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In Mathematica 7, the default plot color is a purple-like color (although I think it is not Purple). Is it possible to use Mathematica to determine the RGB color values of the default plot color? Thanks for your time.

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This one was answered here stackoverflow.com/questions/5391825/… – belisarius Oct 9 '12 at 18:39

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All the default colors can be found in ColorData[1]. To obtain the RGB value of the first color you just need to type:

ColorData[1, 1]
(* RGBColor[0.2472, 0.24, 0.6] *)

To check all subsequent colors just change the n in ColorData[1, n]. To obtain the values on the scale 0 to 255:

Round[Rescale[Table[ColorData[1, 1][[i]], {i, 3}], {0, 1}, {0, 255}]]
(* {63, 61, 153} *)
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Thanks! So, if (as in other programs) the RGB values are on a scale from 0 to 255, I just need to multiply the Mathematica RGB values by 255? – Andrew Oct 9 '12 at 17:23
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@Andrew See update. – VLC Oct 9 '12 at 17:25
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The default color is Hue[0.67, 0.6, 0.6]

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How did you determine this or where did you find this documented? -- Thx – Jagra Oct 9 '12 at 16:57
Thanks. Is it possible to convert those values to RGB values used in many paint programs? – Andrew Oct 9 '12 at 16:57
Also, it seems that in some programs (for example, Microsoft Word 2003), HSL values go from 0 to 255, not 0 to 1 as in Mathematica. I guess, then, I should just multiply by 255 and round to the nearest integer? – Andrew Oct 9 '12 at 17:00
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@Andrew Yes, certainly. – Alexey Popkov Oct 9 '12 at 17:33
up vote 2 down vote

The closest source of the default style colors I could find is this internal function:

System`Private`$PlotStyleFunction[3]

{{Hue[0.67, 0.6, 0.6]}, {Hue[0.906068, 0.6, 0.6]}, {Hue[0.142136, 0.6, 0.6]}}

Yielding e.g. the first three style colors. These as noted by others are exceedingly close to ColorData[1], the function of which is:

ColorData[1][[4]]

(ToColor[Hue[N[FractionalPart[0.67 + (2 (#1 - 1))/GoldenRatio]], 0.6, 0.6],
  RGBColor] &)[Floor[#1 - 1, 1] + 1] &

If you are interested in changing the defaults don't miss:

How to change the default ColorData used in Mathematica's Plot?

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Since System`Private`$PlotStyleFunction returns HSB values as opposed to RGB values, if you want to see the RGB values, do this: ColorConvert[#, RGBColor] & /@ Flatten[System`Private`$PlotStyleFunction[3]]. – J. M.♦ Oct 9 '12 at 22:37
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ColorData[1,"ColorList"] gives the full list for the default colour set.

enter image description here

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