diff --git a/res/values-v21/theme.xml b/res/values-v21/theme.xml
index fc715f5f..2706f307 100644
--- a/res/values-v21/theme.xml
+++ b/res/values-v21/theme.xml
@@ -33,6 +33,12 @@ THE SOFTWARE.
 	<color name="vanillaAccent">#455A64</color>
 	<color name="material_grey_900">#ff212121</color>
 
+	<!-- styling of the default cover bitmap -->
+	<color name="defaultcover_background">@color/overlay_background_color</color>
+	<color name="defaultcover_gradient_begin">@color/divider_color</color>
+	<color name="defaultcover_gradient_end">@color/divider_color</color>
+	<color name="defaultcover_center">#55ffffff</color>
+
 	<!-- styles -->
 	<style name="Dialog" parent="android:Theme.Material.Light.Dialog" />
 	<style name="DialogMinWidth" parent="android:Theme.Material.Light.Dialog.MinWidth" />
diff --git a/res/values/theme.xml b/res/values/theme.xml
index fe97cb07..466868bb 100644
--- a/res/values/theme.xml
+++ b/res/values/theme.xml
@@ -28,6 +28,12 @@ THE SOFTWARE.
 	<color name="overlay_foreground_color">#ffb2b2b2</color>
 	<color name="float_color">#f222</color>
 
+	<!-- styling of the default cover bitmap -->
+	<color name="defaultcover_background">#ff000000</color>
+	<color name="defaultcover_gradient_begin">#ff606060</color>
+	<color name="defaultcover_gradient_end">#ff404040</color>
+	<color name="defaultcover_center">#88000000</color>
+
 	<!-- styles -->
 	<style name="Dialog" parent="android:Theme.Holo.Dialog" />
 	<style name="DialogMinWidth" parent="android:Theme.Holo.Dialog.MinWidth" />
diff --git a/src/ch/blinkenlights/android/vanilla/CoverBitmap.java b/src/ch/blinkenlights/android/vanilla/CoverBitmap.java
index d95e2228..535484e0 100644
--- a/src/ch/blinkenlights/android/vanilla/CoverBitmap.java
+++ b/src/ch/blinkenlights/android/vanilla/CoverBitmap.java
@@ -333,14 +333,21 @@ public final class CoverBitmap {
 	 * @param height The max height
 	 * @return The default cover.
 	 */
-	public static Bitmap generateDefaultCover(int width, int height)
+	public static Bitmap generateDefaultCover(Context context, int width, int height)
 	{
 		int size = Math.min(width, height);
 		int halfSize = size / 2;
 		int eightSize = size / 8;
 
-		Bitmap bitmap = Bitmap.createBitmap(size, size, Bitmap.Config.RGB_565);
-		LinearGradient gradient = new LinearGradient(size, 0, 0, size, 0xff646464, 0xff464646, Shader.TileMode.CLAMP);
+		int rgb_background = context.getResources().getColor(R.color.defaultcover_background);
+		int rgb_gardient_begin = context.getResources().getColor(R.color.defaultcover_gradient_begin);
+		int rgb_gardient_end = context.getResources().getColor(R.color.defaultcover_gradient_end);
+		int rgb_center = context.getResources().getColor(R.color.defaultcover_center);
+
+		Bitmap bitmap = Bitmap.createBitmap(size, size, Bitmap.Config.ARGB_8888);
+		bitmap.eraseColor(rgb_background);
+
+		LinearGradient gradient = new LinearGradient(size, 0, 0, size, rgb_gardient_begin, rgb_gardient_end, Shader.TileMode.CLAMP);
 		RectF oval = new RectF(eightSize, 0, size - eightSize, size);
 
 		Paint paint = new Paint();
@@ -355,12 +362,13 @@ public final class CoverBitmap {
 		canvas.drawOval(oval, paint);
 
 		paint.setShader(null);
-		paint.setColor(0xff000000);
+		paint.setColor(rgb_center);
 		canvas.translate(size / 3, size / 3);
 		canvas.scale(0.333f, 0.333f);
 		canvas.drawOval(oval, paint);
 
-		paint.setShader(gradient);
+		paint.setShader(null);
+		paint.setColor(rgb_background);
 		canvas.translate(size / 3, size / 3);
 		canvas.scale(0.333f, 0.333f);
 		canvas.drawOval(oval, paint);
diff --git a/src/ch/blinkenlights/android/vanilla/CoverView.java b/src/ch/blinkenlights/android/vanilla/CoverView.java
index ace8c172..21fe53fa 100644
--- a/src/ch/blinkenlights/android/vanilla/CoverView.java
+++ b/src/ch/blinkenlights/android/vanilla/CoverView.java
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ public final class CoverView extends View implements Handler.Callback {
 		if (cover == null && style == CoverBitmap.STYLE_NO_INFO) {
 			Bitmap def = mDefaultCover;
 			if (def == null) {
-				mDefaultCover = def = CoverBitmap.generateDefaultCover(getWidth(), getHeight());
+				mDefaultCover = def = CoverBitmap.generateDefaultCover(context, getWidth(), getHeight());
 			}
 			mBitmaps[i] = def;
 		} else {