diff --git a/putty.h b/putty.h
index f89d0709..a9433fa7 100644
--- a/putty.h
+++ b/putty.h
@@ -104,15 +104,16 @@ typedef struct terminal_tag Terminal;
  */
 #define UCSWIDE	     0xDFFF
 
-#define ATTR_NARROW  0x800000U
-#define ATTR_WIDE    0x400000U
-#define ATTR_BOLD    0x040000U
-#define ATTR_UNDER   0x080000U
-#define ATTR_REVERSE 0x100000U
-#define ATTR_BLINK   0x200000U
-#define ATTR_FGMASK  0x0001FFU
-#define ATTR_BGMASK  0x03FE00U
-#define ATTR_COLOURS 0x03FFFFU
+#define ATTR_NARROW  0x0800000U
+#define ATTR_WIDE    0x0400000U
+#define ATTR_BOLD    0x0040000U
+#define ATTR_UNDER   0x0080000U
+#define ATTR_REVERSE 0x0100000U
+#define ATTR_BLINK   0x0200000U
+#define ATTR_FGMASK  0x00001FFU
+#define ATTR_BGMASK  0x003FE00U
+#define ATTR_COLOURS 0x003FFFFU
+#define ATTR_DIM     0x1000000U
 #define ATTR_FGSHIFT 0
 #define ATTR_BGSHIFT 9
 
diff --git a/terminal.c b/terminal.c
index 0fa52e17..de5748e9 100644
--- a/terminal.c
+++ b/terminal.c
@@ -3881,6 +3881,10 @@ static void term_out(Terminal *term)
 				    compatibility(VT100AVO);
 				    term->curr_attr |= ATTR_BOLD;
 				    break;
+				  case 2:	/* enable dim */
+				    compatibility(OTHER);
+				    term->curr_attr |= ATTR_DIM;
+				    break;
 				  case 21:	/* (enable double underline) */
 				    compatibility(OTHER);
 				  case 4:	/* enable underline */
@@ -3912,9 +3916,9 @@ static void term_out(Terminal *term)
 				    compatibility(SCOANSI);
 				    if (term->no_remote_charset) break;
 				    term->sco_acs = 2; break;
-				  case 22:	/* disable bold */
+				  case 22:	/* disable bold and dim */
 				    compatibility2(OTHER, VT220);
-				    term->curr_attr &= ~ATTR_BOLD;
+				    term->curr_attr &= ~(ATTR_BOLD | ATTR_DIM);
 				    break;
 				  case 24:	/* disable underline */
 				    compatibility2(OTHER, VT220);
diff --git a/unix/gtkwin.c b/unix/gtkwin.c
index 969c42ff..5c629519 100644
--- a/unix/gtkwin.c
+++ b/unix/gtkwin.c
@@ -3023,24 +3023,44 @@ static void draw_update(struct draw_ctx *dctx, int x, int y, int w, int h)
     gtk_widget_queue_draw_area(dctx->inst->area, x, y, w, h);
 }
 
-static void draw_set_colour(struct draw_ctx *dctx, int col)
+#ifdef DRAW_TEXT_CAIRO
+static void cairo_set_source_rgb_dim(cairo_t *cr, double r, double g, double b,
+                                     int dim)
+{
+    if (dim)
+        cairo_set_source_rgb(cr, r * 2 / 3, g * 2 / 3, b * 2 / 3);
+    else
+        cairo_set_source_rgb(cr, r, g, b);
+}
+#endif
+
+static void draw_set_colour(struct draw_ctx *dctx, int col, int dim)
 {
 #ifdef DRAW_TEXT_GDK
     if (dctx->uctx.type == DRAWTYPE_GDK) {
-        gdk_gc_set_foreground(dctx->uctx.u.gdk.gc, &dctx->inst->cols[col]);
+        if (dim) {
+            GdkColor color;
+            color.red =   dctx->inst->cols[col].red   * 2 / 3;
+            color.green = dctx->inst->cols[col].green * 2 / 3;
+            color.blue =  dctx->inst->cols[col].blue  * 2 / 3;
+            gdk_gc_set_rgb_fg_color(dctx->uctx.u.gdk.gc, &color);
+        } else {
+            gdk_gc_set_foreground(dctx->uctx.u.gdk.gc, &dctx->inst->cols[col]);
+        }
     }
 #endif
 #ifdef DRAW_TEXT_CAIRO
     if (dctx->uctx.type == DRAWTYPE_CAIRO) {
-        cairo_set_source_rgb(dctx->uctx.u.cairo.cr,
-                             dctx->inst->cols[col].red / 65535.0,
-                             dctx->inst->cols[col].green / 65535.0,
-                             dctx->inst->cols[col].blue / 65535.0);
+        cairo_set_source_rgb_dim(dctx->uctx.u.cairo.cr,
+                                 dctx->inst->cols[col].red / 65535.0,
+                                 dctx->inst->cols[col].green / 65535.0,
+                                 dctx->inst->cols[col].blue / 65535.0, dim);
     }
 #endif
 }
 
-static void draw_set_colour_rgb(struct draw_ctx *dctx, optionalrgb orgb)
+static void draw_set_colour_rgb(struct draw_ctx *dctx, optionalrgb orgb,
+                                int dim)
 {
 #ifdef DRAW_TEXT_GDK
     if (dctx->uctx.type == DRAWTYPE_GDK) {
@@ -3048,13 +3068,19 @@ static void draw_set_colour_rgb(struct draw_ctx *dctx, optionalrgb orgb)
 	color.red =   orgb.r * 256;
 	color.green = orgb.g * 256;
 	color.blue =  orgb.b * 256;
+        if (dim) {
+            color.red   = color.red   * 2 / 3;
+            color.green = color.green * 2 / 3;
+            color.blue  = color.blue  * 2 / 3;
+        }
 	gdk_gc_set_rgb_fg_color(dctx->uctx.u.gdk.gc, &color);
     }
 #endif
 #ifdef DRAW_TEXT_CAIRO
-    if (dctx->uctx.type == DRAWTYPE_CAIRO)
-        cairo_set_source_rgb(dctx->uctx.u.cairo.cr,
-                             orgb.r / 255.0, orgb.g / 255.0, orgb.b / 255.0);
+    if (dctx->uctx.type == DRAWTYPE_CAIRO) {
+        cairo_set_source_rgb_dim(dctx->uctx.u.cairo.cr, orgb.r / 255.0,
+                                 orgb.g / 255.0, orgb.b / 255.0, dim);
+    }
 #endif
 }
 
@@ -3238,7 +3264,7 @@ static void draw_backing_rect(struct gui_data *inst)
     struct draw_ctx *dctx = get_ctx(inst);
     int w = inst->width * inst->font_width + 2*inst->window_border;
     int h = inst->height * inst->font_height + 2*inst->window_border;
-    draw_set_colour(dctx, 258);
+    draw_set_colour(dctx, 258, FALSE);
     draw_rectangle(dctx, 1, 0, 0, w, h);
     draw_update(dctx, 0, 0, w, h);
     free_ctx(dctx);
@@ -3288,6 +3314,7 @@ void do_text_internal(Context ctx, int x, int y, wchar_t *text, int len,
         truecolour.fg = truecolour.bg = optionalrgb_none;
 	nfg = 260;
 	nbg = 261;
+        attr &= ~ATTR_DIM;             /* don't dim the cursor */
     }
 
     fontid = shadow = 0;
@@ -3350,18 +3377,18 @@ void do_text_internal(Context ctx, int x, int y, wchar_t *text, int len,
     }
 
     if (truecolour.bg.enabled)
-	draw_set_colour_rgb(dctx, truecolour.bg);
+	draw_set_colour_rgb(dctx, truecolour.bg, attr & ATTR_DIM);
     else
-	draw_set_colour(dctx, nbg);
+	draw_set_colour(dctx, nbg, attr & ATTR_DIM);
     draw_rectangle(dctx, TRUE,
                    x*inst->font_width+inst->window_border,
                    y*inst->font_height+inst->window_border,
                    rlen*widefactor*inst->font_width, inst->font_height);
 
     if (truecolour.fg.enabled)
-	draw_set_colour_rgb(dctx, truecolour.fg);
+	draw_set_colour_rgb(dctx, truecolour.fg, attr & ATTR_DIM);
     else
-	draw_set_colour(dctx, nfg);
+	draw_set_colour(dctx, nfg, attr & ATTR_DIM);
     if (ncombining > 1) {
         assert(len == 1);
         unifont_draw_combining(&dctx->uctx, inst->fonts[fontid],
@@ -3475,7 +3502,7 @@ void do_cursor(Context ctx, int x, int y, wchar_t *text, int len,
 	 * if it's passive.
 	 */
 	if (passive) {
-            draw_set_colour(dctx, 261);
+            draw_set_colour(dctx, 261, FALSE);
             draw_rectangle(dctx, FALSE,
                            x*inst->font_width+inst->window_border,
                            y*inst->font_height+inst->window_border,
@@ -3514,7 +3541,7 @@ void do_cursor(Context ctx, int x, int y, wchar_t *text, int len,
 	    length = inst->font_height;
 	}
 
-        draw_set_colour(dctx, 261);
+        draw_set_colour(dctx, 261, FALSE);
 	if (passive) {
 	    for (i = 0; i < length; i++) {
 		if (i % 2 == 0) {
diff --git a/windows/window.c b/windows/window.c
index aa96a578..be7b4379 100644
--- a/windows/window.c
+++ b/windows/window.c
@@ -3440,7 +3440,7 @@ void do_text_internal(Context ctx, int x, int y, wchar_t *text, int len,
 
     if ((attr & TATTR_ACTCURS) && (cursor_type == 0 || term->big_cursor)) {
         truecolour.fg = truecolour.bg = optionalrgb_none;
-	attr &= ~(ATTR_REVERSE|ATTR_BLINK|ATTR_COLOURS);
+	attr &= ~(ATTR_REVERSE|ATTR_BLINK|ATTR_COLOURS|ATTR_DIM);
 	/* cursor fg and bg */
 	attr |= (260 << ATTR_FGSHIFT) | (261 << ATTR_BGSHIFT);
         is_cursor = TRUE;
@@ -3543,6 +3543,12 @@ void do_text_internal(Context ctx, int x, int y, wchar_t *text, int len,
     else
 	bg = colours[nbg];
 
+    if (!pal && (attr & ATTR_DIM)) {
+        fg = RGB(GetRValue(fg) * 2 / 3,
+                 GetGValue(fg) * 2 / 3,
+                 GetBValue(fg) * 2 / 3);
+    }
+
     SelectObject(hdc, fonts[nfont]);
     SetTextColor(hdc, fg);
     SetBkColor(hdc, bg);