TradingView Chart Colors: A Practical Setup and Readability Guide
TradingView chart colors control the distinction between candles, indicators, drawings, and the background. A useful palette makes each object identifiable in your actual display and lighting conditions. No single color scheme establishes a trading edge, and the palettes below are examples rather than tested health or performance recommendations.
Start with what each color means
Give colors stable roles. If an orange line marks an exit level on one chart, avoid using the same treatment for an unrelated moving average on an adjacent chart. Keep the symbol, timeframe, price scale, and order labels readable; decorative consistency is less useful if it hides the information needed to interpret a screenshot.
Color alone should not carry essential meaning. The W3C guidance on use of color recommends an additional visual cue. On a chart, that can mean an explicit Buy/Sell label, a different marker shape, a dashed versus solid line, or clearly labeled price levels. Red and green candles are a convention, not an accessible explanation for every reader.
Change the actual chart settings
TradingView's Supercharts configuration guide separates candle styling from canvas styling:
- Open the chart's settings from the settings control or its context menu.
- In Symbol, adjust candle bodies, borders, and wicks for the selected chart type. Inspect both rising and falling bars.
- In Canvas, set the background, including solid or gradient options, and adjust grid and scale appearance.
- Open an individual indicator's settings to change its supported plot colors and styles. Not every script exposes every visual element as an editable setting.
- Save the intended chart layout and verify it by reopening that layout. Chart layouts and indicator templates serve different purposes; do not assume an indicator template preserves every canvas setting.
See TradingView's layout guide for what the layout retains. An application update does not, by itself, establish that unsaved colors will always disappear.
Two illustrative palettes
| Element | Dark example | Light example |
|---|---|---|
| Background | #1e222d | #ffffff |
| Rising candle | #26a69a | #00695c |
| Falling candle | #ef5350 | #b71c1c |
| Text and scale | #d1d4dc | #202124 |
| Secondary grid | Muted gray, reduced opacity | Light gray, reduced opacity |
These values are starting points, not a verified accessibility conformance claim. Thin wicks, small text, transparency, overlapping plots, and screenshot compression can change legibility. Inspect the rendered result rather than judging isolated color swatches. The W3C non-text contrast guidance explains why visual boundaries and meaningful graphical objects need sufficient distinction from adjacent colors.
A dark background reduces the amount of bright background on screen, but it is not universally more comfortable. Choose display brightness and a palette appropriate to the room and your own needs. This article does not establish that dark mode prevents eye strain or that maximum contrast improves execution speed.
Inspect a complete chart before keeping a palette
Use the same symbol, timeframe, and visible range for comparison. Include a dense section with overlapping indicators and a quiet section with short candles. Inspect the following at the zoom level you actually use:
- Can you distinguish candle bodies from wicks and see both directions against the background?
- Are stop and target labels readable when they overlap candles or other drawings?
- Can you identify two crossing indicator lines without relying solely on their colors?
- Does a saved screenshot still show the scale, instrument, timeframe, and legend clearly?
- Can a reader distinguish the important states in grayscale or using the additional labels and shapes?
Changing one group of settings at a time makes it easier to identify what improved readability. A chart with fewer indicators may be easier to inspect than the same crowded chart with a different palette. There is no evidence here for a universal three-color or four-color limit.
Match the display task rather than the asset class
A multi-chart workspace needs consistent labels and enough separation between panels. A chart shared in a report needs readable annotations at its exported size. A compact laptop view may need larger labels and fewer overlays. These are observable display requirements.
Stocks, forex, and crypto do not require inherently different colors. You may use distinct layouts to identify workspaces, but keep the color meanings documented. Changing a palette during a volatile session does not reduce market risk or establish better decisions.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I change TradingView background colors?
Open chart settings and use Canvas for the background and related chart styling. Use Symbol for candle bodies, borders, and wicks, and individual indicator settings for supported plot styles.
Which colors are best for day trading?
There is no universal best palette. Check the visibility of candles, labels, and order levels at your normal zoom and lighting. The sample palettes are starting points, not tested performance recommendations.
Is dark mode better for eye strain?
This guide does not establish a medical benefit. Display brightness, room lighting, text size, and individual needs all affect the choice; use the mode you can read comfortably.
How can I make shared charts less dependent on color?
Add labels, distinct marker shapes, and line styles so important meanings remain identifiable without distinguishing red from green or another color pair.