What you will need: A paint program (MS Paint for example), or Graphic editing program (Photoshop, or GIMP for example). An internet connection might be handy as well.
Any given color you see is a mixture of 3 primary colors. In paint programs those colors are Red, Green, and Blue, or RGB.
There are 2 common ways or representing how much of a primary color is in any given color, both use a numerical system.
The first is Decimal or base 10, and is what you learn at school, we are all familiar with this. The range is 0 – 255. Using the decimal system a number for a primary color can be 1 digit (0-9), 2 digits (10-99) or 3 digits (100-255)
The second is Hexadecimal or base 16, many people have not come across this. The range is from #00 – #FF. Using the Hex system all numbers for the primary colors are 2 digits long, not counting any #'s. If you see a # precede a number then you know it is hex number and that there should be exactly 6 characters after the #. Those 6 characters are actually 3 sets of 2. While this puzzles answer is 6 actual numbers, sometimes the characters can be A, B, C, D, E, or F
Trivia: If the Red, Green, and Blue can each have 255 values you can make over 16.5 Million colors.
Load up a paint (MS paint for example) / graphic editor (GIMP for example), save the color patch from this page some place then open that color patch in your program of choice.
So now you have a purple rectangle staring at you, while you stare at it … you are guaranteed to blink first. ;)
Your program should have a color select tool, it often uses an eyedropper icon. Use it on the color patch to select that color. If your program does not have a color selector then use the link at the bottom of the description and use the website to decode the color. Actually do both if you like, and see which method you prefer.
Once you have that done that you will need to open up the pallet so you can see the values of the purple you just chose. I'll let you discover how to do that with your program.
Note
We are only interested with numbers next to R G B, ignore any other numbers next to say Sat(uration), Hue, and so on.
You should be seeing some numbers. you might see 3 numbers that are 3, 2, and 3 characters long, you might see 3 numbers that are 2 character long each, or a 6 character number (most likely with a preceding #). If it is the 3 sets of 2 or the 6 then you are looking at Hex numbers and have your answer.
If you see 3 numbers, with a total of 8 digits, then that is decimal, and that's too many for the co-ords we need, what to do, what to do? If you recall earlier, decimal numbers can be 1,2, or 3 digits in size, so if we change all 3 into Hexadecimal we will get, ummm, *mumble* carry the 2 *mumble*, aah 6 digits. This is looking encouraging.
Here is where the internet comes in handy if you need to convert decimal numbers to hexadecimal. Google can help find an online converter.
Assuming all is correct, those 3 Hex numbers, if put into a single 6 digit string, will start with '7' and end in '3'.
All you will need to do is split that string in half. So it will be the 'red' number, and 1st of the 'Green' will give you the first set of 3 numbers. The 2nd 'green' and 'blue' will give you the other set of 3 numbers. I have not done anything tricky like mixed up South and East. Just put them to the start co-ords, replacing the 333 and 777 with the 1st and 2nd set of numbers, and you are done
And there you have it, your GZ co-ords. Double check with the Geochecker. I expect there should be no problems, the checker is that just in case something went wrong.
What if you don’t have a paint program or are out in the field? Try this site www.pictaculous.com, it should give the correct hexadecimal answer as a 6 character string.
Gold FTF Tardis Trio, Congratulations
Silver goes to Earthlight and Dr. Owl
Bronze
Request:
This is meant for newer or less experienced cachers and as such, and because these are easy to do, if you already have a FTF this year, please consider waiting 24 hours to give them a chance. If not found after 24 hours from publication, then go for it. :)
Share the FTF experience is all I'm suggesting … of course you could simply bring a friend that has not a FTF this year and make it a joint effort. ;)