We present a new method to classify the broad-band optical–near-infrared spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of galaxies using three shape parameters (super-colours) based on a principal component analysis of model SEDs. As well as providing a compact representation of the wide variety of SED shapes, the method allows for easy visualization of information loss and biases caused by the incomplete sampling of the rest-frame SED as a function of redshift. We apply the method to galaxies in the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope Infrared Deep Sky Survey Ultra Deep Survey with 0.9 11, declining steadily to 13 per cent at logM∗/M_ = 10. The properties and mass function of the poststarburst galaxies are consistent with a scenario in which gas-rich mergers contribute to the growth of the low- and intermediate-mass range of the red sequence
