Effect of the choice of SPS models on JK_s[3.6][4.5] and HK_s[3.6] color–color diagrams. Top panels: two SEDs of quiescent galaxies, that is, a population 1 Gyr old redshifted to z = 3 (i.e. z_form ≈ 6) built with BC03 models (magenta line) and with M05 models (orange line). Bottom: evolution in color–color plots for star-forming and passive galaxies. Tracks representing star-forming galaxies are shown in blue and cyan, while their characteristics are shown in the inserted legends. Tracks for quiescent galaxies (with e-folding time of τ = 0.1 Gyr and solar metallicity) are shown in magenta and orange for BC03 and M05, respectively.