I get asked this question frequently: How do I know what my target colors are when I'm working from a reference photo?

If you're working with Photoshop the answer is simple: Add The Expanded Digital Munsell Photoshop Library to your order.

The Munsell Color Library for Photoshop is the tool I've been searching for since 2006. After waiting for someone to create it, even trying and failing to interest Adobe in adding it as a new feature, I decided I'd have to build it myself.

I considered building an app, but the math behind Munsell is highly nonlinear and the features I wanted — especially the ability to see the Munsell colors next to my reference photo — would be wicked expensive. I've tested every Munsell app available and they all produce wonky results because of the nonlinear nature of the data.

I came to the conclusion that my only option was to build a full Munsell Color Library within Photoshop. It turned out to be much, much, more complicated and time-consuming than I imagined.

I quit twice, had a few emotions, and then I figured out how to make it work.

And work it does!

Operates within Photoshop seamlessly

Just a few clicks and a couple of minutes are all it takes to know which colors to mix. Even better, if you're like me and enjoy changing colors to enhance your composition, the Digital Munsell Photoshop Library makes envisioning the changes you want to make very straightforward.

Sets of the original Munsell Book of Color, also known as the Big Book, are currently selling new for over $1,870, have 48% fewer colors than my Digital Munsell products, and the colors chips are even less accurate than the apps I've tested because they have been compromised by the limitations of printing. (Company-funded audits have revealed that as many as 30% of printed Munsell chips are not accurate.)

The Munsell Color Photoshop Library has none of those issues. All colors are 100% accurate; First value colors are included, as well as far more of the highest chroma colors, and especially important in the hues used to paint skin tones every chroma step is present. Plus, The Munsell Color Photoshop Library contains 94% more color chips than in the printed Munsell set.

For reasons known only to themselves, the printed Munsell sets stop short of full coverage of the true range of oil paints, and its organization leaves much to be desired. When creating the Digital Color Library I chose to include every color within the Munsell gamut. Instead of skipping chromas I included every chroma step for the following hues:

• Red-purple

• Red

• Yellow-red

• Yellow

Plus, for the Red and Yellow-Red hues now start with Value .5 (instead of Value 2) and include half value steps for all strings. These new color chips are so valuable for anyone who paints subjects that have subtle shifts in value and chroma.

These hues are the most likely to appear in skin tones, and it's very helpful to be able to see each chroma step. Skin tends to be lower in chroma than we think, so being able to mix the interim chromas is very helpful. I use this every day.

Lifetime Access

You get lifetime access to The Expanded Munsell Color Library for Photoshop, video instructions on usage, plus all updates, forever...for a low, one-time price. The

With over 3,100 perfectly accurate Munsell colors, The Expanded Munsell Color Library for Photoshop functions within Photoshop seamlessly. You'll also get lifetime access to the video instructions on how to use it, plus all updates.

The Expanded Digital Munsell Book of Color and The Expanded Munsell Color Library for Photoshop match exactly, and are organized to by easily viewed on phones, tablets and desktops. If you already own The Expanded Digital Munsell Book of Color email me for special pricing. I'm looking forward to seeing the beautiful colors you'll be mixing.