diff --git a/src/ai/ai_gui.cpp b/src/ai/ai_gui.cpp
index 8827601bcb..5fd9d87db7 100644
--- a/src/ai/ai_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/ai/ai_gui.cpp
@@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ struct AIDebugWindow : public Window {
 			uint pos = (log->count + log->pos - i) % log->count;
 			if (log->lines[pos] == NULL) break;
 
-			uint colour;
+			TextColour colour;
 			switch (log->type[pos]) {
 				case AILog::LOG_SQ_INFO:  colour = TC_BLACK;  break;
 				case AILog::LOG_SQ_ERROR: colour = TC_RED;    break;
diff --git a/src/airport_gui.cpp b/src/airport_gui.cpp
index 43fc6e78a5..a7cd7f1202 100644
--- a/src/airport_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/airport_gui.cpp
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ public:
 		if (_settings_game.economy.station_noise_level) {
 			/* show the noise of the selected airport */
 			SetDParam(0, airport->noise_level);
-			DrawString(2, 206, STR_STATION_NOISE, 0);
+			DrawString(2, 206, STR_STATION_NOISE, TC_FROMSTRING);
 			y_noise_offset = 10;
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/console_gui.cpp b/src/console_gui.cpp
index c80c9d7c16..30de4f58b7 100644
--- a/src/console_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/console_gui.cpp
@@ -31,16 +31,16 @@ struct IConsoleLine {
 	static int size;            ///< The amount of items in the backlog
 
 	IConsoleLine *previous; ///< The previous console message.
-	char *buffer;          ///< The data to store.
-	uint16 colour;         ///< The colour of the line.
-	uint16 time;           ///< The amount of time the line is in the backlog.
+	char *buffer;           ///< The data to store.
+	TextColour colour;      ///< The colour of the line.
+	uint16 time;            ///< The amount of time the line is in the backlog.
 
 	/**
 	 * Initialize the console line.
 	 * @param buffer the data to print.
 	 * @param colour the colour of the line.
 	 */
-	IConsoleLine(char *buffer, uint16 colour) :
+	IConsoleLine(char *buffer, TextColour colour) :
 			previous(IConsoleLine::front),
 			buffer(buffer),
 			colour(colour),
@@ -172,11 +172,11 @@ struct IConsoleWindow : Window
 		/* If the text is longer than the window, don't show the starting ']' */
 		int delta = this->width - 10 - _iconsole_cmdline.width - ICON_RIGHT_BORDERWIDTH;
 		if (delta > 0) {
-			DoDrawString("]", 5, this->height - ICON_LINE_HEIGHT, CC_COMMAND);
+			DoDrawString("]", 5, this->height - ICON_LINE_HEIGHT, (TextColour)CC_COMMAND);
 			delta = 0;
 		}
 
-		DoDrawString(_iconsole_cmdline.buf, 10 + delta, this->height - ICON_LINE_HEIGHT, CC_COMMAND);
+		DoDrawString(_iconsole_cmdline.buf, 10 + delta, this->height - ICON_LINE_HEIGHT, (TextColour)CC_COMMAND);
 
 		if (_focused_window == this && _iconsole_cmdline.caret) {
 			DoDrawString("_", 10 + delta + _iconsole_cmdline.caretxoffs, this->height - ICON_LINE_HEIGHT, TC_WHITE);
@@ -442,6 +442,6 @@ static void IConsoleHistoryNavigate(int direction)
  */
 void IConsoleGUIPrint(ConsoleColour color_code, char *str)
 {
-	new IConsoleLine(str, color_code);
+	new IConsoleLine(str, (TextColour)color_code);
 	SetWindowDirty(FindWindowById(WC_CONSOLE, 0));
 }
diff --git a/src/gfx.cpp b/src/gfx.cpp
index af699c665f..18bdb5d202 100644
--- a/src/gfx.cpp
+++ b/src/gfx.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ DrawPixelInfo *_cur_dpi;
 byte _colour_gradient[COLOUR_END][8];
 
 static void GfxMainBlitter(const Sprite *sprite, int x, int y, BlitterMode mode, const SubSprite *sub = NULL);
-static int ReallyDoDrawString(const char *string, int x, int y, uint16 real_colour, bool parse_string_also_when_clipped = false);
+static int ReallyDoDrawString(const char *string, int x, int y, TextColour colour, bool parse_string_also_when_clipped = false);
 
 FontSize _cur_fontsize;
 static FontSize _last_fontsize;
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ static uint8 _cursor_backup[64 * 64 * 4];
  * @ingroup dirty
  */
 static Rect _invalid_rect;
-static const byte *_color_remap_ptr;
-static byte _string_colorremap[3];
+static const byte *_colour_remap_ptr;
+static byte _string_colourremap[3];
 
 enum {
 	DIRTY_BLOCK_HEIGHT   = 8,
@@ -97,13 +97,13 @@ void GfxScroll(int left, int top, int width, int height, int xo, int yo)
  * @param top Minimum Y (inclusive)
  * @param right Maximum X (inclusive)
  * @param bottom Maximum Y (inclusive)
- * @param color A 8 bit palette index (FILLRECT_OPAQUE and FILLRECT_CHECKER) or a recolor spritenumber (FILLRECT_RECOLOR)
+ * @param colour A 8 bit palette index (FILLRECT_OPAQUE and FILLRECT_CHECKER) or a recolour spritenumber (FILLRECT_RECOLOR)
  * @param mode
- *         FILLRECT_OPAQUE:   Fill the rectangle with the specified color
+ *         FILLRECT_OPAQUE:   Fill the rectangle with the specified colour
  *         FILLRECT_CHECKER:  Like FILLRECT_OPAQUE, but only draw every second pixel (used to grey out things)
- *         FILLRECT_RECOLOR:  Apply a recolor sprite to every pixel in the rectangle currently on screen
+ *         FILLRECT_RECOLOR:  Apply a recolour sprite to every pixel in the rectangle currently on screen
  */
-void GfxFillRect(int left, int top, int right, int bottom, int color, FillRectMode mode)
+void GfxFillRect(int left, int top, int right, int bottom, int colour, FillRectMode mode)
 {
 	Blitter *blitter = BlitterFactoryBase::GetCurrentBlitter();
 	const DrawPixelInfo *dpi = _cur_dpi;
@@ -132,17 +132,17 @@ void GfxFillRect(int left, int top, int right, int bottom, int color, FillRectMo
 
 	switch (mode) {
 		default: // FILLRECT_OPAQUE
-			blitter->DrawRect(dst, right, bottom, (uint8)color);
+			blitter->DrawRect(dst, right, bottom, (uint8)colour);
 			break;
 
 		case FILLRECT_RECOLOR:
-			blitter->DrawColorMappingRect(dst, right, bottom, GB(color, 0, PALETTE_WIDTH));
+			blitter->DrawColorMappingRect(dst, right, bottom, GB(colour, 0, PALETTE_WIDTH));
 			break;
 
 		case FILLRECT_CHECKER: {
 			byte bo = (oleft - left + dpi->left + otop - top + dpi->top) & 1;
 			do {
-				for (int i = (bo ^= 1); i < right; i += 2) blitter->SetPixel(dst, i, 0, (uint8)color);
+				for (int i = (bo ^= 1); i < right; i += 2) blitter->SetPixel(dst, i, 0, (uint8)colour);
 				dst = blitter->MoveTo(dst, 0, 1);
 			} while (--bottom > 0);
 			break;
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ void GfxFillRect(int left, int top, int right, int bottom, int color, FillRectMo
 	}
 }
 
-void GfxDrawLine(int x, int y, int x2, int y2, int color)
+void GfxDrawLine(int x, int y, int x2, int y2, int colour)
 {
 	Blitter *blitter = BlitterFactoryBase::GetCurrentBlitter();
 	DrawPixelInfo *dpi = _cur_dpi;
@@ -166,10 +166,10 @@ void GfxDrawLine(int x, int y, int x2, int y2, int color)
 	if (x > dpi->width  && x2 > dpi->width)  return;
 	if (y > dpi->height && y2 > dpi->height) return;
 
-	blitter->DrawLine(dpi->dst_ptr, x, y, x2, y2, dpi->width, dpi->height, color);
+	blitter->DrawLine(dpi->dst_ptr, x, y, x2, y2, dpi->width, dpi->height, colour);
 }
 
-void GfxDrawLineUnscaled(int x, int y, int x2, int y2, int color)
+void GfxDrawLineUnscaled(int x, int y, int x2, int y2, int colour)
 {
 	Blitter *blitter = BlitterFactoryBase::GetCurrentBlitter();
 	DrawPixelInfo *dpi = _cur_dpi;
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ void GfxDrawLineUnscaled(int x, int y, int x2, int y2, int color)
 
 	blitter->DrawLine(dpi->dst_ptr, UnScaleByZoom(x, dpi->zoom), UnScaleByZoom(y, dpi->zoom),
 			UnScaleByZoom(x2, dpi->zoom), UnScaleByZoom(y2, dpi->zoom),
-			UnScaleByZoom(dpi->width, dpi->zoom), UnScaleByZoom(dpi->height, dpi->zoom), color);
+			UnScaleByZoom(dpi->width, dpi->zoom), UnScaleByZoom(dpi->height, dpi->zoom), colour);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -220,18 +220,18 @@ void DrawBox(int x, int y, int dx1, int dy1, int dx2, int dy2, int dx3, int dy3)
 	 *            ....V.
 	 */
 
-	static const byte color = 255;
+	static const byte colour = 255;
 
-	GfxDrawLineUnscaled(x, y, x + dx1, y + dy1, color);
-	GfxDrawLineUnscaled(x, y, x + dx2, y + dy2, color);
-	GfxDrawLineUnscaled(x, y, x + dx3, y + dy3, color);
+	GfxDrawLineUnscaled(x, y, x + dx1, y + dy1, colour);
+	GfxDrawLineUnscaled(x, y, x + dx2, y + dy2, colour);
+	GfxDrawLineUnscaled(x, y, x + dx3, y + dy3, colour);
 
-	GfxDrawLineUnscaled(x + dx1, y + dy1, x + dx1 + dx2, y + dy1 + dy2, color);
-	GfxDrawLineUnscaled(x + dx1, y + dy1, x + dx1 + dx3, y + dy1 + dy3, color);
-	GfxDrawLineUnscaled(x + dx2, y + dy2, x + dx2 + dx1, y + dy2 + dy1, color);
-	GfxDrawLineUnscaled(x + dx2, y + dy2, x + dx2 + dx3, y + dy2 + dy3, color);
-	GfxDrawLineUnscaled(x + dx3, y + dy3, x + dx3 + dx1, y + dy3 + dy1, color);
-	GfxDrawLineUnscaled(x + dx3, y + dy3, x + dx3 + dx2, y + dy3 + dy2, color);
+	GfxDrawLineUnscaled(x + dx1, y + dy1, x + dx1 + dx2, y + dy1 + dy2, colour);
+	GfxDrawLineUnscaled(x + dx1, y + dy1, x + dx1 + dx3, y + dy1 + dy3, colour);
+	GfxDrawLineUnscaled(x + dx2, y + dy2, x + dx2 + dx1, y + dy2 + dy1, colour);
+	GfxDrawLineUnscaled(x + dx2, y + dy2, x + dx2 + dx3, y + dy2 + dy3, colour);
+	GfxDrawLineUnscaled(x + dx3, y + dy3, x + dx3 + dx1, y + dy3 + dy1, colour);
+	GfxDrawLineUnscaled(x + dx3, y + dy3, x + dx3 + dx2, y + dy3 + dy2, colour);
 }
 
 
@@ -378,17 +378,17 @@ static inline int TruncateStringID(StringID src, char *dest, int maxw, const cha
  * @param x      X position to start drawing
  * @param y      Y position to start drawing
  * @param str    String to draw
- * @param color  Color used for drawing the string, see DoDrawString() for details
+ * @param colour Colour used for drawing the string, see DoDrawString() for details
  *
  * @return Horizontal coordinate after drawing the string
  */
-int DrawString(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color)
+int DrawString(int x, int y, StringID str, TextColour colour)
 {
 	char buffer[DRAW_STRING_BUFFER];
 
 	GetString(buffer, str, lastof(buffer));
 	HandleBiDiAndArabicShapes(buffer, lastof(buffer));
-	return ReallyDoDrawString(buffer, x, y, color);
+	return ReallyDoDrawString(buffer, x, y, colour);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -397,17 +397,17 @@ int DrawString(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color)
  * @param x      X position to start drawing
  * @param y      Y position to start drawing
  * @param str    String to draw
- * @param color  Color used for drawing the string, see DoDrawString() for details
+ * @param colour Colour used for drawing the string, see DoDrawString() for details
  * @param maxw   Maximal width of the string
  *
  * @return Horizontal coordinate after drawing the (possibly truncated) string
  */
-int DrawStringTruncated(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color, uint maxw)
+int DrawStringTruncated(int x, int y, StringID str, TextColour colour, uint maxw)
 {
 	char buffer[DRAW_STRING_BUFFER];
 	TruncateStringID(str, buffer, maxw, lastof(buffer));
 	HandleBiDiAndArabicShapes(buffer, lastof(buffer));
-	return ReallyDoDrawString(buffer, x, y, color);
+	return ReallyDoDrawString(buffer, x, y, colour);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -416,11 +416,11 @@ int DrawStringTruncated(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color, uint maxw)
  * @param x      Right-most x position of the string
  * @param y      Y position of the string
  * @param str    String to draw
- * @param color  Color used for drawing the string, see DoDrawString() for details
+ * @param colour Colour used for drawing the string, see DoDrawString() for details
  *
  * @return Width of drawn string in pixels
  */
-int DrawStringRightAligned(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color)
+int DrawStringRightAligned(int x, int y, StringID str, TextColour colour)
 {
 	char buffer[DRAW_STRING_BUFFER];
 	int w;
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ int DrawStringRightAligned(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color)
 	HandleBiDiAndArabicShapes(buffer, lastof(buffer));
 
 	w = GetStringBoundingBox(buffer).width;
-	ReallyDoDrawString(buffer, x - w, y, color);
+	ReallyDoDrawString(buffer, x - w, y, colour);
 
 	return w;
 }
@@ -440,16 +440,16 @@ int DrawStringRightAligned(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color)
  * @param x      Right-most x position to start drawing
  * @param y      Y position to start drawing
  * @param str    String to draw
- * @param color  Color used for drawing the string, see DoDrawString() for details
+ * @param colour Colour used for drawing the string, see DoDrawString() for details
  * @param maxw   Maximal width of the string
  */
-void DrawStringRightAlignedTruncated(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color, uint maxw)
+void DrawStringRightAlignedTruncated(int x, int y, StringID str, TextColour colour, uint maxw)
 {
 	char buffer[DRAW_STRING_BUFFER];
 
 	TruncateStringID(str, buffer, maxw, lastof(buffer));
 	HandleBiDiAndArabicShapes(buffer, lastof(buffer));
-	ReallyDoDrawString(buffer, x - GetStringBoundingBox(buffer).width, y, color);
+	ReallyDoDrawString(buffer, x - GetStringBoundingBox(buffer).width, y, colour);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -458,12 +458,12 @@ void DrawStringRightAlignedTruncated(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color, u
  * @param x      Right-most x position of the string
  * @param y      Y position of the string
  * @param str    String to draw
- * @param color  Color used for drawing the string, see DoDrawString() for details
+ * @param colour Colour used for drawing the string, see DoDrawString() for details
  */
-void DrawStringRightAlignedUnderline(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color)
+void DrawStringRightAlignedUnderline(int x, int y, StringID str, TextColour colour)
 {
-	int w = DrawStringRightAligned(x, y, str, color);
-	GfxFillRect(x - w, y + 10, x, y + 10, _string_colorremap[1]);
+	int w = DrawStringRightAligned(x, y, str, colour);
+	GfxFillRect(x - w, y + 10, x, y + 10, _string_colourremap[1]);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -472,11 +472,11 @@ void DrawStringRightAlignedUnderline(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color)
  * @param x      X position of center of the string
  * @param y      Y position of center of the string
  * @param str    String to draw
- * @param color  Color used for drawing the string, see DoDrawString() for details
+ * @param colour Colour used for drawing the string, see DoDrawString() for details
  *
  * @return Width of the drawn string in pixels
  */
-int DrawStringCentered(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color)
+int DrawStringCentered(int x, int y, StringID str, TextColour colour)
 {
 	char buffer[DRAW_STRING_BUFFER];
 	int w;
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ int DrawStringCentered(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color)
 	HandleBiDiAndArabicShapes(buffer, lastof(buffer));
 
 	w = GetStringBoundingBox(buffer).width;
-	ReallyDoDrawString(buffer, x - w / 2, y, color);
+	ReallyDoDrawString(buffer, x - w / 2, y, colour);
 
 	return w;
 }
@@ -497,18 +497,18 @@ int DrawStringCentered(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color)
  * @param xr     Right-most x position
  * @param y      Y position of the string
  * @param str    String to draw
- * @param color  Color used for drawing the string, see DoDrawString() for details
+ * @param colour Colour used for drawing the string, see DoDrawString() for details
  *
  * @return Right-most coordinate of the (possibly truncated) drawn string
  */
-int DrawStringCenteredTruncated(int xl, int xr, int y, StringID str, uint16 color)
+int DrawStringCenteredTruncated(int xl, int xr, int y, StringID str, TextColour colour)
 {
 	char buffer[DRAW_STRING_BUFFER];
 	TruncateStringID(str, buffer, xr - xl, lastof(buffer));
 	HandleBiDiAndArabicShapes(buffer, lastof(buffer));
 
 	int w = GetStringBoundingBox(buffer).width;
-	return ReallyDoDrawString(buffer, (xl + xr - w) / 2, y, color);
+	return ReallyDoDrawString(buffer, (xl + xr - w) / 2, y, colour);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -517,18 +517,18 @@ int DrawStringCenteredTruncated(int xl, int xr, int y, StringID str, uint16 colo
  * @param x      X position of center of the string
  * @param y      Y position of center of the string
  * @param str    String to draw
- * @param color  Color used for drawing the string, see DoDrawString() for details
+ * @param colour Colour used for drawing the string, see DoDrawString() for details
  *
  * @return Width of the drawn string in pixels
  */
-int DoDrawStringCentered(int x, int y, const char *str, uint16 color)
+int DoDrawStringCentered(int x, int y, const char *str, TextColour colour)
 {
 	char buffer[DRAW_STRING_BUFFER];
 	strecpy(buffer, str, lastof(buffer));
 	HandleBiDiAndArabicShapes(buffer, lastof(buffer));
 
 	int w = GetStringBoundingBox(buffer).width;
-	ReallyDoDrawString(buffer, x - w / 2, y, color);
+	ReallyDoDrawString(buffer, x - w / 2, y, colour);
 	return w;
 }
 
@@ -538,12 +538,12 @@ int DoDrawStringCentered(int x, int y, const char *str, uint16 color)
  * @param x      X position of center of the string
  * @param y      Y position of center of the string
  * @param str    String to draw
- * @param color  Color used for drawing the string, see DoDrawString() for details
+ * @param colour Colour used for drawing the string, see DoDrawString() for details
  */
-void DrawStringCenterUnderline(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color)
+void DrawStringCenterUnderline(int x, int y, StringID str, TextColour colour)
 {
-	int w = DrawStringCentered(x, y, str, color);
-	GfxFillRect(x - (w >> 1), y + 10, x - (w >> 1) + w, y + 10, _string_colorremap[1]);
+	int w = DrawStringCentered(x, y, str, colour);
+	GfxFillRect(x - (w >> 1), y + 10, x - (w >> 1) + w, y + 10, _string_colourremap[1]);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -553,12 +553,12 @@ void DrawStringCenterUnderline(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color)
  * @param xr     Right x position of the string
  * @param y      Y position of center of the string
  * @param str    String to draw
- * @param color  Color used for drawing the string, see DoDrawString() for details
+ * @param colour Colour used for drawing the string, see DoDrawString() for details
  */
-void DrawStringCenterUnderlineTruncated(int xl, int xr, int y, StringID str, uint16 color)
+void DrawStringCenterUnderlineTruncated(int xl, int xr, int y, StringID str, TextColour colour)
 {
-	int w = DrawStringCenteredTruncated(xl, xr, y, str, color);
-	GfxFillRect((xl + xr - w) / 2, y + 10, (xl + xr + w) / 2, y + 10, _string_colorremap[1]);
+	int w = DrawStringCenteredTruncated(xl, xr, y, str, colour);
+	GfxFillRect((xl + xr - w) / 2, y + 10, (xl + xr + w) / 2, y + 10, _string_colourremap[1]);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -711,7 +711,7 @@ void DrawStringMultiCenter(int x, int y, StringID str, int maxw)
 		strecpy(buf2, src, lastof(buf2));
 		HandleBiDiAndArabicShapes(buf2, lastof(buf2));
 		int w = GetStringBoundingBox(buf2).width;
-		ReallyDoDrawString(buf2, x - (w >> 1), y, 0xFE, true);
+		ReallyDoDrawString(buf2, x - (w >> 1), y, TC_FROMSTRING, true);
 		_cur_fontsize = _last_fontsize;
 
 		for (;;) {
@@ -764,7 +764,7 @@ uint DrawStringMultiLine(int x, int y, StringID str, int maxw, int maxh)
 		char buf2[DRAW_STRING_BUFFER];
 		strecpy(buf2, src, lastof(buf2));
 		HandleBiDiAndArabicShapes(buf2, lastof(buf2));
-		ReallyDoDrawString(buf2, x, y, 0xFE, true);
+		ReallyDoDrawString(buf2, x, y, TC_FROMSTRING, true);
 		_cur_fontsize = _last_fontsize;
 
 		for (;;) {
@@ -833,17 +833,18 @@ Dimension GetStringBoundingBox(const char *str)
  * @param c           Character (glyph) to draw
  * @param x           X position to draw character
  * @param y           Y position to draw character
- * @param real_color  Colour to use, see DoDrawString() for details
+ * @param real_colour Colour to use, see DoDrawString() for details
  */
-void DrawCharCentered(WChar c, int x, int y, uint16 real_color)
+void DrawCharCentered(WChar c, int x, int y, TextColour colour)
 {
 	FontSize size = FS_NORMAL;
-	byte color = real_color & 0xFF;
+	assert(colour & IS_PALETTE_COLOR);
+	colour &= ~IS_PALETTE_COLOR;
 	int w = GetCharacterWidth(size, c);
 
-	_string_colorremap[1] = _string_colormap[_use_palette][color].text;
-	_string_colorremap[2] = _string_colormap[_use_palette][color].shadow;
-	_color_remap_ptr = _string_colorremap;
+	_string_colourremap[1] = _string_colourmap[_use_palette][colour].text;
+	_string_colourremap[2] = _string_colourmap[_use_palette][colour].shadow;
+	_colour_remap_ptr = _string_colourremap;
 
 	GfxMainBlitter(GetGlyph(size, c), x - w / 2, y, BM_COLOUR_REMAP);
 }
@@ -854,7 +855,7 @@ void DrawCharCentered(WChar c, int x, int y, uint16 real_color)
  * @param string              The string to draw. This is not yet bidi reordered.
  * @param x                   Offset from left side of the screen
  * @param y                   Offset from top side of the screen
- * @param real_colour         Colour of the string, see _string_colormap in
+ * @param colour              Colour of the string, see _string_colourmap in
  *                            table/palettes.h or docs/ottd-colourtext-palette.png or the enum TextColour in gfx_type.h
  * @param parse_string_also_when_clipped
  *                            By default, always test the available space where to draw the string.
@@ -865,13 +866,13 @@ void DrawCharCentered(WChar c, int x, int y, uint16 real_color)
  * @return                    the x-coordinates where the drawing has finished.
  *                            If nothing is drawn, the originally passed x-coordinate is returned
  */
-int DoDrawString(const char *string, int x, int y, uint16 real_colour, bool parse_string_also_when_clipped)
+int DoDrawString(const char *string, int x, int y, TextColour colour, bool parse_string_also_when_clipped)
 {
 	char buffer[DRAW_STRING_BUFFER];
 	strecpy(buffer, string, lastof(buffer));
 	HandleBiDiAndArabicShapes(buffer, lastof(buffer));
 
-	return ReallyDoDrawString(buffer, x, y, real_colour, parse_string_also_when_clipped);
+	return ReallyDoDrawString(buffer, x, y, colour, parse_string_also_when_clipped);
 }
 
 /** Draw a string at the given coordinates with the given colour.
@@ -880,7 +881,7 @@ int DoDrawString(const char *string, int x, int y, uint16 real_colour, bool pars
  * @param string              The string to draw. This is already bidi reordered.
  * @param x                   Offset from left side of the screen
  * @param y                   Offset from top side of the screen
- * @param real_colour         Colour of the string, see _string_colormap in
+ * @param colour              Colour of the string, see _string_colourmap in
  *                            table/palettes.h or docs/ottd-colourtext-palette.png or the enum TextColour in gfx_type.h
  * @param parse_string_also_when_clipped
  *                            By default, always test the available space where to draw the string.
@@ -891,15 +892,14 @@ int DoDrawString(const char *string, int x, int y, uint16 real_colour, bool pars
  * @return                    the x-coordinates where the drawing has finished.
  *                            If nothing is drawn, the originally passed x-coordinate is returned
  */
-static int ReallyDoDrawString(const char *string, int x, int y, uint16 real_colour, bool parse_string_also_when_clipped)
+static int ReallyDoDrawString(const char *string, int x, int y, TextColour colour, bool parse_string_also_when_clipped)
 {
 	DrawPixelInfo *dpi = _cur_dpi;
 	FontSize size = _cur_fontsize;
 	WChar c;
 	int xo = x, yo = y;
 
-	byte colour = real_colour & 0xFF;  // extract the 8 bits colour index that is required for the mapping
-	byte previous_colour = colour;
+	TextColour previous_colour = colour;
 
 	if (!parse_string_also_when_clipped) {
 		/* in "mode multiline", the available space have been verified. Not in regular one.
@@ -908,14 +908,14 @@ static int ReallyDoDrawString(const char *string, int x, int y, uint16 real_colo
 
 		if (colour != TC_INVALID) { // the invalid colour flag test should not  really occur.  But better be safe
 switch_colour:;
-			if (real_colour & IS_PALETTE_COLOR) {
-				_string_colorremap[1] = colour;
-				_string_colorremap[2] = (_use_palette == PAL_DOS) ? 1 : 215;
+			if (colour & IS_PALETTE_COLOR) {
+				_string_colourremap[1] = colour & ~IS_PALETTE_COLOR;
+				_string_colourremap[2] = (_use_palette == PAL_DOS) ? 1 : 215;
 			} else {
-				_string_colorremap[1] = _string_colormap[_use_palette][colour].text;
-				_string_colorremap[2] = _string_colormap[_use_palette][colour].shadow;
+				_string_colourremap[1] = _string_colourmap[_use_palette][colour].text;
+				_string_colourremap[2] = _string_colourmap[_use_palette][colour].shadow;
 			}
-			_color_remap_ptr = _string_colorremap;
+			_colour_remap_ptr = _string_colourremap;
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -947,7 +947,7 @@ skip_cont:;
 			goto check_bounds;
 		} else if (c >= SCC_BLUE && c <= SCC_BLACK) { // change colour?
 			previous_colour = colour;
-			colour = (byte)(c - SCC_BLUE);
+			colour = (TextColour)(c - SCC_BLUE);
 			goto switch_colour;
 		} else if (c == SCC_PREVIOUS_COLOUR) { // revert to the previous colour
 			Swap(colour, previous_colour);
@@ -974,17 +974,17 @@ skip_cont:;
  * @param str  Character buffer containing the string
  * @param x    Left-most x coordinate to start drawing
  * @param y    Y coordinate to draw the string
- * @param color Colour to use, see DoDrawString() for details.
+ * @param colour Colour to use, see DoDrawString() for details.
  * @param maxw  Maximal width in pixels that may be used for drawing
  *
  * @return Right-most x position after drawing the (possibly truncated) string
  */
-int DoDrawStringTruncated(const char *str, int x, int y, uint16 color, uint maxw)
+int DoDrawStringTruncated(const char *str, int x, int y, TextColour colour, uint maxw)
 {
 	char buffer[DRAW_STRING_BUFFER];
 	strecpy(buffer, str, lastof(buffer));
 	TruncateString(buffer, maxw);
-	return DoDrawString(buffer, x, y, color);
+	return DoDrawString(buffer, x, y, colour);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -998,10 +998,10 @@ int DoDrawStringTruncated(const char *str, int x, int y, uint16 color, uint maxw
 void DrawSprite(SpriteID img, SpriteID pal, int x, int y, const SubSprite *sub)
 {
 	if (HasBit(img, PALETTE_MODIFIER_TRANSPARENT)) {
-		_color_remap_ptr = GetNonSprite(GB(pal, 0, PALETTE_WIDTH), ST_RECOLOUR) + 1;
+		_colour_remap_ptr = GetNonSprite(GB(pal, 0, PALETTE_WIDTH), ST_RECOLOUR) + 1;
 		GfxMainBlitter(GetSprite(GB(img, 0, SPRITE_WIDTH), ST_NORMAL), x, y, BM_TRANSPARENT, sub);
 	} else if (pal != PAL_NONE) {
-		_color_remap_ptr = GetNonSprite(GB(pal, 0, PALETTE_WIDTH), ST_RECOLOUR) + 1;
+		_colour_remap_ptr = GetNonSprite(GB(pal, 0, PALETTE_WIDTH), ST_RECOLOUR) + 1;
 		GfxMainBlitter(GetSprite(GB(img, 0, SPRITE_WIDTH), ST_NORMAL), x, y, BM_COLOUR_REMAP, sub);
 	} else {
 		GfxMainBlitter(GetSprite(GB(img, 0, SPRITE_WIDTH), ST_NORMAL), x, y, BM_NORMAL, sub);
@@ -1042,7 +1042,7 @@ static void GfxMainBlitter(const Sprite *sprite, int x, int y, BlitterMode mode,
 
 	bp.dst = dpi->dst_ptr;
 	bp.pitch = dpi->pitch;
-	bp.remap = _color_remap_ptr;
+	bp.remap = _colour_remap_ptr;
 
 	assert(sprite->width > 0);
 	assert(sprite->height > 0);
diff --git a/src/gfx_func.h b/src/gfx_func.h
index b6a7a91adf..eedf346043 100644
--- a/src/gfx_func.h
+++ b/src/gfx_func.h
@@ -85,27 +85,27 @@ void GfxScroll(int left, int top, int width, int height, int xo, int yo);
 
 void DrawSprite(SpriteID img, SpriteID pal, int x, int y, const SubSprite *sub = NULL);
 
-int DrawStringCentered(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color);
-int DrawStringCenteredTruncated(int xl, int xr, int y, StringID str, uint16 color);
-int DoDrawStringCentered(int x, int y, const char *str, uint16 color);
+int DrawStringCentered(int x, int y, StringID str, TextColour colour);
+int DrawStringCenteredTruncated(int xl, int xr, int y, StringID str, TextColour colour);
+int DoDrawStringCentered(int x, int y, const char *str, TextColour colour);
 
-int DrawString(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color);
-int DrawStringTruncated(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color, uint maxw);
+int DrawString(int x, int y, StringID str, TextColour colour);
+int DrawStringTruncated(int x, int y, StringID str, TextColour colour, uint maxw);
 
-int DoDrawString(const char *string, int x, int y, uint16 real_colour, bool parse_string_also_when_clipped = false);
-int DoDrawStringTruncated(const char *str, int x, int y, uint16 color, uint maxw);
+int DoDrawString(const char *string, int x, int y, TextColour colour, bool parse_string_also_when_clipped = false);
+int DoDrawStringTruncated(const char *str, int x, int y, TextColour colour, uint maxw);
 
-void DrawStringCenterUnderline(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color);
-void DrawStringCenterUnderlineTruncated(int xl, int xr, int y, StringID str, uint16 color);
+void DrawStringCenterUnderline(int x, int y, StringID str, TextColour colour);
+void DrawStringCenterUnderlineTruncated(int xl, int xr, int y, StringID str, TextColour colour);
 
-int DrawStringRightAligned(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color);
-void DrawStringRightAlignedTruncated(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color, uint maxw);
-void DrawStringRightAlignedUnderline(int x, int y, StringID str, uint16 color);
+int DrawStringRightAligned(int x, int y, StringID str, TextColour colour);
+void DrawStringRightAlignedTruncated(int x, int y, StringID str, TextColour colour, uint maxw);
+void DrawStringRightAlignedUnderline(int x, int y, StringID str, TextColour colour);
 
-void DrawCharCentered(uint32 c, int x, int y, uint16 color);
+void DrawCharCentered(uint32 c, int x, int y, TextColour colour);
 
-void GfxFillRect(int left, int top, int right, int bottom, int color, FillRectMode mode = FILLRECT_OPAQUE);
-void GfxDrawLine(int left, int top, int right, int bottom, int color);
+void GfxFillRect(int left, int top, int right, int bottom, int colour, FillRectMode mode = FILLRECT_OPAQUE);
+void GfxDrawLine(int left, int top, int right, int bottom, int colour);
 void DrawBox(int x, int y, int dx1, int dy1, int dx2, int dy2, int dx3, int dy3);
 
 Dimension GetStringBoundingBox(const char *str);
diff --git a/src/gfx_type.h b/src/gfx_type.h
index 20b5019a06..835015a8b0 100644
--- a/src/gfx_type.h
+++ b/src/gfx_type.h
@@ -206,7 +206,10 @@ enum TextColour {
 	TC_DARK_BLUE   = 0x0F,
 	TC_BLACK       = 0x10,
 	TC_INVALID     = 0xFF,
+
+	IS_PALETTE_COLOR = 0x100, ///< colour value is already a real palette colour index, not an index of a StringColour
 };
+DECLARE_ENUM_AS_BIT_SET(TextColour);
 
 /** Defines a few values that are related to animations using palette changes */
 enum PaletteAnimationSizes {
@@ -215,10 +218,6 @@ enum PaletteAnimationSizes {
 	PALETTE_ANIM_SIZE_START = 217,  ///< Index in  the _palettes array from which all animations are taking places (table/palettes.h)
 };
 
-enum StringColorFlags {
-	IS_PALETTE_COLOR = 0x100, ///< color value is already a real palette color index, not an index of a StringColor
-};
-
 /** Define the operation GfxFillRect performs */
 enum FillRectMode {
 	FILLRECT_OPAQUE,  ///< Fill rectangle with a single color
diff --git a/src/network/network.cpp b/src/network/network.cpp
index 99b63cf4a9..02121b3472 100644
--- a/src/network/network.cpp
+++ b/src/network/network.cpp
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ bool NetworkCompanyIsPassworded(CompanyID company_id)
 // This puts a text-message to the console, or in the future, the chat-box,
 //  (to keep it all a bit more general)
 // If 'self_send' is true, this is the client who is sending the message
-void NetworkTextMessage(NetworkAction action, ConsoleColour color, bool self_send, const char *name, const char *str, int64 data)
+void NetworkTextMessage(NetworkAction action, ConsoleColour colour, bool self_send, const char *name, const char *str, int64 data)
 {
 	const int duration = 10; // Game days the messages stay visible
 
@@ -200,19 +200,19 @@ void NetworkTextMessage(NetworkAction action, ConsoleColour color, bool self_sen
 			if (data >= NETWORK_SERVER_MESSAGE_END) return;
 
 			strid = STR_NETWORK_SERVER_MESSAGE;
-			color = CC_DEFAULT;
+			colour = CC_DEFAULT;
 			data = STR_NETWORK_SERVER_MESSAGE_GAME_PAUSED_PLAYERS + data;
 			break;
 		case NETWORK_ACTION_COMPANY_SPECTATOR:
-			color = CC_DEFAULT;
+			colour = CC_DEFAULT;
 			strid = STR_NETWORK_CLIENT_COMPANY_SPECTATE;
 			break;
 		case NETWORK_ACTION_COMPANY_JOIN:
-			color = CC_DEFAULT;
+			colour = CC_DEFAULT;
 			strid = STR_NETWORK_CLIENT_COMPANY_JOIN;
 			break;
 		case NETWORK_ACTION_COMPANY_NEW:
-			color = CC_DEFAULT;
+			colour = CC_DEFAULT;
 			strid = STR_NETWORK_CLIENT_COMPANY_NEW;
 			break;
 		case NETWORK_ACTION_JOIN:           strid = STR_NETWORK_CLIENT_JOINED; break;
@@ -231,8 +231,8 @@ void NetworkTextMessage(NetworkAction action, ConsoleColour color, bool self_sen
 	GetString(message, strid, lastof(message));
 
 	DEBUG(desync, 1, "msg: %d; %d; %s\n", _date, _date_fract, message);
-	IConsolePrintF(color, "%s", message);
-	NetworkAddChatMessage(color, duration, "%s", message);
+	IConsolePrintF(colour, "%s", message);
+	NetworkAddChatMessage((TextColour)colour, duration, "%s", message);
 }
 
 // Calculate the frame-lag of a client
diff --git a/src/network/network_chat_gui.cpp b/src/network/network_chat_gui.cpp
index a5336c1266..948aa5942e 100644
--- a/src/network/network_chat_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/network/network_chat_gui.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ enum {
 
 struct ChatMessage {
 	char message[DRAW_STRING_BUFFER];
-	uint16 color;
+	TextColour colour;
 	Date end_date;
 };
 
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ static inline uint GetChatMessageCount()
  * @param duration The duration of the chat message in game-days
  * @param message message itself in printf() style
  */
-void CDECL NetworkAddChatMessage(uint16 color, uint8 duration, const char *message, ...)
+void CDECL NetworkAddChatMessage(TextColour colour, uint8 duration, const char *message, ...)
 {
 	char buf[DRAW_STRING_BUFFER];
 	const char *bufp;
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ void CDECL NetworkAddChatMessage(uint16 color, uint8 duration, const char *messa
 
 		/* The default colour for a message is company colour. Replace this with
 		 * white for any additional lines */
-		cmsg->color = (bufp == buf && color & IS_PALETTE_COLOR) ? color : (0x1D - 15) | IS_PALETTE_COLOR;
+		cmsg->colour = (bufp == buf && colour & IS_PALETTE_COLOR) ? colour : (TextColour)(0x1D - 15) | IS_PALETTE_COLOR;
 		cmsg->end_date = _date + duration;
 
 		bufp += strlen(bufp) + 1; // jump to 'next line' in the formatted string
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ void NetworkDrawChatMessage()
 
 	/* Paint the chat messages starting with the lowest at the bottom */
 	for (uint y = NETWORK_CHAT_LINE_HEIGHT; count-- != 0; y += NETWORK_CHAT_LINE_HEIGHT) {
-		DoDrawString(_chatmsg_list[count].message, _chatmsg_box.x + 3, _screen.height - _chatmsg_box.y - y + 1, _chatmsg_list[count].color);
+		DoDrawString(_chatmsg_list[count].message, _chatmsg_box.x + 3, _screen.height - _chatmsg_box.y - y + 1, _chatmsg_list[count].colour);
 	}
 
 	/* Make sure the data is updated next flush */
diff --git a/src/network/network_func.h b/src/network/network_func.h
index 70bc96ff03..af8f4cbd6f 100644
--- a/src/network/network_func.h
+++ b/src/network/network_func.h
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "core/address.h"
 #include "network_type.h"
 #include "../console_type.h"
+#include "../gfx_type.h"
 
 extern NetworkServerGameInfo _network_game_info;
 extern NetworkCompanyState *_network_company_states;
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ void NetworkServerSendError(ClientID client_id, NetworkErrorCode error);
 void NetworkServerSendChat(NetworkAction action, DestType type, int dest, const char *msg, ClientID from_id, int64 data = 0);
 
 void NetworkInitChatMessage();
-void CDECL NetworkAddChatMessage(uint16 color, uint8 duration, const char *message, ...);
+void CDECL NetworkAddChatMessage(TextColour colour, uint8 duration, const char *message, ...);
 void NetworkUndrawChatMessage();
 void NetworkChatMessageDailyLoop();
 
diff --git a/src/news_gui.cpp b/src/news_gui.cpp
index 06273e1270..edc04aa6f2 100644
--- a/src/news_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/news_gui.cpp
@@ -662,11 +662,11 @@ void ShowLastNewsMessage()
  * Draw an unformatted news message truncated to a maximum length. If
  * length exceeds maximum length it will be postfixed by '...'
  * @param x,y position of the string
- * @param color the color the string will be shown in
+ * @param colour the colour the string will be shown in
  * @param *ni NewsItem being printed
  * @param maxw maximum width of string in pixels
  */
-static void DrawNewsString(int x, int y, uint16 color, const NewsItem *ni, uint maxw)
+static void DrawNewsString(int x, int y, TextColour colour, const NewsItem *ni, uint maxw)
 {
 	char buffer[512], buffer2[512];
 	StringID str;
@@ -698,7 +698,7 @@ static void DrawNewsString(int x, int y, uint16 color, const NewsItem *ni, uint
 
 	*dest = '\0';
 	/* Truncate and show string; postfixed by '...' if neccessary */
-	DoDrawStringTruncated(buffer2, x, y, color, maxw);
+	DoDrawStringTruncated(buffer2, x, y, colour, maxw);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/table/palettes.h b/src/table/palettes.h
index d129f41910..98a9baefc5 100644
--- a/src/table/palettes.h
+++ b/src/table/palettes.h
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ struct StringColor {
 	byte shadow;
 };
 
-static const StringColor _string_colormap[][17] = {
+static const StringColor _string_colourmap[][17] = {
 	{ /* DOS palette. */
 		{ 150,   1 }, // TC_BLUE
 		{  12,   1 }, // TC_SILVER
diff --git a/src/toolbar_gui.cpp b/src/toolbar_gui.cpp
index c6f11e0d97..a70a791285 100644
--- a/src/toolbar_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/toolbar_gui.cpp
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ public:
 
 		SetDParam(0, company);
 		SetDParam(1, company);
-		int col;
+		TextColour col;
 		if (this->greyed) {
 			col = TC_GREY;
 		} else {
diff --git a/src/town_gui.cpp b/src/town_gui.cpp
index b4833ab3b1..0a5f24ad02 100644
--- a/src/town_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/town_gui.cpp
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ public:
 		if (_settings_game.economy.station_noise_level) {
 			SetDParam(0, this->town->noise_reached);
 			SetDParam(1, this->town->MaxTownNoise());
-			DrawString(2, 137, STR_NOISE_IN_TOWN, 0);
+			DrawString(2, 137, STR_NOISE_IN_TOWN, TC_FROMSTRING);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/viewport.cpp b/src/viewport.cpp
index 579f65205e..1cab2da6bc 100644
--- a/src/viewport.cpp
+++ b/src/viewport.cpp
@@ -1418,7 +1418,7 @@ static void ViewportDrawStrings(DrawPixelInfo *dpi, const StringSpriteToDrawVect
 
 	const StringSpriteToDraw *ssend = sstdv->End();
 	for (const StringSpriteToDraw *ss = sstdv->Begin(); ss != ssend; ++ss) {
-		uint16 colour;
+		TextColour colour;
 
 		if (ss->width != 0) {
 			/* Do not draw signs nor station names if they are set invisible */
@@ -1453,7 +1453,7 @@ static void ViewportDrawStrings(DrawPixelInfo *dpi, const StringSpriteToDrawVect
 		if (IsTransparencySet(TO_SIGNS) && ss->string != STR_2806 && ss->width != 0) {
 			/* Real colors need the IS_PALETTE_COLOR flag
 			 * otherwise colors from _string_colormap are assumed. */
-			colour = _colour_gradient[ss->color][6] | IS_PALETTE_COLOR;
+			colour = (TextColour)_colour_gradient[ss->color][6] | IS_PALETTE_COLOR;
 		} else {
 			colour = TC_BLACK;
 		}
diff --git a/src/widget.cpp b/src/widget.cpp
index 285fc99207..45c928c8f1 100644
--- a/src/widget.cpp
+++ b/src/widget.cpp
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ void Window::DrawWidgets() const
 		case WWT_TEXT: {
 			const StringID str = wi->data;
 
-			if (str != STR_NULL) DrawStringTruncated(r.left, r.top, str, wi->colour, r.right - r.left);
+			if (str != STR_NULL) DrawStringTruncated(r.left, r.top, str, (TextColour)wi->colour, r.right - r.left);
 			break;
 		}