Bluenze · Colour sample book

Index · Haishoku Sōkan348 combinations

Wada's 348 combinations, by category.

Ten categories: five tone-on-tone and five contrasting-hue, each at a level of light. Every combination has its own page, with roles, contrast, mockups and advice. The Spanish names are ours; the values, from the book.

By the book

By colour

All 348, in the book's ten categories. Filter by group, by colour or by both at once.

Light, dark, pale, dense and mixed light are the book's groups, not a measurement: each combination's page measures its lightness and chroma, and tells you when it strays from its group.

24 combinations

Tone on tone, light

In the dictionary it sits among the tone-on-tone sets: colours from one family. Hierarchy comes from light, not hue, so order elements from lightest to darkest. It is one of the light ones: works on white and on screen; in print it loses body, so push the ink a notch.

  1. 031Red Orange, Pale Lemon Yellow
  2. 043Corinthian Pink, Aconite Violet
  3. 045Seashell Pink, Lemon Yellow
  4. 047Etruscan Red, Grayish Lavender - B
  5. 049Pale King's Blue, Blue
  6. 064Aconite Violet, Dark Soft Violet
  7. 074Turquoise Green, Green Blue
  8. 076Pale Lemon Yellow, Warm Gray
  9. 090Eosine Pink, Aconite Violet
  10. 097Corinthian Pink, Etruscan Red
  11. 111Pale Lemon Yellow, Yellow Green
  12. 115Naples Yellow, Peach Red
  13. 116Blue Violet, Cameo Pink
  14. 132Sulphur Yellow, Golden Yellow, Citron Yellow
  15. 185Light Brown Drab, Etruscan Red, Pale Lemon Yellow
  16. 188Salvia Blue, Cobalt Green, Rainette Green
  17. 206Corinthian Pink, Cinnamon Rufous, Golden Yellow
  18. 291Light Green Yellow, Sea Green, Cobalt Green, Calamine Blue
  19. 292Pale Lemon Yellow, Pinkish Cinnamon, Isabella Color, Ecru
  20. 305Pinkish Cinnamon, Apricot Yellow, Turquoise Green, Citron Yellow
  21. 315Grenadine Pink, Sulphur Yellow, Golden Yellow, Eupatorium Purple
  22. 317Light Pinkish Cinnamon, Ecru, Lemon Yellow, Turquoise Green
  23. 326Sulphur Yellow, Peach Red, Yellow Green, Night Green
  24. 330Olive Buff, Nile Blue, Salvia Blue, Green Blue

19 combinations

Tone on tone, dark

In the dictionary it sits among the tone-on-tone sets: colours from one family. Hierarchy comes from light, not hue, so order elements from lightest to darkest. It is one of the dark ones: it needs light text and large surfaces; in small pieces it clogs.

  1. 019Mars Brown / Tobacco, Night Green
  2. 066Olive Ocher, Olive Green
  3. 067Olympic Blue, Dark Tyrian Blue
  4. 070Raw Sienna, Lincoln Green
  5. 073Pale Raw Umber, Rainette Green
  6. 091Vistoris Lake, Orange Rufous
  7. 096Yellow Ocher, Olive
  8. 106Antwarp Blue, Dull Violet Black
  9. 110Brown, Vandyke Brown
  10. 117Carmine, Black
  11. 118Yellow Ocher, Vandyke Brown
  12. 121Brown, Ochraceous Salmon, Lincoln Green
  13. 146Khaki, Deep Grayish Olive, Diamine Green
  14. 181Carmine Red, Violet, Cotinga Purple
  15. 183Deep Violet / Plumbeous, Vernonia Purple, Red Violet
  16. 288Yellow Orange, Sepia, Taupe Brown, Black
  17. 314Eosine Pink, Hay's Russet, Deep Lyons Blue, Dusky Madder Violet
  18. 318Light Brownish Olive, Blackish Olive, Dusky Green, Deep Slate Green
  19. 328Brick Red, Apricot Orange, Light Porcelain Green, Vandyke Brown

19 combinations

Tone on tone, pale

In the dictionary it sits among the tone-on-tone sets: colours from one family. Hierarchy comes from light, not hue, so order elements from lightest to darkest. It is one of the pale ones: muted tones that get along; running text needs an ink from outside, near black.

  1. 009Violet Red, Dull Blue Violet
  2. 010Cinnamon Rufous, Dark Citrine
  3. 026Golden Yellow, Pale Raw Umber
  4. 032Ochraceous Salmon, Night Green
  5. 035Light Brown Drab, Carmine Red
  6. 044Light Porcelain Green, Olympic Blue
  7. 054Benzol Green, Light Glaucous Blue
  8. 056Grayish Lavender - B, Violet
  9. 071Pompeian Red, Ochraceous Salmon
  10. 107Apricot Yellow, Light Grayish Olive
  11. 124Pale Burnt Lake, Yellow Ocher, Olive Yellow
  12. 184Spinel Red, Ivory Buff, Light Grayish Olive
  13. 187Helvetia Blue, Grayish Lavender - B, Aconite Violet
  14. 262Eugenia Red | B, Ivory Buff, Citron Yellow, Cossack Green
  15. 275Etruscan Red, Ecru, Madder Brown, Taupe Brown
  16. 280Eugenia Red | B, Lincoln Green, Laelia Pink, Taupe Brown
  17. 293Raw Sienna, Turquoise Green, Artemisia Green, Green
  18. 308Fawn, Scarlet, English Red, Cobalt Green
  19. 327Eosine Pink, Raw Sienna, Ecru, Grayish Lavender - B

16 combinations

Tone on tone, dense

In the dictionary it sits among the tone-on-tone sets: colours from one family. Hierarchy comes from light, not hue, so order elements from lightest to darkest. It is one of the dense ones: loaded colours that need plenty of air around them; less is more.

  1. 040Vinaceous Tawny, Citron Yellow
  2. 102Ivory Buff, Orange Rufous
  3. 108Eosine Pink, Brick Red
  4. 123Coral Red, Lemon Yellow, Taupe Brown
  5. 134Eosine Pink, Light Mauve, Red Violet
  6. 153Eosine Pink, Orange Yellow, Citron Yellow
  7. 158Lemon Yellow, Cinnamon Rufous, Night Green
  8. 198Burnt Sienna, Apricot Yellow, Green
  9. 220Pomegranate Purple, Ochraceous Salmon, Aconite Violet
  10. 222Yellow Ocher, Yellow Orange, Orange Rufous
  11. 278Cream Yellow, Olive Ocher, Cossack Green, Dusky Green
  12. 306Lemon Yellow, Benzol Green, Dull Viridian Green, Nile Blue
  13. 311Pompeian Red, Cream Yellow, Dark Greenish Glaucous, Light Green Yellow
  14. 319Raw Sienna, Apricot Yellow, Yellow Orange, Cossack Green
  15. 322Spectrum Red, Brick Red, Blue Violet, Eupatorium Purple
  16. 331Indian Lake, Dull Violet Black, Light Mauve, Violet

36 combinations

Tone on tone, mixed light

In the dictionary it sits among the tone-on-tone sets: colours from one family. Hierarchy comes from light, not hue, so order elements from lightest to darkest. It is one of the mixed-light ones: it already brings hierarchy. Keep it on screen: lightest at the back, darkest in front.

  1. 003Raw Sienna, Pale Lemon Yellow
  2. 036Sulphine Yellow, Turquoise Green
  3. 046Orange, Black
  4. 052Sulphur Yellow, Black
  5. 055Old Rose, White
  6. 062Yellow, Black
  7. 069Warm Gray, Black
  8. 075Pale King's Blue, Violet Blue
  9. 104Carmine Red, Sulphur Yellow
  10. 109Pale Lemon Yellow, Blackish Olive
  11. 112Grenadine Pink, Black
  12. 113Seashell Pink, Vandyke Brown
  13. 119Light Glaucous Blue, Dark Tyrian Blue
  14. 120Pompeian Red, Cameo Pink
  15. 139Salvia Blue, Deep Indigo, Neutral Gray
  16. 144Rosolanc Purple, Orange, Black
  17. 165Spinel Red, Vistoris Lake, Cameo Pink
  18. 173Lemon Yellow, Madder Brown, Turquoise Green
  19. 174Corinthian Pink, Grayish Lavender - B, Taupe Brown
  20. 189Lemon Yellow, Deep Slate Olive, Venice Green
  21. 190Ivory Buff, English Red, Black
  22. 202Turquoise Green, Cobalt Green, Slate Color
  23. 203Pale Lemon Yellow, Vinaceous Cinnamon, Lincoln Green
  24. 205Pale Burnt Lake, Vinaceous Cinnamon, Violet
  25. 210Cinnamon Buff, Lemon Yellow, Lincoln Green
  26. 218Helvetia Blue, Grayish Lavender - A, Deep Violet / Plumbeous
  27. 246Corinthian Pink, Brick Red, Sulphur Yellow, Cinnamon Buff
  28. 270Eugenia Red | B, Sulphur Yellow, Olive Green, Cossack Green
  29. 281Pale Lemon Yellow, Benzol Green, Cobalt Green, Antwarp Blue
  30. 290Vistoris Lake, Pale Lemon Yellow, Lincoln Green, Cobalt Green
  31. 298Raw Sienna, Lemon Yellow, Peach Red, Black
  32. 307Carmine, Grayish Lavender - A, Aconite Violet, Cotinga Purple
  33. 310Sulphur Yellow, Pinkish Cinnamon, Olive, Deep Slate Olive
  34. 323Cinnamon Buff, Madder Brown, Black, Citron Yellow
  35. 337Vistoris Lake, Laelia Pink, Violet Carmine, Black
  36. 342Corinthian Pink, Cream Yellow, Orange Citrine, Deep Slate Olive

49 combinations

Contrasting hues, light

In the dictionary it sits among the contrasting-hue sets: hues deliberately set against each other. The contrast is already there; don't force it with shadows or blacks. It is one of the light ones: works on white and on screen; in print it loses body, so push the ink a notch.

  1. 007Orange, Glaucous Green
  2. 008Cinnamon Rufous, Grayish Lavender - A
  3. 011Ivory Buff, Mineral Gray
  4. 014Spinel Red, Naples Yellow
  5. 020Calamine Blue, Laelia Pink
  6. 021Grenadine Pink, Sea Green
  7. 023Cinnamon Buff, Light Mauve
  8. 025Etruscan Red, Nile Blue
  9. 034Eosine Pink, Neutral Gray
  10. 072Sulphur Yellow, Pale King's Blue
  11. 078Pinkish Cinnamon, Venice Green
  12. 080Sulphur Yellow, Light Mauve
  13. 081Golden Yellow, Warm Gray
  14. 087Corinthian Pink, Citron Yellow
  15. 088Seashell Pink, Blue
  16. 099Pale Lemon Yellow, Cerulian Blue
  17. 105Cameo Pink, Chromium Green
  18. 128Corinthian Pink, Venice Green, Light Mauve
  19. 138Golden Yellow, Lemon Yellow, Venice Green
  20. 143Blue, Lilac, Warm Gray
  21. 150Seashell Pink, Glaucous Green, Citron Yellow
  22. 169Corinthian Pink, Pale Lemon Yellow, Warm Gray
  23. 175Pinkish Cinnamon, Olive Buff, Blue Violet
  24. 176Hermosa Pink, Seashell Pink, Calamine Blue
  25. 178Ivory Buff, Light Glaucous Blue, Green Blue
  26. 180Cinnamon Buff, Light Mauve, Neutral Gray
  27. 193Grenadine Pink, Naples Yellow, Light Porcelain Green
  28. 194Jasper Red, Seashell Pink, Olympic Blue
  29. 195Spinel Red, Pale Lemon Yellow, Neutral Gray
  30. 196Pale King's Blue, Blue Violet, Citron Yellow
  31. 197Eosine Pink, Dark Soft Violet, Neutral Gray
  32. 209Ivory Buff, Yellow Orange, Salvia Blue
  33. 213Vinaceous Cinnamon, Apricot Yellow, Pale King's Blue
  34. 223Light Brown Drab, Ochraceous Salmon, Turquoise Green
  35. 227Hermosa Pink, Light Glaucous Blue, Cerulian Blue
  36. 230Grenadine Pink, Turquoise Green, Cobalt Green
  37. 235Ivory Buff, Yellow Orange, Grayish Lavender - B
  38. 239Light Brown Drab, Pyrite Yellow, Glaucous Green
  39. 250Pyrite Yellow, Peach Red, Sea Green, Nile Blue
  40. 260Old Rose, Vinaceous Cinnamon, Glaucous Green, Sea Green
  41. 261Red, Pale Lemon Yellow, Calamine Blue, Warm Gray
  42. 264Corinthian Pink, Red Orange, Dark Greenish Glaucous, Cerulian Blue
  43. 272Pale Lemon Yellow, Orange, Turquoise Green, Salvia Blue
  44. 282Eugenia Red | B, Maple, Cobalt Green, Lilac
  45. 287Eosine Pink, Pyrite Yellow, Pale King's Blue, Calamine Blue
  46. 294Sulphur Yellow, Cream Yellow, Cossack Green, Salvia Blue
  47. 300Grenadine Pink, Cream Yellow, Turquoise Green, Calamine Blue
  48. 302Cream Yellow, Ecru, Nile Blue, Antwarp Blue
  49. 320Coral Red, Sulphur Yellow, Oil Green, Light Glaucous Blue

44 combinations

Contrasting hues, dark

In the dictionary it sits among the contrasting-hue sets: hues deliberately set against each other. The contrast is already there; don't force it with shadows or blacks. It is one of the dark ones: it needs light text and large surfaces; in small pieces it clogs.

  1. 002Dark Tyrian Blue, Yellow Orange
  2. 005Cossack Green, Vandar Poel's Blue
  3. 013Raw Sienna, Vernonia Purple
  4. 024Sepia, Vernonia Purple
  5. 028Madder Brown, Deep Indigo
  6. 033Raw Sienna, Slate Color
  7. 037Brick Red, Red Violet
  8. 038Diamine Green, Deep Lyons Blue
  9. 039Carmine, Helvetia Blue
  10. 048Rosolanc Purple, Helvetia Blue
  11. 053Yellow Orange, Dusky Madder Violet
  12. 057Taupe Brown, Slate Color
  13. 061Light Green Yellow, Cotinga Purple
  14. 063Vistoris Lake, Cerulian Blue
  15. 077Eugenia Red | B, Vandar Poel's Blue
  16. 079Madder Brown, Green Blue
  17. 082Hay's Russet, Dusky Madder Violet
  18. 085Vinaceous Tawny, Antwarp Blue
  19. 095Hay's Russet, Dull Violet Black
  20. 098Madder Brown, Violet Blue
  21. 103Cinnamon Rufous, Dusky Madder Violet
  22. 130Raw Sienna, Carmine Red, Violet
  23. 140Golden Yellow, Antwarp Blue, Slate Color
  24. 145Brown, Dull Violet Black, Citron Yellow
  25. 149Olive Ocher, Orange, Deep Slate Green
  26. 155Jasper Red, Benzol Green, Deep Indigo
  27. 160Sulphine Yellow, Pale Raw Umber, Dark Medici Blue
  28. 168Lemon Yellow, Vernonia Purple, Vandar Poel's Blue
  29. 172Cinnamon Rufous, Antwarp Blue, Red Violet
  30. 182Raw Sienna, Vandyke Brown, Deep Indigo
  31. 199Ocher Red, Light Brownish Olive, Deep Lyons Blue
  32. 219Jasper Red, Chromium Green, Dusky Green
  33. 225Carmine, Dusky Green, Dark Slate Purple
  34. 233Carmine Red, Buffy Citrine, Violet Blue
  35. 236Khaki, Deep Lyons Blue, Purple Drab
  36. 245Carmine Red, Oil Green, Dark Tyrian Blue, Slate Color
  37. 251Red, Yellow, Diamine Green, Slate Color
  38. 258Pale Burnt Lake, Pinkish Cinnamon, Olive, Antwarp Blue
  39. 277Spinel Red, Rosolanc Purple, Olive, Dull Violet Black
  40. 286Burnt Sienna, Orange Yellow, Peacock Blue, Violet Blue
  41. 297Burnt Sienna, Yellow Orange, Olive Green, Violet Blue
  42. 313Carmine, Yellow, Diamine Green, Black
  43. 316Vandyke Red, Dull Viridian Green, Violet, Red Violet
  44. 335Vandyke Red, Yellow Orange, Violet, Slate Color

38 combinations

Contrasting hues, pale

In the dictionary it sits among the contrasting-hue sets: hues deliberately set against each other. The contrast is already there; don't force it with shadows or blacks. It is one of the pale ones: muted tones that get along; running text needs an ink from outside, near black.

  1. 004Isabella Color, Red Violet
  2. 012Isabella Color, Green Blue
  3. 029Kronbergs Green, Salvia Blue
  4. 030Pompeian Red, Mineral Gray
  5. 041Dark Citrine, Calamine Blue
  6. 042Yellow Ocher, Violet
  7. 068Light Brown Drab, Yellow
  8. 083Olive Buff, Violet Blue
  9. 093Citron Yellow, Light Glaucous Blue
  10. 100Buffy Citrine, Dull Blue Violet
  11. 101Deep Lyons Blue, Cameo Pink
  12. 125Fawn, Cerulian Blue, Blue Violet
  13. 127Cinnamon Buff, Pistachio Green, Dark Soft Violet
  14. 137Etruscan Red, Cinnamon Buff, Pistachio Green
  15. 142Hydrangea Red, Sulphine Yellow, Salvia Blue
  16. 162Old Rose, Lilac, Rainette Green
  17. 186Hay's Russet, Ochraceous Salmon, Blue
  18. 191Light Brown Drab, Yellow Ocher, Blue
  19. 200Carmine Red, Olive Buff, Chromium Green
  20. 204Rosolanc Purple, Cinnamon Rufous, Light Glaucous Blue
  21. 212Pompeian Red, Orange Citrine, Salvia Blue
  22. 214Ivory Buff, Sudan Brown, Violet
  23. 217Pale Burnt Lake, Ochraceous Salmon, Diamine Green
  24. 224Spinel Red, Dark Medici Blue, Taupe Brown
  25. 226Vistoris Lake, Cream Yellow, Violet
  26. 241Red Orange, Pale Lemon Yellow, Isabella Color, Dark Medici Blue
  27. 244Light Brown Drab, Vinaceous Tawny, Andover Green, Antwarp Blue
  28. 249Hay's Russet, Ecru, Olive Ocher, Dark Medici Blue
  29. 259Lemon Yellow, Green Blue, Helvetia Blue, Warm Gray
  30. 266Spectrum Red, Ivory Buff, Benzol Green, Rainette Green
  31. 274Peach Red, Dark Citrine, Olympic Blue, Light Mauve
  32. 283Ocher Red, Pale Burnt Lake, Chromium Green, Venice Green
  33. 301Spectrum Red, Ivory Buff, Aconite Violet, Rainette Green
  34. 304Hay's Russet, Cream Yellow, Dark Citrine, Benzol Green
  35. 324Pompeian Red, Olympic Blue, Aconite Violet, Neutral Gray
  36. 338Orange Yellow, Dusky Green, Grayish Lavender - B, Carmine Red
  37. 339Ochraceous Salmon, English Red, Light Glaucous Blue, Violet Blue
  38. 346Turquoise Green, Light Green Yellow, Andover Green, Rosolanc Purple

42 combinations

Contrasting hues, dense

In the dictionary it sits among the contrasting-hue sets: hues deliberately set against each other. The contrast is already there; don't force it with shadows or blacks. It is one of the dense ones: loaded colours that need plenty of air around them; less is more.

  1. 001English Red, Cerulian Blue
  2. 017Eugenia Red | B, Sea Green
  3. 022Yellow, Deep Lyons Blue
  4. 051Carmine Red, Blue
  5. 058Hay's Russet, Sea Green
  6. 059Eosine Pink, Citron Yellow
  7. 065Sulphine Yellow, Calamine Blue
  8. 086Raw Sienna, Sea Green
  9. 089Yellow Orange, Violet Blue
  10. 092Coral Red, Benzol Green
  11. 114Orange Yellow, Antwarp Blue
  12. 122Carmine, Cream Yellow, Benzol Green
  13. 126Ivory Buff, Yellow Ocher, Deep Lyons Blue
  14. 129Apricot Yellow, Khaki, Salvia Blue
  15. 131Raw Sienna, English Red, Peacock Blue
  16. 133Vandyke Red, Citron Yellow, Sea Green
  17. 136Scarlet, Dull Viridian Green, Red Violet
  18. 141Orange, Yellow Green, Dark Tyrian Blue
  19. 148Olive Ocher, Orange Yellow, Cerulian Blue
  20. 154Carmine, Yellow, Blue
  21. 156Olive Ocher, Cobalt Green, Violet
  22. 157Pansy Purple, Olive Ocher, Olympic Blue
  23. 161Brown, Helvetia Blue, Pinkish Cinnamon
  24. 164Red Orange, Orange Yellow, Violet
  25. 170Rosolanc Purple, Orange Yellow, Red Violet
  26. 179Red Orange, Golden Yellow, Deep Lyons Blue
  27. 215Cream Yellow, Blue, Eupatorium Purple
  28. 240Fresh Color, Yellow, Cerulian Blue
  29. 247Raw Sienna, Apricot Yellow, Benzol Green, Deep Lyons Blue
  30. 252Eugenia Red | B, Raw Sienna, Sulphine Yellow, Green Blue
  31. 257Spectrum Red, Orange Yellow, Blue, Aconite Violet
  32. 265Old Rose, Apricot Yellow, Olive Yellow, Dull Violet Black
  33. 267Cream Yellow, Yellow Orange, Benzol Green, Blue
  34. 284Eugenia Red | A, Apricot Yellow, Sea Green, Dusky Green
  35. 285Light Brown Drab, Burnt Sienna, Peach Red, Turquoise Green
  36. 289Lemon Yellow, Light Green Yellow, Violet Blue, Dull Violet Black
  37. 295Cream Yellow, Yellow, Blue, Dull Violet Black
  38. 299Indian Lake, Vinaceous Cinnamon, Oil Green, Antwarp Blue
  39. 309Apricot Orange, Violet Blue, Golden Yellow, Vandar Poel's Blue
  40. 312Burnt Sienna, Yellow Orange, Artemisia Green, Helvetia Blue
  41. 333Burnt Sienna, Lemon Yellow, Cobalt Green, Blue
  42. 347Olive Yellow, Sea Green, Helvetia Blue, Lilac

61 combinations

Contrasting hues, mixed light

In the dictionary it sits among the contrasting-hue sets: hues deliberately set against each other. The contrast is already there; don't force it with shadows or blacks. It is one of the mixed-light ones: it already brings hierarchy. Keep it on screen: lightest at the back, darkest in front.

  1. 006Grenadine Pink, Deep Indigo
  2. 015Benzol Green, Grayish Lavender - A
  3. 016Vandyke Red, Pale King's Blue
  4. 018Fawn, Dusky Madder Violet
  5. 027Corinthian Pink, Slate Color
  6. 050Ivory Buff, Dusky Madder Violet
  7. 060Pale Lemon Yellow, Dark Tyrian Blue
  8. 084Seashell Pink, Deep Slate Green
  9. 094Ivory Buff, Dusky Green
  10. 135Sulphur Yellow, Cossack Green, Salvia Blue
  11. 147Spinel Red, Vandyke Red, Turquoise Green
  12. 151Sulphur Yellow, Yellow Orange, Vandar Poel's Blue
  13. 152Etruscan Red, Hay's Russet, Light Glaucous Blue
  14. 159Khaki, Calamine Blue, Grayish Lavender - A
  15. 163Apricot Yellow, Turquoise Green, Antwarp Blue
  16. 166Grenadine Pink, Naples Yellow, Deep Slate Green
  17. 167Ecru, Pale King's Blue, Vandar Poel's Blue
  18. 171Pale Burnt Lake, Yellow Orange, Glaucous Green
  19. 177Pale Burnt Lake, Buffy Citrine, Grayish Lavender - A
  20. 192Cream Yellow, Vandyke Brown, Deep Violet / Plumbeous
  21. 201Grenadine Pink, Olive, Cobalt Green
  22. 207Sudan Brown, Glaucous Green, Black
  23. 208Sulphur Yellow, Green Blue, Antwarp Blue
  24. 211Apricot Orange, Olive Yellow, Deep Indigo
  25. 216Jasper Red, Green, Black
  26. 221Carmine Red, Neutral Gray, Black
  27. 228Carmine Red, Pale Lemon Yellow, Neutral Gray
  28. 229Deep Slate Olive, Neutral Gray, Golden Yellow
  29. 231Hay's Russet, Olympic Blue, Cameo Pink
  30. 232Carmine, Pinkish Cinnamon, Deep Indigo
  31. 234Cinnamon Buff, Pale Raw Umber, Pale King's Blue
  32. 237Carmine Red, Madder Brown, Salvia Blue
  33. 238Ochraceous Salmon, Cotinga Purple, Warm Gray
  34. 242Eosine Pink, Burnt Sienna, Diamine Green, Black
  35. 243Raw Sienna, Ivory Buff, Olive Green, Slate Color
  36. 248Eosine Pink, Khaki, Grayish Lavender - A, Dark Slate Purple
  37. 253Lemon Yellow, Apricot Orange, Cotinga Purple, Slate Color
  38. 254Corinthian Pink, Sulphur Yellow, Olive, Laelia Pink
  39. 255Raw Sienna, Pyrite Yellow, Calamine Blue, Black
  40. 256Vinaceous Cinnamon, Orange, Dull Viridian Green, Black
  41. 263Burnt Sienna, Pinkish Cinnamon, Turquoise Green, Slate Color
  42. 268Light Brown Drab, Raw Sienna, Deep Slate Olive, Nile Blue
  43. 269Raw Sienna, Pale Burnt Lake, Aconite Violet, Black
  44. 271Pomegranate Purple, Cobalt Green, Green Blue, Deep Slate Green
  45. 273Hermosa Pink, Pansy Purple, Sudan Brown, Neutral Gray
  46. 276Eosine Pink, Seashell Pink, Yellow Green, Black
  47. 279Raw Sienna, Vinaceous Cinnamon, Ecru, Dark Tyrian Blue
  48. 296Sulphur Yellow, Ochraceous Salmon, Pale Raw Umber, Slate Color
  49. 303Naples Yellow, Peach Red, Deep Slate Olive, Neutral Gray
  50. 321Light Brown Drab, Sulphur Yellow, Deep Slate Olive, Salvia Blue
  51. 325Eugenia Red | B, Naples Yellow, Yellow Ocher, Deep Slate Green
  52. 329Cream Yellow, Grayish Lavender - B, Cotinga Purple, Slate Color
  53. 332Coral Red, Scarlet, Deep Slate Olive, Dusky Green
  54. 334Seashell Pink, Olive, Yellow Green, Antwarp Blue
  55. 336Eosine Pink, Hay's Russet, Pale Lemon Yellow, Blackish Olive
  56. 340Peach Red, Sea Green, Neutral Gray, Black
  57. 341Grenadine Pink, Cossack Green, Deep Slate Olive, Light Glaucous Blue
  58. 343Burnt Sienna, Ivory Buff, Deep Grayish Olive, Vandar Poel's Blue
  59. 344Cinnamon Buff, Deep Lyons Blue, Aconite Violet, Black
  60. 345Hay's Russet, Nile Blue, Venice Green, Blue Violet
  61. 348Olive Buff, Cossack Green, Deep Slate Olive, Cotinga Purple

Register of the 158

In the book's order · tap one to get its five palettes

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  137. 137
  138. 138
  139. 139
  140. 140
  141. 141
  142. 142
  143. 143
  144. 144
  145. 145
  146. 146
  147. 147
  148. 148
  149. 149
  150. 150
  151. 151
  152. 152
  153. 153
  154. 154
  155. 155
  156. 156
  157. 157
  158. 158

The twelve families

All twelve, with their swatches →

Combinations based on Sanzō Wada's system (Haishoku Sōkan, 1933-34; Seigensha selection, 2010). Colour values are checked against that edition; the Spanish names, each combination's character and the explanations are ours.

Chapter 3From plate to screen

Chapter 3

From plate to screen: six rules that are not ours

Wada worked with ink. You work with light.

Wada designed for ink, cloth and pigment. A screen emits light, is read for minutes at a time and has a law. These are the rules colour for interfaces is built with, and the ones we adapt each plate with; none of them is ours, so each one carries its owner.

  1. Johannes Itten · Hype4 Academy (opens in a new tab)

    Distribute 60 · 30 · 10

  2. Refactoring UI (opens in a new tab)

    The background rests

  3. Material 3 · colour roles (opens in a new tab)

    The book's colour lives on the surface

  4. GOV.UK Design System (opens in a new tab)

    Paragraphs don't go in colour

  5. WCAG 2.2 · 1.4.3 and 1.4.11 (opens in a new tab)

    The accent earns the button

  6. Evil Martians · OKLCH in CSS (opens in a new tab)

    Move the lightness, not the hue

Plate III · The six, drawnWith Wada's combination 1
In the book · equal partsOn screen · 60 · 30 · 10
One colour dominates, another accompanies and the third only points. In the book they sit in equal parts because that is how you compare them; on screen, equalising them is noise. Itten measured it in 1961: complementaries balance in areas inverse to their strength.
background heretext here
The background lives at one end of the lightness scale, very light or very dark, with little colour. Neither pure white nor pure black: tinted with the palette's hue, which is what separates a designed interface from an assembled one.
Surface · 30%
Cards, bands and headers are the 30%: that is where Wada's colour shows at full size without carrying a paragraph. Material separates a colour from its role, “surface” and “on-surface”, so the hue can change without touching the interface.
A whole paragraph in the book's colour tires you out by the third line.Accent on background · 4.9:1In the tinted ink it reads without a second thought.Text on background · 14.2:1
Long text goes in a near-black (or near-white) tinted with the palette's hue, at 7:1. The book's colours enter through headings, where size forgives. GOV.UK writes in #0b0c0c, not #000.
Book a slotAccent / background · 4.9:1Good for a button
The most saturated colour goes only on what gets clicked, and is held to what the law asks of a component: 3:1 against the background (WCAG 1.4.11). As a word, 4.5:1 (1.4.3): a button and a link are not the same thing, and Radix gives them two different steps of its scale.
Lab · the hue stays putHSL · the hue drifts 5°
Every adjustment is a change of lightness in a perceptual space (Lab, OKLCH): the hue stays put. In HSL, darkening a blue turns it violet and lightening it turns it lilac.