diff --git a/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/importer/BaseImporter.hh b/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/importer/BaseImporter.hh
index 5f40f311..a1195c58 100644
--- a/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/importer/BaseImporter.hh
+++ b/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/importer/BaseImporter.hh
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@
  *      Copyright (C) 2001-2012 by Computer Graphics Group, RWTH Aachen      *
  *                           www.openmesh.org                                *
  *                                                                           *
- *---------------------------------------------------------------------------* 
+ *---------------------------------------------------------------------------*
  *  This file is part of OpenMesh.                                           *
  *                                                                           *
- *  OpenMesh is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify         * 
+ *  OpenMesh is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify         *
  *  it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as           *
  *  published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of           *
  *  the License, or (at your option) any later version with the              *
@@ -30,10 +30,10 @@
  *  License along with OpenMesh.  If not,                                    *
  *  see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.                                      *
  *                                                                           *
-\*===========================================================================*/ 
+\*===========================================================================*/
 
 /*===========================================================================*\
- *                                                                           *             
+ *                                                                           *
  *   $Revision$                                                         *
  *   $Date$                   *
  *                                                                           *
@@ -108,6 +108,12 @@ public:
   // set vertex color
   virtual void set_color(VertexHandle _vh, const Vec4uc& _color) = 0;
 
+  // set vertex color
+  virtual void set_color(VertexHandle _vh, const Vec3f& _color) = 0;
+
+  // set vertex color
+  virtual void set_color(VertexHandle _vh, const Vec4f& _color) = 0;
+
   // set vertex texture coordinate
   virtual void set_texcoord(VertexHandle _vh, const Vec2f& _texcoord) = 0;
 
@@ -116,10 +122,16 @@ public:
 
   // set edge color
   virtual void set_color(EdgeHandle _eh, const Vec3uc& _color) = 0;
-  
+
   // set edge color
   virtual void set_color(EdgeHandle _eh, const Vec4uc& _color) = 0;
-  
+
+  // set edge color
+  virtual void set_color(EdgeHandle _eh, const Vec3f& _color) = 0;
+
+  // set edge color
+  virtual void set_color(EdgeHandle _eh, const Vec4f& _color) = 0;
+
   // set face normal
   virtual void set_normal(FaceHandle _fh, const Vec3f& _normal) = 0;
 
@@ -129,6 +141,12 @@ public:
   // set face color
   virtual void set_color(FaceHandle _fh, const Vec4uc& _color) = 0;
 
+  // set face color
+  virtual void set_color(FaceHandle _fh, const Vec3f& _color) = 0;
+
+  // set face color
+  virtual void set_color(FaceHandle _fh, const Vec4f& _color) = 0;
+
   // Store a property in the mesh mapping from an int to a texture file
   // Use set_face_texindex to set the index for each face
   virtual void add_texture_information( int _id , std::string _name ) = 0;
diff --git a/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/importer/ImporterT.hh b/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/importer/ImporterT.hh
index 1bc90d42..23ee4c37 100644
--- a/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/importer/ImporterT.hh
+++ b/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/importer/ImporterT.hh
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@
  *      Copyright (C) 2001-2012 by Computer Graphics Group, RWTH Aachen      *
  *                           www.openmesh.org                                *
  *                                                                           *
- *---------------------------------------------------------------------------* 
+ *---------------------------------------------------------------------------*
  *  This file is part of OpenMesh.                                           *
  *                                                                           *
- *  OpenMesh is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify         * 
+ *  OpenMesh is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify         *
  *  it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as           *
  *  published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of           *
  *  the License, or (at your option) any later version with the              *
@@ -30,10 +30,10 @@
  *  License along with OpenMesh.  If not,                                    *
  *  see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.                                      *
  *                                                                           *
-\*===========================================================================*/ 
+\*===========================================================================*/
 
 /*===========================================================================*\
- *                                                                           *             
+ *                                                                           *
  *   $Revision$                                                         *
  *   $Date$                   *
  *                                                                           *
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ public:
     {
       VHandles::const_iterator it, it2, end(_indices.end());
 
-      
+
       // test for valid vertex indices
       for (it=_indices.begin(); it!=end; ++it)
         if (! mesh_.is_valid_handle(*it))
@@ -177,6 +177,17 @@ public:
       mesh_.set_color(_vh, color_cast<Color>(_color));
   }
 
+  virtual void set_color(VertexHandle _vh, const Vec4f& _color)
+  {
+    if (mesh_.has_vertex_colors())
+      mesh_.set_color(_vh, color_cast<Color>(_color));
+  }
+
+  virtual void set_color(VertexHandle _vh, const Vec3f& _color)
+  {
+    if (mesh_.has_vertex_colors())
+      mesh_.set_color(_vh, color_cast<Color>(_color));
+  }
 
   virtual void set_texcoord(VertexHandle _vh, const Vec2f& _texcoord)
   {
@@ -191,19 +202,31 @@ public:
   }
 
   // edge attributes
-  
+
   virtual void set_color(EdgeHandle _eh, const Vec4uc& _color)
   {
       if (mesh_.has_edge_colors())
           mesh_.set_color(_eh, color_cast<Color>(_color));
   }
-  
+
   virtual void set_color(EdgeHandle _eh, const Vec3uc& _color)
   {
       if (mesh_.has_edge_colors())
           mesh_.set_color(_eh, color_cast<Color>(_color));
   }
 
+  virtual void set_color(EdgeHandle _eh, const Vec4f& _color)
+  {
+      if (mesh_.has_edge_colors())
+          mesh_.set_color(_eh, color_cast<Color>(_color));
+  }
+
+  virtual void set_color(EdgeHandle _eh, const Vec3f& _color)
+  {
+      if (mesh_.has_edge_colors())
+          mesh_.set_color(_eh, color_cast<Color>(_color));
+  }
+
   // face attributes
 
   virtual void set_normal(FaceHandle _fh, const Vec3f& _normal)
@@ -224,6 +247,18 @@ public:
       mesh_.set_color(_fh, color_cast<Color>(_color));
   }
 
+  virtual void set_color(FaceHandle _fh, const Vec3f& _color)
+  {
+    if (mesh_.has_face_colors())
+      mesh_.set_color(_fh, color_cast<Color>(_color));
+  }
+
+  virtual void set_color(FaceHandle _fh, const Vec4f& _color)
+  {
+    if (mesh_.has_face_colors())
+      mesh_.set_color(_fh, color_cast<Color>(_color));
+  }
+
   virtual void add_face_texcoords( FaceHandle _fh, VertexHandle _vh, const std::vector<Vec2f>& _face_texcoords)
   {
     // get first halfedge handle
@@ -297,7 +332,7 @@ public:
           vhandles[j] = mesh_.add_vertex(p);
           // DO STORE p, reference may not work since vertex array
           // may be relocated after adding a new vertex !
-          
+
           // Mark vertices of failed face as non-manifold
           if (mesh_.has_vertex_status()) {
               mesh_.status(vhandles[j]).set_fixed_nonmanifold(true);
@@ -306,11 +341,11 @@ public:
 
         // add face
         FaceHandle fh = mesh_.add_face(vhandles);
-        
+
         // Mark failed face as non-manifold
         if (mesh_.has_face_status())
             mesh_.status(fh).set_fixed_nonmanifold(true);
-        
+
         // Mark edges of failed face as non-two-manifold
         if (mesh_.has_edge_status()) {
             typename Mesh::FaceEdgeIter fe_it = mesh_.fe_iter(fh);
diff --git a/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/reader/OFFReader.cc b/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/reader/OFFReader.cc
index a01837cf..9f9494fc 100644
--- a/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/reader/OFFReader.cc
+++ b/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/reader/OFFReader.cc
@@ -162,8 +162,8 @@ _OFFReader_::read(std::istream& _in, BaseImporter& _bi, Options& _opt )
      options_ += Options::ColorAlpha;
 
     return (options_.is_binary() ?
- 	   read_binary(_in, _bi, swap) :
-	   read_ascii(_in, _bi));
+ 	   read_binary(_in, _bi, _opt, swap) :
+	   read_ascii(_in, _bi, _opt));
 
 }
 
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ _OFFReader_::read(std::istream& _in, BaseImporter& _bi, Options& _opt )
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 bool
-_OFFReader_::read_ascii(std::istream& _in, BaseImporter& _bi) const
+_OFFReader_::read_ascii(std::istream& _in, BaseImporter& _bi, Options& _opt) const
 {
 
 
@@ -246,13 +246,17 @@ omlog() << "[OFFReader] : read ascii file\n";
             break;
         // rgb floats
         case 5 : stream >> c3f[0];  stream >> c3f[1];  stream >> c3f[2];
-            if ( userOptions_.vertex_has_color() )
-              _bi.set_color( vh, color_cast<Vec3uc, Vec3f>(c3f) );
+            if ( userOptions_.vertex_has_color() ) {
+              _bi.set_color( vh, c3f );
+              _opt += Options::ColorFloat;
+            }
             break;
         // rgba floats
         case 6 : stream >> c4f[0];  stream >> c4f[1];  stream >> c4f[2]; stream >> c4f[3];
-            if ( userOptions_.vertex_has_color() )
-              _bi.set_color( vh, color_cast<Vec4uc, Vec4f>(c4f) );
+            if ( userOptions_.vertex_has_color() ) {
+              _bi.set_color( vh, c4f );
+              _opt += Options::ColorFloat;
+            }
             break;
 
         default:
@@ -327,13 +331,17 @@ omlog() << "[OFFReader] : read ascii file\n";
             break;
         // rgb floats
         case 5 : stream >> c3f[0];  stream >> c3f[1];  stream >> c3f[2];
-            if ( userOptions_.face_has_color() )
-              _bi.set_color( fh, color_cast<Vec3uc, Vec3f>(c3f) );
+            if ( userOptions_.face_has_color() ) {
+              _bi.set_color( fh, c3f );
+              _opt += Options::ColorFloat;
+            }
             break;
         // rgba floats
         case 6 : stream >> c4f[0];  stream >> c4f[1];  stream >> c4f[2]; stream >> c4f[3];
-            if ( userOptions_.face_has_color() )
-              _bi.set_color( fh, color_cast<Vec4uc, Vec4f>(c4f) );
+            if ( userOptions_.face_has_color() ) {
+              _bi.set_color( fh, c4f );
+              _opt += Options::ColorFloat;
+            }
             break;
 
         default:
@@ -423,7 +431,7 @@ void _OFFReader_::readValue(std::istream& _in, unsigned int& _value) const{
 }
 
 bool
-_OFFReader_::read_binary(std::istream& _in, BaseImporter& _bi, bool /*_swap*/) const
+_OFFReader_::read_binary(std::istream& _in, BaseImporter& _bi, Options& _opt, bool /*_swap*/) const
 {
   omlog() << "[OFFReader] : read binary file\n";
 
@@ -432,6 +440,8 @@ _OFFReader_::read_binary(std::istream& _in, BaseImporter& _bi, bool /*_swap*/) c
   OpenMesh::Vec3f         v, n;
   OpenMesh::Vec3i         c;
   OpenMesh::Vec4i         cA;
+  OpenMesh::Vec3f         cf;
+  OpenMesh::Vec4f         cAf;
   OpenMesh::Vec2f         t;
   BaseImporter::VHandles  vhandles;
   VertexHandle            vh;
@@ -467,23 +477,46 @@ _OFFReader_::read_binary(std::istream& _in, BaseImporter& _bi, bool /*_swap*/) c
     }
 
     if ( options_.vertex_has_color() ) {
-      //with alpha
-      if ( options_.color_has_alpha() ){
-        readValue(_in, cA[0]);
-        readValue(_in, cA[1]);
-        readValue(_in, cA[2]);
-        readValue(_in, cA[3]);
+      if ( userOptions_.color_is_float() ) {
+        _opt += Options::ColorFloat;
+        //with alpha
+        if ( options_.color_has_alpha() ){
+          readValue(_in, cAf[0]);
+          readValue(_in, cAf[1]);
+          readValue(_in, cAf[2]);
+          readValue(_in, cAf[3]);
 
-        if ( userOptions_.vertex_has_color() )
-          _bi.set_color( vh, Vec4uc( cA ) );
-      }else{
-        //without alpha
-        readValue(_in, c[0]);
-        readValue(_in, c[1]);
-        readValue(_in, c[2]);
+          if ( userOptions_.vertex_has_color() )
+            _bi.set_color( vh, cAf );
+        }else{
 
-        if ( userOptions_.vertex_has_color() )
-          _bi.set_color( vh, Vec3uc( c ) );
+          //without alpha
+          readValue(_in, cf[0]);
+          readValue(_in, cf[1]);
+          readValue(_in, cf[2]);
+
+          if ( userOptions_.vertex_has_color() )
+            _bi.set_color( vh, cf );
+        }
+      } else {
+        //with alpha
+        if ( options_.color_has_alpha() ){
+          readValue(_in, cA[0]);
+          readValue(_in, cA[1]);
+          readValue(_in, cA[2]);
+          readValue(_in, cA[3]);
+
+          if ( userOptions_.vertex_has_color() )
+            _bi.set_color( vh, Vec4uc( cA ) );
+        }else{
+          //without alpha
+          readValue(_in, c[0]);
+          readValue(_in, c[1]);
+          readValue(_in, c[2]);
+
+          if ( userOptions_.vertex_has_color() )
+            _bi.set_color( vh, Vec3uc( c ) );
+        }
       }
     }
 
@@ -503,7 +536,6 @@ _OFFReader_::read_binary(std::istream& _in, BaseImporter& _bi, bool /*_swap*/) c
   {
     readValue(_in, nV);
 
-
     if (nV == 3)
     {
       vhandles.resize(3);
@@ -514,9 +546,7 @@ _OFFReader_::read_binary(std::istream& _in, BaseImporter& _bi, bool /*_swap*/) c
       vhandles[0] = VertexHandle(j);
       vhandles[1] = VertexHandle(k);
       vhandles[2] = VertexHandle(l);
-    }
-    else
-    {
+    } else {
       vhandles.clear();
       for (j=0; j<nV; ++j)
       {
@@ -528,24 +558,46 @@ _OFFReader_::read_binary(std::istream& _in, BaseImporter& _bi, bool /*_swap*/) c
     FaceHandle fh = _bi.add_face(vhandles);
 
     //face color
-    if ( options_.face_has_color() ) {
-      //with alpha
-      if ( options_.color_has_alpha() ){
-        readValue(_in, cA[0]);
-        readValue(_in, cA[1]);
-        readValue(_in, cA[2]);
-        readValue(_in, cA[3]);
+    if ( _opt.face_has_color() ) {
+      if ( userOptions_.color_is_float() ) {
+        _opt += Options::ColorFloat;
+        //with alpha
+        if ( options_.color_has_alpha() ){
+          readValue(_in, cAf[0]);
+          readValue(_in, cAf[1]);
+          readValue(_in, cAf[2]);
+          readValue(_in, cAf[3]);
 
-        if ( userOptions_.face_has_color() )
-          _bi.set_color( fh , Vec4uc( cA ) );
-      }else{
-        //without alpha
-        readValue(_in, c[0]);
-        readValue(_in, c[1]);
-        readValue(_in, c[2]);
+          if ( userOptions_.face_has_color() )
+            _bi.set_color( fh , cAf );
+        }else{
+          //without alpha
+          readValue(_in, cf[0]);
+          readValue(_in, cf[1]);
+          readValue(_in, cf[2]);
 
-        if ( userOptions_.face_has_color() )
-          _bi.set_color( fh, Vec3uc( c ) );
+          if ( userOptions_.face_has_color() )
+            _bi.set_color( fh, cf );
+        }
+      } else {
+        //with alpha
+        if ( options_.color_has_alpha() ){
+          readValue(_in, cA[0]);
+          readValue(_in, cA[1]);
+          readValue(_in, cA[2]);
+          readValue(_in, cA[3]);
+
+          if ( userOptions_.face_has_color() )
+            _bi.set_color( fh , Vec4uc( cA ) );
+        }else{
+          //without alpha
+          readValue(_in, c[0]);
+          readValue(_in, c[1]);
+          readValue(_in, c[2]);
+
+          if ( userOptions_.face_has_color() )
+            _bi.set_color( fh, Vec3uc( c ) );
+        }
       }
     }
 
@@ -619,7 +671,7 @@ bool _OFFReader_::can_u_read(std::istream& _is) const
   // Detect possible garbage and make sure, we don't have an underflow
   if ( remainingChars >= 4 )
     remainingChars -= 4;
-  else 
+  else
     remainingChars = 0;
 
   if ( ( remainingChars >= 6 ) && ( strncmp(p, "BINARY", 6) == 0 ) )
diff --git a/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/reader/OFFReader.hh b/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/reader/OFFReader.hh
index cf059c27..89158feb 100644
--- a/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/reader/OFFReader.hh
+++ b/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/reader/OFFReader.hh
@@ -136,8 +136,8 @@ private:
 
   bool can_u_read(std::istream& _is) const;
 
-  bool read_ascii(std::istream& _in, BaseImporter& _bi) const;
-  bool read_binary(std::istream& _in, BaseImporter& _bi, bool swap) const;
+  bool read_ascii(std::istream& _in, BaseImporter& _bi, Options& _opt) const;
+  bool read_binary(std::istream& _in, BaseImporter& _bi, Options& _opt, bool swap) const;
 
   void readValue(std::istream& _in, float& _value) const;
   void readValue(std::istream& _in, int& _value) const;
diff --git a/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/writer/OFFWriter.cc b/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/writer/OFFWriter.cc
index ba7edd03..d6af8114 100644
--- a/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/writer/OFFWriter.cc
+++ b/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/writer/OFFWriter.cc
@@ -183,6 +183,8 @@ write_ascii(std::ostream& _out, BaseExporter& _be, Options _opt) const
   Vec2f t;
   OpenMesh::Vec3i c;
   OpenMesh::Vec4i cA;
+  OpenMesh::Vec3f cf;
+  OpenMesh::Vec4f cAf;
   VertexHandle vh;
   std::vector<VertexHandle> vhandles;
 
@@ -192,6 +194,9 @@ write_ascii(std::ostream& _out, BaseExporter& _be, Options _opt) const
   _out << _be.n_faces() << " ";
   _out << 0 << "\n";
 
+  if (_opt.color_is_float())
+    _out << std::fixed;
+
 
   // vertex data (point, normals, colors, texcoords)
   for (i=0, nV=_be.n_vertices(); i<nV; ++i)
@@ -210,14 +215,26 @@ write_ascii(std::ostream& _out, BaseExporter& _be, Options _opt) const
 
     // VertexColor
     if ( _opt.vertex_has_color() ) {
-      //with alpha
-      if ( _opt.color_has_alpha() ){
-        cA  = _be.colorA(vh);
-        _out << " " << cA[0] << " " << cA[1] << " " << cA[2] << " " << cA[3];
-      }else{
-        //without alpha
-        c  = _be.color(vh);
-        _out << " " << c[0] << " " << c[1] << " " << c[2];
+      if ( _opt.color_is_float() ) {
+        //with alpha
+        if ( _opt.color_has_alpha() ){
+          cAf  = _be.colorAf(vh);
+          _out << " " << cAf;
+        }else{
+          //without alpha
+          cf  = _be.colorf(vh);
+          _out << " " << cf;
+        }
+      } else {
+        //with alpha
+        if ( _opt.color_has_alpha() ){
+          cA  = _be.colorA(vh);
+          _out << " " << cA;
+        }else{
+          //without alpha
+          c  = _be.color(vh);
+          _out << " " << c;
+        }
       }
     }
 
@@ -244,14 +261,26 @@ write_ascii(std::ostream& _out, BaseExporter& _be, Options _opt) const
 
       //face color
       if ( _opt.face_has_color() ){
-        //with alpha
-        if ( _opt.color_has_alpha() ){
-          cA  = _be.colorA( FaceHandle(i) );
-          _out << " " << cA[0] << " " << cA[1] << " " << cA[2] << " " << cA[3];
-        }else{
-          //without alpha
-          c  = _be.color( FaceHandle(i) );
-          _out << " " << c[0] << " " << c[1] << " " << c[2];
+        if ( _opt.color_is_float() ) {
+          //with alpha
+          if ( _opt.color_has_alpha() ){
+            cAf  = _be.colorAf( FaceHandle(i) );
+            _out << " " << cAf;
+          }else{
+            //without alpha
+            cf  = _be.colorf( FaceHandle(i) );
+            _out << " " << cf;
+          }
+        } else {
+          //with alpha
+          if ( _opt.color_has_alpha() ){
+            cA  = _be.colorA( FaceHandle(i) );
+            _out << " " << cA;
+          }else{
+            //without alpha
+            c  = _be.color( FaceHandle(i) );
+            _out << " " << c;
+          }
         }
       }
       _out << "\n";
@@ -268,14 +297,26 @@ write_ascii(std::ostream& _out, BaseExporter& _be, Options _opt) const
 
       //face color
       if ( _opt.face_has_color() ){
-        //with alpha
-        if ( _opt.color_has_alpha() ){
-          cA  = _be.colorA( FaceHandle(i) );
-          _out << cA[0] << " " << cA[1] << " " << cA[2] << " " << cA[3];
-        }else{
-          //without alpha
-          c  = _be.color( FaceHandle(i) );
-          _out << c[0] << " " << c[1] << " " << c[2];
+        if ( _opt.color_is_float() ) {
+          //with alpha
+          if ( _opt.color_has_alpha() ){
+            cAf  = _be.colorAf( FaceHandle(i) );
+            _out << " " << cAf;
+          }else{
+            //without alpha
+            cf  = _be.colorf( FaceHandle(i) );
+            _out << " " << cf;
+          }
+        } else {
+          //with alpha
+          if ( _opt.color_has_alpha() ){
+            cA  = _be.colorA( FaceHandle(i) );
+            _out << " " << cA;
+          }else{
+            //without alpha
+            c  = _be.color( FaceHandle(i) );
+            _out << " " << c;
+          }
         }
       }
 
@@ -312,23 +353,22 @@ bool
 _OFFWriter_::
 write_binary(std::ostream& _out, BaseExporter& _be, Options _opt) const
 {
-  omlog() << "[OFFWriter] : write ascii file\n";
+  omlog() << "[OFFWriter] : write binary file\n";
 
 
   unsigned int i, j, nV, nF;
   Vec3f v, n;
   Vec2f t;
   OpenMesh::Vec4i c;
+  OpenMesh::Vec4f cf;
   VertexHandle vh;
   std::vector<VertexHandle> vhandles;
 
-
   // #vertices, #faces
   writeValue(_out, (uint)_be.n_vertices() );
   writeValue(_out, (uint) _be.n_faces() );
   writeValue(_out, 0 );
 
-
   // vertex data (point, normals, texcoords)
   for (i=0, nV=_be.n_vertices(); i<nV; ++i)
   {
@@ -349,6 +389,15 @@ write_binary(std::ostream& _out, BaseExporter& _be, Options _opt) const
     }
     // vertex color
     if ( _opt.vertex_has_color() ) {
+      if ( _opt.color_is_float() ) {
+        cf  = _be.colorAf(vh);
+        writeValue(_out, cf[0]);
+        writeValue(_out, cf[1]);
+        writeValue(_out, cf[2]);
+
+        if ( _opt.color_has_alpha() )
+          writeValue(_out, cf[3]);
+      } else {
         c  = _be.colorA(vh);
         writeValue(_out, c[0]);
         writeValue(_out, c[1]);
@@ -356,6 +405,7 @@ write_binary(std::ostream& _out, BaseExporter& _be, Options _opt) const
 
         if ( _opt.color_has_alpha() )
           writeValue(_out, c[3]);
+      }
     }
     // texCoords
     if (_opt.vertex_has_texcoord() ) {
@@ -380,13 +430,23 @@ write_binary(std::ostream& _out, BaseExporter& _be, Options _opt) const
 
       //face color
       if ( _opt.face_has_color() ){
-        c  = _be.colorA( FaceHandle(i) );
-        writeValue(_out, c[0]);
-        writeValue(_out, c[1]);
-        writeValue(_out, c[2]);
+        if ( _opt.color_is_float() ) {
+          cf  = _be.colorAf( FaceHandle(i) );
+          writeValue(_out, cf[0]);
+          writeValue(_out, cf[1]);
+          writeValue(_out, cf[2]);
 
-        if ( _opt.color_has_alpha() )
-          writeValue(_out, c[3]);
+          if ( _opt.color_has_alpha() )
+            writeValue(_out, cf[3]);
+        } else {
+          c  = _be.colorA( FaceHandle(i) );
+          writeValue(_out, c[0]);
+          writeValue(_out, c[1]);
+          writeValue(_out, c[2]);
+
+          if ( _opt.color_has_alpha() )
+            writeValue(_out, c[3]);
+        }
       }
     }
   }
@@ -402,13 +462,23 @@ write_binary(std::ostream& _out, BaseExporter& _be, Options _opt) const
 
       //face color
       if ( _opt.face_has_color() ){
-        c  = _be.colorA( FaceHandle(i) );
-        writeValue(_out, c[0]);
-        writeValue(_out, c[1]);
-        writeValue(_out, c[2]);
+        if ( _opt.color_is_float() ) {
+          cf  = _be.colorAf( FaceHandle(i) );
+          writeValue(_out, cf[0]);
+          writeValue(_out, cf[1]);
+          writeValue(_out, cf[2]);
 
-        if ( _opt.color_has_alpha() )
-          writeValue(_out, c[3]);
+          if ( _opt.color_has_alpha() )
+            writeValue(_out, cf[3]);
+        } else {
+          c  = _be.colorA( FaceHandle(i) );
+          writeValue(_out, c[0]);
+          writeValue(_out, c[1]);
+          writeValue(_out, c[2]);
+
+          if ( _opt.color_has_alpha() )
+            writeValue(_out, c[3]);
+        }
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/writer/PLYWriter.cc b/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/writer/PLYWriter.cc
index d20468b0..9d54b492 100644
--- a/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/writer/PLYWriter.cc
+++ b/src/OpenMesh/Core/IO/writer/PLYWriter.cc
@@ -245,6 +245,9 @@ write_ascii(std::ostream& _out, BaseExporter& _be, Options _opt) const
 
   write_header(_out, _be, _opt);
 
+  if (_opt.color_is_float())
+    _out << std::fixed;
+
   // vertex data (point, normals, colors, texcoords)
   for (i=0, nV=_be.n_vertices(); i<nV; ++i)
   {
diff --git a/src/Unittests/unittests_read_write_OFF.hh b/src/Unittests/unittests_read_write_OFF.hh
index 112c04d3..c41c378e 100644
--- a/src/Unittests/unittests_read_write_OFF.hh
+++ b/src/Unittests/unittests_read_write_OFF.hh
@@ -95,5 +95,113 @@ TEST_F(OpenMeshReadWriteOFF, WriteAndReadVertexColorsToAndFromOFFFile) {
     mesh_.release_vertex_colors();
 }
 
+TEST_F(OpenMeshReadWriteOFF, WriteAndReadFloatVertexColorsToAndFromOFFFile) {
+
+    mesh_.clear();
+
+    mesh_.request_vertex_colors();
+
+    OpenMesh::IO::Options opt(OpenMesh::IO::Options::VertexColor);
+
+    bool ok = OpenMesh::IO::read_mesh(mesh_, "meshlab.ply", opt);
+
+    EXPECT_TRUE(ok) << "meshlab.ply could not be read!";
+
+    opt.clear();
+    opt += OpenMesh::IO::Options::VertexColor;
+    opt += OpenMesh::IO::Options::ColorFloat;
+
+    // write the mesh_
+    ok = OpenMesh::IO::write_mesh(mesh_, "cube_floating.off", opt);
+    EXPECT_TRUE(ok) << "cube_floating.off could not be written!";
+    mesh_.clear();
+    ok = OpenMesh::IO::read_mesh(mesh_, "cube_floating.off", opt);
+    EXPECT_TRUE(ok) << "cube_floating.off could not be read!";
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(8u  , mesh_.n_vertices()) << "The number of loaded vertices is not correct!";
+    EXPECT_EQ(18u , mesh_.n_edges())    << "The number of loaded edges is not correct!";
+    EXPECT_EQ(12u , mesh_.n_faces())    << "The number of loaded faces is not correct!";
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(0,   mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(0))[0] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 0 component 0";
+    EXPECT_EQ(0,   mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(0))[1] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 0 component 1";
+    EXPECT_EQ(255,   mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(0))[2] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 0 component 2";
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(0,   mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(3))[0] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 3 component 0";
+    EXPECT_EQ(0, mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(3))[1] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 3 component 1";
+    EXPECT_EQ(255, mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(3))[2] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 3 component 2";
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(0, mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(4))[0] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 4 component 0";
+    EXPECT_EQ(0,   mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(4))[1] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 4 component 1";
+    EXPECT_EQ(255,   mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(4))[2] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 4 component 2";
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(0, mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(7))[0] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 7 component 0";
+    EXPECT_EQ(0, mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(7))[1] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 7 component 1";
+    EXPECT_EQ(255, mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(7))[2] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 7 component 2";
+
+    EXPECT_FALSE(opt.vertex_has_normal()) << "Wrong user opt are returned!";
+    EXPECT_FALSE(opt.vertex_has_texcoord()) << "Wrong user opt are returned!";
+    EXPECT_TRUE(opt.vertex_has_color()) << "Wrong user opt are returned!";
+    EXPECT_TRUE(opt.color_is_float()) << "Wrong user opt are returned!";
+
+    mesh_.release_vertex_colors();
+}
+
+TEST_F(OpenMeshReadWriteOFF, WriteAndReadBinaryFloatVertexColorsToAndFromOFFFile) {
+
+    mesh_.clear();
+
+    mesh_.request_vertex_colors();
+
+    OpenMesh::IO::Options opt(OpenMesh::IO::Options::VertexColor);
+
+    bool ok = OpenMesh::IO::read_mesh(mesh_, "meshlab.ply", opt);
+
+    EXPECT_TRUE(ok) << "meshlab.ply could not be read!";
+
+    opt.clear();
+    opt += OpenMesh::IO::Options::VertexColor;
+    opt += OpenMesh::IO::Options::Binary;
+    opt += OpenMesh::IO::Options::ColorFloat;
+
+    // write the mesh_
+    ok = OpenMesh::IO::write_mesh(mesh_, "cube_floating_binary.off", opt);
+    EXPECT_TRUE(ok) << "cube_floating_binary.off could not be written!";
+    mesh_.clear();
+    opt.clear();
+    opt += OpenMesh::IO::Options::VertexColor;
+    opt += OpenMesh::IO::Options::Binary;
+    opt += OpenMesh::IO::Options::ColorFloat;
+    ok = OpenMesh::IO::read_mesh(mesh_, "cube_floating_binary.off", opt);
+    EXPECT_TRUE(ok) << "cube_floating_binary.off could not be read!";
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(8u  , mesh_.n_vertices()) << "The number of loaded vertices is not correct!";
+    EXPECT_EQ(18u , mesh_.n_edges())    << "The number of loaded edges is not correct!";
+    EXPECT_EQ(12u , mesh_.n_faces())    << "The number of loaded faces is not correct!";
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(0,   mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(0))[0] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 0 component 0";
+    EXPECT_EQ(0,   mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(0))[1] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 0 component 1";
+    EXPECT_EQ(255,   mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(0))[2] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 0 component 2";
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(0,   mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(3))[0] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 3 component 0";
+    EXPECT_EQ(0, mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(3))[1] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 3 component 1";
+    EXPECT_EQ(255, mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(3))[2] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 3 component 2";
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(0, mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(4))[0] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 4 component 0";
+    EXPECT_EQ(0,   mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(4))[1] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 4 component 1";
+    EXPECT_EQ(255,   mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(4))[2] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 4 component 2";
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(0, mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(7))[0] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 7 component 0";
+    EXPECT_EQ(0, mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(7))[1] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 7 component 1";
+    EXPECT_EQ(255, mesh_.color(mesh_.vertex_handle(7))[2] ) << "Wrong vertex color at vertex 7 component 2";
+
+    EXPECT_FALSE(opt.vertex_has_normal()) << "Wrong user opt are returned!";
+    EXPECT_FALSE(opt.vertex_has_texcoord()) << "Wrong user opt are returned!";
+    EXPECT_FALSE(opt.face_has_color()) << "Wrong user opt are returned!";
+    EXPECT_TRUE(opt.vertex_has_color()) << "Wrong user opt are returned!";
+    EXPECT_TRUE(opt.color_is_float()) << "Wrong user opt are returned!";
+    EXPECT_TRUE(opt.is_binary()) << "Wrong user opt are returned!";
+
+    mesh_.release_vertex_colors();
+}
 
 #endif // INCLUDE GUARD
diff --git a/src/Unittests/unittests_read_write_PLY.hh b/src/Unittests/unittests_read_write_PLY.hh
index 2d6e8778..5a2335a5 100644
--- a/src/Unittests/unittests_read_write_PLY.hh
+++ b/src/Unittests/unittests_read_write_PLY.hh
@@ -296,6 +296,7 @@ TEST_F(OpenMeshReadWritePLY, WriteAndReadPLYWithFloatVertexColors) {
     EXPECT_FALSE(options.vertex_has_normal()) << "Wrong user options are returned!";
     EXPECT_FALSE(options.vertex_has_texcoord()) << "Wrong user options are returned!";
     EXPECT_TRUE(options.vertex_has_color()) << "Wrong user options are returned!";
+    EXPECT_TRUE(options.color_is_float()) << "Wrong user options are returned!";
 
     mesh_.release_vertex_colors();
 }
@@ -349,6 +350,8 @@ TEST_F(OpenMeshReadWritePLY, WriteAndReadBinaryPLYWithFloatVertexColors) {
     EXPECT_FALSE(options.vertex_has_normal()) << "Wrong user options are returned!";
     EXPECT_FALSE(options.vertex_has_texcoord()) << "Wrong user options are returned!";
     EXPECT_TRUE(options.vertex_has_color()) << "Wrong user options are returned!";
+    EXPECT_TRUE(options.color_is_float()) << "Wrong user options are returned!";
+    EXPECT_TRUE(options.is_binary()) << "Wrong user options are returned!";
 
     mesh_.release_vertex_colors();
 }