Author: evanverse package
Date: 2026-03-10

# Color Palette System

### Comprehensive Guide to the evanverse Palette Ecosystem

#### evanverse package

#### 2026-03-10

# Overview

The evanverse color palette system provides a professional-grade collection of scientifically-designed color palettes optimized for data visualization and bioinformatics applications. This comprehensive guide covers the complete workflow from palette discovery to advanced customization.

## What You’ll Learn

- Palette Architecture - Understand the type-based organization system
- Naming Convention - Master the standardized naming structure
- Complete Workflow - From creation to compilation to usage
- Practical Applications - Real-world visualization examples
- Best Practices - Professional tips for publication-quality figures

# System Architecture

## Palette Organization

The palette system is organized hierarchically:

    inst/extdata/palettes/
    ├── sequential/         # One-directional gradients
    │   ├── seq_blues.json
    │   ├── seq_forest.json
    │   └── ...
    ├── qualitative/        # Discrete categories
    │   ├── qual_vivid.json
    │   ├── qual_nejm_g.json
    │   └── ...
    └── diverging/          # Two-directional from center
        ├── div_fireice.json
        ├── div_sunset.json
        └── ...

Storage Format: Individual JSON files compiled into `palettes.rds` for fast loading.

## Palette Types

### Sequential Palettes (`seq_*`)

Purpose: Continuous data with one direction of change

Use Cases: - Heatmaps (gene expression) - Intensity gradients - Probability/density maps - Single-direction scales

Examples: `seq_blues`, `seq_forest`, `seq_muted`

### Qualitative Palettes (`qual_*`)

Purpose: Categorical data without inherent order

Use Cases: - Cell types or tissue groups - Sample categories - Treatment groups - Pathway classifications

Examples: `qual_vivid`, `qual_nejm_g`, `qual_pbmc_sc`

### Diverging Palettes (`div_*`)

Purpose: Data with meaningful midpoint (usually zero)

Use Cases: - Fold changes (up/down regulation) - Correlation matrices - Differential expression - Volcano plots

Examples: `div_fireice`, `div_sunset`, `div_polar`

# Naming Convention

## Standard Format

All palettes follow the `type_name_source` structure:

    [type]_[name]_[source]
      │      │       │
      │      │       └─ Optional: Source identifier (_g, _rb, _met, _sc)
      │      └───────── Required: Descriptive name
      └──────────────── Required: Type prefix (seq_, qual_, div_)

## The 5 Golden Rules

1. All lowercase - No capital letters
2. Underscore separators - Use `_`, not camelCase or dots
3. Type prefix required - Must start with `seq_`, `div_`, or `qual_`
4. No number suffixes - Color count belongs in metadata
5. Source suffix only for adapted palettes - Credit external sources

See Also: `vignette("palette-naming-convention")` for complete specification

## Examples

    # ✅ GOOD
    seq_blues           # Sequential blue gradient
    qual_vivid          # Vivid qualitative palette
    div_fireice         # Fire-ice diverging palette
    qual_nejm_g         # NEJM palette from ggsci
    seq_locuszoom       # LocusZoom-style sequential

    # ❌ BAD
    blues               # Missing type prefix
    VividSet            # Capital letters
    my.palette          # Dot separator
    palette_12          # Number in name

# Complete Workflow

## 1. Discover Palettes

### List Available Palettes

    # List all palettes by type
    seq_palettes <- list_palettes(type = "sequential")
    qual_palettes <- list_palettes(type = "qualitative")
    div_palettes <- list_palettes(type = "diverging")

    cat("Sequential Palettes (", length(seq_palettes), "):\n", sep = "")
    #> Sequential Palettes (4):
    cat("  ", paste(head(seq_palettes, 5), collapse = ", "), "...\n\n", sep = "")
    #>   c("seq_blues", "seq_blush", "seq_forest", "seq_muted", "seq_hokusai2"), c("sequential", "sequential", "sequential", "sequential", "sequential"), c(3, 4, 4, 4, 6), list(c("#deebf7", "#9ecae1", "#3182bd"), c("#FFCDB2", "#FFB4A2", "#E5989B", "#B5828C"), c("#B2C9AD", "#91AC8F", "#66785F", "#4B5945"), c("#E2E0C8", "#A7B49E", "#818C78", "#5C7285"), c("#abc9c8", "#72aeb6", "#4692b0", "#2f70a1", "#134b73", "#0a3351"))...

    cat("Qualitative Palettes (", length(qual_palettes), "):\n", sep = "")
    #> Qualitative Palettes (4):
    cat("  ", paste(head(qual_palettes, 5), collapse = ", "), "...\n\n", sep = "")
    #>   c("qual_earthy", "qual_primary", "qual_softtrio", "qual_vintage", "qual_balanced"), c("qualitative", "qualitative", "qualitative", "qualitative", "qualitative"), c(3, 3, 3, 3, 4), list(c("#C64328", "#56BBA5", "#E3A727"), c("#C64328", "#2AA6C6", "#E3A727"), c("#E64B35B2", "#00A087B2", "#3C5488B2"), c("#96A0D9", "#D9BDAD", "#D9D5A0"), c("#5D83B4", "#9FD0E8", "#CDAE9D", "#959683"))...

    cat("Diverging Palettes (", length(div_palettes), "):\n", sep = "")
    #> Diverging Palettes (4):
    cat("  ", paste(div_palettes, collapse = ", "), "\n", sep = "")
    #>   c("div_contrast", "div_fireice", "div_polar", "div_sunset", "div_pinkgreen_rb", "div_earthy", "div_sage"), c("diverging", "diverging", "diverging", "diverging", "diverging", "diverging", "diverging"), c(2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 5, 7), list(c("#C64328", "#56BBA5"), c("#2AA6C6", "#C64328"), c("#8CB5D2", "#E18E8F"), c("#57A2FF", "#FF8000"), c("#E64B35B2", "#00A087B2", "#3C5488B2"), c("#283618", "#606C38", "#FEFAE0", "#DDA15E", "#BC6C25"), c("#EDEAE7", "#B1CABA", "#BBCDD7", "#BBAAB6", "#6D8092", "#504B54", "#0E0F0F"))

### View Complete Gallery

    # Display the complete palette gallery
    bio_palette_gallery()

Complete gallery of all available palettes organized by type

Complete gallery of all available palettes organized by type

Complete gallery of all available palettes organized by type

## 2. Retrieve Palettes

### Basic Retrieval

    # Specify type explicitly for clarity
    vivid_colors <- get_palette("qual_vivid", type = "qualitative")
    cat("qual_vivid palette:\n")
    #> qual_vivid palette:
    print(vivid_colors)
    #> [1] "#E64B35" "#4DBBD5" "#00A087" "#3C5488" "#F39B7F" "#8491B4" "#91D1C2"
    #> [8] "#DC0000" "#7E6148"

    # Get specific number of colors
    blues_3 <- get_palette("seq_blues", type = "sequential", n = 3)
    cat("\nseq_blues (3 colors):\n")
    #>
    #> seq_blues (3 colors):
    print(blues_3)
    #> [1] "#deebf7" "#9ecae1" "#3182bd"

    # Get all available colors (omit n parameter)
    blues_all <- get_palette("seq_blues", type = "sequential")
    cat("\nseq_blues (all", length(blues_all), "colors):\n")
    #>
    #> seq_blues (all 3 colors):
    print(blues_all)
    #> [1] "#deebf7" "#9ecae1" "#3182bd"

### Preview Palettes

    # Save current par settings
    oldpar <- par(no.readonly = TRUE)

    # Preview different palette types
    par(mfrow = c(2, 2), mar = c(3, 1, 2, 1))

    # Qualitative
    preview_palette("qual_vivid", type = "qualitative")
    title("Qualitative: qual_vivid", cex.main = 1, font.main = 1)

    # Sequential
    preview_palette("seq_blues", type = "sequential")
    title("Sequential: seq_blues", cex.main = 1, font.main = 1)

    # Sequential - Another
    preview_palette("seq_forest", type = "sequential")
    title("Sequential: seq_forest", cex.main = 1, font.main = 1)

    # Diverging
    preview_palette("div_fireice", type = "diverging")
    title("Diverging: div_fireice", cex.main = 1, font.main = 1)

Preview of different palette types with color swatches

    # Restore par settings
    par(oldpar)

## 3. Create Custom Palettes

### Step-by-Step Creation

    # Step 1: Determine palette type
    # Is your data continuous (sequential),
    # categorical (qualitative), or centered (diverging)?

    # Step 2: Define colors
    ocean_colors <- c("#006BA4", "#FF7F0E", "#2CA02C", "#D62728", "#9467BD")

    # Step 3: Create palette with proper naming
    create_palette(
      name = "qual_ocean",  # Follow type_name_source convention
      type = "qualitative",
      colors = ocean_colors,
      color_dir = system.file("extdata", "palettes", package = "evanverse")
    )

    # Step 4: Compile palettes.rds (see next section)

### Naming Your Custom Palette

    # ✅ CORRECT naming
    create_palette(
      name = "qual_custom",      # type_name
      name = "seq_thermal",      # for sequential
      name = "div_warmcool",     # for diverging
      name = "qual_nejm_g"       # if adapted from ggsci
    )

    # ❌ INCORRECT naming
    create_palette(
      name = "MyPalette",        # Missing type, capital letters
      name = "custom.colors",    # Dot separator
      name = "palette_12"        # Number suffix
    )

### Color Utilities

    # Convert between HEX and RGB
    hex_colors <- c("#FF6B6B", "#4ECDC4", "#45B7D1")

    # HEX to RGB
    rgb_matrix <- hex2rgb(hex_colors)
    cat("HEX to RGB:\n")
    #> HEX to RGB:
    print(rgb_matrix)
    #> $`#FF6B6B`
    #>   r   g   b
    #> 255 107 107
    #>
    #> $`#4ECDC4`
    #>   r   g   b
    #>  78 205 196
    #>
    #> $`#45B7D1`
    #>   r   g   b
    #>  69 183 209

    # RGB to HEX
    hex_back <- rgb2hex(rgb_matrix)
    cat("\nRGB to HEX:\n")
    #>
    #> RGB to HEX:
    cat(paste(hex_back, collapse = ", "), "\n")
    #> #FF6B6B, #4ECDC4, #45B7D1

## 4. Compile Palettes

After creating or modifying palette JSON files, compile them into the fast-loading RDS format:

    # Compile all palettes from JSON to palettes.rds
    compile_palettes(
      palettes_dir = system.file("extdata", "palettes", package = "evanverse"),
      output_rds = system.file("extdata", "palettes.rds", package = "evanverse")
    )

    # Test the new palette
    get_palette("qual_ocean")
    preview_palette("qual_ocean", type = "qualitative")

### Workflow Summary

    1. CREATE     → create_palette() saves JSON file
                    ↓
    2. COMPILE    → compile_palettes() builds palettes.rds
                    ↓
    3. USE        → get_palette() loads from palettes.rds

# Practical Applications

## Qualitative: Categorical Data

    # Sample categorical data
    set.seed(123)
    category_data <- data.frame(
      Group = rep(LETTERS[1:5], each = 20),
      Value = c(rnorm(20, 10, 2), rnorm(20, 15, 3), rnorm(20, 12, 2.5),
                rnorm(20, 18, 4), rnorm(20, 8, 1.5))
    )

    # Use qualitative palette
    qual_colors <- get_palette("qual_vivid", type = "qualitative", n = 5)

    ggplot(category_data, aes(x = Group, y = Value, fill = Group)) +
      geom_boxplot(alpha = 0.8, outlier.alpha = 0.6) +
      scale_fill_manual(values = qual_colors) +
      labs(
        title = "Qualitative Palette: Group Comparison",
        subtitle = "Using qual_vivid for categorical groups",
        x = "Experimental Group",
        y = "Measured Value"
      ) +
      theme_minimal() +
      theme(legend.position = "none")

Qualitative palette for categorical group comparison

## Sequential: Continuous Data

    # Generate expression matrix
    set.seed(456)
    genes <- paste0("Gene", 1:10)
    samples <- paste0("S", 1:8)
    expr_matrix <- matrix(rnorm(80, mean = 5, sd = 2), nrow = 10)
    rownames(expr_matrix) <- genes
    colnames(expr_matrix) <- samples

    # Convert to long format
    expr_long <- expand.grid(Gene = genes, Sample = samples)
    expr_long$Expression <- as.vector(expr_matrix)

    # Use sequential palette
    seq_colors <- get_palette("seq_mobility", type = "sequential")

    ggplot(expr_long, aes(x = Sample, y = Gene, fill = Expression)) +
      geom_tile(color = "white", linewidth = 0.5) +
      scale_fill_gradientn(
        colors = seq_colors,
        name = "Expression"
      ) +
      labs(
        title = "Sequential Palette: Gene Expression Heatmap",
        subtitle = "Using seq_blues for continuous expression data"
      ) +
      theme_minimal() +
      theme(panel.grid = element_blank())

Sequential palette for continuous heatmap data

## Diverging: Centered Data

    # Generate fold change data
    set.seed(789)
    fc_data <- data.frame(
      Gene = paste0("Gene_", 1:20),
      LogFC = rnorm(20, 0, 1.2),
      Sample = rep(paste0("Sample_", 1:4), each = 5)
    )

    # Use diverging palette
    div_colors <- get_palette("div_fireice", type = "diverging")

    ggplot(fc_data, aes(x = Sample, y = Gene, fill = LogFC)) +
      geom_tile(color = "white", linewidth = 0.3) +
      scale_fill_gradientn(
        colors = div_colors,
        name = "Log2 FC",
        limits = c(-3, 3)
      ) +
      labs(
        title = "Diverging Palette: Fold Changes",
        subtitle = "Using div_fireice for centered data (zero midpoint)"
      ) +
      theme_minimal() +
      theme(panel.grid = element_blank())

Diverging palette for fold change data

# Bioinformatics Applications

## Palette Selection Guide

### By Data Type

Gene Expression - Sequential: `seq_blues`, `seq_forest` for one-directional intensity - Diverging: `div_fireice`, `div_sunset` for fold changes

Single-Cell Data - Qualitative: `qual_pbmc_sc` for cell types - Sequential: `seq_muted` for UMAP/tSNE features

Pathway Analysis - Qualitative: `qual_vivid`, `qual_pastel` for pathways - Sequential: `seq_blues` for p-value gradients

Multi-omics - Qualitative: `qual_vivid` for distinct data types - Avoid red/green for colorblind accessibility

## Multi-omics Example

    # Simulate multi-omics data
    set.seed(321)
    omics_data <- data.frame(
      Sample = rep(paste0("P", 1:8), each = 3),
      DataType = rep(c("Transcriptome", "Proteome", "Metabolome"), 8),
      Intensity = c(
        rnorm(8, 100, 20),  # Transcriptome
        rnorm(8, 50, 15),   # Proteome
        rnorm(8, 25, 8)     # Metabolome
      ),
      Condition = rep(rep(c("Control", "Treatment"), each = 4), 3)
    )

    # Use qualitative palette for data types
    omics_colors <- get_palette("qual_vivid", type = "qualitative", n = 3)
    names(omics_colors) <- c("Transcriptome", "Proteome", "Metabolome")

    ggplot(omics_data, aes(x = Sample, y = Intensity, fill = DataType)) +
      geom_bar(stat = "identity", position = "dodge", alpha = 0.85) +
      scale_fill_manual(values = omics_colors) +
      facet_wrap(~Condition, scales = "free_x") +
      labs(
        title = "Multi-omics Data Integration",
        subtitle = "Using qual_vivid to distinguish omics layers",
        x = "Patient Samples",
        y = "Normalized Intensity"
      ) +
      theme_minimal() +
      theme(
        axis.text.x = element_text(angle = 45, hjust = 1, size = 9),
        legend.position = "bottom"
      )

Multi-omics visualization with appropriate palette selection

# Advanced Techniques

## Color Interpolation

    # Get base colors from qualitative palette
    base_colors <- get_palette("qual_vivid", type = "qualitative", n = 3)

    # Interpolate to create smooth gradient
    custom_gradient <- colorRampPalette(base_colors[1:2])(10)

    # Visualize the gradient
    gradient_df <- data.frame(
      x = 1:10,
      y = rep(1, 10),
      color = custom_gradient
    )

    ggplot(gradient_df, aes(x = x, y = y, fill = color)) +
      geom_tile(height = 0.5, width = 0.9) +
      scale_fill_identity() +
      labs(
        title = "Custom Color Interpolation",
        subtitle = "Creating gradients from qualitative palette colors"
      ) +
      theme_void() +
      theme(plot.title = element_text(hjust = 0.5))

Creating custom gradients through color interpolation

## Palette Combinations

    # Combine palettes for complex visualizations
    main_colors <- get_palette("qual_vivid", n = 4)
    accent_color <- get_palette("div_fireice", n = 1)

    # Use in multi-layer plots
    ggplot(data) +
      geom_point(aes(color = group), size = 3) +
      geom_smooth(color = accent_color, linewidth = 1.5) +
      scale_color_manual(values = main_colors)

# Best Practices

## Accessibility Guidelines

Color Vision Deficiency - Test with colorblind simulators - Avoid red/green combinations alone - Use high contrast ratios (minimum 3:1) - Add texture/shape variations

Multi-Platform Compatibility - Test on different displays (mobile, print, projector) - Ensure sufficient color separation - Check grayscale conversion

Data Visualization - Match palette type to data type - Limit qualitative palettes to 8-10 categories - Use consistent colors across related plots - Reserve bright colors for emphasis

## Performance Tips

    # ✅ GOOD: Cache palette once
    my_colors <- get_palette("qual_vivid", n = 5)
    ggplot(data) + scale_fill_manual(values = my_colors)

    # ❌ AVOID: Repeated calls
    ggplot(data) + scale_fill_manual(values = get_palette("qual_vivid", n = 5))

# Troubleshooting

## Common Issues

Palette not found

    # Check available palettes
    list_palettes(type = "qualitative")

Not enough colors

    # Check palette size
    length(get_palette("qual_vivid"))

    # Or use interpolation
    colorRampPalette(get_palette("qual_vivid"))(20)

Colors don’t match

    # Verify palette type
    # Type is inferred from name prefix
    get_palette("seq_blues")  # Automatically knows it's sequential

Custom palette not working

    # Ensure you compiled after creation
    compile_palettes(
      palettes_dir = system.file("extdata", "palettes", package = "evanverse"),
      output_rds = system.file("extdata", "palettes.rds", package = "evanverse")
    )

# Summary

## Key Features

- 80+ curated palettes organized by type
- Standardized naming (`type_name_source` convention)
- Flexible workflow from creation to compilation to usage
- Scientific focus optimized for bioinformatics
- Publication-ready professional quality

## Quick Reference

    # Discover
    list_palettes(type = "sequential")
    bio_palette_gallery()

    # Retrieve
    get_palette("seq_blues")
    preview_palette("qual_vivid", type = "qualitative")

    # Create
    create_palette(
      name = "qual_custom",
      type = "qualitative",
      colors = c("#E64B35", "#4DBBD5", "#00A087")
    )

    # Compile
    compile_palettes(
      palettes_dir = system.file("extdata", "palettes", package = "evanverse"),
      output_rds = system.file("extdata", "palettes.rds", package = "evanverse")
    )

    # Utilities
    hex2rgb("#FF6B6B")
    rgb2hex(matrix(c(255, 107, 107), nrow = 1))

## Related Documentation

- Naming Convention: `vignette("palette-naming-convention")` - Complete naming standards
- Package Guide: `vignette("get-started")` - General evanverse overview
- Function Reference: `?get_palette`, `?create_palette`, `?compile_palettes`

Document Version: 2.0 Last Updated: 2026-03-10 Status: Official Documentation