 Lignin nanoparticles can be used to create photonic crystal structures that emit a variety of colors across the visible spectrum. Centrifugal force is necessary to ensure uniformity of the particles and to form the desired packing structure. This process also allows for the creation of semi-closed packing structures, which result in coherent scattering. This article was authored by Jean-Rome Liu, Matthias Nero, Kjell Janssen, and others.