CPICKER(1) CPICKER(1)
NAME
cpicker - colormap editor for X11
SYNTAX
/usr/bin/X11/cpicker [-id id] [-root] [-wname name] [-display display]
OPTIONS
-id id This option allows the user to specify a target window id
on the command line rather than using the mouse to select
the target window.
-wname name
This option allows the user to specify that the window named
name is the target window on the command line rather than
using the mouse to select the target window.
-root This option specifies that X's root window is the target
window.
-display display
This option allows you to specify the server to connect to;
see X(1).
DESCRIPTION
Cpicker makes temporary changes to the installed colormap, allowing
the user to observe the effects. It's useful for trying to pick that
perfect color or find the appropriate color combination for an
application.
When cpicker first starts, it either uses the colormap of the window
specified, or asks you to click on the window whose colormap you wish
to edit. Then, it displays a grid of the color cells in the installed
colormap. Click on the cell you wish to edit. Then, in the upper
right there will be a box containing the current color along with a
label showing the current RGB values in X11 hex format.
To adjust the current color you can use one of the nine sliders, each
controlling one of the RGB, HSV, or CMY values for the current color.
Or you can click on a cell displayed in the palette to use its color.
The palette button underneath the hex label switches between the three
palettes: range, narrow, and wide. You can also click on the hex
label to directly enter new RGB hex values.
If you click on the "match" button, the palette will change to the
colors in the file /usr/lib/X11/rgb.txt which are closest to the
current color. As you select these colors, their names appear below
the bottom buttons. Use the palette button to return the palette to
an ordinary selection.
The "select" button allows you to choose another cell to edit, the
"cancel" button restores the current color to its original value, the
- 1 - Formatted: January 7, 2026
CPICKER(1) CPICKER(1)
"restore" button restores all the cells of the colormap to their
original value, and the "quit" button exits out of cpicker.
SEE ALSO
pixedit(1)
AUTHOR
Mike Yang, Silicon Graphics, Inc.
BUGS
When clicking in a window to select its colormap, be sure to click in
the window contents. Clicking in window manager real estate may or
may not result in the correct colormap.
- 2 - Formatted: January 7, 2026
