Unbleached
From Japanese Minimalism · Colors chosen by Aesthetary, following the documented color rules
Unbleached paper tones and near-black ink, moving away from vivid color toward quiet natural hues.
#F7F5F0, canvas, 70%. #EEEBE3, surface, 15%. #1C1C1A, text and primary action, 12%. #6F6C66, muted text, 3%.
Suggested proportions
- 70% Canvas
- 15% Surface
- 10% Text
- 3% Muted text
- 2% Primary action
In use
New
Notebooks, unbleached.
Made from pulp left its own color.
Add to basketPaper samples
A5 lined, 96 pages
Thread-sewn. Lies flat.
Quantity
2
We have 1 left.
Using it well
17 color pairs are approved for use. 5 pairs are not for text; the ones that matter most for this palette:
- Muted text on Surface Not for text. Gray on the interval measures 4.39:1, under 4.5. Set gray text on the paper only; on the interval, use it for display-size text (24px, or 18.66px bold) or the ink instead.
Roles
12 colors, their HEX values, what each is for and where it comes from
| Role | Color | Use | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canvas | #F7F5F0 | The field. Most of every screen. | Named in the sources: “a light beige paper” From the Japanese Minimalism page’s “paper” color. Basis: Aesthetary’s interpretation. |
| Surface | #EEEBE3 | The one field an image or object sits in. | From the Japanese Minimalism page’s “interval” color. Basis: Aesthetary’s interpretation. |
| Text | #1C1C1A | Text and the few lines there are. | From the Japanese Minimalism page’s “ink” color. Basis: Aesthetary’s interpretation. |
| Muted text | #6F6C66 | Labels and quiet text, on the paper only. | From the Japanese Minimalism page’s “grey” color. Basis: Aesthetary’s interpretation. |
| Primary action | #1C1C1A | The action: ink, with no hue, because the sources describe a move away from vivid color. | From the Japanese Minimalism page’s “ink” color; Aesthetary gives it this role. Basis: Aesthetary’s interpretation. |
| Text on primary | #F7F5F0 | Label on an ink button. | From the Japanese Minimalism page’s “paper” color; Aesthetary gives it this role. Basis: Aesthetary’s interpretation. |
| Secondary action | #1C1C1A | Secondary action: an ink outline. | From the Japanese Minimalism page’s “ink” color; Aesthetary gives it this role. Basis: Aesthetary’s interpretation. |
| Border | #D9D5CB | Hairlines. Decorative only. | Added by Aesthetary. The Japanese Minimalism page names no rule. |
| Input border | #85817A | The edge of an input. | Added by Aesthetary. A field’s only edge needs 3:1 on the paper and the interval. |
| Accent | #1C1C1A | No accent hue. Emphasis is weight and an underline. | From the Japanese Minimalism page’s “ink” color; Aesthetary gives it this role. Basis: Aesthetary’s interpretation. |
| Focus | #1C1C1A | Focus ring. | Added by Aesthetary. The Japanese Minimalism page defines no focus color; the ink makes the ring. |
| Error | #9E2B1E | Errors, always with a word. | Added by Aesthetary. The Japanese Minimalism page defines no status color. A muted red keeps to the natural hues the sources describe. |
Contrast, by use
17 approved pairs, all passing · 5 not for text
WCAG 2 ratios, computed from the colors. Text needs 4.5:1; large text (24px, or 18.66px bold) and non-text (a focus ring, a field’s only edge, an icon) need 3:1. Only the pairs listed as approved are recommended.
Approved pairs
| Pair | Contrast | Needs | For | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Text on Canvas | 15.66:1 | 4.5:1 | TextReading text | Passes |
| Text on Surface | 14.33:1 | 4.5:1 | TextReading text | Passes |
| Muted text on Canvas | 4.80:1 | 4.5:1 | TextSecondary text, captions | Passes |
| Muted text on Surface | 4.39:1 | 3:1 | Large text onlySecondary text, captions (restricted: see below) | Passes |
| Text on primary on Primary action | 15.66:1 | 4.5:1 | TextLabel on the primary action | Passes |
| Secondary action on Canvas | 15.66:1 | 4.5:1 | TextSecondary action: label and outline | Passes |
| Secondary action on Surface | 14.33:1 | 4.5:1 | TextSecondary action: label and outline | Passes |
| Primary action on Canvas | 15.66:1 | 4.5:1 | TextLinks and small text in the action color | Passes |
| Primary action on Surface | 14.33:1 | 4.5:1 | TextLinks and small text in the action color | Passes |
| Focus on Canvas | 15.66:1 | 3:1 | Non-text (3:1)Focus ring | Passes |
| Focus on Surface | 14.33:1 | 3:1 | Non-text (3:1)Focus ring | Passes |
| Input border on Canvas | 3.56:1 | 3:1 | Non-text (3:1)Input edge, the only boundary of a field | Passes |
| Input border on Surface | 3.25:1 | 3:1 | Non-text (3:1)Input edge, the only boundary of a field | Passes |
| Error on Canvas | 6.84:1 | 4.5:1 | TextStatus message, always with a word or icon | Passes |
| Error on Surface | 6.26:1 | 4.5:1 | TextStatus message, always with a word or icon | Passes |
| Accent on Canvas | 15.66:1 | 4.5:1 | TextAccent text | Passes |
| Accent on Surface | 14.33:1 | 4.5:1 | TextAccent text | Passes |
Not for text
- Muted text on Surface 4.39:1. Not for text. Large text and non-text only. Gray on the interval measures 4.39:1, under 4.5. Set gray text on the paper only; on the interval, use it for display-size text (24px, or 18.66px bold) or the ink instead.
- Border on Canvas 1.34:1. Not for text. Fill or decoration only. Under 3:1: a fill or decoration only. Never text, an icon or a field’s only edge.
- Border on Surface 1.23:1. Not for text. Fill or decoration only. Under 3:1: a fill or decoration only. Never text, an icon or a field’s only edge.
- Input border on Canvas 3.56:1. Not for text. Non-text only. An edge or ring, not a text color.
- Input border on Surface 3.25:1. Not for text. Non-text only. An edge or ring, not a text color.
What makes it characteristic
There is no action hue at all. The ground is unbleached paper rather than screen white, the ink is nearly black, and emphasis comes from weight, space and an underline.
Limits of this palette
- “The sources give no palette values.” Every value here is Aesthetary’s.
What the sources say
2 color descriptions in their own words · 4 color rules, each marked documented or Aesthetary’s interpretation
Named in the sources
- “unbleached pulp gives a light beige paper”
- “away from bright, vivid colour toward subtler natural hues”
Color rules for this Aesthetic
- Move away from bright, vivid color toward subtler natural hues. a documented rule
- Treat white as a concept tied to emptiness, not a color specification. a documented rule
- Use an unbleached paper tone for the ground, not a screen white. Aesthetary’s interpretation
- The sources give no palette values. not documented
Related
AestheticJapanese Minimalism
Related palettesBrown Key, Black Blade, Red Line, Blue Number, Wood and White, Stacked Film