A color display graphics system includes three bit map memories for storing bits representing red, green and blue colors respectively. Combinations of bits from the same address locations of each bit map memory display a pixel which could be any one of eight colors: black, blue, green, cyan, red, magenta, yellow or white. A read only memory (ROM) stores patterns made up of sixteen bits in a four-by-four matrix for each of the red, green and blue colors. The 16-bit matrices are stored in their respective bit map memories for subsequent color display. Combinations of matrices may be used to show shades of the above eight colors and the mixing of any of those shades.