Grandma2 Color Picker Plugin ^new^ -

Here’s a practical guide to understanding and using a Color Picker Plugin for grandMA2 (MA2).

Important Note: grandMA2 does not have a built-in visual color picker (like a color wheel with a mouse-click interface) in its default software. To get this feature, you must install a third-party Lua plugin. The most common one is "ColorPicker by Kacper Pabisiak" or similar variants available on MA Share, GitHub, or control forums.

Limitations to Keep in Mind

  • No native color mixing for dimmers – Works only on RGB/CMY-capable fixtures.
  • Plugin-dependent – If you share showfiles, other programmers need the same plugin installed.
  • Performance on older consoles – Very smooth, but extremely complex wheels with many fixtures may cause slight lag.

What is a Grandma2 Color Picker Plugin?

At its core, a color picker is a graphical user interface (GUI) tool that allows you to select a color by clicking on a spectrum, a color wheel, or a palette. In the context of the grandMA2, a "plugin" is a Lua-based script that extends the functionality of the console beyond its default parameters. grandma2 color picker plugin

The default grandMA2 console offers the "Color Mixer" (CTRL + M) and the "ColorPicker" in the Fixture Sheet. However, a dedicated grandma2 color picker plugin typically does the following:

  1. Visual Spectrum Selection: It displays a high-resolution color wheel or HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value) map.
  2. DMX Value Calculation: When you click a color on the screen, the plugin automatically calculates the correct DMX values for RGB, CMY, or HSL fixtures.
  3. Preset Creation: Advanced plugins allow you to save the clicked color directly into a preset pool (color pool) for instant recall later.
  4. Fixture Specificity: Unlike the generic console picker, some plugins can interpret the specific color mixing curves of different fixture brands (e.g., Martin, Claypaky, Robe).

Workflow 3: Integrating with Timecode

Imagine a timecode track where every second requires a precise mood shift. Here’s a practical guide to understanding and using

  1. Run the plugin alongside your timecode.
  2. Click "Sunset Orange" at 01:30.00.
  3. Click "Midnight Purple" at 01:35.00. You do not need to write envelopes; you just "snapshot" colors via the plugin into your cues.

The Future: Moving to grandMA3

As of 2025, the industry is slowly migrating to grandMA3. However, MA3 has native "Recipes" and a vastly improved built-in color picker (including a GEL picker). Does that make the grandma2 color picker plugin obsolete?

Not yet. Thousands of venues, rental houses, and touring acts still use MA2 because it is rock-solid. If you are on MA2 for the next 2-3 years, a color picker plugin is not a luxury—it is a necessity to keep your speed competitive with MA3 programmers. Important Note: grandMA2 does not have a built-in

Example workflows

  1. Creating a Look for a wash:
    • Select wash fixtures → open Color Picker → choose hue via visual map → set Kelvin to 3200K for warm white accents → click “Store Palette” → drag Palette to Executor.
  2. Sampling from an image:
    • Import photo → extract 5 dominant colors → assign first color to key fixtures and map remaining colors to side fills → store as Palette bank for scene recall.
  3. Crossfade between colors for a cue:
    • Create Color Palettes A and B → place them in consecutive Cue parts with defined fade time and blend curve (e.g., linear or S-curve) → trigger cue.

Advanced Workflows: Beyond Basic Color Picking

Once you have installed your grandma2 color picker plugin, you can integrate it into advanced programming workflows.

2. "Plugin Universe - ColorMaster" (Premium)

  • Best for: Corporate events and theater.
  • Features: Lee & Rosco libraries, Kelvin slider, live color preview.
  • Cost: Approximately €50-100 USD.
  • Pros: Incredibly stable, supports 16-bit dimming curves.
  • Cons: Paid, requires registration key.

Overview

The grandMA2 Color Picker plugin adds an interactive, painterly means of selecting colors on the grandMA2 lighting console family. Instead of relying solely on preset color wheels or macros, the plugin exposes a visual color map and tools for creating, sampling, modifying, and outputting color values in ways that match modern creative workflows for show programming.

error: Content is protected !!
Scroll to Top