diff --git a/src/colors.py b/src/colors.py
index d62b115..39d77a1 100644
--- a/src/colors.py
+++ b/src/colors.py
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@
 def closest_color(rgb,names):
     name=""
     mindist=float('inf')
-    for i in range(len(names)):
-        dist=(rgb[0]-names[i][1])**2+(rgb[1]-names[i][2])**2+(rgb[2]-names[i][3])**2
+    for color in names:
+        dist=(rgb[0]-color[1])**2+(rgb[1]-color[2])**2+(rgb[2]-color[3])**2
         if dist<mindist:
-            name=names[i][0]
+            name=color[0]
             mindist=dist
     return name
         
diff --git a/src/command_prompt.py b/src/command_prompt.py
index 57ccc99..fece1aa 100644
--- a/src/command_prompt.py
+++ b/src/command_prompt.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import glob
 import os.path
 
 import filecheck
+import colors
 
 class Command_prompt(Label):
     
@@ -337,36 +338,25 @@ class Command_prompt(Label):
         if len(argv)<3:
             self.message="error: 'set color' command was run with without anargument -- usage: 'set color <color_descriptor>'"
             return
-        if argv[2]=="blue":
-            self.app.painter.set_color((0,0,1))
-        elif argv[2]=="green":
-            self.app.painter.set_color((0,1,0))
-        elif argv[2]=="red":
-            self.app.painter.set_color((1,0,0))
-        elif argv[2]=="cyan":
-            self.app.painter.set_color((0,1,1))
-        elif argv[2]=="magenta":
-            self.app.painter.set_color((1,0,1))
-        elif argv[2]=="yellow":
-            self.app.painter.set_color((1,1,0))
-        elif argv[2]=="white":
-            self.app.painter.set_color((1,1,1))
-        elif argv[2]=="black":
-            self.app.painter.set_color((0,0,0))
-        elif argv[2]=="gray":
-            self.app.painter.set_color((0.5,0.5,0.5))
-        else:
-            color_str=argv[2].split(",")
-            # error if improperly formatted
-            if len(color_str)!=3:
-                self.message="error: unrecognized color specification '"+argv[2]+"'; supported format is 'r,g,b' or one of red|green|blue|cyan|magenta|yellow|white|black|gray"
+        # find color name in list
+        for color in colors.xcolor_names:
+            if argv[2]==color[0]:
+                self.app.painter.set_color(color[1:])
                 return
-            try:
-                color=(float(color_str[0]),float(color_str[1]),float(color_str[2]))
-            except:
-                self.message="error: unrecognized color specification '"+argv[2]+"'; supported format is 'r,g,b' or one of red|green|blue|cyan|magenta|yellow|white|black|gray"
-                return
-            self.app.painter.set_color(color)
+
+        # numerical rgb values
+        color_str=argv[2].split(",")
+        # error if improperly formatted
+        if len(color_str)!=3:
+            self.message="error: unrecognized color specification '"+argv[2]+"'; supported format is 'r,g,b' or one of red|green|blue|brown|lime|orange|pink|purple|teal|violet|cyan|magenta|yellow|olive|black|darkgray|gray|lightgray|white or an SVG color name"
+
+            return
+        try:
+            color=(float(color_str[0]),float(color_str[1]),float(color_str[2]))
+        except:
+            self.message="error: unrecognized color specification '"+argv[2]+"'; supported format is 'r,g,b' or one of red|green|blue|brown|lime|orange|pink|purple|teal|violet|cyan|magenta|yellow|olive|black|darkgray|gray|lightgray|white or an SVG color name"
+            return
+        self.app.painter.set_color(color)
 
     # toggle grid
     def run_set_grid(self,argv):