Color and Texture

In most cases when you want to change an object's color settings, a standard Mac OS X Color Picker will appear. However, in certain cases you will see the Color and Texture dialog, which is exclusive to The Print Shop. This will happen, for example, if you are working with a headline face or shape, applying color behind an object, adding panel color and texture, or adding a fill inside a photo frame or shape.

NOTE: When you click the Color button in the Create a Watermark dialog, a Color Palette dialog appears. You can work with color and blend in the same way as from within the Color and Texture dialog, but texture features are not available.

The following information will help you to familiarize yourself with the Color and Texture dialog.

To apply color:

1.  Select the object you want to add color, a blend, or a texture to.

2.  Click the Color Behind Object button on the Effects palette to open the Color and Texture dialog, or click the Color Object button to open the Color Picker. When you are working with shapes, the Color and Texture dialog will appear if you click the Color Object button.

3.  The last six colors you have used are displayed in a row at the bottom of the Color and Texture dialog.

4.  Click More Colors to open the Color Picker and specify a color you want.

5.  When you find the color you want to use, click the color in the Color and Texture dialog to select it, then click OK and the color will be applied. The Color and Texture dialog will close.

To apply a blend using the Color and Texture dialog:

1.  Click one of the Blend Style buttons to select a style of blending. The styles, from top to bottom, are linear, dual linear, radial, and square burst. Each of the four is paired with a corresponding inverse pattern.

2.  Control the angle of the blend with the Blend Angle rotate dial.

3.  Select a Blend Result which most suits your needs on the far right. The blend color patterns are based on the color you have selected on the left of the dialog.

4.  You can click a new color in the Color and Texture dialog to change the blend patterns on the right.

5.  When you have found the blend you want to use, click the OK button to apply that blend behind or to the selected object and return to the Design Desk, or click the Cancel button.

To apply a texture using the Color and Texture dialog:

1.  Click the Texture tab in the Color and Texture dialog.

2.  You can scroll through the textures gallery by clicking the scroll bar on the right side of the pane.

3.  Click one of the texture patterns to select it.

4.  Choose a tint shade from the Tint pop-up menu if you want the texture to be tinted.

5.  When you have found the texture you want to use, click the OK button to apply that texture behind or to the selected object and return to the Design Desk, or click the Cancel button.

Refer to one of the following topics for more information:

Effects palette

Using Color

Panel Color Dialog