Specifying colors
You specify a color by specifying a number that represents
the color. You can specify the number explicitly or by using an
expression that includes the RGB (r, g, b)
function.
For the numbers and expressions that specify common colors,
see the table below.
How the number is calculated
The formula for combining color values into a number is:
|
1 |
<i>red</i> + 256*<i>green</i> + 256*256*<i>blue</i> |
where the amount of each primary color (red, green, and blue)
is specified as a value from 0 to 255.
The RGB (r, g, b)
function calculates the number from the amounts of red, green, and
blue specified.
Sample numeric calculation
To create cyan, you use blue and green, but no red. If you
wanted to create the most saturated (bright) cyan, you would use
maximum amounts of blue and green in the formula, which is indicated
by the number 255 for each. The following statements show the calculation:
|
1 |
<i>red</i> + 256*<i>green</i> + 256*256*<i>blue</i> |
|
1 |
0 + 256*<i>255</i> + 256*256*<i>255</i> |
|
1 |
0 + 65280 + 16711680 |
|
1 |
16776960 |
Sample expression using the RGB function
The following expression also specifies the brightest cyan:
|
1 |
RGB (<i>r</i>, <i>g</i>, <i>b</i>) |
|
1 |
RGB (<i>0</i>,<i>255</i>,<i>255</i>) |
|
1 |
16776960 (the RGB function returns this number) |
Notice that the expression specifies the maximum for green
and blue (255) and 0 for red. To specify cyan, entering the expression RGB(0, 255, 255)
is the same as entering the number 16776960.
Numbers and expressions to enter for the common
colors
This table shows the numbers and expressions to enter for
some common colors. The number and expression for a color are equivalent.
You can use either:
| Color | Expression to enter | Number to enter | How the number is calculated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | RGB (0, 0, 0) | 0 | 0 (no color) |
| Blue | RGB (0, 0, 255) | 16711680 | 256*256*255 (blue only) |
| Cyan | RGB (0, 255, 255) | 16776960 | 256*255 + 256*256*255 (green and blue) |
| Dark Green | RGB (0, 128, 0) | 32768 | 256*128 (green only) |
| Green | RGB (0, 255, 0) | 65280 | 256*255 (green only) |
| Light Gray | RGB (192, 192, 192) | 12632256 | 192 + 256*192 + 256*256*192 (some red, green, and blue in equal amounts) |
| Lighter Gray | RGB (224, 224, 224) | 14737632 | 224 + 256*224 + 256*256*224 (some red, green, and blue in equal amounts) |
| Lightest Gray | RGB (240, 240, 240) | 15790320 | 240 + 256*240 + 256*256*240 (some red, green, and blue in equal amounts) |
| Magenta | RGB (255, 0, 255) | 16711935 | 255 + 256*256*255 (red and blue) |
| Red | RGB (255, 0, 0) | 255 | 255 (red only) |
| White | RGB (255, 255, 255) | 16777215 | 255 + 256*255 + 256*256*255 (red, green, and blue in equal amounts at the maximum of 255) |
| Yellow | RGB (255, 255, 0) | 65535 | 255 + 256*255 (red and green) |