Palette

A palette (table) is a list of colors used for image processing. The number of colors in a palette depends on the intensity of the colors in the image. The intensity is determined by the number of bits per pixel. In PixBuilder Studio, the normal mode requires eight bits per each chromatic RGB channel and eight bits for providing the information about the level of a pixel transparency (Alpha-channel).

Sometimes it is necessary to produce an image with a palette of a few colors. Each pixel of such an image corresponds to an index, one for each color in a palette, which may include up to 256 different colors. In fact, the fewer colors the palette has, the smaller the size of the image file that we obtain. On the other hand, using very few colors can spoil your image.

By default, PixBuilder Studio uses a full-color RGBA palette. You can change the settings of the palette by launching its configuration window from the user menu (Colors - Edit Palette).

When you chose "Adaðtive" from the list of settings the program constructs the optimal palette in order to reduce image distortion to a minimum. The dialog allows you to change, add, and delete colors from the palette. Also there are options to upload and save palettes.

After a palette is chosen every color in the image will be approximated by the color from the palette.

In fact, the image will always be processed in RGBA mode, while the palette is used only for displaying the image and saving it in a file.

If you choose a color in the dialog box that does not exist in the palette, an exclamation mark will appear.