# \[Script\] useTool eyedropper not working, but pencil does
**URL:** https://community.aseprite.org/t/script-usetool-eyedropper-not-working-but-pencil-does/13112
**Category:** Scripts & Extensions
**Created:** [February 15, 2022, 1:59pm UTC](https://community.aseprite.org/t/script-usetool-eyedropper-not-working-but-pencil-does/13112 "2022-02-15T13:59:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@DimaUndSo](https://community.aseprite.org/u/DimaUndSo)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2022, 1:59pm UTC](https://community.aseprite.org/t/script-usetool-eyedropper-not-working-but-pencil-does/13112/1 "2022-02-15T13:59:06Z")
Hello,
first thank you for this beautiful tool!
I have a problem using the eyedropper via useTool.
I have a function like this:
```auto
local function eyedropper( x,y )
app.useTool{
tool="eyedropper",
points={ Point(x,y) },
button=MouseButton.LEFT
}
end
```
Which I call like:
```auto
eyedropper( 20,28 )
```
20,28 is the pixel I want to get the color from.
But after I run this, i still don’t have the color. What am I doing wrong?
I do the same with pencil and it works well:
```auto
local function draw( x,y )
app.useTool{
tool="pencil",
points={ Point(x,y) },
button=MouseButton.LEFT
}
end
```
```auto
draw( 20,26 )
```
Why does it not work with the eyedropper tool?
I just started scripting so I guess I missed something?
Thank you!
---
### Author:  [@behreandtjeremy](https://community.aseprite.org/u/behreandtjeremy)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2022, 4:23pm UTC](https://community.aseprite.org/t/script-usetool-eyedropper-not-working-but-pencil-does/13112/2 "2022-02-15T16:23:49Z")
Hi @DimaUndSo,
Please, there is no need to shout (in your post title).
afaik some tools just don’t work via scripting. I’ve run into [similar problems](https://community.aseprite.org/t/how-to-draw-cubic-bezier-curve-via-lua-script/8439) myself. Someone can correct me if I’m wrong.
Maybe try a workaround like this:
```lua
local x = 35
local y = 28
local activeSprite = app.activeSprite
local activeFrame = app.activeFrame
if activeSprite and activeFrame then
local xVal = math.min(math.max(x, 0), activeSprite.width - 1)
local yVal = math.min(math.max(y, 0), activeSprite.height - 1)
-- This supports a composite from RGB color mode only.
-- To support indexed and grayscale, you'd need
-- to take extra steps.
local flatImg = Image(1, 1)
flatImg:drawSprite(activeSprite, activeFrame, -Point(xVal, yVal))
local hex = flatImg:getPixel(0, 0)
local clr = Color(hex)
app.fgColor = clr
end
```
The script above assumes you want the composite of the whole sprite. It also assumes RGB color mode only, not grayscale or indexed.
If you want to sample a specific layer, you have to consider a bunch of other factors: that cels have an offset position, that both cels and layers have an opacity, that layers have a blend mode, that layers can be groups and that layers can be visible or invisible (locally or due to being a child of a parent group).
Best to you,
Jeremy
---
### Author:  [@DimaUndSo](https://community.aseprite.org/u/DimaUndSo)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2022, 6:56pm UTC](https://community.aseprite.org/t/script-usetool-eyedropper-not-working-but-pencil-does/13112/3 "2022-02-15T18:56:10Z")
Hey Jeremy, thanks for your reply.
I tried your workaround but it didn’t worked for me, I think I got a red color instead of a grey I was looking for, but I guess I just did something wrong.
But I kept trying things and have now build my colorpicker as I needed!
This here works for me:
```auto
local function eyedropper( x,y )
local cel = app.activeCel
local image = app.activeImage
-- convert given canvas x,y coordinates to image coordinates
local boundsX = cel.bounds.x
local boundsY = cel.bounds.y
local imageX = x - boundsX
local imageY = y - boundsY
-- get color (integer value)
local intColor = image:getPixel(imageX,imageY)
-- get rgba values from the integer value
local r = app.pixelColor.rgbaR( intColor )
local g = app.pixelColor.rgbaG( intColor )
local b = app.pixelColor.rgbaB( intColor )
local a = app.pixelColor.rgbaA( intColor )
-- set rgba color value
local color = Color{ r=r,g=g,b=b,a=a }
-- set as selected foreground color
app.fgColor = color
-- return
return color
end
local function draw( x,y, color )
app.useTool{
tool="pencil",
color = color,
points={ Point(x,y) },
button=MouseButton.LEFT
}
end
-- pick color
eyedropper( 1,1 )
-- draw pixel
draw(2,1)
```