A system implementable on a computing device for handling color assignment within a complex document includes a user interface to facilitate user modification of at least one first color to at least one second color within a previously chosen color scheme for a component of the document. The color scheme has a predetermined number X of principal colors and a predetermined number Y of associated subordinate colors per principal color. The system also includes a color handler to modify the color scheme to produce an updated color scheme to match a perceived brightness of the at least one second color throughout at least a portion of the updated color scheme and a color processor to process and apply the updated color scheme at least to the component.