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I am learning WinRT, and i define a custom theme for my program, including overwriting some of the default colors

Currently i do something like this in my App.xaml

<Application>
    <Application.Resource>
        <ResourceDictionary>
            <Color x:Key="PrimaryColor">#FF0055A3</Color>
            <Color x:Key="PrimaryColorHighlighShade">#FF1263B0</Color>
            <Color x:Key="PrimaryColorClickShade">#FF2674BD</Color>
            <SolidColorBrush x:Key="SliderTrackDecreaseBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="{StaticResoruce PrimaryColor}" />
            <SolidColorBrush x:Key="SliderTrackDecreasePointerOverBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="{StaticResoruce PrimaryColorHighlighShade}" />
            <SolidColorBrush x:Key="SliderTrackDecreasePressedBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="{StaticResoruce PrimaryColorClickShade}" />
        </ResourceDictionary>
    </Application.Resource>
You can bind to a static resource (see Is it possible to supply a type converter for a static resource in WPF?) and use a value converter to construct a new color based on the color you provide.
Edit:
Here is some code to explain:
The value converter code (for simplicity I always just add red, you can do more complex calculations as you like):
class ColorConverter : IValueConverter
    public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
        if (value is Color)
            var theColor = Color.Add((Color)value, Color.FromArgb(255,255,0,0));
            return theColor;
            return null;
    public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
        throw new NotImplementedException();
My App.Xaml looks like this:
<Application x:Class="SO_15979100.App"
             xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
             xmlns:local="clr-namespace:SO_15979100"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
             StartupUri="MainWindow.xaml">
    <Application.Resources>
        <Color x:Key="PrimaryColor">#FF0055A3</Color>
        <local:ColorConverter x:Key="MyConverter" />
        <SolidColorBrush x:Key="PrimaryColorBrush" Color="{StaticResource PrimaryColor}" />
        <SolidColorBrush x:Key="ConvertedPrimaryColorBrush" Color="{Binding Source={StaticResource PrimaryColor}, Converter={StaticResource MyConverter}}" />
    </Application.Resources>
</Application>
Note that I've included a local namespace to have the converter at hand.
My main window is defined like this:
<Window x:Class="SO_15979100.MainWindow"
        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
        Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525">
        <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
            <ColumnDefinition />
            <ColumnDefinition />
        </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
        <Rectangle Grid.Column="0" Fill="{StaticResource PrimaryColorBrush}" />
        <Rectangle Grid.Column="1" Fill="{StaticResource ConvertedPrimaryColorBrush}" />
    </Grid>
</Window>
The rectangle on the left is your color, the one on the right is pink.
You don't need to use Photoshop to change the colorspaces.  Both Visual Studio 2012 and Expression Blend have RGB, HSB, HLS and CYMK colorspace tools.
In your Resource dictionary, select the SolidColorBrush.
IN the property Grid, click the color item.
                You still have to edit the color via a designer.  If you want to change the HSB automatically, then you'll need to write some code.
– Walt Ritscher
                Apr 12, 2013 at 22:06
        
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