diff --git a/frontend/src/components/TokenPreview.vue b/frontend/src/components/TokenPreview.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4accb5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/TokenPreview.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,298 @@
+<script setup lang="ts">
+/**
+ * A design system's tokens, drawn rather than listed (#2431).
+ *
+ * WHAT MAKES THIS WORK FOR A SYSTEM YOU AREN'T RUNNING
+ * Every value is resolved on an offscreen probe carrying only this system's
+ * declarations (`resolveDeclared`), never read from the page. So a token like
+ * `color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 15%, transparent)` shows THIS system's
+ * accent, not the accent of the app you happen to be looking at. Previewing
+ * another project's palette from here is the point; a preview that quietly
+ * borrows the host app's values would be worse than no preview, because it
+ * would look right.
+ *
+ * SPECIMENS ARE CHOSEN BY VALUE SHAPE, NEVER BY NAME
+ * A colour is drawn as a swatch, a length as a rule of that length, a font
+ * stack as text set in it. Nothing here matches `--fs-space-*` or any other
+ * naming convention, because the convention is the install's (rule #115) — a
+ * system that calls its spacing `--gap-N` gets the same treatment.
+ *
+ * A token with no value for the chosen mode is shown as undecided rather than
+ * skipped. A named role awaiting a decision is information; a gap in a grid
+ * is not.
+ */
+import { computed, ref, watch } from "vue";
+
+import type { ResolvedToken } from "@/api/designSystems";
+import { BASE_MODE, modesPresent, resolveDeclared, valueForMode } from "@/utils/designValues";
+
+const props = defineProps<{ tokens: ResolvedToken[] }>();
+
+const modes = computed(() => modesPresent(props.tokens));
+const mode = ref(BASE_MODE);
+
+/** Values as the browser would compute them, for the chosen mode. */
+const rendered = ref<Map<string, string>>(new Map());
+
+function recompute() {
+  const declared = new Map<string, string>();
+  for (const token of props.tokens) {
+    const value = valueForMode(token.value_by_mode, mode.value);
+    if (value) declared.set(token.name, value);
+  }
+  rendered.value = resolveDeclared(declared);
+}
+
+watch(
+  [() => props.tokens, mode],
+  () => {
+    // Keep the selection only while it still exists — switching systems can
+    // drop a mode, and a stale one would silently render as base.
+    if (!modes.value.includes(mode.value)) mode.value = modes.value[0] ?? BASE_MODE;
+    recompute();
+  },
+  { immediate: true, deep: false },
+);
+
+type Shape = "colour" | "surface" | "length" | "font" | "plain";
+
+const COLOUR = /^(#|rgba?\(|hsla?\(|color-mix\(|light-dark\()/;
+const LENGTH = /^-?\d*\.?\d+(px|rem|em|ch|vh|vw)$/;
+const GRADIENT = /gradient\(/;
+/** Two or more space-separated parts ending in a colour — i.e. a shadow. */
+const SHADOW = /^[^,]*\d\s+.*(#|rgba?\(|color-mix\()/;
+/** A stack of family names: commas, no functions, no digits. */
+const FONT_STACK = /^[^(){}\d]+,[^(){}\d]+$/;
+
+function shapeOf(value: string): Shape {
+  const v = value.trim();
+  if (!v) return "plain";
+  if (COLOUR.test(v)) return "colour";
+  if (GRADIENT.test(v) || SHADOW.test(v)) return "surface";
+  if (LENGTH.test(v)) return "length";
+  if (FONT_STACK.test(v)) return "font";
+  return "plain";
+}
+
+interface Specimen {
+  name: string;
+  declared: string;
+  rendered: string;
+  shape: Shape;
+  purpose: string | null;
+  /** True when `var()` substitution changed the value — worth showing on hover. */
+  substituted: boolean;
+}
+
+const groups = computed(() => {
+  const out = new Map<string, Specimen[]>();
+  for (const token of props.tokens) {
+    const declared = valueForMode(token.value_by_mode, mode.value);
+    const value = rendered.value.get(token.name) ?? "";
+    const bucket = out.get(token.group_name ?? "ungrouped") ?? [];
+    bucket.push({
+      name: token.name,
+      declared,
+      rendered: value,
+      shape: shapeOf(value),
+      purpose: token.purpose,
+      substituted: Boolean(declared) && value !== declared,
+    });
+    out.set(token.group_name ?? "ungrouped", bucket);
+  }
+  return [...out.entries()];
+});
+
+/**
+ * Lengths are drawn to scale up to a ceiling, so a 40px heading and a 4px gap
+ * are visibly different — but a stray `100vw` can't stretch the row.
+ */
+function ruleWidth(value: string): string {
+  return `min(${value}, 12rem)`;
+}
+</script>
+
+<template>
+  <div class="tp">
+    <div v-if="modes.length > 1" class="tp-modes">
+      <button
+        v-for="m in modes"
+        :key="m"
+        class="tp-mode"
+        :class="{ active: m === mode }"
+        @click="mode = m"
+      >{{ m }}</button>
+      <span class="tp-modes-note">
+        The system's own modes — independent of the theme this app is in.
+      </span>
+    </div>
+
+    <div v-for="[group, specimens] in groups" :key="group" class="tp-group">
+      <h3 class="tp-group-heading">{{ group }}</h3>
+      <ul class="tp-grid">
+        <li v-for="s in specimens" :key="s.name" class="tp-item">
+          <div
+            class="tp-specimen"
+            :title="s.substituted ? `${s.declared} → ${s.rendered}` : s.declared"
+          >
+            <span
+              v-if="s.shape === 'colour'"
+              class="tp-swatch"
+              :style="{ background: s.rendered }"
+            />
+            <span
+              v-else-if="s.shape === 'surface'"
+              class="tp-surface"
+              :style="s.rendered.includes('gradient(')
+                ? { background: s.rendered }
+                : { boxShadow: s.rendered }"
+            />
+            <span v-else-if="s.shape === 'length'" class="tp-rule-wrap">
+              <span class="tp-rule" :style="{ width: ruleWidth(s.rendered) }" />
+            </span>
+            <span
+              v-else-if="s.shape === 'font'"
+              class="tp-font"
+              :style="{ fontFamily: s.rendered }"
+            >Ag</span>
+            <span v-else-if="!s.declared" class="tp-undecided">to be decided</span>
+            <span v-else class="tp-plain">{{ s.rendered }}</span>
+          </div>
+
+          <code class="tp-name">{{ s.name }}</code>
+          <span class="tp-value">{{ s.declared || "—" }}</span>
+          <span v-if="s.purpose" class="tp-purpose">{{ s.purpose }}</span>
+        </li>
+      </ul>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</template>
+
+<style scoped>
+.tp-modes {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: var(--fs-space-2);
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+  margin-bottom: var(--fs-space-4);
+}
+
+.tp-mode {
+  padding: 0.2rem 0.6rem;
+  font: inherit;
+  font-size: var(--fs-size-body-sm);
+  color: var(--color-text-secondary);
+  background: transparent;
+  border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+  border-radius: var(--fs-radius-sm);
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+.tp-mode:hover { color: var(--color-text); }
+.tp-mode.active {
+  color: var(--color-primary-solid);
+  border-color: var(--color-primary);
+  background: var(--color-primary-faint);
+}
+
+.tp-modes-note {
+  font-size: var(--fs-size-tiny);
+  color: var(--color-text-muted);
+}
+
+.tp-group { margin-bottom: var(--fs-space-5); }
+
+.tp-group-heading {
+  text-transform: capitalize;
+  font-size: var(--fs-size-label);
+  color: var(--color-text-secondary);
+  margin-bottom: var(--fs-space-2);
+}
+
+.tp-grid {
+  list-style: none;
+  padding: 0;
+  margin: 0;
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(15rem, 1fr));
+  gap: var(--fs-space-3);
+}
+
+.tp-item {
+  min-width: 0;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 0.15rem;
+}
+
+/* A fixed-height stage so a 40px rule and a 2px one still line up in a grid. */
+.tp-specimen {
+  height: 2.75rem;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+  border-radius: var(--fs-radius-sm);
+  padding: 0 var(--fs-space-2);
+  overflow: hidden;
+  /* Checks show through anything translucent — a 15% tint over a solid card
+     would otherwise look opaque and read as the wrong colour. */
+  background:
+    repeating-conic-gradient(var(--color-surface) 0% 25%, var(--color-bg) 0% 50%)
+    0 0 / 12px 12px;
+}
+
+.tp-swatch,
+.tp-surface {
+  width: 100%;
+  height: 1.75rem;
+  border-radius: calc(var(--fs-radius-sm) - 1px);
+}
+
+.tp-surface { background: var(--color-surface); }
+
+.tp-rule-wrap {
+  width: 100%;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+}
+
+.tp-rule {
+  height: 0.5rem;
+  min-width: 1px;
+  background: var(--color-primary-solid);
+  border-radius: 999px;
+}
+
+.tp-font {
+  font-size: 1.4rem;
+  color: var(--color-text);
+  line-height: 1;
+}
+
+.tp-plain {
+  font-family: var(--fs-font-mono);
+  font-size: var(--fs-size-code);
+  color: var(--color-text-secondary);
+  white-space: nowrap;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  text-overflow: ellipsis;
+}
+
+.tp-undecided {
+  font-size: var(--fs-size-tiny);
+  color: var(--color-text-muted);
+  font-style: italic;
+}
+
+.tp-name {
+  font-size: var(--fs-size-body-sm);
+  color: var(--color-text);
+  word-break: break-all;
+}
+
+.tp-value,
+.tp-purpose {
+  font-size: var(--fs-size-tiny);
+  color: var(--color-text-muted);
+  word-break: break-word;
+}
+</style>
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/DesignSystemsView.vue b/frontend/src/views/DesignSystemsView.vue
index 856957a..d574c1d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/DesignSystemsView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/DesignSystemsView.vue
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ import {
 import { ApiError } from "@/api/client";
 import { useToastStore } from "@/stores/toast";
 import StarterRolePicker from "@/components/StarterRolePicker.vue";
+import TokenPreview from "@/components/TokenPreview.vue";
 
 const toast = useToastStore();
 
@@ -492,8 +493,23 @@ watch(selectedId, () => {
   snippetCheck.value = null;
 });
 
-function isColourish(value: string): boolean {
-  return /^(#|rgba?\(|hsla?\(|color-mix\()/.test(value.trim());
+/**
+ * A colour this row can draw HONESTLY — self-contained, no `var()` inside.
+ *
+ * The provenance list below shows values as the record states them, and a
+ * `var()` reference states nothing on its own: rendering
+ * `color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 15%, transparent)` as a background resolves
+ * `--accent` against THIS app, so a system that isn't the one Scribe runs on
+ * would be drawn in Scribe's palette. It looked right, which is why it went
+ * unnoticed (#274).
+ *
+ * The preview above resolves values properly, on a probe carrying only that
+ * system's declarations. So this list draws only what needs no resolving, and
+ * leaves the rest to the surface built for it.
+ */
+function isSelfContainedColour(value: string): boolean {
+  const v = value.trim();
+  return /^(#|rgba?\(|hsla?\(|color-mix\()/.test(v) && !v.includes("var(");
 }
 </script>
 
@@ -770,7 +786,7 @@ function isColourish(value: string): boolean {
                   <ul class="dupe-list">
                     <li v-for="[value, names] in duplicateEntries" :key="value">
                       <span
-                        v-if="isColourish(value)" class="swatch"
+                        v-if="isSelfContainedColour(value)" class="swatch"
                         :style="{ background: value }" aria-hidden="true"
                       />
                       <code>{{ value }}</code> — {{ names.join(", ") }}
@@ -928,7 +944,7 @@ function isColourish(value: string): boolean {
                   <input v-model="row.mode" class="input mono mode-key" type="text" placeholder="base" />
                   <input v-model="row.value" class="input mono" type="text" placeholder="#14171a" />
                   <span
-                    v-if="isColourish(row.value)" class="swatch"
+                    v-if="isSelfContainedColour(row.value)" class="swatch"
                     :style="{ background: row.value }" aria-hidden="true"
                   />
                   <button
@@ -966,7 +982,7 @@ function isColourish(value: string): boolean {
                 <span class="token-values">
                   <span v-for="(value, mode) in token.value_by_mode" :key="mode" class="mode-chip">
                     <span
-                      v-if="isColourish(value)" class="swatch"
+                      v-if="isSelfContainedColour(value)" class="swatch"
                       :style="{ background: value }" aria-hidden="true"
                     />
                     <span class="mode-name">{{ mode }}</span>
@@ -989,6 +1005,18 @@ function isColourish(value: string): boolean {
             </ul>
           </section>
 
+          <!-- What it looks like. Drawn from the record on an isolated probe,
+               so this is THIS system's palette even when the app around it is
+               running a different one. -->
+          <section v-if="resolved.length" class="ds-section">
+            <h2>Preview</h2>
+            <p class="section-note">
+              {{ selected.title }} as it would render — resolved from the record,
+              not from the stylesheet this app happens to be running.
+            </p>
+            <TokenPreview :tokens="resolved" />
+          </section>
+
           <!-- Effective set -->
           <section class="ds-section">
             <h2>Effective tokens</h2>
@@ -1022,7 +1050,7 @@ function isColourish(value: string): boolean {
                     <div v-if="hasUniformOrigin(token)" class="resolved-modes">
                       <span v-for="origin in modeOrigins(token)" :key="origin.mode" class="mode-chip">
                         <span
-                          v-if="isColourish(origin.value)" class="swatch"
+                          v-if="isSelfContainedColour(origin.value)" class="swatch"
                           :style="{ background: origin.value }" aria-hidden="true"
                         />
                         <span class="mode-name">{{ origin.mode }}</span>
@@ -1043,7 +1071,7 @@ function isColourish(value: string): boolean {
                       <div v-for="origin in modeOrigins(token)" :key="origin.mode" class="mode-line">
                         <span class="mode-chip">
                           <span
-                            v-if="isColourish(origin.value)" class="swatch"
+                            v-if="isSelfContainedColour(origin.value)" class="swatch"
                             :style="{ background: origin.value }" aria-hidden="true"
                           />
                           <span class="mode-name">{{ origin.mode }}</span>