Canon / foundations

Color

Verdict. Author in OKLCH (perceptually uniform L/C/H). Ship sRGB-safe values by default, upgrade to display-p3 under @supports for vibrancy. Theme through semantic tokens only — components never touch a raw --brand-500. Pass WCAG 2.x AA as the legal floor, tune with APCA Lc as the readability ceiling. Build the palette as one dominant hue + one sharp accent (60-30-10), never a timid even spread. Dark mode lowers L and raises C — it is a designed context, not an inversion.

This page is the single source of truth for color. Copy the token block verbatim; everything above it explains the decisions so you can extend it correctly.

1. Why OKLCH is the authoring space

OKLCH is the cylindrical form of Björn Ottosson's Oklab model: L lightness, C chroma, H hue. It is perceptually uniform — equal numeric changes look equal regardless of hue. A yellow and a blue at L 0.65 read as equally bright; HSL cannot do this (hsl(60 100% 50%) is far brighter than hsl(240 100% 50%) at the "same" lightness). This single property is why tonal scales built by walking L look even with zero manual correction.

Part of CSS Color Module Level 4; supported in Chrome 111+, Firefox 113+, Safari 15.4+ (>90% of global traffic in 2026). It is the default authoring space of this system and of Tailwind v4.

Syntax and ranges

oklch( <L> <C> <H> [ / <alpha> ]? )
Component Range Meaning
L lightness 0–1 or 0%–100% 0 = black, 1 = white. Perceptually uniform.
C chroma 0 → ~`0.37` (unbounded) 0 = gray. sRGB tops out ~`0.13–0.15, P3 ~0.20+`.
H hue 0–360 deg 0 ≈ red, 120 ≈ green, 240 ≈ blue (like HSL).
alpha 0–1 / % Optional opacity after /. 
:root {
  --demo-brand:       oklch(0.55 0.20 264); /* base indigo */
  --demo-brand-light: oklch(0.75 0.20 264); /* only L moves → cohesive tint  */
  --demo-brand-dark:  oklch(0.35 0.20 264); /* only L moves → cohesive shade  */
  --demo-neutral:     oklch(0.50 0    0);   /* C = 0 → pure gray              */
  --demo-translucent: oklch(0.60 0.20 280 / 75%);
}

The chroma trap (staying in gamut)

Maximum achievable chroma depends on both L and H — high chroma at extreme lightness falls outside sRGB and P3 and gets clamped unpredictably across browsers. The rule:

  1. Pick L and H first.
  2. Raise C until just before the hue spectrum shows clipping (the oklch.com picker visualizes the sRGB / P3 / Rec2020 boundaries live).
  3. Taper C toward the extremes of a scale — chroma peaks in the 400–600 mid band and must fall off toward 50 and 950 or the lightest/darkest steps clip.

Keep neutrals at C ≈ 0.004–0.02 (a whisper of the brand hue), brand mids at C 0.12–0.20.

Derive, don't hand-pick: relative color syntax

:root {
  --base: oklch(0.62 0.20 264);

  /* Harmonies — keep L & C, rotate H */
  --complement: oklch(from var(--base) l c calc(h + 180));
  --triadic-a:  oklch(from var(--base) l c calc(h + 120));
  --triadic-b:  oklch(from var(--base) l c calc(h - 120));

  /* Interaction states — scale L, keep C & H */
  --hover:  oklch(from var(--base) calc(l * 1.10) c h);
  --active: oklch(from var(--base) calc(l * 0.90) c h);
}

Blend in a perceptual space: color-mix()

:root {
  --bg-tinted:   color-mix(in oklab, var(--color-bg) 92%, var(--color-accent));
  --border-soft: color-mix(in oklab, var(--color-fg) 12%, transparent);
  --overlay:     color-mix(in oklab, var(--color-bg) 70%, transparent);
}

color-mix(in oklab, …) avoids the muddy gray midpoints that sRGB mixing produces — use it for hover tints, scrims, and translucent borders instead of opacity hacks.

2. Building a tonal scale (50 → 950)

Anchor H and a target C, walk L in even perceptual steps, taper C at the ends. Below is the system's dominant indigo scale (hue 264). Mirror this exact shape for any new hue.

:root {
  --indigo-50:  oklch(0.971 0.013 264);
  --indigo-100: oklch(0.936 0.032 264);
  --indigo-200: oklch(0.885 0.062 264);
  --indigo-300: oklch(0.808 0.105 264);
  --indigo-400: oklch(0.704 0.165 264);
  --indigo-500: oklch(0.637 0.200 264); /* base — peak chroma */
  --indigo-600: oklch(0.560 0.190 264);
  --indigo-700: oklch(0.476 0.160 264);
  --indigo-800: oklch(0.398 0.125 264);
  --indigo-900: oklch(0.340 0.090 264);
  --indigo-950: oklch(0.243 0.055 264);
}

Note the C column rises to 0.200 at 500, then tapers both ways (0.013 at 50, 0.055 at 950). This is the same shape Tailwind v4 ships, e.g. --color-red-500: oklch(0.637 0.237 25.331). Keep L steps perceptually even; let chroma do the in-gamut work.

3. Wide-gamut P3 — vibrancy that degrades gracefully

display-p3 is ~25% larger than sRGB. Reach it via color(display-p3 r g b) (channels 0–1) or by pushing OKLCH chroma past the sRGB boundary. Wide-gamut hardware is now common (Apple devices, modern laptops/phones).

Engine status, June 2026: Chromium ✅, WebKit/Safari ✅, Firefox parses the syntax but full wide-color-gamut rendering is still gated behind its HDR work. So always provide an sRGB-safe value first and upgrade conditionally.

/* RECOMMENDED for tokens — @supports is required when feeding custom properties.
   The bare cascade-fallback trick (two `color:` lines) is NOT reliable through vars. */
:root { --color-accent: oklch(0.78 0.16 84); }            /* sRGB-safe default      */
@supports (color: color(display-p3 1 1 1)) {
  :root { --color-accent: oklch(0.80 0.21 84); }          /* push C past sRGB on P3  */
}

/* MOST ROBUST — gate on hardware capability AND syntax support */
@media (dynamic-range: high) {
  @supports (color: color(display-p3 0 0 0)) {
    :root { --color-accent: color(display-p3 0.96 0.62 0.07); }
  }
}

Why explicit fallbacks beat auto-clamping: gamut-mapping algorithms are not standardized, so an unspecified P3→sRGB clamp can land on a color you did not choose. For privacy, capability queries return a class of display, never the exact gamut:

@media (color-gamut: p3) { /* at least a P3-class display */ }
@supports (background: color(display-p3 0 0 0)) { /* engine parses the syntax */ }

4. Contrast — WCAG 2.x floor, APCA ceiling

Run a two-layer strategy: ship WCAG 2.x AA because that is what scanners, auditors, and courts enforce; then tune readability with APCA. Pick colors that pass both.

WCAG 2.x — the legal floor (June 2026)

Luminance-ratio model.

Level Normal text Large text (≥24px, or ≥18.66px bold) & UI/graphics
AA (target) 4.5:1 3:1
AAA 7:1 4.5:1

Known weaknesses: it over-rates dark pairs (a poor guide for dark mode) and has arbitrary cliffs (#777 on white = 4.48:1 fails; #767676 = 4.54:1 passes — visually identical). Myth-bust: there is no background where both pure black and pure white fail AA — one always passes, which is exactly what contrast-color() exploits. Do not drop WCAG 2 over a draft.

APCA — the readability ceiling (candidate, not law)

APCA (Advanced Perceptual Contrast Algorithm) is the candidate for WCAG 3. It outputs an Lc value (practical range ≈ ±106) that is perceptually uniform, polarity-aware (swapping text/bg changes the result), and size/weight-aware. Status: removed from the WCAG 3 working draft in July 2023; the algorithm is officially "yet to be determined," and WCAG 3 is unlikely to finalize before ~2028–2030. Treat DevTools APCA readouts as informative.

Lc Use case Representative min size / weight
90 Preferred fluent body; max for very large bold 18px/300, 14px/400
75 Minimum for columns of body text 18px/400, 16px/500, 14px/700
60 Min for non-body text (≈ old 4.5:1) 18px/600, 16px/700
45 Large/heavy text — headlines (≈ old 3:1); fine icons 36px/400, 24px/700
30 Absolute min for any text; placeholder/disabled; solid icons ≥5.5px feature
15 Min for non-text discernibility; below = invisible ≥5px feature

Rough map: Lc 45 ≈ 3:1, Lc 60 ≈ 4.5:1, Lc 75 = preferred body. In dark mode, trust APCA over WCAG 2 because WCAG 2 over-rates dark pairs.

Let the browser pick text color: contrast-color()

CSS Color 5 contrast-color() returns black or white — whichever contrasts better — at style time (no runtime cost). Baseline Newly Available, April 2026: Chrome 147, Firefox 146, Safari 26.0. Limits: discrete (no smooth animation), flat colors only, guarantees AA-ish but not AAA 7:1 for mid-tones; ties return white. Always provide a static --color-accent-fg fallback for older engines (the token block below does).

.button {
  background: var(--color-accent);
  color: var(--color-accent-fg);                 /* static fallback */
}
@supports (color: contrast-color(red)) {
  .button { color: contrast-color(var(--color-accent)); }
}

/* Branded contrast text: take only the L of black/white, re-add the surface hue */
.chip { color: oklch(from contrast-color(var(--color-surface)) l 0.04 264); }

5. Semantic tokens — decouple meaning from value

Components consume roles, never raw hues. A primitive (--indigo-500) is a value; a semantic token (--color-accent) is a role. The name stays constant across themes; only the value it resolves to changes. Without this layer, dark mode means editing every component.

Primitives            →  Semantic role tokens     →  (optional) Component tokens
--indigo-500             --color-accent               --button-bg
--neutral-50             --color-surface              --card-bg

The role contract

These are the canonical names. Use them everywhere; do not invent synonyms.

Token Role
--color-bg Page background — the lowest layer
--color-bg-subtle Slightly inset/alternate page background
--color-surface Cards, panels, sheets (one step above bg)
--color-surface-2 Raised surface: popovers, menus, nested panels
--color-fg Primary text / icons
--color-fg-muted Secondary text, labels, captions
--color-fg-subtle Placeholder, disabled, hints (min APCA Lc 30)
--color-border Default hairline borders, dividers
--color-border-subtle Faint separators inside a surface
--color-accent Dominant brand action: primary CTA, focus, links
--color-accent-fg Text/icon on --color-accent
--color-accent-hover Hover/active state of accent surfaces
--color-success / -fg Positive state surface / text-on
--color-warning / -fg Caution state surface / text-on
--color-danger / -fg Destructive/error state surface / text-on
--color-ring Focus ring (usually = accent)

Elevation note. This system expresses depth with 1px hairline borders + layered surfaces (bg → surface → surface-2), not heavy shadows. In dark mode, raise surface L per layer.

The canonical token block

Copy this verbatim into your global stylesheet. Light is the default; [data-theme="dark"] and .dark override the same role names. Values are sRGB-safe OKLCH; a P3 upgrade block follows.

/* ============================================================
   COLOR TOKENS — paste verbatim. Author = OKLCH. Theme = roles.
   Dominant hue: indigo 264. Sharp accent: amber 84.
   ============================================================ */
:root {
  color-scheme: light;

  /* --- Tier 1: primitives (dominant indigo scale) --- */
  --indigo-50:  oklch(0.971 0.013 264);
  --indigo-100: oklch(0.936 0.032 264);
  --indigo-200: oklch(0.885 0.062 264);
  --indigo-300: oklch(0.808 0.105 264);
  --indigo-400: oklch(0.704 0.165 264);
  --indigo-500: oklch(0.637 0.200 264);
  --indigo-600: oklch(0.560 0.190 264);
  --indigo-700: oklch(0.476 0.160 264);
  --indigo-800: oklch(0.398 0.125 264);
  --indigo-900: oklch(0.340 0.090 264);
  --indigo-950: oklch(0.243 0.055 264);

  /* neutrals borrow the brand hue at near-zero chroma → grays feel related */
  --neutral-0:   oklch(1     0     0);
  --neutral-50:  oklch(0.985 0.004 264);
  --neutral-100: oklch(0.967 0.006 264);
  --neutral-200: oklch(0.922 0.008 264);
  --neutral-300: oklch(0.860 0.010 264);
  --neutral-400: oklch(0.700 0.012 264);
  --neutral-500: oklch(0.556 0.014 264);
  --neutral-600: oklch(0.440 0.014 264);
  --neutral-700: oklch(0.372 0.013 264);
  --neutral-800: oklch(0.279 0.012 264);
  --neutral-900: oklch(0.210 0.012 264);
  --neutral-950: oklch(0.145 0.010 264);

  /* sharp accent + functional hues at matched weight */
  --amber-500:   oklch(0.780 0.160 84);
  --green-500:   oklch(0.700 0.160 150);
  --orange-500:  oklch(0.800 0.160 80);
  --red-500:     oklch(0.637 0.237 25);

  /* --- Tier 2: semantic roles (what components consume) --- */
  --color-bg:            var(--neutral-50);
  --color-bg-subtle:     var(--neutral-100);
  --color-surface:       var(--neutral-0);
  --color-surface-2:     var(--neutral-50);

  --color-fg:            var(--neutral-900);
  --color-fg-muted:      var(--neutral-600);
  --color-fg-subtle:     var(--neutral-500);

  --color-border:        var(--neutral-200);
  --color-border-subtle: var(--neutral-100);

  --color-accent:        var(--indigo-600);
  --color-accent-fg:     var(--neutral-0);   /* static AA fallback for contrast-color */
  --color-accent-hover:  var(--indigo-700);

  --color-success:       var(--green-500);
  --color-success-fg:    var(--neutral-0);
  --color-warning:       var(--orange-500);
  --color-warning-fg:    var(--neutral-950);
  --color-danger:        var(--red-500);
  --color-danger-fg:     var(--neutral-0);

  --color-ring:          var(--indigo-600);
}

/* ============================================================
   DARK THEME — lower L, RAISE C (~15–25%), nudge warm hues.
   NOT a 1−L inversion. Depth = lighter surfaces, not shadows.
   ============================================================ */
:root[data-theme="dark"],
.dark {
  color-scheme: dark;

  /* surfaces step UP in L per elevation layer */
  --color-bg:            oklch(0.180 0.012 264);
  --color-bg-subtle:     oklch(0.150 0.010 264);
  --color-surface:       oklch(0.215 0.013 264);
  --color-surface-2:     oklch(0.255 0.014 264);

  --color-fg:            oklch(0.945 0.010 264);
  --color-fg-muted:      oklch(0.760 0.014 264);
  --color-fg-subtle:     oklch(0.620 0.014 264);

  --color-border:        oklch(0.300 0.014 264);
  --color-border-subtle: oklch(0.255 0.012 264);

  /* accent: +L so it lifts off dark, +C to fight simultaneous contrast */
  --color-accent:        oklch(0.705 0.225 264);
  --color-accent-fg:     oklch(0.180 0.012 264);
  --color-accent-hover:  oklch(0.760 0.215 264);

  /* functional hues: +L +C; warm hues rotate slightly toward source (Bezold-Brücke) */
  --color-success:       oklch(0.760 0.185 150);
  --color-success-fg:    oklch(0.180 0.012 264);
  --color-warning:       oklch(0.840 0.185 82);
  --color-warning-fg:    oklch(0.180 0.012 264);
  --color-danger:        oklch(0.710 0.250 27);
  --color-danger-fg:     oklch(0.180 0.012 264);

  --color-ring:          oklch(0.705 0.225 264);
}

/* Follow the OS when no explicit theme is set */
@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
  :root:not([data-theme="light"]) {
    color-scheme: dark;
    --color-bg:            oklch(0.180 0.012 264);
    --color-bg-subtle:     oklch(0.150 0.010 264);
    --color-surface:       oklch(0.215 0.013 264);
    --color-surface-2:     oklch(0.255 0.014 264);
    --color-fg:            oklch(0.945 0.010 264);
    --color-fg-muted:      oklch(0.760 0.014 264);
    --color-fg-subtle:     oklch(0.620 0.014 264);
    --color-border:        oklch(0.300 0.014 264);
    --color-border-subtle: oklch(0.255 0.012 264);
    --color-accent:        oklch(0.705 0.225 264);
    --color-accent-fg:     oklch(0.180 0.012 264);
    --color-accent-hover:  oklch(0.760 0.215 264);
    --color-success:       oklch(0.760 0.185 150);
    --color-warning:       oklch(0.840 0.185 82);
    --color-danger:        oklch(0.710 0.250 27);
    --color-ring:          oklch(0.705 0.225 264);
  }
}

/* ============================================================
   P3 UPGRADE — push chroma past the sRGB boundary on capable
   displays. Only the chromatic roles change; neutrals stay put.
   ============================================================ */
@supports (color: color(display-p3 1 1 1)) {
  :root {
    --color-accent: oklch(0.637 0.250 264);
    --color-danger: oklch(0.637 0.290 25);
  }
  :root[data-theme="dark"],
  .dark {
    --color-accent: oklch(0.705 0.280 264);
    --color-danger: oklch(0.710 0.300 27);
  }
}

Dark mode is a designed context, not an inversion

Naively lifting light-mode colors onto dark surfaces makes them look washed-out. Two perceptual facts drive the adjustments baked into the block above:

  • Simultaneous contrast — a hue on near-black reads dimmer than on white, so boost chroma ~15–25% to keep perceived intensity (see accent: C 0.200 → 0.225).
  • Bezold-Brücke hue shift — warm hues drift at low luminance, so rotate hue slightly toward the source (warning 84 → 82, danger 25 → 27).

Elevation in dark = lighter surfaces, not shadows. Raise L per layer (bg 0.180 → surface 0.215 → surface-2 0.255); shadows barely read on dark backgrounds. Re-verify contrast in both themes and lean on APCA in dark, since WCAG 2 over-rates dark pairs.

6. Composing a cohesive palette — dominant + sharp accent

Timid, evenly-weighted palettes read as generic. Compose a hierarchy:

  1. Pick the dominant hue H. Base L 0.55–0.65, C as high as stays in gamut. (indigo 264)
  2. Build its tonal scale by walking L (50→950), tapering C at the extremes (§2).
  3. Derive neutrals from the same hue at C ≈ 0.004–0.02 → grays feel related, not flat.
  4. Choose ONE sharp accent — a complement (H+180) or strong analog — at higher chroma / contrasting L than the dominant so it visibly pops. (amber 84 vs cool indigo.) Use sparingly.
  5. Add functional hues (danger ≈ 25, warning ≈ 80, success ≈ 150, info ≈ 240) at matched L/C so they share visual weight with the brand.
  6. Verify every text/surface pair: WCAG 2 AA floor, then APCA Lc tune (§4).

60-30-10 in practice: ~60% neutral surfaces, ~30% dominant brand, ~10% sharp accent. Keep accent chroma clearly above the dominant's so the eye always knows where to look. One dominant color + sharp accents beats a timid even palette — restraint reads as confidence.

7. Tailwind v4 @theme mirror

Tailwind v4 is CSS-first: tokens in @theme become build-time custom properties and utilities. Its entire default palette is OKLCH; v4.1+ emits sRGB fallbacks. Mirror the role contract with @theme inline so bg-surface, text-fg-muted, ring-ring, etc. all exist.

@import "tailwindcss";

/* Primitives → generate bg-indigo-500, text-amber-500, … */
@theme {
  --color-indigo-50:  oklch(0.971 0.013 264);
  --color-indigo-500: oklch(0.637 0.200 264);
  --color-indigo-600: oklch(0.560 0.190 264);
  --color-indigo-700: oklch(0.476 0.160 264);
  --color-indigo-950: oklch(0.243 0.055 264);
  --color-amber-500:  oklch(0.780 0.160 84);
}

/* Roles map to live vars → utilities follow the theme automatically.
   `inline` means Tailwind emits var(--color-surface) literally, so a
   runtime [data-theme] swap re-themes every utility with zero rebuild. */
@theme inline {
  --color-bg:            var(--bg);
  --color-bg-subtle:     var(--bg-subtle);
  --color-surface:       var(--surface);
  --color-surface-2:     var(--surface-2);
  --color-fg:            var(--fg);
  --color-fg-muted:      var(--fg-muted);
  --color-fg-subtle:     var(--fg-subtle);
  --color-border:        var(--border);
  --color-border-subtle: var(--border-subtle);
  --color-accent:        var(--accent);
  --color-accent-fg:     var(--accent-fg);
  --color-accent-hover:  var(--accent-hover);
  --color-success:       var(--success);
  --color-warning:       var(--warning);
  --color-danger:        var(--danger);
  --color-ring:          var(--ring);
}

/* The actual values live on plain selectors so they can switch at runtime */
:root {
  --bg: oklch(0.985 0.004 264); --bg-subtle: oklch(0.967 0.006 264);
  --surface: oklch(1 0 0);      --surface-2: oklch(0.985 0.004 264);
  --fg: oklch(0.210 0.012 264); --fg-muted: oklch(0.440 0.014 264);
  --fg-subtle: oklch(0.556 0.014 264);
  --border: oklch(0.922 0.008 264); --border-subtle: oklch(0.967 0.006 264);
  --accent: oklch(0.560 0.190 264); --accent-fg: oklch(1 0 0);
  --accent-hover: oklch(0.476 0.160 264);
  --success: oklch(0.700 0.160 150); --warning: oklch(0.800 0.160 80);
  --danger: oklch(0.637 0.237 25);   --ring: oklch(0.560 0.190 264);
}
:root[data-theme="dark"], .dark {
  --bg: oklch(0.180 0.012 264); --bg-subtle: oklch(0.150 0.010 264);
  --surface: oklch(0.215 0.013 264); --surface-2: oklch(0.255 0.014 264);
  --fg: oklch(0.945 0.010 264); --fg-muted: oklch(0.760 0.014 264);
  --fg-subtle: oklch(0.620 0.014 264);
  --border: oklch(0.300 0.014 264); --border-subtle: oklch(0.255 0.012 264);
  --accent: oklch(0.705 0.225 264); --accent-fg: oklch(0.180 0.012 264);
  --accent-hover: oklch(0.760 0.215 264);
  --success: oklch(0.760 0.185 150); --warning: oklch(0.840 0.185 82);
  --danger: oklch(0.710 0.250 27);   --ring: oklch(0.705 0.225 264);
}

Gradient interpolation defaults to OKLAB; opt per-utility into bg-linear-to-r/oklch (vivid for far-apart hues) or /srgb. Disable a built-in with --color-red-*: initial; full takeover with --color-*: initial.

8. React 19 reference: a themed, accessible Button

Framework-agnostic CSS comes first; this is the parallel reference, not a replacement. It uses only role tokens, supports a no-flash theme toggle, and never hardcodes a hue.

"use client";

import { useState, useEffect } from "react";

type Variant = "accent" | "danger" | "ghost";

const variants: Record<Variant, string> = {
  // role tokens only — re-themes for free in dark mode
  accent: "bg-accent text-accent-fg hover:bg-accent-hover",
  danger: "bg-danger text-danger-fg hover:brightness-110",
  ghost:  "bg-transparent text-fg hover:bg-bg-subtle border border-border",
};

export function Button({
  variant = "accent",
  className = "",
  ...props
}: React.ButtonHTMLAttributes<HTMLButtonElement> & { variant?: Variant }) {
  return (
    <button
      className={[
        "inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-lg px-4 py-2",
        "text-sm font-medium transition-colors duration-150 ease-out",
        // focus ring uses the semantic ring token, offset against the page bg
        "outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:ring-offset-2 focus-visible:ring-offset-bg",
        "disabled:opacity-50 disabled:pointer-events-none",
        variants[variant],
        className,
      ].join(" ")}
      {...props}
    />
  );
}

/** No-flash theme toggle: write [data-theme] before paint via inline script in <head>. */
export function useTheme() {
  const [theme, setTheme] = useState<"light" | "dark">("light");
  useEffect(() => {
    const saved = localStorage.getItem("theme") as "light" | "dark" | null;
    const sys = matchMedia("(prefers-color-scheme: dark)").matches ? "dark" : "light";
    const next = saved ?? sys;
    document.documentElement.dataset.theme = next;
    setTheme(next);
  }, []);
  const toggle = () => {
    const next = theme === "dark" ? "light" : "dark";
    document.documentElement.dataset.theme = next;
    localStorage.setItem("theme", next);
    setTheme(next);
  };
  return { theme, toggle };
}

<!-- Put in <head> BEFORE styles to prevent a light→dark flash on load -->
<script>
  (function () {
    var t = localStorage.getItem("theme")
      || (matchMedia("(prefers-color-scheme: dark)").matches ? "dark" : "light");
    document.documentElement.dataset.theme = t;
  })();
</script>

9. State colors: error / empty / loading

Color must carry these states explicitly — never leave them to defaults.

/* Error: danger surface tint + danger text, never red text on white alone */
.field-error {
  border-color: var(--color-danger);
  background: color-mix(in oklab, var(--color-danger) 8%, var(--color-surface));
  color: var(--color-danger);
}

/* Empty: muted, low-emphasis — recede, don't shout */
.empty-state { color: var(--color-fg-muted); background: var(--color-bg-subtle); }

/* Loading skeleton: shimmer between two surface steps (respect reduced motion) */
.skeleton {
  background: linear-gradient(90deg,
    var(--color-bg-subtle) 25%,
    color-mix(in oklab, var(--color-fg) 6%, var(--color-bg-subtle)) 50%,
    var(--color-bg-subtle) 75%);
  background-size: 200% 100%;
  animation: skeleton 1.4s ease-in-out infinite;
}
@keyframes skeleton { to { background-position: -200% 0; } }
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) { .skeleton { animation: none; } }

Never signal state by color alone (WCAG 1.4.1). Pair danger with an icon/label, success with a checkmark — color reinforces, it does not encode.

Quick reference

Task Reach for
Author or scale a color oklch(L C H), walk L, taper C
Derive a hover/shade oklch(from … calc(l * 0.9) c h)
Blend / tint / scrim color-mix(in oklab, …)
Auto text on a fill --color-accent-fg + @supports contrast-color()
Add P3 vibrancy sRGB default, upgrade under @supports (color: color(display-p3 …))
Theme a component semantic role token (--color-surface, --color-fg, --color-accent)
Verify a pair WCAG 2 AA floor (4.5:1 / 3:1), then APCA Lc 75/60/45
Add a brand color new OKLCH scale + new role tokens; never hardcode in a component

Sources

Source file: design-system/foundations/color.md