Color-Naming Schemes

The valid color-naming schemes are as follows:

COLORS=(cx98FB98 cxDDA0DD cxFFDAB9 cxDB7093 cxB0E0E6)

COLORS=(a98FB9833 aDDA0DD66 aFFDAB999 aDB7093CC aB0E0E6FF)

COLORS=("FF00FF00" "00FFFF00" "FFFFFF00")

COLORS=(H14055FF H0F060FF H0B485FF H07880FF)

COLORS=(V0F055FF v010FFFF v03BFFFF v12C55E8)

COLORS=(GRAY4F GRAY6D GRAY8A GRAYC3)

COLORS=(palegreen plum peachpuff palevioletred powderblue)

COLORS=("very light purplish blue" 
"light vivid green" "medium strong yellow" 
"dark grayish green")

You can also mix color-naming schemes in the same statement, for example:

 goptions colors=(cxEE0044 "vivid blue" darkgreen);

Each of the color-naming schemes supported by SAS/GRAPH has its advantages and disadvantages based on how the output is used. For example, if you are creating a report that will be viewed online only, then specifying colors using the RGB naming scheme or the SAS color names defined in the registry might produce better results. If you are creating a report for publishing in printed form, you might want to use the CMYK color-naming scheme.

For additional information about color-naming schemes, see Effective Color Displays: Theory and Practice by David Travis and Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice by Foley, van Dam, Feiner, and Hughes.

The RGB color-naming scheme is usually used to define colors for a display screen. This color-naming scheme is based on the properties of light. With RGB color codes, a color is defined by its red, green, and blue components. Individual amounts of each color are added together to create the desired color. All the colors combined together create white. The absence of all color creates black.

Color names are in the form CXrrggbb, where the following is true:

The components are given as hexadecimal numbers in the range 00 through FF (0% to 100%), where lower values are darker and higher values are lighter. This scheme allows for up to 256 levels of each color component (more than 16 million different colors).

Any combination of the color components is valid. Some combinations match the colors produced by predefined SAS color names. For information about viewing the RGB combinations that match predefined SAS color names, see Using the SAS Registry to Control Color in SAS Language Reference: Concepts.

The RGBA color-naming scheme is the same as the RGB color scheme, except that RGBA also supports variable transparency.See Using Transparency for more information.p06kdvbdiulixcn1traua7qrtn4b

Color names are in the form arrggbbaa, where the following is true:

As with the RGBA color scheme, the components are given as hexadecimal numbers in the range 00 through FF (0% to 100%). The transparency component defines the intensity (opacity) of the color.

Any combination of the color components is valid. Some combinations match the colors produced by predefined SAS color names. For information about viewing the RGB combinations that match predefined SAS color names, see Using the SAS Registry to Control Color in SAS Language Reference: Concepts.

CMYK is a color-naming scheme used in four-color printing. CMYK is based on the principles of objects reflecting light. Combining equal values of cyan, magenta, and yellow produces process black, which might not appear as pure black. The black component (K) of CMYK can be used to specify the level of blackness in the output. A lack of all colors produces white, when the output is printed on white paper.

To specify the colors from a printer's Pantone Color Look-Up Table, you can use the CMYK color-naming scheme. Specify colors in terms of their cyan, magenta, yellow, and black components. Color names are of the form ccmmyykk, where the following is true:

The components are given as hexadecimal numbers in the range 00 through FF, where higher values are darker and lower values are brighter. This scheme allows for up to 256 levels of each color component. Quotation marks are required when the color value starts with a number instead of a letter.

CMYK color specifications are for devices that support four colors. If a CMYK color is used on a three-color device, the device processes the color specification. The resulting colors might not be as expected. Different CMYK colors might map to the same device color because a four-color space supports more colors than a three-color space.

The HLS color-naming scheme follows the Tektronix Color Standard illustrated in Tektronix Color Standard. To make the HLS color model consistent with the HSV coordinate system, Tektronix places blue at zero degrees. With the HLS color naming-scheme, you specify colors in terms of hue, lightness, and saturation levels. HLS color names are of the form Hhhhllss, where the following is true:

The components are given as hexadecimal numbers. The hue component has the range of 000 through 168 hexadecimal (168 hexadecimal is equivalent to 360 decimal). Both the lightness and saturation components are hexadecimal and scaled to a range of 0 to 255 expressed with values of 00 through FF (0% to 100%). Thus, they provide 256 levels for each component.

Specify the HSV color-naming scheme in terms of hue, saturation, and value (or brightness) components. HSV color names are of the form Vhhhssvv, where the following is true:

The components are given as hexadecimal numbers. The hue component has the range of 000 through 168 hexadecimal (168 hexadecimal is equivalent to 360 decimal). Both the saturation and value (brightness) components are hexadecimal, scaled to a range of 0 to 255, and expressed with values of 00 through FF. Thus, they provide 256 levels for each component.

Specify the lightness or darkness of gray using the word GRAY and a lightness value. Gray-scale color codes are of the form GRAYll. The value ll is the lightness of the gray and is given as a hexadecimal number in the range 00 through FF. This scheme allows for 256 levels on the gray scale.

SAS provides, in the SAS Registry, a set of color names and RGB values that you can use to specify colors. These color names and RGB values are common to most Web browsers. You can specify the name itself or the RGB value associated with that color name. To view the color names as associated RGB values that are defined in the registry, submit the following code;

proc registry list
 startat="COLORNAMES";
run;

SAS prints the output in the SAS log.

You can also create your own color values by adding them to the registry. For information about viewing and modifying the list of color names, see Using the SAS Registry to Control Color in SAS Language Reference: Concepts.

With CNS, you specify a color value by specifying lightness, saturation, and hue, in that order, using the terms shown in the following table.

Follow these rules when you are determining the CNS color name:

One or two hue values can be used in the CNS color name. When using two hue values, the hues must be adjacent to each other in the following list: blue, purple, red, orange/brown, yellow, green, and then returning to blue. When two hues are used, the resulting color is a combination of both colors. Use the suffix ish to reduce the effect of a hue when two hues are combined. Reddish purple is less red than red purple. If you are using a color with an ish suffix, this color must precede the color without the ish suffix.

Color names can be written in the following ways: For example, the following are all valid color specifications: