diff --git a/doc/examples/plot_join_segmentations.py b/doc/examples/plot_join_segmentations.py
index 0a14df0d..b8bbd6c3 100644
--- a/doc/examples/plot_join_segmentations.py
+++ b/doc/examples/plot_join_segmentations.py
@@ -13,11 +13,11 @@ segmentations.
 import numpy as np
 from scipy import ndimage as nd
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
-import matplotlib as mpl
 
 from skimage.filter import sobel
 from skimage.segmentation import slic, join_segmentations
 from skimage.morphology import watershed
+from skimage.color import image_label2rgb
 from skimage import data
 
 
@@ -43,24 +43,21 @@ seg2 = slic(coins_colour, n_segments=30, max_iter=160, sigma=1, ratio=9,
 # combine the two
 segj = join_segmentations(seg1, seg2)
 
-### Display the result ###
-
-# make a random colormap for a set number of values
-def random_cmap(im):
-    np.random.seed(9)
-    cmap_array = np.concatenate(
-        (np.zeros((1, 3)), np.random.rand(np.ceil(im.max()), 3)))
-    return mpl.colors.ListedColormap(cmap_array)
-
 # show the segmentations
 fig, axes = plt.subplots(ncols=4, figsize=(9, 2.5))
 axes[0].imshow(coins, cmap=plt.cm.gray, interpolation='nearest')
 axes[0].set_title('Image')
-axes[1].imshow(seg1, cmap=random_cmap(seg1), interpolation='nearest')
+
+color1 = image_label2rgb(coins, seg1, bg_label=0)
+axes[1].imshow(color1, interpolation='nearest')
 axes[1].set_title('Sobel+Watershed')
-axes[2].imshow(seg2, cmap=random_cmap(seg2), interpolation='nearest')
+
+color2 = image_label2rgb(coins, seg2, image_alpha=0.5)
+axes[2].imshow(color2, interpolation='nearest')
 axes[2].set_title('SLIC superpixels')
-axes[3].imshow(segj, cmap=random_cmap(segj), interpolation='nearest')
+
+color3 = image_label2rgb(coins, segj, image_alpha=0.5)
+axes[3].imshow(color3, interpolation='nearest')
 axes[3].set_title('Join')
 
 for ax in axes:
diff --git a/skimage/_shared/utils.py b/skimage/_shared/utils.py
index acdf9c16..3271cfb0 100644
--- a/skimage/_shared/utils.py
+++ b/skimage/_shared/utils.py
@@ -2,7 +2,18 @@ import warnings
 import functools
 
 
-__all__ = ['deprecated']
+__all__ = ['deprecated', 'is_str']
+
+
+try:
+    isinstance("", basestring)
+    def is_str(s):
+        """Return True if `s` is a string. Safe for Python 2 and 3."""
+        return isinstance(s, basestring)
+except NameError:
+    def is_str(s):
+        """Return True if `s` is a string. Safe for Python 2 and 3."""
+        return isinstance(s, str)
 
 
 class deprecated(object):
diff --git a/skimage/color/__init__.py b/skimage/color/__init__.py
index 52d6e760..de24fbe9 100644
--- a/skimage/color/__init__.py
+++ b/skimage/color/__init__.py
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ from .colorconv import (convert_colorspace,
                         is_rgb,
                         is_gray)
 
+from .colorlabel import color_dict, image_label2rgb
+
+
 __all__ = ['convert_colorspace',
            'rgb2hsv',
            'hsv2rgb',
@@ -82,4 +85,6 @@ __all__ = ['convert_colorspace',
            'rgb_from_hpx',
            'hpx_from_rgb',
            'is_rgb',
-           'is_gray']
+           'is_gray',
+           'color_dict',
+           'image_label2rgb']
diff --git a/skimage/color/colorlabel.py b/skimage/color/colorlabel.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..22027401
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skimage/color/colorlabel.py
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+import os
+import ast
+import itertools
+import ConfigParser
+
+import numpy as np
+
+from skimage import img_as_float
+from skimage._shared.utils import is_str
+from .colorconv import rgb2gray, gray2rgb
+
+
+__all__ = ['color_dict', 'image_label2rgb', 'DEFAULT_COLORS']
+
+
+DEFAULT_COLORS = ('red', 'blue', 'yellow', 'magenta', 'green',
+                  'indigo', 'darkorange', 'cyan', 'pink', 'yellowgreen')
+
+
+def _load_colors():
+    directory, _ = os.path.split(os.path.abspath(__file__))
+    config_file = os.path.join(directory, 'colors.ini')
+
+    parser = ConfigParser.ConfigParser()
+    parser.read(config_file)
+    return dict((k, ast.literal_eval(v)) for k, v in parser.items('colors'))
+color_dict = _load_colors()
+
+
+def _rgb_vector(color):
+    """Return RGB color as (1, 3) array.
+
+    This RGB array gets multiplied by masked regions of an RGB image, which are
+    partially flattened by masking (i.e. dimensions 2D + RGB -> 1D + RGB).
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    color : str or array
+        Color name in `color_dict` or RGB float values between [0, 1].
+    """
+    if is_str(color):
+        color = color_dict[color]
+    # slice to handle RGBA colors
+    return np.array(color[:3]).reshape(1, 3)
+
+
+def image_label2rgb(image, label, colors=None, alpha=0.3,
+                    bg_label=-1, bg_color=None, image_alpha=1):
+    """Return an RGB image where color-coded labels are painted over the image.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    image : array
+        Input image. If the input is an RGB image, it's converted to grayscale
+        before coloring.
+    label : array
+        Integer array of labels with the same shape as `image`.
+    colors : list
+        List of colors. If the number of labels exceeds the number of colors,
+        then the colors are cycled.
+    alpha : float [0, 1]
+        Opacity of colorized labels.
+    bg_label : int
+        Label that's treated as the background.
+    bg_color : str or array
+        Background color. Must be a name in `color_dict` or RGB float values
+        between [0, 1].
+    image_alpha : float [0, 1]
+        Opacity of the image.
+    """
+    if colors is None:
+        colors = DEFAULT_COLORS
+    colors = [_rgb_vector(c) for c in colors]
+
+    image = img_as_float(rgb2gray(image))
+    colorized = gray2rgb(image) * image_alpha + (1 - image_alpha)
+
+    labels = list(set(label.flat))
+    color_cycle = itertools.cycle(colors)
+
+    if bg_label in labels:
+        labels.remove(bg_label)
+        if bg_color is not None:
+            labels.insert(0, bg_label)
+            bg_color = _rgb_vector(bg_color)
+            color_cycle = itertools.chain(bg_color, color_cycle)
+
+    for c, i in itertools.izip(color_cycle, labels):
+        mask = (label == i)
+        colorized[mask] = c * alpha + colorized[mask] * (1 - alpha)
+
+    return colorized
diff --git a/skimage/color/colors.ini b/skimage/color/colors.ini
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..659c0e36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skimage/color/colors.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+[colors]
+aliceblue = (0.941, 0.973, 1)
+antiquewhite = (0.98, 0.922, 0.843)
+aqua = (0, 1, 1)
+aquamarine = (0.498, 1, 0.831)
+azure = (0.941, 1, 1)
+beige = (0.961, 0.961, 0.863)
+bisque = (1, 0.894, 0.769)
+black = (0, 0, 0)
+blanchedalmond = (1, 0.922, 0.804)
+blue = (0, 0, 1)
+blueviolet = (0.541, 0.169, 0.886)
+brown = (0.647, 0.165, 0.165)
+burlywood = (0.871, 0.722, 0.529)
+cadetblue = (0.373, 0.62, 0.627)
+chartreuse = (0.498, 1, 0)
+chocolate = (0.824, 0.412, 0.118)
+coral = (1, 0.498, 0.314)
+cornflowerblue = (0.392, 0.584, 0.929)
+cornsilk = (1, 0.973, 0.863)
+crimson = (0.863, 0.0784, 0.235)
+cyan = (0, 1, 1)
+darkblue = (0, 0, 0.545)
+darkcyan = (0, 0.545, 0.545)
+darkgoldenrod = (0.722, 0.525, 0.0431)
+darkgray = (0.663, 0.663, 0.663)
+darkgreen = (0, 0.392, 0)
+darkgrey = (0.663, 0.663, 0.663)
+darkkhaki = (0.741, 0.718, 0.42)
+darkmagenta = (0.545, 0, 0.545)
+darkolivegreen = (0.333, 0.42, 0.184)
+darkorange = (1, 0.549, 0)
+darkorchid = (0.6, 0.196, 0.8)
+darkred = (0.545, 0, 0)
+darksalmon = (0.914, 0.588, 0.478)
+darkseagreen = (0.561, 0.737, 0.561)
+darkslateblue = (0.282, 0.239, 0.545)
+darkslategray = (0.184, 0.31, 0.31)
+darkslategrey = (0.184, 0.31, 0.31)
+darkturquoise = (0, 0.808, 0.82)
+darkviolet = (0.58, 0, 0.827)
+deeppink = (1, 0.0784, 0.576)
+deepskyblue = (0, 0.749, 1)
+dimgray = (0.412, 0.412, 0.412)
+dimgrey = (0.412, 0.412, 0.412)
+dodgerblue = (0.118, 0.565, 1)
+firebrick = (0.698, 0.133, 0.133)
+floralwhite = (1, 0.98, 0.941)
+forestgreen = (0.133, 0.545, 0.133)
+fuchsia = (1, 0, 1)
+gainsboro = (0.863, 0.863, 0.863)
+ghostwhite = (0.973, 0.973, 1)
+gold = (1, 0.843, 0)
+goldenrod = (0.855, 0.647, 0.125)
+gray = (0.502, 0.502, 0.502)
+green = (0, 0.502, 0)
+greenyellow = (0.678, 1, 0.184)
+grey = (0.502, 0.502, 0.502)
+honeydew = (0.941, 1, 0.941)
+hotpink = (1, 0.412, 0.706)
+indianred = (0.804, 0.361, 0.361)
+indigo = (0.294, 0, 0.51)
+ivory = (1, 1, 0.941)
+khaki = (0.941, 0.902, 0.549)
+lavender = (0.902, 0.902, 0.98)
+lavenderblush = (1, 0.941, 0.961)
+lawngreen = (0.486, 0.988, 0)
+lemonchiffon = (1, 0.98, 0.804)
+lightblue = (0.678, 0.847, 0.902)
+lightcoral = (0.941, 0.502, 0.502)
+lightcyan = (0.878, 1, 1)
+lightgoldenrodyellow = (0.98, 0.98, 0.824)
+lightgray = (0.827, 0.827, 0.827)
+lightgreen = (0.565, 0.933, 0.565)
+lightgrey = (0.827, 0.827, 0.827)
+lightpink = (1, 0.714, 0.757)
+lightsalmon = (1, 0.627, 0.478)
+lightseagreen = (0.125, 0.698, 0.667)
+lightskyblue = (0.529, 0.808, 0.98)
+lightslategray = (0.467, 0.533, 0.6)
+lightslategrey = (0.467, 0.533, 0.6)
+lightsteelblue = (0.69, 0.769, 0.871)
+lightyellow = (1, 1, 0.878)
+lime = (0, 1, 0)
+limegreen = (0.196, 0.804, 0.196)
+linen = (0.98, 0.941, 0.902)
+magenta = (1, 0, 1)
+maroon = (0.502, 0, 0)
+mediumaquamarine = (0.4, 0.804, 0.667)
+mediumblue = (0, 0, 0.804)
+mediumorchid = (0.729, 0.333, 0.827)
+mediumpurple = (0.576, 0.439, 0.859)
+mediumseagreen = (0.235, 0.702, 0.443)
+mediumslateblue = (0.482, 0.408, 0.933)
+mediumspringgreen = (0, 0.98, 0.604)
+mediumturquoise = (0.282, 0.82, 0.8)
+mediumvioletred = (0.78, 0.0824, 0.522)
+midnightblue = (0.098, 0.098, 0.439)
+mintcream = (0.961, 1, 0.98)
+mistyrose = (1, 0.894, 0.882)
+moccasin = (1, 0.894, 0.71)
+navajowhite = (1, 0.871, 0.678)
+navy = (0, 0, 0.502)
+oldlace = (0.992, 0.961, 0.902)
+olive = (0.502, 0.502, 0)
+olivedrab = (0.42, 0.557, 0.137)
+orange = (1, 0.647, 0)
+orangered = (1, 0.271, 0)
+orchid = (0.855, 0.439, 0.839)
+palegoldenrod = (0.933, 0.91, 0.667)
+palegreen = (0.596, 0.984, 0.596)
+palevioletred = (0.686, 0.933, 0.933)
+papayawhip = (1, 0.937, 0.835)
+peachpuff = (1, 0.855, 0.725)
+peru = (0.804, 0.522, 0.247)
+pink = (1, 0.753, 0.796)
+plum = (0.867, 0.627, 0.867)
+powderblue = (0.69, 0.878, 0.902)
+purple = (0.502, 0, 0.502)
+red = (1, 0, 0)
+rosybrown = (0.737, 0.561, 0.561)
+royalblue = (0.255, 0.412, 0.882)
+saddlebrown = (0.545, 0.271, 0.0745)
+salmon = (0.98, 0.502, 0.447)
+sandybrown = (0.98, 0.643, 0.376)
+seagreen = (0.18, 0.545, 0.341)
+seashell = (1, 0.961, 0.933)
+sienna = (0.627, 0.322, 0.176)
+silver = (0.753, 0.753, 0.753)
+skyblue = (0.529, 0.808, 0.922)
+slateblue = (0.416, 0.353, 0.804)
+slategray = (0.439, 0.502, 0.565)
+slategrey = (0.439, 0.502, 0.565)
+snow = (1, 0.98, 0.98)
+springgreen = (0, 1, 0.498)
+steelblue = (0.275, 0.51, 0.706)
+tan = (0.824, 0.706, 0.549)
+teal = (0, 0.502, 0.502)
+thistle = (0.847, 0.749, 0.847)
+tomato = (1, 0.388, 0.278)
+turquoise = (0.251, 0.878, 0.816)
+violet = (0.933, 0.51, 0.933)
+wheat = (0.961, 0.871, 0.702)
+white = (1, 1, 1)
+whitesmoke = (0.961, 0.961, 0.961)
+yellow = (1, 1, 0)
+yellowgreen = (0.604, 0.804, 0.196)