diff --git a/config/hyperion.config.json b/config/hyperion.config.json
index e83f7e98..b6793e8a 100644
--- a/config/hyperion.config.json
+++ b/config/hyperion.config.json
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
     "color" :
     {
         "hsv" : {
-            "saturationGain" : 1.5,
+            "saturationGain" : 1.2,
             "valueGain"      : 1.5
         },
         "red" :
diff --git a/libsrc/protoserver/ProtoClientConnection.cpp b/libsrc/protoserver/ProtoClientConnection.cpp
index 0b5de81c..f7deb85d 100644
--- a/libsrc/protoserver/ProtoClientConnection.cpp
+++ b/libsrc/protoserver/ProtoClientConnection.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <iterator>
 
 // Qt includes
+#include <QRgb>
 #include <QResource>
 #include <QDateTime>
 
@@ -116,17 +117,13 @@ void ProtoClientConnection::handleMessage(const proto::HyperionRequest & message
 
 void ProtoClientConnection::handleColorCommand(const proto::ColorRequest &message)
 {
-	if (message.rgbcolor().size() != 3)
-	{
-		sendErrorReply("The rgbcolor field requires a length of 3");
-		return;
-	}
-
 	// extract parameters
 	int priority = message.priority();
 	int duration = message.has_duration() ? message.duration() : -1;
-	const std::string & rgbColor = message.rgbcolor();
-	RgbColor color = {uint8_t(rgbColor[0]), uint8_t(rgbColor[1]), uint8_t(rgbColor[2])};
+	RgbColor color;
+	color.red = qRed(message.rgbcolor());
+	color.green = qGreen(message.rgbcolor());
+	color.blue = qBlue(message.rgbcolor());
 
 	// set output
 	_hyperion->setColor(priority, color, duration);
diff --git a/libsrc/protoserver/message.proto b/libsrc/protoserver/message.proto
index 7d5e231c..cd1f087c 100644
--- a/libsrc/protoserver/message.proto
+++ b/libsrc/protoserver/message.proto
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ message ColorRequest {
 	// priority to use when setting the color
 	required int32 priority = 1;
 
-	// 3-byte value containing the rgb color
-	required bytes rgbColor = 2;
+	// integer value containing the rgb color (0x00RRGGBB)
+	required int32 rgbColor = 2;
 
 	// duration of the request (negative results in infinite)
 	optional int32 duration = 3;