Color Matching
The Color Match tool helps you find the closest thread to any color you have in mind.
Opening Color Match
Go to Tools > Color Match 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.)
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:
- Palette — Match against colors already in your design
- Library — Match against the full thread library (DMC, Anchor, or Kreinik)
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.