WHOLE CHARACTER
色sè, shǎi
color (由视觉产生的印象); facial expression; look (脸上表现出的神气); scene; scenery (情景,景象)
色 is color and expression: 颜色 'color', 景色 'scenery', 脸色 'complexion' — and shirts 掉色 when they fade (shǎi).
ZDIC's 字形分析: 会意 — 像一个人驮另一个人仰看其脸色; the source names no components. The modern ⺈-over-巴 split is a visual aid only.
TOP: THE TWO-STROKE KNIFE-CROWN PIECE (A BOUND WRITTEN FORM)
⺈dāo
a knife-top bound form (variant crown of 刀)
A bound top piece; shown as a written shape only; each page states its own role.
In 色: top: the two-stroke knife-crown piece (a bound written form) Shown with its documented or clearly limited role.
BOTTOM: WRITTEN LIKE THE GRAPH 巴; NO SEPARATE ROLE IS CLAIMED UNDER THE PICTORIAL ACCOUNT
巴bā
cling to; hope for; a surname
Sound clue in 爸 and 吧.
In 色: bottom: written like the graph 巴; no separate role is claimed under the pictorial account Shown with its documented or clearly limited role.