+ /**
+ * Answers true if the colour scheme is suitable for the given data, else
+ * false. For example, some colour schemes are specific to either peptide or
+ * nucleotide, or only apply if certain kinds of annotation are present.
+ *
+ * @param ac
+ * @return
+ */
+ // TODO can make this method static in Java 8
+ boolean isApplicableTo(AnnotatedCollectionI ac);
+
+ /**
+ * Answers the 'official' name of the colour scheme (as used, for example, as
+ * a Jalview startup parameter)
+ *
+ * @return
+ */
+ String getSchemeName();
+
+ /**
+ * Answers true if the colour scheme depends only on the sequence symbol, and
+ * not on other information such as alignment consensus or annotation. (Note
+ * that simple colour schemes may have a fading by percentage identity or
+ * conservation overlaid.) Simple colour schemes can be propagated to
+ * structure viewers.
+ *
+ * @return
+ */
+ boolean isSimple();