E-ink · Date · 2 × 2 widget

E-ink date widget

By the WidgetCraft team · Updated November 13, 2026

An e-ink date widget shows the weekday, a large day number and the month. Grey paper-like screens with crisp black text and no color. This page gives the exact colors, type settings and layers, with a preview drawn from the same values.

E-ink date widget design preview: Grey paper-like screens with crisp black text and no color. — Design preview drawn from the recipe below. Example values are shown; your widget uses live data.

What an e-ink date widget shows

A date widget is the calm alternative to a clock: one large number for the day, with the weekday above and the month below. It suits small 2 × 2 spaces and pairs well with a clock elsewhere on the screen.

It uses the phone's date, so it is free, works offline and needs no permission. WidgetCraft's Date layer takes a pattern, so each line can show a different part of the date.

How the e-ink style shapes it

E-ink widgets imitate an e-reader display: a light grey background, sharp black text, no color and no effects. Popular for low-distraction home screens.

Numbers: Keep numbers black and plain; add a small label.
Text: Use a book-style serif in black.

E-ink date widget recipe

Layer	Settings
Canvas	200 × 200, background #E6E4DF, corner radius 6, outline 2 pt #151515
Date	weekday (pattern EEEE), size 15, color #151515, centered
Date	day number (pattern d), built-in Serif, weight 500, size 92, color #151515
Date	month (pattern MMMM), size 15, color #6A6862
Font	built-in Serif
Home screen size	2 × 2 cells

E-ink color palette

Paper grey #E6E4DFBackground
Shade #D7D4CESurface and tracks
Ink #151515Text
Pencil #6A6862Labels
Ink #151515Accent

How to make an e-ink date widget in WidgetCraft

Create a widget and open Canvas. Set the size to 200 × 200, the background to #E6E4DF and the corner radius to 6. Add a 2-point outline.
Tap Add and choose Date. Set the pattern to the full weekday (EEEE), the size to 15 and the color to #151515.
Add a second Date layer with the day number (pattern d) at size 92 in #151515, using built-in Serif.
Add a third Date layer with the full month (MMMM) at size 15 in #6A6862.
Center all three layers on the canvas.
Tap Save, then Add to home screen and resize the widget on your launcher if needed.

Everything in this recipe works in the free version.

Tips for e-ink date widgets

Use only black and two greys.
Add a thin black outline.
Make the day number at least twice the size of the other lines.
Write the month in full if there is room; short forms such as "Nov" look cramped in serif fonts.
Pair it with a clock widget in the same font rather than squeezing the time into the same 2 × 2 space.
Do not use color or gradients.
Do not use shadows.

Questions about the e-ink date widget

What size is an e-ink date widget?

It is designed for 2 × 2 home screen cells on a 200 × 200 canvas. You can resize it on the launcher and the design scales in proportion.

Which colors does it use?

Paper grey (#E6E4DF) for the background, Ink (#151515) for the main text, Pencil (#6A6862) for labels and Ink (#151515) as the accent.

Is it free to make?

Yes. Date widgets use free features in WidgetCraft, and the e-ink styling is free too.

What else is this style called?

People also search for e-reader style date widget, paper display date widget, low distraction date widget. They describe the same look as this e-ink date widget.