diff --git a/color.lisp b/color.lisp
index 2085fbc..5ada58a 100644
--- a/color.lisp
+++ b/color.lisp
@@ -66,31 +66,38 @@ then call (update-color-map).")
   (xlib:alloc-color (xlib:screen-default-colormap (screen-number screen)) color))
 
 (defun lookup-color (screen color)
-  (cond
-    ((typep color 'xlib:color) color)
-    (t (xlib:lookup-color (xlib:screen-default-colormap (screen-number screen)) color))))
+  (flet ((hex ()
+           (apply #'xlib:make-color
+                  (loop for (x y) in '((:red 16) (:green 8) (:blue 0))
+                     nconcing (list x (/ (ldb (byte 8 y) color)
+                                         256))))))
+    (cond ((integerp color) (hex))
+          ((typep color 'xlib:color) color)
+          (t (xlib:lookup-color (xlib:screen-default-colormap (screen-number screen)) color)))))
 
 ;; Normal colors are dimmed and bright colors are intensified in order
 ;; to more closely resemble the VGA pallet.
 (defun update-color-map (screen)
   "Read *colors* and cache their pixel colors for use when rendering colored text."
-  (let ((scm (xlib:screen-default-colormap (screen-number screen))))
-    (labels ((map-colors (amt)
-               (loop for c in *colors*
-                     as color = (lookup-color screen c)
-                     do (adjust-color color amt)
-                     collect (xlib:alloc-color scm color))))
-      (setf (screen-color-map-normal screen) (apply #'vector (map-colors -0.25))
-            (screen-color-map-bright screen) (apply #'vector (map-colors 0.25))))))
+  (labels ((map-colors (amt)
+             (loop for c in *colors*
+                as color =  (lookup-color screen c)
+                do (adjust-color color amt)
+                collect (alloc-color screen color))))
+    (let ((amt (if *bright-colors*
+                   '(-0.25 . 0.25)
+                   '(0.0 . 0.0))))
+      (setf (screen-color-map-normal screen) (apply #'vector (map-colors (car amt)))
+            (screen-color-map-bright screen) (apply #'vector (map-colors (cdr amt)))))))
 
 (defun update-screen-color-context (screen)
-  (let* ((cc (screen-message-cc screen))
-         (bright (lookup-color screen *text-color*)))
-    (setf
-     (ccontext-default-fg cc) (screen-fg-color screen)
-     (ccontext-default-bg cc) (screen-bg-color screen))
-    (adjust-color bright 0.25)
-    (setf (ccontext-default-bright cc) (alloc-color screen bright))))
+  (let ((cc (screen-message-cc screen))
+        (bright (lookup-color screen *text-color*)))
+    (when *bright-colors*
+      (adjust-color bright 0.25))
+    (setf (ccontext-default-fg cc) (screen-fg-color screen)
+          (ccontext-default-bg cc) (screen-bg-color screen)
+          (ccontext-default-bright cc) (alloc-color screen bright))))
 
 (defun get-bg-color (screen cc color)
   (setf *background* color)
diff --git a/mode-line.lisp b/mode-line.lisp
index d30dfb9..42c3bc2 100644
--- a/mode-line.lisp
+++ b/mode-line.lisp
@@ -282,8 +282,8 @@ critical."
   (xlib:create-window
    :parent parent
    :x 0 :y 0 :width 1 :height 1
-   :background (alloc-color screen *mode-line-background-color*)
-   :border (alloc-color screen *mode-line-border-color*)
+   :background (alloc-color screen (lookup-color screen *mode-line-background-color*))
+   :border (alloc-color screen (lookup-color screen *mode-line-border-color*))
    :border-width *mode-line-border-width*
    ;; You can click the modeline
    :event-mask (xlib:make-event-mask :button-press :exposure)
@@ -350,15 +350,16 @@ critical."
 (defun make-mode-line-gc (window screen)
   (xlib:create-gcontext :drawable window
                         :font (screen-font screen)
-                        :foreground (alloc-color screen *mode-line-foreground-color*)
-                        :background (alloc-color screen *mode-line-background-color*)))
+                        :foreground (alloc-color screen (lookup-color screen *mode-line-foreground-color*))
+                        :background (alloc-color screen (lookup-color screen *mode-line-background-color*))))
 
 
 (defun update-mode-line-color-context (ml)
   (let* ((cc (mode-line-cc ml))
          (screen (mode-line-screen ml))
          (bright (lookup-color screen *mode-line-foreground-color*)))
-    (adjust-color bright 0.25)
+    (when *bright-colors*
+      (adjust-color bright 0.25))
     (setf (ccontext-default-bright cc) (alloc-color screen bright))))
 
 (defun make-head-mode-line (screen head format)
diff --git a/primitives.lisp b/primitives.lisp
index 50d062e..c37a028 100644
--- a/primitives.lisp
+++ b/primitives.lisp
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@
           *default-group-name*
           *window-border-style*
           *data-dir*
+          *bright-colors*
           add-hook
           clear-window-placement-rules
           concat
@@ -153,6 +154,9 @@ be an integer.")
 (defvar *grab-pointer-count* 0
   "The number of times the pointer has been grabbed")
 
+(defvar *bright-colors* t
+  "Make colors brighter. This is the default.")
+
 ;;; Hooks
 
 (defvar *command-mode-start-hook* '(command-mode-start-message)
diff --git a/screen.lisp b/screen.lisp
index ab708c3..562dbf4 100644
--- a/screen.lisp
+++ b/screen.lisp
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ identity with a range check."
 
 (defmacro set-any-color (val color)
   `(progn (dolist (s *screen-list*)
-            (setf (,val s) (alloc-color s ,color)))
+            (setf (,val s) (alloc-color s (lookup-color s ,color))))
     (update-colors-all-screens)))
 
 ;; FIXME: I don't like any of this.  Isn't there a way to define