Overview

Color Palette Pro is a professional color palette management addon for Blender that streamlines your color workflow. Generate, import, and apply harmonious color schemes to your materials with just a few clicks.

Installation

Method 1: Extensions Platform (Recommended)

1. Open Blender 4.2+
2. Go to Edit > Preferences > Get Extensions
3. Search for "Color Palette Pro"
4. Click Install

Method 2: Manual Installation

1. Download the addon ZIP file
2. Open Blender
3. Go to Edit > Preferences > Add-ons
4. Click Install (top right)
5. Select the downloaded ZIP file
6. Enable the addon by checking the box next to "Color Palette Pro"

Required Permissions

• Network: Import palettes from online sources (Coolors.co, ColorHunt.co, etc.)
• Files: Read .ase files and save palette presets

Quick Start

Adding Your First Palette

In 3D Viewport:

1. Select your mesh objects
2. Press N to open the sidebar
3. Find the Color Palette Pro tab
4. Click Add Palette Node
5. Your objects now have materials with the palette colors!

In Shader Editor:

1. Go to Shading workspace
2. Press Shift + A > Palette Pro Node
3. Connect color outputs to your material nodes

Generating Palettes

From Online Sources:

1. Visit Coolors.co, ColorHunt.co, ColorKit.co, or iColorPalette.com
2. Find a palette you like
3. Copy the URL
4. In Color Palette Pro panel, enable Online Mode
5. Paste URL and click Generate from URL

Offline Generation:

1. Disable Online Mode
2. Choose a color scheme type (Complementary, Triadic, etc.)
3. Pick a Base Color
4. Click Generate Scheme

Interface Overview

N-Panel Location

Access Color Palette Pro from:

• 3D Viewport: Press N > Color Palette Pro tab
• Shader Editor: Press N > Color Palette Pro tab

Panel Sections

1. Quick Add

• Same Color for All: Toggle whether all objects get Color 1 or cycle through colors
• Add Palette Node: Automatically adds and connects palette nodes to materials
• Undo: Revert last palette operation
• Remove Nodes: Clean up auto-added palette nodes

2. Current Palette

• Visual display of 7 colors in your palette
• Click any color to edit it directly
• Changes automatically update all palette nodes in the scene

3. Edit Palette

• Shift Left/Right: Rotate colors in the palette
• Reverse: Flip the color order
• Shuffle: Randomize color positions

4. Generate Palette

Toggle between Online Mode and Offline Mode

Online Mode:

• Quick access buttons to palette websites
• URL input field for importing palettes
• Supports: Coolors.co, ColorHunt.co, ColorKit.co, iColorPalette.com

Offline Mode:

• Random: Generate from built-in library
• Adobe Swatch: Load .ase files
• Color Schemes: 10 algorithmic generation methods
• Monochrome
• Complementary
• Analogous
• Split-Complementary
• Triadic
• Tetradic
• Square
• Achromatic (Grayscale)
• Neutral with Accent
• Polychromatic

5. Palette Presets

• Load Preset: Access saved palettes
• +: Save current palette as preset
• -: Remove selected preset

Features

Palette Pro Node

The custom shader node with 7 color outputs that stay synchronized across your entire project.

Creating the Node:

• Shader Editor: Shift + A > Palette Pro Node
• N-Panel: Click "Add Palette Node" button

Node Features:

• 7 color outputs (Color 1 through Color 7)
• Auto-sync with scene palette
• Update toggle for individual node control
• Compact 210-unit width design

Automatic Material Connection

When using Add Palette Node from the N-Panel:

For objects without materials:

• Creates new material
• Adds Principled BSDF
• Connects Palette Pro Node to Base Color
• Links to Material Output

For objects with simple materials:

• Adds Palette Pro Node
• Auto-connects to existing shader's color input
• Saves original color (restored when removing nodes)

For complex node setups:

• Adds Palette Pro Node to the side
• Lets you manually connect where needed

Multi-Object Workflow

Same Color Mode (ON):

• All selected objects receive Color 1
• Perfect for consistent color schemes

Different Colors Mode (OFF):

• Each object gets a different color from the palette
• Cycles through colors 1-7
• Great for variety and color coding

Color Scheme Generation

Online Import

Import palettes from popular websites:

• Coolors.co: https://coolors.co/264653-2a9d8f-e9c46a
• ColorHunt.co: Trending palette collections
• ColorKit.co: Professional palette tools
• iColorPalette.com: Curated color schemes

Offline Generation

Color Theory Modes:

1. Monochrome: Single hue with varying brightness
• Use for: Minimalist, cohesive designs
2. Complementary: Colors opposite on the color wheel
• Use for: High contrast, vibrant designs
3. Analogous: Adjacent colors on the wheel
• Use for: Harmonious, serene designs
4. Split-Complementary: Base + two adjacent to complement
• Use for: Balanced contrast
5. Triadic: Three evenly-spaced colors (120° apart)
• Use for: Bold, balanced designs
6. Tetradic: Four colors in two complementary pairs
• Use for: Rich, complex palettes
7. Square: Four evenly-spaced colors (90° apart)
• Use for: Dynamic, energetic designs
8. Achromatic: Grayscale only
• Use for: Professional, neutral designs
9. Neutral with Accent: Grays with pop of color
• Use for: Subtle emphasis
10. Polychromatic: Multiple different hues
• Use for: Playful, diverse designs

Adobe Swatch Exchange (.ase) Support

Import professional color palettes from Adobe applications:

1. Export swatches from Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign as .ase
2. In Color Palette Pro, select Adobe Swatch mode
3. Browse to your .ase file
4. Click Load ASE File

Preset Management

Save your favorite palettes for reuse:

Saving:

1. Configure your ideal palette
2. Click the + button next to "Load Preset"
3. Name your preset
4. Click OK

Loading:

1. Click Load Preset dropdown
2. Select your saved palette
3. It automatically applies to the scene

Removing:

1. Load the preset you want to delete
2. Click the - button
3. Confirm removal

Workflow Guide

Scenario 1: Coloring Multiple Props

Goal: Apply different colors to 5 character accessories

1. Model all 5 accessories
2. Select all accessories in the viewport
3. Open Color Palette Pro (N-panel)
4. Generate or import your palette
5. Ensure "Same Color for All" is OFF
6. Click Add Palette Node
7. Each accessory gets a different color automatically

Scenario 2: Brand-Consistent Materials

Goal: Use company brand colors across multiple projects

1. Create palette with your brand colors
2. Save as preset named "Company Brand"
3. In new projects, load "Company Brand" preset
4. Add to objects as needed
5. All materials stay on-brand

Scenario 3: Exploring Color Schemes

Goal: Test different moods for a scene

1. Set up your scene with materials
2. Add Palette Pro Nodes to key materials
3. Try different online palettes:
• Paste Coolors.co URL > Generate
• Browse ColorHunt.co > Copy URL > Generate
4. Use Shuffle and Reverse to explore variations
5. Save winning palette as preset

Scenario 4: Procedural Color Variations

Goal: Generate harmonious colors from a hero color

1. Pick your main/hero color as Base Color
2. Try different schemes:
• Analogous for subtle harmony
• Complementary for contrast
• Triadic for balance
3. Use Shift Left/Right to adjust which color is primary
4. Fine-tune individual colors by clicking them

Advanced Usage

Manual Node Setup

For complete control:

1. Shader Editor: Add Palette Pro Node (Shift + A)
2. Connect specific color outputs to your needs:
• Color 1 → Primary material Base Color
• Color 2 → Secondary material Base Color
• Color 3 → Emission strength via ColorRamp
• Color 4 → Mix Shader factor

Update Control

Each Palette Pro Node has an Update this node checkbox:

• ON: Node syncs with scene palette (default)
• OFF: Node keeps its current colors, ignores changes

Use case: Lock certain materials while experimenting with others

Color Editing

Direct Edit:

• Click any color in the palette display
• Use Blender's color picker
• Changes propagate to all synced nodes

Hex Values:

• Click the color
• Expand the color picker
• Enter hex code at the bottom

Preset Organization

Presets are stored in:

Blender/scripts/presets/node_color_palette/

You can:

• Share preset files with team members
• Organize into subdirectories
• Backup your preset library

Troubleshooting

"Could not extract colors from URL"

• Cause: URL format not recognized or website changed structure
• Solution:
• Verify URL is from supported site (Coolors, ColorHunt, ColorKit, iColorPalette)
• Check your internet connection
• Try copying the URL again from the browser address bar

Colors not updating in scene

• Cause: Palette Pro Node has "Update this node" disabled
• Solution:
• Select the Palette Pro Node
• Check the "Update this node" checkbox in the node properties

"No mesh objects in scene/selected"

• Cause: Trying to add palette to non-mesh objects or empty scene
• Solution:
• Select mesh objects before clicking Add Palette Node
• Check object type is MESH (not CURVE, LIGHT, etc.)

Palette Node not appearing in Add menu

• Cause: Addon not properly enabled or not in Shader Editor
• Solution:
• Verify addon is enabled in Preferences
• Ensure you're in Shader Editor with ShaderNodeTree context
• Restart Blender if needed

ASE file not loading

• Cause: Invalid file format or corrupt file
• Solution:
• Verify file extension is .ase
• Re-export from Adobe application
• Ensure file isn't corrupted

Undo not working as expected

• Cause: Blender's undo system has limitations with property changes
• Solution:
• Use Remove Nodes to completely reset
• Save before major palette changes
• Use presets to preserve working palettes

Tips & Best Practices

Color Selection

• Start with online palettes for inspiration
• Use color theory modes for systematic exploration
• Keep base color at medium brightness for best scheme generation

Organization

• Name presets descriptively: "Forest_Scene", "Cyberpunk_Neon", "Brand_Primary"
• Save work-in-progress palettes before experimenting
• Use Same Color Mode for backgrounds, Different Colors for hero objects

Performance

• Palette Pro Nodes are lightweight and efficient
• Disabling "Update this node" can prevent unwanted changes in complex scenes
• Remove unused palette nodes to keep node trees clean

Workflow Integration

• Add Palette Pro Node early in material creation
• Use in combination with ColorRamp nodes for gradients
• Connect to Emission for stylized lighting setups

Support & Resources

• Website: https://gachoki.com/blender-addons/
• Email: [email protected]

Reporting Issues

When reporting bugs, please include:

• Blender version
• Addon version
• Steps to reproduce
• Screenshots if applicable