The QBIC Colour Search allows you to search the Digital Collection for paintings that use specific colours. For example, use this search to see all paintings in the Digital Collection that are 20% light blue with 60% bright yellow.

Tip! You may access QBIC from any page of the Digital Collection. Simply click the QBIC button to begin.

The Basic Moves

-- Click inside the palette to select a colour that you would like a work of art to contain. This colour will appear above the arrow button at the top of the page.

-- Click the arrow button to add the colour to the gauge.

-- Use the needles on the gauge to change the percentage of a colour your results should include.

-- Repeat these steps to add more colours to the gauge, up to 100%, or search on just one colour.

-- Click Search to begin searching the Digital Collection.

-- Click Delete to remove a colour from the gauge, or Clear All to empty the gauge.

Using the RGB Scales

-- You may also use the Colour Mixer to create a custom colour. The Colour Mixer employs RGB scales, which you may use to select the value of red, green, or blue you want to make up your custom colour.

Tip! Use the RGB values to search very specific colours.

-- The custom colour will appear above the arrow button. As you move sliders beneath each scale, the colour will change.

-- When you have found the colour you want to use in your search, click the arrow button to add it to the gauge.

Tip! See the Glossary to find out more information about RGB values.