Vedhathiri
Author
Tech Talkies Youtube channel has built a handheld color picker using the ESP32-S3 that can scan the color of a real-world object and show its RGB and HEX values on a small display. Users can point the device at a surface, capture its color, and see the result without relying on a phone camera or computer. This makes it useful for designers, makers, artists, and anyone who wants to quickly identify a color from a physical object.
The device uses a TCS34725 color sensor to measure red, green, blue, and clear-light levels, while a XIAO ESP32S3 Sense handles the processing and user interface. An ST7789 display shows the detected color and its values, while three physical buttons are used to navigate the device. One of its useful features is color saving, allowing users to store captured colors and browse them later. The project also includes different interface functions for scanning, viewing saved colors, deleting colors, and changing settings. The sensor's LED can be configured to operate automatically, remain on, or stay off depending on how the device is being used.Also this project is fully open-source.
The handheld color scanner also includes features that make it more than a basic sensor experiment. The ESP32-S3 stores saved color information in its non-volatile memory, so the colors can be accessed again after they are saved. It can also communicate with a computer over USB, with the ESP32-S3 configured to work as a keyboard for sending color information. The electronics are housed in a 3D-printed enclosure, turning the project into a portable tool that can be carried and used away from a workbench.
