ColorVisor - the one and only

Category

Description of App

The ColorVisor detects colors in your environment by using the cameras that are built into your device. Additionally, the app supports scanning colors in photos and images. ColorVisor identifies the color’s name and its components in RGB and HSB. If you like the color, you can store it, add notes, fine-tune the color component values, or even change the color name. The free creating of new colors of your own choice is also possible. Complete VoiceOver is supported.

Features: 
  • Color identification via built in device cameras.
  • Color identification in photos and images.
  • Different color palettes for identifying the names of only basic colorsµ or differentiated color shades.
  • Full VoiceOver support.
  • Color components are presented in RGB and HSB.
  • Detected colors can be stored and edited.
  • Creation of new colors in RGB and HSB.
  • iCloud support for stored and newly created colors.
  • Take photos with controllable image quality inside the app.
  • Loading and saving of photos from and into the device photo library.
  • Torch support if it is available on the device.
Please note: Color recognition strongly relies on the camera capabilities of your device and the surrounding light conditions.

Version

2.0

Free or Paid

Paid

Apple Watch Support

Not Known

Device(s) App Was Tested On

iPhone

Accessibility Comments

There are no accessible issues to be found.

VoiceOver Performance

VoiceOver reads all page elements.

Button Labeling

All buttons are clearly labeled.

Usability

The app is fully accessible with VoiceOver and is easy to navigate and use.

Other Comments

Played with a lot of Color Identification such apps in my days. There are so many of them to try. None ever seem to be 100% accurate. So many variables that can cause havoc on such an app in trying to get that color right. The lighting, shading, and etc. can make that difficult.

So keep in mind that there is no such thing as a perfect color identification app out there. In the best cause in the right lighting I can achieve between the 90% range on my iPhone 4. This will vastly depend on the device you are using. As one would expect the higher and later version of the iPhone the better. It is really about the camera and the torch on your device that will make a huge difference. Note that on the iPhone 3gs you will have poor results.

So in my suggestion to anyone that is looking for a way to identify your colors then I am going to suggest in having two apps that works together in tandem for accuracy.

The ColorVisor has really brought new features that I have never seen in a Color Identification app before. There are some really neat tools that can try to improve on the accuracy of what you are looking at.

When you open this app up it will always start in the Color Scanner mode. In this mode it is running in real time. So as you move your camera around it will read out loud the color that it sees through your camera lenses. You will also hear the Calibration Sound humming around. I believe this is letting you know that it is currently trying to calibrate and hone down to the correct color for you. You will notice the sound will stop and gives you the last color it has identified.

As you flip through the screen in this mode. You will find the color that it has identify. It will also give you the RGB and the HSB values for that color. and position of your device. There are so many colors in our spectrum and this is how a color is identified is by the RGB values that the camera sees.

The ColorVisor has three different pallet to choose from within the Settings. This will determine how precise you want the color to be identified.

The three choices are the following:

ColorVisor Basic gives you the most basic colors, ColorVisor Classic which gives you 514 color points, and the default settings ColorVisor Extended which gives you 729 color points

Other buttons that can be found on this tab are the Torch. The Torch is simply your light that is located on the back of your devices to allow more lighting. Please note these are only available on the iPhone 4,4s, and the 5 models. This will give you the best results if you turn the Torch to ON. The next button next to the Torch is the Back Camera. This is obviously letting you know which camera it is looking through with. The following button after the Back Camera is the Fire. This option allows you to take a picture of the object you want to identify of the color. Honestly, I'm not certain why you would do this other than if someone has sent you a picture that you need to extract a color from. Lastly is your Scan Color. This is the color results that ColorVisor has identified.

In the next mode is the Photo Scanner. This let you to either take a picture or retrieve a picture from your camera roll to have ColorVisor to identify the color it sees in the picture. So if you don't like the voice in trying to identifying the color in real time then this option is for you.

You will see most of the same thing in the first tab. There is the Color that it has identify along with the RGB and HSB values for that color

Lastly, the last tab is the Color Table. This tab is something I have never seen before and is really a cool feature.

If there is a color that the ColorVisor has announced that you don't agree with. Well, then come on over to this tab and enter those RGB and CMYK values right here and enter your own color name. That is right. You don't like the color name it gives you then rename it yourself! Now, how cool is that?

So with all of those features and what you can do with this particular Color Identification app. I sure really love this the most. I'm not going to lie but the price is not cheap either but I guess you pay for what you get in the way of functionality. With this app along with Viz-Wiz you just can't go wrong. Just remember nothing is perfect and I want to make that clear before you shell out the money for it. Buy it at your caution.

P.S. For the best results turn on the Torch and place the camera facing down to the object you want to identify. Be sure to actually place your phone on the item. Just let it lie face down on it. Hovering will not give you a very good result.

Here are my Color Identification ranking:

  1. ColoredEyes (Real Time/Take Picture)
  2. ColorVisor (Real Time/Take Picture)
  3. ColorDetect (Real Time)
  4. AidColor (Take Picture)
  5. ColorReader (Take picture)
  6. Kolorami (Take Picture)
  7. iColorName4 (Real Time)
  8. ColorID (Real Time)

Hope this helps you out in finding that perfect Color Identification app for your taste.

Developer's Twitter Username

@visorApps

Recommendations

4 people have recommended this app

Most recently recommended by AnonyMouse 6 years 7 months ago

Options

Comments

By David Goodwin on Thursday, June 21, 2012 - 13:06

Version 1.1 has just been released and has the following updates:

  • Support for Italian and French.
  • iCloud support.
  • In-App user manual.
  • Now also available in Norway and New Zealand.

I hadn't used this app much since I first installed it, but having just tested this new version, I was left wondering why I don't use it more often. It works very nicely, and I could certainly use all the help that I can get when it comes to colours! <smile>

By Jennifer on Friday, September 21, 2012 - 13:06

You will find a button labeled "Torch" on the main screen which when selected, will turn on the flash to add more light. I find this has helped to get a better reading. Also, there's a great podcast on here which will help you understand all this app has to offer. I suggest you listen to it before buying and then listen to the podcast again for better results.

By David Goodwin on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 13:06

There are some really nice new features in the latest update.

I particularly like the option to have a smaller color palette and to control the verbosity of VoiceOver.

 What's New in Version 2.0

  • Visual and acoustical feedback when the camera adopts to the environmental conditions.
  • Different color palettes for identifying the names of only basic colorsµ or differentiated color shades.
  • It is now possible to edit the name of stored colors.
  • Control over the quality of photos taken inside the ColorVisor.
  • Several settings to control the verbosity of VoiceOver announcements during color dtection.
  • CMYK has been replaced by HSB.
  • Automatic white balance control has been dropped.

By JeffB on Thursday, September 21, 2017 - 13:06

This is an email I recived back from the ColorVisor team.

Dear Jeffrey,

thank you for your message. Indeed, I am currently working on the ColorVisor update. The test program will start next week and I plan to release the update in mid September when iOS 11 is likely to come.

Best regards

Jan

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By JeffB on Thursday, September 21, 2017 - 13:06

The new update is here just in time for IOS11. It has a new layout too.