swatch Reference

Choose a color

swatch

Description

Provides 2-dimensional selection and display of colors, representing hue along the horizontal axis and lightness along the vertical axis. A third color dimension, saturation, may be set by means of the saturation message.

Examples

Arguments

None.

Attributes

compatibility [int] (default: 0)

Toggles the number input and output of the swatch object to be in the range of 0.-1.0 floating-point values (0, default) or to old-style 0-255 integer values (1).

parameter_enable [int]

Enables use of this object with Max for Live Parameters and allows for setting initial parameter values in the Max environment.

parameter_mappable [int] (default: 1)

When parameter_mappable is enabled, the object will be available for mapping to keyboard or MIDI input using the Max Mappings feature.

saturation [float] (default: 255.)

Set the saturation of available swatch colors

Common Box Attributes

annotation [symbol]

Sets the text that will be displayed in the Clue window when the user moves the mouse over the object.

background [int] (default: 0)

Adds or removes the object from the patcher's background layer. background 1 adds the object to the background layer, background 0 removes it. Objects in the background layer are shown behind all objects in the default foreground layer.

color [4 floats]

Sets the color for the object box outline.

fontface [int]

Sets the type style used by the object. The options are:

plain
bold
italic
bold italic Possible values:

0 = 'regular'
1 = 'bold'
2 = 'italic'
3 = 'bold italic'

fontname [symbol]

Sets the object's font.

fontsize [float]

Sets the object's font size (in points). Possible values:

'8'
'9'
'10'
'11'
'12'
'13'
'14'
'16'
'18'
'20'
'24'
'30'
'36'
'48'
'64'
'72'

hidden [int] (default: 0)

Toggles whether an object is hidden when the patcher is locked.

hint [symbol]

Sets the text that will be displayed in as a pop-up hint when the user moves the mouse over the object in a locked patcher.

ignoreclick [int] (default: 0)

Toggles whether an object ignores mouse clicks in a locked patcher.

jspainterfile [symbol]

JS Painter File

patching_rect [4 floats] (default: 0. 0. 100. 0.)

Sets the position and size of the object in the patcher window.

position [2 floats]

g/s(set)

Sets the object's x and y position in both patching and presentation modes (if the object belongs to its patcher's presentation), leaving its size unchanged.

presentation [int] (default: 0)

Sets whether an object belongs to the patcher's presentation.

presentation_rect [4 floats] (default: 0. 0. 0. 0.)

Sets the x and y position and width and height of the object in the patcher's presentation, leaving its patching position unchanged.

rect [4 floats]

g/s(set)

Sets the x and y position and width and height of the object in both patching and presentation modes (if the object belongs to its patcher's presentation).

size [2 floats]

g/s(set)

Sets the object's width and height in both patching and presentation modes (if the object belongs to its patcher's presentation), leaving its position unchanged.

textcolor [4 floats]

Sets the color for the object's text in RGBA format.

textjustification [int]

Sets the justification for the object's text. Possible values:

0 = 'left'
1 = 'center'
2 = 'right'

varname [symbol]

Sets the patcher's scripting name, which can be used to address the object by name in pattr, scripting messages to thispatcher, and the js object.

Parameter Attributes

Order

Typeint

Sets the order of recall of this parameter. Lower numbers are recalled first. The order of recall of parameters with the same order number is undefined.

Parameter Mode Enable

Typeint

Parameter Mode Enable (not available from Parameters window)

Link to Scripting Name

Typeint

When checked, the Scripting Name is linked to the Long Name attribute.

Long Name

Typesymbol

The long name of the parameter. This name must be unique per patcher hierarchy.

Short Name

Typesymbol

Sets the short name for the object's visual display. The maximum length varies according to letter width, but is generally in a range of 5 to 7 characters.

Type

Typeint

Specifies the data type. The data types used in Max for Live are:

Float
Int
Enum (enumerated list)
Blob

Note: By convention, the Live application uses floating point numbers for its calculations; the native integer representation is limited to 256 values, with a default range of 0-255 (similar to the char data type used in Jitter). When working with Live UI objects whose integer values will exceed this range, the Type attribute should be set to Float, and the Unit Style attribute should be set to Int.

Range/Enum

Typelist

When used with an integer or floating point data type, this field is used to specify the minimum and maximum values of the parameter.
When used with an enumerated list (Enum) data type, this field contains a space-delimited list of the enumerated values (if list items contain a space or special characters, the name should be enclosed in double quotes).

Modulation Mode

Typeint

Sets the Modulation Mode used by the Live application. The modulation modes are:

None
Unipolar
Bipolar
Additive
Absolute

Modulation Range

Typelist

This parameter is only used with the Absolute modulation mode. It specifies defines the range of values used.

Initial Enable

Typeint

When checked (set to 1), the UI object can store an initialization value. The value is set using the Initial attribute (see below).

Initial

Typelist

Sets the initial value to be stored and used when the Initial Enable attribute is checked.

Unit Style

Typeint

Sets the unit style to be used when displaying values. The unit style values are: Int: displays integer values
Float: displays floating point values
Time: displays time values in milliseconds (ms)
Hertz: displays frequency values (Hz/kHz).
deciBel: displays loudness (dB)
%: Percentage
Pan: displays Left and Right values
Semitones: displays steps (st)
MIDI: displays pitch corresponding to the MIDI note number
Custom: displays custom data type
Native: defaults to floating point values

Custom Units

Typesymbol

Sets the units to be used with the 'Custom' unit style (see "Unit Style", above). Custom unit strings may be simple symbols (e.g. "Harmonic(s)"), in which case the parameter's value will be displayed in its 'Native' display mode, followed by the symbol (e.g. "12 Harmonic(s)" for an Int-typed parameter or "12.54 Harmonic(s)" for a Float-typed parameter). For additional control over the numerical component displayed, a sprintf-style string may be used (e.g. "%0.2f Bogon(s)", which would display a value such as ".87 Bogons").

Exponent

Typefloat

When set to a value other than 1., the parameter's input and output values will be exponentially scaled according to the factor entered in this column.

Steps

Typeint

The number of steps available between the minimum and maximum values of a parameter. For instance, if the parameter has a range from 0.-64., with Steps set to 4, the user can only set the parameter to 0, 21.33, 42.66 and 64.

Parameter Visibility

Typeint

For automatable parameters (Int, Float, Enum), 'Stored Only' disables automation, although parameter values are stored in presets. 'Hidden' causes the parameter's value to be ignored when storing and recalling data. Non-automatable parameters (Blob) are 'Stored Only' by default, and can be set to 'Hidden', if desired.

Update Limit (ms)

Typeint

Speed limits values triggered by automation.

Defer Automation Output

Typeint

Defers values triggered by automation.

Messages

bang

bang message causes output of the RGBA values of the current color at the selected (x,y) position on the 2-dimensional colorspace, taking into account the current saturation value.

int

Arguments

red [int]
In left inlet: Set the red color value (ignores values over 1), and cause output of all values.

Note: Unlike most Max objects, input to any one of the three inlets will re-calculate the current color location on the swatch, and trigger output.

  (inlet1)

Arguments

green [int]
In middle inlet: Set the red color value (ignores values over 1), and cause output of all values.

Note: Unlike most Max objects, input to any one of the three inlets will re-calculate the current color location on the swatch, and trigger output.

  (inlet2)

Arguments

blue [int]
In right inlet: Set the red color value (ignores values over 1), and cause output of all values.

Note: Unlike most Max objects, input to any one of the three inlets will re-calculate the current RGBA color location on the swatch, and trigger output.

float

Arguments

red [float]
Set the red color value (0.-1.), and cause output of all values.

  (inlet1)

Arguments

green [float]
Set the green color value (0.-1.), and cause output of all values.

  (inlet2)

Arguments

blue [float]
Set the red color value (0.-1.), and cause output of all values.

list

Arguments

red [number]
green [number]
blue [number]
alpha [number]
A list of three numbers between 0. and 1. sets the four RGBA color components (red, green, blue, alpha), refreshes the display and causes RGBA output.

alpha

Arguments

opacity [float]
The word alpha, followed by a floating-point number between 0. and 1., will set the RGBA alpha (opacity) value.

hsl

Arguments

hue [int]
saturation [int]
lightness [int]
The word hsl, followed by a list of three numbers between 0. and 1., sets the color based on the given hue (x-axis), saturation, and lightness (y-axis) values. The swatch object converts these values to RGBA color values, refreshes the display, and causes output of the RGBA values.

(mouse)

Clicking and dragging on the swatch object will calculate and output the RGBA color at the selected (x, y) position on the 2-dimensional (hue-lightness) colorspace, taking into account the current saturation value.

set

Arguments

red [number]
green [number]
blue [number]
alpha [number]
The word set, followed by a list of three numbers between 0. and 1. sets the four RGBA color components (red, green, blue, alpha) and refreshes the display without causing RGBA output.

sethsl

Arguments

hue [int]
saturation [int]
lightness [int]
The word sethsl, followed by a list of three numbers between 0. and 1., sets the color based on the given hue (x-axis), saturation, and lightness (y-axis) values and the refreshes the display. Unlike the hsl message the sethsl message does not output the corresponding RGBA values.

Output

int

Out right outlet: the current saturation value (calculated from an RGB list input, or output directly after a saturation message)

list

Out left outlet: a list of four RGBA (red, green, blue, alpha) color values

See Also

Name Description
colorpicker Select and output a color
panel Colored background area
Max JS Tutorial 3: JavaScript Tasks, Arguments, and Globals Max JS Tutorial 3: JavaScript Tasks, Arguments, and Globals
Dynamic Colors Dynamic Colors