diff --git a/examples/entity_builder_comparison.rs b/examples/entity_builder_comparison.rs
index fd2f5e88fe..7f957c2bda 100644
--- a/examples/entity_builder_comparison.rs
+++ b/examples/entity_builder_comparison.rs
@@ -19,8 +19,7 @@ fn create_entities_insert_vec(
         vec![(
             plane_handle.clone(),
             StandardMaterial {
-                albedo: math::vec4(0.1, 0.2, 0.1, 1.0),
-                everything_is_red: false,
+                albedo: math::vec4(0.1, 0.2, 0.1, 1.0).into(),
             },
             LocalToWorld::identity(),
             Translation::new(0.0, 0.0, 0.0),
@@ -33,8 +32,7 @@ fn create_entities_insert_vec(
         vec![(
             cube_handle,
             StandardMaterial {
-                albedo: math::vec4(0.5, 0.3, 0.3, 1.0),
-                everything_is_red: false,
+                albedo: math::vec4(0.5, 0.3, 0.3, 1.0).into(),
             },
             LocalToWorld::identity(),
             Translation::new(0.0, 0.0, 1.0),
@@ -84,8 +82,7 @@ fn create_entities_builder_add_component(
         .build_entity()
         .add(plane_handle.clone())
         .add(StandardMaterial {
-            albedo: math::vec4(0.1, 0.2, 0.1, 1.0),
-            everything_is_red: false,
+            albedo: math::vec4(0.1, 0.2, 0.1, 1.0).into(),
         })
         .add(LocalToWorld::identity())
         .add(Translation::new(0.0, 0.0, 0.0))
@@ -93,8 +90,7 @@ fn create_entities_builder_add_component(
         .build_entity()
         .add(cube_handle)
         .add(StandardMaterial {
-            albedo: math::vec4(0.5, 0.3, 0.3, 1.0),
-            everything_is_red: false,
+            albedo: math::vec4(0.5, 0.3, 0.3, 1.0).into(),
         })
         .add(LocalToWorld::identity())
         .add(Translation::new(0.0, 0.0, 1.0))
@@ -132,8 +128,7 @@ fn create_entities_builder_archetype(
         .add_archetype(MeshEntity {
             mesh: plane_handle.clone(),
             material: StandardMaterial {
-                albedo: math::vec4(0.1, 0.2, 0.1, 1.0),
-                everything_is_red: false
+                albedo: math::vec4(0.1, 0.2, 0.1, 1.0).into(),
             },
             ..Default::default()
         })
@@ -141,8 +136,7 @@ fn create_entities_builder_archetype(
         .add_archetype(MeshEntity {
             mesh: cube_handle,
             material: StandardMaterial {
-                albedo: math::vec4(0.5, 0.3, 0.3, 1.0),
-                everything_is_red: false
+                albedo: math::vec4(0.5, 0.3, 0.3, 1.0).into(),
             },
             ..Default::default()
         })
diff --git a/examples/instancing.rs b/examples/instancing.rs
index 5d10b5f494..9e74418be8 100644
--- a/examples/instancing.rs
+++ b/examples/instancing.rs
@@ -194,8 +194,7 @@ fn create_person(world: &mut World, mesh_handle: Handle<Mesh>, translation: Tran
             },
             Instanced,
             StandardMaterial {
-                albedo: math::vec4(0.5, 0.3, 0.3, 1.0) * random::<f32>(),
-                everything_is_red: false,
+                albedo: (math::vec4(0.5, 0.3, 0.3, 1.0) * random::<f32>()).into(),
             },
             mesh_handle,
             LocalToWorld::identity(),
diff --git a/examples/parenting.rs b/examples/parenting.rs
index 7b12e847d2..d515e72771 100644
--- a/examples/parenting.rs
+++ b/examples/parenting.rs
@@ -36,8 +36,7 @@ fn setup(world: &mut World) {
         vec![(
             plane_handle.clone(),
             StandardMaterial {
-                albedo: math::vec4(0.1, 0.2, 0.1, 1.0),
-                everything_is_red: false,
+                albedo: math::vec4(0.1, 0.2, 0.1, 1.0).into(),
             },
             LocalToWorld::identity(),
             Translation::new(0.0, 0.0, -5.0),
@@ -51,8 +50,7 @@ fn setup(world: &mut World) {
             vec![(
                 cube_handle.clone(),
                 StandardMaterial {
-                    albedo: math::vec4(0.5, 0.3, 0.3, 1.0),
-                    everything_is_red: false,
+                    albedo: math::vec4(0.5, 0.3, 0.3, 1.0).into(),
                 },
                 LocalToWorld::identity(),
                 Translation::new(0.0, 0.0, 1.0),
@@ -69,8 +67,7 @@ fn setup(world: &mut World) {
         vec![(
             cube_handle,
             StandardMaterial {
-                albedo: math::vec4(0.5, 0.3, 0.3, 1.0),
-                everything_is_red: false,
+                albedo: math::vec4(0.5, 0.3, 0.3, 1.0).into(),
             },
             LocalToWorld::identity(),
             Translation::new(0.0, 0.0, 3.0),
diff --git a/examples/simple.rs b/examples/simple.rs
index d02e184fdf..71f1cd93e5 100644
--- a/examples/simple.rs
+++ b/examples/simple.rs
@@ -19,31 +19,19 @@ fn setup(world: &mut World) {
         .add_archetype(MeshEntity {
             mesh: plane_handle.clone(),
             material: StandardMaterial {
-                albedo: math::vec4(0.1, 0.2, 0.1, 1.0),
-                everything_is_red: false,
+                albedo: math::vec4(0.1, 0.2, 0.1, 1.0).into(),
             },
             ..Default::default()
         })
-        // tan cube
+        // cube
         .add_archetype(MeshEntity {
             mesh: cube_handle.clone(),
             material: StandardMaterial {
-                albedo: math::vec4(0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 1.0),
-                everything_is_red: false,
+                albedo: math::vec4(0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 1.0).into(),
             },
             translation: Translation::new(0.0, 0.0, 1.0),
             ..Default::default()
         })
-        // red cube
-        .add_archetype(MeshEntity {
-            mesh: cube_handle.clone(),
-            material: StandardMaterial {
-                albedo: math::vec4(0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 1.0),
-                everything_is_red: true,
-            },
-            translation: Translation::new(3.0, 0.0, 1.0),
-            ..Default::default()
-        })
         // light
         .add_archetype(LightEntity {
             translation: Translation::new(4.0, -4.0, 5.0),
diff --git a/examples/spawner.rs b/examples/spawner.rs
index 93c3bfd7b7..3d6b14886a 100644
--- a/examples/spawner.rs
+++ b/examples/spawner.rs
@@ -18,13 +18,15 @@ fn build_move_system() -> Box<dyn Schedulable> {
         .build(move |_, world, time, person_query| {
             for (mut translation, mut material) in person_query.iter_mut(world) {
                 translation.0 += math::vec3(1.0, 0.0, 0.0) * time.delta_seconds;
-                material.albedo = material.albedo
-                    + math::vec4(
-                        -time.delta_seconds,
-                        -time.delta_seconds,
-                        time.delta_seconds,
-                        0.0,
-                    );
+                if let ColorSource::Color(color) = material.albedo {
+                    material.albedo = (color
+                        + math::vec4(
+                            -time.delta_seconds,
+                            -time.delta_seconds,
+                            time.delta_seconds,
+                            0.0,
+                        )).into();
+                }
             }
         })
 }
@@ -73,8 +75,7 @@ fn setup(world: &mut World) {
         .add_archetype(MeshEntity {
             mesh: plane_handle.clone(),
             material: StandardMaterial {
-                albedo: math::vec4(0.1, 0.2, 0.1, 1.0),
-                everything_is_red: false,
+                albedo: math::vec4(0.1, 0.2, 0.1, 1.0).into(),
             },
             ..Default::default()
         })
@@ -82,8 +83,7 @@ fn setup(world: &mut World) {
         .add_archetype(MeshEntity {
             mesh: cube_handle.clone(),
             material: StandardMaterial {
-                albedo: math::vec4(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0),
-                everything_is_red: false,
+                albedo: math::vec4(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0).into(),
             },
             translation: Translation::new(0.0, 0.0, 1.0),
             ..Default::default()
@@ -91,8 +91,7 @@ fn setup(world: &mut World) {
         .add_archetype(MeshEntity {
             mesh: cube_handle.clone(),
             material: StandardMaterial {
-                albedo: math::vec4(0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 1.0),
-                everything_is_red: true,
+                albedo: math::vec4(0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 1.0).into(),
             },
             translation: Translation::new(-2.0, 0.0, 1.0),
             ..Default::default()
@@ -128,8 +127,7 @@ fn setup(world: &mut World) {
                     rng.gen_range(0.0, 1.0),
                     rng.gen_range(0.0, 1.0),
                     1.0,
-                ),
-                everything_is_red: false,
+                ).into(),
             },
             translation: Translation::new(
                 rng.gen_range(-50.0, 50.0),
diff --git a/examples/texture.rs b/examples/texture.rs
index a2ea1e60cd..b56f852e5f 100644
--- a/examples/texture.rs
+++ b/examples/texture.rs
@@ -22,8 +22,7 @@ fn setup(world: &mut World) {
         .add_archetype(MeshEntity {
             mesh: cube_handle.clone(),
             material: StandardMaterial {
-                albedo: math::vec4(0.5, 0.3, 0.3, 1.0),
-                everything_is_red: false,
+                albedo: math::vec4(0.5, 0.3, 0.3, 1.0).into(),
             },
             translation: Translation::new(0.0, 0.0, 1.0),
             ..Default::default()
diff --git a/examples/ui.rs b/examples/ui.rs
index 69d175553c..5439638475 100644
--- a/examples/ui.rs
+++ b/examples/ui.rs
@@ -17,8 +17,7 @@ fn setup(world: &mut World) {
         .add_archetype(MeshEntity {
             mesh: cube_handle.clone(),
             material: StandardMaterial {
-                albedo: math::vec4(0.5, 0.3, 0.3, 1.0),
-                everything_is_red: false,
+                albedo: math::vec4(0.5, 0.3, 0.3, 1.0).into(),
             },
             translation: Translation::new(0.0, 0.0, 1.0),
             ..Default::default()
diff --git a/src/prelude.rs b/src/prelude.rs
index 2ff9c20b50..a973ee98e4 100644
--- a/src/prelude.rs
+++ b/src/prelude.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ pub use crate::{
     ecs::{default_archetypes::*, EntityArchetype, WorldBuilder, WorldBuilderSource},
     render::{
         ActiveCamera, ActiveCamera2d, Camera, CameraType, Instanced, Light,
-        render_graph::{StandardMaterial, Renderable, ShaderDefSuffixProvider},
+        render_graph::{StandardMaterial, Renderable, ShaderDefSuffixProvider}, ColorSource
     },
     ui::{Anchors, Margins, Node},
 };
diff --git a/src/render/color.rs b/src/render/color.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..53cc578dc1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/render/color.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+use crate::{
+    asset::{Handle, Texture},
+    math::Vec4,
+    render::render_graph::ShaderDefSuffixProvider, core::GetBytes,
+};
+
+pub enum ColorSource {
+    Color(Vec4),
+    Texture(Handle<Texture>),
+}
+
+impl From<Vec4> for ColorSource {
+    fn from(vec4: Vec4) -> Self {
+        ColorSource::Color(vec4)
+    }
+}
+
+impl ShaderDefSuffixProvider for ColorSource {
+    fn get_shader_def(&self) -> Option<&'static str> {
+        match *self {
+            ColorSource::Color(_) => Some("_color"),
+            ColorSource::Texture(_) => Some("_texture"),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+
+impl GetBytes for ColorSource {
+    fn get_bytes(&self) -> Vec<u8> {
+        match *self {
+            ColorSource::Color(color) => color.get_bytes(),
+            ColorSource::Texture(_) => Vec::new(), // Texture is not a uniform
+        }
+    }
+    fn get_bytes_ref(&self) -> Option<&[u8]> {
+        None
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/render/mod.rs b/src/render/mod.rs
index eea4cf3242..7d0e1b398f 100644
--- a/src/render/mod.rs
+++ b/src/render/mod.rs
@@ -3,12 +3,14 @@ pub mod render_graph;
 pub mod shader;
 pub mod shader_reflect;
 
+mod color;
 mod light;
 mod vertex;
 
 pub use camera::*;
 pub use light::*;
 pub use shader::*;
+pub use color::*;
 
 pub use vertex::Vertex;
 
diff --git a/src/render/render_graph/pipelines/forward/forward.frag b/src/render/render_graph/pipelines/forward/forward.frag
index 5f175e37ff..05e2ecd7c6 100644
--- a/src/render/render_graph/pipelines/forward/forward.frag
+++ b/src/render/render_graph/pipelines/forward/forward.frag
@@ -43,8 +43,4 @@ void main() {
     }
     // multiply the light by material color
     o_Target = vec4(color, 1.0) * Albedo;
-
-# ifdef everything_is_red
-    o_Target = vec4(1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0);
-# endif
 }
diff --git a/src/render/render_graph/uniforms/standard_material.rs b/src/render/render_graph/uniforms/standard_material.rs
index 3ee65b3e50..d7492a9c36 100644
--- a/src/render/render_graph/uniforms/standard_material.rs
+++ b/src/render/render_graph/uniforms/standard_material.rs
@@ -1,20 +1,17 @@
-use crate::{math, math::Vec4, render::render_graph::ShaderDefSuffixProvider};
+use crate::{math::Vec4, render::ColorSource};
 
 use crate as bevy; // for macro imports
 use bevy_derive::Uniforms;
 
 #[derive(Uniforms)]
 pub struct StandardMaterial {
-    pub albedo: Vec4,
-    #[uniform(ignore, shader_def)]
-    pub everything_is_red: bool,
+    pub albedo: ColorSource,
 }
 
 impl Default for StandardMaterial {
     fn default() -> Self {
         StandardMaterial {
-            albedo: math::vec4(0.3, 0.3, 0.3, 1.0),
-            everything_is_red: false,
+            albedo: ColorSource::Color(Vec4::new(0.3, 0.3, 0.3, 1.0)),
         }
     }
 }