diff --git a/example/ex3/ex3.cpp b/example/ex3/ex3.cpp
index cc77ca6e..69ad095d 100644
--- a/example/ex3/ex3.cpp
+++ b/example/ex3/ex3.cpp
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ main(int argc, char ** argv) {
     log_config::max_indent_width = 30;
     log_config::location_tab = 80;
     log_config::encoding = CE_Xterm;
-    log_config::function_entry_color = 69;
-    log_config::function_exit_color = 70;
+    log_config::function_entry_color = color_spec::xterm(69);
+    log_config::function_exit_color = color_spec::xterm(70);
     log_config::code_location_color = color_spec::xterm(166);
 
     int n = 3;
diff --git a/include/indentlog/color.hpp b/include/indentlog/color.hpp
index 7e600fa4..6d0ee749 100644
--- a/include/indentlog/color.hpp
+++ b/include/indentlog/color.hpp
@@ -143,31 +143,11 @@ namespace xo {
         Contents contents_;
     }; /*color_impl*/
 
-    template <typename Contents>
-    color_impl<Contents> with_ansi_color(std::uint32_t color, Contents && contents) {
-        return color_impl<Contents>(CF_All, color_spec::ansi(color), std::forward(contents));
-    } /*with_ansi_color*/
-
-    template <typename Contents>
-    color_impl<Contents> with_xterm_color(std::uint32_t color, Contents && contents) {
-        return color_impl<Contents>(CF_All, color_spec::xterm(color), std::forward(contents));
-    } /*with_ansi_color*/
-
     template <typename Contents>
     color_impl<Contents> with_color(color_spec spec, Contents && contents) {
         return color_impl<Contents>(CF_All, spec, std::forward<Contents>(contents));
     } /*with_color*/
 
-    inline color_impl<int>
-    color_on_ansi(std::uint32_t color) {
-        return color_impl<int>(CF_ColorOn, color_spec::ansi(color), 0);
-    } /*color_on_ansi*/
-
-    inline color_impl<int>
-    color_on_xterm(std::uint32_t color) {
-        return color_impl<int>(CF_ColorOn, color_spec::xterm(color), 0);
-    } /*color_on_xterm*/
-
     inline color_impl<int>
     color_on(color_spec spec) {
         return color_impl<int>(CF_ColorOn, spec, 0);
diff --git a/include/indentlog/log_config.hpp b/include/indentlog/log_config.hpp
index d3e8c91d..b239aa60 100644
--- a/include/indentlog/log_config.hpp
+++ b/include/indentlog/log_config.hpp
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ namespace xo {
         /* color to use for function name,  on entry/exit (xo::scope creation/destruction)
          * (ansi color codes,  see Select Graphics Rendition subset)
          */
-        static std::uint32_t function_entry_color;
-        static std::uint32_t function_exit_color;
+        static color_spec function_entry_color;
+        static color_spec function_exit_color;
         /* if true,  append [file:line] to output */
         static bool location_enabled;
         /* when .location_enabled,  write [file:line] starting this many chars from left margin */
@@ -85,12 +85,12 @@ namespace xo {
     log_config_impl<Tag>::encoding = CE_Ansi;
 
     template <typename Tag>
-    std::uint32_t
-    log_config_impl<Tag>::function_entry_color = 34;
+    color_spec
+    log_config_impl<Tag>::function_entry_color = color_spec::ansi(34);
 
     template <typename Tag>
-    std::uint32_t
-    log_config_impl<Tag>::function_exit_color = 32;
+    color_spec
+    log_config_impl<Tag>::function_exit_color = color_spec::ansi(32);
 
     template <typename Tag>
     bool
diff --git a/include/indentlog/log_state.hpp b/include/indentlog/log_state.hpp
index 6895fb25..c1450779 100644
--- a/include/indentlog/log_state.hpp
+++ b/include/indentlog/log_state.hpp
@@ -194,9 +194,7 @@ namespace xo {
         this->indent(' ');
 
         char ee_label = '\0';
-        std::uint32_t fn_color = 0;
-
-        color_encoding encoding = log_config::encoding;
+        color_spec fn_color;
 
         /* mnemonic for scope entry/exit */
         switch(entryexit) {
@@ -232,7 +230,7 @@ namespace xo {
             this->ss_ << ' ';
 
         /* scope name - note no trailing newline;  expect .preamble()/.postamble() caller to supply */
-        this->ss_ << function_name(style, color_spec(encoding, fn_color), name1) << name2;
+        this->ss_ << function_name(style, fn_color, name1) << name2;
     } /*entryexit_aux*/
 
     template <typename CharT, typename Traits>