Master Anki Styling: How to Change Card Colors Like a Pro

Ari Horesh -

Anki, the powerful flashcard-based learning software, has become a go-to tool for students, professionals, and lifelong learners alike. With its spaced repetition system, Anki helps you retain essential information and commit it to your long-term memory. But did you know that you can level up your Anki experience by customizing the look of your cards? In this article, we'll dive into the world of Anki styling and show you how to change card colors like a pro!

Why Change Card Colors?

You might be wondering why you'd want to change the colors of your Anki cards. Here are a few good reasons:

  1. Visual Appeal: Let's face it, staring at the same old white cards with black text can get monotonous. Adding some color can make your study sessions more enjoyable and visually appealing.
  2. Organization: Color-coding your cards based on topics, difficulty, or other criteria can help you organize your deck and streamline your study sessions
  3. Memory Retention: Research suggests that color can improve memory retention by enhancing attention, engagement, and recall. By using different colors for various subjects or card types, you can potentially boost your memory performance.
  4. Personalization: Your learning style is unique, so why not tailor your Anki cards to match your preferences? Customizing card colors is just one way to make your Anki experience more personal and enjoyable.

Now that we've established the benefits of changing card colors let's get into the nitty-gritty of how to do it!

Anki Styling Basics

Before we start changing card colors, let's cover some Anki styling basics. Anki cards use HTML and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) to control their appearance. HTML is the markup language that structures the content, while CSS dictates how the content looks.

When you create a card in Anki, you can access the HTML editor by clicking the "Cards..." button. This will open the Card Types window, where you can customize the card layout and appearance using HTML and CSS.

Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Card Colors

Step 1: Access the Card Types Window

  1. Open Anki and select the deck you want to modify.
  2. Click the "Browse" button to open the card browser.
    3. Select a card from your deck by clicking on it.
    4. Click the "Cards..." button to open the Card Types window.
  3. Step 2: Customize Card Background Color
  4. In the Card Types window, locate the "Styling" box. This is where you'll input the CSS code to change the card colors.
  5. To change the background color, add the following code to the "Styling" box, replacing "your_color" with the desired color (use a color name or a hex code):
.card {
    background-color: your_color;
}

For example, if you want the background color to be light blue, you would input:

.card {
    background-color: lightblue;
}
  1. Click "Preview" to see how your card looks with the new background color. If you're satisfied, click "Close" to save your changes.

Step 3: Customize Card Text Color

  1. To change the text color, add the following code to the "Styling" box, replacing "your_color" with the desired color:
.card {
    color: your_color;
}

For example, if you want the text color to be dark green, you would input:

.card {
    color: darkgreen;
}
  1. Click "Preview" to see how your card looks with the new text color. If you're satisfied, click "Close" to save your changes.

Step 4: Customize Specific Elements (Optional)

If you want to change the color of specific elements on your card, such as the question or answer text, you can do so by targeting specific HTML tags. For example:

  1. To change the color of the question text, add the following code to the "Styling" box, replacing "your_color" with the desired color:
.cloze {
    color: your_color;
}
  1. To change the color of the answer text, add the following code to the "Styling" box, replacing "your_color" with the desired color:
.cloze:hover {
    color: your_color;
}

Remember to click "Preview" to see how your card looks with the new element colors and click "Close" to save your changes.

Additional Tips and Tricks

  • You can use online color pickers like HTML Color Picker or Adobe Color to find the perfect color for your Anki cards. These tools can provide you with color names or hex codes that you can use in your CSS code.
  • Consider using complementary or contrasting colors for your card background and text to ensure optimal readability. Avoid using similar colors for both, as this may make the text difficult to read.
  • If you have multiple card types within your deck, you can change the colors for each card type by adding a unique class to each card in the HTML editor. Then, you can target the specific class in your CSS code to customize the colors for each card type.

If you're new to HTML and CSS, there are countless resources available online to help you learn the basics. Websites like W3Schools and Mozilla Developer Network offer beginner-friendly tutorials and reference guides.

Don't forget to back up your Anki decks regularly, especially when you're making customizations like changing card colors. This can help you avoid losing your hard work in case of any technical issues or accidental deletions.

In conclusion, changing card colors in Anki is a straightforward process that can significantly enhance your learning experience. By taking advantage of HTML and CSS customization options, you can create visually appealing, organized, and personalized flashcards that cater to your unique learning style.

So, why not give it a try? Experiment with different colors and styles to find the perfect look for your Anki cards. With a little creativity and effort, you can transform your study sessions into a more engaging and memorable experience. Happy styling!