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Using Palettes

Traditionally, a palette was a surface where an artist mixed colors before applying them to the canvas. In computer graphics, a palette is somewhat similar. Most graphics programs have a window where you can pick your colors. In certain circumstances, your color choices are limited. Those limited sets of colors also are referred to as palettes.

Palettes are more important when working with GIF images. Because of their limited color depth, GIF images can use only a select palette. This palette, though, can contain a different selection of colors. Sometimes you have control over the selection of the colors and, unfortunately, sometimes you don't.

Problems with Limited Palettes

One problem associated with limited palettes is that, ...