diff --git a/diff.c b/diff.c
index 145cfbae59..0549fc6e2c 100644
--- a/diff.c
+++ b/diff.c
@@ -624,42 +624,54 @@ static void check_blank_at_eof(mmfile_t *mf1, mmfile_t *mf2,
 }
 
 static void emit_line_0(struct diff_options *o,
-			const char *set, unsigned reverse, const char *reset,
+			const char *set_sign, const char *set, unsigned reverse, const char *reset,
 			int first, const char *line, int len)
 {
 	int has_trailing_newline, has_trailing_carriage_return;
-	int nofirst;
+	int needs_reset = 0; /* at the end of the line */
 	FILE *file = o->file;
 
+	fputs(diff_line_prefix(o), file);
+
+	has_trailing_newline = (len > 0 && line[len-1] == '\n');
+	if (has_trailing_newline)
+		len--;
+
+	has_trailing_carriage_return = (len > 0 && line[len-1] == '\r');
+	if (has_trailing_carriage_return)
+		len--;
+
+	if (!len && !first)
+		goto end_of_line;
+
+	if (reverse && want_color(o->use_color)) {
+		fputs(GIT_COLOR_REVERSE, file);
+		needs_reset = 1;
+	}
+
+	if (set_sign) {
+		fputs(set_sign, file);
+		needs_reset = 1;
+	}
+
 	if (first)
-		fputs(diff_line_prefix(o), file);
-	else if (!len)
-		return;
+		fputc(first, file);
 
-	if (len == 0) {
-		has_trailing_newline = (first == '\n');
-		has_trailing_carriage_return = (!has_trailing_newline &&
-						(first == '\r'));
-		nofirst = has_trailing_newline || has_trailing_carriage_return;
-	} else {
-		has_trailing_newline = (len > 0 && line[len-1] == '\n');
-		if (has_trailing_newline)
-			len--;
-		has_trailing_carriage_return = (len > 0 && line[len-1] == '\r');
-		if (has_trailing_carriage_return)
-			len--;
-		nofirst = 0;
-	}
+	if (!len)
+		goto end_of_line;
 
-	if (len || !nofirst) {
-		if (reverse && want_color(o->use_color))
-			fputs(GIT_COLOR_REVERSE, file);
+	if (set) {
+		if (set_sign && set != set_sign)
+			fputs(reset, file);
 		fputs(set, file);
-		if (first && !nofirst)
-			fputc(first, file);
-		fwrite(line, len, 1, file);
-		fputs(reset, file);
+		needs_reset = 1;
 	}
+	fwrite(line, len, 1, file);
+	needs_reset = 1; /* 'line' may contain color codes. */
+
+end_of_line:
+	if (needs_reset)
+		fputs(reset, file);
 	if (has_trailing_carriage_return)
 		fputc('\r', file);
 	if (has_trailing_newline)
@@ -669,7 +681,7 @@ static void emit_line_0(struct diff_options *o,
 static void emit_line(struct diff_options *o, const char *set, const char *reset,
 		      const char *line, int len)
 {
-	emit_line_0(o, set, 0, reset, line[0], line+1, len-1);
+	emit_line_0(o, set, NULL, 0, reset, 0, line, len);
 }
 
 enum diff_symbol {
@@ -1187,9 +1199,9 @@ static void dim_moved_lines(struct diff_options *o)
 }
 
 static void emit_line_ws_markup(struct diff_options *o,
-				const char *set, const char *reset,
-				const char *line, int len,
-				const char *set_sign, char sign,
+				const char *set_sign, const char *set,
+				const char *reset,
+				char sign, const char *line, int len,
 				unsigned ws_rule, int blank_at_eof)
 {
 	const char *ws = NULL;
@@ -1201,18 +1213,15 @@ static void emit_line_ws_markup(struct diff_options *o,
 	}
 
 	if (!ws && !set_sign)
-		emit_line_0(o, set, 0, reset, sign, line, len);
+		emit_line_0(o, set, NULL, 0, reset, sign, line, len);
 	else if (!ws) {
-		/* Emit just the prefix, then the rest. */
-		emit_line_0(o, set_sign ? set_sign : set, !!set_sign, reset,
-			    sign, "", 0);
-		emit_line_0(o, set, 0, reset, 0, line, len);
+		emit_line_0(o, set_sign, set, !!set_sign, reset, sign, line, len);
 	} else if (blank_at_eof)
 		/* Blank line at EOF - paint '+' as well */
-		emit_line_0(o, ws, 0, reset, sign, line, len);
+		emit_line_0(o, ws, NULL, 0, reset, sign, line, len);
 	else {
 		/* Emit just the prefix, then the rest. */
-		emit_line_0(o, set_sign ? set_sign : set, !!set_sign, reset,
+		emit_line_0(o, set_sign ? set_sign : set, NULL, !!set_sign, reset,
 			    sign, "", 0);
 		ws_check_emit(line, len, ws_rule,
 			      o->file, set, reset, ws);
@@ -1236,7 +1245,7 @@ static void emit_diff_symbol_from_struct(struct diff_options *o,
 		context = diff_get_color_opt(o, DIFF_CONTEXT);
 		reset = diff_get_color_opt(o, DIFF_RESET);
 		putc('\n', o->file);
-		emit_line_0(o, context, 0, reset, '\\',
+		emit_line_0(o, context, NULL, 0, reset, '\\',
 			    nneof, strlen(nneof));
 		break;
 	case DIFF_SYMBOL_SUBMODULE_HEADER:
@@ -1274,7 +1283,9 @@ static void emit_diff_symbol_from_struct(struct diff_options *o,
 			else if (c == '-')
 				set = diff_get_color_opt(o, DIFF_FILE_OLD);
 		}
-		emit_line_ws_markup(o, set, reset, line, len, set_sign, ' ',
+		emit_line_ws_markup(o, set_sign, set, reset,
+				    o->output_indicators[OUTPUT_INDICATOR_CONTEXT],
+				    line, len,
 				    flags & (DIFF_SYMBOL_CONTENT_WS_MASK), 0);
 		break;
 	case DIFF_SYMBOL_PLUS:
@@ -1317,7 +1328,9 @@ static void emit_diff_symbol_from_struct(struct diff_options *o,
 				set = diff_get_color_opt(o, DIFF_CONTEXT_BOLD);
 			flags &= ~DIFF_SYMBOL_CONTENT_WS_MASK;
 		}
-		emit_line_ws_markup(o, set, reset, line, len, set_sign, '+',
+		emit_line_ws_markup(o, set_sign, set, reset,
+				    o->output_indicators[OUTPUT_INDICATOR_NEW],
+				    line, len,
 				    flags & DIFF_SYMBOL_CONTENT_WS_MASK,
 				    flags & DIFF_SYMBOL_CONTENT_BLANK_LINE_EOF);
 		break;
@@ -1360,7 +1373,9 @@ static void emit_diff_symbol_from_struct(struct diff_options *o,
 			else
 				set = diff_get_color_opt(o, DIFF_CONTEXT_DIM);
 		}
-		emit_line_ws_markup(o, set, reset, line, len, set_sign, '-',
+		emit_line_ws_markup(o, set_sign, set, reset,
+				    o->output_indicators[OUTPUT_INDICATOR_OLD],
+				    line, len,
 				    flags & DIFF_SYMBOL_CONTENT_WS_MASK, 0);
 		break;
 	case DIFF_SYMBOL_WORDS_PORCELAIN:
@@ -4375,6 +4390,9 @@ void diff_setup(struct diff_options *options)
 
 	options->file = stdout;
 
+	options->output_indicators[OUTPUT_INDICATOR_NEW] = '+';
+	options->output_indicators[OUTPUT_INDICATOR_OLD] = '-';
+	options->output_indicators[OUTPUT_INDICATOR_CONTEXT] = ' ';
 	options->abbrev = DEFAULT_ABBREV;
 	options->line_termination = '\n';
 	options->break_opt = -1;
@@ -4852,6 +4870,12 @@ int diff_opt_parse(struct diff_options *options,
 		 options->output_format |= DIFF_FORMAT_DIFFSTAT;
 	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--no-compact-summary"))
 		 options->flags.stat_with_summary = 0;
+	else if (skip_prefix(arg, "--output-indicator-new=", &arg))
+		options->output_indicators[OUTPUT_INDICATOR_NEW] = arg[0];
+	else if (skip_prefix(arg, "--output-indicator-old=", &arg))
+		options->output_indicators[OUTPUT_INDICATOR_OLD] = arg[0];
+	else if (skip_prefix(arg, "--output-indicator-context=", &arg))
+		options->output_indicators[OUTPUT_INDICATOR_CONTEXT] = arg[0];
 
 	/* renames options */
 	else if (starts_with(arg, "-B") ||
diff --git a/diff.h b/diff.h
index 89544e64bc..a30cc35ec3 100644
--- a/diff.h
+++ b/diff.h
@@ -194,6 +194,11 @@ struct diff_options {
 	FILE *file;
 	int close_file;
 
+#define OUTPUT_INDICATOR_NEW 0
+#define OUTPUT_INDICATOR_OLD 1
+#define OUTPUT_INDICATOR_CONTEXT 2
+	char output_indicators[3];
+
 	struct pathspec pathspec;
 	pathchange_fn_t pathchange;
 	change_fn_t change;
diff --git a/range-diff.c b/range-diff.c
index b6b9abac26..3e9b984401 100644
--- a/range-diff.c
+++ b/range-diff.c
@@ -38,6 +38,14 @@ static int read_patches(const char *range, struct string_list *list)
 
 	argv_array_pushl(&cp.args, "log", "--no-color", "-p", "--no-merges",
 			"--reverse", "--date-order", "--decorate=no",
+			/*
+			 * Choose indicators that are not used anywhere
+			 * else in diffs, but still look reasonable
+			 * (e.g. will not be confusing when debugging)
+			 */
+			"--output-indicator-new=>",
+			"--output-indicator-old=<",
+			"--output-indicator-context=#",
 			"--no-abbrev-commit", range,
 			NULL);
 	cp.out = -1;
@@ -82,6 +90,7 @@ static int read_patches(const char *range, struct string_list *list)
 			strbuf_addch(&buf, '\n');
 			if (!util->diff_offset)
 				util->diff_offset = buf.len;
+			strbuf_addch(&buf, ' ');
 			strbuf_addbuf(&buf, &line);
 		} else if (in_header) {
 			if (starts_with(line.buf, "Author: ")) {
@@ -108,8 +117,19 @@ static int read_patches(const char *range, struct string_list *list)
 			 * we are not interested.
 			 */
 			continue;
-		else
+		else if (line.buf[0] == '>') {
+			strbuf_addch(&buf, '+');
+			strbuf_add(&buf, line.buf + 1, line.len - 1);
+		} else if (line.buf[0] == '<') {
+			strbuf_addch(&buf, '-');
+			strbuf_add(&buf, line.buf + 1, line.len - 1);
+		} else if (line.buf[0] == '#') {
+			strbuf_addch(&buf, ' ');
+			strbuf_add(&buf, line.buf + 1, line.len - 1);
+		} else {
+			strbuf_addch(&buf, ' ');
 			strbuf_addbuf(&buf, &line);
+		}
 
 		strbuf_addch(&buf, '\n');
 		util->diffsize++;
diff --git a/t/t3206-range-diff.sh b/t/t3206-range-diff.sh
index 2237c7f4af..c94f9bf5ee 100755
--- a/t/t3206-range-diff.sh
+++ b/t/t3206-range-diff.sh
@@ -133,13 +133,52 @@ test_expect_success 'changed message' '
 	    Z
 	    +    Also a silly comment here!
 	    +
-	    Zdiff --git a/file b/file
-	    Z--- a/file
-	    Z+++ b/file
+	    Z diff --git a/file b/file
+	    Z --- a/file
+	    Z +++ b/file
 	3:  147e64e = 3:  b9cb956 s/11/B/
 	4:  a63e992 = 4:  8add5f1 s/12/B/
 	EOF
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'dual-coloring' '
+	sed -e "s|^:||" >expect <<-\EOF &&
+	:<YELLOW>1:  a4b3333 = 1:  f686024 s/5/A/<RESET>
+	:<RED>2:  f51d370 <RESET><YELLOW>!<RESET><GREEN> 2:  4ab067d<RESET><YELLOW> s/4/A/<RESET>
+	:    <REVERSE><CYAN>@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@<RESET>
+	:     <RESET>
+	:         s/4/A/<RESET>
+	:     <RESET>
+	:    <REVERSE><GREEN>+<RESET><BOLD>    Also a silly comment here!<RESET>
+	:    <REVERSE><GREEN>+<RESET>
+	:      diff --git a/file b/file<RESET>
+	:      --- a/file<RESET>
+	:      +++ b/file<RESET>
+	:<RED>3:  0559556 <RESET><YELLOW>!<RESET><GREEN> 3:  b9cb956<RESET><YELLOW> s/11/B/<RESET>
+	:    <REVERSE><CYAN>@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@<RESET>
+	:      9<RESET>
+	:      10<RESET>
+	:    <RED> -11<RESET>
+	:    <REVERSE><RED>-<RESET><FAINT;GREEN>+BB<RESET>
+	:    <REVERSE><GREEN>+<RESET><BOLD;GREEN>+B<RESET>
+	:      12<RESET>
+	:      13<RESET>
+	:      14<RESET>
+	:<RED>4:  d966c5c <RESET><YELLOW>!<RESET><GREEN> 4:  8add5f1<RESET><YELLOW> s/12/B/<RESET>
+	:    <REVERSE><CYAN>@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@<RESET>
+	:    <CYAN> @@<RESET>
+	:      9<RESET>
+	:      10<RESET>
+	:    <REVERSE><RED>-<RESET><FAINT> BB<RESET>
+	:    <REVERSE><GREEN>+<RESET><BOLD> B<RESET>
+	:    <RED> -12<RESET>
+	:    <GREEN> +B<RESET>
+	:      13<RESET>
+	EOF
+	git range-diff changed...changed-message --color --dual-color >actual.raw &&
+	test_decode_color >actual <actual.raw &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/t/test-lib-functions.sh b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
index 4207af4077..d82fac9d79 100644
--- a/t/test-lib-functions.sh
+++ b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ test_decode_color () {
 		function name(n) {
 			if (n == 0) return "RESET";
 			if (n == 1) return "BOLD";
+			if (n == 2) return "FAINT";
+			if (n == 3) return "ITALIC";
 			if (n == 7) return "REVERSE";
 			if (n == 30) return "BLACK";
 			if (n == 31) return "RED";