Individual notehead colors
Moderators: Peter Thomsen, miker
Hello,I've seen a few posts on this subject, but none that covers my query.
I do know you can assign different colors to layers and can assign colors to individual notes such as each "C" will be blue, each "D" will be red etc.
What I'm after - to help a student, is to color each note that must be held in a Bach Prélude (Book 2 N° XVI)
This can (sort of) be done using 4 layers, but it generates a mess of rests that need to be hidden afterwards.
I saw somewhere that I can generate a .pdf from a one-layer score, then use Adobe Illustrator to re-color my note heads, but that looks like a long haul, and an investment I'd rather avoid $$.
Note - this is a one-off job, so I'm looking for a quick and easy solution - (a miracle?)
OK thanks to those who can help.
Ozfrog
LATER.
Saw from another post -InkScape - FREE and does a great job - intuitive.
I was able to pick out the desired notes and paint them red.
Done in dusted in half an hour including download + installation time.
Save your Finale file as a .pdf by Print / as .pdf
Open that in Inkscape.
Do your stuff.
Save in InkScape format.
Print.
I do know you can assign different colors to layers and can assign colors to individual notes such as each "C" will be blue, each "D" will be red etc.
What I'm after - to help a student, is to color each note that must be held in a Bach Prélude (Book 2 N° XVI)
This can (sort of) be done using 4 layers, but it generates a mess of rests that need to be hidden afterwards.
I saw somewhere that I can generate a .pdf from a one-layer score, then use Adobe Illustrator to re-color my note heads, but that looks like a long haul, and an investment I'd rather avoid $$.
Note - this is a one-off job, so I'm looking for a quick and easy solution - (a miracle?)
OK thanks to those who can help.
Ozfrog
LATER.
Saw from another post -InkScape - FREE and does a great job - intuitive.
I was able to pick out the desired notes and paint them red.
Done in dusted in half an hour including download + installation time.
Save your Finale file as a .pdf by Print / as .pdf
Open that in Inkscape.
Do your stuff.
Save in InkScape format.
Print.
Last edited by Ozfrog on Thu Jun 23, 2022 3:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- N Grossingink
- Posts: 1789
- Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2016 2:50 pm
- Finale Version: 27.3
- Operating System: Mac
There is a free open source program called "Inkscape" which does pretty much what Illustrator does. Some Finale users report success using it.
N.
N.
N. Grossingink
Educational Band, Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble a specialty
Sample: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pFF5OeJDeLFGHMRyXrubFqZWXBubErw4/view?usp=share_link
Mac Mini 2014 2.6 Ghz, 8Gb RAM
OSX 10.15.7
Finale 2012c, 25.5, 26.3, 27.3
Educational Band, Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble a specialty
Sample: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pFF5OeJDeLFGHMRyXrubFqZWXBubErw4/view?usp=share_link
Mac Mini 2014 2.6 Ghz, 8Gb RAM
OSX 10.15.7
Finale 2012c, 25.5, 26.3, 27.3
-
- Posts: 1311
- Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2010 8:59 am
- Finale Version: Finale 27
- Operating System: Mac
Finale's abilities for colouring are limited to specific uses. For anything else, you will have to go to another app.
There are plenty of other vector artwork drawing packages, ranging from free to inexpensive. If you think you might ever use one again, then I would recommend Affinity Designer, which is a professional alternative to Illustrator at a fraction of the price. It's on the Mac App Store for under $40.
Graphic by Autodesk (formerly iDraw) is cheaper still and very capable at under $30.
There is also Inkscape, an open source, free vector artwork editor. All of these should be able to open pages from a PDF file and manipulate individual elements of the notation - change colour, adjust slur and tie contours, move individual notes and other items, possibly even make minor alterations to text.
Note that this is very different from using a photo editor like Photoshop, which will turn the vector "instructions" into a pixelated image, which you can then paint over.
There are plenty of other vector artwork drawing packages, ranging from free to inexpensive. If you think you might ever use one again, then I would recommend Affinity Designer, which is a professional alternative to Illustrator at a fraction of the price. It's on the Mac App Store for under $40.
Graphic by Autodesk (formerly iDraw) is cheaper still and very capable at under $30.
There is also Inkscape, an open source, free vector artwork editor. All of these should be able to open pages from a PDF file and manipulate individual elements of the notation - change colour, adjust slur and tie contours, move individual notes and other items, possibly even make minor alterations to text.
Note that this is very different from using a photo editor like Photoshop, which will turn the vector "instructions" into a pixelated image, which you can then paint over.
- Peter Thomsen
- Posts: 6634
- Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 6:47 pm
- Finale Version: Finale v27.4
- Operating System: Mac
There is also the vector drawing application EazyDraw which has a quite user friendly interface (§ 95, Mac OS X only).
Mac OS X 12.6.9 (Monterey), Finale user since 1996
-
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2018 10:35 pm
- Finale Version: finale v25
- Operating System: Mac
I have my own notehead color system. Very complicated, like g is green B is blue A is aqua, etc.
Is there any way to store these like in a library file or something, where I don't have to go thru the color changes on every song?
Is there any way to store these like in a library file or something, where I don't have to go thru the color changes on every song?
- N Grossingink
- Posts: 1789
- Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2016 2:50 pm
- Finale Version: 27.3
- Operating System: Mac
Change the note colors on a blank, unused Finale file and save it as a template. Start all new files using this template.lewakins wrote:I have my own notehead color system. Very complicated, like g is green B is blue A is aqua, etc.
Is there any way to store these like in a library file or something, where I don't have to go thru the color changes on every song?
N.
N. Grossingink
Educational Band, Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble a specialty
Sample: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pFF5OeJDeLFGHMRyXrubFqZWXBubErw4/view?usp=share_link
Mac Mini 2014 2.6 Ghz, 8Gb RAM
OSX 10.15.7
Finale 2012c, 25.5, 26.3, 27.3
Educational Band, Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble a specialty
Sample: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pFF5OeJDeLFGHMRyXrubFqZWXBubErw4/view?usp=share_link
Mac Mini 2014 2.6 Ghz, 8Gb RAM
OSX 10.15.7
Finale 2012c, 25.5, 26.3, 27.3
- Peter Thomsen
- Posts: 6634
- Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 6:47 pm
- Finale Version: Finale v27.4
- Operating System: Mac
Not note-head colors, but rather note colors (= also stems, flags and beams):
Mac OS X 12.6.9 (Monterey), Finale user since 1996
-
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2021 3:04 pm
- Finale Version: FINALE 2009
- Operating System: Windows
Are useful technique is to add flats or sharps or double Saturday double sharps to the D in a different octave to assign a different color to it and then under documents options accidentals just erase all accidentals and just see the note heads different colors - it looks good but doesn’t sound good if you play it back
Great - just tried it - perfect results from a FreeWare - Thanks for the tip.N Grossingink wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2017 1:02 pmThere is a free open source program called "Inkscape" which does pretty much what Illustrator does. Some Finale users report success using it.
N.
L.D.
- wessmusic
- Posts: 109
- Joined: Fri Mar 22, 2019 10:38 am
- Finale Version: Finale 27.4
- Operating System: Mac
Hi there,
as far as I understand, you wonder if something like this would be feasible with Finale?
Of course, completely, without resorting to an external graphics editor. You just need to instal a font in which note heads are colored. (Please find the link attached below.)
Needless to say, the noteheads should be assigned from here:
Here is the result;
(This is not done in PhotoShopt as it is not a trick to attract attention, although I'm a big fan of the Penn & Teller show "Fool Us")
At the bottom is the PDF file.
The first two screenshots are from Finale 26.3 (in the first I stopped the colors of the individual layers of the program preferences). All you have to do is use the Note shape tool to replace the default noteheads with some of the colored ones no matter which layer they are on.
(BTW, the colored note heads I used in this DEMO were designed to be part of a large SMuFL font I've been working on for about a year and a half that is based on Henle scores.)
____
The lower grand staff is only demonstrative, in which it is clear that the colors are not bound by the pitches of the notes.
If Keyboar Maestro is used, the replacement procedure takes only 3 seconds within one bar and 5-6 seconds if the notes are across the bar line. But I admit, this is far from a "miracle" if your expectations are much higher!
Applying "Action" in Illustrator takes ca. 8-12 sec. per page.
Cheers,
Wess
PS
If it would be useful for someone, here is a universal font that can be downloaded within the next few hours
https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code ... 5p08q4mEk0
and used with Mac-versions up to 26 incl.
(Sorry, I haven't tested Finale 27, nor the Windows versions, although I guess it may work flawlessly.)
However, the font must be installed as a music font — i.e. its name should be added to the configuration file MacSymbolFonts.txt as
Wess-ColorNoteHeads
CUSTOM FONTS for FINALE and SIBELIUS
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/f0udkrvb8xvh2zj/AAD_8mVlRzzr5mjZKI7BR7Kza?dl=0
________
Finale user since 1994
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/f0udkrvb8xvh2zj/AAD_8mVlRzzr5mjZKI7BR7Kza?dl=0
________
Finale user since 1994
Hello Wess,
Thank you for this and so many other helpful posts! I, too, am looking for an efficient way of working with colored noteheads, and found your solution very nice. However, I am facing one issue: after replacing the noteheads in my document with your "Wess-ColorNoteHeads" font, the spacing of all ties and articulations is messed up: (see attachment below)
I have tinkered with changing the default vertical placement values for both the ties and the articulations, but haven't found a consistent solution. Do you have any advice you can share on how to solve this?
Cheers,
Traveler
Thank you for this and so many other helpful posts! I, too, am looking for an efficient way of working with colored noteheads, and found your solution very nice. However, I am facing one issue: after replacing the noteheads in my document with your "Wess-ColorNoteHeads" font, the spacing of all ties and articulations is messed up: (see attachment below)
I have tinkered with changing the default vertical placement values for both the ties and the articulations, but haven't found a consistent solution. Do you have any advice you can share on how to solve this?
Cheers,
Traveler
macOS Monterey 12.3.1
- Peter Thomsen
- Posts: 6634
- Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 6:47 pm
- Finale Version: Finale v27.4
- Operating System: Mac
Traveler,
I am not Wess, but this problem looks like a FAN file problem.
Does your Finale have a FAN file for the font "Wess-ColorNoteHeads" ?
I am not Wess, but this problem looks like a FAN file problem.
Does your Finale have a FAN file for the font "Wess-ColorNoteHeads" ?
Mac OS X 12.6.9 (Monterey), Finale user since 1996
Hi Peter,Peter Thomsen wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2023 10:17 amTraveler,
I am not Wess, but this problem looks like a FAN file problem.
Does your Finale have a FAN file for the font "Wess-ColorNoteHeads" ?
Thanks so much for your prompt reply. I don't think it does, but I'm not sure. How can I verify? And, if my Finale indeed doesn't have a FAN file for this font, how can I solve it?
In case it's relevant, the font was downloaded from a link Wess provided above, which is this: https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code ... 5p08q4mEk0
Thanks!
Traveler
macOS Monterey 12.3.1
Update: to confirm, I navigated through the Font Annotation folder in my system's library, and I don't see a .fan file for this font. Any ideas on how to solve this?
Last edited by Traveler on Sat Dec 16, 2023 9:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
macOS Monterey 12.3.1
- Peter Thomsen
- Posts: 6634
- Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 6:47 pm
- Finale Version: Finale v27.4
- Operating System: Mac
Finale can create the missing FAN file for you.
- Open the Finale document with the font problem.
- Go to Preferences - Edit.
Since the Finale document is open, the button {Font Annotation…} is active (if no document is open, the button will be in-active).
- Click the active button.
You get to the dialog box Font Annotation.
- Click the button {Set Font…}, and select the font "Wess-ColorNoteHeads".
When the font is selected, the button {Auto Annotate All} is active.
- Click the button, to let Finale Auto Annotate all the font’s characters - and thus create a complete FAN file for the font.
- Open the Finale document with the font problem.
- Go to Preferences - Edit.
Since the Finale document is open, the button {Font Annotation…} is active (if no document is open, the button will be in-active).
- Click the active button.
You get to the dialog box Font Annotation.
- Click the button {Set Font…}, and select the font "Wess-ColorNoteHeads".
When the font is selected, the button {Auto Annotate All} is active.
- Click the button, to let Finale Auto Annotate all the font’s characters - and thus create a complete FAN file for the font.
Mac OS X 12.6.9 (Monterey), Finale user since 1996
- wessmusic
- Posts: 109
- Joined: Fri Mar 22, 2019 10:38 am
- Finale Version: Finale 27.4
- Operating System: Mac
Hi Traveler,
I'm glad you were able to keep up with the FAN, and thanks to Peter Thomsen for helping out (on my behalf) because I haven't logged into the forum for a few days.
I realize that it was an oversight on my part to leave the font without its "description". That's why I'm currently uploading a link for the FAN.
https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code ... NL6yaQN2fX
_______
I think it would be appropriate to clarify that SVG fonts like this, at least for now, can only be used in Mac versions of Finale (from 2012 onwards and from OS 10.14 to the present). Unfortunately, under Windows 11, Finale 27.3 renders all the colored note characters of the above font in black only. If anyone can help with using SVG OTF for Win 11, please share. Thanks in advance.
I'm glad you were able to keep up with the FAN, and thanks to Peter Thomsen for helping out (on my behalf) because I haven't logged into the forum for a few days.
I realize that it was an oversight on my part to leave the font without its "description". That's why I'm currently uploading a link for the FAN.
https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code ... NL6yaQN2fX
_______
I think it would be appropriate to clarify that SVG fonts like this, at least for now, can only be used in Mac versions of Finale (from 2012 onwards and from OS 10.14 to the present). Unfortunately, under Windows 11, Finale 27.3 renders all the colored note characters of the above font in black only. If anyone can help with using SVG OTF for Win 11, please share. Thanks in advance.
CUSTOM FONTS for FINALE and SIBELIUS
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/f0udkrvb8xvh2zj/AAD_8mVlRzzr5mjZKI7BR7Kza?dl=0
________
Finale user since 1994
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/f0udkrvb8xvh2zj/AAD_8mVlRzzr5mjZKI7BR7Kza?dl=0
________
Finale user since 1994