Tool
Semantic Token Mapper
Turn a palette into a working color system. Assign colors to design roles, preview the result, and export tokens for your codebase. See roles in context with the Palette Visualizer.
From palette to system
What semantic tokens do
A color palette is a starting point. Semantic tokens turn those colors into a functional system — mapping each value to a role in your interface. Instead of referencing raw hex codes, your design uses names like --color-primary or--color-background. This makes themes interchangeable and intentions clear.
How to think about roles
Start with the three essentials: background,text, andprimary. These alone define the visual foundation of most interfaces. Then layer in surface, muted, and accent as your palette and design complexity require. Not every role needs a mapping — a three-color palette works fine with three tokens.
Export formats
Export as CSS custom properties for direct use in stylesheets, JSON for design token pipelines like Style Dictionary or Tokens Studio, or Tailwind config to extend your theme. The token names are standard enough to drop into most systems without renaming.
Validate before shipping
After mapping tokens, check your text-on-background and primary-on-surface pairings with the Contrast Checker to verify accessibility. Run the full Palette Accessibility Audit for comprehensive coverage. Use the Color Blindness Simulator to confirm color distinguishability.
See it in context
The Palette Visualizer uses a similar role-mapping concept to show your palette working on real layouts — interfaces, brand systems, editorial compositions, and more. It's a natural next step after mapping tokens, or a way to validate the mapping visually before exporting.
Browse palettes to map