Evaluate the following in emacs -Q: (require 'svg) (defun make-image (color) (let ((svg (svg-create 100 100))) (svg-rectangle svg 0 0 100 100 :fill color) (svg-image svg))) (set-frame-parameter (window-frame) 'background-color "black") (insert (propertize " " 'display (make-image "#f00000"))) The expected result is a rectangle (on black background) of color #f00000. The actual result is a rectangle of color #ef0000. For black backgrounds, white is no longer representable. This is related to bug #36304, but much easier to fix. Patch attached.