feat(colors): optional raw calendar colours + readable title contrast

Add a "Soften calendar colours" setting (Settings → Design, default on).
Turning it off paints calendar and event colours raw, exactly as the sync
source (DAVx5/CalDAV) publishes them, instead of the theme-fitting pastels
(#36).

Event/calendar colours now flow through shared eventFill()/eventInk()
helpers gated by a LocalSoftenColors composition local (widgets read the
pref directly). Event titles pick black or white text by the fill's WCAG
relative luminance, so a dark colour stays legible whether softened or raw
(#21) — previously always near-black.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -8,6 +8,17 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 ## [Unreleased]
 
 ### Added
+- Show raw calendar colours. Calendula normally softens each calendar and event
+  colour toward a theme-fitting pastel so harsh sync colours read well on both
+  light and dark; a new **Soften calendar colours** setting (Settings → Design,
+  on by default) lets you turn that off and paint the exact colours your calendar
+  source publishes — matching DAVx5/CalDAV and other calendar apps. Thanks to
+  @leonp5 for the report ([#36]).
+- Readable titles on dark event colours. An event bar's title now shows in white
+  on a dark colour and near-black on a light one, chosen automatically from the
+  colour's brightness, so a deep blue or purple event is legible at a glance in
+  the busy Week and Month views instead of dark-on-dark. This applies whether or
+  not colours are softened. Thanks to @ptab for the suggestion ([#21]).
 - A custom snooze duration. The **Snooze duration** setting (Settings →
   Notifications) gains a **Custom…** option next to the minute presets: pick any
   amount and switch between minutes and hours, so a snoozed reminder comes back
@@ -971,10 +982,12 @@ automatically, with zero telemetry and no internet permission.
 [#25]: https://codeberg.org/jlmakiola/calendula/issues/25
 [#27]: https://codeberg.org/jlmakiola/calendula/issues/27
 [#29]: https://codeberg.org/jlmakiola/calendula/issues/29
+[#21]: https://codeberg.org/jlmakiola/calendula/issues/21
 [#30]: https://codeberg.org/jlmakiola/calendula/issues/30
 [#32]: https://codeberg.org/jlmakiola/calendula/issues/32
 [#33]: https://codeberg.org/jlmakiola/calendula/issues/33
 [#34]: https://codeberg.org/jlmakiola/calendula/issues/34
+[#36]: https://codeberg.org/jlmakiola/calendula/issues/36
 [#37]: https://codeberg.org/jlmakiola/calendula/issues/37
 [#39]: https://codeberg.org/jlmakiola/calendula/issues/39
 [#35]: https://codeberg.org/jlmakiola/calendula/issues/35

app/src/main/java/de/jeanlucmakiola/calendula/MainActivity.kt

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.domain.EventForm
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.domain.buildInsertEventForm
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.RootScreen
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.LocalShowHourLines
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.LocalSoftenColors
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.LocalUse24HourFormat
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.WidgetNavRequest
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.CalendarView
@@ -140,6 +141,7 @@ class MainActivity : AppCompatActivity() {
                     CompositionLocalProvider(
                         LocalUse24HourFormat provides use24Hour,
                         LocalShowHourLines provides settings.showHourLines,
+                        LocalSoftenColors provides settings.softenColors,
                     ) {
                         RootScreen(
                             modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize(),

app/src/main/java/de/jeanlucmakiola/calendula/data/prefs/SettingsPrefs.kt

@@ -114,6 +114,21 @@ class SettingsPrefs @Inject constructor(
         store.edit { it[DYNAMIC_COLOR_KEY] = enabled }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Whether raw provider colours are softened toward theme-fitting pastels
+     * before display (issue #36). Defaults to ON — the historical look, which
+     * caps harsh sync colours and pins brightness so entries read on both
+     * themes. Turning it off paints the calendar/event colour exactly as the
+     * sync source (DAVx5/CalDAV) publishes it.
+     */
+    val softenCalendarColors: Flow<Boolean> = store.data.map { prefs ->
+        prefs[SOFTEN_COLORS_KEY] ?: true
+    }
+
+    suspend fun setSoftenCalendarColors(enabled: Boolean) {
+        store.edit { it[SOFTEN_COLORS_KEY] = enabled }
+    }
+
     /**
      * Custom-font tokens per Material typeface role (issue #19). Stored as opaque
      * strings — "system", "custom", or a bundled font's token — resolved to a
@@ -679,6 +694,7 @@ class SettingsPrefs @Inject constructor(
     companion object {
         internal val THEME_MODE_KEY = stringPreferencesKey("theme_mode")
         internal val DYNAMIC_COLOR_KEY = booleanPreferencesKey("dynamic_color")
+        internal val SOFTEN_COLORS_KEY = booleanPreferencesKey("soften_calendar_colors")
         internal val BRAND_FONT_KEY = stringPreferencesKey("brand_font")
         internal val PLAIN_FONT_KEY = stringPreferencesKey("plain_font")
         internal val BRAND_FONT_STAMP_KEY = intPreferencesKey("brand_font_stamp")

app/src/main/java/de/jeanlucmakiola/calendula/ui/agenda/AgendaScreen.kt

@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.data.prefs.PastEventDisplay
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.domain.EventInstance
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.domain.hasEnded
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.AgendaRangePicker
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.LocalSoftenColors
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.eventFill
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.agendaRangeLabel
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.identity.animateItemMotion
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.CalendarDrawer
@@ -72,7 +74,6 @@ import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.GroupedRow
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.Position
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.ViewSwitcherPill
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.next
-import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.pastelize
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.positionOf
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.rememberCurrentMinute
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.currentLocale
@@ -454,6 +455,7 @@ private fun AgendaEventRow(
     onClick: () -> Unit,
 ) {
     val dark = isSystemInDarkTheme()
+    val soften = LocalSoftenColors.current
     val title = event.title.ifBlank { stringResource(R.string.event_untitled) }
     GroupedRow(
         modifier = if (dimmed) modifier.alpha(EventDimAlpha) else modifier,
@@ -466,7 +468,7 @@ private fun AgendaEventRow(
                 modifier = Modifier
                     .size(width = 6.dp, height = 36.dp)
                     .clip(RoundedCornerShape(3.dp))
-                    .background(pastelize(event.color, dark)),
+                    .background(eventFill(event.color, dark, soften)),
             )
         },
         onClick = onClick,

app/src/main/java/de/jeanlucmakiola/calendula/ui/calendars/CalendarsScreen.kt

@@ -93,6 +93,8 @@ import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.data.prefs.SettingsPrefs
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.domain.CalendarSource
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.data.calendar.CalendarColorPalette
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.CalendarColorChip
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.LocalSoftenColors
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.eventFill
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.LeadingAvatar
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.SourceLogo
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.curatedSourcePackage
@@ -108,7 +110,6 @@ import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.ColorSwatchRow
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.GroupedRow
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.InlineTextField
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.Position
-import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.pastelize
 import java.time.LocalDate
 
 /** Sentinel [editorId] meaning "the editor is composing a new calendar". */
@@ -565,6 +566,7 @@ private fun CalendarEditor(
     var description by rememberSaveable(sessionKey) { mutableStateOf(initialDescription) }
     var confirmDelete by remember { mutableStateOf(false) }
     val dark = isSystemInDarkTheme()
+    val soften = LocalSoftenColors.current
 
     Scaffold(
         modifier = Modifier
@@ -624,7 +626,7 @@ private fun CalendarEditor(
                 .padding(horizontal = 16.dp, vertical = 8.dp),
             verticalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(12.dp),
         ) {
-            EditorCard(icon = Icons.Default.CalendarMonth, iconTint = pastelize(color, dark)) {
+            EditorCard(icon = Icons.Default.CalendarMonth, iconTint = eventFill(color, dark, soften)) {
                 InlineTextField(
                     value = name,
                     onValueChange = { name = it },

app/src/main/java/de/jeanlucmakiola/calendula/ui/common/CalendarColors.kt

@@ -14,16 +14,17 @@ import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
 import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
 import androidx.compose.ui.draw.clip
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
-import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.pastelize
 
 /**
  * Leading avatar for a calendar: a neutral chip holding a calendar glyph tinted
- * in the calendar's (pastelised) colour. Shared by the calendar manager and the
+ * in the calendar's colour — softened to a pastel, or raw when the softener is
- * visibility filter so they read identically.
+ * off (issue #36). Shared by the calendar manager and the visibility filter so
+ * they read identically.
  */
 @Composable
 fun CalendarColorChip(color: Int, modifier: Modifier = Modifier) {
     val dark = isSystemInDarkTheme()
+    val soften = LocalSoftenColors.current
     Box(
         modifier = modifier
             .size(40.dp)
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ fun CalendarColorChip(color: Int, modifier: Modifier = Modifier) {
         Icon(
             Icons.Filled.CalendarMonth,
             contentDescription = null,
-            tint = pastelize(color, dark),
+            tint = eventFill(color, dark, soften),
             modifier = Modifier.size(22.dp),
         )
     }

app/src/main/java/de/jeanlucmakiola/calendula/ui/common/ColorSwatchRow.kt

@@ -18,15 +18,14 @@ import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
 import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
 import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
 import androidx.compose.ui.draw.clip
-import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
-import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.pastelize
 
 /**
  * A wrapping row of round colour swatches; the one matching [selected] is
  * ringed and checked. Shared by the calendar editor and the event-colour
  * picker so both pick a colour the same way. Swatches render through
- * [pastelize] — the softened colour the app actually paints, not the raw hue.
+ * [eventFill] — the colour the app actually paints (softened, or raw when the
+ * softener is off, issue #36), not necessarily the stored hue.
  */
 @OptIn(ExperimentalLayoutApi::class)
 @Composable
@@ -37,16 +36,18 @@ fun ColorSwatchRow(
     dark: Boolean,
     modifier: Modifier = Modifier,
 ) {
+    val soften = LocalSoftenColors.current
     FlowRow(modifier = modifier, horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(12.dp)) {
         colors.forEach { argb ->
             val isSelected = argb == selected
+            val fill = eventFill(argb, dark, soften)
             Box(
                 contentAlignment = Alignment.Center,
                 modifier = Modifier
                     .padding(vertical = 4.dp)
                     .size(40.dp)
                     .clip(CircleShape)
-                    .background(pastelize(argb, dark))
+                    .background(fill)
                     .then(
                         if (isSelected) {
                             Modifier.border(2.dp, MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurface, CircleShape)
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ fun ColorSwatchRow(
                     Icon(
                         Icons.Default.Check,
                         contentDescription = null,
-                        tint = Color.Black.copy(alpha = 0.7f),
+                        tint = eventInk(fill, alpha = 0.7f),
                         modifier = Modifier.size(20.dp),
                     )
                 }

app/src/main/java/de/jeanlucmakiola/calendula/ui/common/EventColors.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+package de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common
+
+import androidx.compose.runtime.staticCompositionLocalOf
+import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color
+import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.luminance
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.pastelize
+
+/**
+ * Whether calendar/event colours are softened toward theme-fitting pastels
+ * before display (issue #36). Provided app-wide from the "soften colours"
+ * setting; the default `true` keeps the historical look. When off, the raw
+ * provider colour is painted verbatim — matching the sync source (DAVx5/CalDAV)
+ * and other calendar apps. Widgets live outside this composition and read the
+ * preference directly, then pass the flag to [eventFill] / [eventInk].
+ */
+val LocalSoftenColors = staticCompositionLocalOf { true }
+
+/**
+ * Display fill for an event chip/bar or a calendar tint: the [pastelize]d colour
+ * when [soften] is on, else the raw provider ARGB verbatim (forced opaque, since
+ * pastelize also returns an opaque colour).
+ */
+fun eventFill(rawArgb: Int, dark: Boolean, soften: Boolean): Color =
+    if (soften) pastelize(rawArgb, dark) else Color(rawArgb or 0xFF000000.toInt())
+
+/**
+ * Contrast ink (title text / glyph) for a filled chip painted with [eventFill]:
+ * white on a dark fill, near-black on a light one (issue #21). Applies to both
+ * softened and raw fills — a saturated hue (deep blue, purple, red) is
+ * perceptually dark even after softening pins its HSV value, so black text on it
+ * reads poorly. The choice is objective, not a tuned threshold: white wins only
+ * when it out-contrasts black against the fill, which (by the WCAG contrast
+ * ratio) is at relative luminance ≈ 0.18 — so mid and light colours keep
+ * near-black text. [alpha] carries the caller's soft emphasis.
+ */
+fun eventInk(fill: Color, alpha: Float = 0.8f): Color {
+    val useWhite = fill.luminance() < INK_LUMINANCE_CROSSOVER
+    return (if (useWhite) Color.White else Color.Black).copy(alpha = alpha)
+}
+
+/**
+ * Relative-luminance crossover where white text starts to out-contrast black.
+ * Solving `contrast(white, L) = contrast(black, L)` on the WCAG ratio gives
+ * `L = sqrt(1.05 * 0.05) - 0.05 ≈ 0.179`.
+ */
+private const val INK_LUMINANCE_CROSSOVER = 0.179f

app/src/main/java/de/jeanlucmakiola/calendula/ui/day/DayScreen.kt

@@ -79,7 +79,9 @@ import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.calendarSlideTransition
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.rememberCalendarFadeSpec
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.identity.rememberReduceMotion
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.next
-import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.pastelize
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.LocalSoftenColors
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.eventFill
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.eventInk
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.rememberCalendarSlideSpec
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.currentLocale
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.LocalUse24HourFormat
@@ -452,9 +454,11 @@ private fun AllDayBar(
     modifier: Modifier = Modifier,
 ) {
     val title = event.title.ifBlank { stringResource(R.string.event_untitled) }
+    val soften = LocalSoftenColors.current
+    val fill = eventFill(event.color, dark, soften)
     Box(
         modifier = modifier
-            .background(pastelize(event.color, dark), RoundedCornerShape(4.dp))
+            .background(fill, RoundedCornerShape(4.dp))
             .clickable(onClick = onClick)
             .padding(horizontal = 6.dp, vertical = 2.dp)
             .semantics { contentDescription = title },
@@ -465,7 +469,7 @@ private fun AllDayBar(
             style = MaterialTheme.typography.labelSmall,
             maxLines = 1,
             overflow = TextOverflow.Ellipsis,
-            color = Color.Black.copy(alpha = 0.8f),
+            color = eventInk(fill),
         )
     }
 }
@@ -616,9 +620,11 @@ private fun EventBlock(
     val timeLabel = "${minToHm(block.startMin, use24Hour, locale)}–" +
         minToHm(block.endMin, use24Hour, locale)
     val showTime = block.endMin - block.startMin >= 45
+    val soften = LocalSoftenColors.current
+    val fill = eventFill(block.event.color, dark, soften)
     Box(
         modifier = modifier
-            .background(pastelize(block.event.color, dark), RoundedCornerShape(4.dp))
+            .background(fill, RoundedCornerShape(4.dp))
             .clickable(onClick = onClick)
             .padding(horizontal = 4.dp, vertical = 2.dp)
             .semantics { contentDescription = "$title, $timeLabel" },
@@ -629,7 +635,7 @@ private fun EventBlock(
                 style = MaterialTheme.typography.labelMedium,
                 maxLines = if (showTime) 1 else 2,
                 overflow = TextOverflow.Ellipsis,
-                color = Color.Black.copy(alpha = 0.85f),
+                color = eventInk(fill, alpha = 0.85f),
             )
             if (showTime) {
                 Text(
@@ -637,7 +643,7 @@ private fun EventBlock(
                     style = MaterialTheme.typography.labelSmall,
                     maxLines = 1,
                     overflow = TextOverflow.Ellipsis,
-                    color = Color.Black.copy(alpha = 0.6f),
+                    color = eventInk(fill, alpha = 0.6f),
                 )
             }
         }

app/src/main/java/de/jeanlucmakiola/calendula/ui/detail/EventDetailScreen.kt

@@ -95,11 +95,12 @@ import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.domain.RecurringWriteScope
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.domain.Reminder
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.identity.predictiveBack
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.CalendarFailure
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.LocalSoftenColors
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.eventFill
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.OptionCard
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.currentLocale
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.LocalUse24HourFormat
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.timeOfDayFormatter
-import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.pastelize
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.recurrenceText
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.reminderLeadTimeLabel
 import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
@@ -381,7 +382,7 @@ private fun EventDetailContent(state: EventDetailUiState.Success, modifier: Modi
     val instance = detail.instance
     val dark = isSystemInDarkTheme()
     val locale = currentDetailLocale()
-    val accent = pastelize(instance.color, dark)
+    val accent = eventFill(instance.color, dark, LocalSoftenColors.current)
 
     Column(
         modifier = modifier

app/src/main/java/de/jeanlucmakiola/calendula/ui/edit/EventEditScreen.kt

@@ -126,6 +126,8 @@ import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.data.calendar.CalendarColorPalette
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.CalendarPickerGroups
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.CalendarDatePickerDialog
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.ColorSwatchRow
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.LocalSoftenColors
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.eventFill
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.DialogAmountField
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.DialogUnitDropdown
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.eventFormFieldIcon
@@ -146,7 +148,6 @@ import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.LocalUse24HourFormat
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.timeOfDayFormatter
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.reminderLeadTimeLabel
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.reminderUnitLabel
-import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.pastelize
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.recurrenceText
 import kotlinx.datetime.DayOfWeek
 import kotlinx.datetime.LocalDate
@@ -541,7 +542,8 @@ private fun EventEditContent(
     val selectedCalendar = state.calendars.firstOrNull { it.id == form.calendarId }
     // The accent ties the form to the detail screen's design language: the
     // bar under the title takes the target calendar's colour.
-    val accent = selectedCalendar?.let { pastelize(it.color, dark) }
+    val soften = LocalSoftenColors.current
+    val accent = selectedCalendar?.let { eventFill(it.color, dark, soften) }
         ?: MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary
     val gap = 12.dp
 
@@ -893,7 +895,7 @@ private fun EventEditContent(
                 icon = Icons.Default.Palette,
                 iconContentDescription = stringResource(R.string.event_edit_color),
                 iconTint = if (colorSupported && swatch != null) {
-                    pastelize(swatch, dark)
+                    eventFill(swatch, dark, soften)
                 } else {
                     MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant
                 },

app/src/main/java/de/jeanlucmakiola/calendula/ui/month/MonthScreen.kt

@@ -71,6 +71,9 @@ import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.CalendarView
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.IMPLEMENTED_VIEWS
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.EventDimAlpha
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.LocalDimCutoff
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.LocalSoftenColors
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.eventFill
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.eventInk
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.rememberCurrentMinute
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.ViewSwitcherPill
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.calendarSlideTransition
@@ -79,7 +82,6 @@ import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.identity.rememberReduceMotion
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.currentLocale
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.rememberCalendarSlideSpec
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.next
-import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.pastelize
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.time.isoWeekNumber
 import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
 import kotlinx.datetime.DayOfWeek
@@ -630,7 +632,7 @@ private fun DayNumberCell(
     }
 }
 
-/** A filled event pill/bar — pastelized fill, title clipped to one line. */
+/** A filled event pill/bar — softened (or raw) fill, title clipped to one line. */
 @Composable
 private fun MonthBar(
     event: de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.domain.EventInstance,
@@ -642,6 +644,8 @@ private fun MonthBar(
     val title = event.title.ifBlank { stringResource(R.string.event_untitled) }
     val dimCutoff = LocalDimCutoff.current
     val dimmed = dimCutoff != null && event.hasEnded(dimCutoff)
+    val soften = LocalSoftenColors.current
+    val fill = eventFill(event.color, dark, soften)
     val shape = RoundedCornerShape(
         topStart = if (continuesLeft) 0.dp else 4.dp,
         bottomStart = if (continuesLeft) 0.dp else 4.dp,
@@ -650,7 +654,7 @@ private fun MonthBar(
     )
     Box(
         modifier = (if (dimmed) modifier.alpha(EventDimAlpha) else modifier)
-            .background(pastelize(event.color, dark), shape)
+            .background(fill, shape)
             .padding(horizontal = 4.dp)
             .semantics { contentDescription = title },
         contentAlignment = Alignment.CenterStart,
@@ -660,7 +664,7 @@ private fun MonthBar(
             style = MaterialTheme.typography.labelSmall,
             maxLines = 1,
             overflow = TextOverflow.Ellipsis,
-            color = Color.Black.copy(alpha = 0.8f),
+            color = eventInk(fill),
         )
     }
 }
@@ -673,6 +677,7 @@ private fun OverflowDots(
     dark: Boolean,
     modifier: Modifier = Modifier,
 ) {
+    val soften = LocalSoftenColors.current
     Row(
         modifier = modifier.height(EVENT_ROW_HEIGHT),
         horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(2.dp),
@@ -682,7 +687,7 @@ private fun OverflowDots(
             Box(
                 modifier = Modifier
                     .size(6.dp)
-                    .background(pastelize(argb, dark), CircleShape),
+                    .background(eventFill(argb, dark, soften), CircleShape),
             )
         }
         if (extra > 0) {

app/src/main/java/de/jeanlucmakiola/calendula/ui/search/SearchScreen.kt

@@ -55,9 +55,10 @@ import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.GroupedRow
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.InlineTextField
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.Position
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.currentLocale
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.LocalSoftenColors
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.eventFill
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.LocalUse24HourFormat
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.timeOfDayFormatter
-import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.pastelize
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.positionOf
 import java.time.Instant as JavaInstant
 import java.time.ZoneId
@@ -192,6 +193,7 @@ private fun SearchResultRow(
     onClick: () -> Unit,
 ) {
     val dark = isSystemInDarkTheme()
+    val soften = LocalSoftenColors.current
     GroupedRow(
         modifier = modifier,
         title = event.title,
@@ -203,7 +205,7 @@ private fun SearchResultRow(
                 modifier = Modifier
                     .size(width = 6.dp, height = 36.dp)
                     .clip(RoundedCornerShape(3.dp))
-                    .background(pastelize(event.color, dark)),
+                    .background(eventFill(event.color, dark, soften)),
             )
         },
         onClick = onClick,

app/src/main/java/de/jeanlucmakiola/calendula/ui/settings/SettingsScreen.kt

@@ -517,7 +517,7 @@ private fun AppearanceScreen(
             } else {
                 stringResource(R.string.settings_dynamic_color_unavailable)
             },
-            position = Position.Bottom,
+            position = Position.Middle,
             trailing = {
                 Switch(
                     checked = state.dynamicColor,
@@ -531,6 +531,18 @@ private fun AppearanceScreen(
                 null
             },
         )
+        GroupedRow(
+            title = stringResource(R.string.settings_soften_colors),
+            summary = stringResource(R.string.settings_soften_colors_summary),
+            position = Position.Bottom,
+            trailing = {
+                Switch(
+                    checked = state.softenColors,
+                    onCheckedChange = viewModel::setSoftenColors,
+                )
+            },
+            onClick = { viewModel.setSoftenColors(!state.softenColors) },
+        )
 
         Spacer(Modifier.height(16.dp))
 

app/src/main/java/de/jeanlucmakiola/calendula/ui/settings/SettingsUiState.kt

@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ data class SettingsUiState(
     val themeMode: ThemeMode = ThemeMode.SYSTEM,
     val dynamicColor: Boolean = true,
     val dynamicColorAvailable: Boolean = true,
+    /** Whether raw provider colours are softened to theme-fitting pastels (#36). */
+    val softenColors: Boolean = true,
     val weekStart: WeekStartPref = WeekStartPref.Auto,
     /** Clock convention for time labels (v2.11). AUTO follows the system setting. */
     val timeFormat: TimeFormatPref = TimeFormatPref.AUTO,

app/src/main/java/de/jeanlucmakiola/calendula/ui/settings/SettingsViewModel.kt

@@ -123,14 +123,17 @@ class SettingsViewModel @Inject constructor(
                     prefs.showHourLines,
                     prefs.showWeekNumbers,
                     prefs.agendaShowToday,
-                    ::Triple,
+                    prefs.softenCalendarColors,
-                ),
+                ) { hourLines, weekNumbers, showToday, soften ->
+                    DisplayToggles(hourLines, weekNumbers, showToday, soften)
+                },
             ) { view, screenRange, widgetRange, timeFormat, toggles ->
                 ViewSettings(
                     view, screenRange, widgetRange, timeFormat,
-                    showHourLines = toggles.first,
+                    showHourLines = toggles.showHourLines,
-                    showWeekNumbers = toggles.second,
+                    showWeekNumbers = toggles.showWeekNumbers,
-                    agendaShowToday = toggles.third,
+                    agendaShowToday = toggles.agendaShowToday,
+                    softenColors = toggles.softenColors,
                 )
             },
             combine(
@@ -155,6 +158,7 @@ class SettingsViewModel @Inject constructor(
                 showHourLines = views.showHourLines,
                 showWeekNumbers = views.showWeekNumbers,
                 agendaShowToday = views.agendaShowToday,
+                softenColors = views.softenColors,
                 agendaShowRangeBar = misc.showRangeBar,
                 autofocusEventTitle = misc.autofocusEventTitle,
                 pastEventDisplay = misc.pastEventDisplay,
@@ -229,6 +233,14 @@ class SettingsViewModel @Inject constructor(
         val showHourLines: Boolean,
         val showWeekNumbers: Boolean,
         val agendaShowToday: Boolean,
+        val softenColors: Boolean,
+    )
+
+    private data class DisplayToggles(
+        val showHourLines: Boolean,
+        val showWeekNumbers: Boolean,
+        val agendaShowToday: Boolean,
+        val softenColors: Boolean,
     )
 
     private data class MiscSettings(
@@ -341,6 +353,19 @@ class SettingsViewModel @Inject constructor(
         viewModelScope.launch { prefs.setDynamicColor(enabled) }
     }
 
+    fun setSoftenColors(enabled: Boolean) {
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            prefs.setSoftenCalendarColors(enabled)
+            // Both widgets paint event colours through the same softener, so a
+            // change has to redraw them too (they read the flag in their data
+            // preamble, like is24Hour).
+            widgetRefreshMutex.withLock {
+                AgendaWidget().updateAll(appContext)
+                MonthWidget().updateAll(appContext)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     fun setFont(role: FontRole, token: String) {
         viewModelScope.launch {
             when (role) {

app/src/main/java/de/jeanlucmakiola/calendula/ui/week/WeekScreen.kt

@@ -84,6 +84,9 @@ import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.CalendarView
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.IMPLEMENTED_VIEWS
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.EventDimAlpha
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.LocalDimCutoff
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.LocalSoftenColors
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.eventFill
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.eventInk
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.NowLine
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.rememberCurrentMinute
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.ViewSwitcherPill
@@ -98,7 +101,6 @@ import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.formatMinuteOfDay
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.hourSeparatorLines
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.rememberCalendarSlideSpec
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.next
-import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.pastelize
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.time.isoWeekNumber
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.first
 import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
@@ -589,9 +591,11 @@ private fun AllDayBar(
     val title = event.title.ifBlank { stringResource(R.string.event_untitled) }
     val dimCutoff = LocalDimCutoff.current
     val dimmed = dimCutoff != null && event.hasEnded(dimCutoff)
+    val soften = LocalSoftenColors.current
+    val fill = eventFill(event.color, dark, soften)
     Box(
         modifier = (if (dimmed) modifier.alpha(EventDimAlpha) else modifier)
-            .background(pastelize(event.color, dark), RoundedCornerShape(4.dp))
+            .background(fill, RoundedCornerShape(4.dp))
             .clickable(onClick = onClick)
             .padding(horizontal = 6.dp, vertical = 2.dp)
             .semantics { contentDescription = title },
@@ -602,7 +606,7 @@ private fun AllDayBar(
             style = MaterialTheme.typography.labelSmall,
             maxLines = 1,
             overflow = TextOverflow.Ellipsis,
-            color = Color.Black.copy(alpha = 0.8f),
+            color = eventInk(fill),
         )
     }
 }
@@ -781,9 +785,11 @@ private fun EventBlock(
     val titleMaxLines = (contentHeight / titleLineHeight).toInt().coerceAtLeast(1)
     val dimCutoff = LocalDimCutoff.current
     val dimmed = dimCutoff != null && block.event.hasEnded(dimCutoff)
+    val soften = LocalSoftenColors.current
+    val fill = eventFill(block.event.color, dark, soften)
     Box(
         modifier = (if (dimmed) modifier.alpha(EventDimAlpha) else modifier)
-            .background(pastelize(block.event.color, dark), RoundedCornerShape(4.dp))
+            .background(fill, RoundedCornerShape(4.dp))
             .clickable(onClick = onClick)
             .padding(horizontal = 4.dp, vertical = 2.dp)
             .semantics { contentDescription = "$title, $timeLabel" },
@@ -794,7 +800,7 @@ private fun EventBlock(
                 style = MaterialTheme.typography.labelMedium,
                 maxLines = titleMaxLines,
                 overflow = TextOverflow.Ellipsis,
-                color = Color.Black.copy(alpha = 0.85f),
+                color = eventInk(fill, alpha = 0.85f),
             )
             if (showTime) {
                 Text(
@@ -802,7 +808,7 @@ private fun EventBlock(
                     style = MaterialTheme.typography.labelSmall,
                     maxLines = 1,
                     overflow = TextOverflow.Ellipsis,
-                    color = Color.Black.copy(alpha = 0.6f),
+                    color = eventInk(fill, alpha = 0.6f),
                 )
             }
         }

app/src/main/java/de/jeanlucmakiola/calendula/widget/WidgetData.kt

@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ sealed interface AgendaWidgetData {
         val days: List<AgendaDay>,
         /** Resolved clock convention for event time labels (the time-format pref). */
         val is24Hour: Boolean,
+        /** Whether event colours are softened to pastels, or shown raw (#36). */
+        val soften: Boolean,
         /** First day of the week, for the calendar-aligned "this week" range. */
         val weekStart: DayOfWeek,
         /** Saved range pref — the fallback when an instance has no Glance state yet. */
@@ -132,10 +134,12 @@ internal suspend fun Context.loadAgendaWidgetData(): AgendaWidgetData {
     val instances = ep.calendarRepository().instances(window).first()
     val is24Hour = prefs.timeFormat.first()
         .is24Hour(android.text.format.DateFormat.is24HourFormat(this))
+    val soften = prefs.softenCalendarColors.first()
     return AgendaWidgetData.Ready(
         today = anchor,
         days = groupAgendaDays(anchor, instances, zone),
         is24Hour = is24Hour,
+        soften = soften,
         weekStart = weekStart,
         savedRange = savedRange,
         savedPastDisplay = savedPastDisplay,

app/src/main/java/de/jeanlucmakiola/calendula/widget/agenda/AgendaWidget.kt

@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.CalendarView
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.EventDimAlpha
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.formatTimeOfDay
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.localizedDateFormatter
-import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.pastelize
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.eventFill
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.widget.AgendaWidgetData
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.widget.CalendulaGlanceTheme
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.widget.loadAgendaWidgetData
@@ -197,6 +197,7 @@ private fun AgendaWidgetBody(data: AgendaWidgetData, dark: Boolean) {
                                 is AgendaRow.Event -> EventRow(
                                     event = row.event,
                                     dark = dark,
+                                    soften = data.soften,
                                     is24Hour = data.is24Hour,
                                     dimmed = pastDisplay == PastEventDisplay.DIM &&
                                         row.event.hasEnded(data.now),
@@ -309,12 +310,18 @@ private fun PlaceholderRow(date: LocalDate) {
 }
 
 @Composable
-private fun EventRow(event: EventInstance, dark: Boolean, is24Hour: Boolean, dimmed: Boolean) {
+private fun EventRow(
+    event: EventInstance,
+    dark: Boolean,
+    soften: Boolean,
+    is24Hour: Boolean,
+    dimmed: Boolean,
+) {
     val context = androidx.glance.LocalContext.current
     val title = event.title.ifBlank { context.getString(R.string.event_untitled) }
     // Glance has no generic alpha modifier, so dim by fading the colour stripe and
     // dropping both text lines to the lower-emphasis on-surface-variant tone.
-    val stripeColor = pastelize(event.color, dark).let {
+    val stripeColor = eventFill(event.color, dark, soften).let {
         if (dimmed) it.copy(alpha = EventDimAlpha) else it
     }
     val titleColor = if (dimmed) GlanceTheme.colors.onSurfaceVariant else GlanceTheme.colors.onSurface

app/src/main/java/de/jeanlucmakiola/calendula/widget/month/MonthWidget.kt

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.widget.month
 import android.content.Context
 import android.content.res.Configuration
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
-import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.sp
 import androidx.datastore.preferences.core.intPreferencesKey
@@ -50,14 +49,17 @@ import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.MainActivity
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.R
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.domain.EventInstance
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.CalendarView
-import de.jeanlucmakiola.floret.components.pastelize
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.month.MonthWeek
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.month.layoutMonthWeeks
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.eventFill
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.ui.common.eventInk
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.widget.CalendulaGlanceTheme
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.widget.MonthWidgetSource
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.widget.loadMonthWidgetSource
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.widget.systemZone
 import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.widget.today
+import de.jeanlucmakiola.calendula.widget.widgetEntryPoint
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.first
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.Dp
 import kotlinx.datetime.DayOfWeek
 import kotlinx.datetime.LocalDate
@@ -76,9 +78,6 @@ private val LANE_HEIGHT = 14.dp
 private val DAY_NUMBER_HEIGHT = 18.dp
 private val GRID_HPADDING = 8.dp
 
-/** Dark ink that reads on the pastelized event fills, like the in-app MonthBar. */
-private val EventInk = ColorProvider(Color(0xDE000000))
-
 private fun currentMonthIndex(zone: TimeZone): Int {
     val t = today(zone)
     return t.year * 12 + t.month.ordinal
@@ -107,9 +106,12 @@ class MonthWidget : GlanceAppWidget() {
         val source = context.loadMonthWidgetSource()
         val dark = (context.resources.configuration.uiMode and
             Configuration.UI_MODE_NIGHT_MASK) == Configuration.UI_MODE_NIGHT_YES
+        // Read fresh (not through the cached source) so toggling the softener
+        // redraws with the new choice; it's one cheap DataStore read.
+        val soften = context.widgetEntryPoint().settingsPrefs().softenCalendarColors.first()
         provideContent {
             CalendulaGlanceTheme {
-                MonthWidgetBody(source = source, dark = dark)
+                MonthWidgetBody(source = source, dark = dark, soften = soften)
             }
         }
     }
@@ -140,7 +142,7 @@ class ResetMonthAction : ActionCallback {
 }
 
 @Composable
-private fun MonthWidgetBody(source: MonthWidgetSource, dark: Boolean) {
+private fun MonthWidgetBody(source: MonthWidgetSource, dark: Boolean, soften: Boolean) {
     Column(
         modifier = GlanceModifier
             .fillMaxSize()
@@ -169,6 +171,7 @@ private fun MonthWidgetBody(source: MonthWidgetSource, dark: Boolean) {
                         currentMonth = ym.month,
                         today = source.today,
                         dark = dark,
+                        soften = soften,
                         colW = colW,
                         modifier = GlanceModifier.defaultWeight(),
                     )
@@ -278,6 +281,7 @@ private fun WeekRow(
     currentMonth: Month,
     today: LocalDate,
     dark: Boolean,
+    soften: Boolean,
     colW: Dp,
     modifier: GlanceModifier,
 ) {
@@ -297,7 +301,7 @@ private fun WeekRow(
         // One lane row per event row. A multi-day span is a single Box spanning
         // its columns (colW * n) so it's connected with no seam and rounded ends.
         repeat(MAX_LANES) { lane ->
-            LaneRow(week = week, lane = lane, dark = dark, colW = colW)
+            LaneRow(week = week, lane = lane, dark = dark, soften = soften, colW = colW)
             Spacer(GlanceModifier.height(1.dp))
         }
         OverflowRow(week = week, colW = colW)
@@ -346,7 +350,7 @@ private fun DayNumber(date: LocalDate, isToday: Boolean, inMonth: Boolean, colW:
 }
 
 @Composable
-private fun LaneRow(week: MonthWeek, lane: Int, dark: Boolean, colW: Dp) {
+private fun LaneRow(week: MonthWeek, lane: Int, dark: Boolean, soften: Boolean, colW: Dp) {
     val context = LocalContext.current
     Row(modifier = GlanceModifier.fillMaxWidth()) {
         var col = 0
@@ -354,12 +358,12 @@ private fun LaneRow(week: MonthWeek, lane: Int, dark: Boolean, colW: Dp) {
             val span = week.spans.firstOrNull { it.lane == lane && col in it.startCol..it.endCol }
             if (span != null) {
                 val cols = span.endCol - col + 1
-                SpanBar(event = span.event, dark = dark, width = colW * cols)
+                SpanBar(event = span.event, dark = dark, soften = soften, width = colW * cols)
                 col = span.endCol + 1
             } else {
                 val timed = timedEventAt(week, lane, col, week.days[col])
                 if (timed != null) {
-                    SpanBar(event = timed, dark = dark, width = colW)
+                    SpanBar(event = timed, dark = dark, soften = soften, width = colW)
                 } else {
                     // Empty lane cell: a tap opens that day, so blank space in a
                     // day column is a day-open target just like the number is.
@@ -378,8 +382,9 @@ private fun LaneRow(week: MonthWeek, lane: Int, dark: Boolean, colW: Dp) {
 
 /** A single connected, rounded event bar [width] wide with its clipped title. */
 @Composable
-private fun SpanBar(event: EventInstance, dark: Boolean, width: Dp) {
+private fun SpanBar(event: EventInstance, dark: Boolean, soften: Boolean, width: Dp) {
     val context = LocalContext.current
+    val fill = eventFill(event.color, dark, soften)
     Box(
         modifier = GlanceModifier
             .width(width)
@@ -402,13 +407,13 @@ private fun SpanBar(event: EventInstance, dark: Boolean, width: Dp) {
             modifier = GlanceModifier
                 .fillMaxSize()
                 .cornerRadius(4.dp)
-                .background(pastelize(event.color, dark)),
+                .background(fill),
             contentAlignment = Alignment.CenterStart,
         ) {
             Text(
                 text = event.title.ifBlank { context.getString(R.string.event_untitled) },
                 maxLines = 1,
-                style = TextStyle(color = EventInk, fontSize = 9.sp),
+                style = TextStyle(color = ColorProvider(eventInk(fill)), fontSize = 9.sp),
                 modifier = GlanceModifier.padding(horizontal = 3.dp),
             )
         }

app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml

@@ -293,6 +293,8 @@
     <string name="settings_default_view">Default view</string>
     <string name="settings_dynamic_color">Dynamic colour</string>
     <string name="settings_dynamic_color_unavailable">Requires Android 12 or newer</string>
+    <string name="settings_soften_colors">Soften calendar colours</string>
+    <string name="settings_soften_colors_summary">Tone calendar and event colours down to fit the theme. Turn off to show the raw colours from the calendar source.</string>
     <string name="settings_font_headings">Headings font</string>
     <string name="settings_font_body">Body font</string>
     <string name="settings_font_system">System default</string>