The basic color of a Collie is Sable and White. All have white coat areas that are usually in the collar, (also known as mane or ruff), paws including parts of the leg, and the tail tip.  Some may have white blazes on their faces and/or puffs on their noses. 

Sables come two ways:

1. Pure for sable. This is a product of two sable parents and carries no tri-color gene at all. Usually a clear shade of straw or orange red (also known as Goldens) with dark maskings or fringes.

2. Tri-factored sable, (also known as a shaded sable, mahogany sable, or black-tipped sable). The correct way is ..Tri-factored sable. These are the rich reds with the black overlay and the dark face mask, but it varies because they can also be very bland.