diff --git a/examples/python/arkitscenes/main.py b/examples/python/arkitscenes/main.py
index 021f2ba94f88..e05277eff918 100755
--- a/examples/python/arkitscenes/main.py
+++ b/examples/python/arkitscenes/main.py
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 from scipy.spatial.transform import Rotation as R
 from tqdm import tqdm
 
+Color = Tuple[float, float, float, float]
+
 # hack for now since dataset does not provide orientation information, only known after initial visual inspection
 ORIENTATION = {
     "48458663": "landscape",
@@ -34,9 +36,7 @@ def load_json(js_path: Path) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     return json_data
 
 
-def log_annotated_bboxes(
-    annotation: Dict[str, Any]
-) -> Tuple[npt.NDArray[np.float64], List[str], List[Tuple[int, int, int, int]]]:
+def log_annotated_bboxes(annotation: Dict[str, Any]) -> Tuple[npt.NDArray[np.float64], List[str], List[Color]]:
     """
     Logs annotated oriented bounding boxes to Rerun.
 
@@ -56,8 +56,7 @@ def log_annotated_bboxes(
     # TODO(pablovela5620): Once #1581 or #1728 is resolved this can be removed
     color_positions = np.linspace(0, 1, num_objects)
     colormap = plt.cm.get_cmap("viridis")
-    color_array_float = [colormap(pos) for pos in color_positions]
-    color_list = [(int(r * 255), int(g * 255), int(b * 255), int(a * 255)) for r, g, b, a in color_array_float]
+    colors = [colormap(pos) for pos in color_positions]
 
     for i, label_info in enumerate(annotation["data"]):
         uid = label_info["uid"]
@@ -75,7 +74,7 @@ def log_annotated_bboxes(
             position=centroid,
             rotation_q=rot.as_quat(),
             label=label,
-            color=color_list[i],
+            color=colors[i],
             timeless=True,
         )
 
@@ -83,7 +82,7 @@ def log_annotated_bboxes(
         bbox_list.append(box3d)
         bbox_labels.append(label)
     bboxes_3d = np.array(bbox_list)
-    return bboxes_3d, bbox_labels, color_list
+    return bboxes_3d, bbox_labels, colors
 
 
 def compute_box_3d(
@@ -109,9 +108,7 @@ def compute_box_3d(
     return bbox3d_raw
 
 
-def log_line_segments(
-    entity_path: str, bboxes_2d_filtered: npt.NDArray[np.float64], color: Tuple[int, int, int, int], label: str
-) -> None:
+def log_line_segments(entity_path: str, bboxes_2d_filtered: npt.NDArray[np.float64], color: Color, label: str) -> None:
     """
     Generates line segments for each object's bounding box in 2d.
 
@@ -236,7 +233,7 @@ def log_camera(
     entity_id: str,
     bboxes: npt.NDArray[np.float64],
     bbox_labels: List[str],
-    color_list: List[Tuple[int, int, int, int]],
+    colors: List[Color],
 ) -> None:
     """Logs camera transform and 3D bounding boxes in the image frame."""
     w, h, fx, fy, cx, cy = np.loadtxt(intri_path)
@@ -250,7 +247,7 @@ def log_camera(
     rr.log_cleared(f"{entity_id}/bbox-2d-segments", recursive=True)
     # Log line segments for each bounding box in the image
     for i, (label, bbox_2d) in enumerate(zip(bbox_labels, bboxes_2d)):
-        log_line_segments(f"{entity_id}/bbox-2d-segments/{label}", bbox_2d.reshape(-1, 2), color_list[i], label)
+        log_line_segments(f"{entity_id}/bbox-2d-segments/{label}", bbox_2d.reshape(-1, 2), colors[i], label)
 
     rr.log_rigid3(
         # pathlib makes it easy to get the parent, but log_rigid requires a string
diff --git a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/__init__.py b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/__init__.py
index 69c8e8fe6328..b36abdacd5c6 100644
--- a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/__init__.py
+++ b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/__init__.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 import numpy.typing as npt
 
 from rerun import bindings
-from rerun.color_conversion import linear_to_gamma_u8_pixel
 
 __all__ = [
     "annotation",
@@ -43,7 +42,14 @@ def _to_sequence(array: Optional[npt.ArrayLike]) -> Optional[Sequence[float]]:
 
 
 def _normalize_colors(colors: Optional[Union[Color, Colors]] = None) -> npt.NDArray[np.uint8]:
-    """Normalize flexible colors arrays."""
+    """
+    Normalize flexible colors arrays.
+
+    Float colors are assumed to be in 0-1 gamma sRGB space.
+    All other colors are assumed to be in 0-255 gamma sRGB space.
+
+    If there is an alpha, we assume it is in linear space, and separate (NOT pre-multiplied).
+    """
     if colors is None:
         # An empty array represents no colors.
         return np.array((), dtype=np.uint8)
@@ -52,7 +58,8 @@ def _normalize_colors(colors: Optional[Union[Color, Colors]] = None) -> npt.NDAr
 
         # Rust expects colors in 0-255 uint8
         if colors_array.dtype.type in [np.float32, np.float64]:
-            return linear_to_gamma_u8_pixel(linear=colors_array)
+            # Assume gamma-space colors
+            return np.require(np.round(colors_array * 255.0), np.uint8)
 
         return np.require(colors_array, np.uint8)
 
diff --git a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/annotation.py b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/annotation.py
index 47980b4d771e..c941fc22ccb0 100644
--- a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/annotation.py
+++ b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/annotation.py
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ def log_annotation_context(
 
     Each ClassDescription must include an annotation info with an id, which will
     be used for matching the class and may optionally include a label and color.
-    Colors should either be in 0-255 gamma space or in 0-1 linear space. Colors
+    Colors should either be in 0-255 gamma space or in 0-1 gamma space. Colors
     can be RGB or RGBA.
 
     These can either be specified verbosely as:
diff --git a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/arrow.py b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/arrow.py
index b502baa6a0e9..7ad72d06fb80 100644
--- a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/arrow.py
+++ b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/arrow.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from typing import Any, Dict, Optional, Sequence
+from typing import Any, Dict, Optional
 
 import numpy as np
 import numpy.typing as npt
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 from rerun.components.instance import InstanceArray
 from rerun.components.label import LabelArray
 from rerun.components.radius import RadiusArray
-from rerun.log import _normalize_colors, _normalize_radii
+from rerun.log import Color, _normalize_colors, _normalize_radii
 from rerun.log.extension_components import _add_extension_components
 from rerun.log.log_decorator import log_decorator
 
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ def log_arrow(
     origin: Optional[npt.ArrayLike],
     vector: Optional[npt.ArrayLike] = None,
     *,
-    color: Optional[Sequence[int]] = None,
+    color: Optional[Color] = None,
     label: Optional[str] = None,
     width_scale: Optional[float] = None,
     ext: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def log_arrow(
     vector
         The vector along which the arrow will be drawn.
     color
-        An optional RGB or RGBA triplet in 0-255 sRGB.
+        Optional RGB or RGBA in sRGB gamma-space as either 0-1 floats or 0-255 integers, with separate alpha.
     label
         An optional text to show beside the arrow.
     width_scale
diff --git a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/bounding_box.py b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/bounding_box.py
index cda8b6e10d03..869eaf7a6553 100644
--- a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/bounding_box.py
+++ b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/bounding_box.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from typing import Any, Dict, Optional, Sequence
+from typing import Any, Dict, Optional
 
 import numpy as np
 import numpy.typing as npt
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 from rerun.components.quaternion import QuaternionArray
 from rerun.components.radius import RadiusArray
 from rerun.components.vec import Vec3DArray
-from rerun.log import _normalize_colors, _normalize_ids, _normalize_radii
+from rerun.log import Color, _normalize_colors, _normalize_ids, _normalize_radii
 from rerun.log.extension_components import _add_extension_components
 from rerun.log.log_decorator import log_decorator
 
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def log_obb(
     half_size: Optional[npt.ArrayLike],
     position: Optional[npt.ArrayLike] = None,
     rotation_q: Optional[npt.ArrayLike] = None,
-    color: Optional[Sequence[int]] = None,
+    color: Optional[Color] = None,
     stroke_width: Optional[float] = None,
     label: Optional[str] = None,
     class_id: Optional[int] = None,
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def log_obb(
     rotation_q:
         Optional array with quaternion coordinates [x, y, z, w] for the rotation from model to world space.
     color:
-        Optional RGB or RGBA triplet in 0-255 sRGB.
+        Optional RGB or RGBA in sRGB gamma-space as either 0-1 floats or 0-255 integers, with separate alpha.
     stroke_width:
         Optional width of the line edges.
     label:
diff --git a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/lines.py b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/lines.py
index ac46b9fe43d8..01055647398a 100644
--- a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/lines.py
+++ b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/lines.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from typing import Any, Dict, Optional, Sequence
+from typing import Any, Dict, Optional
 
 import numpy as np
 import numpy.typing as npt
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 from rerun.components.instance import InstanceArray
 from rerun.components.linestrip import LineStrip2DArray, LineStrip3DArray
 from rerun.components.radius import RadiusArray
-from rerun.log import _normalize_colors, _normalize_radii
+from rerun.log import Color, _normalize_colors, _normalize_radii
 from rerun.log.extension_components import _add_extension_components
 from rerun.log.log_decorator import log_decorator
 
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def log_path(
     positions: Optional[npt.ArrayLike],
     *,
     stroke_width: Optional[float] = None,
-    color: Optional[Sequence[int]] = None,
+    color: Optional[Color] = None,
     ext: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
     timeless: bool = False,
 ) -> None:
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ def log_line_strip(
     positions: Optional[npt.ArrayLike],
     *,
     stroke_width: Optional[float] = None,
-    color: Optional[Sequence[int]] = None,
+    color: Optional[Color] = None,
     ext: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
     timeless: bool = False,
 ) -> None:
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ def log_line_strip(
     stroke_width:
         Optional width of the line.
     color:
-        Optional RGB or RGBA triplet in 0-255 sRGB.
+        Optional RGB or RGBA in sRGB gamma-space as either 0-1 floats or 0-255 integers, with separate alpha.
     ext:
         Optional dictionary of extension components. See [rerun.log_extension_components][]
     timeless:
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ def log_line_segments(
     positions: npt.ArrayLike,
     *,
     stroke_width: Optional[float] = None,
-    color: Optional[Sequence[int]] = None,
+    color: Optional[Color] = None,
     ext: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
     timeless: bool = False,
 ) -> None:
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ def log_line_segments(
     stroke_width:
         Optional width of the line.
     color:
-        Optional RGB or RGBA triplet in 0-255 sRGB.
+        Optional RGB or RGBA in sRGB gamma-space as either 0-1 floats or 0-255 integers, with separate alpha.
     ext:
         Optional dictionary of extension components. See [rerun.log_extension_components][]
     timeless:
diff --git a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/mesh.py b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/mesh.py
index 8d7d986ce40e..8d122b6bc3f5 100644
--- a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/mesh.py
+++ b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/mesh.py
@@ -70,7 +70,8 @@ def log_mesh(
     albedo_factor:
         Optional color multiplier of the mesh using RGB or unmuliplied RGBA in linear 0-1 space.
     vertex_colors:
-        Optional array of RGB(a) vertex colors
+        Optional array of RGB(A) vertex colors, in sRGB gamma space, either as 0-1 floats or 0-255 integers.
+        If specified, the alpha is considered separate (unmultiplied).
     timeless:
         If true, the mesh will be timeless (default: False)
 
diff --git a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/points.py b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/points.py
index 040c7c6ae928..2da62475f1d3 100644
--- a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/points.py
+++ b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/points.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def log_point(
     position: Optional[npt.ArrayLike] = None,
     *,
     radius: Optional[float] = None,
-    color: Optional[Sequence[int]] = None,
+    color: Optional[Color] = None,
     label: Optional[str] = None,
     class_id: Optional[int] = None,
     keypoint_id: Optional[int] = None,
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def log_point(
     radius:
         Optional radius (make it a sphere).
     color:
-        Optional color of the point.
+        Optional RGB or RGBA in sRGB gamma-space as either 0-1 floats or 0-255 integers, with separate alpha.
     label:
         Optional text to show with the point.
     class_id:
@@ -169,6 +169,8 @@ def log_points(
         Unique numeric id that shows up when you hover or select the point.
     colors:
         Optional colors of the points.
+        The colors are interpreted as RGB or RGBA in sRGB gamma-space,
+        as either 0-1 floats or 0-255 integers, with separate alpha.
     radii:
         Optional radii (make it a sphere).
     labels:
diff --git a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/rects.py b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/rects.py
index 3d056d85f95b..36006fe4a43c 100644
--- a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/rects.py
+++ b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/rects.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def log_rect(
     rect: Optional[npt.ArrayLike],
     *,
     rect_format: RectFormat = RectFormat.XYWH,
-    color: Optional[Sequence[int]] = None,
+    color: Optional[Color] = None,
     label: Optional[str] = None,
     class_id: Optional[int] = None,
     ext: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ def log_rect(
     rect_format:
         how to interpret the `rect` argument
     color:
-        Optional RGB or RGBA triplet in 0-255 sRGB.
+        Optional RGB or RGBA in sRGB gamma-space as either 0-1 floats or 0-255 integers, with separate alpha.
     label:
         Optional text to show inside the rectangle.
     class_id:
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ def log_rects(
     identifiers:
         Unique numeric id that shows up when you hover or select the point.
     colors:
-        Optional per-rectangle RGB or RGBA triplet in 0-255 sRGB.
+        Optional per-rectangle gamma-space RGB or RGBA as 0-1 floats or 0-255 integers.
     labels:
         Optional per-rectangle text to show inside the rectangle.
     class_ids:
diff --git a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/scalar.py b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/scalar.py
index 66a6d49ff733..b80d4c7906c8 100644
--- a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/scalar.py
+++ b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/scalar.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from typing import Any, Dict, Optional, Sequence
+from typing import Any, Dict, Optional
 
 import numpy as np
 
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from rerun.components.label import LabelArray
 from rerun.components.radius import RadiusArray
 from rerun.components.scalar import ScalarArray, ScalarPlotPropsArray
-from rerun.log import _normalize_colors
+from rerun.log import Color, _normalize_colors
 from rerun.log.extension_components import _add_extension_components
 from rerun.log.log_decorator import log_decorator
 
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def log_scalar(
     scalar: float,
     *,
     label: Optional[str] = None,
-    color: Optional[Sequence[int]] = None,
+    color: Optional[Color] = None,
     radius: Optional[float] = None,
     scattered: Optional[bool] = None,
     ext: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def log_scalar(
         line will be named after the entity path. The plot itself is named after
         the space it's in.
     color:
-        An optional color in the form of a RGB or RGBA triplet in 0-255 sRGB.
+        Optional RGB or RGBA in sRGB gamma-space as either 0-1 floats or 0-255 integers, with separate alpha.
 
         If left unspecified, a pseudo-random color will be used instead. That
         same color will apply to all points residing in the same entity path
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ def log_scalar(
         instanced["rerun.label"] = LabelArray.new([label])
 
     if color:
-        colors = _normalize_colors(np.array([color]))
+        colors = _normalize_colors([color])
         instanced["rerun.colorrgba"] = ColorRGBAArray.from_numpy(colors)
 
     if radius:
diff --git a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/text.py b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/text.py
index 5f2a1308f7ce..fddb04f37fb8 100644
--- a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/text.py
+++ b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/text.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import logging
-from typing import Any, Dict, Final, Optional, Sequence
+from typing import Any, Dict, Final, Optional
 
 # Fully qualified to avoid circular import
 import rerun.log.extension_components
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 from rerun.components.color import ColorRGBAArray
 from rerun.components.instance import InstanceArray
 from rerun.components.text_entry import TextEntryArray
-from rerun.log import _normalize_colors
+from rerun.log import Color, _normalize_colors
 from rerun.log.log_decorator import log_decorator
 from rerun.log.text_internal import LogLevel
 
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ def log_text_entry(
     text: str,
     *,
     level: Optional[str] = LogLevel.INFO,
-    color: Optional[Sequence[int]] = None,
+    color: Optional[Color] = None,
     ext: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
     timeless: bool = False,
 ) -> None:
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ def log_text_entry(
         be an arbitrary string, but it's recommended to use one of the constants
         from [LogLevel][rerun.log.text.LogLevel]
     color:
-        Optional RGB or RGBA triplet in 0-255 sRGB.
+        Optional RGB or RGBA in sRGB gamma-space as either 0-1 floats or 0-255 integers, with separate alpha.
     ext:
         Optional dictionary of extension components. See [rerun.log_extension_components][]
     timeless:
diff --git a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/text_internal.py b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/text_internal.py
index 1164c6bd9500..41898e4dfa5f 100644
--- a/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/text_internal.py
+++ b/rerun_py/rerun_sdk/rerun/log/text_internal.py
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 import logging
 from dataclasses import dataclass
-from typing import Any, Dict, Final, Optional, Sequence
+from typing import Any, Dict, Final, Optional
 
 # Fully qualified to avoid circular import
 from rerun import bindings
 from rerun.components.color import ColorRGBAArray
 from rerun.components.instance import InstanceArray
 from rerun.components.text_entry import TextEntryArray
-from rerun.log import _normalize_colors
+from rerun.log import Color, _normalize_colors
 
 __all__ = [
     "LogLevel",
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def log_text_entry_internal(
     text: str,
     *,
     level: Optional[str] = LogLevel.INFO,
-    color: Optional[Sequence[int]] = None,
+    color: Optional[Color] = None,
     timeless: bool = False,
 ) -> None:
     """
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ def log_text_entry_internal(
         be an arbitrary string, but it's recommended to use one of the constants
         from [LogLevel][rerun.log.text.LogLevel]
     color:
-        Optional RGB or RGBA triplet in 0-255 sRGB.
+        Optional RGB or RGBA in sRGB gamma-space as either 0-1 floats or 0-255 integers, with separate alpha.
     timeless:
         Whether the text entry should be timeless.