diff --git a/src/examples/colors/README.md b/src/examples/colors/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..79314373
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/examples/colors/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+## colors
+
+Prints every color Compy can draw, then paints a picture using only
+colors you can call by name.
+
+Press `Space` to swap between the two screens.
+
+### The palette
+
+Compy knows 64 colors, numbered `0` to `63`. You can always ask for one
+by number:
+
+```lua
+gfx.setColor(Color[2])
+```
+
+...but numbers are hard to read, so every color also has a name. The
+name *is* the number — `Color.red` is just another way of writing `2`:
+
+```lua
+gfx.setColor(Color[Color.red])
+```
+
+Both lines draw exactly the same red. Use the name; a reader of your
+program should not have to remember what `2` looks like.
+
+### Plain and bright
+
+Every color comes in two strengths. The plain one is what you get from
+the name on its own. Add `Color.bright` for the strong one:
+
+```lua
+gfx.setColor(Color[Color.red])                 -- a deep red
+gfx.setColor(Color[Color.red + Color.bright])  -- a vivid red
+```
+
+This works because a name is a number, so you really are doing
+arithmetic: `Color.bright` is `8`, and `Color.red` is `2`, so
+`Color.red + Color.bright` is `10`. That is why every entry on the
+list screen carries a small square to its right: the wide block is
+`2 red`, and the square beside it is `10`, the same red gone bright.
+
+The plain version is the bright one at three quarters strength. Black
+is the one color where this changes nothing, so `0` and `8` are both
+black.
+
+### Groups of sixteen
+
+The 64 colors come in four groups of sixteen. Within any group, the
+first eight are the plain colors and the next eight are the same eight
+gone bright, which is why adding `8` always moves you from one to the
+other.
+
+| Numbers | What lives there |
+| --- | --- |
+| `0`-`15` | the classic eight: black, blue, red, magenta, green, cyan, yellow, white |
+| `16`-`31` | the everyday extras: orange, brown, tan, pink, purple, grey and friends |
+| `32`-`47` | colors that fill in the color wheel: coral, gold, turquoise, azure |
+| `48`-`63` | soft, pale colors: khaki, mint, lavender, powderblue |
+
+### Reading the picture
+
+The second screen is drawn with nothing but named colors — no raw
+numbers anywhere. Look at `drawTree` for the shortest example:
+
+```lua
+function drawTree(x, y)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.brown])
+  gfx.rectangle("fill", x - 12, y - 78, 24, 84)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.springgreen])
+  gfx.circle("fill", x, y - 116, 52)
+  ...
+end
+```
+
+A trunk in plain `brown`, then leaves in `springgreen` with brighter
+greens layered on top. Nowhere does the code say `#964B00`; it says
+`brown`, and the reader can picture it.
+
+### Try it
+
+* Change a color name in `drawHouse` and run it again.
+* Take `Color.bright` off the sun and watch it dull.
+* Add a flower to the `FLOWERS` list. Each entry is `{ x, y, color }`.
diff --git a/src/examples/colors/main.lua b/src/examples/colors/main.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3f8fc24e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/examples/colors/main.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,245 @@
+-- Every color Compy can draw. Each cell is filled with the
+-- color it names and labelled with its number; the cell to
+-- its right is the same color plus Color.bright.
+-- Press Space for a picture painted only with named colors.
+WIDTH, HEIGHT = gfx.getDimensions()
+SCREEN = 0
+SCREENS = 2
+
+NAMES = {
+  "black",
+  "blue",
+  "red",
+  "magenta",
+  "green",
+  "cyan",
+  "yellow",
+  "white",
+  "orange",
+  "brown",
+  "tan",
+  "yellowgreen",
+  "skyblue",
+  "purple",
+  "pink",
+  "gray",
+  "coral",
+  "gold",
+  "limegreen",
+  "springgreen",
+  "turquoise",
+  "azure",
+  "slateblue",
+  "crimson",
+  "khaki",
+  "salmon",
+  "mint",
+  "powderblue",
+  "lavender",
+  "orchid",
+  "royalblue",
+  "slategray",
+}
+
+-- list geometry: 11 rows of 3 names. Cell height follows the
+-- font rather than a guess, so rows cannot overlap.
+CELL_H = gfx.getFont():getHeight() + 6
+TEXT_DY = 3
+TOP = CELL_H + 2
+ROWS = 11
+ROW_STEP = (HEIGHT - TOP - 4) / ROWS
+NAME_W = 244
+CHIP_W = 48
+BLOCK_STEP = 330
+BLOCK_X0 = 16
+
+-- picture geometry
+HORIZON = 350
+FLOWERS = {
+  { 150, 470, Color.pink + Color.bright },
+  { 205, 505, Color.orchid + Color.bright },
+  { 262, 462, Color.lavender + Color.bright },
+  { 330, 520, Color.salmon + Color.bright },
+  { 700, 470, Color.crimson + Color.bright },
+  { 762, 512, Color.lavender + Color.bright },
+  { 830, 466, Color.pink + Color.bright },
+  { 900, 528, Color.orchid + Color.bright },
+}
+
+gfx.setBackgroundColor(Color[Color.black])
+
+function indexOf(row)
+  local tier = math.floor(row / 8)
+  return tier * 16 + row % 8
+end
+
+function labelFor(i)
+  local c = Color[i]
+  local lum = 0.299 * c[1] + 0.587 * c[2] + 0.114 * c[3]
+  if lum > 0.55 then
+    return Color[Color.black]
+  end
+  return Color[Color.white + Color.bright]
+end
+
+function drawNameCell(i, text, x, y)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[i])
+  gfx.rectangle("fill", x, y, NAME_W, CELL_H)
+  gfx.setColor(labelFor(i))
+  gfx.print(text, x + 7, y + TEXT_DY)
+end
+
+function drawChip(i, x, y)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[i])
+  gfx.rectangle("fill", x, y, CHIP_W, CELL_H)
+  gfx.setColor(labelFor(i))
+  gfx.print(tostring(i), x + 7, y + TEXT_DY)
+end
+
+function drawBlock(hue, col, row)
+  local i = indexOf(hue)
+  local x = BLOCK_X0 + col * BLOCK_STEP
+  local y = TOP + row * ROW_STEP
+  drawNameCell(i, i .. " " .. NAMES[hue + 1], x, y)
+  drawChip(i + 8, x + NAME_W + 6, y)
+end
+
+function drawList()
+  local hint = "space: picture"
+  local hint_w = gfx.getFont():getWidth(hint)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.white + Color.bright])
+  gfx.print(hint, WIDTH - hint_w - BLOCK_X0, 2)
+  for hue = 0, 31 do
+    drawBlock(hue, hue % 3, math.floor(hue / 3))
+  end
+end
+
+function drawSky()
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.skyblue + Color.bright])
+  gfx.rectangle("fill", 0, 0, WIDTH, HORIZON)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.powderblue + Color.bright])
+  gfx.rectangle("fill", 0, HORIZON - 60, WIDTH, 60)
+end
+
+function drawSun()
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.gold])
+  gfx.circle("fill", 858, 92, 62)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.gold + Color.bright])
+  gfx.circle("fill", 858, 92, 46)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.khaki + Color.bright])
+  gfx.circle("fill", 858, 92, 30)
+end
+
+function drawCloud(x, y, w)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.white + Color.bright])
+  gfx.ellipse("fill", x, y, w, w * 0.44)
+  gfx.ellipse("fill", x - w * 0.6, y + 6, w * 0.6, w * 0.3)
+  gfx.ellipse("fill", x + w * 0.62, y + 5, w * 0.55, w * 0.3)
+end
+
+function drawMountains()
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.slategray])
+  gfx.polygon("fill", 60, HORIZON, 250, 120, 440, HORIZON)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.slategray + Color.bright])
+  gfx.polygon("fill", 330, HORIZON, 520, 170, 710, HORIZON)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.white + Color.bright])
+  gfx.polygon("fill", 208, 178, 250, 120, 292, 178)
+  gfx.polygon("fill", 486, 222, 520, 170, 554, 222)
+end
+
+function drawGround()
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.limegreen])
+  gfx.rectangle("fill", 0, HORIZON, WIDTH, HEIGHT - HORIZON)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.yellowgreen])
+  gfx.ellipse("fill", 200, HORIZON + 30, 340, 70)
+  gfx.ellipse("fill", 820, HORIZON + 24, 300, 60)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.limegreen + Color.bright])
+  gfx.rectangle("fill", 0, 500, WIDTH, HEIGHT - 500)
+end
+
+function drawPond()
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.azure])
+  gfx.ellipse("fill", 512, 452, 132, 40)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.turquoise + Color.bright])
+  gfx.ellipse("fill", 500, 445, 92, 22)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.powderblue + Color.bright])
+  gfx.ellipse("fill", 470, 440, 34, 8)
+end
+
+function drawTree(x, y)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.brown])
+  gfx.rectangle("fill", x - 12, y - 78, 24, 84)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.springgreen])
+  gfx.circle("fill", x, y - 116, 52)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.limegreen + Color.bright])
+  gfx.circle("fill", x - 34, y - 96, 38)
+  gfx.circle("fill", x + 34, y - 98, 36)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.springgreen + Color.bright])
+  gfx.circle("fill", x + 6, y - 140, 28)
+end
+
+function drawHouse()
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.tan + Color.bright])
+  gfx.rectangle("fill", 640, 300, 190, 120)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.crimson])
+  gfx.polygon("fill", 620, 302, 735, 226, 850, 302)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.brown + Color.bright])
+  gfx.rectangle("fill", 706, 350, 46, 70)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.gold + Color.bright])
+  gfx.rectangle("fill", 660, 328, 38, 34)
+  gfx.rectangle("fill", 772, 328, 38, 34)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.coral + Color.bright])
+  gfx.rectangle("fill", 620, 296, 230, 8)
+end
+
+function drawFlowers()
+  for n = 1, #FLOWERS do
+    local f = FLOWERS[n]
+    gfx.setColor(Color[f[3]])
+    gfx.circle("fill", f[1], f[2], 9)
+    gfx.setColor(Color[Color.gold + Color.bright])
+    gfx.circle("fill", f[1], f[2], 4)
+  end
+end
+
+function drawButterfly(x, y)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.purple + Color.bright])
+  gfx.ellipse("fill", x - 11, y - 6, 11, 15)
+  gfx.ellipse("fill", x + 11, y - 6, 11, 15)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.orchid + Color.bright])
+  gfx.ellipse("fill", x - 9, y + 9, 8, 10)
+  gfx.ellipse("fill", x + 9, y + 9, 8, 10)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.brown])
+  gfx.ellipse("fill", x, y, 3, 17)
+end
+
+function drawPicture()
+  drawSky()
+  drawSun()
+  drawCloud(180, 96, 62)
+  drawCloud(430, 66, 46)
+  drawMountains()
+  drawGround()
+  drawHouse()
+  drawPond()
+  drawTree(228, HORIZON + 96)
+  drawTree(946, HORIZON + 74)
+  drawFlowers()
+  drawButterfly(566, 300)
+  gfx.setColor(Color[Color.white + Color.bright])
+  gfx.print("space: color list", 830, 2)
+end
+
+function love.draw()
+  if SCREEN == 0 then
+    drawList()
+    return
+  end
+  drawPicture()
+end
+
+function love.keypressed(k)
+  if k == "space" then
+    SCREEN = (SCREEN + 1) % SCREENS
+  end
+end
diff --git a/src/util/color.lua b/src/util/color.lua
index b0aa90e4..f9a34a85 100644
--- a/src/util/color.lua
+++ b/src/util/color.lua
@@ -1,10 +1,61 @@
+local vivid = {
+  [16] = { 0xFF, 0xA5, 0x00 },
+  [17] = { 0x96, 0x4B, 0x00 },
+  [18] = { 0xFF, 0xCC, 0x99 },
+  [19] = { 0x9A, 0xCD, 0x32 },
+  [20] = { 0x00, 0xBF, 0xFF },
+  [21] = { 0x8A, 0x2B, 0xE2 },
+  [22] = { 0xFF, 0x69, 0xB4 },
+  [23] = { 0x99, 0x99, 0x99 },
+  [32] = { 0xFF, 0x7F, 0x50 },
+  [33] = { 0xFF, 0xD7, 0x00 },
+  [34] = { 0x32, 0xCD, 0x32 },
+  [35] = { 0x00, 0xFF, 0x80 },
+  [36] = { 0x40, 0xE0, 0xD0 },
+  [37] = { 0x00, 0x80, 0xFF },
+  [38] = { 0x6A, 0x5A, 0xCD },
+  [39] = { 0xDC, 0x14, 0x3C },
+  [48] = { 0xF0, 0xE6, 0x8C },
+  [49] = { 0xFF, 0x80, 0x80 },
+  [50] = { 0x99, 0xFF, 0xCC },
+  [51] = { 0x99, 0xDD, 0xFF },
+  [52] = { 0xCC, 0x99, 0xFF },
+  [53] = { 0xDA, 0x70, 0xD6 },
+  [54] = { 0x41, 0x69, 0xE1 },
+  [55] = { 0x70, 0x80, 0x90 },
+}
+
+local function palette_color(c)
+  local tier = math.floor(c / 16)
+  local position = tier * 16 + c % 8
+  local color = vivid[position]
+  if not color then return end
+
+  local scale = c % 16 >= 8 and 1 or 0.75
+  local function channel(value)
+    return math.floor(scale * value + 0.5) / 255
+  end
+
+  return {
+    channel(color[1]),
+    channel(color[2]),
+    channel(color[3]),
+    1,
+  }
+end
+
 --- @class Color
 Color = {
   color = {},
   __index = function(t, c)
     local rc = rawget(Color, c)
     if rc then return rc end
-    if type(c) ~= 'number' then return end
+    if not Color.valid(c) then return end
+    if c >= 16 then
+      local color = palette_color(c)
+      Color[c] = color
+      return color
+    end
     local bright = c > 7 and 1 or 0.75
     local oc = c
     local b = c % 2
@@ -17,21 +68,48 @@ Color = {
   end,
 
   black = 0,   -- #000000
-  blue = 1,    -- #0000bf #0000ff
-  red = 2,     -- #bf0000 #ff0000
-  magenta = 3, -- #bf01bf #ff01ff
-  green = 4,   -- #01bf01 #01ff01
-  cyan = 5,    -- #00bfbf #00ffff
-  yellow = 6,  -- #bfbf00 #ffff00
-  white = 7,   -- #bfbfbf #ffffff
+  blue = 1,    -- #0000BF #0000FF
+  red = 2,     -- #BF0000 #FF0000
+  magenta = 3, -- #BF00BF #FF00FF
+  green = 4,   -- #00BF00 #00FF00
+  cyan = 5,    -- #00BFBF #00FFFF
+  yellow = 6,  -- #BFBF00 #FFFF00
+  white = 7,   -- #BFBFBF #FFFFFF
   bright = 8,
 
+  orange = 16,
+  brown = 17,
+  tan = 18,
+  yellowgreen = 19,
+  skyblue = 20,
+  purple = 21,
+  pink = 22,
+  gray = 23,
+
+  coral = 32,
+  gold = 33,
+  limegreen = 34,
+  springgreen = 35,
+  turquoise = 36,
+  azure = 37,
+  slateblue = 38,
+  crimson = 39,
+
+  khaki = 48,
+  salmon = 49,
+  mint = 50,
+  powderblue = 51,
+  lavender = 52,
+  orchid = 53,
+  royalblue = 54,
+  slategray = 55,
+
   valid = function(c)
     return c
         and type(c) == 'number'
         and math.floor(c) == c -- weird way to isInt
         and c >= 0
-        and c < 16
+        and c < 64
   end,
 
   --- @param color table