Melanism is a color mutation that turns the base coat color of the beast into a dark gray. The color itself cannot be chosen freely and has to be taken from the swatch found under “Colors”! However, it is allowed to create a slight gradient from the top to bottom by picking two different colors.
The new base coat color has an influence on markings, which are relevant to the base coat color, as well! Instead of taking the original base coat color (e.g. Earth, Snow or Suntouched Fawn) as a reference, the colors of the markings have to be relevant to the gray picked from the swatch.
As for white markings like Appaloosa or Pied, there are two options: the marking stays white in color or is turned off-white but still lighter than the new base coat color.
Any additional markings that are present in the phenotype are optional and do not have to be added to the design.
 

(Suntouched) Fawn with Scruff, Pangare, Sika and Tapir with the Melanism Mutation

Relevant to: –
Value: –
Edge: –
Breaks: –
Holes: –
Can be white: –
Layering: –
Hides other genes: Yes

Quick Facts Guide

Colors

The new base coat color of the beast has to be taken from this swatch. It is allowed to pick two different colors to create a slight gradient from the top to bottom.
 

 
Please open the sta.sh link by clicking on the swatch and save the image, as taking colors from screenshots or copy and pasted versions might influence the colors. This often leads us to not being able to find the corresponding color on the swatch and we have to send your design to corrections!

Edges

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Design Notes

White markings
There are two options designing white markings on beasts with Melanism:
 
– the marking stays white (marking used as example: Pied)

 
– the marking is turned off-white but still lighter than the new base coat color (marking used as example: Appaloosa)

Combinations with other markings

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Ranges

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Good examples:

Feel free to search for this marking in our CaveSpeaker gallery to get some inspiration or a better grasp of the marking.
However, be careful of old designs as they might be illegal by now due to previous rule changes!
Please do not just copy existing designs either, as those are the property of their designer!