diff --git a/cockatrice/src/interface/essence_chart_colors.h b/cockatrice/src/interface/essence_chart_colors.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..455574320
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cockatrice/src/interface/essence_chart_colors.h
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+#ifndef CONTINUUMATRICE_ESSENCE_CHART_COLORS_H
+#define CONTINUUMATRICE_ESSENCE_CHART_COLORS_H
+
+#include <QColor>
+#include <QList>
+#include <QMap>
+#include <QPair>
+#include <QSet>
+#include <QString>
+#include <libcockatrice/card/essence_types.h>
+
+// CHART-ONLY presentation palette, NOT canon Essence colors or affiliations.
+// Each type must remain distinguishable without inventing lore. N is colorless.
+namespace EssenceCharts
+{
+inline QColor colorFor(const QString &code)
+{
+    if (code == QStringLiteral("N")) {
+        return QColor(145, 149, 156);
+    }
+    const int index = Essence::symbols().indexOf(code);
+    if (index < 0) {
+        return QColor(145, 149, 156);
+    }
+    return QColor::fromHsv((index * 137) % 360, 125, 210);
+}
+
+inline QList<QPair<QString, int>> ordered(const QMap<QString, int> &values)
+{
+    QList<QPair<QString, int>> result;
+    QSet<QString> used;
+    for (const QChar code : Essence::symbols()) {
+        const QString key(code);
+        auto it = values.constFind(key);
+        if (it != values.cend()) {
+            result.append(qMakePair(it.key(), it.value()));
+            used.insert(key);
+        }
+    }
+    for (auto it = values.cbegin(); it != values.cend(); ++it) {
+        if (!used.contains(it.key())) {
+            result.append(qMakePair(it.key(), it.value()));
+        }
+    }
+    return result;
+}
+} // namespace EssenceCharts
+
+#endif // CONTINUUMATRICE_ESSENCE_CHART_COLORS_H