This repository contains 32 colormaps for scientific plots. All colors come from one source diagram of the New York state flag's 109-color palette, seen on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/vexillology/s/EvCHEmZh6S.
The pack has three types of colormaps:
- 16 qualitative colormaps for categorical data.
- 8 sequential colormaps for ordered data.
- 8 diverging colormaps for data with a center value.
Sequential colormaps have equal steps of lightness (L*). Diverging colormaps have a neutral center color. One Python module registers all colormaps in matplotlib.
| Path | Content |
|---|---|
nysflag_colormaps.py |
Python module. It registers all colormaps in matplotlib. |
data/palettes.json |
All colormaps in JSON format, with metadata. |
data/csv/ |
One CSV file for each colormap. |
images/ |
One figure for each colormap. |
scripts/build_assets.py |
Script. It builds the data files, the figures and this README. |
The module needs Python 3 and matplotlib. It does not need numpy.
- Put
nysflag_colormaps.pyin your Python path. - Register the colormaps:
import nysflag_colormaps as nyc
nyc.register_all()- Use a colormap by name:
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.pcolormesh(x, y, z, cmap="nyf_gold_seq")Each colormap has a CSV file in data/csv/.
Each row has one color of the colormap.
The columns are: index, hex, red, green, blue, lightness.
For sequential and diverging colormaps, the rows are the stop colors.
data/palettes.json also has the 256-color ramp of each sequential
and diverging colormap.
Run this command in the repository root:
uv run scripts/build_assets.py
The script needs matplotlib and numpy.
It writes the data/ files, the images/ files and this README.
| Name | Type | Colors | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| nyf_bold | qualitative | 8 | categorical data |
| nyf_earth | qualitative | 8 | categorical data |
| nyf_pastel | qualitative | 8 | categorical data |
| nyf_deep | qualitative | 8 | categorical data |
| nyf_cvd | qualitative | 8 | categorical data |
| nyf_warm | qualitative | 8 | categorical data |
| nyf_cool | qualitative | 8 | categorical data |
| nyf_sunset | qualitative | 8 | categorical data |
| nyf_forest | qualitative | 8 | categorical data |
| nyf_ocean | qualitative | 8 | categorical data |
| nyf_orchard | qualitative | 8 | categorical data |
| nyf_mineral | qualitative | 8 | categorical data |
| nyf_contrast | qualitative | 8 | categorical data |
| nyf_dusk | qualitative | 8 | categorical data |
| nyf_blossom | qualitative | 8 | categorical data |
| nyf_harvest | qualitative | 8 | categorical data |
| nyf_gold_seq | sequential | 8 | ordered data |
| nyf_blue_seq | sequential | 8 | ordered data |
| nyf_red_seq | sequential | 8 | ordered data |
| nyf_pink_seq | sequential | 8 | ordered data |
| nyf_green_seq | sequential | 8 | ordered data |
| nyf_tenne_seq | sequential | 8 | ordered data |
| nyf_grey_seq | sequential | 8 | ordered data |
| nyf_cendere_seq | sequential | 8 | ordered data |
| nyf_red_blue | diverging | 7 | data with a center value |
| nyf_tenne_teal | diverging | 7 | data with a center value |
| nyf_gold_purple | diverging | 7 | data with a center value |
| nyf_pink_green | diverging | 7 | data with a center value |
| nyf_blue_gold | diverging | 7 | data with a center value |
| nyf_tenne_blue | diverging | 7 | data with a center value |
| nyf_red_teal | diverging | 7 | data with a center value |
| nyf_pink_blue | diverging | 7 | data with a center value |
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | qualitative |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Bedsheet, Gold, Green, Purple, Reds, Teal, Tenne |
| Minimum color difference (dE) | 21.0 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 42.5 to 78.4 |
Hex values: #d02b2b #d99643 #e0be72 #4d8155 #5d8080 #1a6c95 #696586 #7f5d47
Use it for categorical data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | qualitative |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Green, Grey, Pink, Purple, Reds, Tenne |
| Minimum color difference (dE) | 8.2 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 42.0 to 78.7 |
Hex values: #f17575 #f6b58a #cec0a3 #86876b #8ba097 #a9a9a9 #566382 #a0957b
Use it for categorical data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | qualitative |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Bedsheet, Green, Grey, Pink, Purple, Reds |
| Minimum color difference (dE) | 12.8 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 48.3 to 91.3 |
Hex values: #f57e7e #fed4b8 #e6e6e6 #a7b7b3 #f6b58a #85c4e3 #83abb7 #7d6e7e
Use it for categorical data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | qualitative |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Bedsheet, Gold, Green, Grey, Reds, Teal, Tenne |
| Minimum color difference (dE) | 9.3 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 9.3 to 57.7 |
Hex values: #ae2020 #aa853c #4c2e22 #2f5032 #4b5f3b #5d8080 #002d72 #1a1a1a
Use it for categorical data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | qualitative |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Bedsheet, Gold, Grey, Purple, Reds, Teal |
| Minimum color difference (dE) | 21.0 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 42.9 to 78.4 |
Hex values: #d99643 #85c4e3 #1a6c95 #e0be72 #d02b2b #696586 #5d8080 #a9a9a9
Use it for categorical data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | qualitative |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Gold, Pink, Reds, Tenne |
| Minimum color difference (dE) | 17.3 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 38.1 to 78.7 |
Hex values: #ae2020 #eb5050 #f57e7e #f6b58a #d99643 #aa853c #7f5d47 #cec0a3
Use it for categorical data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | qualitative |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Bedsheet, Green, Purple, Teal |
| Minimum color difference (dE) | 13.2 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 20.4 to 76.1 |
Hex values: #002d72 #1a6c95 #368eba #85c4e3 #5d8080 #4d8155 #8ba097 #696586
Use it for categorical data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | qualitative |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Gold, Pink, Purple, Reds |
| Minimum color difference (dE) | 15.0 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 38.0 to 90.9 |
Hex values: #ab251c #eb5050 #f57e7e #f6b58a #fae2bc #d99643 #7d6e7e #566382
Use it for categorical data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | qualitative |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Green, Teal, Tenne |
| Minimum color difference (dE) | 9.3 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 30.8 to 78.1 |
Hex values: #2f5032 #4b5f3b #4d8155 #86876b #8ba097 #7f5d47 #cec0a3 #5d8080
Use it for categorical data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | qualitative |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Bedsheet, Green, Purple, Teal |
| Minimum color difference (dE) | 14.2 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 20.4 to 76.1 |
Hex values: #002d72 #1a6c95 #4c98be #85c4e3 #5d8080 #83abb7 #99a99d #566382
Use it for categorical data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | qualitative |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Gold, Green, Reds, Tenne |
| Minimum color difference (dE) | 21.0 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 42.5 to 78.4 |
Hex values: #d02b2b #f17575 #d99643 #e0be72 #4d8155 #86876b #cec0a3 #7f5d47
Use it for categorical data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | qualitative |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Bedsheet, Green, Grey, Purple, Teal, Tenne |
| Minimum color difference (dE) | 15.0 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 9.3 to 78.1 |
Hex values: #1a1a1a #a9a9a9 #566382 #86876b #7d6e7e #5d8080 #83abb7 #cec0a3
Use it for categorical data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | qualitative |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Bedsheet, Gold, Green, Grey, Reds, Tenne |
| Minimum color difference (dE) | 21.7 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 20.4 to 91.3 |
Hex values: #ae2020 #fae2bc #002d72 #f57e7e #2f5032 #85c4e3 #4c2e22 #e6e6e6
Use it for categorical data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | qualitative |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Bedsheet, Gold, Green, Purple, Reds, Teal |
| Minimum color difference (dE) | 11.7 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 20.4 to 57.7 |
Hex values: #236c8c #696586 #7d6e7e #002d72 #5d8080 #4b5f3b #ae2020 #aa853c
Use it for categorical data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | qualitative |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Bedsheet, Green, Pink, Purple, Reds |
| Minimum color difference (dE) | 9.7 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 44.3 to 87.8 |
Hex values: #f57e7e #fed4b8 #7d6e7e #696586 #8ba097 #a7b7b3 #85c4e3 #f6b58a
Use it for categorical data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | qualitative |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Gold, Green, Reds, Tenne |
| Minimum color difference (dE) | 14.0 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 42.5 to 90.9 |
Hex values: #aa853c #e0be72 #fae2bc #86876b #7f5d47 #d02b2b #d99643 #cec0a3
Use it for categorical data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | sequential |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Gold |
| Lightness step (dL*) | 3.2 to 9.6 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 57.7 to 92.8 |
Hex values: #aa853c #c39f55 #cbaa60 #d8b563 #e0be72 #e5ca8b #f4dba7 #fbe8cb
Use it for ordered data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | sequential |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Bedsheet |
| Lightness step (dL*) | 7.6 to 8.3 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 20.4 to 76.1 |
Hex values: #002d72 #10437e #17598b #1b6f9a #2085b7 #4d99c0 #5cafdb #85c4e3
Use it for ordered data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | sequential |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Reds |
| Lightness step (dL*) | 4.9 to 5.0 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 38.0 to 72.5 |
Hex values: #ab251c #c42323 #d63030 #e44242 #ed5857 #f26e6c #f68382 #fa9696
Use it for ordered data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | sequential |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Pink |
| Lightness step (dL*) | 4.0 to 4.4 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 58.1 to 87.8 |
Hex values: #d37050 #d78063 #df8e69 #e69d6d #efa97c #f5b794 #f9c5ab #fed4b8
Use it for ordered data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | sequential |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Green |
| Lightness step (dL*) | 5.9 to 6.2 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 30.8 to 73.1 |
Hex values: #2f5032 #385f3d #426f48 #4c8054 #589061 #7a9b84 #94a8a0 #a7b7b3
Use it for ordered data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | sequential |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Tenne |
| Lightness step (dL*) | 9.0 to 9.4 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 22.3 to 87.1 |
Hex values: #4c2e22 #614431 #7b5944 #927158 #a9886f #bba388 #cdbfa2 #dddad1
Use it for ordered data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | sequential |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Grey |
| Lightness step (dL*) | 12.7 to 13.1 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 9.3 to 100.0 |
Hex values: #1a1a1a #353535 #535353 #727272 #939393 #b6b6b6 #dadada #ffffff
Use it for ordered data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | sequential |
| Number of colors | 8 |
| Source families | Cendere |
| Lightness step (dL*) | 3.9 to 4.2 |
| Lightness range (L*) | 47.2 to 75.9 |
Hex values: #647371 #707e72 #7f8876 #8a9282 #959d8e #a0a79a #acb2a6 #b7bdb3
Use it for ordered data.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | diverging |
| Number of colors | 7 |
| Source families | Reds, Bedsheet |
| Lightness range (L*) | 20.4 to 95.5 |
Hex values: #ab251c #eb5050 #f57e7e #f2f2f2 #89b4c3 #368eba #002d72
Use it for data with a center value.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | diverging |
| Number of colors | 7 |
| Source families | Tenne, Teal, Bedsheet |
| Lightness range (L*) | 20.4 to 91.3 |
Hex values: #4c2e22 #8f6e56 #cec0a3 #e6e6e6 #5d8080 #236c8c #002d72
Use it for data with a center value.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | diverging |
| Number of colors | 7 |
| Source families | Gold, Purple |
| Lightness range (L*) | 42.0 to 95.5 |
Hex values: #aa853c #d8b563 #fae2bc #f2f2f2 #7d6e7e #696586 #566382
Use it for data with a center value.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | diverging |
| Number of colors | 7 |
| Source families | Pink, Green |
| Lightness range (L*) | 30.8 to 95.5 |
Hex values: #d37050 #e69c6c #fed4b8 #f2f2f2 #a7b7b3 #56905f #2f5032
Use it for data with a center value.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | diverging |
| Number of colors | 7 |
| Source families | Bedsheet, Gold |
| Lightness range (L*) | 20.4 to 95.5 |
Hex values: #002d72 #368eba #89b4c3 #f2f2f2 #fae2bc #d8b563 #aa853c
Use it for data with a center value.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | diverging |
| Number of colors | 7 |
| Source families | Tenne, Bedsheet |
| Lightness range (L*) | 20.4 to 91.3 |
Hex values: #4c2e22 #8f6e56 #cec0a3 #e6e6e6 #85c4e3 #368eba #002d72
Use it for data with a center value.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | diverging |
| Number of colors | 7 |
| Source families | Reds, Teal, Bedsheet |
| Lightness range (L*) | 38.0 to 95.5 |
Hex values: #ab251c #eb5050 #f57e7e #f2f2f2 #89b4c3 #5d8080 #236c8c
Use it for data with a center value.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | diverging |
| Number of colors | 7 |
| Source families | Pink, Bedsheet |
| Lightness range (L*) | 20.4 to 95.5 |
Hex values: #d37050 #e69c6c #ffccaa #f2f2f2 #85c4e3 #368eba #002d72
Use it for data with a center value.