diff --git a/examples/ImageView.py b/examples/ImageView.py
index 22168409..881d8cdd 100644
--- a/examples/ImageView.py
+++ b/examples/ImageView.py
@@ -48,6 +48,18 @@ data[:,50:60,50:60] += sig
 ## Display the data and assign each frame a time value from 1.0 to 3.0
 imv.setImage(data, xvals=np.linspace(1., 3., data.shape[0]))
 
+## Set a custom color map
+colors = [
+    (0, 0, 0),
+    (45, 5, 61),
+    (84, 42, 55),
+    (150, 87, 60),
+    (208, 171, 141),
+    (255, 255, 255)
+]
+cmap = pg.ColorMap(pos=np.linspace(0.0, 1.0, 6), color=colors)
+imv.setColorMap(cmap)
+
 ## Start Qt event loop unless running in interactive mode.
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     import sys
diff --git a/pyqtgraph/graphicsItems/GradientEditorItem.py b/pyqtgraph/graphicsItems/GradientEditorItem.py
index 5a7ca211..6ce06b61 100644
--- a/pyqtgraph/graphicsItems/GradientEditorItem.py
+++ b/pyqtgraph/graphicsItems/GradientEditorItem.py
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ from ..python2_3 import cmp
 
 __all__ = ['TickSliderItem', 'GradientEditorItem']
 
-
 Gradients = OrderedDict([
     ('thermal', {'ticks': [(0.3333, (185, 0, 0, 255)), (0.6666, (255, 220, 0, 255)), (1, (255, 255, 255, 255)), (0, (0, 0, 0, 255))], 'mode': 'rgb'}),
     ('flame', {'ticks': [(0.2, (7, 0, 220, 255)), (0.5, (236, 0, 134, 255)), (0.8, (246, 246, 0, 255)), (1.0, (255, 255, 255, 255)), (0.0, (0, 0, 0, 255))], 'mode': 'rgb'}),
@@ -25,6 +24,13 @@ Gradients = OrderedDict([
     ('grey', {'ticks': [(0.0, (0, 0, 0, 255)), (1.0, (255, 255, 255, 255))], 'mode': 'rgb'}),
 ])
 
+def addGradientListToDocstring():
+    """Decorator to add list of current pre-defined gradients to the end of a function docstring."""
+    def dec(fn):
+        fn.__doc__ = fn.__doc__ + str(Gradients.keys()).strip('[').strip(']')
+        return fn
+    return dec
+
 
 
 class TickSliderItem(GraphicsWidget):
@@ -471,11 +477,12 @@ class GradientEditorItem(TickSliderItem):
         act = self.sender()
         self.loadPreset(act.name)
         
+    @addGradientListToDocstring()
     def loadPreset(self, name):
         """
-        Load a predefined gradient. 
-    
-        """ ## TODO: provide image with names of defined gradients
+        Load a predefined gradient. Currently defined gradients are: 
+        """## TODO: provide image with names of defined gradients
+        
         #global Gradients
         self.restoreState(Gradients[name])
     
diff --git a/pyqtgraph/imageview/ImageView.py b/pyqtgraph/imageview/ImageView.py
index 61193fc4..27e64c4c 100644
--- a/pyqtgraph/imageview/ImageView.py
+++ b/pyqtgraph/imageview/ImageView.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ from ..graphicsItems.ROI import *
 from ..graphicsItems.LinearRegionItem import *
 from ..graphicsItems.InfiniteLine import *
 from ..graphicsItems.ViewBox import *
+from ..graphicsItems.GradientEditorItem import addGradientListToDocstring
 from .. import ptime as ptime
 from .. import debug as debug
 from ..SignalProxy import SignalProxy
@@ -717,4 +718,21 @@ class ImageView(QtGui.QWidget):
         if self.menu is None:
             self.buildMenu()
         self.menu.popup(QtGui.QCursor.pos())
-        
+
+    def setColorMap(self, colormap):
+        """Set the color map. 
+
+        ============= =========================================================
+        **Arguments**
+        colormap      (A ColorMap() instance) The ColorMap to use for coloring 
+                      images.
+        ============= =========================================================
+        """
+        self.ui.histogram.gradient.setColorMap(colormap)
+
+    @addGradientListToDocstring()
+    def setPredefinedGradient(self, name):
+        """Set one of the gradients defined in :class:`GradientEditorItem <pyqtgraph.graphicsItems.GradientEditorItem>`.
+        Currently available gradients are:   
+        """
+        self.ui.histogram.gradient.loadPreset(name)