Define the Card Primary Color

What the Primary Color Is

The primary color is the dominant color that defines a card's visual identity - the main color that:

• Appears prominently in the design
• Identifies the card at a glance
• Often indicates category or type

It follows inheritance: cards inherit from category, category from deck default.

Set once at category level → All cards in that category get the color automatically.

Inheritance Hierarchy

Three levels:

1. Deck - Baseline for all cards
2. Category - Overrides deck for cards in that category
3. Card - Overrides both for specific cards

Resolution order:

• Card override? → Use it
• Category default? → Use it
• Deck default → Use it

Most decks only define colors at the category level.

Set Deck Default Color

The baseline for cards without category/card colors.

To set:

1. Open your deck in the deck builder
2. Click Assign template in the deck toolbar
3. Select the default primary color

Used by cards whose category and card colors aren't set.

Set Category Color

The most common approach - each category gets its own color.

To set:

1. Open your deck in the deck builder
2. Select a category from the list
3. Click Edit settings
4. Go to Templates tab
5. Choose the primary color

All cards in the category inherit this automatically.

Typical usage:

• Different color per category for distinction
• Match semantic meaning (red = warnings, blue = info)
• Use palette colors for consistency

Set a Color for a Single Card

For specific cards that need different colors.

To override:

1. Open your deck in the deck builder
2. Select the card
3. Click Color button in card toolbar
4. Choose the color

Only that card changes - others in category stay the same.

When to use:

• Special/featured cards
• Visual variety within category
• Subtypes or difficulty levels
• Temporary emphasis

If you're overriding many cards, consider a new category instead.

Choosing Colors

Select from your palette:

• Category colors - For differentiation (most common)
• Brand colors - For emphasis or brand consistency
• Neutral colors - For utility/supporting cards

The color you choose becomes what templates use when they reference "primary color."

Relationship to Templates

Templates reference "primary color" in their design.

Example: Template says "background = primary color"

It uses:

• Card color (if set), or
• Category color (if set), or
• Deck default

This separation lets templates stay reusable while cards maintain identity.

See Assign Colors in a Template.

Best Practices

Start at category level
Set colors per category, not per card. Creates clear groups automatically.

Use consistent roles
Category color 1 for "Questions" everywhere - builds learnable patterns.

Limit colors
3-7 distinct colors. Too many is overwhelming.

Consider accessibility
Sufficient contrast for varied lighting and color vision deficiencies.

Test with multiple cards
Color relationships look different when spread vs. single view.