Can anyone explain the Figma colour system?

Hello.

I’m relatively new(ish) to Figma and find it very frustrating. It’s like trying to paint in boxing gloves. Could anyone explain to me how the colour library works?

I have three brand colours, each with tints. I set them up as variables and local styles. I cannot export them to another file. Why?

Everyone suggests a plugin, so I found one. It doesn’t work.

When I want to change the colour of an object via the Fill option, the panel gives me a Libraries panel (Square icons) with a Styles panel at the bottom (circular icons).

The Custom tab gives me a colour picker and the Library colours.

I can choose the tints from the Library but not in the Styles panel, despite having them set there (via the edit style icon).

So my question is. How on earth are you supposed to set and maintain a brand colour palette that you can use on multiple Figma files?

Local styles? Make a library and somehow export a JSON file? Eyedrop each time? Guess?

What do you think is best practice?

Thanks,
Will

Why don’t the colour variables set on objects in a frame copy into another file?

What’s the difference between variables and styles?

It’s baffling to me.