Grandma2 Color Picker Plugin May 2026

MA2 does not provide a universal SetColor(R,G,B) command. A plugin must know:

Real-world example:
You pick a rich sunset orange (#FF8C00). grandma2 color picker plugin

Result: The plugin is only as accurate as the color calibration table the user creates. Without calibration, it’s a toy. MA2 does not provide a universal SetColor(R,G,B) command

The Grandma2 Color Picker plugin is a software tool that allows users to select and adjust colors for lighting fixtures in a more intuitive and efficient way. It is designed to work within the Grandma2 lighting console's software environment, providing a user-friendly interface for selecting colors and managing color data. Real-world example: You pick a rich sunset orange

The grandMA2 console is a powerhouse for lighting control, but its native color management (HSV relative to the fixture’s color mixing engine) can be unintuitive for designers used to the absolute, device-agnostic color picking found in Capture, Vectorworks, or even MA3. The Color Picker Plugin bridges this gap, converting a simple 2D (RGB/CMY) or 3D (HSV) click into parameter values. Verdict: Essential for speed and creative exploration, but with significant caveats regarding fixture profiling.

  • For Kelvin/CT conversion, use Planckian locus approximations to compute RGB values for a given color temperature, then map to fixture parameters.
  • When fixtures include color wheels, offer hybrid mapping:
  • Use a compact LUT to warn of out-of-gamut colors; when color is out-of-gamut, provide closest reproducible color and a percentage error metric.
  • Export formats: Color Palette objects compatible with grandMA2 protocol, and optional CSV/JSON with both HSV and fixture-native channels for external tooling.

    • Most plugins write values via SetVar $r = 255 → SetVar $g = 128 → SetVar $b = 0 → Attribute "ColorRGB_1" At $r etc. This takes 3-4 command lines (≈0.2-0.3 sec perceived lag). For live busking, that’s too slow.
    Better plugins use a single Attribute "ColorRGB_1" At Color[$r.$g.$b] (if the fixture supports direct color vectors), but that’s rare.

    You might be wondering, "Doesn't the MA2 already have a color picker?" It does, but the default tool has limitations that plugins solve brilliantly.