When the mountains of northern Japan turn their deepest red.

#5C2A1F #A1422A #D56B2D #E8A23B #C6A15E #F8F1E6

When dusty pink looks cheap, the colors themselves are rarely the problem. It comes down to which color you use, and over how much of the space. Adjust that balance, and the same six colors look far more refined.

A deep green or navy background sets a mood on its own. But pick the wrong text color and you end up with a page that looks beautiful yet is hard to read. Readability isn't a matter of feeling. You can check it with a number called the contrast ratio.

Even with a six-color palette in hand, it can be hard to know what goes where. The trick is to sort the colors by role, not by which ones you like best. Once the roles are set, the same six colors can make both a light page and a dark one.

Clear water slipping quietly between moss-covered stones.

#101812 #274132 #476754 #72927E #A9C1B3 #EDF3EE

The softest sunset, just before the sun meets the sea.

#29191C #5A3035 #915056 #C67F82 #E4B6B1 #FAECE6

Golden afternoon light slanting through the trees.

#231E11 #4A3C23 #7A6640 #B69A67 #DCC89A #F5EFD8

A lavender field swaying beyond the morning mist.

#2F2936 #584B63 #84758D #B1A1B3 #D8CBD6 #F4EEF1

Low clouds over a sea waiting for the storm to pass.

#0B1620 #183346 #2A5367 #537B8E #9AB7C1 #E3EDF0

Light lingering in raindrops on fresh leaves.

#12201A #294239 #4F6C62 #7D9A8E #B7CEC2 #EEF5F0

Warmth that stays in the forest after the sun goes down.

#23161A #4A2C31 #7B4A4E #B06A69 #D9A39B #F3E3DD

Morning arrives quietly at a frozen harbor.

#08131F #16314A #2E4F6B #5F7F98 #A9BDC9 #E8EFF3

Leaf shadows falling on a sand-colored wall.

#3F2E2F #6E5053 #9F7E82 #CDAFB0 #EAD7CF #FAF1E8

Faint light resting on fern leaves, deep in the night forest.

#0A1412 #17322E #27524B #4D7B73 #8FB8AE #DCEBE6