncalibrated monitor, (a JPEG for instance) the color your picking could be off. Numbers are numbers, It may not look right on your monitor if it's not calibrated but they'll be correct on one that is.

[@douglasmichel6361]

@@robinmorritt7493 Google the best brightness setting for your monitor. See what others are saying. Ambient light can also affect the monitor and what you see. Calibration can be simple or very complicated. From monitor to print. One is lit from behind and one is lit by reflected light.

[@robinmorritt7493]

@@douglasmichel6361 OK, thanks. Please bear in mind you are talking to someone who drills holes in his ink cartridges, puts in fountain pen ink, and then turns them upside down to wipe the nozzles. 😂😂😂

[@douglasmichel6361]

@@robinmorritt7493 Awesome. Ever try India ink?

[@SUNNYsArchViz]

80% user's are windows user ,why you are make tutorials from mac? it horrible

[@jonomoles]

Yes, that ‘Johnny come lately’ Apple Mac OS will never catch on. 😁