Pastels work well for broad surfaces, but usually need a much deeper ink for reading. Preserve that anchor instead of softening every part of the design.
Finding palettes for this category.
Adding the next 30 matching palettes.
Treat pastels primarily as backgrounds and decorative/support colors. Introduce a deep ink color for typography and, when necessary, a stronger action color so buttons and links do not disappear into pale surfaces.
Use the warm light canvas for instructions or product labels. Dusty pink leads the identity and the pastel green and blue support playful illustrations or spacious panels.
Ink on Canvas: 9.74:1. Other pairs need their own check.
Use blush and ivory as the main fields; keep the darker rose for decorative emphasis.
Ink on Canvas: 10.49:1. Other pairs need their own check.
Use lavender in large shapes and small copper-tan accents; dark plum remains the text color.
Ink on Canvas: 10.27:1. Other pairs need their own check.
| Role | Practical direction |
|---|---|
| Soft surface | Pastel fills for cards, chips, illustration areas, or sections. |
| Ink | A separate dark color for text and icons. |
| Interactive | A sufficiently distinct action color rather than pastel-on-white text. |
| Category color | Pastels can label groups, but pair them with text/patterns when the distinction matters. |