Tonecatch

Reorder a row of scrambled colour caps into the smoothest possible transition between two locked endpoints, graded in perceptual CIE Lab.

How to play

The two end caps are fixed. Drag the caps between them into the order that makes the gradient flow most smoothly, then check your arrangement against the ideal.

• Drag a cap left or right; the row reorders live and shows your current roughness.
• Aim to minimise the roughness toward the ideal value.
• Check to score and reveal any confusion zones where caps landed out of place.
• Higher perceptual accuracy plus a speed bonus earns more points.

Controls

• Desktop: click and drag caps; click Daily/Practice, the 5/7/9 size, New, or Check.
• Phone & tablet: drag caps with your finger — touch-enabled.

Game modes

• Daily and Practice seeds, with row lengths of 5, 7, or 9 caps.

Tips & strategy

• Work from both locked ends inward so each cap bridges its neighbours.
• If two caps look equally placed, swap them and watch the roughness number — it settles ties your eye can't.

What you'll learn

Tonecatch trains perceptual colour ordering using the same CIE Lab space designers rely on.

• Skills: colour perception, colour ordering, value, colour science
• Best for: teens and up (designers)
• For parents & teachers: the colour science designers use.

About Tonecatch

Tonecatch trains perceptual colour ordering using the same CIE Lab space designers rely on. It is an original, free browser game built in-house.

A free, original browser game on PlayPendium — no download, no install. Browse all games →