diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/color_guide_options.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/color_guide_options.rs
index faeb11e0d..1fe685e60 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/color_guide_options.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/color_guide_options.rs
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ fn body(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, d: &mut Dialog) -> bool {
     ui.add_space(10.0);
     // Preview: the base colour's row of variations.
     let o = options(app, d);
-    let base = base_color(app, ui.ctx());
+    let base = base_color(app);
     let n = o.steps as i32;
     let (row, _) = ui.allocate_exact_size(vec2(ui.available_width(), 22.0), Sense::hover());
     let w = row.width() / (2 * n + 1) as f32;
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/color_picker.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/color_picker.rs
index eb72ae7bb..60c037597 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/color_picker.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/color_picker.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 //! the out-of-gamut and out-of-web warnings (click to correct); New/Original chips; an eyedropper
 //! button that samples a color anywhere on the screen ([`crate::screen_color`]); and a Color
 //! Swatches list. With art selected the colour shows on it live as it is picked; OK keeps it as one
-//! undo step through `paint.setFill` / `paint.setStroke`, Cancel puts the art back.
+//! undo step through `paint.setFill` / `paint.setStroke` and makes the color the Color Guide's
+//! base color; Cancel puts the art back.
 //! Opened for an artboard (Properties › Artboards › Fill), it shows the color on the artboard's
 //! paper live, and OK keeps it as one undo step through `artboard.setProps {index, color}`.
 //! Opened over Recolor Artwork (double-click a row's new color), its OK sets that row's new color
@@ -636,7 +637,13 @@ fn confirm(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, d: &Dialog) -> Result<Value, String> {
         return Ok(Value::Null);
     }
     let (cmd, params) = paint_command(app, d);
-    super::form::commit_preview(app, cmd, params)
+    let c = in_document_model(app, picked(d).color);
+    let r = super::form::commit_preview(app, cmd, params)?;
+    // A color picked for the fill or stroke also becomes the Color Guide's base color.
+    if !d.fields.contains_key("artboard") {
+        crate::panels::color_guide::choose_base(app, c);
+    }
+    Ok(r)
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/color_picker/tests.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/color_picker/tests.rs
index cc650978b..4d678b106 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/color_picker/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/color_picker/tests.rs
@@ -275,6 +275,30 @@ fn open_set_hex_and_confirm_fills() {
     assert_eq!(crate::panels::current_paints(&app).0.color(), Some(Color::cmyk(0.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.0)));
 }
 
+/// OK makes the picked fill or stroke color the Color Guide's base color (#3137); Cancel and a
+/// color picked for an artboard leave the base as it is.
+#[test]
+fn ok_makes_the_picked_color_the_color_guides_base() {
+    let mut app = app();
+    let base = |app: &VectorcraftApp| crate::panels::color_guide::base_color(app).to_hex();
+    app.ui.color_guide_base = Some(Color::WHITE);
+    app.run("ui.colorPicker", json!({})).unwrap();
+    app.ui.dialog.as_mut().unwrap().fields.insert("hex".into(), json!("2050a0"));
+    super::super::confirm(&mut app).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(base(&app), "#2050a0");
+    app.run("ui.colorPicker", json!({"stroke": true})).unwrap();
+    app.ui.dialog.as_mut().unwrap().fields.insert("hex".into(), json!("a02050"));
+    frame(&mut app);
+    super::super::cancel(&mut app);
+    assert_eq!(base(&app), "#2050a0", "Cancel keeps the base");
+    app.run("select.set", json!({"ids": []})).unwrap();
+    app.run("artboard.new", json!({})).unwrap();
+    app.run("ui.colorPicker", json!({"artboard": 1})).unwrap();
+    app.ui.dialog.as_mut().unwrap().fields.insert("hex".into(), json!("00ff00"));
+    super::super::confirm(&mut app).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(base(&app), "#2050a0", "an artboard's color leaves the base");
+}
+
 /// #1692: Tab goes through one color model's fields before the next: H, S, B, then R, G, B, the
 /// hex field, then L, a, b, then C, M, Y, K. Each Lab or CMYK field is level with the field on
 /// its left.
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/color.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/color.rs
index 8ef401c6f..f9567e988 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/color.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/color.rs
@@ -432,6 +432,15 @@ fn apply(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, tgt: &Target, c: Color, phase: Live, behind:
     }
 }
 
+/// [`apply`] a color chosen in the panel; once the pick ends, it also becomes the Color Guide's
+/// base color.
+fn choose(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, tgt: &Target, c: Color, phase: Live, behind: bool) {
+    if phase == Live::Released {
+        super::color_guide::choose_base(app, c);
+    }
+    apply(app, tgt, c, phase, behind);
+}
+
 /// Set the target's tint of its swatch to `t` (0..1), keeping the link (the T slider).
 fn apply_tint(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, tgt: &Target, tint: &Tint, t: f32, phase: Live) {
     match tgt {
@@ -580,7 +589,7 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ui: &mut Ui) {
             })
             .inner;
         match hit {
-            Some(SpectrumHit::Pick(c, phase)) => apply(app, &tgt, c, phase, alt),
+            Some(SpectrumHit::Pick(c, phase)) => choose(app, &tgt, c, phase, alt),
             Some(SpectrumHit::Cycle) => set_mode(app, &tgt, mode.next()),
             Some(SpectrumHit::Recolor { invert }) => recolor(app, ui, &tgt, invert, alt),
             None => {}
@@ -718,15 +727,18 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ui: &mut Ui) {
         None => {}
     }
     if let Some((c, phase)) = behind {
-        apply(app, &tgt, c, phase, true);
+        choose(app, &tgt, c, phase, true);
     }
     if let (Some((t, phase)), Some(tint)) = (tinted, tgt.tint()) {
+        if phase == Live::Released {
+            super::color_guide::choose_base(app, tint.base.tinted(t));
+        }
         apply_tint(app, &tgt, tint, t, phase);
     }
     if let Some((c, phase, comps2)) = new {
         let key = (c.to_hex(), mode as u8);
         set_pstate(ui.ctx(), "color-comps", Some((key, comps2)));
-        apply(app, &tgt, c, phase, false);
+        choose(app, &tgt, c, phase, false);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/color/tests.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/color/tests.rs
index 20485020e..548851e6b 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/color/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/color/tests.rs
@@ -318,6 +318,22 @@ fn alt_click_on_the_spectrum_paints_the_stroke() {
     assert_eq!(paints_hex(&app).0, "#ff0000");
 }
 
+/// A color picked in the panel, for either proxy, becomes the Color Guide's base color (#3137).
+#[test]
+fn a_picked_color_becomes_the_color_guides_base() {
+    let mut app = app();
+    let ctx = egui::Context::default();
+    app.run("paint.setFill", json!({"color": "#ffffff"})).unwrap();
+    app.ui.color_guide_base = Some(Color::WHITE);
+    click_spectrum(&mut app, &ctx, (0.0, 0.5), egui::Modifiers::NONE);
+    assert_eq!(crate::panels::color_guide::base_color(&app).to_hex(), "#ff0000");
+    // Alt: the stroke takes it, and it is still the base.
+    click_spectrum(&mut app, &ctx, (0.5, 0.5), egui::Modifiers::ALT);
+    let stroke = paints_hex(&app).1;
+    assert_ne!(stroke, "#ff0000");
+    assert_eq!(crate::panels::color_guide::base_color(&app).to_hex(), stroke);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn shift_click_on_the_spectrum_cycles_modes() {
     let mut app = app();
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/color_guide.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/color_guide.rs
index aa19103ce..28534e443 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/color_guide.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/color_guide.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 //! Color Guide panel: the base colour, the harmony-rule dropdown with the harmony strip, and the
 //! variation grid: a row per harmony colour with the colour itself in the centre column,
 //! shades/cool/muted to the left and tints/warm/vivid to the right (steps and reach from Color
-//! Guide Options). The base colour stays put until "Set base color" takes the current colour. A
-//! click on a cell applies it to the active proxy and selects it; Shift- or Cmd/Ctrl-click adds
+//! Guide Options). The base color is the color last chosen in the Color panel, the Swatches panel
+//! or the Color Picker ([`choose_base`]); selecting artwork leaves it as it is, and the base chip
+//! ("Set base color to the current color") takes the current color, such as a cell applied from
+//! the guide or the selected artwork's color. A click on a cell applies it to the active proxy,
+//! without changing the base, and selects it; Shift- or Cmd/Ctrl-click adds
 //! cells to the selection that Save Colors as Swatches saves. Limit to Library (the library button,
 //! `ui.colorGuideLimit`) snaps every colour to a swatch library or the document's swatches; Edit or
 //! Apply Colors opens Recolor Artwork with the harmony colours, limited the same way.
@@ -21,14 +24,16 @@ use crate::widgets::{self, menu_item};
 /// The base colour before one is set: an orange.
 const DEFAULT_BASE: Color = Color::Rgb { r: 230.0 / 255.0, g: 120.0 / 255.0, b: 40.0 / 255.0 };
 
-/// The guide's base colour: fixed once set; the current colour when the panel first shows.
-pub(crate) fn base_color(app: &VectorcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context) -> Color {
-    if let Some(c) = pstate::<Option<Color>>(ctx, "cg-base") {
-        return c;
-    }
-    let c = active_paint(app).color().unwrap_or(DEFAULT_BASE);
-    set_pstate(ctx, "cg-base", Some(c));
-    c
+/// The guide's base color: the one last chosen or set with the base chip; before that, the current
+/// color.
+pub(crate) fn base_color(app: &VectorcraftApp) -> Color {
+    app.ui.color_guide_base.unwrap_or_else(|| active_paint(app).color().unwrap_or(DEFAULT_BASE))
+}
+
+/// Make `c` the guide's base color: a color chosen in the Color panel, the Swatches panel or the
+/// Color Picker. A color applied from the guide itself leaves the base as it is.
+pub(crate) fn choose_base(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, c: Color) {
+    app.ui.color_guide_base = Some(c);
 }
 
 fn rule(ctx: &egui::Context) -> Harmony {
@@ -59,7 +64,7 @@ struct GuideKey {
 
 /// The guide the panel shows, limited to the Limit to Library colours.
 fn guide(app: &VectorcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context) -> Guide {
-    let (base, rule, opts) = (base_color(app, ctx), rule(ctx), app.ui.color_guide);
+    let (base, rule, opts) = (base_color(app), rule(ctx), app.ui.color_guide);
     let limit = &app.ui.color_guide_limit;
     if limit.is_empty() {
         return Guide::new(base, rule, &opts);
@@ -132,6 +137,15 @@ fn save_selected(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context) {
 pub fn show(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ui: &mut Ui) {
     let t = crate::theme::Tokens::get(ui.ctx());
     let ctx = ui.ctx().clone();
+    // The current color becomes the base when the panel first shows; selecting artwork later
+    // leaves it as it is.
+    let first = base_color(app);
+    let set = *app.ui.color_guide_base.get_or_insert(first);
+    // Selected cells belong to the guide they were picked from: a new base clears them.
+    if pstate::<Option<Color>>(&ctx, "cg-sel-base") != Some(set) {
+        set_pstate(&ctx, "cg-sel-base", Some(set));
+        clear_selection(&ctx);
+    }
     let h = rule(&ctx);
     let g = guide(app, &ctx);
     let base = g.colors[0];
@@ -142,7 +156,7 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ui: &mut Ui) {
         if resp.on_hover_text(tl!("Set base color to the current color")).clicked()
             && let Some(c) = active_paint(app).color()
         {
-            set_pstate(&ctx, "cg-base", Some(c));
+            app.ui.color_guide_base = Some(c);
             clear_selection(&ctx);
         }
         let labels: Vec<&str> = Harmony::ALL.iter().map(|h| h.label()).collect();
@@ -294,22 +308,83 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(role_and_state(&shown, "Limit colors to swatch library: Earth Tones"), (Role::Button, Some(Toggled::True)));
     }
 
+    /// The first show takes the current color; a color chosen in the Color panel, Swatches or the
+    /// Color Picker becomes the base; selecting artwork with another color leaves it.
     #[test]
-    fn base_stays_until_set_and_the_grid_follows_the_options() {
+    fn a_chosen_color_becomes_the_base_and_selecting_art_keeps_it() {
         let mut app = app();
+        let red = app.run("shape.rectangle", json!({"x": 0, "y": 0, "width": 10, "height": 10})).unwrap()["id"].clone();
+        app.run("paint.setFill", json!({"color": "#ff0000"})).unwrap();
+        let blue = app.run("shape.rectangle", json!({"x": 20, "y": 0, "width": 10, "height": 10})).unwrap()["id"].clone();
         app.run("paint.setFill", json!({"color": "#3366cc"})).unwrap();
         let ctx = egui::Context::default();
         frame(&mut app, &ctx);
-        assert_eq!(base_color(&app, &ctx).to_hex(), "#3366cc", "the first show takes the current colour");
-        // Another current colour leaves the base alone.
-        app.run("paint.setFill", json!({"color": "#ff0000"})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(base_color(&app).to_hex(), "#3366cc", "the first show takes the current color");
+        app.run("select.set", json!({"ids": [red]})).unwrap();
+        frame(&mut app, &ctx);
+        assert_eq!(base_color(&app).to_hex(), "#3366cc", "selecting art keeps the base");
+        choose_base(&mut app, Color::from_hex("#20a060").unwrap());
         frame(&mut app, &ctx);
-        assert_eq!(base_color(&app, &ctx).to_hex(), "#3366cc");
         app.ui.color_guide.steps = 6;
         frame(&mut app, &ctx);
         let g = guide(&app, &ctx);
         assert_eq!(g.grid[0].len(), 13);
-        assert_eq!(g.grid[0][6].to_hex(), "#3366cc", "the base sits in the centre of the first row");
+        assert_eq!(g.grid[0][6].to_hex(), "#20a060", "the chosen base sits in the centre of the first row");
+        app.run("select.set", json!({"ids": [blue]})).unwrap();
+        frame(&mut app, &ctx);
+        assert_eq!(base_color(&app).to_hex(), "#20a060");
+    }
+
+    /// The rect of the panel widget `id` after one frame.
+    fn rect_of(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context, id: impl std::hash::Hash + std::fmt::Debug) -> Rect {
+        let mut r = None;
+        let mut out = ctx.run_ui(egui::RawInput::default(), |ui| {
+            show(app, ui);
+            r = ctx.read_response(ui.scope_id().with(&id)).map(|r| r.rect);
+        });
+        out.textures_delta.clear();
+        r.expect("the widget is drawn")
+    }
+
+    fn click(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context, at: egui::Pos2) {
+        let button =
+            |pressed| egui::Event::PointerButton { pos: at, button: egui::PointerButton::Primary, pressed, modifiers: egui::Modifiers::NONE };
+        for events in [vec![egui::Event::PointerMoved(at), button(true)], vec![button(false)]] {
+            let mut out = ctx.run_ui(egui::RawInput { events, ..Default::default() }, |ui| show(app, ui));
+            out.textures_delta.clear();
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// A harmony color or a variation clicked in the guide paints the art without changing the
+    /// base; the base chip then makes the current color the base.
+    #[test]
+    fn a_guide_color_applies_without_moving_the_base_until_set_as_base() {
+        let mut app = app();
+        app.run("shape.rectangle", json!({"x": 0, "y": 0, "width": 10, "height": 10})).unwrap();
+        app.run("paint.setFill", json!({"color": "#3366cc"})).unwrap();
+        let ctx = egui::Context::default();
+        frame(&mut app, &ctx);
+        let g = guide(&app, &ctx);
+        let fill = |app: &VectorcraftApp| crate::panels::current_paints(app).0.color().map(|c| c.to_hex());
+        let at = rect_of(&mut app, &ctx, ("cg-h", 1)).center();
+        click(&mut app, &ctx, at);
+        assert_eq!(fill(&app), Some(g.colors[1].to_hex()), "the harmony color paints the art");
+        assert_eq!(base_color(&app).to_hex(), "#3366cc", "and leaves the base");
+        let at = rect_of(&mut app, &ctx, ("cg-v", 0usize, 2usize)).center();
+        click(&mut app, &ctx, at);
+        let variation = g.grid[0][2].to_hex();
+        assert_eq!(fill(&app), Some(variation.clone()), "a variation paints the art");
+        assert_eq!(base_color(&app).to_hex(), "#3366cc");
+        assert_eq!(guide(&app, &ctx).grid, g.grid, "the guide stays as it was");
+        // Set base color to the current color: the applied variation becomes the base.
+        let mut chip = None;
+        let mut out = ctx.run_ui(egui::RawInput::default(), |ui| {
+            show(&mut app, ui);
+            chip = Some(ui.min_rect().left_top() + egui::vec2(8.0, 8.0));
+        });
+        out.textures_delta.clear();
+        click(&mut app, &ctx, chip.expect("the panel is drawn"));
+        assert_eq!(base_color(&app).to_hex(), variation, "the base chip adopts the current color");
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/library_panel/tests.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/library_panel/tests.rs
index 9e1db24a8..f908dbd9d 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/library_panel/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/library_panel/tests.rs
@@ -70,6 +70,18 @@ fn clicking_a_library_swatch_adds_and_applies_it_in_one_step() {
     assert!(last_open(&app.ui).is_none());
 }
 
+/// A color clicked in a swatch library becomes the Color Guide's base color (#3137).
+#[test]
+fn a_clicked_library_color_becomes_the_color_guides_base() {
+    let mut app = app();
+    let ctx = context();
+    app.run("window.swatchLibrary", json!({"library": "pastels"})).unwrap();
+    app.ui.color_guide_base = Some(vectorcraft_color::Color::WHITE);
+    click(&mut app, &ctx, "Pastel Teal", Modifiers::NONE, 0.0);
+    let teal = app.session.doc().unwrap().doc.swatch("Pastel Teal").and_then(|w| w.paint.color()).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(crate::panels::color_guide::base_color(&app), teal);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn modifier_clicks_select_and_add_to_swatches_adds_the_selection() {
     let mut app = app();
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/swatches.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/swatches.rs
index 34262e71c..2dd054f39 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/swatches.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/swatches.rs
@@ -187,9 +187,15 @@ fn swatch_params(e: &Entry) -> Option<Value> {
 
 /// Apply a clicked swatch to the active proxy (Alt: the inactive one). An Alt-click on a color
 /// swatch with a gradient stop selected recolors the stop as dropping the swatch on it does,
-/// and with a freeform gradient point selected it recolors the point.
+/// and with a freeform gradient point selected it recolors the point. A color swatch also becomes
+/// the Color Guide's base color.
 fn apply(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ui: &Ui, e: &Entry) {
     let Some(params) = swatch_params(e) else { return };
+    if let Entry::Swatch { paint, .. } = e
+        && let Some(c) = paint.color()
+    {
+        super::color_guide::choose_base(app, c);
+    }
     if super::alt_held(ui)
         && let Some(c) = drag_of(e, vec![]).color()
         && super::gradient::recolor_selected(app, c, &params)
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/swatches/body.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/swatches/body.rs
index 7f9c5d296..9147960ba 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/swatches/body.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/swatches/body.rs
@@ -30,8 +30,10 @@ pub(super) fn body(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ui: &mut Ui, salt: &'static str) {
         }
     });
     ui.add_space(4.0);
-    // A recent colour paints the active proxy (Alt: the inactive one), as a swatch does.
+    // A recent colour paints the active proxy (Alt: the inactive one), as a swatch does, and
+    // becomes the Color Guide's base color.
     if let Some(c) = crate::panels::recent_colors_row(app, ui) {
+        crate::panels::color_guide::choose_base(app, c);
         crate::panels::apply_click(app, ui, json!({"color": crate::panels::color_json(&c)}));
     }
     widgets::divider(ui);
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/swatches/libraries.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/swatches/libraries.rs
index 02f149987..f5b4d4fb6 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/swatches/libraries.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/swatches/libraries.rs
@@ -91,8 +91,12 @@ impl LibraryKind for SwatchLibraries {
     fn describe(w: &Swatch) -> String {
         describe(&w.paint, w.global, w.spot)
     }
-    /// Adds the swatch and applies it to the active proxy (Alt: the inactive one), as one step.
+    /// Adds the swatch and applies it to the active proxy (Alt: the inactive one), as one step. A
+    /// color swatch also becomes the Color Guide's base color.
     fn click(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ui: &Ui, id: &str, name: &str) {
+        if let Some(c) = swatchlib::library(&app.session, id).and_then(|(_, lib)| lib.iter().find(|w| w.name == name).and_then(|w| w.paint.color())) {
+            crate::panels::color_guide::choose_base(app, c);
+        }
         let alt = crate::panels::alt_held(ui);
         let apply = if crate::panels::proxy_cmd(app, alt) == "paint.setFill" { "fill" } else { "stroke" };
         add_from_library(app, json!({"library": id, "names": [name], "apply": apply, "focus": !alt}));
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/swatches/tests.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/swatches/tests.rs
index 4175ed0cb..7d751fe9d 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/swatches/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/swatches/tests.rs
@@ -133,6 +133,34 @@ fn modifier_clicks_select_several_swatches_and_groups() {
     assert_eq!(selected(&ctx), ["Grays"], "a plain click on a group selects it alone");
 }
 
+/// A color swatch or a recent color clicked in the panel becomes the Color Guide's base color
+/// (#3137); a modifier click only selects.
+#[test]
+fn a_clicked_color_swatch_becomes_the_color_guides_base() {
+    let mut app = app();
+    let ctx = context();
+    app.ui.color_guide_base = Some(Color::WHITE);
+    click_tile(&mut app, &ctx, "Red", Modifiers::NONE, 0.0);
+    let base = |app: &VectorcraftApp| crate::panels::color_guide::base_color(app).to_hex();
+    assert_eq!(base(&app), "#ed1c24");
+    click_tile(&mut app, &ctx, "Amber", Modifiers::SHIFT, 2.0);
+    assert_eq!(base(&app), "#ed1c24", "a modifier click only selects");
+    // A recent color: the panel's first recent chip.
+    app.run("paint.setFill", json!({"color": "#2050a0"})).unwrap();
+    app.ui.color_guide_base = Some(Color::WHITE);
+    let mut chip = None;
+    let screen_rect = Some(Rect::from_min_size(Pos2::ZERO, vec2(280.0, 700.0)));
+    let mut out = ctx.run_ui(egui::RawInput { time: Some(4.0), screen_rect, ..Default::default() }, |ui| {
+        show(&mut app, ui);
+        chip = ctx.read_response(ui.scope_id().with(("recent", 0usize))).map(|r| r.rect.center());
+    });
+    out.textures_delta.clear();
+    let at = chip.expect("the recent chip is drawn");
+    let button = |pressed| Event::PointerButton { pos: at, button: PointerButton::Primary, pressed, modifiers: Modifiers::NONE };
+    frame(&mut app, &ctx, vec![Event::PointerMoved(at), button(true), button(false)], 5.0, show);
+    assert_eq!(base(&app), "#2050a0");
+}
+
 /// The hex colors of the stops of the selection's gradient fill, and its stroke's color.
 fn stops_and_stroke(app: &VectorcraftApp) -> (Vec<String>, String) {
     let (fill, stroke) = crate::panels::current_paints(app);
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/state.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/state.rs
index f4e90f6d8..bfe63c699 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/state.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/state.rs
@@ -483,6 +483,11 @@ pub struct UiState {
     /// swatches) or "" (none) (`ui.colorGuideLimit`).
     #[serde(default)]
     pub color_guide_limit: String,
+    /// Color Guide panel: the base color, set by a color chosen in the Color panel, the Swatches
+    /// panel or the Color Picker and by the panel's base chip (none: the current color). Not
+    /// saved.
+    #[serde(skip)]
+    pub color_guide_base: Option<vectorcraft_color::Color>,
     /// Align panel: the Align To choice, Selection or Artboard, which Object → Align and the align
     /// buttons follow ([`crate::panels::align::with_align_to`]).
     #[serde(default, deserialize_with = "crate::panels::align::deserialize_align_to")]
@@ -855,6 +860,7 @@ impl Default for UiState {
             library_panels: vec![],
             flattener_preview: Default::default(),
             color_guide_limit: String::new(),
+            color_guide_base: None,
             align_to: Default::default(),
             align_spacing: 0.0,
             color_mode: None,