# Dark mode semantic colours and SF Symbols in status items > Source-anchored research for Dark mode semantic colours and SF Symbols in status items. Run status: COMPLETED. Parent: [macOS Menu-Bar App Design](https://llms-explorer.com/tree/macos-menu-bar-app-design/) · 3 facets · 6 facts · page: https://llms-explorer.com/tree/dark-mode-semantic-colours-and-sf-symbols-in-status-items/ ## Structure and components - SF Symbols have four rendering modes (monochrome, hierarchical, palette, multicolor); monochrome applies one colour to all layers, which is the mode that suits an adaptive menu bar glyph. (medium confidence) — [source](https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/foundations/sf-symbols) ## How it works - NSImage.SymbolConfiguration(paletteColors:) yields a non-template, permanently coloured glyph. One app used it for a green active dot because vibrancy-disabling did not stop the colour shifting to blue on the dimmed menu bar of a non-key screen. (low confidence) — [source](https://github.com/ostd6212/StayActive/pull/28) ## Facts and statements - A template NSImage (isTemplate = true) uses only its alpha channel; the system fills it with the correct colour for light/dark menu bar and highlighted state. (medium confidence) — [source](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/appkit/nsimage/istemplate) - NSButton only recolours a template image with contentTintColor. Setting isTemplate = false before contentTintColor silently discards the tint: states rendered black (invisible on a dark menu bar) and SF Symbols fell back to default multicolor. (low confidence) — [source](https://github.com/schmug/contextbuddy/pull/43) - In SwiftUI MenuBarExtra, Image(systemName:).renderingMode(.original).foregroundStyle(.red) still renders grey in the menu bar. Workaround reported in an Apple forum thread: build an NSImage with NSImage.SymbolConfiguration().applying(.preferringMulticolor()) and wrap it in Image(nsImage:). (low confidence) — [source](https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/738716) - On macOS 26 Tahoe and 27 the menu bar is transparent by default, painted from the wallpaper; system text/icon colour is chosen automatically (white or black) from the brightness behind the bar. Users can enable 'Show menu bar background', Reduce transparency, and the Liquid Glass Clear/Tinted toggle (26.1) or slider (27). Fixed-colour icons therefore need contrast checks on bright and dark wallpapers. (low confidence) (verified as of 2026-10-02) — [source](https://www.publicspace.net/blog/change-menu-bar-color-mac/)