What it does
System Color Picker turns the macOS colour panel into a free app with recent colours, palettes and copying in formats including Hex, RGB and OKLCH.
Hold Shift while sampling to keep the eyedropper open for another selection. Space shows RGB values in the sampler; other formats are copied afterward from the app.
The window menu exports palettes in Simple Color Palette format. CLR palettes can also be copied from the Mac’s colour folder. The separate swatch backup file is for transfer between Macs, not ordinary viewing or editing.
Strengths
- Sampling can stay open for several selections
- Palettes can be imported from ASE files
Watch out for
- The sampler itself displays RGB values only
Best for
- Mac users who want shortcuts around the familiar colour panel
Sources
- System Color Picker features and tips (Oct 27, 2026)
- System Color Picker export FAQ (Oct 27, 2026)