Pixie for Windows

Instant color picking for designers

Pixie is a tiny utility that makes it easy to identify and copy colors from anywhere on your screen. To sample a color, simply hover your mouse pointer over the pixel you want — the app immediately reports that pixel’s color values in several common formats.

Which color values are shown

• RGB component values for immediate use in many graphics tools
• Hexadecimal (hex) codes for web and CSS work
• HTML color notation for quick copy-paste into markup
• HSV (hue, saturation, value) numbers for color adjustments
• CMYK breakdowns useful when preparing files for print

How the tool operates

Pixie opens in a compact, separate window that displays the color information for the pixel you point at. It includes a magnified preview to help you match an exact pixel, which is useful when working with high-resolution images or tiny details. You can also assign keyboard shortcuts to some functions for faster access while you work.

Download options and file size

• A paid option lets you obtain the application’s source code for modification or learning purposes
• A free ZIP archive is available for users who prefer a zipped distribution
• A standalone executable version can be downloaded at no cost; the program is extremely lightweight (just over 10 KB)

Why designers like Pixie

If you need to match colors precisely for a web page, logo, or other artwork, Pixie provides a quick, no-frills solution. Its tiny footprint, straightforward interface, and accurate sampling make it a handy addition to any designer’s toolkit.