diff --git a/common/class_colors_design_settings.cpp b/common/class_colors_design_settings.cpp
index b030c072bb..749ecfbc25 100644
--- a/common/class_colors_design_settings.cpp
+++ b/common/class_colors_design_settings.cpp
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ static const EDA_COLOR_T default_items_color[] = {
 COLORS_DESIGN_SETTINGS::COLORS_DESIGN_SETTINGS( FRAME_T aFrameType )
 {
     m_frameType = aFrameType;
+    m_legacyMode = false;
 
     for( unsigned src = 0, dst = 0; dst < DIM( m_LayersColors ); ++dst )
     {
@@ -124,7 +125,8 @@ COLOR4D COLORS_DESIGN_SETTINGS::GetLayerColor( LAYER_NUM aLayer ) const
 {
     if( (unsigned) aLayer < DIM( m_LayersColors ) )
     {
-        return m_LayersColors[aLayer];
+        return m_legacyMode ? m_LayersColors[aLayer].AsLegacyColor()
+                            : m_LayersColors[aLayer];
     }
     return COLOR4D::UNSPECIFIED;
 }
@@ -143,7 +145,8 @@ COLOR4D COLORS_DESIGN_SETTINGS::GetItemColor( int aItemIdx ) const
 {
     if( (unsigned) aItemIdx < DIM( m_LayersColors ) )
     {
-        return m_LayersColors[aItemIdx];
+        return m_legacyMode ? m_LayersColors[aItemIdx].AsLegacyColor()
+                            : m_LayersColors[aItemIdx];
     }
 
     return COLOR4D::UNSPECIFIED;
diff --git a/common/gal/color4d.cpp b/common/gal/color4d.cpp
index 4af7003fd9..11b4366e3b 100644
--- a/common/gal/color4d.cpp
+++ b/common/gal/color4d.cpp
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ COLOR4D::COLOR4D( EDA_COLOR_T aColor )
     }
 
 
-    EDA_COLOR_T COLOR4D::GetNearestLegacyColor( COLOR4D &aColor )
+    EDA_COLOR_T COLOR4D::GetNearestLegacyColor( const COLOR4D &aColor )
     {
         // Cache layer implemented here, because all callers are using wxColour
         static std::map< unsigned int, unsigned int > nearestCache;
diff --git a/gerbview/gerbview_frame.cpp b/gerbview/gerbview_frame.cpp
index d938237e0e..a6abcc5586 100644
--- a/gerbview/gerbview_frame.cpp
+++ b/gerbview/gerbview_frame.cpp
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ GERBVIEW_FRAME::GERBVIEW_FRAME( KIWAY* aKiway, wxWindow* aParent ):
     }
     else
     {
-        forceColorsToLegacy();
+        m_colorsSettings->SetLegacyMode( true );
         m_canvas->Refresh();
     }
 
@@ -1039,17 +1039,6 @@ void GERBVIEW_FRAME::unitsChangeRefresh()
 }
 
 
-void GERBVIEW_FRAME::forceColorsToLegacy()
-{
-    for( int i = 0; i < LAYER_ID_COUNT; i++ )
-    {
-        COLOR4D c = m_colorsSettings->GetLayerColor( i );
-        c.SetToNearestLegacyColor();
-        m_colorsSettings->SetLayerColor( i, c );
-    }
-}
-
-
 void GERBVIEW_FRAME::UseGalCanvas( bool aEnable )
 {
     EDA_DRAW_FRAME::UseGalCanvas( aEnable );
@@ -1065,6 +1054,8 @@ void GERBVIEW_FRAME::UseGalCanvas( bool aEnable )
         if( m_toolManager )
             m_toolManager->ResetTools( TOOL_BASE::GAL_SWITCH );
 
+        m_colorsSettings->SetLegacyMode( false );
+
         galCanvas->GetGAL()->SetGridColor( GetLayerColor( LAYER_GERBVIEW_GRID ) );
 
         galCanvas->GetView()->RecacheAllItems();
@@ -1081,7 +1072,7 @@ void GERBVIEW_FRAME::UseGalCanvas( bool aEnable )
         // Redirect all events to the legacy canvas
         galCanvas->SetEventDispatcher( NULL );
 
-        forceColorsToLegacy();
+        m_colorsSettings->SetLegacyMode( true );
         m_canvas->Refresh();
     }
 
diff --git a/gerbview/gerbview_frame.h b/gerbview/gerbview_frame.h
index d35ea8f1ec..c0d8ecd0f6 100644
--- a/gerbview/gerbview_frame.h
+++ b/gerbview/gerbview_frame.h
@@ -173,9 +173,6 @@ protected:
     /// The last filename chosen to be proposed to the user
     wxString                m_lastFileName;
 
-    ///> @copydoc EDA_DRAW_FRAME::forceColorsToLegacy()
-    virtual void forceColorsToLegacy() override;
-
 public:
     wxChoice* m_SelComponentBox;                // a choice box to display and highlight component graphic items
     wxChoice* m_SelNetnameBox;                  // a choice box to display and highlight netlist graphic items
diff --git a/include/class_colors_design_settings.h b/include/class_colors_design_settings.h
index e8e6fa22bb..c91dcdfb45 100644
--- a/include/class_colors_design_settings.h
+++ b/include/class_colors_design_settings.h
@@ -92,9 +92,25 @@ public:
      */
     void SetAllColorsAs( COLOR4D aColor );
 
+    /**
+     * Enables or disables legacy color mode.  When enabled, all colors will be
+     * quantized to the legacy color palette when returned from GetItemColor and
+     * GetLayerColor (but the underlying color will not be changed, and can
+     * still be set to arbitrary colors).
+     */
+    void SetLegacyMode( bool aMode )
+    {
+        m_legacyMode = aMode;
+    }
+
 private:
     FRAME_T m_frameType;
 
+    /**
+     * @see SetLegacyMode()
+     */
+    bool m_legacyMode;
+
     void setupConfigParams();
 
 };
diff --git a/include/draw_frame.h b/include/draw_frame.h
index 536814e0b6..e3e2cae891 100644
--- a/include/draw_frame.h
+++ b/include/draw_frame.h
@@ -149,12 +149,6 @@ protected:
      */
     virtual void unitsChangeRefresh();
 
-    /**
-     * Helper function to coerce all colors to legacy-compatible when
-     * switching from GAL to legacy canvas
-     */
-    virtual void forceColorsToLegacy() {}
-
     /**
      * Function GeneralControlKeyMovement
      * Handle the common part of GeneralControl dedicated to global
diff --git a/include/gal/color4d.h b/include/gal/color4d.h
index 0cde7651f4..c5ff3ccc5c 100644
--- a/include/gal/color4d.h
+++ b/include/gal/color4d.h
@@ -121,6 +121,11 @@ public:
      */
     COLOR4D& SetToNearestLegacyColor();
 
+    COLOR4D AsLegacyColor() const
+    {
+        return COLOR4D( COLOR4D::GetNearestLegacyColor( *this ) );
+    }
+
     /**
      * Packs the color into an unsigned int for compatibility with legacy canvas.
      * Note that this is a lossy downsampling and also that the alpha channel is lost.
@@ -135,7 +140,7 @@ public:
     /**
      * Determines the "nearest" EDA_COLOR_T according to ColorFindNearest
      */
-    static EDA_COLOR_T GetNearestLegacyColor( COLOR4D &aColor );
+    static EDA_COLOR_T GetNearestLegacyColor( const COLOR4D &aColor );
 #endif /* WX_COMPATIBLITY */
 
     /**
diff --git a/pcbnew/pcbframe.cpp b/pcbnew/pcbframe.cpp
index 4dd1005597..28cd228310 100644
--- a/pcbnew/pcbframe.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/pcbframe.cpp
@@ -713,11 +713,15 @@ void PCB_EDIT_FRAME::UseGalCanvas( bool aEnable )
         Compile_Ratsnest( NULL, true );
 
     PCB_BASE_EDIT_FRAME::UseGalCanvas( aEnable );
+    COLORS_DESIGN_SETTINGS& cds = Settings().Colors();
 
     if( aEnable )
     {
-        COLORS_DESIGN_SETTINGS& cds = Settings().Colors();
+        cds.SetLegacyMode( false );
         GetGalCanvas()->GetGAL()->SetGridColor( cds.GetLayerColor( LAYER_GRID ) );
+        auto view = GetGalCanvas()->GetView();
+        view->GetPainter()->GetSettings()->ImportLegacyColors( &cds );
+        GetGalCanvas()->Refresh();
     }
 
     enableGALSpecificMenus();
@@ -725,7 +729,7 @@ void PCB_EDIT_FRAME::UseGalCanvas( bool aEnable )
     // Force colors to be legacy-compatible in case they were changed in GAL
     if( !aEnable )
     {
-        forceColorsToLegacy();
+        cds.SetLegacyMode( true );
         Refresh();
     }
 
@@ -734,21 +738,6 @@ void PCB_EDIT_FRAME::UseGalCanvas( bool aEnable )
 }
 
 
-void PCB_EDIT_FRAME::forceColorsToLegacy()
-{
-    COLORS_DESIGN_SETTINGS& cds = Settings().Colors();
-
-    for( unsigned i = 0; i < DIM( cds.m_LayersColors ); i++ )
-    {
-        COLOR4D c = cds.GetLayerColor( i );
-        c.SetToNearestLegacyColor();
-        // Note the alpha chanel is not modified. Therefore the value
-        // is the previous value used in GAL canvas.
-        cds.SetLayerColor( i, c );
-    }
-}
-
-
 void PCB_EDIT_FRAME::enableGALSpecificMenus()
 {
     // some menus are active only in GAL mode and do nothing in legacy mode.
diff --git a/pcbnew/wxPcbStruct.h b/pcbnew/wxPcbStruct.h
index 46ec7263f2..f6fd1a8fe7 100644
--- a/pcbnew/wxPcbStruct.h
+++ b/pcbnew/wxPcbStruct.h
@@ -123,9 +123,6 @@ protected:
      */
     virtual void SwitchCanvas( wxCommandEvent& aEvent ) override;
 
-    ///> @copydoc EDA_DRAW_FRAME::forceColorsToLegacy()
-    virtual void forceColorsToLegacy() override;
-
 #if defined(KICAD_SCRIPTING) && defined(KICAD_SCRIPTING_ACTION_MENU)
     /**
      * Function RebuildActionPluginMenus