Package Max

swatch

Choose a color

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.

Arguments

None.

Attributes

compatibility[int]: 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).

param_connect[symbol]:

Establishes a two-way connection between the object and a parameter of a compatible object with parameters such as gen~ or jit.gl.slab. The object can be used to change the value of the parameter and will update if the parameter value changes. The easiest way to set param_connect is with the attribute's menu in the inspector or the Connect submenu of the Object Action menu. The menu displays all available parameters of compatible objects.

Setting the param_connect attribute with a message requires the target parameter's path, which is the host object's scriping name followed by two colons and the parameter name. For example, for a gen~ object with scripting name gen~_AB , the path of the freq parameter would be gen~_AB::freq . You can set a value for the param_connect before the host object or parameter exists, and the object will connect to the parameter once it exists. Refer to the user guide entry for param_connect for more details.

parameter_enable[int]

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

parameter_mappable[int]: 1

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

saturation[float]: 255.

Set the saturation of available swatch colors

Common Box Attributes

Below is a list of attributes shared by all objects. If you want to change one of these attributes for an object based on the object box, you need to place the word sendbox in front of the attribute name, or use the object's Inspector.

annotation[symbol]

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

background[int]: 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]: 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]: 0

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

jspainterfile[symbol]

JS Painter File

patching_rect[4 floats]: 0. 0. 100. 0.

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

position[2 floats]
write-only

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]: 0

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

presentation_rect[4 floats]: 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]
write-only

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]
write-only

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

Orderint

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 Enableint

Parameter Mode Enable (not available from Parameters window)

Link to Scripting Nameint

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

Long Namesymbol

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

Short Namesymbol

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.

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/Enumlist

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).

Clip Modulation Modeint

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

None
Unipolar
Bipolar
Additive
Absolute

Clip Modulation Rangelist

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

Initial Enableint

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

Initiallist

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

Unit Styleint

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 Unitssymbol

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").

Exponentfloat

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.

Stepsint

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 Visibilityint

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)int

Speed limits values triggered by automation.

Defer Automation Outputint

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

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.

Arguments:
  • red [int]

  (inlet1)

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.

Arguments:
  • green [int]

  (inlet2)

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.

Arguments:
  • blue [int]

float

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

Arguments:
  • red [float]

  (inlet1)

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

Arguments:
  • green [float]

  (inlet2)

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

Arguments:
  • blue [float]

list

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.

Arguments:
  • red [number]
  • green [number]
  • blue [number]
  • alpha [number]

alpha

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

Arguments:
  • opacity [float]

hsl

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.

Arguments:
  • hue [int]
  • saturation [int]
  • lightness [int]

(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

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.

Arguments:
  • red [number]
  • green [number]
  • blue [number]
  • alpha [number]

sethsl

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.

Arguments:
  • hue [int]
  • saturation [int]
  • lightness [int]

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
Dynamic Colors Dynamic Colors
colorpicker Select and output a color
panel Colored background area