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How do I import my product's color palette into GIMP or Inkscape?

Download the palette from the extractor as a GPL file. It is GIMP's palette format, also read by Inkscape and Krita, and it holds each color's RGB values with its HEX code as the color name. Import it through your program's palette settings and the swatches appear in the order of their share in the image.

Published · 3 min read

What is inside a GPL file?

A GPL file is plain text you can open in any text editor. Extract two colors, pure red and a teal green, from an image called Shop and the file looks like this:

GIMP Palette Name: Shop Columns: 2 # 255 0 0 #FF0000 15 107 95 #0F6B5F

The first line declares the format and the second the palette name, which the tool takes from the image's file name. Then one line per color: the red, green and blue values, followed by the HEX code that shows up as the color's name inside the program. The order is the palette's own order, from the largest share to the smallest.

From the image to the program

  1. Open the product photo in the Image palette extractor extractor, set the number of colors and turn on background exclusion if needed.
  2. When you like the palette, press the GPL button under 'Download the palette'. The file is saved with your image's name followed by the word palette.
  3. In GIMP: open the Palettes dialog from the dockable dialogs menu, choose to import a palette from a file, and select the GPL file.
  4. In Inkscape: copy the GPL file into the palettes folder inside Inkscape's user configuration folder, restart Inkscape and pick the palette in the Swatches panel.
  5. In Krita: import the file as a new resource from the palette docker.

Menu names shift a little between versions of these programs, so if you cannot find the option under that exact name, look for 'import palette' or for the palettes folder in your program's settings.

GPL, JSON, CSS or PNG?

  • GPL: for open design and painting programs, when you want the colors as clickable swatches while you work.
  • CSS: for web developers, ready variables such as --color-1 with the share in a comment next to each color.
  • JSON: when you want a complete record with the values, shares and settings used, to recompute later or read in code.
  • PNG: a visual swatch strip to share with a client or designer over WhatsApp.

A note about shares

A GPL file does not carry each color's share, only its value and name, because the format has no notion of proportion. If the shares matter to you, such as knowing the dominant color of a product shot, download the JSON as well or note the shares from the tool before closing it.

Common questions

Does Photoshop open GPL files?

The tool does not export Photoshop's ACO format. You can copy the HEX values and add them by hand, or use a program that reads GPL.

Can I change the palette's name?

The name comes from the image's file name. Rename the image before opening it, or edit the Name line in the file with any text editor.

Do the file's colors match what the tool shows?

Yes. The file writes the same values shown in the palette, in the same order.