public static Color getColorParameter(String key) throws CorruptConfigurationEntryException {
		key = key.toLowerCase();
		if(!parameters.containsKey(key)) {
			throw new CorruptConfigurationEntryException("Missing entry in the configuration file: An entry for the key '" 
					+ key + "' is missing.");
		}
		String color = parameters.get(key);
		try {
			Field f = Color.class.getDeclaredField(color.toLowerCase());
			return (Color) f.get(null);
		} catch(Throwable t) {
			throw new CorruptConfigurationEntryException("Invalid color: '" + color + "' specified by the configuration entry" + key + 
			"\nValid color names are the static color members of the java.awt.Color class.");  
		}
	}