diff --git a/gui/builtinPreferenceViews/pyfaGaugePreferences.py b/gui/builtinPreferenceViews/pyfaGaugePreferences.py
index 254f5dd4a..7159f1849 100755
--- a/gui/builtinPreferenceViews/pyfaGaugePreferences.py
+++ b/gui/builtinPreferenceViews/pyfaGaugePreferences.py
@@ -122,9 +122,12 @@ class PFGaugePreview(wx.Window):
         color = colorUtils.CalculateTransitionColor(self.colorS, self.colorE, float(value)/100)
         if self.gradientStart > 0:
             gcolor = colorUtils.BrightenColor(color,  float(self.gradientStart) / 100)
+            gMid = colorUtils.BrightenColor(color,  float(self.gradientStart/2) / 100)
         else:
             gcolor = colorUtils.DarkenColor(color,  float(-self.gradientStart) / 100)
-        dc.GradientFillLinear(r, gcolor, color, wx.SOUTH)
+            gMid = colorUtils.DarkenColor(color,  float(-self.gradientStart/2) / 100)
+
+        dc.GradientFillLinear(r, gMid, color, wx.SOUTH)
         r.top = r.height
         dc.GradientFillLinear(r, gcolor, color, wx.NORTH)
 
diff --git a/gui/pygauge.py b/gui/pygauge.py
index b934cc4a0..15adb591c 100644
--- a/gui/pygauge.py
+++ b/gui/pygauge.py
@@ -332,10 +332,12 @@ class PyGauge(wx.PyWindow):
 
             if self.gradientEffect > 0:
                 gcolor = colorUtils.BrightenColor(color,  float(self.gradientEffect) / 100)
+                gMid = colorUtils.BrightenColor(color,  float(self.gradientEffect/2) / 100)
             else:
                 gcolor = colorUtils.DarkenColor(color,  float(-self.gradientEffect) / 100)
+                gMid = colorUtils.DarkenColor(color,  float(-self.gradientEffect/2) / 100)
 
-            dc.GradientFillLinear(r, gcolor, color, wx.SOUTH)
+            dc.GradientFillLinear(r, gMid, color, wx.SOUTH)
             r.top = r.height
             dc.GradientFillLinear(r, gcolor, color, wx.NORTH)
         else: