diff --git a/light8/panels.py b/light8/panels.py
--- a/light8/panels.py
+++ b/light8/panels.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class Leveldisplay:
     def __init__(self, parent, channel_levels, num_channels=68):
         frames = (make_frame(parent), make_frame(parent))
         channel_levels[:]=[]
-        self.number_labels = {}
+        self.number_labels = []
         for channel in range(1, num_channels+1):
 
             # frame for this channel
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class Leveldisplay:
             num_lab = Label(f, text=str(channel), width=3, bg='lightPink', 
                 font=stdfont, padx=0, pady=0, bd=0, height=1)
             num_lab.pack(side='left')
-            self.number_labels[channel] = num_lab
+            self.number_labels.append(num_lab)
 
             # text description of channel
             Label(f, text=Patch.get_channel_name(channel), width=8, 
diff --git a/light8/rsn.py b/light8/rsn.py
--- a/light8/rsn.py
+++ b/light8/rsn.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from __future__ import nested_scopes
 from Tkinter import *
 from time import sleep
 from signal import *
-import sys, thread, cPickle
+import sys, thread, cPickle, math
 
 import io
 from uihelpers import *
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class Lightboard:
         leveldisplay_tl = toplevelat(873,400)
         leveldisplay_tl.bind('<Escape>', sys.exit)
 
-        leveldisplay = Leveldisplay(leveldisplay_tl, self.channel_levels)
+        self.leveldisplay = Leveldisplay(leveldisplay_tl, self.channel_levels)
 
         Console()
 
@@ -105,10 +105,18 @@ class Lightboard:
 
         levels = [int(l) for l in levels]
 
-        for lev,lab,oldlev in zip(levels, self.channel_levels, self.oldlevels):
+        for lev,lab,oldlev,numlab in zip(levels, self.channel_levels, 
+                                         self.oldlevels, 
+                                         self.leveldisplay.number_labels):
             if lev != oldlev:
                 lab.config(text="%d" % lev)
                 colorlabel(lab)
+                if lev < oldlev:
+                    numlab['bg'] = 'red'
+                else:
+                    numlab['bg'] = 'blue'
+            else:
+                numlab['bg'] = 'lightPink'
 
         self.oldlevels = levels[:]
             
diff --git a/light8/uihelpers.py b/light8/uihelpers.py
--- a/light8/uihelpers.py
+++ b/light8/uihelpers.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """all the tiny tk helper functions"""
 
 from Tkinter import *
+from types import StringType
 
 def make_frame(parent):
     f = Frame(parent, bd=0)
@@ -40,6 +41,18 @@ def colorlabel(label):
     col="#%02X%02X%02X" % tuple(out)
     label.config(bg=col)
 
+# TODO: get everyone to use this
+def colorfade(low, high, percent):
+    '''not foolproof.  make sure 0 < percent < 1'''
+    out = [int(l+percent*(h-l)) for h,l in zip(high,low)]
+    col="#%02X%02X%02X" % tuple(out)
+    return col
+
+def colortotuple(anytkobj, colorname):
+    'pass any tk object and a color name, like "yellow"'
+    rgb = anytkobj.winfo_rgb(colorname)
+    return [v / 256 for v in rgb]
+
 class Togglebutton(Button):
     """works like a single radiobutton, but it's a button so the label's on the button face, not to the side"""
     def __init__(self,parent,**kw):