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This paper investigates the metapsychology of colour in dreams. Colour vision is an autonomous ego function, and latent inherent colour in the hallucinatory dream imagery is queried. Current research suggests that colour may be present in the 'original' dream imagery, but usually fades rapidly in the remembered dream. When colour is reported spontaneously in the manifest dream content, it has received additional cathexis and serves definite psychological functions. Clinical and experimental evidence indicates that colour is more likely to appear in dreams where there is ego or superego reinforcement of voyeurism or colour perception. Visual sensory sensitivity, strong external colour stimulation or regressive shifts in the perceptual apparatus might also contribute to a heightened perceptual awareness of colour. The colours are ultimately derived from memories of perception, but are selectively used by the dream work. The dream and its day residues cannot be artificially isolated from the colour psychology of waking perception and imagery. Defensive alterations in hue, vividness, amount, or location may occur.
Colour in dreams may have a complex multiple function, and is frequently used by the ego for both camouflage and communication. It can conceal or reveal in subtle shades or blinding glare. Because of the colour differences of the skin, mucous membranes of the orifices, and internal body contents such as blood, faeces, urine, colour may be used to contrast and differentiate inner and outer in relation to the body. Colour is incorporated in the total body image,