diff --git a/python/port/genhdr/qstrdefs.in.h b/python/port/genhdr/qstrdefs.in.h
index db21ede99..71a87feee 100644
--- a/python/port/genhdr/qstrdefs.in.h
+++ b/python/port/genhdr/qstrdefs.in.h
@@ -430,6 +430,7 @@ Q(st)
 Q(hideturtle)
 Q(ht)
 Q(isvisible)
+Q(colormode)
 
 // utime QSTRs
 Q(time)
diff --git a/python/port/mod/kandinsky/modkandinsky.cpp b/python/port/mod/kandinsky/modkandinsky.cpp
index 27b7ec5b1..66f2aaf15 100644
--- a/python/port/mod/kandinsky/modkandinsky.cpp
+++ b/python/port/mod/kandinsky/modkandinsky.cpp
@@ -1,26 +1,10 @@
 extern "C" {
 #include "modkandinsky.h"
-#include <py/objtuple.h>
 #include <py/runtime.h>
 }
 #include <kandinsky.h>
 #include "port.h"
 
-static KDColor ColorForTuple(mp_obj_t tuple) {
-    size_t len;
-    mp_obj_t * elem;
-
-    mp_obj_get_array(tuple, &len, &elem);
-    if (len != 3) {
-      mp_raise_TypeError("color needs 3 components");
-    }
-
-    return KDColor::RGB888(
-      mp_obj_get_int(elem[0]),
-      mp_obj_get_int(elem[1]),
-      mp_obj_get_int(elem[2])
-    );
-}
 
 static mp_obj_t TupleForRGB(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) {
   mp_obj_tuple_t * t = static_cast<mp_obj_tuple_t *>(MP_OBJ_TO_PTR(mp_obj_new_tuple(3, NULL)));
@@ -56,19 +40,20 @@ mp_obj_t modkandinsky_get_pixel(mp_obj_t x, mp_obj_t y) {
   return TupleForRGB(c.red(), c.green(), c.blue());
 }
 
-mp_obj_t modkandinsky_set_pixel(mp_obj_t x, mp_obj_t y, mp_obj_t color) {
+mp_obj_t modkandinsky_set_pixel(mp_obj_t x, mp_obj_t y, mp_obj_t input) {
   KDPoint point(mp_obj_get_int(x), mp_obj_get_int(y));
-  KDColor kdColor = ColorForTuple(color);
+  KDColor kdColor = MicroPython::ColorParser::ParseColor(input);
   MicroPython::ExecutionEnvironment::currentExecutionEnvironment()->displaySandbox();
   KDIonContext::sharedContext()->setPixel(point, kdColor);
   return mp_const_none;
 }
 
+//TODO Use good colors
 mp_obj_t modkandinsky_draw_string(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t * args) {
   const char * text = mp_obj_str_get_str(args[0]);
   KDPoint point(mp_obj_get_int(args[1]), mp_obj_get_int(args[2]));
-  KDColor textColor = (n_args >= 4) ? ColorForTuple(args[3]) : KDColorBlack;
-  KDColor backgroundColor = (n_args >= 5) ? ColorForTuple(args[4]) : KDColorWhite;
+  KDColor textColor = (n_args >= 4) ? MicroPython::ColorParser::ParseColor(args[3]) : KDColorBlack;
+  KDColor backgroundColor = (n_args >= 5) ? MicroPython::ColorParser::ParseColor(args[4]) : KDColorWhite;
   MicroPython::ExecutionEnvironment::currentExecutionEnvironment()->displaySandbox();
   KDIonContext::sharedContext()->drawString(text, point, KDFont::LargeFont, textColor, backgroundColor);
   /* Before and after execution of "modkandinsky_draw_string",
@@ -98,8 +83,7 @@ mp_obj_t modkandinsky_fill_rect(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t * args) {
     y = y - height;
   }
   KDRect rect(x, y, width, height);
-  KDColor color = ColorForTuple(args[4]);
-
+  KDColor color = MicroPython::ColorParser::ParseColor(args[4]);
   MicroPython::ExecutionEnvironment::currentExecutionEnvironment()->displaySandbox();
   KDIonContext::sharedContext()->fillRect(rect, color);
   // Cf comment on modkandinsky_draw_string
diff --git a/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle.cpp b/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle.cpp
index 913372a3f..35c960ec3 100644
--- a/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle.cpp
+++ b/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 extern "C" {
 #include "modturtle.h"
 #include <py/gc.h>
+#include <py/objtuple.h>
+#include <py/runtime.h>
 }
 #include "turtle.h"
 #include "../../port.h"
@@ -131,37 +133,63 @@ mp_obj_t modturtle_isdown() {
 }
 
 mp_obj_t modturtle_pencolor(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *args) {
-  if (n_args == 0) {
-    // pencolor()
-    KDColor c = sTurtle.color();
-    mp_obj_t mp_col[3];
-    mp_col[0] = mp_obj_new_int_from_uint(c.red());
-    mp_col[1] = mp_obj_new_int_from_uint(c.green());
-    mp_col[2] = mp_obj_new_int_from_uint(c.blue());
-    return mp_obj_new_tuple(3, mp_col);
-  }
-  if (n_args == 1) {
-    if (MP_OBJ_IS_STR(args[0])) {
-      // pencolor("blue")
-      size_t l;
-      sTurtle.setColor(mp_obj_str_get_data(args[0], &l));
-    } else {
-      // pencolor((r, g, b))
-      mp_obj_t * rgb;
-      mp_obj_get_array_fixed_n(args[0], 3, &rgb);
-      sTurtle.setColor(
-          KDColor::RGB888(
-            mp_obj_get_int(rgb[0]),
-            mp_obj_get_int(rgb[1]),
-            mp_obj_get_int(rgb[2])));
+  switch(n_args){
+    case 0:{
+      // pencolor()
+      KDColor c = sTurtle.color();
+      mp_obj_t mp_col[3];
+      if(sTurtle.colorMode() == MicroPython::ColorParser::ColorModes::MaxIntensity255){
+        mp_col[0] = mp_obj_new_int_from_uint(c.red());
+        mp_col[1] = mp_obj_new_int_from_uint(c.green());
+        mp_col[2] = mp_obj_new_int_from_uint(c.blue());
+      } else {
+        mp_col[0] = mp_obj_new_float(c.red() / 255.0);
+        mp_col[1] = mp_obj_new_float(c.green() / 255.0);
+        mp_col[2] = mp_obj_new_float(c.blue() / 255.0);
+      }
+      return mp_obj_new_tuple(3, mp_col);
+    }
+    case 1:{
+      sTurtle.setColor(MicroPython::ColorParser::ParseColor(args[0], sTurtle.colorMode()));
+      break;
+    }
+    case 3:{
+      // pencolor(r, g, b)
+      if(sTurtle.colorMode() == MicroPython::ColorParser::ColorModes::MaxIntensity255){
+        sTurtle.setColor(
+          KDColor::RGB888(
+            mp_obj_get_int(args[0]),
+            mp_obj_get_int(args[1]),
+            mp_obj_get_int(args[2])));
+      } else {
+        sTurtle.setColor(
+          KDColor::RGB888(
+            mp_obj_get_int(args[0]) * 255,
+            mp_obj_get_int(args[1]) * 255,
+            mp_obj_get_int(args[2]) * 255));
+      }
+      break;
+    }
+    default:{
+      assert(n_args == 2);
+      mp_raise_TypeError("pencolor() takes 0, 1 or 3 arguments");
+    }
+  }
+  return mp_const_none;
+}
+
+mp_obj_t modturtle_colormode(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *args){
+  if(n_args == 0){
+    return (sTurtle.colorMode() == MicroPython::ColorParser::ColorModes::MaxIntensity255) ? mp_obj_new_int_from_uint(255) : mp_obj_new_int_from_uint(1);
+  } else{
+    int colorMode = mp_obj_get_int(args[0]);
+    if(colorMode == 1){
+      sTurtle.setColorMode(MicroPython::ColorParser::ColorModes::MaxIntensity1);
+    } else if(colorMode == 255){
+      sTurtle.setColorMode(MicroPython::ColorParser::ColorModes::MaxIntensity255);
+    } else {
+      mp_raise_ValueError("Colormodes can be 1 or 255");
     }
-  } else if (n_args == 3) {
-    // pencolor(r, g, b)
-    sTurtle.setColor(
-        KDColor::RGB888(
-          mp_obj_get_int(args[0]),
-          mp_obj_get_int(args[1]),
-          mp_obj_get_int(args[2])));
   }
   return mp_const_none;
 }
diff --git a/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle.h b/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle.h
index 84fda5010..303ea13d4 100644
--- a/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle.h
+++ b/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ mp_obj_t modturtle_pensize(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *args);
 mp_obj_t modturtle_isvisible();
 
 mp_obj_t modturtle_pencolor(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *args);
+mp_obj_t modturtle_colormode(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *args);
 
 mp_obj_t modturtle_showturtle();
 mp_obj_t modturtle_hideturtle();
diff --git a/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle_table.c b/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle_table.c
index c9f2658a9..c190cc540 100644
--- a/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle_table.c
+++ b/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle_table.c
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ STATIC MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_VAR_BETWEEN(modturtle_pensize_obj, 0, 1, modturtl
 STATIC MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_0(modturtle_isdown_obj, modturtle_isdown);
 
 STATIC MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_VAR_BETWEEN(modturtle_pencolor_obj, 0, 3, modturtle_pencolor);
+STATIC MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_VAR_BETWEEN(modturtle_colormode_obj, 0, 1, modturtle_colormode);
 
 STATIC MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_0(modturtle_reset_obj, modturtle_reset);
 
@@ -64,6 +65,7 @@ STATIC const mp_rom_map_elem_t modturtle_module_globals_table[] = {
 
   { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_color), (mp_obj_t)&modturtle_pencolor_obj },
   { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_pencolor), (mp_obj_t)&modturtle_pencolor_obj },
+  { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_colormode), (mp_obj_t)&modturtle_colormode_obj },
 
   { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_reset), (mp_obj_t)&modturtle_reset_obj },
 
diff --git a/python/port/mod/turtle/turtle.cpp b/python/port/mod/turtle/turtle.cpp
index 1a5c3abc2..811650c3b 100644
--- a/python/port/mod/turtle/turtle.cpp
+++ b/python/port/mod/turtle/turtle.cpp
@@ -175,27 +175,6 @@ void Turtle::setVisible(bool visible) {
   }
 }
 
-void Turtle::setColor(const char * color) {
-  constexpr NameColorPair pairs[] = {
-    NameColorPair("blue", KDColorBlue),
-    NameColorPair("red", KDColorRed),
-    NameColorPair("green", Palette::Green),
-    NameColorPair("yellow", KDColorYellow),
-    NameColorPair("brown", Palette::Brown),
-    NameColorPair("black", KDColorBlack),
-    NameColorPair("white", KDColorWhite),
-    NameColorPair("pink", Palette::Pink),
-    NameColorPair("orange", Palette::Orange),
-    NameColorPair("purple", Palette::Purple),
-    NameColorPair("grey", Palette::GreyDark)
-  };
-  for (NameColorPair p : pairs) {
-    if (strcmp(p.name(), color) == 0) {
-      m_color = p.color();
-      return;
-    }
-  }
-}
 
 void Turtle::viewDidDisappear() {
   m_drawn = false;
diff --git a/python/port/mod/turtle/turtle.h b/python/port/mod/turtle/turtle.h
index 87aa58e8f..71e4ae5fe 100644
--- a/python/port/mod/turtle/turtle.h
+++ b/python/port/mod/turtle/turtle.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ extern "C" {
 #include <escher/metric.h>
 #include <kandinsky.h>
 #include <math.h>
+#include <python/port/port.h>
 
 /* We check for keyboard interruptions using micropython_port_vm_hook_loop and
  * micropython_port_interruptible_msleep, but even if we catch an interruption,
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ public:
     m_y(0),
     m_heading(0),
     m_color(k_defaultColor),
+    m_colorMode(MicroPython::ColorParser::ColorModes::MaxIntensity255),
     m_penDown(true),
     m_visible(true),
     m_speed(k_defaultSpeed),
@@ -71,7 +73,10 @@ public:
   void setColor(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) {
     m_color = KDColor::RGB888(r, g, b);
   }
-  void setColor(const char * color);
+  MicroPython::ColorParser::ColorModes colorMode() const {return m_colorMode; }
+  void setColorMode(MicroPython::ColorParser::ColorModes colorMode){
+    m_colorMode = colorMode;
+  }
 
   void viewDidDisappear();
 
@@ -102,19 +107,6 @@ private:
     Forward = 2
   };
 
-  class NameColorPair {
-  public:
-    constexpr NameColorPair(const char * name, KDColor color) :
-      m_name(name),
-      m_color(color)
-    {}
-    const char * name() const { return m_name; }
-    KDColor color() const { return m_color; }
-  private:
-    const char * m_name;
-    KDColor m_color;
-  };
-
   void setHeadingPrivate(mp_float_t angle);
   KDPoint position(mp_float_t x, mp_float_t y) const;
   KDPoint position() const { return position(m_x, m_y); }
@@ -149,6 +141,7 @@ private:
   mp_float_t m_heading;
 
   KDColor m_color;
+  MicroPython::ColorParser::ColorModes m_colorMode;
   bool m_penDown;
   bool m_visible;
 
diff --git a/python/port/port.cpp b/python/port/port.cpp
index 12f5f5588..97fffd671 100644
--- a/python/port/port.cpp
+++ b/python/port/port.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ extern "C" {
 #include "mod/matplotlib/pyplot/modpyplot.h"
 }
 
+#include <escher/palette.h>
+
 static MicroPython::ScriptProvider * sScriptProvider = nullptr;
 static MicroPython::ExecutionEnvironment * sCurrentExecutionEnvironment = nullptr;
 
@@ -170,6 +172,83 @@ void MicroPython::collectRootsAtAddress(char * address, int byteLength) {
 #endif
 }
 
+KDColor MicroPython::ColorParser::ParseColor(mp_obj_t input, ColorModes ColorMode){
+  if(MP_OBJ_IS_STR(input)){
+    size_t l;
+    const char * color = mp_obj_str_get_data(input, &l);
+    // TODO add cyan
+    constexpr NameColorPair pairs[] = {
+      NameColorPair("blue", KDColorBlue),
+      NameColorPair("b", KDColorBlue),
+      NameColorPair("red", KDColorRed),
+      NameColorPair("r", KDColorRed),
+      NameColorPair("green", Palette::Green),
+      NameColorPair("g", Palette::Green),
+      NameColorPair("yellow", KDColorYellow),
+      NameColorPair("y", KDColorYellow),
+      NameColorPair("brown", Palette::Brown),
+      NameColorPair("black", KDColorBlack),
+      NameColorPair("k", KDColorBlack),
+      NameColorPair("white", KDColorWhite),
+      NameColorPair("w", KDColorWhite),
+      NameColorPair("pink", Palette::Pink),
+      NameColorPair("orange", Palette::Orange),
+      NameColorPair("purple", Palette::Purple),
+      NameColorPair("grey", Palette::GreyDark)
+    };
+    for (NameColorPair p : pairs) {
+      if (strcmp(p.name(), color) == 0) {
+        return p.color();
+      }
+    }
+
+    if(color[0] == '#'){
+      if(l != 7){
+        mp_raise_ValueError("RGB hex values are 6 bytes long");
+      }
+      uint32_t ColorInt = mp_obj_get_int(mp_obj_new_int_via_str(color+1, 16));
+      return KDColor::RGB24(ColorInt);
+    }
+
+    mp_float_t GreyLevel = mp_obj_float_get(mp_obj_new_float_via_str(color));
+    if(GreyLevel >= 0 && GreyLevel <= 1){
+      return KDColor::RGB888(
+        255 * (float) GreyLevel,
+        255 * (float) GreyLevel,
+        255 * (float) GreyLevel
+      );
+    }
+    mp_raise_ValueError("Grey levels are between 0.0 and 1.0");
+  } else if(mp_obj_is_int(input)) {
+    mp_raise_TypeError("Int are not colors");
+    //See https://github.com/numworks/epsilon/issues/1533#issuecomment-618443492
+  } else {
+    size_t len;
+    mp_obj_t * elem;
+
+    mp_obj_get_array(input, &len, &elem);
+
+    if (len != 3) {
+      mp_raise_TypeError("color needs 3 components");
+    }
+
+    if(ColorMode == MicroPython::ColorParser::ColorModes::MaxIntensity1){
+      return KDColor::RGB888(
+        mp_obj_get_float(elem[0]),
+        mp_obj_get_float(elem[1]),
+        mp_obj_get_float(elem[2])
+      );
+    } else {
+      return KDColor::RGB888(
+        mp_obj_get_int(elem[0]),
+        mp_obj_get_int(elem[1]),
+        mp_obj_get_int(elem[2])
+      );
+    }
+  }
+  mp_raise_TypeError("Color couldn't be parsed");
+}
+
 void gc_collect(void) {
   void * python_stack_top = MP_STATE_THREAD(stack_top);
   assert(python_stack_top != NULL);
@@ -260,3 +339,4 @@ const char * mp_hal_input(const char * prompt) {
   assert(sCurrentExecutionEnvironment != nullptr);
   return sCurrentExecutionEnvironment->inputText(prompt);
 }
+
diff --git a/python/port/port.h b/python/port/port.h
index 9d14ab3a6..73bf7f810 100644
--- a/python/port/port.h
+++ b/python/port/port.h
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@
 
 extern "C" {
 #include <stddef.h>
+#include <py/obj.h>
 }
 #include <escher/view_controller.h>
 
+
 namespace MicroPython {
 
 class ScriptProvider {
@@ -39,6 +41,31 @@ void deinit();
 void registerScriptProvider(ScriptProvider * s);
 void collectRootsAtAddress(char * address, int len);
 
+class ColorParser {
+  private:
+  class NameColorPair {
+  public:
+    constexpr NameColorPair(const char * name, KDColor color) :
+      m_name(name),
+      m_color(color)
+    {}
+    const char * name() const { return m_name; }
+    KDColor color() const { return m_color; }
+  private:
+    const char * m_name;
+    KDColor m_color;
+  };
+
+  public:
+  enum class ColorModes {
+  MaxIntensity1,
+  MaxIntensity255,
+  };
+
+  static KDColor ParseColor(mp_obj_t input, ColorModes ColorMode = ColorModes::MaxIntensity255);
+};
+
+
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/python/src/py/obj.h b/python/src/py/obj.h
index 5b54892ce..e2d2b584a 100644
--- a/python/src/py/obj.h
+++ b/python/src/py/obj.h
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ static inline bool mp_obj_is_qstr(mp_const_obj_t o)
     { return ((((mp_int_t)(o)) & 3) == 2); }
 #define MP_OBJ_QSTR_VALUE(o) (((mp_uint_t)(o)) >> 2)
 #define MP_OBJ_NEW_QSTR(qst) ((mp_obj_t)((((mp_uint_t)(qst)) << 2) | 2))
+mp_obj_t mp_obj_new_int_via_str(const char* value, int base);
 
 #if MICROPY_PY_BUILTINS_FLOAT
 #define mp_const_float_e MP_ROM_PTR(&mp_const_float_e_obj)
@@ -100,6 +101,7 @@ extern const struct _mp_obj_float_t mp_const_float_pi_obj;
 #define mp_obj_is_float(o) mp_obj_is_type((o), &mp_type_float)
 mp_float_t mp_obj_float_get(mp_obj_t self_in);
 mp_obj_t mp_obj_new_float(mp_float_t value);
+mp_obj_t mp_obj_new_float_via_str(const char* value);
 #endif
 
 static inline bool mp_obj_is_obj(mp_const_obj_t o)
diff --git a/python/src/py/objfloat.c b/python/src/py/objfloat.c
index 3da549bb2..c638796ac 100644
--- a/python/src/py/objfloat.c
+++ b/python/src/py/objfloat.c
@@ -201,6 +201,24 @@ mp_obj_t mp_obj_new_float(mp_float_t value) {
     return MP_OBJ_FROM_PTR(o);
 }
 
+mp_obj_t mp_obj_new_float_via_str(const char* value) {
+    mp_obj_float_t *o = m_new(mp_obj_float_t, 1);
+    o->base.type = &mp_type_float;
+    //Avoid \x0
+    int length = 0;
+    for(int i = 0; i <= sizeof(value); i++){
+        if(value[i] == '\x0'){
+            length = i;
+            break;
+        }
+    };
+    if(length == 0){
+        length = (int) sizeof(value);
+    }
+    o->value = mp_obj_float_get(mp_parse_num_decimal(value, length, false, false, NULL));
+    return MP_OBJ_FROM_PTR(o);
+}
+
 mp_float_t mp_obj_float_get(mp_obj_t self_in) {
     assert(mp_obj_is_float(self_in));
     mp_obj_float_t *self = MP_OBJ_TO_PTR(self_in);
diff --git a/python/src/py/objint.c b/python/src/py/objint.c
index 2fdcf5864..b139b09bc 100644
--- a/python/src/py/objint.c
+++ b/python/src/py/objint.c
@@ -462,3 +462,17 @@ const mp_obj_type_t mp_type_int = {
     .binary_op = mp_obj_int_binary_op,
     .locals_dict = (mp_obj_dict_t*)&int_locals_dict,
 };
+
+mp_obj_t mp_obj_new_int_via_str(const char* value, int base) {
+    int length = 0;
+    for(int i = 0; i <= sizeof(value); i++){
+        if(value[i] == '\x0'){
+            length = i;
+            break;
+        }
+    };
+    if(length == 0){
+        length = (int) sizeof(value);
+    }
+    return mp_parse_num_integer(value, length, base, NULL);
+}