diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs
index 6903e7c3..8fb22ba3 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs
@@ -1680,12 +1680,20 @@ fn gutter(checked: bool) -> egui::Atom<'static> {
 }
 
 fn menu_entry(app: &EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, e: &MenuEntry) -> bool {
-    let label = entry_label(app, e);
-    let mut b = egui::Button::new((gutter(entry_checked(app, e) == Some(true)), label));
+    let (label, check, enabled) = (entry_label(app, e), gutter(entry_checked(app, e) == Some(true)), entry_enabled(app, e));
+    // Edit ▸ Label's entries show the label's colour before its name.
+    if e.command == "edit.label"
+        && let Some(l) = e.params.get("label").and_then(Value::as_str).and_then(effectcraft_engine::color::Label::from_name)
+    {
+        let out = ui.add_enabled_ui(enabled, |ui| egui::Button::new((check, crate::widgets::label_swatch(), label)).atom_ui(ui)).inner;
+        crate::widgets::paint_label_swatch(ui, &out, l, &app.tokens);
+        return out.response.clicked();
+    }
+    let mut b = egui::Button::new((check, label));
     if let Some(s) = entry_shortcut(app, e) {
         b = b.shortcut_text(shortcut_text(&s));
     }
-    ui.add_enabled(entry_enabled(app, e), b).clicked()
+    ui.add_enabled(enabled, b).clicked()
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/markers_ui.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/markers_ui.rs
index e6bcfa64..16fff58e 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/markers_ui.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/markers_ui.rs
@@ -190,12 +190,10 @@ pub fn dialog(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context, t: &Tokens) {
             let labels = effectcraft_engine::color::Label::ALL;
             let cur = labels.get(d.label).copied().unwrap_or_default();
             let r = egui::ComboBox::from_id_salt("dialog.marker.label").selected_text(app.session.prefs.label_name(cur)).show_ui(ui, |ui| {
-                for (i, l) in labels.iter().enumerate() {
-                    ui.horizontal(|ui| {
-                        let (r, _) = ui.allocate_exact_size(vec2(10.0, 10.0), Sense::hover());
-                        ui.painter().rect_filled(r, 2.0, app.tokens.label(*l));
-                        ui.selectable_value(&mut d.label, i, app.session.prefs.label_name(*l));
-                    });
+                for (i, l) in labels.into_iter().enumerate() {
+                    if crate::widgets::label_entry(ui, l, &app.session.prefs.label_name(l), d.label == i, &app.tokens).clicked() {
+                        d.label = i;
+                    }
                 }
             });
             app.auto.add("dialog.marker.label", r.response.rect, "Label");
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/project.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/project.rs
index 9ea7a0ff..0c7b971b 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/project.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/project.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 
+use effectcraft_engine::color::Label;
 use effectcraft_engine::project::{Item, ItemId, ItemKind};
 use egui::{Align2, Color32, Rect, Sense, Stroke, pos2, vec2};
 use serde_json::json;
@@ -485,14 +486,11 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
         let sresp = ui.interact(sw.expand(3.0).intersect(list), egui::Id::new(("plabel", id.0)), Sense::click());
         app.auto.add(&format!("project.item.{}.label", id.0), sw, it.label.name());
         let pop = egui::Id::new(("plabel-pop", id.0));
-        if sresp.clicked() {
+        if sresp.clicked() || sresp.secondary_clicked() {
             widgets::open_popup(ui, pop);
         }
-        let names: Vec<String> = effectcraft_engine::color::Label::ALL.iter().map(|l| app.session.prefs.label_name(*l)).collect();
-        let cur = effectcraft_engine::color::Label::ALL.iter().position(|l| *l == it.label);
-        if let Some(li) = widgets::popup_menu(ui, pop, sw.left_bottom(), &names, cur) {
-            let items: Vec<u64> = if selected { app.session.state.project_selection.iter().map(|i| i.0).collect() } else { vec![id.0] };
-            actions.push(("project.setLabel".into(), json!({"items": items, "label": li})));
+        if let Some(l) = widgets::label_popup(ui, pop, sw.left_bottom(), it.label, |l| app.session.prefs.label_name(l), &t) {
+            actions.push(("project.setLabel".into(), json!({"items": targets(app, *id, selected), "label": label_index(l)})));
         }
         // Optional columns.
         for (key, _, cx, w) in cols.iter().skip(2) {
@@ -576,8 +574,7 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
         }
         resp.context_menu(|ui| {
             if ui.button("Delete").clicked() {
-                let items: Vec<u64> = if selected { app.session.state.project_selection.iter().map(|i| i.0).collect() } else { vec![id.0] };
-                actions.push(("project.delete".into(), json!({"items": items})));
+                actions.push(("project.delete".into(), json!({"items": targets(app, *id, selected)})));
                 ui.close();
             }
             if matches!(it.kind, ItemKind::Comp(_)) && ui.button("Open Composition").clicked() {
@@ -604,6 +601,15 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
                 }
                 ui.close();
             }
+            ui.separator();
+            ui.menu_button("Label", |ui| {
+                for l in Label::ALL {
+                    if widgets::label_entry(ui, l, &app.session.prefs.label_name(l), l == it.label, &t).clicked() {
+                        actions.push(("project.setLabel".into(), json!({"items": targets(app, *id, selected), "label": label_index(l)})));
+                        ui.close();
+                    }
+                }
+            });
         });
     }
     // The scroll bars, over the rows (which would take their presses otherwise).
@@ -775,6 +781,16 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
     }
 }
 
+/// Items a row's menu acts on: the selection when the row is selected, else the row's item.
+fn targets(app: &EffectcraftApp, id: ItemId, selected: bool) -> Vec<u64> {
+    if selected { app.session.state.project_selection.iter().map(|i| i.0).collect() } else { vec![id.0] }
+}
+
+/// `project.setLabel`'s index of a label.
+fn label_index(l: Label) -> usize {
+    Label::ALL.iter().position(|x| *x == l).unwrap_or(0)
+}
+
 /// The column header's context menu: show or hide the optional columns.
 fn column_menu(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, resp: &egui::Response) {
     resp.context_menu(|ui| {
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs
index c9456b4e..e58bf9e5 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs
@@ -1599,15 +1599,14 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
                     lp.rect_filled(lr, 2.0, t.label(layer.label));
                     let lresp = ui.interact(lr, egui::Id::new(("label", layer.id.0)), Sense::click());
                     app.auto.add(&format!("timeline.layer.{}.label", layer.id.0), lr, layer.label.name());
-                    lresp.context_menu(|ui| {
-                        for lab in effectcraft_engine::color::Label::ALL {
-                            let name = if lab == effectcraft_engine::color::Label::None { lab.name().to_string() } else { app.session.prefs.label_name(lab) };
-                            if ui.button(name).clicked() {
-                                actions.push(("edit.label".into(), json!({"layers": [layer.id.0], "label": lab.name()})));
-                                ui.close();
-                            }
-                        }
-                    });
+                    // Click (or right-click) the swatch for the label menu (After Effects).
+                    let pop = egui::Id::new(("label-pop", layer.id.0));
+                    if lresp.clicked() || lresp.secondary_clicked() {
+                        widgets::open_popup(ui, pop);
+                    }
+                    if let Some(lab) = widgets::label_popup(ui, pop, lr.left_bottom(), layer.label, |l| app.session.prefs.label_name(l), &t) {
+                        actions.push(("edit.label".into(), json!({"layers": [layer.id.0], "label": lab.name()})));
+                    }
                 }
                 if vis.num {
                     lp.text(pos2(cw.num + 13.0, cy), Align2::CENTER_CENTER, format!("{}", idx_of(layer.id)), Tokens::ui(11.5), t.text_dim);
@@ -2384,8 +2383,8 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
                                 if lbl == "Select All Keyframes" {
                                     // Keyframe colour labels.
                                     ui.menu_button("Label", |ui| {
-                                        for (i, l) in effectcraft_engine::color::Label::ALL.iter().enumerate() {
-                                            if ui.add(egui::Button::new(l.name()).selected(k.label as usize == i)).clicked() {
+                                        for (i, l) in effectcraft_engine::color::Label::ALL.into_iter().enumerate() {
+                                            if widgets::label_entry(ui, l, &app.session.prefs.label_name(l), k.label as usize == i, &t).clicked() {
                                                 if !ks {
                                                     actions.push((
                                                         "keys.select".into(),
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/widgets.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/widgets.rs
index 54a3bfe3..5a7971a2 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/widgets.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/widgets.rs
@@ -365,6 +365,61 @@ pub fn check_label(on: bool, label: &str) -> String {
     if on { format!("✓ {label}") } else { format!("   {label}") }
 }
 
+fn label_swatch_id() -> egui::Id {
+    egui::Id::new("label-swatch")
+}
+
+/// The colour swatch of a Label menu row, as an atom for its button: Label menus show each
+/// label's colour before its name (After Effects), so a label is picked by its colour. Paint it
+/// with [`paint_label_swatch`] once the button is laid out.
+pub fn label_swatch() -> egui::Atom<'static> {
+    egui::Atom::custom(label_swatch_id(), vec2(12.0, 12.0))
+}
+
+/// Paint the [`label_swatch`] of a laid-out button: label `l`'s colour, an empty box for None.
+pub fn paint_label_swatch(ui: &Ui, out: &egui::AtomLayoutResponse, l: effectcraft_engine::color::Label, t: &Tokens) {
+    let Some(r) = out.rect(label_swatch_id()) else { return };
+    let r = Rect::from_center_size(r.center(), vec2(11.0, 11.0));
+    if l == effectcraft_engine::color::Label::None {
+        ui.painter().rect_stroke(r, 2.0, Stroke::new(1.0, t.text_dim), StrokeKind::Inside);
+    } else {
+        ui.painter().rect_filled(r, 2.0, t.label(l));
+    }
+}
+
+/// A Label menu row: label `l`'s swatch then `name`, highlighted when it is the `current` label.
+pub fn label_entry(ui: &mut Ui, l: effectcraft_engine::color::Label, name: &str, current: bool, t: &Tokens) -> Response {
+    let out = egui::Button::selectable(current, (label_swatch(), name)).atom_ui(ui);
+    paint_label_swatch(ui, &out, l, t);
+    out.response
+}
+
+/// The open label menu `id` at `pos` (open it with [`open_popup`]): every label's swatch and its
+/// name from Settings ▸ Labels (`name`). Returns the chosen label.
+pub fn label_popup(
+    ui: &mut Ui,
+    id: egui::Id,
+    pos: egui::Pos2,
+    current: effectcraft_engine::color::Label,
+    name: impl Fn(effectcraft_engine::color::Label) -> String,
+    t: &Tokens,
+) -> Option<effectcraft_engine::color::Label> {
+    if !popup_is_open(ui, id) {
+        return None;
+    }
+    let labels = effectcraft_engine::color::Label::ALL;
+    popup_list(ui, id, pos, Rect::NOTHING, labels.len(), 0, |ui| {
+        ui.set_min_width(160.0);
+        let mut chosen = None;
+        for l in labels {
+            if label_entry(ui, l, &name(l), l == current, t).clicked() {
+                chosen = Some(l);
+            }
+        }
+        chosen
+    })
+}
+
 /// Show a popup menu anchored at `pos` with string options; returns the chosen index.
 pub fn popup_menu(ui: &mut Ui, id: egui::Id, pos: egui::Pos2, options: &[String], current: Option<usize>) -> Option<usize> {
     if !popup_is_open(ui, id) {
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_panels.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_panels.rs
index 6b8bd4a5..9fd7d94b 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_panels.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_panels.rs
@@ -153,6 +153,29 @@ fn saved_workspace_is_listed_in_the_workspace_menu() {
     assert_eq!(h.state().ui.dock, saved, "its layout came back");
 }
 
+/// Edit ▸ Label shows each label's colour before its name (#290), and choosing one labels the
+/// selected layer.
+#[test]
+fn edit_label_menu_shows_the_label_colours() {
+    let mut h = harness();
+    click(&mut h, "menu.Edit");
+    let label = h.query_by_label(" Label ⏵").expect("Edit ▸ Label").rect();
+    hover(&mut h, label.center());
+    // (Not Dark Green; the entry's label starts with its check-mark column.)
+    let green = h.query_by_label(" Green").expect("the Label submenu is open").rect();
+    let col = h.state().tokens.label(effectcraft_engine::color::Label::Green);
+    let swatch = |s: &egui::Shape| matches!(s, egui::Shape::Rect(r) if r.fill == col && r.rect.width() < 16.0 && green.contains(r.rect.center()));
+    let shapes: Vec<egui::Shape> = h.output().shapes.iter().map(|c| c.shape.clone()).collect();
+    assert!(shapes.iter().any(|s| swatch(s) || matches!(s, egui::Shape::Vec(v) if v.iter().any(swatch))), "no Green swatch");
+    // Into the submenu, then down to Green.
+    hover(&mut h, pos2(green.center().x, label.center().y));
+    for k in 1..=10 {
+        hover(&mut h, pos2(green.center().x, label.center().y + (green.center().y - label.center().y) * k as f32 / 10.0));
+    }
+    click_at(&mut h, green.center());
+    assert_eq!(h.state().session.active_comp().unwrap().layers[0].label, effectcraft_engine::color::Label::Green);
+}
+
 /// Learn opens the Home screen's tutorials; clicking another workspace tab closes them again,
 /// however quickly the tabs are clicked (they stayed over every workspace, #272).
 #[test]
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_project_rows.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_project_rows.rs
index 1fc07668..f2a44fc5 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_project_rows.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_project_rows.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use effectcraft_engine::Session;
 use effectcraft_engine::color::Label;
 use effectcraft_engine::project::{ItemId, ItemKind};
 use effectcraft_ui_egui::EffectcraftApp;
-use egui::{Event, Modifiers, Pos2, pos2};
+use egui::{Color32, Event, Modifiers, Pos2, Rect, pos2};
 use egui_kittest::Harness;
 use egui_kittest::kittest::Queryable;
 use serde_json::json;
@@ -80,6 +80,18 @@ fn folder_twirl_opens_and_closes_the_folder_on_one_click() {
     assert!(h.state().ui.project_open_folders.contains(&folder.0), "a double-click on the row opens the folder");
 }
 
+/// A swatch (a small rect filled with `col`) painted this frame in the left half of `row`.
+fn swatch_in(h: &Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>, row: Rect, col: Color32) -> bool {
+    fn walk(s: &egui::Shape, row: Rect, col: Color32) -> bool {
+        match s {
+            egui::Shape::Rect(r) => r.fill == col && r.rect.width() < 16.0 && row.contains(r.rect.center()) && r.rect.center().x < row.center().x,
+            egui::Shape::Vec(v) => v.iter().any(|s| walk(s, row, col)),
+            _ => false,
+        }
+    }
+    h.output().shapes.iter().any(|c| walk(&c.shape, row, col))
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn label_swatch_opens_the_label_menu() {
     let (mut h, _, _, solid) = harness();
@@ -89,6 +101,8 @@ fn label_swatch_opens_the_label_menu() {
     click(&mut h, &format!("project.item.{}.label", solid.0));
     assert!(h.state().session.state.project_selection.is_empty(), "the swatch does not select the row");
     let entry = h.query_by_label(&green).expect("the label menu is open").rect();
+    // Each entry shows its colour before its name (#290).
+    assert!(swatch_in(&h, entry, h.state().tokens.label(Label::Green)), "no {green} swatch");
     let undo = h.state().session.history.undo.len();
     click_at(&mut h, entry.center());
     assert_eq!(h.state().session.project.item(solid).unwrap().label, Label::Green);
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_timeline_switches.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_timeline_switches.rs
index 9c410af9..20f861d4 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_timeline_switches.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_timeline_switches.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,15 @@
 //! Timeline layer switches with real pointer input (egui_kittest): pressing a switch and
 //! dragging over other layers gives them all the state the first one got, in one undo step, as
-//! in After Effects (#227); stopwatches the same way (#284). Also the layer bar past its source
-//! (#290).
+//! in After Effects (#227); stopwatches the same way (#284). Also the label swatch's menu and the
+//! layer bar past its source (#290).
 
 use effectcraft_engine::Session;
+use effectcraft_engine::color::Label;
 use effectcraft_engine::project::LayerId;
 use effectcraft_ui_egui::EffectcraftApp;
-use egui::{Event, Modifiers, Pos2, Rect, pos2, vec2};
+use egui::{Color32, Event, Modifiers, Pos2, Rect, pos2, vec2};
 use egui_kittest::Harness;
+use egui_kittest::kittest::Queryable;
 use serde_json::json;
 
 /// Comp "Main" with solids A (top) to D (bottom); returns their ids top to bottom.
@@ -146,6 +148,38 @@ fn dragging_over_stopwatches_sets_them_all() {
     assert_eq!(animated(&h), [true; 5], "each drag was one step");
 }
 
+/// A swatch (a small rect filled with `col`) painted this frame in the left half of `row`.
+fn swatch_in(h: &Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>, row: Rect, col: Color32) -> bool {
+    fn walk(s: &egui::Shape, row: Rect, col: Color32) -> bool {
+        match s {
+            egui::Shape::Rect(r) => r.fill == col && r.rect.width() < 16.0 && row.contains(r.rect.center()) && r.rect.center().x < row.center().x,
+            egui::Shape::Vec(v) => v.iter().any(|s| walk(s, row, col)),
+            _ => false,
+        }
+    }
+    h.output().shapes.iter().any(|c| walk(&c.shape, row, col))
+}
+
+/// Clicking a layer's label swatch opens the label menu, which shows each label's colour before
+/// its name, so a label is picked by its colour (#290).
+#[test]
+fn the_label_swatch_menu_shows_the_label_colours() {
+    let (mut h, ids) = harness();
+    let green = h.state().session.prefs.label_name(Label::Green);
+    let at = rect(&h, &format!("timeline.layer.{}.label", ids[1])).center();
+    drag(&mut h, at, at, 1);
+    let entry = h.query_by_label(&green).expect("the label menu is open").rect();
+    for l in [Label::Green, Label::SeaFoam, Label::Purple] {
+        let e = h.query_by_label(&h.state().session.prefs.label_name(l)).unwrap().rect();
+        assert!(swatch_in(&h, e, h.state().tokens.label(l)), "no {l:?} swatch");
+    }
+    let undo = h.state().session.history.undo.len();
+    drag(&mut h, entry.center(), entry.center(), 1);
+    assert_eq!(h.state().session.active_comp().unwrap().layer(LayerId(ids[1])).unwrap().label, Label::Green);
+    assert_eq!(h.state().session.history.undo.len(), undo + 1);
+    assert!(h.query_by_label(&green).is_none(), "the menu closed after the choice");
+}
+
 /// A layer extended past its source's end (its last frame held) has that part of its bar
 /// striped, so the source's own span shows (#290); with time remapping it isn't.
 #[test]