Thursday Tip: Web Safe Colors

There has long been a misconception that only a limited set of colors were "safe" on the Web. That just isn't the case, all RGB colors can be used on the Web. I've even seen mention that only Hex colors were Web safe. No, hexadecimal is simply another numbering system. In CorelDRAW, RGB values are shown in the decimal numbering system and range from 0-255. Hexadecimal represents those same numbers from 00-FF. There are a couple of tools that can help you use Hexadecimal numbers inside CorelDRAW. The first is Draw Color Helper and the other is wOxxOm Hex Color. Just remember to use RGB colors when designing for the Web and you'll be "safe".

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Macro Monday: Draw Color Helper

I guess this one doesn't technically count as a macro since it is a standalone EXE file. But the main function of the program is to allow you to more easily enter both decimal and hex colors in CorelDRAW. Separate versions are available for CorelDRAW 11, CorelDRAW 12, CorelDRAW X3 and CorelDRAW X4.

Draw Color Helper is a free download. Read the instructions provided to learn how to install and use the program. Since Corel doesn't give us the ability to work directly with hex colors in CorelDRAW, this is a tool that will fill in until Corel gives us the feature. Enjoy!

If you have suggestions for macros that I should feature, please drop me a comment and make suggestions.

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Macro Monday: wOxxOm Hex Color

Anyone designing graphics for the Web can certainly appreciate the need to specify RGB color values as hexadecimal numbers. When you use color on a Web page, you use hex numbers. Yet when you are working in CorelDRAW, the colors are all specified as decimal numbers. In the end you get the same color, but translating between the two numbering systems can be quite frustrating.

That's where today's macro, wOxxOm Hex Color, can really save you time and trouble. It allows you to easily specify fill or outline colors using hex values. To get a better understanding of how the macro works, watch the movie showing it in action. For those developing art for the Web, Hex Color is a real lifesaver of a tool.

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