diff --git a/Surface_mesh/examples/Surface_mesh/draw_surface_mesh.cpp b/Surface_mesh/examples/Surface_mesh/draw_surface_mesh.cpp
index cbd42788fcc..bbbdbdf2e93 100644
--- a/Surface_mesh/examples/Surface_mesh/draw_surface_mesh.cpp
+++ b/Surface_mesh/examples/Surface_mesh/draw_surface_mesh.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,23 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     return EXIT_FAILURE;
   }
 
+  // Internal color property maps are used if they exist and are called "v:color", "e:color" and "f:color".
+  auto vcm = sm.add_property_map<Mesh::Vertex_index, CGAL::IO::Color>("v:color").first;
+  auto ecm = sm.add_property_map<Mesh::Edge_index, CGAL::IO::Color>("e:color").first;
+  auto fcm = sm.add_property_map<Mesh::Face_index>("f:color", CGAL::IO::white() /*default*/).first;
+
+  for(auto v : vertices(sm))
+  {
+    if(v.idx()%2)
+      put(vcm, v, CGAL::IO::black());
+    else
+      put(vcm, v, CGAL::IO::blue());
+  }
+
+  for(auto e : edges(sm))
+    put(ecm, e, CGAL::IO::gray());
+
+  // Draw!
   CGAL::draw(sm);
 
   return EXIT_SUCCESS;