4 files changed, 38 insertions, 8 deletions
diff --git a/scripts/theme-studio/README.md b/scripts/theme-studio/README.md
index 6c7e628b..32eb2f56 100644
--- a/scripts/theme-studio/README.md
+++ b/scripts/theme-studio/README.md
@@ -148,6 +148,9 @@ derived from hue, chroma, lightness, or the visible color name.
   to that step is re-pointed to the new hex. A step *removed* by lowering the count
   leaves its references showing "(gone)" — visible and recoverable, never a silent
   jump to a different color.
+- **Dropdown order.** Color dropdowns show the default entry, then `bg` and `fg`,
+  then palette columns from left to right. Within each column's dropdown group,
+  colors are ordered lightest to darkest.
 
 The standalone ramp generator is gone; fanning a color into a ramp is now "add the
 color, then raise its column's count."
diff --git a/scripts/theme-studio/app-core.js b/scripts/theme-studio/app-core.js
index 264c7be9..3c53e6a9 100644
--- a/scripts/theme-studio/app-core.js
+++ b/scripts/theme-studio/app-core.js
@@ -273,10 +273,12 @@ function stepRepointPlan(oldRanked,newMembers){
 // columns are emitted in first-seen palette order. No color sorting happens here.
 function sortColumnMembers(column){return Object.assign({},column,{members:[...column.members]});}
 function sortColumns(columns){return columns.map(sortColumnMembers);}
+function lightestFirstMembers(members){return [...members].sort((a,b)=>oklchOf(b.hex).L-oklchOf(a.hex).L);}
 
 // Dropdown order for color selection mirrors the visual palette organization:
-// ground first, then structural columns in display order. Stored palette order
-// stays untouched; this is selection-only organization.
+// bg/fg first, then structural columns in display order. Within each group,
+// choices run lightest-to-darkest. Stored palette order stays untouched; this is
+// selection-only organization.
 function paletteOptionList(cur,palette,ground){
   const have=cur===''||palette.some(p=>p[0]===cur)||[ground&&ground.bg,ground&&ground.fg].filter(Boolean).includes(cur);
   const out=[['','— default —']],seen=new Set();
@@ -285,8 +287,8 @@ function paletteOptionList(cur,palette,ground){
   const grouped=columnsFromPalette(palette,ground||{});
   const groundMembers=grouped.ground.map(g=>({hex:g.hex,name:g.name||g.role}))
     .concat(palette.filter(entry=>groundRoleOfEntry(entry,ground)==='step').map(([hex,name])=>({hex,name})));
-  sortColumnMembers({base:(ground&&ground.bg)||'',members:groundMembers}).members.forEach(m=>add(m.hex,m.name));
-  sortColumns(grouped.columns).forEach(f=>f.members.forEach(m=>add(m.hex,m.name)));
+  groundMembers.forEach(m=>add(m.hex,m.name));
+  sortColumns(grouped.columns).forEach(f=>lightestFirstMembers(f.members).forEach(m=>add(m.hex,m.name)));
   return out;
 }
 
diff --git a/scripts/theme-studio/test-app-core.mjs b/scripts/theme-studio/test-app-core.mjs
index 059a50b2..44474d43 100644
--- a/scripts/theme-studio/test-app-core.mjs
+++ b/scripts/theme-studio/test-app-core.mjs
@@ -59,6 +59,29 @@ test('paletteOptionList: Normal — color choices follow visual column ordering'
   assert.ok(list.findIndex(([, name]) => name === 'gray') < list.findIndex(([, name]) => name === 'red'), 'later columns stay later');
 });
 
+test('paletteOptionList: Normal — colors within each column are lightest to darkest', () => {
+  const pal = [
+    ['#111111', 'bg', 'ground'],
+    ['#eeeeee', 'fg', 'ground'],
+    ['#444444', 'gray-dark', 'gray'],
+    ['#cccccc', 'gray-light', 'gray'],
+    ['#888888', 'gray-mid', 'gray'],
+    ['#330000', 'red-dark', 'red'],
+    ['#dd8888', 'red-light', 'red'],
+  ];
+  const list = paletteOptionList('', pal, { bg: '#111111', fg: '#eeeeee' });
+  assert.deepEqual(list.slice(0, 3).map(([, name]) => name), ['— default —', 'bg', 'fg']);
+  assert.deepEqual(
+    list.filter(([, name]) => name.startsWith('gray')).map(([, name]) => name),
+    ['gray-light', 'gray-mid', 'gray-dark'],
+  );
+  assert.ok(list.findIndex(([, name]) => name === 'gray-dark') < list.findIndex(([, name]) => name === 'red-light'), 'column order is still left-to-right');
+  assert.deepEqual(
+    list.filter(([, name]) => name.startsWith('red')).map(([, name]) => name),
+    ['red-light', 'red-dark'],
+  );
+});
+
 test('paletteOptionList: Boundary — assignment-only ground colors are selectable', () => {
   const list = paletteOptionList('', [['#67809c', 'blue']], { bg: '#0d0b0a', fg: '#f0fef0' });
   assert.ok(list.some(([hex, name]) => hex === '#0d0b0a' && name === 'bg'));
diff --git a/scripts/theme-studio/theme-studio.html b/scripts/theme-studio/theme-studio.html
index b980f800..70726afa 100644
--- a/scripts/theme-studio/theme-studio.html
+++ b/scripts/theme-studio/theme-studio.html
@@ -694,10 +694,12 @@ function stepRepointPlan(oldRanked,newMembers){
 // columns are emitted in first-seen palette order. No color sorting happens here.
 function sortColumnMembers(column){return Object.assign({},column,{members:[...column.members]});}
 function sortColumns(columns){return columns.map(sortColumnMembers);}
+function lightestFirstMembers(members){return [...members].sort((a,b)=>oklchOf(b.hex).L-oklchOf(a.hex).L);}
 
 // Dropdown order for color selection mirrors the visual palette organization:
-// ground first, then structural columns in display order. Stored palette order
-// stays untouched; this is selection-only organization.
+// bg/fg first, then structural columns in display order. Within each group,
+// choices run lightest-to-darkest. Stored palette order stays untouched; this is
+// selection-only organization.
 function paletteOptionList(cur,palette,ground){
   const have=cur===''||palette.some(p=>p[0]===cur)||[ground&&ground.bg,ground&&ground.fg].filter(Boolean).includes(cur);
   const out=[['','— default —']],seen=new Set();
@@ -706,8 +708,8 @@ function paletteOptionList(cur,palette,ground){
   const grouped=columnsFromPalette(palette,ground||{});
   const groundMembers=grouped.ground.map(g=>({hex:g.hex,name:g.name||g.role}))
     .concat(palette.filter(entry=>groundRoleOfEntry(entry,ground)==='step').map(([hex,name])=>({hex,name})));
-  sortColumnMembers({base:(ground&&ground.bg)||'',members:groundMembers}).members.forEach(m=>add(m.hex,m.name));
-  sortColumns(grouped.columns).forEach(f=>f.members.forEach(m=>add(m.hex,m.name)));
+  groundMembers.forEach(m=>add(m.hex,m.name));
+  sortColumns(grouped.columns).forEach(f=>lightestFirstMembers(f.members).forEach(m=>add(m.hex,m.name)));
   return out;
 }
 // Pure color/UI-boundary helpers (normHex, ratingColor, textOn), inlined from