A color filter cross-talk compensator is provided for a multi-color reflective display system having a controllable display cell with multiple adjacent color filters that transmit generally different components with overlaps between them, ambient light being transmitted into the display cell and reflected back through it. The color filter cross-talk compensator receives image data that correspond to a display image to be rendered and generates cross-talk compensated color component drive signals that are delivered to the display cell (e.g. L.C.D). The cross-talk compensated color component drive signals compensate for the overlapping color components transmitted by the color filters for the different color components. A color filter cross-talk compensation method is also provided.