diff --git a/raster/r.external/colors.c b/raster/r.external/colors.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b29db8c5655
--- /dev/null
+++ b/raster/r.external/colors.c
@@ -0,0 +1,316 @@
+#include <grass/gis.h>
+#include <grass/raster.h>
+#include <grass/glocale.h>
+
+#include <gdal.h>
+
+/* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+/*      Transfer colormap, if there is one.                             */
+/*      prefer color rules over color tables, search:                   */
+/*      1. GRASS color rules in metadata                                */
+/*      2. Raster attribute table with color rules                      */
+/*      3. Raster color table                                           */
+/* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+void transfer_colormap(GDALRasterBandH hBand, const char *output)
+{
+    int have_colors = 0;
+    int nrows, ncols;
+    int indx;
+    int complex = FALSE; /* TODO */
+
+    char **GDALmetadata;
+    GDALRasterAttributeTableH gdal_rat;
+    
+    /* GRASS color rules in metadata? */
+    GDALmetadata = GDALGetMetadata(hBand, "");
+    
+    if (GDALmetadata) {
+        struct Colors colors;
+        DCELL val1, val2;
+        int r1, g1, b1, r2, g2, b2;
+        
+        Rast_init_colors(&colors);
+        
+        while (GDALmetadata && GDALmetadata[0]) {
+            G_debug(2, "%s", GDALmetadata[0]);
+            
+	    if (!strncmp("COLOR_TABLE_RULE_RGB_", GDALmetadata[0], 21)) {
+		char *p;
+		
+		for (p = GDALmetadata[0]; *p != '=' && *p != '\0'; p++);
+		
+		if (*p == '=') {
+		    p++;
+		}
+		if (p && *p != '\0') {
+		    if (sscanf(p, "%lf %lf %d %d %d %d %d %d",
+			&val1, &val2, &r1, &g1, &b1, &r2, &g2, &b2) == 8) {
+
+			Rast_add_d_color_rule(&val1, r1, g1, b1,
+			                      &val2, r2, g2, b2,
+					      &colors);
+			have_colors = 1;
+		    }
+		}
+	    }
+	    GDALmetadata++;
+	}
+	if (have_colors)
+	    Rast_write_colors((char *)output, G_mapset(), &colors);
+
+	Rast_free_colors(&colors);
+    }
+
+    /* colors in raster attribute table? */
+    gdal_rat = GDALGetDefaultRAT(hBand);
+    if (!have_colors && gdal_rat != NULL) {
+	nrows = GDALRATGetRowCount(gdal_rat);
+	ncols = GDALRATGetColumnCount(gdal_rat);
+	
+	if (nrows > 0 && ncols > 0) {
+	    int minc, maxc, minmaxc;
+	    int rc, gc, bc, rminc, rmaxc, gminc, gmaxc, bminc, bmaxc;
+	    GDALRATFieldUsage field_use;
+	    struct Colors colors;
+	    DCELL val1, val2;
+	    double r1, g1, b1, r2, g2, b2;
+	    int cf;
+
+	    Rast_init_colors(&colors);
+	    
+	    minc = maxc = minmaxc = -1;
+	    rc = gc = bc = rminc = rmaxc = gminc = gmaxc = bminc = bmaxc = -1;
+
+	    for (indx = 0; indx < ncols; indx++) {
+		 field_use = GDALRATGetUsageOfCol(gdal_rat, indx);
+		 
+		 if (field_use == GFU_Min)
+		    minc = indx;
+		 else if (field_use == GFU_Max)
+		    maxc = indx;
+		 else if (field_use == GFU_MinMax)
+		    minmaxc = indx;
+		 else if (field_use == GFU_Red)
+		    rc = indx;
+		 else if (field_use == GFU_Green)
+		    gc = indx;
+		 else if (field_use == GFU_Blue)
+		    bc = indx;
+		 else if (field_use == GFU_RedMin)
+		    rminc = indx;
+		 else if (field_use == GFU_GreenMin)
+		    gminc = indx;
+		 else if (field_use == GFU_BlueMin)
+		    bminc = indx;
+		 else if (field_use == GFU_RedMax)
+		    rmaxc = indx;
+		 else if (field_use == GFU_GreenMax)
+		    gmaxc = indx;
+		 else if (field_use == GFU_BlueMax)
+		    bmaxc = indx;
+	    }
+	    
+	    /* guess color range 0, 1 or 0, 255 */
+
+	    if (minc >= 0 && maxc >= 0 && rminc >= 0 && rmaxc >= 0 &&
+		gminc >= 0 && gmaxc >= 0 && bminc >= 0 && bmaxc >= 0) {
+
+		cf = 1;
+		
+		/* analyze color rules */
+		for (indx = 0; indx < nrows; indx++) {
+		    val1 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, minc);
+		    val2 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, maxc);
+
+		    r1 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, rminc);
+		    g1 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, gminc);
+		    b1 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, bminc);
+
+		    r2 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, rmaxc);
+		    g2 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, gmaxc);
+		    b2 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, bmaxc);
+
+		    if (r1 > 0.0 && r1 < 1.0)
+			cf = 255;
+		    else if (cf == 255 && r1 > 1.0) {
+			cf = 0;
+			break;
+		    }
+
+		    if (g1 > 0.0 && g1 < 1.0)
+			cf = 255;
+		    else if (cf == 255 && g1 > 1.0) {
+			cf = 0;
+			break;
+		    }
+
+		    if (b1 > 0.0 && b1 < 1.0)
+			cf = 255;
+		    else if (cf == 255 && b1 > 1.0) {
+			cf = 0;
+			break;
+		    }
+
+		    if (r2 > 0.0 && r2 < 1.0)
+			cf = 255;
+		    else if (cf == 255 && r2 > 1.0) {
+			cf = 0;
+			break;
+		    }
+
+		    if (g2 > 0.0 && g2 < 1.0)
+			cf = 255;
+		    else if (cf == 255 && g2 > 1.0) {
+			cf = 0;
+			break;
+		    }
+
+		    if (b2 > 0.0 && b2 < 1.0)
+			cf = 255;
+		    else if (cf == 255 && b2 > 1.0) {
+			cf = 0;
+			break;
+		    }
+		}
+
+		if (cf == 0)
+		    G_warning(_("Inconsistent color rules in RAT"));
+		else {
+		    /* fetch color rules */
+		    for (indx = 0; indx < nrows; indx++) {
+			val1 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, minc);
+			val2 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, maxc);
+
+			r1 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, rminc);
+			g1 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, gminc);
+			b1 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, bminc);
+
+			r2 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, rmaxc);
+			g2 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, gmaxc);
+			b2 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, bmaxc);
+
+			Rast_add_d_color_rule(&val1, r1 * cf, g1 * cf, b1 * cf,
+					      &val2, r2 * cf, g2 * cf, b2 * cf,
+					      &colors);
+		    }
+		}
+	    }
+	    else if (minmaxc >= 0 && rc >= 0 && gc >= 0 && bc >= 0) {
+		
+		cf = 1;
+
+		/* analyze color table */
+		for (indx = 0; indx < nrows; indx++) {
+		    val1 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, minmaxc);
+
+		    r1 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, rc);
+		    g1 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, gc);
+		    b1 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, bc);
+
+
+		    if (r1 > 0.0 && r1 < 1.0)
+			cf = 255;
+		    else if (cf == 255 && r1 > 1.0) {
+			cf = 0;
+			break;
+		    }
+
+		    if (g1 > 0.0 && g1 < 1.0)
+			cf = 255;
+		    else if (cf == 255 && g1 > 1.0) {
+			cf = 0;
+			break;
+		    }
+
+		    if (b1 > 0.0 && b1 < 1.0)
+			cf = 255;
+		    else if (cf == 255 && b1 > 1.0) {
+			cf = 0;
+			break;
+		    }
+		}
+
+		if (cf == 0)
+		    G_warning(_("Inconsistent color rules in RAT"));
+		else {
+		    /* fetch color table */
+		    for (indx = 0; indx < nrows; indx++) {
+			val1 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, minmaxc);
+
+			r1 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, rc);
+			g1 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, gc);
+			b1 = GDALRATGetValueAsDouble(gdal_rat, indx, bc);
+			
+			Rast_set_d_color(val1, r1 * cf, g1 * cf, b1 * cf, &colors);
+		    }
+		}
+	    }
+	    
+	    have_colors = Rast_colors_count(&colors) > 0;
+	    
+	    if (have_colors)
+		Rast_write_colors((char *)output, G_mapset(), &colors);
+
+	    Rast_free_colors(&colors);
+	}
+    }
+
+    /* colors in raster color table? */
+
+    if (!have_colors && !complex && GDALGetRasterColorTable(hBand) != NULL) {
+	GDALColorTableH hCT;
+	struct Colors colors;
+	int iColor;
+
+	G_debug(1, "Copying color table for %s", output);
+
+	hCT = GDALGetRasterColorTable(hBand);
+
+	Rast_init_colors(&colors);
+	for (iColor = 0; iColor < GDALGetColorEntryCount(hCT); iColor++) {
+	    GDALColorEntry sEntry;
+
+	    GDALGetColorEntryAsRGB(hCT, iColor, &sEntry);
+	    if (sEntry.c4 == 0)
+		continue;
+
+	    Rast_set_c_color(iColor, sEntry.c1, sEntry.c2, sEntry.c3, &colors);
+	}
+
+	Rast_write_colors((char *)output, G_mapset(), &colors);
+	Rast_free_colors(&colors);
+	have_colors = 1;
+    }
+    if (!have_colors) {			/* no color table present */
+
+	/* types are defined in GDAL: ./core/gdal.h */
+	if ((GDALGetRasterDataType(hBand) == GDT_Byte)) {
+	    /* found 0..255 data: we set to grey scale: */
+	    struct Colors colors;
+
+	    G_verbose_message(_("Setting grey color table for <%s> (8bit, full range)"),
+			      output);
+
+	    Rast_init_colors(&colors);
+	    Rast_make_grey_scale_colors(&colors, 0, 255);	/* full range */
+	    Rast_write_colors((char *)output, G_mapset(), &colors);
+	    Rast_free_colors(&colors);
+	}
+	if ((GDALGetRasterDataType(hBand) == GDT_UInt16)) {
+	    /* found 0..65535 data: we set to grey scale: */
+	    struct Colors colors;
+	    struct Range range;
+	    CELL min, max;
+
+	    G_verbose_message(_("Setting grey color table for <%s> (16bit, image range)"),
+			      output);
+	    Rast_read_range((char *)output, G_mapset(), &range);
+	    Rast_get_range_min_max(&range, &min, &max);
+
+	    Rast_init_colors(&colors);
+	    Rast_make_grey_scale_colors(&colors, min, max);	/* image range */
+	    Rast_write_colors((char *)output, G_mapset(), &colors);
+	    Rast_free_colors(&colors);
+	}
+    }
+}
diff --git a/raster/r.external/main.c b/raster/r.external/main.c
index e8327136d01..39328163a31 100644
--- a/raster/r.external/main.c
+++ b/raster/r.external/main.c
@@ -244,6 +244,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	query_band(hBand, output2, &cellhd, &info);
 	create_map(input, band, output2, &cellhd, &info, title, flip);
+        transfer_colormap(hBand, output2);
 
 	G_free(output2);
 	G_free(title2);
diff --git a/raster/r.external/proto.h b/raster/r.external/proto.h
index 404eeac4294..d22e5d86af6 100644
--- a/raster/r.external/proto.h
+++ b/raster/r.external/proto.h
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ enum flip {
     FLIP_V = 2,
 };
 
+/* colors.c */
+void transfer_colormap(GDALRasterBandH, const char *);
+
 /* link.c */
 void query_band(GDALRasterBandH, const char *,
 		struct Cell_head *, struct band_info *);