You are probably right about it being a waste of time and effort. I have at least a dozen other tents (don't tell my wife) in subdued colors, but the bright orange tent is unique and the best I've found for certain conditions and it was never made in any other color. Obviously silicon can be colored because numerous silicon based products come in a rainbow of colors (caulk, kitchen utensils, high-temp silicon pads, etc.). But maybe it can only be colored while in a liquid state. I'm going to test the marker trick on a low section of the tent however. It's no big deal to me if the marker fades over time, I just don't want to damage the silicon coating.