diff --git a/common/widgets/color_swatch.cpp b/common/widgets/color_swatch.cpp
index 3822840440..bf217e7b95 100644
--- a/common/widgets/color_swatch.cpp
+++ b/common/widgets/color_swatch.cpp
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ extern COLOR4D DisplayColorFrame( wxWindow* aParent, COLOR4D aOldColor );
 /**
  * Make a simple color swatch bitmap
  */
-static wxBitmap makeBitmap( COLOR4D aColor )
+static wxBitmap makeBitmap( COLOR4D aColor, COLOR4D aBackground )
 {
     wxBitmap    bitmap( SWATCH_SIZE_X, SWATCH_SIZE_Y );
     wxBrush     brush;
@@ -49,11 +49,13 @@ static wxBitmap makeBitmap( COLOR4D aColor )
 
     iconDC.SelectObject( bitmap );
 
-    brush.SetColour( aColor.ToColour() );
     brush.SetStyle( wxBRUSHSTYLE_SOLID );
-
+    brush.SetColour( aBackground.WithAlpha(1.0).ToColour() );
     iconDC.SetBrush( brush );
+    iconDC.DrawRectangle( 0, 0, SWATCH_SIZE_X, SWATCH_SIZE_Y );
 
+    brush.SetColour( aColor.ToColour() );
+    iconDC.SetBrush( brush );
     iconDC.DrawRectangle( 0, 0, SWATCH_SIZE_X, SWATCH_SIZE_Y );
 
     return bitmap;
@@ -65,10 +67,10 @@ static wxBitmap makeBitmap( COLOR4D aColor )
  * creates a wxStaticBitmap and assigns it a solid color and a control ID
  */
 static std::unique_ptr<wxStaticBitmap> makeColorSwatch(
-        wxWindow* aParent, COLOR4D aColor, int aID )
+        wxWindow* aParent, COLOR4D aColor, COLOR4D aBackground, int aID )
 {
     // construct a bitmap of the right color and make the swatch from it
-    wxBitmap bitmap = makeBitmap( aColor );
+    wxBitmap bitmap = makeBitmap( aColor, aBackground );
     auto ret = std::make_unique<wxStaticBitmap>( aParent, aID, bitmap );
 
     return ret;
@@ -76,15 +78,16 @@ static std::unique_ptr<wxStaticBitmap> makeColorSwatch(
 
 
 COLOR_SWATCH::COLOR_SWATCH( wxWindow* aParent, COLOR4D aColor, int aID,
-                            bool aArbitraryColors ):
+                            bool aArbitraryColors, COLOR4D aBackground ):
         wxPanel( aParent, aID ),
         m_arbitraryColors( aArbitraryColors ),
-        m_color( aColor )
+        m_color( aColor ),
+        m_background( aBackground )
 {
     auto sizer = new wxBoxSizer( wxHORIZONTAL );
     SetSizer( sizer );
 
-    auto swatch = makeColorSwatch( this, m_color, aID );
+    auto swatch = makeColorSwatch( this, m_color, m_background, aID );
     m_swatch = swatch.release(); // hold a handle
 
     sizer->Add( m_swatch, 0, 0 );
@@ -126,7 +129,7 @@ void COLOR_SWATCH::SetSwatchColor( COLOR4D aColor, bool sendEvent )
 {
     m_color = aColor;
 
-    wxBitmap bm = makeBitmap( aColor );
+    wxBitmap bm = makeBitmap( m_color, m_background );
     m_swatch->SetBitmap( bm );
 
     if( sendEvent )
@@ -136,6 +139,14 @@ void COLOR_SWATCH::SetSwatchColor( COLOR4D aColor, bool sendEvent )
 }
 
 
+void COLOR_SWATCH::SetSwatchBackground( COLOR4D aBackground )
+{
+    m_background = aBackground;
+    wxBitmap bm = makeBitmap( m_color, m_background );
+    m_swatch->SetBitmap( bm );
+}
+
+
 COLOR4D COLOR_SWATCH::GetSwatchColor() const
 {
     return m_color;
@@ -160,7 +171,7 @@ void COLOR_SWATCH::GetNewSwatchColor()
     {
         m_color = newColor;
 
-        wxBitmap bm = makeBitmap( newColor );
+        wxBitmap bm = makeBitmap( newColor, m_background );
         m_swatch->SetBitmap( bm );
 
         sendSwatchChangeEvent( *this );
diff --git a/include/widgets/color_swatch.h b/include/widgets/color_swatch.h
index 5f2e76998f..c61850a95a 100644
--- a/include/widgets/color_swatch.h
+++ b/include/widgets/color_swatch.h
@@ -49,13 +49,18 @@ public:
      * and false to allow a selection from a set of colors accepted by the legacy canvas.
      */
     COLOR_SWATCH( wxWindow* aParent, KIGFX::COLOR4D aColor, int aID,
-                  bool aArbitraryColors );
+                  bool aArbitraryColors, KIGFX::COLOR4D aBackground );
 
     /**
      * Set the current swatch color directly.
      */
     void SetSwatchColor( KIGFX::COLOR4D aColor, bool sendEvent );
 
+    /**
+     * Set the swatch background color.
+     */
+    void SetSwatchBackground( KIGFX::COLOR4D aBackground );
+
     /**
      * @return the current swatch color
      */
@@ -81,6 +86,9 @@ private:
     ///> The current colour of the swatch
     KIGFX::COLOR4D m_color;
 
+    ///> The background colour to show the swatch over
+    KIGFX::COLOR4D m_background;
+
     ///> Handle of the actual swatch shown
     wxStaticBitmap* m_swatch;
 };
diff --git a/pcbnew/class_pcb_layer_widget.cpp b/pcbnew/class_pcb_layer_widget.cpp
index bb0a4f7a58..9e979d271b 100644
--- a/pcbnew/class_pcb_layer_widget.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/class_pcb_layer_widget.cpp
@@ -125,6 +125,12 @@ bool PCB_LAYER_WIDGET::AreArbitraryColorsAllowed()
 }
 
 
+COLOR4D PCB_LAYER_WIDGET::getBackgroundLayerColor()
+{
+    return myframe->Settings().Colors().GetLayerColor( LAYER_PCB_BACKGROUND );
+}
+
+
 bool PCB_LAYER_WIDGET::isAllowedInFpMode( int aId )
 {
     for( unsigned ii = 0; ii < DIM( s_allowed_in_FpEditor ); ii++ )
@@ -634,6 +640,11 @@ void PCB_LAYER_WIDGET::OnRenderColorChange( int aId, COLOR4D aColor )
         view->GetPainter()->GetSettings()->ImportLegacyColors( &myframe->Settings().Colors() );
         view->MarkTargetDirty( KIGFX::TARGET_NONCACHED );   // useful to update rastnest
         view->UpdateLayerColor( aId );
+
+        // plated-through-holes don't have their own color; they use the background color
+        if( aId == LAYER_PCB_BACKGROUND )
+            view->UpdateLayerColor( LAYER_PADS_PLATEDHOLES );
+
         galCanvas->Refresh();
     }
 
diff --git a/pcbnew/class_pcb_layer_widget.h b/pcbnew/class_pcb_layer_widget.h
index 0be239ef31..2e8dc9e50f 100644
--- a/pcbnew/class_pcb_layer_widget.h
+++ b/pcbnew/class_pcb_layer_widget.h
@@ -143,6 +143,8 @@ protected:
 
     virtual bool AreArbitraryColorsAllowed() override;
 
+    virtual COLOR4D getBackgroundLayerColor() override;
+
     /**
      * Function isAllowedInFpMode
      * @return true if item aId has meaning in footprint editor mode.
diff --git a/pcbnew/layer_widget.cpp b/pcbnew/layer_widget.cpp
index b4229a3816..87acce504e 100644
--- a/pcbnew/layer_widget.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/layer_widget.cpp
@@ -208,6 +208,29 @@ void LAYER_WIDGET::OnRenderSwatchChanged( wxCommandEvent& aEvent )
 
     LAYER_NUM id = getDecodedId( eventSource->GetId() );
 
+    if( id == LAYER_PCB_BACKGROUND )
+    {
+        // Update all swatch backgrounds
+        int count = GetLayerRowCount();
+        int row;
+        int col = 1;    // bitmap button is column 1 in layers tab
+        for( row = 0; row < count; ++row )
+        {
+            COLOR_SWATCH* swatch = dynamic_cast<COLOR_SWATCH*>( getLayerComp( row, col ) );
+            if( swatch )
+                swatch->SetSwatchBackground( newColor );
+        }
+
+        count = GetRenderRowCount();
+        col = 0;    // bitmap button is column 0 in render tab
+        for( row = 0; row < count; ++row )
+        {
+            COLOR_SWATCH* swatch = dynamic_cast<COLOR_SWATCH*>( getRenderComp( row, col ) );
+            if( swatch )
+                swatch->SetSwatchBackground( newColor );
+        }
+    }
+
     // tell the client code.
     OnRenderColorChange( id, newColor );
 
@@ -313,7 +336,7 @@ void LAYER_WIDGET::insertLayerRow( int aRow, const ROW& aSpec )
     col = COLUMN_COLORBM;
 
     auto bmb = new COLOR_SWATCH( m_LayerScrolledWindow, aSpec.color, encodeId( col, aSpec.id ),
-                                 AreArbitraryColorsAllowed() );
+                                 AreArbitraryColorsAllowed(), getBackgroundLayerColor() );
     bmb->Bind( wxEVT_LEFT_DOWN, &LAYER_WIDGET::OnLeftDownLayers, this );
     bmb->Bind( COLOR_SWATCH_CHANGED, &LAYER_WIDGET::OnLayerSwatchChanged, this );
     bmb->SetToolTip( _("Left double click or middle click for color change, right click for menu" ) );
@@ -378,7 +401,7 @@ void LAYER_WIDGET::insertRenderRow( int aRow, const ROW& aSpec )
     if( aSpec.color != COLOR4D::UNSPECIFIED )
     {
         auto bmb = new COLOR_SWATCH( m_RenderScrolledWindow, aSpec.color, encodeId( col, aSpec.id ),
-                                     AreArbitraryColorsAllowed() );
+                                     AreArbitraryColorsAllowed(), getBackgroundLayerColor() );
         bmb->Bind( COLOR_SWATCH_CHANGED, &LAYER_WIDGET::OnRenderSwatchChanged, this );
         bmb->SetToolTip( _( "Left double click or middle click for color change" ) );
         m_RenderFlexGridSizer->wxSizer::Insert( index+col, bmb, 0, flags );
diff --git a/pcbnew/layer_widget.h b/pcbnew/layer_widget.h
index 82cbaebc93..d1fe0e76be 100644
--- a/pcbnew/layer_widget.h
+++ b/pcbnew/layer_widget.h
@@ -135,6 +135,12 @@ protected:
      */
     virtual bool AreArbitraryColorsAllowed() { return false; }
 
+    /**
+     * Subclasses can override this to provide accurate representation
+     * of transparent colour swatches.
+     */
+    virtual COLOR4D getBackgroundLayerColor() { return COLOR4D::BLACK; }
+
     /**
      * Function encodeId
      * is here to allow saving a layer index within a control as its wxControl id,
diff --git a/pcbnew/pcb_painter.cpp b/pcbnew/pcb_painter.cpp
index 93597627e7..1d807aa4e3 100644
--- a/pcbnew/pcb_painter.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/pcb_painter.cpp
@@ -89,14 +89,14 @@ void PCB_RENDER_SETTINGS::ImportLegacyColors( const COLORS_DESIGN_SETTINGS* aSet
 
     // Default colors for specific layers (not really board layers).
     m_layerColors[LAYER_VIAS_HOLES]         = COLOR4D( 0.5, 0.4, 0.0, 0.8 );
-    m_layerColors[LAYER_PADS_PLATEDHOLES]   = COLOR4D( 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0 );
+    m_layerColors[LAYER_PADS_PLATEDHOLES]   = aSettings->GetItemColor( LAYER_PCB_BACKGROUND );
     m_layerColors[LAYER_PADS_NETNAMES]      = COLOR4D( 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.9 );
     m_layerColors[LAYER_PAD_FR_NETNAMES]    = COLOR4D( 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.9 );
     m_layerColors[LAYER_PAD_BK_NETNAMES]    = COLOR4D( 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.9 );
     m_layerColors[LAYER_DRC]                = COLOR4D( 1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.8 );
 
-    // LAYER_PADS_TH, LAYER_NON_PLATEDHOLES, LAYER_ANCHOR],LAYER_RATSNEST,
-    // LAYER_VIA_THROUGH], LAYER_VIA_BBLIND, LAYER_VIA_MICROVIA
+    // LAYER_PADS_TH, LAYER_NON_PLATEDHOLES, LAYER_ANCHOR ,LAYER_RATSNEST,
+    // LAYER_VIA_THROUGH, LAYER_VIA_BBLIND, LAYER_VIA_MICROVIA
     // are initialized from aSettings
 
     // These colors are not actually used. Set just in case...