Alchemist's Orchid
Astigmatism-optimized, anxiety-reducing color theme with Arctic aesthetics and pastel purple/pink accents.
A carefully crafted VS Code theme designed with accessibility and color psychology research in mind. Three distinct variants ensure comfortable coding in any lighting condition.
Theme Variants
Dark Mode
The primary variant featuring a deep Arctic night background with soft, low-saturation syntax colors. Ideal for extended coding sessions in low-light environments.
- Background: Deep Arctic Night (#2E3440)
- Optimized for reduced eye strain
- Low saturation colors (25-50%) to minimize halation for users with astigmatism
Light Mode
Essential for users with astigmatism who experience "halation" (light bleeding) with dark themes. Uses a frosted glass background instead of pure white to reduce glare.
- Background: Frosted Glass (#FAFBFC)
- Higher saturation syntax colors for visibility
- Reduced contrast strain compared to pure white themes
Sepia Mode
Warm parchment tones designed for extended reading and documentation work. Reduces blue light exposure while maintaining full WCAG AA compliance.
- Background: Warm Parchment (#F5F0E6)
- Warm-shifted syntax colors
- Ideal for evening coding sessions
Installation
From VS Code Marketplace
- Open VS Code
- Go to Extensions (
Cmd+Shift+X / Ctrl+Shift+X)
- Search for "Alchemist's Orchid"
- Click Install
- Open Command Palette (
Cmd+Shift+P / Ctrl+Shift+P)
- Type "Color Theme" and select "Preferences: Color Theme"
- Choose your preferred variant:
- Alchemist's Orchid Dark
- Alchemist's Orchid Light
- Alchemist's Orchid Sepia
Manual Installation
- Download the
.vsix file from releases
- Open VS Code
- Go to Extensions
- Click the
... menu and select "Install from VSIX..."
- Select the downloaded file
The Science Behind the Palette
Astigmatism Accessibility
Approximately 50% of the population has some degree of astigmatism. Dark backgrounds cause pupil dilation, and with an irregular cornea, this creates "halation" — a halo or bleeding effect around bright text.
Our solution:
- Lower saturation accent colors (≤60%) in dark mode
- Light and Sepia alternatives for users who prefer them
- Carefully tuned contrast ratios that meet WCAG AA while minimizing strain
Color Psychology
Each color in the palette was chosen based on psychological research:
| Color |
Effect |
Application |
| Pink |
Tranquilizing, suppresses anxiety |
Strings, highlights |
| Purple |
Decreases amygdala (fear center) activity |
Keywords, UI accents |
| Blue |
Associated with calm and security |
Functions, links |
| Green |
Easiest color for the eye to perceive |
Comments, success states |
Color Palette
Dark Mode Syntax Colors
| Element |
Color |
Hex |
Contrast Ratio |
| Strings |
Pastel Bloom |
#E8A4CC |
6.31:1 (AA) |
| Keywords |
Mystic Rune |
#C89BD0 |
5.39:1 (AA) |
| Comments |
Frosted Fern |
#A3BE8C |
6.13:1 (AA) |
| Functions |
Nordic Sky |
#81A1C1 |
4.64:1 (AA) |
| Types |
Golden Dusk |
#DFCA9A |
7.76:1 (AAA) |
| Constants |
Glacial Stream |
#8FBCBB |
5.99:1 (AA) |
Light Mode Syntax Colors
| Element |
Color |
Hex |
Contrast Ratio |
| Strings |
Deep Bloom |
#C41585 |
5.34:1 (AA) |
| Keywords |
Royal Rune |
#8839AA |
6.31:1 (AA) |
| Comments |
Forest Fern |
#4D7028 |
5.53:1 (AA) |
| Functions |
Ocean Depth |
#2D6299 |
6.11:1 (AA) |
| Types |
Amber Dusk |
#8A6000 |
5.40:1 (AA) |
| Constants |
Deep Stream |
#1D7A78 |
4.93:1 (AA) |
Sepia Mode Syntax Colors
| Element |
Color |
Hex |
Contrast Ratio |
| Strings |
Rose Thorn |
#B52080 |
5.31:1 (AA) |
| Keywords |
Plum Wine |
#7B3399 |
6.66:1 (AA) |
| Comments |
Sage Leaf |
#4A6A28 |
5.46:1 (AA) |
| Functions |
Vintage Indigo |
#2E5E8A |
5.99:1 (AA) |
| Types |
Antique Gold |
#806000 |
5.15:1 (AA) |
| Constants |
Patina |
#1A6B69 |
5.52:1 (AA) |
Features
- Full Workbench Theming: Not just syntax colors — every UI element is carefully styled
- Semantic Highlighting: Enhanced syntax accuracy for TypeScript, JavaScript, Python, Rust, and more
- Terminal Colors: Complete ANSI color palette matching the theme aesthetic
- Git Integration: Color-coded file status in the explorer
- Bracket Colorization: Rainbow brackets that complement the theme
Supported Languages
Optimized syntax highlighting for:
- TypeScript / JavaScript / JSX / TSX
- Python
- Rust
- HTML / CSS / SCSS
- JSON / YAML
- Markdown
- Ruby
- Go
- Java
- C / C++
- Shell / Bash
- SQL
- And many more...
Recommended Settings
For the best experience, consider these VS Code settings:
{
"editor.fontFamily": "'JetBrains Mono', 'Fira Code', Consolas, monospace",
"editor.fontLigatures": true,
"editor.fontSize": 14,
"editor.lineHeight": 1.6,
"editor.cursorBlinking": "smooth",
"editor.cursorSmoothCaretAnimation": "on",
"editor.smoothScrolling": true,
"workbench.colorTheme": "Alchemist's Orchid Dark"
}
Accessibility
This theme is designed with accessibility as a priority:
- WCAG AA Compliant: All syntax colors meet the minimum 4.5:1 contrast ratio
- Main Text AAA: Foreground text exceeds 7:1 contrast ratio
- Astigmatism Friendly: Multiple variants cater to different visual needs
- Color Blindness Considered: Distinct hue separation between semantic elements
Contrast Verification
All colors have been verified using the WebAIM Contrast Checker.
Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit issues or pull requests.
Development
- Clone the repository
- Open in VS Code
- Press
F5 to launch the Extension Development Host
- Test theme changes in real-time
Building
# Install vsce if you haven't
npm install -g @vscode/vsce
# Package the extension
vsce package
# This creates a .vsix file you can install locally
Credits
- Inspired by the Nord color palette aesthetic
- Color psychology research from various academic sources
- Built with love for the developer community
License
MIT License - see LICENSE for details.
"A colorscheme should make your eyes rest, not work."
Made with care by Rynaro
