diff --git a/base_api_manifest.yaml b/base_api_manifest.yaml
index 8b9504e..a07a3fa 100644
--- a/base_api_manifest.yaml
+++ b/base_api_manifest.yaml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ environment:
   - BASE_BASH_LIBS_LOG_DEBUG|caller-control|enable debug diagnostics
   - BASE_BASH_LIBS_LOG_UTC|caller-control|render log timestamps in UTC
   - BASE_BASH_LIBS_GIT_PULL_MAX_ATTEMPTS|caller-control|maximum git pull attempts
-  - NO_COLOR|caller-input|disable color output when set
+  - NO_COLOR|caller-input|disable automatic color output when set; explicit always mode overrides it
   - TMPDIR|caller-input|temporary directory policy
   - GH_TOKEN|caller-input|GitHub CLI authentication input
   - TZ|caller-input|caller-selected timezone for diagnostics
diff --git a/docs/v2-api-contract.md b/docs/v2-api-contract.md
index 739bd91..b466aad 100644
--- a/docs/v2-api-contract.md
+++ b/docs/v2-api-contract.md
@@ -174,7 +174,8 @@ argv. This mapping is the v2 migration reference:
 | `--debug-wrapper` | Enables DEBUG logging and is removed from application argv. |
 | `--verbose-wrapper` | Preserves the deprecated VERBOSE compatibility level and is removed from application argv. |
 | `--utc-wrapper` | Exports UTC logging for the initialized runtime and is removed from application argv. |
-| `--color` | Requests terminal colors and is removed from application argv. |
+| `--color` | Requests automatic terminal colors (stderr TTY and `NO_COLOR` unset) and is removed from application argv. A `--color MODE` pair remains available to the app's own parser. |
+| `--color-mode MODE` | Selects `auto`, `always`, or `never` for wrappers that do not use the standard app-option model; removed from application argv and takes precedence over app-level `--color`. `always` overrides `NO_COLOR`. |
 | `base_init --` | Stops wrapper parsing; the separator and all following values remain literal application argv. (The launcher's own script-selection `--` is not forwarded.) |
 
 No other launcher option is implicitly forwarded. Applications that need an
diff --git a/lib/bash/app/README.md b/lib/bash/app/README.md
index 08264a0..5c0faed 100644
--- a/lib/bash/app/README.md
+++ b/lib/bash/app/README.md
@@ -54,9 +54,13 @@ zero. No configuration value is evaluated as shell code.
 `--verbose`, `--quiet`, `--color`, `--dry-run`, `--non-interactive`,
 `--config`, and `--user-config` options to a declarative CLI model.
 `--color` accepts `auto`, `always`, or `never`; the bare legacy launcher
-`--color` flag remains supported when it is not followed by one of those
-modes. `--quiet` sets the default logger threshold to `WARN`, while
-`--verbose` sets it to `DEBUG`; the options are mutually exclusive.
+`--color` flag remains supported, and wrappers can use `--color-mode MODE`
+when they need an explicit policy independent of the app's own CLI model.
+An explicit wrapper mode takes precedence over the app's `--color` selection.
+`auto` colors only when stderr is a terminal and `NO_COLOR` is unset;
+`always` forces ANSI colors even for captured stderr or a set `NO_COLOR`, and
+`never` disables them. `--quiet` sets the default logger threshold to `WARN`,
+while `--verbose` sets it to `DEBUG`; the options are mutually exclusive.
 `base_app_apply_standard_options` publishes the parsed policy in
 `BASE_BASH_LIBS_APP_*` globals and applies the logging/color policy.
 Applications should call
diff --git a/lib/bash/app/lib_app.sh b/lib/bash/app/lib_app.sh
index 59724fe..a3e5efa 100644
--- a/lib/bash/app/lib_app.sh
+++ b/lib/bash/app/lib_app.sh
@@ -677,15 +677,16 @@ base_app_config_report() {
 
 # base_app_add_standard_options - Opts a CLI model into common policy options.
 base_app_add_standard_options() {
-    local cli_model="${1-}" path="${2-}"
+    local cli_model="${1-}" path="${2-}" color_modes
 
     (($# == 2)) || {
         __base_bash_libs_app_error__ 'base_app_add_standard_options: usage: base_app_add_standard_options CLI_MODEL COMMAND_PATH'
         return 2
     }
+    color_modes="$(__base_bash_libs_std_color_modes__)" || return $?
     base_cli_option "$cli_model" "$path" verbose flag --verbose -v help='Enable verbose diagnostics' || return $?
     base_cli_option "$cli_model" "$path" quiet flag --quiet -q conflicts=verbose help='Suppress informational output' || return $?
-    base_cli_option "$cli_model" "$path" color value --color default=auto enum=auto,always,never metavar=MODE help='Color policy' || return $?
+    base_cli_option "$cli_model" "$path" color value --color default=auto enum="$color_modes" metavar=MODE help='Color policy' || return $?
     base_cli_option "$cli_model" "$path" dry_run flag --dry-run help='Plan without mutating' || return $?
     base_cli_option "$cli_model" "$path" noninteractive flag --non-interactive help='Never prompt' || return $?
     base_cli_option "$cli_model" "$path" config value --config metavar=FILE help='Use a project configuration file' || return $?
@@ -694,13 +695,19 @@ base_app_add_standard_options() {
 
 # base_app_apply_standard_options - Publishes parsed common options as policy state.
 base_app_apply_standard_options() {
-    local model="${1-}" value
+    local model="${1-}" value cli_color
 
     (($# == 1)) || {
         __base_bash_libs_app_error__ 'base_app_apply_standard_options: usage: base_app_apply_standard_options MODEL'
         return 2
     }
     __base_bash_libs_app_model_exists__ "$model" || return 1
+    cli_color="${BASE_BASH_LIBS_CLI_RESULT_OPTIONS[color]-auto}"
+    if ! __base_bash_libs_std_color_mode_is_valid__ "$cli_color"; then
+        __base_bash_libs_app_error__ "base_app_apply_standard_options: invalid color mode '$cli_color'."
+        return 2
+    fi
+    value="${__base_bash_libs_std_wrapper_color_mode:-$cli_color}"
     # These are caller-visible policy globals consumed by application code.
     # shellcheck disable=SC2034
     BASE_BASH_LIBS_APP_VERBOSE="${BASE_BASH_LIBS_CLI_RESULT_OPTIONS[verbose]-0}"
@@ -708,8 +715,6 @@ base_app_apply_standard_options() {
     BASE_BASH_LIBS_APP_QUIET="${BASE_BASH_LIBS_CLI_RESULT_OPTIONS[quiet]-0}"
     BASE_BASH_LIBS_APP_DRY_RUN="${BASE_BASH_LIBS_CLI_RESULT_OPTIONS[dry_run]-0}"
     BASE_BASH_LIBS_APP_NONINTERACTIVE="${BASE_BASH_LIBS_CLI_RESULT_OPTIONS[noninteractive]-0}"
-    value="${BASE_BASH_LIBS_CLI_RESULT_OPTIONS[color]-auto}"
-    BASE_BASH_LIBS_APP_COLOR="$value"
     if [[ -n "${BASE_BASH_LIBS_STD_LOG_LEVELS[INFO]+set}" ]]; then
         case "${BASE_BASH_LIBS_APP_QUIET}:${BASE_BASH_LIBS_APP_VERBOSE}" in
         1:0) base_std_set_log_level WARN || return $? ;;
@@ -724,21 +729,8 @@ base_app_apply_standard_options() {
         __base_bash_libs_app_error__ 'base_app_apply_standard_options: quiet and verbose cannot both be enabled.'
         return 2
     fi
-    case "$value" in
-    auto | always)
-        # shellcheck disable=SC2034
-        BASE_BASH_LIBS_STD_COLOR_ENABLED=1
-        ;;
-    never)
-        # shellcheck disable=SC2034
-        BASE_BASH_LIBS_STD_COLOR_ENABLED=0
-        ;;
-    *)
-        __base_bash_libs_app_error__ "base_app_apply_standard_options: invalid color mode '$value'."
-        return 2
-        ;;
-    esac
-    __base_bash_libs_std_init_colors__
+    __base_bash_libs_std_apply_color_mode__ "$value" || return $?
+    BASE_BASH_LIBS_APP_COLOR="$value"
     BASE_BASH_LIBS_DRY_RUN="$BASE_BASH_LIBS_APP_DRY_RUN"
     export BASE_BASH_LIBS_APP_DRY_RUN BASE_BASH_LIBS_APP_NONINTERACTIVE BASE_BASH_LIBS_APP_COLOR
     export BASE_BASH_LIBS_DRY_RUN
diff --git a/lib/bash/app/tests/lib_app.bats b/lib/bash/app/tests/lib_app.bats
index 4ece5f1..74f23c6 100644
--- a/lib/bash/app/tests/lib_app.bats
+++ b/lib/bash/app/tests/lib_app.bats
@@ -379,6 +379,73 @@ assert_demo_snapshot() {
     [ "${BASE_BASH_LIBS_STD_LOGGER_LEVELS[default]}" -eq 4 ]
 }
 
+@test "standard color modes distinguish auto always and never" {
+    local stderr_file="$TEST_TMPDIR/color.stderr"
+    local -a init_args=()
+
+    base_init init_args --
+    base_cli_model_init color name=color
+    base_cli_command color run "Run"
+    base_app_init color_policy name=color
+    base_app_add_standard_options color run
+
+    unset NO_COLOR
+    base_cli_parse color -- run --color auto
+    base_app_apply_standard_options color_policy
+    base_std_print_error auto 2>"$stderr_file"
+    [[ "$(<"$stderr_file")" != *$'\033['* ]]
+
+    export NO_COLOR=1
+    base_cli_parse color -- run --color always
+    base_app_apply_standard_options color_policy
+    base_std_print_error always 2>"$stderr_file"
+    [[ "$(<"$stderr_file")" == *$'\033['* ]]
+
+    base_cli_parse color -- run --color never
+    base_app_apply_standard_options color_policy
+    base_std_print_error never 2>"$stderr_file"
+    [[ "$(<"$stderr_file")" != *$'\033['* ]]
+    unset NO_COLOR
+}
+
+@test "invalid standard color policy fails before publishing color state" {
+    local status
+
+    base_cli_model_init invalid_color name=invalid-color
+    base_cli_command invalid_color run "Run"
+    base_app_init invalid_color_policy
+    base_cli_parse invalid_color -- run
+    __base_bash_libs_std_color_mode=never
+    BASE_BASH_LIBS_APP_COLOR=never
+    BASE_BASH_LIBS_CLI_RESULT_OPTIONS[color]=unsupported
+
+    if base_app_apply_standard_options invalid_color_policy >/dev/null 2>"$TEST_TMPDIR/color-error"; then
+        status=0
+    else
+        status=$?
+    fi
+
+    [ "$status" -eq 2 ]
+    [ "$__base_bash_libs_std_color_mode" = never ]
+    [ "$BASE_BASH_LIBS_APP_COLOR" = never ]
+    grep -F "invalid color mode 'unsupported'" "$TEST_TMPDIR/color-error"
+}
+
+@test "explicit wrapper color mode overrides the app's standard color option" {
+    base_cli_model_init wrapper_color name=wrapper-color
+    base_cli_command wrapper_color run "Run"
+    base_app_init wrapper_color_policy
+    base_app_add_standard_options wrapper_color run
+    base_cli_parse wrapper_color -- run --color always
+    __base_bash_libs_std_wrapper_color_mode=never
+
+    base_app_apply_standard_options wrapper_color_policy
+
+    [ "$BASE_BASH_LIBS_APP_COLOR" = never ]
+    [ "$__base_bash_libs_std_color_mode" = never ]
+    [ -z "$BASE_BASH_LIBS_STD_COLOR_RED" ]
+}
+
 @test "base_app_prompt validates usage and applies the prompt policy contract" {
     local prompt_calls=()
     base_app_init prompt
diff --git a/lib/bash/std/README.md b/lib/bash/std/README.md
index b8da776..7a498d8 100644
--- a/lib/bash/std/README.md
+++ b/lib/bash/std/README.md
@@ -419,8 +419,16 @@ base_std_print_message "plain stdout message"
 `log_*`, `base_std_print_error`, `base_std_print_warn`, `base_std_print_info`, and `base_std_print_success` write to
 stderr. `base_std_print_bold` and `base_std_print_message` write to stdout.
 
-Colors are only enabled for terminal stderr when `--color` is passed. Set
-`NO_COLOR` to disable colored output even when `--color` is present.
+The legacy `base_init --color` control requests automatic color and only enables
+it when stderr is a terminal and `NO_COLOR` is unset. Wrappers can use
+`base_init --color-mode auto|always|never` to select an explicit standard
+color policy; this explicit wrapper setting takes precedence over an app-level
+`--color MODE`. `always` overrides `NO_COLOR`, and `never` disables color.
+The application's own `--color MODE` pair remains untouched for its parser.
+Arguments after the application's separator remain application-owned. Applications using
+`base_app_add_standard_options` can select `auto`, `always`, or `never`:
+`always` explicitly forces ANSI output even when stderr is captured or
+`NO_COLOR` is set; `never` disables it.
 
 ## Error Handling
 
diff --git a/lib/bash/std/lib_std.sh b/lib/bash/std/lib_std.sh
index e72a54f..66b006f 100644
--- a/lib/bash/std/lib_std.sh
+++ b/lib/bash/std/lib_std.sh
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
 # Notes:
 #   - Call base_init <result_array> [--source <script>] [--] [argv...]
 #     before using stateful helpers. It strips --debug-wrapper,
-#     --verbose-wrapper, --utc-wrapper, and --color into the result array.
+#     --verbose-wrapper, --utc-wrapper, --color, and --color-mode into the result array.
 #   - --verbose-wrapper is deprecated compatibility surface; prefer --debug-wrapper.
 #   - BASE_BASH_LIBS_BOOTSTRAP_SOURCE is accepted as a source-path fallback by the
 #     explicit initializer, not consumed while this file is sourced.
@@ -471,6 +471,8 @@ __base_bash_libs_std_initialize_runtime_state__() {
 
     __base_bash_libs_std_log_init__
     declare -g BASE_BASH_LIBS_STD_COLOR_ENABLED=0
+    declare -g __base_bash_libs_std_color_mode=auto
+    declare -g __base_bash_libs_std_wrapper_color_mode=""
     declare -ga __base_bash_libs_std_cleanup_hooks=()
     declare -ga __base_bash_libs_std_cleanup_paths=()
     declare -ga __base_bash_libs_std_cleanup_entries=()
@@ -518,7 +520,8 @@ base_init() {
     local __base_bash_libs_std_init_result_name="${1-}" __base_bash_libs_std_init_source_path=""
     local __base_bash_libs_std_init_script_dir="" __base_bash_libs_std_init_arg
     local __base_bash_libs_std_init_input_index
-    local __base_bash_libs_std_init_parse_config=1 __base_bash_libs_std_init_color_requested=0
+    local __base_bash_libs_std_init_parse_config=1 __base_bash_libs_std_init_color_mode_requested=""
+    local __base_bash_libs_std_init_wrapper_color_mode_requested=""
     local __base_bash_libs_std_init_configure_runtime=0
     local -a __base_bash_libs_std_init_input_args=() __base_bash_libs_std_init_filtered_args=()
 
@@ -577,7 +580,9 @@ base_init() {
     fi
 
     __base_bash_libs_std_init_parse_config=1
-    for __base_bash_libs_std_init_input_index in "${!__base_bash_libs_std_init_input_args[@]}"; do
+    for ((__base_bash_libs_std_init_input_index = 0;  \
+    __base_bash_libs_std_init_input_index < ${#__base_bash_libs_std_init_input_args[@]};  \
+    __base_bash_libs_std_init_input_index++)); do
         __base_bash_libs_std_init_arg="${__base_bash_libs_std_init_input_args[__base_bash_libs_std_init_input_index]}"
         if ((__base_bash_libs_std_init_parse_config)) && [[ "$__base_bash_libs_std_init_arg" == "--" ]]; then
             __base_bash_libs_std_init_filtered_args+=("$__base_bash_libs_std_init_arg")
@@ -607,18 +612,36 @@ base_init() {
                 ;;
             --color)
                 # `--color` was historically a bare launcher flag. A
-                # standard application may also own `--color MODE`; keep the
-                # wrapper form when it is bare or followed by an ordinary
-                # application argument, but let the documented modes reach
-                # the application parser unchanged.
-                if [[ "${__base_bash_libs_std_init_input_args[__base_bash_libs_std_init_input_index + 1]-}" == auto ||
-                    "${__base_bash_libs_std_init_input_args[__base_bash_libs_std_init_input_index + 1]-}" == always ||
-                    "${__base_bash_libs_std_init_input_args[__base_bash_libs_std_init_input_index + 1]-}" == never ]]; then
+                # standard application may also own `--color MODE`; keep that
+                # pair for its parser and offer `--color-mode` to wrappers
+                # that need an unambiguous explicit policy.
+                if __base_bash_libs_std_color_mode_is_valid__ \
+                    "${__base_bash_libs_std_init_input_args[__base_bash_libs_std_init_input_index + 1]-}"; then
                     __base_bash_libs_std_init_filtered_args+=("$__base_bash_libs_std_init_arg")
                 else
-                    __base_bash_libs_std_init_color_requested=1
+                    __base_bash_libs_std_init_color_mode_requested=auto
+                    __base_bash_libs_std_init_wrapper_color_mode_requested=""
                 fi
                 ;;
+            --color-mode)
+                __base_bash_libs_std_init_color_mode_requested="${__base_bash_libs_std_init_input_args[__base_bash_libs_std_init_input_index + 1]-}"
+                if ! __base_bash_libs_std_color_mode_is_valid__ "$__base_bash_libs_std_init_color_mode_requested"; then
+                    printf 'base_init: --color-mode expects one of: %s.\n' \
+                        "$(__base_bash_libs_std_color_modes__)" >&2
+                    return 2
+                fi
+                __base_bash_libs_std_init_wrapper_color_mode_requested="$__base_bash_libs_std_init_color_mode_requested"
+                __base_bash_libs_std_init_input_index=$((__base_bash_libs_std_init_input_index + 1))
+                ;;
+            --color-mode=*)
+                __base_bash_libs_std_init_color_mode_requested="${__base_bash_libs_std_init_arg#*=}"
+                if ! __base_bash_libs_std_color_mode_is_valid__ "$__base_bash_libs_std_init_color_mode_requested"; then
+                    printf 'base_init: invalid color mode %s; expected one of: %s.\n' \
+                        "'$__base_bash_libs_std_init_color_mode_requested'" "$(__base_bash_libs_std_color_modes__)" >&2
+                    return 2
+                fi
+                __base_bash_libs_std_init_wrapper_color_mode_requested="$__base_bash_libs_std_init_color_mode_requested"
+                ;;
             *)
                 __base_bash_libs_std_init_filtered_args+=("$__base_bash_libs_std_init_arg")
                 ;;
@@ -629,8 +652,12 @@ base_init() {
     done
 
     if ((__base_bash_libs_std_init_configure_runtime)); then
-        BASE_BASH_LIBS_STD_COLOR_ENABLED="$__base_bash_libs_std_init_color_requested"
-        __base_bash_libs_std_init_colors__
+        if [[ -n "$__base_bash_libs_std_init_color_mode_requested" ]]; then
+            __base_bash_libs_std_apply_color_mode__ "$__base_bash_libs_std_init_color_mode_requested" || return $?
+            __base_bash_libs_std_wrapper_color_mode="$__base_bash_libs_std_init_wrapper_color_mode_requested"
+        else
+            __base_bash_libs_std_init_colors__ || return $?
+        fi
         base_std_set_log_category_level -l base_bash_libs INFO
         # Re-apply explicit debug levels after the default category gate.
         for __base_bash_libs_std_init_arg in "${__base_bash_libs_std_init_input_args[@]+${__base_bash_libs_std_init_input_args[@]}}"; do
@@ -1098,12 +1125,54 @@ __base_bash_libs_std_print_log_record__() {
 }
 
 #
+# __base_bash_libs_std_color_modes__ - Prints the supported standard color modes.
+__base_bash_libs_std_color_modes__() {
+    printf 'auto,always,never'
+}
+
+__base_bash_libs_std_color_mode_is_valid__() {
+    case "${1-}" in
+    auto | always | never) return 0 ;;
+    *) return 1 ;;
+    esac
+}
+
+__base_bash_libs_std_apply_color_mode__() {
+    local mode="${1-}"
+
+    if ! __base_bash_libs_std_color_mode_is_valid__ "$mode"; then
+        printf 'ERROR: invalid color mode %s.\n' "'$mode'" >&2
+        return 2
+    fi
+    __base_bash_libs_std_color_mode="$mode"
+    if [[ "$mode" == auto ]]; then
+        BASE_BASH_LIBS_STD_COLOR_ENABLED=1
+    fi
+    __base_bash_libs_std_init_colors__
+}
+
 # __base_bash_libs_std_init_colors__ - Initialize colors used for logging
 # This is called from base_init.
 #
 __base_bash_libs_std_init_colors__() {
-    # If --color was not passed, NO_COLOR is set, or the log stream is not a terminal, disable colors.
-    if [[ "$BASE_BASH_LIBS_STD_COLOR_ENABLED" != 1 || -n "${NO_COLOR+x}" || ! -t 2 ]]; then
+    local __base_bash_libs_std_colors_enabled=0
+
+    if ! __base_bash_libs_std_color_mode_is_valid__ "${__base_bash_libs_std_color_mode:-auto}"; then
+        printf 'ERROR: invalid color mode %s.\n' "'${__base_bash_libs_std_color_mode-}'" >&2
+        return 2
+    fi
+    case "${__base_bash_libs_std_color_mode:-auto}" in
+    always)
+        __base_bash_libs_std_colors_enabled=1
+        ;;
+    auto)
+        if [[ "$BASE_BASH_LIBS_STD_COLOR_ENABLED" == 1 && -z "${NO_COLOR+x}" && -t 2 ]]; then
+            __base_bash_libs_std_colors_enabled=1
+        fi
+        ;;
+    never) ;;
+    esac
+    if ((__base_bash_libs_std_colors_enabled == 0)); then
         BASE_BASH_LIBS_STD_COLOR_BOLD=""
         BASE_BASH_LIBS_STD_COLOR_RED=""
         BASE_BASH_LIBS_STD_COLOR_GREEN=""
diff --git a/lib/bash/std/tests/lib_std.bats b/lib/bash/std/tests/lib_std.bats
index 5eb1c58..475bef2 100644
--- a/lib/bash/std/tests/lib_std.bats
+++ b/lib/bash/std/tests/lib_std.bats
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ source "$STDLIB_PATH"
 
 exercise_global() {
     local candidate
-    for candidate in input_args filtered_args value result_name input_index parse_config color_requested configure_runtime; do
+    for candidate in input_args filtered_args value result_name input_index parse_config color_mode_requested configure_runtime; do
         declare -a "\$candidate=([0]=sentinel)"
         base_init "\$candidate" -- --keep payload
         printf 'global:%s:' "\$candidate"
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ exercise_local() {
 }
 
 exercise_global
-for candidate in input_args filtered_args value result_name input_index parse_config color_requested configure_runtime; do
+for candidate in input_args filtered_args value result_name input_index parse_config color_mode_requested configure_runtime; do
     exercise_local "\$candidate"
 done
 EOF
@@ -923,6 +923,52 @@ EOF
     [[ "$normalized" == *"colors=disabled"* ]]
 }
 
+@test "base_init applies explicit wrapper color modes" {
+    local script="$TEST_TMPDIR/color-modes.sh"
+
+    create_script "$script" <<EOF
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+export NO_COLOR=1
+source "$STDLIB_PATH"
+if [[ -n "\${BASE_BASH_LIBS_STD_COLOR_RED:-}" ]]; then
+    colors=enabled
+else
+    colors=disabled
+fi
+printf 'argv=%s colors=%s mode=%s wrapper=%s\\n' "\$*" "\$colors" "\$__base_bash_libs_std_color_mode" "\$__base_bash_libs_std_wrapper_color_mode"
+EOF
+
+    bats_run bash "$script" --color-mode always alpha
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+    [[ "$output" == *"argv=alpha colors=enabled mode=always wrapper=always"* ]]
+
+    bats_run bash "$script" --color-mode=never alpha
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+    [[ "$output" == *"argv=alpha colors=disabled mode=never wrapper=never"* ]]
+
+    bats_run bash -c '
+        source "$1"
+        declare -a args=()
+        base_init args --color-mode=invalid --
+        exit $?
+    ' bash "$STDLIB_PATH"
+    [ "$status" -eq 2 ]
+    [[ "$output" == *"invalid color mode"* ]]
+}
+
+@test "stdlib color initialization rejects invalid modes instead of silently disabling color" {
+    local status
+
+    __base_bash_libs_std_color_mode=unsupported
+    if __base_bash_libs_std_init_colors__ >/dev/null 2>"$TEST_TMPDIR/color-error"; then
+        status=0
+    else
+        status=$?
+    fi
+    [ "$status" -eq 2 ]
+    grep -F "invalid color mode 'unsupported'" "$TEST_TMPDIR/color-error"
+}
+
 @test "base_std_import loads package-relative libraries independent of cwd and is idempotent" {
     local script="$TEST_TMPDIR/base_std_import-driver.sh"
 
diff --git a/tests/reference-apps.bats b/tests/reference-apps.bats
index cd2c5e7..add0f7e 100644
--- a/tests/reference-apps.bats
+++ b/tests/reference-apps.bats
@@ -6,6 +6,27 @@ setup() {
     export BASE_BASH_LAUNCHER="$repo_root/bin/base-bash"
 }
 
+capture_app_streams() {
+    local stdout_path="$1" stderr_path="$2"
+    shift 2
+    if "$@" >"$stdout_path" 2>"$stderr_path"; then
+        status=0
+    else
+        status=$?
+    fi
+}
+
+run_tty_command() {
+    local command_line
+    command -v script >/dev/null 2>&1 || skip "The 'script' command is required for tty tests."
+    if script --version >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        printf -v command_line '%q ' "$@"
+        run script -q -e -c "${command_line% }" /dev/null
+    else
+        run script -q /dev/null "$@"
+    fi
+}
+
 @test "reference application package passes launcher smoke" {
     run "$repo_root/examples/reference-apps/verify.sh"
     [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
@@ -24,6 +45,43 @@ setup() {
     [[ "$output" == *"workspace="* ]]
 }
 
+@test "reference app applies color and verbosity policy to real captured and PTY streams" {
+    local app="$repo_root/examples/reference-apps/ops-cli/bin/app"
+    local stdout_file="$BATS_TEST_TMPDIR/app.stdout" stderr_file="$BATS_TEST_TMPDIR/app.stderr"
+    local escaped
+
+    capture_app_streams "$stdout_file" "$stderr_file" env NO_COLOR=1 \
+        PATH="$repo_root/bin:$PATH" BASE_BASH_LIBS_DIR="$repo_root/lib/bash" \
+        "$app" --color always --verbose status
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+    [[ "$(<"$stdout_file")" == *"workspace="* ]]
+    [[ "$(<"$stderr_file")" == *"DEBUG"* ]]
+    escaped=$'\033['
+    [[ "$(<"$stderr_file")" == *"$escaped"* ]]
+
+    capture_app_streams "$stdout_file" "$stderr_file" env -u NO_COLOR \
+        PATH="$repo_root/bin:$PATH" BASE_BASH_LIBS_DIR="$repo_root/lib/bash" \
+        "$app" --color auto --verbose status
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+    [[ "$(<"$stderr_file")" == *"DEBUG"* ]]
+    [[ "$(<"$stderr_file")" != *"$escaped"* ]]
+
+    capture_app_streams "$stdout_file" "$stderr_file" env -u NO_COLOR \
+        PATH="$repo_root/bin:$PATH" BASE_BASH_LIBS_DIR="$repo_root/lib/bash" \
+        "$app" --quiet status
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+    [[ "$(<"$stderr_file")" != *"DEBUG"* && "$(<"$stderr_file")" != *"INFO"* ]]
+
+    run_tty_command env -u NO_COLOR PATH="$repo_root/bin:$PATH" \
+        BASE_BASH_LIBS_DIR="$repo_root/lib/bash" "$app" --color auto --verbose status
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+    [[ "$output" == *"$escaped"* ]]
+
+    run env PATH="$repo_root/bin:$PATH" BASE_BASH_LIBS_DIR="$repo_root/lib/bash" \
+        "$app" status -- --color always
+    [ "$status" -eq 2 ]
+}
+
 @test "reference application failure suites remain green" {
     for app in installer release-helper ops-cli; do
         run bats "$repo_root/examples/reference-apps/$app/tests/app.bats"
diff --git a/tests/vendor.bats b/tests/vendor.bats
index e83478b..585238d 100644
--- a/tests/vendor.bats
+++ b/tests/vendor.bats
@@ -82,6 +82,8 @@ SCRIPT
 }
 
 @test "standalone bundle contains its own launcher and vendored framework" {
+    local stdout_file="$TEST_TMPDIR/standalone.stdout" stderr_file="$TEST_TMPDIR/standalone.stderr"
+
     bats_run "$BASE_REPO_ROOT/scripts/vendor" standalone "$application" "$framework_bundle" "$standalone"
     [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
     [ -x "$standalone/bin/base-bash" ]
@@ -99,6 +101,15 @@ SCRIPT
     bats_run env PATH="$standalone/bin:$PATH" "$standalone/bin/app" run
     [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
     [[ "$output" == *"hello=world"* ]]
+    if env NO_COLOR=1 PATH="$standalone/bin:$PATH" "$standalone/bin/app" \
+        run --color always --verbose >"$stdout_file" 2>"$stderr_file"; then
+        status=0
+    else
+        status=$?
+    fi
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+    [[ "$(<"$stdout_file")" == *"hello=world"* ]]
+    [[ "$(<"$stderr_file")" == *$'\033['* ]]
     local expected_version
     expected_version="$(<"$BASE_REPO_ROOT/VERSION")"
     bats_run env PATH="$standalone/bin:$PATH" "$standalone/bin/base-bash" --version