diff --git a/motion/core/string.rb b/motion/core/string.rb
index aa59cf8c..585a79b2 100644
--- a/motion/core/string.rb
+++ b/motion/core/string.rb
@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@ def underscore
     end
 
     def to_color
+      # First check if it is a color keyword
+      keyword_selector = "#{self.camelize(false)}Color"
+      return UIColor.send(keyword_selector) if UIColor.respond_to? keyword_selector
+
+      # Next attempt to convert from hex
       hex_color = self.gsub("#", "")   
       case hex_color.size 
         when 3
diff --git a/spec/motion/core/string_spec.rb b/spec/motion/core/string_spec.rb
index 2ef9fb26..c031db1b 100644
--- a/spec/motion/core/string_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/motion/core/string_spec.rb
@@ -90,6 +90,20 @@
     end 
   end 
 
+  describe "a string with a color keyword (blue, red, lightText)" do
+    it "should return the corresponding color" do
+      'blue'.to_color.should == UIColor.blueColor
+    end
+
+    it "should accept camelCase" do
+      'lightText'.to_color.should == UIColor.lightTextColor
+    end
+
+    it "should accept snake_case" do
+      'dark_gray'.to_color.should == UIColor.darkGrayColor
+    end
+  end
+
   describe "A UIColor should not be created from an invalid String wuth" do