Netscape's Color Cube

Netscape Navigator, when running under Windows with only 256 colors, will not display colors correctly. This is due in part to the way that Windows reserves system colors. Other platforms do not have this problem. Netscape chose 216 colors -- a "color cube" -- for the Windows version, intending for them to always display correctly. The only problem is that they don't, and won't. In my extensive but informal survey, not a single windows machine in 256 colors will display all of the text colors on this page correctly. Many colors will look the same, or be turned to grey. There is no orange, for instance. The inability to display certain colors seems to be highly repeatable, however. Look at this page in 256 colors on a PC, and you'll see what you're "allowed" to use. To make things a little better, be sure that you have it set to dither images, rather than substitute colors (options... general preferences... images... dither).
The image to the right is the Color Cube as a graphic. Save it to your hard drive, and open it in Photoshop. Open the swatches palette and choose save swatches. You now have a copy of Netscape's color cube as a Photoshop palette. If you dither all of your images to these 216 colors, they will display a little better on Windows PCs, plus you will gain the advantage of having all of your graphics use the same color pallette, resulting in less ugly dithering by Netscape and faster display times. To use it, open an RGB or CYMK image in Photoshop. Choose "indexed color" from the "mode" menu. Select the diffusion dither and "custom" palette, and open the palette file you created from the graphic. Easy!

MACs

Netscape on Macintoshes will sometimes screw up the colors (particularly background colors and images) when you switch color depths. Sometimes reloading the page will clear it up. Sometimes restarting Netscape will clear it up. Sometimes you have to reboot into the desired color mode.

SAMPLE RGB=0,0,0 Hex: #000000
SAMPLE RGB=0,0,51 Hex: #000033
SAMPLE RGB=0,0,102 Hex: #000066
SAMPLE RGB=0,0,153 Hex: #000099
SAMPLE RGB=0,0,204 Hex: #0000CC
SAMPLE RGB=0,0,255 Hex: #0000FF
SAMPLE RGB=0,51,0 Hex: #003300
SAMPLE RGB=0,51,51 Hex: #003333
SAMPLE RGB=0,51,102 Hex: #003366
SAMPLE RGB=0,51,153 Hex: #003399
SAMPLE RGB=0,51,204 Hex: #0033CC
SAMPLE RGB=0,51,255 Hex: #0033FF
SAMPLE RGB=0,102,0 Hex: #006600
SAMPLE RGB=0,102,51 Hex: #006633
SAMPLE RGB=0,102,102 Hex: #006666
SAMPLE RGB=0,102,153 Hex: #006699
SAMPLE RGB=0,102,204 Hex: #0066CC
SAMPLE RGB=0,102,255 Hex: #0066FF
SAMPLE RGB=0,153,0 Hex: #009900
SAMPLE RGB=0,153,51 Hex: #009933
SAMPLE RGB=0,153,102 Hex: #009966
SAMPLE RGB=0,153,153 Hex: #009999
SAMPLE RGB=0,153,204 Hex: #0099CC
SAMPLE RGB=0,153,255 Hex: #0099FF
SAMPLE RGB=0,204,0 Hex: #00CC00
SAMPLE RGB=0,204,51 Hex: #00CC33
SAMPLE RGB=0,204,102 Hex: #00CC66
SAMPLE RGB=0,204,153 Hex: #00CC99
SAMPLE RGB=0,204,204 Hex: #00CCCC
SAMPLE RGB=0,204,255 Hex: #00CCFF
SAMPLE RGB=0,255,0 Hex: #00FF00
SAMPLE RGB=0,255,51 Hex: #00FF33
SAMPLE RGB=0,255,102 Hex: #00FF66
SAMPLE RGB=0,255,153 Hex: #00FF99
SAMPLE RGB=0,255,204 Hex: #00FFCC
SAMPLE RGB=0,255,255 Hex: #00FFFF
SAMPLE RGB=51,0,0 Hex: #330000
SAMPLE RGB=51,0,51 Hex: #330033
SAMPLE RGB=51,0,102 Hex: #330066
SAMPLE RGB=51,0,153 Hex: #330099
SAMPLE RGB=51,0,204 Hex: #3300CC
SAMPLE RGB=51,0,255 Hex: #3300FF
SAMPLE RGB=51,51,0 Hex: #333300
SAMPLE RGB=51,51,51 Hex: #333333
SAMPLE RGB=51,51,102 Hex: #333366
SAMPLE RGB=51,51,153 Hex: #333399
SAMPLE RGB=51,51,204 Hex: #3333CC
SAMPLE RGB=51,51,255 Hex: #3333FF
SAMPLE RGB=51,102,0 Hex: #336600
SAMPLE RGB=51,102,51 Hex: #336633
SAMPLE RGB=51,102,102 Hex: #336666
SAMPLE RGB=51,102,153 Hex: #336699
SAMPLE RGB=51,102,204 Hex: #3366CC
SAMPLE RGB=51,102,255 Hex: #3366FF
SAMPLE RGB=51,153,0 Hex: #339900
SAMPLE RGB=51,153,51 Hex: #339933
SAMPLE RGB=51,153,102 Hex: #339966
SAMPLE RGB=51,153,153 Hex: #339999
SAMPLE RGB=51,153,204 Hex: #3399CC
SAMPLE RGB=51,153,255 Hex: #3399FF
SAMPLE RGB=51,204,0 Hex: #33CC00
SAMPLE RGB=51,204,51 Hex: #33CC33
SAMPLE RGB=51,204,102 Hex: #33CC66
SAMPLE RGB=51,204,153 Hex: #33CC99
SAMPLE RGB=51,204,204 Hex: #33CCCC
SAMPLE RGB=51,204,255 Hex: #33CCFF
SAMPLE RGB=51,255,0 Hex: #33FF00
SAMPLE RGB=51,255,51 Hex: #33FF33
SAMPLE RGB=51,255,102 Hex: #33FF66
SAMPLE RGB=51,255,153 Hex: #33FF99
SAMPLE RGB=51,255,204 Hex: #33FFCC
SAMPLE RGB=51,255,255 Hex: #33FFFF
SAMPLE RGB=102,0,0 Hex: #660000
SAMPLE RGB=102,0,51 Hex: #660033
SAMPLE RGB=102,0,102 Hex: #660066
SAMPLE RGB=102,0,153 Hex: #660099
SAMPLE RGB=102,0,204 Hex: #6600CC
SAMPLE RGB=102,0,255 Hex: #6600FF
SAMPLE RGB=102,51,0 Hex: #663300
SAMPLE RGB=102,51,51 Hex: #663333
SAMPLE RGB=102,51,102 Hex: #663366
SAMPLE RGB=102,51,153 Hex: #663399
SAMPLE RGB=102,51,204 Hex: #6633CC
SAMPLE RGB=102,51,255 Hex: #6633FF
SAMPLE RGB=102,102,0 Hex: #666600
SAMPLE RGB=102,102,51 Hex: #666633
SAMPLE RGB=102,102,102 Hex: #666666
SAMPLE RGB=102,102,153 Hex: #666699
SAMPLE RGB=102,102,204 Hex: #6666CC
SAMPLE RGB=102,102,255 Hex: #6666FF
SAMPLE RGB=102,153,0 Hex: #669900
SAMPLE RGB=102,153,51 Hex: #669933
SAMPLE RGB=102,153,102 Hex: #669966
SAMPLE RGB=102,153,153 Hex: #669999
SAMPLE RGB=102,153,204 Hex: #6699CC
SAMPLE RGB=102,153,255 Hex: #6699FF
SAMPLE RGB=102,204,0 Hex: #66CC00
SAMPLE RGB=102,204,51 Hex: #66CC33
SAMPLE RGB=102,204,102 Hex: #66CC66
SAMPLE RGB=102,204,153 Hex: #66CC99
SAMPLE RGB=102,204,204 Hex: #66CCCC
SAMPLE RGB=102,204,255 Hex: #66CCFF
SAMPLE RGB=102,255,0 Hex: #66FF00
SAMPLE RGB=102,255,51 Hex: #66FF33
SAMPLE RGB=102,255,102 Hex: #66FF66
SAMPLE RGB=102,255,153 Hex: #66FF99
SAMPLE RGB=102,255,204 Hex: #66FFCC
SAMPLE RGB=102,255,255 Hex: #66FFFF
SAMPLE RGB=153,0,0 Hex: #990000
SAMPLE RGB=153,0,51 Hex: #990033
SAMPLE RGB=153,0,102 Hex: #990066
SAMPLE RGB=153,0,153 Hex: #990099
SAMPLE RGB=153,0,204 Hex: #9900CC
SAMPLE RGB=153,0,255 Hex: #9900FF
SAMPLE RGB=153,51,0 Hex: #993300
SAMPLE RGB=153,51,51 Hex: #993333
SAMPLE RGB=153,51,102 Hex: #993366
SAMPLE RGB=153,51,153 Hex: #993399
SAMPLE RGB=153,51,204 Hex: #9933CC
SAMPLE RGB=153,51,255 Hex: #9933FF
SAMPLE RGB=153,102,0 Hex: #996600
SAMPLE RGB=153,102,51 Hex: #996633
SAMPLE RGB=153,102,102 Hex: #996666
SAMPLE RGB=153,102,153 Hex: #996699
SAMPLE RGB=153,102,204 Hex: #9966CC
SAMPLE RGB=153,102,255 Hex: #9966FF
SAMPLE RGB=153,153,0 Hex: #999900
SAMPLE RGB=153,153,51 Hex: #999933
SAMPLE RGB=153,153,102 Hex: #999966
SAMPLE RGB=153,153,153 Hex: #999999
SAMPLE RGB=153,153,204 Hex: #9999CC
SAMPLE RGB=153,153,255 Hex: #9999FF
SAMPLE RGB=153,204,0 Hex: #99CC00
SAMPLE RGB=153,204,51 Hex: #99CC33
SAMPLE RGB=153,204,102 Hex: #99CC66
SAMPLE RGB=153,204,153 Hex: #99CC99
SAMPLE RGB=153,204,204 Hex: #99CCCC
SAMPLE RGB=153,204,255 Hex: #99CCFF
SAMPLE RGB=153,255,0 Hex: #99FF00
SAMPLE RGB=153,255,51 Hex: #99FF33
SAMPLE RGB=153,255,102 Hex: #99FF66
SAMPLE RGB=153,255,153 Hex: #99FF99
SAMPLE RGB=153,255,204 Hex: #99FFCC
SAMPLE RGB=153,255,255 Hex: #99FFFF
SAMPLE RGB=204,0,0 Hex: #CC0000
SAMPLE RGB=204,0,51 Hex: #CC0033
SAMPLE RGB=204,0,102 Hex: #CC0066
SAMPLE RGB=204,0,153 Hex: #CC0099
SAMPLE RGB=204,0,204 Hex: #CC00CC
SAMPLE RGB=204,0,255 Hex: #CC00FF
SAMPLE RGB=204,51,0 Hex: #CC3300
SAMPLE RGB=204,51,51 Hex: #CC3333
SAMPLE RGB=204,51,102 Hex: #CC3366
SAMPLE RGB=204,51,153 Hex: #CC3399
SAMPLE RGB=204,51,204 Hex: #CC33CC
SAMPLE RGB=204,51,255 Hex: #CC33FF
SAMPLE RGB=204,102,0 Hex: #CC6600
SAMPLE RGB=204,102,51 Hex: #CC6633
SAMPLE RGB=204,102,102 Hex: #CC6666
SAMPLE RGB=204,102,153 Hex: #CC6699
SAMPLE RGB=204,102,204 Hex: #CC66CC
SAMPLE RGB=204,102,255 Hex: #CC66FF
SAMPLE RGB=204,153,0 Hex: #CC9900
SAMPLE RGB=204,153,51 Hex: #CC9933
SAMPLE RGB=204,153,102 Hex: #CC9966
SAMPLE RGB=204,153,153 Hex: #CC9999
SAMPLE RGB=204,153,204 Hex: #CC99CC
SAMPLE RGB=204,153,255 Hex: #CC99FF
SAMPLE RGB=204,204,0 Hex: #CCCC00
SAMPLE RGB=204,204,51 Hex: #CCCC33
SAMPLE RGB=204,204,102 Hex: #CCCC66
SAMPLE RGB=204,204,153 Hex: #CCCC99
SAMPLE RGB=204,204,204 Hex: #CCCCCC
SAMPLE RGB=204,204,255 Hex: #CCCCFF
SAMPLE RGB=204,255,0 Hex: #CCFF00
SAMPLE RGB=204,255,51 Hex: #CCFF33
SAMPLE RGB=204,255,102 Hex: #CCFF66
SAMPLE RGB=204,255,153 Hex: #CCFF99
SAMPLE RGB=204,255,204 Hex: #CCFFCC
SAMPLE RGB=204,255,255 Hex: #CCFFFF
SAMPLE RGB=255,0,0 Hex: #FF0000
SAMPLE RGB=255,0,51 Hex: #FF0033
SAMPLE RGB=255,0,102 Hex: #FF0066
SAMPLE RGB=255,0,153 Hex: #FF0099
SAMPLE RGB=255,0,204 Hex: #FF00CC
SAMPLE RGB=255,0,255 Hex: #FF00FF
SAMPLE RGB=255,51,0 Hex: #FF3300
SAMPLE RGB=255,51,51 Hex: #FF3333
SAMPLE RGB=255,51,102 Hex: #FF3366
SAMPLE RGB=255,51,153 Hex: #FF3399
SAMPLE RGB=255,51,204 Hex: #FF33CC
SAMPLE RGB=255,51,255 Hex: #FF33FF
SAMPLE RGB=255,102,0 Hex: #FF6600
SAMPLE RGB=255,102,51 Hex: #FF6633
SAMPLE RGB=255,102,102 Hex: #FF6666
SAMPLE RGB=255,102,153 Hex: #FF6699
SAMPLE RGB=255,102,204 Hex: #FF66CC
SAMPLE RGB=255,102,255 Hex: #FF66FF
SAMPLE RGB=255,153,0 Hex: #FF9900
SAMPLE RGB=255,153,51 Hex: #FF9933
SAMPLE RGB=255,153,102 Hex: #FF9966
SAMPLE RGB=255,153,153 Hex: #FF9999
SAMPLE RGB=255,153,204 Hex: #FF99CC
SAMPLE RGB=255,153,255 Hex: #FF99FF
SAMPLE RGB=255,204,0 Hex: #FFCC00
SAMPLE RGB=255,204,51 Hex: #FFCC33
SAMPLE RGB=255,204,102 Hex: #FFCC66
SAMPLE RGB=255,204,153 Hex: #FFCC99
SAMPLE RGB=255,204,204 Hex: #FFCCCC
SAMPLE RGB=255,204,255 Hex: #FFCCFF
SAMPLE RGB=255,255,0 Hex: #FFFF00
SAMPLE RGB=255,255,51 Hex: #FFFF33
SAMPLE RGB=255,255,102 Hex: #FFFF66
SAMPLE RGB=255,255,153 Hex: #FFFF99
SAMPLE RGB=255,255,204 Hex: #FFFFCC
SAMPLE RGB=255,255,255 Hex: #FFFFFF