Color ID Has Great Potential

Even though I can see, I still often have trouble distinguishing similar colors like navy blue from black, gray or brown. If you're like me, the app Color ID Free might be helpful. Simply point the camera at the color you want to know, tap the screen and it will tell you--even without VoiceOver activated. It has a white arrow pointing to the exact spot it's looking at right then and a circle displaying a larger sample of that color. The color name, Hex number and a sample of the last color remain on the screen until it is tapped again for the next color. Pretty nifty, eh?

Tapping on the top left of the screen (the box where the last read color is displayed) will switch the app from it's "exotic" color names to simple color names ("Rhino" to "Moderate Purplish Blue"). There are buttons across the bottom to pause (or unpause) the image, automatic sampling and reading of colors (every 3 seconds) and more options. More options gives you the option to save to Photos, email, send to Facebook, use exotic colors, switch from front to back camera and toggle the torch.

There are a few things I'd like to see before I use this app on a daily basis, though. First, I'd like the opportunity to change the sample size. The app is almost too accurate for it's own good--after all, most people don't identify the color of a blouse by a single point. This is expecially true with denim or clothes with a course fabric. The option to read the current color name as both exotic and simple would be helpful--currently you have to settle on one or the other. The option to re-read the last color would be nice. Also, a memory or save function and the ability to compare two colors on screen would be awesome!

The app has the potential to be something extremely useful and I'd certainly be willing to drop $2-3 for something like this that would do what I need. For now, though, the price is right at free. There is a paid version, Color Identifier, for $1.99 with no ads, but until they make some improvements, I'll stick with the free one.



-- Stephanie Bargenquast