Carotenoides that help transfer light energy to chlorophyll give us the golden yellow of aspen, Norway maple, Scouler's willow and water birch. (we have a special on Amur Maple as seen in picture) 

Anthocyanins are in plants with purple and red flowers and plants with purple and reddish foliage. Most of these show off in brighter red fall colors as well. Anthocyanins create colors ranging from pink to deep purple. Often, the more light a plant receives, the deeper its fall colors will be. Vine maple, big-tooth maple, mountain ash, serviceberry and red-twig dogwood all grow well in moderate shade and still give us intense orange-red through purple fall colors. Anthocyanin is actually produced in fall as chlorophyll is broken down. Orange leaves as in Spiraea and ninebark are a combination of anthocyanins and carotenoides.

Tannin gives us the beige, tan and brown of autumn. Tannin is contained in all leaves in varying amounts. Some trees such as Bur Oak and many grasses have high concentrations of tannin and their leaves turn amber in fall.