Color Matching
The Color Matching tool helps you find the closest thread to any color you have in mind.
Opening Color Matching
Go to Tools > Color Matching to open the dialog.
Entering a Target Color
You can specify the color you want to match using three input modes:
| Mode | Input | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Hex | 6-digit hex code | #FF5733 |
| RGB | Red, Green, Blue values (0–255) | R: 255, G: 87, B: 51 |
| LAB | Lightness, A, B values | L: 55, a: 48, b: 45 |
All modes stay in sync — changing one updates the others automatically. A color preview swatch shows the target color.
Eyedropper
On Windows and macOS, an eyedropper button lets you pick a color directly from the screen. Click the eyedropper, then click anywhere on your display to capture that color. (The eyedropper is not available on iPad.)
From Overlay
If you have a visible overlay image, click From Overlay to pick the target color directly from a point on that overlay. This is handy for matching threads to a reference photo you are tracing.
Matching Algorithms
Choose from five color matching algorithms:
| Algorithm | Description |
|---|---|
| CIEDE2000 | Industry standard, most perceptually accurate (default) |
| CIE94 | Good accuracy, optimized for textile matching |
| CIE76 | Widely used, good perceptual uniformity |
| Weighted RGB | Approximate perceptual distance using weighted RGB values |
| Simple RGB | Basic Euclidean distance in RGB space — fast but less accurate |
CIEDE2000 is recommended for the best results. It accounts for how the human eye perceives color differences across different hues.
Match Source
Choose where to search for matches:
- Current Palette — Match against colors already in your design
- Thread Library — Match against the full thread library (DMC, Anchor, or Kreinik)
Results Count
Use the Results selector to choose how many matches to show: 5, 10, 20, or All.
Understanding Results
Results are sorted by closest match first. For each match, you see:
- Thread color swatch
- Thread name and code
- Distance value (ΔE) — lower is closer
- A description of the difference:
| ΔE Range | Description |
|---|---|
| 0 | Exact match |
| < 1 | Imperceptible difference |
| 1 – 2 | Very close |
| 2 – 3.5 | Close |
| 3.5 – 5 | Noticeable difference |
| 5 – 10 | Different |
| ≥ 10 | Very different |
Click a result to add it to your palette.