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JULY 12, 2002 Digital Anarchy Color Theory Pro 1.5
Once you've created you color scheme, you can save it as a Color Theory file or export it to common file formats so that you can import them into your favorite graphics or motion graphics application for sampling. File formats include TIFF, SGI, Photoshop, BMP, JPEG, PICT, PNG, MacPaint (now how's that for Mac-centric!), TGA and QuickTime. Finally, for those of you who work in video, you can also preview your work on an NTSC or PAL monitor directly within the Color Theory application as you work. You simply select your output device and standard, and click the preview button. [an error occurred while processing this directive] 
The plugins I've already mentioned that Color Theory includes plugins for Adobe Photoshop and After Effects. The main plugins for both of these applications are simply filterized versions of the core application with all of the functionality built right in. They look and behave exactly like the main application but are designed to save a little time when working in these two programs. The plugins should also run fine in compatible hosts, although I have found that it does not work, at present, with Macromedia Fireworks MX running on Mac OS X. (Hopefully this will be addressed in the near future, since Fireworks is becoming such an important application for graphic design.) On the plus side, the previous version of Color Theory DV had a few interface glitches running under Photoshop 7 on Mac OS X. These have been corrected, and the plugin now runs flawlessly. Color Theory also includes some additional plugins for After Effects. These are CT ColorCorrect and CT ColorSwatch. CT ColorCorrect is a plugin that allows you to adjust the tonality of your footage using Color Theory's RYB color wheel. CT ColorSwatch is essentially a storage bin for color sets, which can be accessed as needed from After Effects' Effect Controls window. These plugins come in two versions each to support After Effects 4.1 and 5.x. 
As an added bonus, Color Theory also now includes Digital Anarchy's Gradient! filter for After Effects. Gradient! is, as its name states, a tool for creating gradients in After Effects. It supports 16-bit color and provides up to six colors in the gradient, which can appear in one of four preset styles. Gradient! now ships with Color Theory Pro and is available for free for users of previous versions of Color Theory DV. (You'll need to contact Digital Anarchy with your serial number in order to access this plugin.) Gradient! previously sold for $49 by itself. Functionality As if the usefulness of this tool alone weren't enough, this suite is packed with the kind of workflow functionality that could only be born of the mind of a professional user. And, in fact, this is the case. The interface design came from Matt Silverman, who has made a name for himself not only in his work in motion graphics, but also his willingness to share his expertise with the industry through lectures and seminars for creative professionals. Silverman clearly understood what it meant to build a proper interface, and his designs carry over into the new version. What amazes me about this program's functionality more than anything else is its user-friendliness. Do you like to adjust settings by moving sliders? Then just click and drag on any value displayed in the interface to adjust it up or down. Prefer to adjust things numerically? Then just click and don't drag on these values, and a pop-up window will appear where you can enter your value. It also supports contextual menus, which is also amazing simply because this is such a focused application. But, if you like to work with contextual menus, you have this option as well. Remarkable. 
As I mentioned before, additional functionality includes the ability to preview your work on an NTSC or PAL monitor while you work. This applies not only to the core application, but to the plugins as well. The bottom line Color Theory Pro is simply an excellent tool, packed full of features and functionality truly designed with the professional user in mind. Whether you work in still or motion graphics, this application will be a tremendous asset to you. Plus, at just $99 for the Pro version and about $25 for the standard version, there is no barrier to entry. It's just an amazing suite at the right price for any user. It receives a recommendation of Strong Buy with absolutely no caveats. Color Theory and Color Theory Pro are both available now from Digital Anarchy. They run on Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X. The Pro version includes a Photoshop filter, three Color Theory After Effects filters and the free Gradient! plugin. Users of previous versions can upgrade for free. For more information, visit http://www.digitalanarchy.com. Contact the author: Dave Nagel is the producer of Creative Mac and Digital Media Designer; host of several World Wide User Groups, including Synthetik Studio Artist, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Adobe LiveMotion, Creative Mac and Digital Media Designer; and executive producer of the Digital Media Net family of publications. You can reach him at dnagel@digitalmedianet.com. Prev 1 2 3 Related sites: • Animation Supplement • AV Video • Broadcast Newsroom • Creative Mac • Digital Animators • Digital Media Designer • Digital Post Production • Digital Producer • Digital Video Editing • DV Format • Film and Video Magazine • Film Imaging • The WWUG Related forums: [an error occurred while processing this directive] 
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