diff --git a/src/Integrations/Divi/Design/DiviColorsSetAbility.php b/src/Integrations/Divi/Design/DiviColorsSetAbility.php
index 80656b7..0baec8b 100644
--- a/src/Integrations/Divi/Design/DiviColorsSetAbility.php
+++ b/src/Integrations/Divi/Design/DiviColorsSetAbility.php
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@ use InvalidArgumentException;
 use LIT\MCP\Abilities\Ability;
 use LIT\MCP\Abilities\Annotations;
 use LIT\MCP\Abilities\Errors;
+use LIT\MCP\Integrations\Divi\Compose\VariableRef;
 use LIT\MCP\Integrations\Divi\Library\GlobalUsages;
+use LIT\MCP\Integrations\Divi\Library\UsageReport;
 use LIT\MCP\Integrations\Divi\Release\DiviFeature;
 use LIT\MCP\Integrations\Divi\Release\RequiresDiviFeatures;
 use WP_Error;
@@ -20,8 +22,10 @@ defined('ABSPATH') || exit;
  * lit/divi-colors-set (spec §7.1, rulings V3–V5, V8): creates and changes global colors through the change pipeline
  * (ColorArea). An item names an existing color in id (ID, label, alias primary … or option name accent_color …) or
  * creates one from label and color. Colors are never deleted, only deactivated; the five main colors only change
- * their value. The dry run lists the posts that reference a changed, deactivated or activated color
- * (ReferenceUsageQuery).
+ * their value, never to a reference. {{color:…}} with relative is resolved against the planned inventory – also
+ * colors of the same call, in item order – and stored as Divi reference (VariableRef); cycles and chains deeper than
+ * 10 are refused. The dry run lists the posts that reference a changed, deactivated or activated color
+ * (ReferenceUsageQuery) and warns about presets and relative colors built on it.
  */
 final class DiviColorsSetAbility implements Ability, RequiresDiviFeatures
 {
@@ -39,6 +43,17 @@ final class DiviColorsSetAbility implements Ability, RequiresDiviFeatures
     private const NEW_ENTRY = ['color' => '', 'folder' => '', 'label' => '', 'lastUpdated' => '', 'status' => 'active',
         'usedInPosts' => []];
 
+    private const PLACEHOLDER = '/^\{\{\s*color\s*:\s*([^{}]+?)\s*\}\}$/D';
+
+    /** Exception code of value(): the problem belongs to the item's relative, not to its color. */
+    private const RELATIVE = 1;
+
+    /** At most this many names per warning. */
+    private const LISTED = 10;
+
+    private const IN_USE = 'Die unter affected genannten Inhalte verweisen auf geänderte oder deaktivierte Farben; '
+        . 'deaktivierte Farben bleiben dort als Verweis stehen.';
+
     /** @param (Closure(int): string)|null $random Random characters for new IDs (ColorBook::newId(); tests). */
     public function __construct(
         private DesignSystemWriter $writer,
@@ -172,6 +187,13 @@ final class DiviColorsSetAbility implements Ability, RequiresDiviFeatures
             }
             $book = $this->apply($book, $item, $field, $errors);
         }
+        $cycle = $errors === [] ? $book->cycle() : null;
+        if ($cycle !== null) {
+            $errors['items'] = sprintf(
+                'Relative Farben bauen im Kreis aufeinander auf oder sind tiefer als 10 Stufen verschachtelt: %s',
+                implode(' → ', array_map($book->label(...), $cycle))
+            );
+        }
         if ($errors !== []) {
             return Errors::invalidInput('Ungültige Farb-Angaben; nichts wurde gespeichert.', $errors);
         }
@@ -184,12 +206,14 @@ final class DiviColorsSetAbility implements Ability, RequiresDiviFeatures
             }
         }
         $touched = array_values(array_unique($touched));
+        $report = $touched === [] ? null : $this->usages->reportFor(new ReferenceUsageQuery($touched));
 
         return new DesignPlan(
             $book->data(),
             $diff,
             ColorDiff::summary($diff),
-            $touched === [] ? null : $this->usages->reportFor(new ReferenceUsageQuery($touched))
+            $report,
+            $this->warnings($book, $diff, $report)
         );
     }
 
@@ -225,12 +249,15 @@ final class DiviColorsSetAbility implements Ability, RequiresDiviFeatures
                     'label' => self::cleanLabel($book, $item['label'], $id),
                     'folder' => self::folder($item['folder']),
                     'status' => self::status($item['status']),
-                    default => self::value($item),
+                    default => self::value($book, $item, $main),
                 };
             } catch (InvalidArgumentException $e) {
-                $errors[$field . '.' . $key] = $e->getMessage();
+                $errors[$field . '.' . ($e->getCode() === self::RELATIVE ? 'relative' : $key)] = $e->getMessage();
             }
         }
+        if (array_key_exists('relative', $item) && ! array_key_exists('color', $item)) {
+            $errors[$field . '.relative'] = 'nur zusammen mit color als Platzhalter {{color:…}}';
+        }
         if (count($errors) > $known || ($id !== null && $entry === $book->entry($id))) {
             return $book;
         }
@@ -313,22 +340,52 @@ final class DiviColorsSetAbility implements Ability, RequiresDiviFeatures
     }
 
     /**
+     * The stored value of $item's color (ruling V5): a checked fixed value, or {{color:…}} with relative resolved
+     * against $book (the planned inventory) into a Divi reference. A main color only takes a fixed value – Divi keeps
+     * it in et_divi, where a reference would break the Customizer.
+     *
      * @param array<array-key, mixed> $item
-     * @throws InvalidArgumentException
+     * @throws InvalidArgumentException Code RELATIVE when the problem is in relative.
      */
-    private static function value(array $item): string
+    private static function value(ColorBook $book, array $item, bool $main): string
     {
         $color = $item['color'];
         if (! is_string($color)) {
             throw new InvalidArgumentException('Farbwert als Text erwartet');
         }
         $color = trim($color);
-        $problem = ColorValue::check($color);
-        if ($problem !== null) {
-            throw new InvalidArgumentException($problem);
+        if (preg_match(self::PLACEHOLDER, $color, $match) !== 1) {
+            if (array_key_exists('relative', $item)) {
+                throw new InvalidArgumentException('nur zusammen mit einem Platzhalter {{color:…}}', self::RELATIVE);
+            }
+            $problem = ColorValue::check($color);
+            if ($problem !== null) {
+                throw new InvalidArgumentException($problem);
+            }
+
+            return $color;
         }
 
-        return $color;
+        if ($main) {
+            throw new InvalidArgumentException('Hauptfarben brauchen einen festen Farbwert, keinen Platzhalter');
+        }
+        $base = $book->find($match[1]);
+        if ($base === null) {
+            throw new InvalidArgumentException(sprintf('unbekannte Farbe „%s“ im Platzhalter', $match[1]));
+        }
+        $relative = $item['relative'] ?? null;
+        if (! is_array($relative)) {
+            throw new InvalidArgumentException(
+                'Pflicht mit einem Platzhalter: {hue, saturation, lightness, opacity}',
+                self::RELATIVE
+            );
+        }
+        $settings = ColorValue::relative($relative);
+        if (is_string($settings)) {
+            throw new InvalidArgumentException($settings, self::RELATIVE);
+        }
+
+        return VariableRef::serialize('color', $base, $settings);
     }
 
     private function newId(ColorBook $book): string
@@ -339,4 +396,57 @@ final class DiviColorsSetAbility implements Ability, RequiresDiviFeatures
 
         return $id;
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Ruling V8: presets and relative colors built on a changed, deactivated or activated color are warnings, never
+     * a block.
+     *
+     * @param list<array<string, mixed>> $diff
+     * @return list<string>
+     */
+    private function warnings(ColorBook $book, array $diff, ?UsageReport $report): array
+    {
+        $presets = null;
+        $warnings = [];
+        $deactivates = false;
+        foreach ($diff as $row) {
+            if ($row['action'] === 'added') {
+                continue;
+            }
+            $deactivated = $row['action'] === 'deactivated';
+            $deactivates = $deactivates || $deactivated;
+            $presets ??= PresetBook::fromDivi($this->writer->presets());
+            $users = array_column($presets->referencing((string) $row['id']), 'name');
+            if ($users !== []) {
+                $warnings[] = sprintf(
+                    $deactivated
+                        ? 'Farbe „%s“ wird deaktiviert, aber noch von Presets verwendet: %s.'
+                        : 'Die Änderung an Farbe „%s“ wirkt auch auf die Presets %s.',
+                    $row['name'],
+                    self::names($users)
+                );
+            }
+            $derived = array_map($book->label(...), $book->referencing((string) $row['id']));
+            if ($derived !== []) {
+                $warnings[] = sprintf(
+                    $deactivated
+                        ? 'Farbe „%1$s“ wird deaktiviert, aber die relativen Farben %2$s bauen auf ihr auf.'
+                        : 'Die relativen Farben %2$s bauen auf Farbe „%1$s“ auf und ändern sich mit.',
+                    $row['name'],
+                    self::names($derived)
+                );
+            }
+        }
+        if ($deactivates && $report !== null && $report->exists()) {
+            $warnings[] = self::IN_USE;
+        }
+
+        return $warnings;
+    }
+
+    /** @param list<string> $names */
+    private static function names(array $names): string
+    {
+        return implode(', ', array_slice($names, 0, self::LISTED)) . (count($names) > self::LISTED ? ', …' : '');
+    }
 }
diff --git a/tests/Unit/Integrations/Divi/Design/DiviColorsSetAbilityTest.php b/tests/Unit/Integrations/Divi/Design/DiviColorsSetAbilityTest.php
index bc19601..9e3e1f5 100644
--- a/tests/Unit/Integrations/Divi/Design/DiviColorsSetAbilityTest.php
+++ b/tests/Unit/Integrations/Divi/Design/DiviColorsSetAbilityTest.php
@@ -7,8 +7,10 @@ namespace LIT\MCP\Tests\Unit\Integrations\Divi\Design;
 use Brain\Monkey\Functions;
 use LIT\MCP\Abilities\Annotations;
 use LIT\MCP\Abilities\WriteFailed;
+use LIT\MCP\Integrations\Divi\Compose\VariableRef;
 use LIT\MCP\Integrations\Divi\Design\ColorBook;
 use LIT\MCP\Integrations\Divi\Design\ColorDiff;
+use LIT\MCP\Integrations\Divi\Design\ColorValue;
 use LIT\MCP\Integrations\Divi\Design\DesignChange;
 use LIT\MCP\Integrations\Divi\Design\DesignSystemWriter;
 use LIT\MCP\Integrations\Divi\Design\DiviColorsSetAbility;
@@ -300,4 +302,140 @@ final class DiviColorsSetAbilityTest extends TestCase
         }
         self::assertSame([false, true], $calls, 'the merge failed, the snapshot replaced all colors');
     }
+
+    /** Ruling V5: {{color:…}} with relative is stored as Divi reference on the named color's ID. */
+    public function testAPlaceholderBecomesARelativeColorOfTheNamedColor(): void
+    {
+        $ability = $this->ability(null, self::snapshots());
+        $input = ['items' => [
+            ['label' => 'Holz hell', 'color' => '{{color:Holz dunkel}}', 'relative' => ['lightness' => 30]],
+        ]];
+
+        $dry = self::assertToolError($ability->execute($input), 'confirm_required');
+        $ability->execute($input + ['confirm' => true, 'design_rev' => $dry['design_rev']]);
+
+        $created = array_values(array_diff_key($this->stored, ColorAreaTest::stored()));
+        self::assertSame(
+            VariableRef::serialize('color', 'gcid-holz000001', ColorValue::relative(['lightness' => 30])),
+            $created[0]['color']
+        );
+    }
+
+    /** Ruling V5: the placeholder is resolved against the planned inventory, also colors of the same call. */
+    public function testAPlaceholderMayNameAColorOfTheSameCall(): void
+    {
+        $ability = $this->ability(null, self::snapshots());
+        $input = ['items' => [
+            ['label' => 'Basis', 'color' => '#112233'],
+            ['label' => 'Basis hell', 'color' => '{{color:basis}}', 'relative' => ['lightness' => 20]],
+        ]];
+
+        $dry = self::assertToolError($ability->execute($input), 'confirm_required');
+        self::assertSame(['added', 'added'], array_column($dry['diff'], 'action'));
+        $ability->execute($input + ['confirm' => true, 'design_rev' => $dry['design_rev']]);
+
+        $byLabel = [];
+        foreach ($this->stored as $id => $entry) {
+            $byLabel[$entry['label']] = ['id' => $id] + $entry;
+        }
+        self::assertSame(
+            VariableRef::serialize('color', $byLabel['Basis']['id'], ColorValue::relative(['lightness' => 20])),
+            $byLabel['Basis hell']['color']
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function testPlaceholderProblemsAreCollected(): void
+    {
+        $error = $this->ability()->execute(['items' => [
+            ['label' => 'A', 'color' => '{{color:Fehlt}}', 'relative' => ['lightness' => 10]],
+            ['label' => 'B', 'color' => '#ffffff', 'relative' => ['lightness' => 10]],
+            ['id' => 'primary', 'color' => '{{color:Holz dunkel}}', 'relative' => ['lightness' => 10]],
+            ['label' => 'C', 'color' => '{{color:Holz dunkel}}', 'relative' => ['farbe' => 10]],
+            ['id' => 'Sand', 'relative' => ['lightness' => 10]],
+            ['label' => 'D', 'color' => VariableRef::serialize('color', 'gcid-holz000001', [])],
+            ['label' => 'E', 'color' => '{{color:Holz dunkel}}'],
+        ]]);
+
+        self::assertToolError($error, 'validation_failed');
+        self::assertSame(
+            ['items[0].color', 'items[1].relative', 'items[2].color', 'items[3].relative', 'items[4].relative',
+                'items[5].color', 'items[6].relative'],
+            array_keys(self::errorFields($error))
+        );
+    }
+
+    /** Ruling V5: Sand is built on Holz dunkel – Holz dunkel built on Sand would be a cycle. */
+    public function testRelativeColorsMustNotFormACycle(): void
+    {
+        $error = $this->ability()->execute(['items' => [
+            ['id' => 'Holz dunkel', 'color' => '{{color:Sand}}', 'relative' => ['lightness' => -40]],
+        ]]);
+
+        self::assertToolError($error, 'validation_failed');
+        $fields = self::errorFields($error);
+        self::assertSame(['items'], array_keys($fields));
+        self::assertStringContainsString('Sand', $fields['items']);
+        self::assertSame([], $this->saves);
+    }
+
+    /** Ruling V8: presets and relative colors built on a changed color are warnings, never a block. */
+    public function testChangesWarnAboutPresetsAndRelativeColorsBuiltOnTheColor(): void
+    {
+        $dry = self::assertToolError(
+            $this->ability(null, null, PresetBookTest::storedWithReferences())
+                ->execute(['items' => [['id' => 'Holz dunkel', 'color' => '#000000']]]),
+            'confirm_required'
+        );
+
+        self::assertSame([
+            'Die Änderung an Farbe „Holz dunkel“ wirkt auch auf die Presets CTA primär.',
+            'Die relativen Farben Sand bauen auf Farbe „Holz dunkel“ auf und ändern sich mit.',
+        ], $dry['warnings']);
+    }
+
+    public function testDeactivatingAUsedColorWarnsAndListsTheUsages(): void
+    {
+        $dry = self::assertToolError(
+            $this->ability(self::usages(self::used()), null, PresetBookTest::storedWithReferences())
+                ->execute(['items' => [['id' => 'Holz dunkel', 'status' => 'inactive']]]),
+            'confirm_required'
+        );
+
+        self::assertSame(7, $dry['affected'][0]['post_id']);
+        self::assertSame([
+            'Farbe „Holz dunkel“ wird deaktiviert, aber noch von Presets verwendet: CTA primär.',
+            'Farbe „Holz dunkel“ wird deaktiviert, aber die relativen Farben Sand bauen auf ihr auf.',
+            'Die unter affected genannten Inhalte verweisen auf geänderte oder deaktivierte Farben; deaktivierte '
+                . 'Farben bleiben dort als Verweis stehen.',
+        ], $dry['warnings']);
+    }
+
+    public function testNewColorsHaveNoWarnings(): void
+    {
+        $dry = self::assertToolError(
+            $this->ability(null, null, PresetBookTest::storedWithReferences())
+                ->execute(['items' => [['label' => 'Weiß', 'color' => 'white']]]),
+            'confirm_required'
+        );
+
+        self::assertSame([], $dry['warnings']);
+    }
+
+    /** Review note: ColorBook::with() replaces, so a changed color keeps usedInPosts and its other fields. */
+    public function testChangingAColorKeepsItsUsedInPostsAndOtherFields(): void
+    {
+        $this->stored['gcid-holz000001']['usedInPosts'] = [7, 9];
+        $ability = $this->ability();
+        $input = ['items' => [['id' => 'Holz dunkel', 'color' => '#000000']]];
+        $dry = self::assertToolError($ability->execute($input), 'confirm_required');
+        $snapshots = Mockery::mock(SnapshotStore::class);
+        $snapshots->allows('save')->andReturn('colors-1');
+        $snapshots->allows('attachLog');
+
+        $this->ability(null, $snapshots)->execute($input + ['confirm' => true, 'design_rev' => $dry['design_rev']]);
+
+        $saved = $this->saves[0][0]['gcid-holz000001'];
+        self::assertSame([7, 9], $saved['usedInPosts']);
+        self::assertSame(['Holz dunkel', '#000000'], [$saved['label'], $saved['color']]);
+    }
 }