diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 23c0dc6..11b8c6b 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ tracy_build:
 	meson compile -j 10 -C builddir
 
 test: asset_build build
-	./builddir/runtests "[color-palette]"
+	./builddir/runtests
 
 run: build test
 ifeq '$(OS)' 'Windows_NT'
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ clean:
 	meson compile --clean -C builddir
 
 debug_test: build
-	gdb --nx -x .gdbinit --ex run --args builddir/runtests -e "[color-palette]"
+	gdb --nx -x .gdbinit --ex run --args builddir/runtests -e
 
 win_installer:
 	powershell 'start "C:\Program Files (x86)\solicus\InstallForge\bin\ifbuilderenvx86.exe" scripts\win_installer.ifp'
diff --git a/assets/devices.json b/assets/devices.json
index 4b412f2..2bf5533 100644
--- a/assets/devices.json
+++ b/assets/devices.json
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@
     "randomized": false,
     "components": [
       {"_type": "Tile", "display": 10949,
-        "foreground": [24, 205, 189],
-        "background": [24, 205, 189]
+        "foreground": "devices/fg:stairs_down",
+        "background": "devices/bg:stairs_down"
       },
       {"_type": "Device",
         "config": {},
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
     "placement": "fixed",
     "components": [
       {"_type": "Tile", "display": 8793,
-        "foreground": [24, 205, 189],
-        "background": [24, 205, 189]
+        "foreground": "devices/fg:stairs_up",
+        "background": "devices/fg:stairs_up"
       },
       {"_type": "Device",
         "config": {},
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@
     "inventory_count": 0,
     "components": [
       {"_type": "Tile", "display": 95,
-        "foreground": [24, 205, 189],
-        "background": [24, 205, 189]
+        "foreground": "devices/fg:tripwire",
+        "background": "devices/bg:tripwire"
       },
       {"_type": "Device", "config": {}, "events": ["TRAP"]},
       {"_type": "Sprite", "name": "tripwire_trap", "width": 256, "height": 256, "scale": 1.0}
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@
     "description": "A small rotten barrel that may hold things.",
     "components": [
       {"_type": "Tile", "display": 85,
-        "foreground": [150, 100, 189],
-        "background": [150, 100, 189]
+        "foreground": "devices/fg:barrel",
+        "background": "devices/bg:barrel"
       },
       {"_type": "Device", "config": {}, "events": ["LOOT_CONTAINER"]},
       {"_type": "Sprite", "name": "barrel_small", "width": 256, "height": 256, "scale": 1.0},
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@
     "description": "Something died here. Was this your doing?",
     "components": [
       {"_type": "Tile", "display": 8687,
-        "foreground": [32, 123, 164],
-        "background": [24, 205, 189]
+        "foreground": "devices/fg:grave_stone",
+        "background": "devices/bg:grave_stone"
       },
       {"_type": "Device", "config": {}, "events": ["LOOT_CONTAINER"]},
       {"_type": "Sprite", "name": "grave_stone", "width": 256, "height": 256, "scale": 1.0},
diff --git a/assets/enemies.json b/assets/enemies.json
index a72c7d0..18d3a36 100644
--- a/assets/enemies.json
+++ b/assets/enemies.json
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
     "placement": "fixed",
     "components": [
       {"_type": "Tile", "display": 41981,
-        "foreground": [255, 200, 125],
-        "background": [0,0,0]
+        "foreground": "enemies/fg:player",
+        "background": "color:transparent"
       },
       {"_type": "Combat", "hp": 200, "max_hp": 200, "damage": 10, "dead": false},
       {"_type": "Motion", "dx": 0, "dy": 0, "random": false},
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@
   "GOLD_SAVIOR": {
     "components": [
       {"_type": "Tile", "display": 42586,
-        "foreground": [131, 213, 238],
-        "background": [0,0,0]
+        "foreground": "enemies/fg:gold_savior",
+        "background": "color:transparent"
       },
       {"_type": "Combat", "hp": 20, "max_hp": 20, "damage": 1, "dead": false},
       {"_type": "Motion", "dx": 0, "dy": 0, "random": false},
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@
   "KNIGHT": {
     "components": [
       {"_type": "Tile", "display": 2189,
-        "foreground": [131, 213, 238],
-        "background": [0,0,0]
+        "foreground": "enemies/fg:knight",
+        "background": "color:transparent"
       },
       {"_type": "Combat", "hp": 20, "max_hp": 20, "damage": 1, "dead": false},
       {"_type": "Motion", "dx": 0, "dy": 0, "random": false},
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@
   "AXE_RANGER": {
     "components": [
       {"_type": "Tile", "display": 1898,
-        "foreground": [156, 172, 197],
-        "background": [0,0,0]
+        "foreground": "enemies/fg:axe_ranger",
+        "background": "color:transparent"
       },
       {"_type": "Combat", "hp": 40, "max_hp": 40, "damage": 10, "dead": false},
       {"_type": "Motion", "dx": 0, "dy": 0, "random": true},
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@
   "RAT_GIANT": {
     "components": [
       {"_type": "Tile", "display": 2220,
-        "foreground": [205, 164, 246],
-        "background": [0,0,0]
+        "foreground": "enemies/fg:rat_giant",
+        "background": "color:transparent"
       },
       {"_type": "Combat", "hp": 50, "max_hp": 50, "damage": 2, "dead": false},
       {"_type": "Motion", "dx": 0, "dy": 0, "random": false},
@@ -74,8 +74,8 @@
   "SPIDER_GIANT_HAIRY": {
     "components": [
       {"_type": "Tile", "display": 1218,
-        "foreground": [205, 164, 246],
-        "background": [0,0,0]
+        "foreground": "enemies/fg:spider_giant",
+        "background": "color:transparent"
       },
       {"_type": "Combat", "hp": 20, "max_hp": 20, "damage": 20, "dead": false},
       {"_type": "Motion", "dx": 0, "dy": 0, "random": false},
diff --git a/assets/items.json b/assets/items.json
index bfefd71..5c25db3 100644
--- a/assets/items.json
+++ b/assets/items.json
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@
     "components": [
       {"_type": "LightSource", "strength": 50, "radius": 2.5},
       {"_type": "Tile", "display": 3848,
-        "foreground": [24, 120, 189],
-        "background": [0,0,0]
+        "foreground": "items/fg:flame",
+        "background": "color:transparent"
       },
       {"_type": "Sprite", "name": "torch_horizontal_floor", "width": 256, "height": 256, "scale": 1.0},
       {"_type": "Sound", "attack": "pickup", "death": "blank"}
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@
     "inventory_count": 1,
     "components": [
       {"_type": "Tile", "display": 1003,
-        "foreground": [255, 205, 189],
-        "background": [0,0,0]
+        "foreground": "items/fg:potion",
+        "background": "color:transparent"
       },
       {"_type": "Curative", "hp": 20},
       {"_type": "Sprite", "name": "healing_potion_small", "width": 256, "height": 256, "scale": 1.0},
diff --git a/assets/map_tiles.png b/assets/map_tiles.png
index 1c87bb7..33cd57b 100644
Binary files a/assets/map_tiles.png and b/assets/map_tiles.png differ
diff --git a/assets/palette.json b/assets/palette.json
index 8ae68f2..116cf7d 100644
--- a/assets/palette.json
+++ b/assets/palette.json
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 {
+  "color": {
+    "transparent": [255, 255, 255, 255]
+  },
   "gui/line": {
     "light": [200,200,200],
     "mid": [100,100,100],
@@ -15,5 +18,48 @@
     "light": [200,200,200],
     "mid": [100,100,100],
     "dark": [10,10,10]
+  },
+  "items/fg": {
+    "flame": [24, 120, 189],
+    "potion": [255, 205, 189]
+  },
+  "enemies/fg": {
+    "player": [255, 200, 125],
+    "gold_savior": [131, 213, 238],
+    "knight": [131, 213, 238],
+    "axe_ranger": [156, 172, 197],
+    "rat_giant": [205, 164, 246],
+    "spider_giant": [205, 164, 246]
+  },
+  "tiles/fg": {
+    "floor_tile": [40, 40, 40],
+    "wall_plain": [100, 100, 100],
+    "wall_moss": [100, 150, 100],
+    "ceiling_black": [100, 100, 100],
+    "lava_floor": [200, 100, 100],
+    "gray_stone_floor_light": [40, 60, 180],
+    "wood_wall": [70, 70, 70],
+    "BAD": [255, 0, 0]
+  },
+  "tiles/bg": {
+    "wall_plain": [10, 10, 10],
+    "wall_moss": [100, 100, 180],
+    "lava_floor": [100, 100, 50],
+    "gray_stone_floor_light": [80, 80, 80],
+    "wood_wall": [100, 100, 100]
+  },
+  "devices/fg": {
+    "stairs_down": [24, 205, 189],
+    "stairs_up": [24, 205, 189],
+    "tripwire": [24, 205, 189],
+    "barrel": [150, 100, 189],
+    "grave_stone": [32, 123, 164]
+  },
+  "devices/bg": {
+    "stairs_down": [24, 205, 189],
+    "stairs_up": [24, 205, 189],
+    "tripwire": [24, 205, 189],
+    "barrel": [150, 100, 189],
+    "grave_stone": [24, 205, 189]
   }
 }
diff --git a/assets/tiles.json b/assets/tiles.json
index 91fc600..b3908e9 100644
--- a/assets/tiles.json
+++ b/assets/tiles.json
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     "display": 8284,
     "ceiling": "ceiling_black",
     "light": 0,
-    "foreground": [40, 40, 40],
+    "foreground": "tiles/fg:floor_tile",
     "id": 0
   },
   "wall_plain": {
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@
     "collision": true,
     "display": 9608,
     "light": 0,
-    "foreground": [100, 100, 100],
-    "background": [10, 10, 10],
+    "foreground": "tiles/fg:wall_plain",
+    "background": "tiles/bg:wall_plain",
     "id": 1
   },
   "wall_moss": {
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@
     "collision": true,
     "display": 9256,
     "light": 20,
-    "background": [100, 100, 180],
-    "foreground": [100, 150, 100],
+    "background": "tiles/bg:wall_moss",
+    "foreground": "tiles/fg:wall_moss",
     "id": 2
   },
   "ceiling_black": {
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
     "collision": false,
     "display": 35,
     "light": 0,
-    "foreground": [100, 100, 100],
+    "foreground": "tiles/fg:ceiling_black",
     "id": 4
   },
   "lava_floor": {
@@ -40,18 +40,18 @@
     "display": 10899,
     "ceiling": "ceiling_black",
     "light": 20,
-    "foreground": [200, 100, 100],
-    "background": [100, 100, 50],
+    "foreground": "tiles/fg:lava_floor",
+    "background": "tiles/bg:lava_floor",
     "id": 5
   },
   "gray_stone_floor_light": {
     "texture": "assets/textures/gray_stone_floor_light.png",
     "collision": false,
     "display": 11590,
-    "ceiling": "zceiling_blue_light",
+    "ceiling": "zBUGceiling_blue_light",
     "light": 40,
-    "background": [80, 80, 80],
-    "foreground": [40, 60, 180],
+    "foreground": "tiles/fg:gray_stone_floor_light",
+    "background": "tiles/bg:gray_stone_floor_light",
     "id": 6
   },
   "wood_wall": {
@@ -59,16 +59,16 @@
     "collision": false,
     "display": 10747,
     "light": 0,
-    "foreground": [70, 70, 70],
-    "background": [100, 100, 100],
+    "foreground": "tiles/fg:wood_wall",
+    "background": "tiles/bg:wood_wall",
     "id": 8
   },
-  "zceiling_blue_light": {
+  "zBUGceiling_blue_light": {
     "texture": "assets/textures/ceiling_blue_light.png",
     "collision": false,
     "display": 8285,
     "light": 0,
-    "foreground": [100, 100, 100],
+    "foreground": "tiles/fg:BAD",
     "id": 7
   }
 }
diff --git a/components.hpp b/components.hpp
index 6bb6744..e1bbd56 100644
--- a/components.hpp
+++ b/components.hpp
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ namespace components {
 
   struct Tile {
     wchar_t display;
-    std::array<uint8_t, 3> foreground;
-    std::array<uint8_t, 3> background;
+    std::string foreground;
+    std::string background;
   };
 
   struct GameConfig {
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 0a2221c..54ad88e 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ executable('zedcaster',
   dependencies: dependencies)
 
 executable('icongen',
-  [ 'textures.cpp', 'config.cpp', 'dbc.cpp', 'tools/icongen.cpp' ],
+  [ 'palette.cpp', 'textures.cpp', 'config.cpp', 'dbc.cpp', 'tools/icongen.cpp' ],
   cpp_args: cpp_args,
   link_args: link_args,
   override_options: exe_defaults,
diff --git a/palette.cpp b/palette.cpp
index 63c0c12..cb689fb 100644
--- a/palette.cpp
+++ b/palette.cpp
@@ -9,11 +9,13 @@ namespace palette {
 
   struct PaletteMgr {
     std::unordered_map<string, sf::Color> palettes;
+    std::string config;
   };
 
   static PaletteMgr COLOR;
 
   void init(const string &json_file) {
+    COLOR.config = json_file;
     Config config(json_file);
     json& colors = config.json();
 
@@ -23,7 +25,7 @@ namespace palette {
       for(auto [value, rgba] : value_specs.items()) {
         auto color_path = base_key + ":" + value;
         dbc::check(!COLOR.palettes.contains(color_path),
-            fmt::format("PALLETES already has a color path {}", color_path));
+            fmt::format("PALLETES config {} already has a color path {}", COLOR.config, color_path));
 
         uint8_t alpha = rgba.size() == 3 ? 255 : (uint8_t)rgba[3];
 
@@ -35,6 +37,17 @@ namespace palette {
   }
 
   sf::Color get(const string& key) {
+    dbc::check(COLOR.palettes.contains(key),
+        fmt::format("COLOR {} is missing from {}", key, COLOR.config));
     return COLOR.palettes.at(key);
   }
+
+  sf::Color get(const string& key, const string& value) {
+    std::string color{key + ":" + value};
+
+    dbc::check(COLOR.palettes.contains(color),
+        fmt::format("COLOR {} is missing from {}", color, COLOR.config));
+
+    return COLOR.palettes.at(color);
+  }
 }
diff --git a/palette.hpp b/palette.hpp
index ad4a39a..03686d1 100644
--- a/palette.hpp
+++ b/palette.hpp
@@ -7,4 +7,6 @@ namespace palette {
   void init(const std::string &config="assets/palette.json");
 
   sf::Color get(const string &key);
+
+  sf::Color get(const string &key, const string &value);
 }
diff --git a/tests/palette.cpp b/tests/palette.cpp
index c3d2bbd..1fd28c2 100644
--- a/tests/palette.cpp
+++ b/tests/palette.cpp
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ TEST_CASE("color palette test", "[color-palette]") {
   auto gui_text = palette::get("gui/text:dark");
   REQUIRE(gui_text == expect);
 
-  gui_text = palette::get("gui/text:mid");
+  gui_text = palette::get("gui/text", "mid");
   REQUIRE(gui_text != expect);
 
   expect = {100, 100, 100, 255};
diff --git a/tools/icongen.cpp b/tools/icongen.cpp
index 4d25ac7..63d2759 100644
--- a/tools/icongen.cpp
+++ b/tools/icongen.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <functional>
 #include <iostream>
 #include "textures.hpp"
+#include "palette.hpp"
 
 namespace fs = std::filesystem;
 constexpr const int TILE_COUNT=10;
@@ -217,16 +218,14 @@ void load_config(MapConfig& config, bool is_centered, std::string path, std::fun
           (int)display, (std::string)key));
 
     if(data.contains("foreground")) {
-      auto fg_color = data["foreground"];
-      sf::Color fg{fg_color[0], fg_color[1], fg_color[2]};
+      auto fg = palette::get(data["foreground"]);
       config.colors.insert_or_assign(display, fg);
     } else {
       config.colors.insert_or_assign(display, DEFAULT_COLOR);
     }
 
     if(data.contains("background")) {
-      auto bg_color = data["background"];
-      sf::Color bg{bg_color[0], bg_color[1], bg_color[2]};
+      auto bg = palette::get(data["background"]);
       config.backgrounds.insert_or_assign(display, bg);
     } else {
       sf::Color bg{0, 0, 0, 0};
@@ -249,6 +248,7 @@ json& component_display(json& val)  {
 }
 
 int main() {
+  palette::init();
   MapConfig config;
 
   load_config(config, false, "./assets/tiles.json", [](json& val) -> json& {