diff --git a/src/wireviz/Harness.py b/src/wireviz/Harness.py
index a3aa0ce..25ef770 100644
--- a/src/wireviz/Harness.py
+++ b/src/wireviz/Harness.py
@@ -246,25 +246,56 @@ class Harness:
             # connections
             for connection_color in cable.connections:
                 if isinstance(connection_color.via_port, int):  # check if it's an actual wire and not a shield
-                    dot.attr('edge', color=':'.join(['#000000'] + wv_colors.get_color_hex(cable.colors[connection_color.via_port - 1], pad=pad) + ['#000000']))
+                    colors = wv_colors.get_color_hex(cable.colors[connection_color.via_port - 1])
+                    isShield=False
+                    #dot.attr('edge', color=':'.join(['#000000'] + wv_colors.get_color_hex(cable.colors[connection_color.via_port - 1], pad=pad) + ['#000000']))
                 else:  # it's a shield connection
                     # shield is shown as a thin tinned wire
-                    dot.attr('edge', color=':'.join(['#000000', wv_colors.get_color_hex('SN', pad=False)[0], '#000000']))
-                if connection_color.from_port is not None:  # connect to left
+                    colors = wv_colors.get_color_hex('SN', pad=False)
+                    isShield=True
+                    #dot.attr('edge', color=':'.join(['#000000', wv_colors.get_color_hex('SN', pad=False)[0], '#000000']))
+                
+                
+                leftConn = connection_color.from_port is not None
+                rightConn = connection_color.to_port is not None
+
+
+                if leftConn:  # connect to left
                     from_port = f':p{connection_color.from_port}r' if self.connectors[connection_color.from_name].style != 'simple' else ''
                     code_left_1 = f'{connection_color.from_name}{from_port}:e'
                     code_left_2 = f'{cable.name}:w{connection_color.via_port}:w'
-                    dot.edge(code_left_1, code_left_2)
                     from_string = f'{connection_color.from_name}:{connection_color.from_port}' if self.connectors[connection_color.from_name].show_name else ''
                     html = html.replace(f'<!-- {connection_color.via_port}_in -->', from_string)
-                if connection_color.to_port is not None:  # connect to right
+                
+                if rightConn:  # connect to right
                     code_right_1 = f'{cable.name}:w{connection_color.via_port}:e'
                     to_port = f':p{connection_color.to_port}l' if self.connectors[connection_color.to_name].style != 'simple' else ''
                     code_right_2 = f'{connection_color.to_name}{to_port}:w'
-                    dot.edge(code_right_1, code_right_2)
                     to_string = f'{connection_color.to_name}:{connection_color.to_port}' if self.connectors[connection_color.to_name].show_name else ''
                     html = html.replace(f'<!-- {connection_color.via_port}_out -->', to_string)
 
+                #black cable borders
+                if not isShield:
+                    dot.attr('edge', style="solid", penwidth="6.0", color='#000000')
+                    if leftConn:
+                        dot.edge(code_left_1, code_left_2)
+                    if rightConn:
+                        dot.edge(code_right_1, code_right_2)
+
+                    #invis cable to break graphviz edge ordering
+                    dot.attr('edge', style='invis')
+                    if leftConn:
+                        dot.edge (connection_color.from_name, cable.name)
+                    if rightConn:
+                        dot.edge (cable.name, connection_color.to_name)
+
+                #cable color
+                dot.attr('edge', style="solid", penwidth="2.0", color=colors[0])
+                if leftConn:
+                    dot.edge(code_left_1, code_left_2)
+                if rightConn:
+                    dot.edge(code_right_1, code_right_2)
+
             dot.node(cable.name, label=f'<{html}>', shape='box',
                      style='filled,dashed' if cable.category == 'bundle' else '', margin='0', fillcolor='white')
 
diff --git a/src/wireviz/wv_colors.py b/src/wireviz/wv_colors.py
index 4157543..f5c47c0 100644
--- a/src/wireviz/wv_colors.py
+++ b/src/wireviz/wv_colors.py
@@ -104,11 +104,11 @@ color_default = '#ffffff'
 def get_color_hex(input, pad=False):
     if input is None or input == '':
         return [color_default]
-    if len(input) == 4:  # give wires with EXACTLY 2 colors that striped/banded look
-        input = input + input[:2]
+    #if len(input) == 4:  # give wires with EXACTLY 2 colors that striped/banded look
+    #    input = input + input[:2]
     # hacky style fix: give single color wires a triple-up so that wires are the same size
-    if pad and len(input) == 2:
-        input = input + input + input
+    #if pad and len(input) == 2:
+    #    input = input + input + input
     try:
         output = [_color_hex[input[i:i + 2]] for i in range(0, len(input), 2)]
     except KeyError: