diff --git a/pronto-utils/src/pronto_math/pronto_math.hpp b/pronto-utils/src/pronto_math/pronto_math.hpp
index e179cb3..f99e07c 100644
--- a/pronto-utils/src/pronto_math/pronto_math.hpp
+++ b/pronto-utils/src/pronto_math/pronto_math.hpp
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ struct obj_cfg{
 
 struct ptcld_cfg{
   ptcld_cfg(int id, std::string name, int type, bool reset,
-      int obj_coll, bool use_rgb, std::vector<float> rgb ):
+      int obj_coll, int use_rgb, std::vector<float> rgb ):
     id(id), name(name), type(type), reset(reset),
     obj_coll(obj_coll), use_rgb(use_rgb), rgb(rgb) {}
   int id;
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ struct ptcld_cfg{
   //int64_t obj_id; // which object in the pose collection is it relative to | was "element_id"
   //float rgba[4];
 
-  bool use_rgb; // use this single color [0] or use colors in the cloud itself [0]
+  int use_rgb; // [-1] send no colors and have view pick, [0] use a single color, [-1] use colors in the XYZRGB cloud itself
   std::vector <float> rgb; // 3 vals 0->1
   // inline specification: http://live.boost.org/doc/libs/1_36_0/libs/assign/doc/index.html
 };
diff --git a/pronto-utils/src/pronto_vis/pronto_vis.cpp b/pronto-utils/src/pronto_vis/pronto_vis.cpp
index 6f1aec9..9b84a76 100644
--- a/pronto-utils/src/pronto_vis/pronto_vis.cpp
+++ b/pronto-utils/src/pronto_vis/pronto_vis.cpp
@@ -214,7 +214,11 @@ void pronto_vis::ptcld_collection_to_lcm(ptcld_cfg pcfg, std::vector< pronto::Po
     this_plist->npoints = npts;
     // 3.2: colors:
     vs_color_t* colors = new vs_color_t[npts];
-    this_plist->ncolors = npts;
+    // TODO: this sends the points, but they are not used. Should avoid sending altogether
+    if (pcfg.use_rgb == -1)
+      this_plist->ncolors = 0; // have viewer pick the color
+    else
+      this_plist->ncolors = npts;
     // 3.3: normals:
     this_plist->nnormals = 0;
     this_plist->normals = NULL;
@@ -224,7 +228,7 @@ void pronto_vis::ptcld_collection_to_lcm(ptcld_cfg pcfg, std::vector< pronto::Po
 
     float rgba[4];
     for(size_t j=0; j<npts; j++) {  //Nransac
-      if (  pcfg.use_rgb){// use the rgb value
+      if (  pcfg.use_rgb == 1){// use the rgb value
         rgba[0] = pcfg.rgb[0];
         rgba[1] = pcfg.rgb[1];
         rgba[2] = pcfg.rgb[2];
@@ -287,7 +291,12 @@ void pronto_vis::ptcld_to_lcm(ptcld_cfg pcfg, pronto::PointCloud &cloud, int64_t
   this_plist->npoints = npts;
   // 3.2: colors:
   vs_color_t* colors = new vs_color_t[npts];
-  this_plist->ncolors = npts;
+
+  // TODO: this sends the points, but they are not used. Should avoid sending altogether
+  if ( pcfg.use_rgb == -1 )
+    this_plist->ncolors = 0; // have the viewer choose the colors.
+  else
+    this_plist->ncolors = npts;
   // 3.3: normals:
   this_plist->nnormals = 0;
   this_plist->normals = NULL;
@@ -297,7 +306,7 @@ void pronto_vis::ptcld_to_lcm(ptcld_cfg pcfg, pronto::PointCloud &cloud, int64_t
 
   float rgba[4];
   for(int j=0; j<npts; j++) {  //Nransac
-    if (  pcfg.use_rgb){// use the rgb value
+    if (  pcfg.use_rgb == 1){// use the rgb value
       //rgba[3] = ptcoll_cfg.rgba[3];
       rgba[0] = pcfg.rgb[0];
       rgba[1] = pcfg.rgb[1];
@@ -541,10 +550,15 @@ void pronto_vis::mesh_to_lcm(ptcld_cfg pcfg, pcl::PolygonMesh::Ptr mesh,
     points->npointids = 0;
     points->pointids = NULL;
 
-    points->ncolors = N_points;
     vs_color_t* colors = new vs_color_t[N_points];
-    points->npoints = N_points;
+    // TODO: this sends the points, but they are not used. Should avoid sending altogether
+    if (  pcfg.use_rgb == -1)
+      points->ncolors = 0;
+    else
+      points->ncolors = N_points;
+
     vs_point3d_t* entries = new vs_point3d_t[N_points];
+    points->npoints = N_points;
 
     points->id = i; // ... still i - not k
     points->collection = pcfg.obj_coll;//PoseCollID;//collection.objectCollectionId();
@@ -557,7 +571,7 @@ void pronto_vis::mesh_to_lcm(ptcld_cfg pcfg, pcl::PolygonMesh::Ptr mesh,
       entries[j].y =(float) tmp(1);
       entries[j].z =(float) tmp(2);
       // r,g,b: input is ints 0->255, opengl wants floats 0->1
-      if (  pcfg.use_rgb){// use the rgb value
+      if (  pcfg.use_rgb == 1){// use the rgb value
         rgba[0] = pcfg.rgb[0];
         rgba[1] = pcfg.rgb[1];
         rgba[2] = pcfg.rgb[2];