A Palette Gear kit is a unique take on the MIDI controller (like a DJ mix desk), squarely aimed at - though not exclusive to - Adobe CC users.
Designed to speed workflow and make it more comfortable, a Palette Gear kit is made up of customisable hardware modules, including sliders, buttons and multi-function dials.
Typically sitting alongside your keyboard, the modules are placed together to taste and used to make photo workflow and editing adjustments.
A Palette Gear kit is not restricted to photo software and the modules can be used as controllers for gaming, among other things.
In one sense a Palette Gear kit is more flexible than a MIDI controller, because you build your own kit in the way you like by moving the modules.
What is more, Palette Gear uses its own software that is compatible with a numerous apps, including much of the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, Final Cut Pro X and Capture One Pro, whereas a MIDI controller would make use of a separate third party software for each app.
Having used the kit with Adobe Lightroom CC for several editing jobs, I got on rather well with it.
All the modules are really well crafted and make individual adjustments quicker, but especially more comfortable than when using a mouse or trackpad.
The Expert Kit which contains 7 modules, that when combined with Palette Profile Switching, provide the right number of controls to be useful before becoming overwhelming.
Familiarising yourself with what each module does in each profile takes a good bit of time though. To be useful, a Palette kit is not something to dabble with, but to invest your time in.
Then there is the price. A Palette Gear kit is a tad on the expensive side. Casual Adobe CC users may struggle to justify such an outlay, but regular users will find the value in time saved and editing that is much more pleasurable.
I've shot a video review of the Palette Gear Expert kit which can be found on my Vimeo channel, clicking the link above.
To read my in depth review, go the Photography Blog website.