Unlocking the Spectrum: A Comprehensive Guide to Colors in ARK: Survival Evolved
ARK: Survival Evolved is more than just surviving dinosaurs; it’s about expressing your creativity and individuality. One of the most significant ways to do this is through color customization. Whether you’re painting your base, dyeing your armor, or breeding vibrantly colored creatures, understanding the colors ARK offers is crucial. This guide delves into the intricacies of colors ARK provides, exploring the various methods of obtaining them, their uses, and the impact they have on gameplay.
The Importance of Colors in ARK
Beyond aesthetics, colors in ARK serve several practical purposes. They can be used for:
- Identification: Easily distinguish your tribe’s structures and creatures from others on the server.
- Camouflage: Blend into the environment to avoid detection by hostile creatures or players.
- Breeding: Inherited colors in ARK can be strategically bred to create visually striking and potentially valuable creatures.
- Trading: Rare and desirable colors ARK offers can be traded with other players for resources or services.
- Personalization: Simply make your ARK experience more visually appealing and unique.
Obtaining Dyes: The Primary Source of Color
The primary method of obtaining colors in ARK is through crafting dyes. Dyes are created in a Cooking Pot or Industrial Cooker using various berries, charcoal, and water. The specific combination of berries determines the resulting color.
Basic Dye Recipes
Here are some of the basic dye recipes:
- Red Dye: 15 Amarberry, 6 Charcoal, 1 Waterskin
- Yellow Dye: 15 Tintoberry, 6 Charcoal, 1 Waterskin
- Blue Dye: 15 Azulberry, 6 Charcoal, 1 Waterskin
- Green Dye: 9 Azulberry, 9 Tintoberry, 6 Charcoal, 1 Waterskin
- Purple Dye: 9 Amarberry, 9 Azulberry, 6 Charcoal, 1 Waterskin
- Orange Dye: 9 Amarberry, 9 Tintoberry, 6 Charcoal, 1 Waterskin
- Black Dye: 15 Charcoal, 2 Oil, 1 Waterskin
- White Dye: 15 Stimberry, 6 Charcoal, 1 Waterskin
These are just the basic colors ARK provides. By combining different dyes, you can create a wide range of secondary and tertiary colors in ARK.
Advanced Dye Recipes and Special Colors
Beyond the basic dyes, some advanced recipes and special colors in ARK require rarer ingredients or specific crafting conditions. These include:
- Brown Dye: 7 Amarberry, 7 Tintoberry, 7 Azulberry, 6 Charcoal, 1 Waterskin
- Gray Dye: 75 Stone, 15 Charcoal, 1 Waterskin (requires Industrial Grinder)
- Lime Dye: 9 Stimberry, 9 Azulberry, 6 Charcoal, 1 Waterskin
- Magenta Dye: 9 Amarberry, 9 Stimberry, 6 Charcoal, 1 Waterskin
- Cyan Dye: 9 Azulberry, 9 Stimberry, 6 Charcoal, 1 Waterskin
Keep an eye out for event-specific dyes, often available during holidays, that offer unique colors in ARK not normally obtainable.
Applying Colors in ARK
Once you have your desired dyes, you can apply them to various items and creatures.
Painting Structures
Structures can be painted using a Paintbrush. Simply equip the Paintbrush, select the dye you want to use, and then target the structure you wish to paint. You can paint individual sections of a structure, allowing for intricate designs and patterns using the diverse colors ARK makes available.
Dyeing Armor and Clothing
Armor and clothing can be dyed by placing them in a Cooking Pot or Industrial Cooker along with the desired dye. This will change the colors in ARK of the item to match the dye. Be aware that some items may have multiple dye regions, allowing for even greater customization.
Creature Coloring: Breeding and Mutations
One of the most engaging aspects of colors in ARK is their role in creature breeding. Creatures can inherit colors in ARK from their parents, and mutations can introduce entirely new colors in ARK. This allows for the creation of creatures with unique and desirable color combinations. Understanding the color regions of a creature is crucial for planning breeding strategies.
Color Regions Explained
Each creature in ARK has a set of color regions, typically ranging from 0 to 5. Each region can be assigned a specific color. When breeding, the offspring have a chance to inherit each color region from either parent. Mutations can randomly change a color region to a new color, often resulting in vibrant and unexpected colors in ARK.
The Mutation System and Colors
Mutations are a key element in breeding for specific colors in ARK. When a creature mutates, it gains a stat point and has a chance to change one of its color regions. Breeding for mutations can be a time-consuming process, but the rewards can be significant, resulting in creatures with both powerful stats and stunning colors in ARK.
Advanced Color Techniques
Beyond the basics of dyeing and breeding, several advanced techniques can help you master the colors in ARK.
Using the Color Picker
The in-game color picker allows you to precisely select the colors in ARK you want to use. This is particularly useful for matching colors in ARK across different structures or creatures.
Planning Breeding Strategies
Careful planning is essential for breeding creatures with specific colors in ARK. Understanding the color regions of your creatures and the probabilities of inheritance and mutation is crucial for achieving your desired results.
Trading and Selling Colors
Rare and desirable colors in ARK can be valuable commodities on player-run economies. Breeding creatures with unique colors in ARK can be a profitable venture.
Troubleshooting Color Issues
Sometimes, you might encounter issues with colors in ARK. Here are some common problems and their solutions:
- Dye not applying: Ensure you have the correct dye selected and that the item or structure is dyeable.
- Colors appearing different than expected: Lighting conditions can affect how colors in ARK appear. Try adjusting your graphics settings.
- Creature not inheriting desired colors: Breeding is based on probabilities. Keep breeding and you’ll eventually get the desired colors in ARK.
The Future of Colors in ARK
As ARK: Survival Evolved continues to evolve, so too will the possibilities for colors in ARK. New dyes, creatures, and mechanics are constantly being added, providing players with even more ways to express their creativity and individuality through colors in ARK.
Conclusion
Understanding and utilizing colors in ARK is a fundamental aspect of the game. From dyeing structures and armor to breeding vibrantly colored creatures, colors in ARK offer endless possibilities for customization and expression. By mastering the techniques outlined in this guide, you can unlock the full spectrum of colors in ARK and create a truly unique and personalized ARK experience. Whether you are looking to create camouflage, identifying markers, or just a cool looking dino, the colors ARK provides are a core mechanic to enjoy. Embrace the colors ARK offers and let your creativity shine!
[See also: ARK: Survival Evolved Breeding Guide]
[See also: ARK: Survival Evolved Base Building Tips]
[See also: ARK: Survival Evolved Taming Guide]
