Color Lab
Pick colors before the skyline fills up
Base tones, accents, and district borders work best when you choose them before the skyline grows crowded.
Palette checklist
Base lock
Pick two wall tones early so roofs and pier boards stay readable from above.
Accent budget
One bright accent for doors or roofs; extra accents scatter the district.
District edges
Change palette at bridges or canal corners, not mid-block.
Water contrast
What turquoise needs beside it, and when cream walls disappear into sand rock.
Repaint plan
How far to undo a muddy palette, and when it is cleaner to start a new islet.
Session check
Harmony after ten minutes, after forty, and after a full harbor ring.
Test a palette on a small cluster
Start with six houses, one bridge, and three colors. A small cluster shows clashes before you commit to a full harbor.