Recommended Free Tools
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Free scan · no reinstall
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Free scan · exact hardware match
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
Free scan · Windows 10 & 11
ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
Google’s eyedropper is a real feature, but it was introduced in February 2023—not newly launched in 2026. It lets you sample a color visible on your screen from a custom-color menu. Google’s current instructions cover Docs, Sheets and Slides on a computer, and list Chrome and Microsoft Edge as supported browsers.
What the eyedropper does
The eyedropper is tucked inside a color picker; it is not a permanent toolbar button. Choose a color control, open Custom, then select Pick a custom color. Click a color visible anywhere on your screen to sample it. You can also enter a HEX or RGB value in the custom-color controls. Google says a custom color can be reused elsewhere in the same file.
That makes sampling handy for matching a presentation to a logo, a photograph, a website or another design reference without estimating the color by eye. It samples what is rendered on screen, however—not necessarily the original image’s underlying color value.
#1 Best Overall
- Wacom Intuos Small Graphics Drawing Tablet: Enjoy industry leading tablet performance in superior control and precision with Wacom's EMR, battery free technology that feels like pen on paper
- Works With All Software: Wacom Intuos tablet can be used in any software program to explore new facets of digital creativity; draw, paint, edit photos/videos, create designs, and mark up documents
- What the Professionals Use: Wacom's industry leading pen technology and pen to paper feeling makes it the preferred drawing tablet of professional graphic designers
- Software and Training Included: Only Wacom gives you software with every purchase. Register your Intuos tablet and gain access to some of the best creative software and Wacom's online training
- Wacom is the Global Leader in Drawing Tablet and Displays: For over 40 years in pen display and tablet market, you can trust that Wacom to help you bring your vision, ideas and creativity to life
Use the eyedropper in Google Docs
- Open the document on a computer and select the text or object you want to recolor.
- Open the appropriate control: Text color for lettering, Highlight color for highlighting, or a relevant fill or border control for an object or table.
- Choose Custom, then Pick a custom color.
- Move the picker over the color you want anywhere on the screen and click it.
- Apply or confirm the sampled color if the interface prompts you to do so.
The available controls depend on what you selected. If no editable text or object is active, the menu you need may not appear.
Use it in Google Slides
- Select the text, shape, line or other object to change.
- Open the matching control: Text color, Fill color or Border color.
- Open Custom and select Pick a custom color.
- Click the desired color on screen, then apply or confirm it.
You can use the same approach in other Slides color controls that expose a custom picker, though the available controls vary by object. The sample can come from outside the slide itself—for example, a logo or reference image displayed elsewhere on your screen.
Rank #2
- Customize Your Workflow: The 6 customizable press keys on Huion H640P drawing tablet for pc let you assign your most-used commands—like undo, zoom, brush switch, or save—so you can keep your hands on the tablet and your mind on the art. Whether you're a digital painter switching brushes, or a comic artist zooming in and out, these keys keep your workflow smooth and uninterrupted. Plus, the Huion driver lets you save different shortcut profiles for different apps, so you never have to reconfigure when switching software.
- Professional Pen Performance: Huion H640P drawing pad for computer comes with the battery-free PW100 stylus that's always ready when inspiration strikes. With 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, every light sketch, or bold stroke responds naturally to your hand—just like a real pen. The 5080 LPI resolution and 233 PPS report rate deliver lag-free, precise strokes, so you can draw confidently without second-guessing your cursor. The pen side buttons help you switch between pen and eraser instantly.
- Compact and Portable: Huion H640P computer graphics tablet features a compact, ultra-portable design at just 0.3 inches thin and 0.61 lbs light, so it slides easily into your backpack—perfect for sketching in coffee shops, taking notes in class, or editing on the go between home and studio. The 6x4 inch active area offers enough room for natural pen movements while fitting comfortably on crowded desks, or lecture hall seats.
- Stable Compatibility: Huion H640P graphic drawing tablet works seamlessly with Mac, Windows, Linux PCs, and Android smartphones/tablets (OS version 6.0 or later). Left-handed friendly, and you just need to flip the tablet and adjust the settings in the driver. Please note: H640P does NOT support iPhone/iPad.
- Move Beyond the Mouse: Huion Inspiroy H640P is a pen tablet that replaces your mouse for more natural, precise control. Freehand draw, take notes, or even play OSU—everything you do with a mouse, you can do better with a pen. The precise tip makes it ideal for detailed photo editing, graphic design, or signing PDF. Meanwhile, the ergonomic pen grip helps you avoid the strain that comes from hours of using a mouse.
Which apps and browsers are supported?
Google’s current Help instructions document the eyedropper for Docs, Sheets and Slides and name Chrome and Edge as supported browsers. They describe using the feature on a computer, so do not assume the same workflow is available in the mobile apps. Google’s 2023 announcement also named Drawings, but the current Help page’s instructions do not list it alongside those three apps; the interface and browser support in Drawings should not be presumed identical.
Google’s current documentation does not name Safari or Firefox. If the option is missing there, try the document in Chrome or Edge before concluding that your account has a problem. Opera appeared in older rollout information, but it is not among the browsers named in the current Help instructions.
Rank #3
- Battery-Free Pen: StarG640 drawing tablet is the perfect replacement for a traditional mouse! The XPPen advanced Battery-free PN01 stylus does not require charging, allowing for constant uninterrupted Draw and Play, making lines flow quicker and smoother, enhancing overall performance
- Ideal for Online Education: XPPen G640 graphics tablet is designed for digital drawing, painting, sketching, E-signatures, online teaching, remote work, photo editing, it's compatible with Microsoft Office apps like Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Zoom, Xsplit etc. Works perfect than a mouse, visually present your handwritten notes, signatures precisely
- Compact and Portable: The G640 art tablet is only 2 mm thick, it's as slim as all primary level graphic tablets, allowing you to carry it with you on the go
- Chromebook Supported: XPPen G640 digital drawing tablet is ready to work seamlessly with Chromebook devices now, so you can create information-rich content and collaborate with teachers and classmates on Google Jamboard’s whiteboard; Take notes quickly and conveniently with Google Keep, and effortlessly sketch diagrams with the Google Canvas
- Multipurpose Use: Designed for playing OSU! Game, digital drawing, painting, sketch, sign documents digitally, this writing tablet also compatible with Microsoft Office programs like Word, PowerPoint, OneNote and more. Create mind-maps, draw diagrams or take notes as replacement for mouse
What to do if “Pick a custom color” is missing
- Select something editable. Click into text or select the shape, line, cell or other element whose color you want to change.
- Open the right color control. Use Text color for text, Fill color for a fill, or Border color for an outline. The eyedropper is inside the picker, not a standalone toolbar icon.
- Look under Custom. Choose Custom, then look for Pick a custom color. Depending on the interface, the custom-color panel may open after you select Custom or its add button.
- Try Chrome or Edge. These are the browsers Google currently documents for the feature.
- If it is still absent, try practical checks. Refresh the file, test another file or account, or open a private window to see whether an extension or cached interface is involved. These are general troubleshooting steps, not special Google requirements.
- Use a fallback. Enter the color’s HEX or RGB value in the custom picker. In a managed Workspace account, an administrator may also be able to help investigate browser policies or extensions.
Eyedropper or HEX/RGB entry?
| Method | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Eyedropper | Quickly matching a visible reference | Fast, but the sampled screen pixel may not equal the source’s intended color. |
| HEX or RGB entry | Applying a known brand or design-spec color | Precise and repeatable when you have the correct value. |
| Theme or style system | Maintaining consistent colors across a team’s files | Requires setup, but is more reliable than repeatedly sampling screenshots. |
Sampling can be affected by transparency, gradients, image compression, anti-aliasing, hover effects, display settings and color management. For an exact brand color, use the official HEX or RGB value when available. For a color used repeatedly across different files, record that value or use an approved theme; Google’s documented reuse applies elsewhere in the same file, not automatically to every document.
Color matching is not a contrast check
A sampled color may match a reference and still make text difficult to read. Check foreground and background contrast separately, especially for text placed over photographs or decorative fills. The eyedropper helps reproduce a color; it does not assess accessibility or guarantee legibility.
Rank #4
- Word-first 16K Pressure Levels: The upgraded stylus features 16,384 levels of pressure sensitivity and supports up to 60 degrees of tilt, delivering smoother lines and shading for a natural drawing experience. With no battery or charging needed, it operates like a real pen, making it easy for beginners to create effortlessly. This functionality helps novice artists develop their skills and explore their creativity without the intimidation of complex tools
- Designed for Beginners: This drawing pad desinged with 8 customizable shortcuts for both right and left-hand users, express keys create a highly ergonomic and convenient work platform
- Perfectly Adapted for Android: The XPPen Deco 01 V3 art tablet supports connections with Android devices running version 10.0 and above. It is recommended to download the XPPen Tools Android application, which adapts to your smartphone's screen aspect ratio, ensuring accurate mapping. It also supports mapping on Android screens with different aspect ratios in portrait mode
- Large Drawing Space, Bigger Bold Inspiration: This expansive drawing pad has10 x 6.25-inch helps you break through the limit between shortcut keys and drawing area
- Easy Connectivity for Beginners: The Deco 01 V3 offers USB-C to USB-C connectivity, plus adapters for USB C. This ensures easy connection to various devices, allowing beginner artists to set up quickly and focus on their creativity without compatibility concerns. Whether using a laptop, tablet, or desktop, the Deco 01 V3 provides a seamless experience, making it an ideal choice for those just starting their digital art journey
When Google introduced it
The feature was announced on February 3, 2023. The original Google Docs Editors announcement described an eyedropper and RGBA-style color values in Docs, Sheets, Slides and Drawings; Google’s current Help page uses HEX and RGB terminology and gives instructions for Docs, Sheets and Slides. The original rollout list is historical, not a current plan-by-plan eligibility chart. Google’s present Help page does not publish a comprehensive Workspace-edition matrix, so access should not be assumed to be identical across every managed account.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Sources: Google Docs Editors Help: Use custom colors; Google’s 2023 feature announcement; 9to5Google’s contemporaneous report.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Large Active Drawing Space: UGEE M708 V3 graphic drawing tablet features 10 x 6 inch large active drawing space with papery texture surface, provides enormous and smooth drawing for your digital artwork creation, offers no-lag sketch and painting experience
- 16384 Passive Stylus Technology: A more affordable passive stylus technology offers 16384 levels of pressure sensitivity allows you to draw accurate lines of any weight and opacity according to the pressure you apply to the pen, sharper line with light pressure and thick line with hard pressure for artistry design or unique brush effect for photo retouching
- Compatible with Multiple System and Softwares: Powerful compatibility, tablet for drawing computer, perform well with Windows 11/10/8/7, Mac OS X 10.10 or later, Android 10.0 or later, mac OS 10.12 or later, Chrome OS 88 or later and Linux; Driver program works with creative software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Macromedia Flash, Comic Studio, SAI, Infinite Stratos, 3D MAX, Autodesk MAYA, Pixologic ZBrush and more
- Ergonomically Designed Shortcuts: 8 customizable express keys on the side for short cuts like eraser, zoom in and out, scrolling and undo, provide a lot more for convenience and helps to improve the productivity and efficiency when creating with the drawing tablet
- Easy Connectivity for Beginners: The UGEE M708 V3 offers USB to USB-C connectivity, plus adapters for USB C, ensuring easy connection to various devices and allowing beginner artists to set up quickly and focus on their creativity without compatibility concerns; Whether using a laptop, desktop, chromebook, or tablet, the UGEE M708 V3 provides a seamless experience for those just starting their digital art journey
