diff --git a/examples/Demo/Source/Demos/LookAndFeelDemo.cpp b/examples/Demo/Source/Demos/LookAndFeelDemo.cpp
index 5a549a23b8..e675debd5d 100644
--- a/examples/Demo/Source/Demos/LookAndFeelDemo.cpp
+++ b/examples/Demo/Source/Demos/LookAndFeelDemo.cpp
@@ -292,9 +292,8 @@ struct SquareLookAndFeel    : public CustomLookAndFeel
 
         if (width > 0 && height > 0)
         {
-            g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient (baseColour, 0.0f, 0.0f,
-                                               baseColour.darker (0.1f), 0.0f, height,
-                                               false));
+            g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient::vertical (baseColour, 0.0f,
+                                                         baseColour.darker (0.1f), height));
 
             g.fillRect (button.getLocalBounds());
         }
diff --git a/modules/juce_graphics/colour/juce_ColourGradient.cpp b/modules/juce_graphics/colour/juce_ColourGradient.cpp
index 6ed948c14b..49d18e06ac 100644
--- a/modules/juce_graphics/colour/juce_ColourGradient.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_graphics/colour/juce_ColourGradient.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 namespace juce
 {
 
-ColourGradient::ColourGradient() noexcept
+ColourGradient::ColourGradient() noexcept  : isRadial (false)
 {
    #if JUCE_DEBUG
     point1.setX (987654.0f);
@@ -37,6 +37,33 @@ ColourGradient::ColourGradient() noexcept
    #endif
 }
 
+ColourGradient::ColourGradient (const ColourGradient& other)
+    : point1 (other.point1), point2 (other.point2), isRadial (other.isRadial), colours (other.colours)
+{}
+
+ColourGradient::ColourGradient (ColourGradient&& other) noexcept
+    : point1 (other.point1), point2 (other.point2), isRadial (other.isRadial),
+      colours (static_cast<Array<ColourPoint>&&> (other.colours))
+{}
+
+ColourGradient& ColourGradient::operator= (const ColourGradient& other)
+{
+    point1 = other.point1;
+    point2 = other.point2;
+    isRadial = other.isRadial;
+    colours = other.colours;
+    return *this;
+}
+
+ColourGradient& ColourGradient::operator= (ColourGradient&& other) noexcept
+{
+    point1 = other.point1;
+    point2 = other.point2;
+    isRadial = other.isRadial;
+    colours = static_cast<Array<ColourPoint>&&> (other.colours);
+    return *this;
+}
+
 ColourGradient::ColourGradient (Colour colour1, float x1, float y1,
                                 Colour colour2, float x2, float y2, bool radial)
     : ColourGradient (colour1, Point<float> (x1, y1),
@@ -50,12 +77,20 @@ ColourGradient::ColourGradient (Colour colour1, Point<float> p1,
       point2 (p2),
       isRadial (radial)
 {
-    colours.add (ColourPoint (0.0, colour1));
-    colours.add (ColourPoint (1.0, colour2));
+    colours.add ({ 0.0, colour1 });
+    colours.add ({ 1.0, colour2 });
+}
+
+ColourGradient::~ColourGradient() {}
+
+ColourGradient ColourGradient::vertical (Colour c1, float y1, Colour c2, float y2)
+{
+    return { c1, 0, y1, c2, 0, y2, false };
 }
 
-ColourGradient::~ColourGradient()
+ColourGradient ColourGradient::horizontal (Colour c1, float x1, Colour c2, float x2)
 {
+    return { c1, x1, 0, c2, x2, 0, false };
 }
 
 bool ColourGradient::operator== (const ColourGradient& other) const noexcept
@@ -116,7 +151,7 @@ int ColourGradient::getNumColours() const noexcept
     return colours.size();
 }
 
-double ColourGradient::getColourPosition (const int index) const noexcept
+double ColourGradient::getColourPosition (int index) const noexcept
 {
     if (isPositiveAndBelow (index, colours.size()))
         return colours.getReference (index).position;
@@ -124,7 +159,7 @@ double ColourGradient::getColourPosition (const int index) const noexcept
     return 0;
  }
 
-Colour ColourGradient::getColour (const int index) const noexcept
+Colour ColourGradient::getColour (int index) const noexcept
 {
     if (isPositiveAndBelow (index, colours.size()))
         return colours.getReference (index).colour;
@@ -138,7 +173,7 @@ void ColourGradient::setColour (int index, Colour newColour) noexcept
         colours.getReference (index).colour = newColour;
 }
 
-Colour ColourGradient::getColourAtPosition (const double position) const noexcept
+Colour ColourGradient::getColourAtPosition (double position) const noexcept
 {
     jassert (colours.getReference(0).position == 0.0); // the first colour specified has to go at position 0
 
@@ -223,12 +258,12 @@ bool ColourGradient::isInvisible() const noexcept
     return true;
 }
 
-bool ColourGradient::ColourPoint::operator== (const ColourPoint& other) const noexcept
+bool ColourGradient::ColourPoint::operator== (ColourPoint other) const noexcept
 {
     return position == other.position && colour == other.colour;
 }
 
-bool ColourGradient::ColourPoint::operator!= (const ColourPoint& other) const noexcept
+bool ColourGradient::ColourPoint::operator!= (ColourPoint other) const noexcept
 {
     return position != other.position || colour != other.colour;
 }
diff --git a/modules/juce_graphics/colour/juce_ColourGradient.h b/modules/juce_graphics/colour/juce_ColourGradient.h
index 6d45ddb034..5319af21b2 100644
--- a/modules/juce_graphics/colour/juce_ColourGradient.h
+++ b/modules/juce_graphics/colour/juce_ColourGradient.h
@@ -36,6 +36,18 @@ namespace juce
 class JUCE_API  ColourGradient  final
 {
 public:
+    /** Creates an uninitialised gradient.
+
+        If you use this constructor instead of the other one, be sure to set all the
+        object's public member variables before using it!
+    */
+    ColourGradient() noexcept;
+
+    ColourGradient (const ColourGradient&);
+    ColourGradient (ColourGradient&&) noexcept;
+    ColourGradient& operator= (const ColourGradient&);
+    ColourGradient& operator= (ColourGradient&&) noexcept;
+
     //==============================================================================
     /** Creates a gradient object.
 
@@ -79,12 +91,13 @@ public:
                     Colour colour2, Point<float> point2,
                     bool isRadial);
 
-    /** Creates an uninitialised gradient.
+    /** Creates a vertical linear gradient between two Y coordinates */
+    static ColourGradient vertical (Colour colour1, float y1,
+                                    Colour colour2, float y2);
 
-        If you use this constructor instead of the other one, be sure to set all the
-        object's public member variables before using it!
-    */
-    ColourGradient() noexcept;
+    /** Creates a horizontal linear gradient between two X coordinates */
+    static ColourGradient horizontal (Colour colour1, float x1,
+                                      Colour colour2, float x2);
 
     /** Destructor */
     ~ColourGradient();
@@ -182,13 +195,10 @@ private:
     struct ColourPoint
     {
         ColourPoint() noexcept {}
+        ColourPoint (double pos, Colour col) noexcept : position (pos), colour (col) {}
 
-        ColourPoint (const double pos, Colour col) noexcept
-            : position (pos), colour (col)
-        {}
-
-        bool operator== (const ColourPoint&) const noexcept;
-        bool operator!= (const ColourPoint&) const noexcept;
+        bool operator== (ColourPoint) const noexcept;
+        bool operator!= (ColourPoint) const noexcept;
 
         double position;
         Colour colour;
diff --git a/modules/juce_graphics/colour/juce_FillType.cpp b/modules/juce_graphics/colour/juce_FillType.cpp
index 4fc42296e9..1006b6fa84 100644
--- a/modules/juce_graphics/colour/juce_FillType.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_graphics/colour/juce_FillType.cpp
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ FillType::FillType (const ColourGradient& g)
 {
 }
 
+FillType::FillType (ColourGradient&& g)
+    : colour (0xff000000), gradient (new ColourGradient (static_cast<ColourGradient&&> (g)))
+{
+}
+
 FillType::FillType (const Image& im, const AffineTransform& t) noexcept
     : colour (0xff000000), image (im), transform (t)
 {
diff --git a/modules/juce_graphics/colour/juce_FillType.h b/modules/juce_graphics/colour/juce_FillType.h
index 05254b78a2..808ad4f392 100644
--- a/modules/juce_graphics/colour/juce_FillType.h
+++ b/modules/juce_graphics/colour/juce_FillType.h
@@ -53,6 +53,11 @@ public:
     */
     FillType (const ColourGradient& gradient);
 
+    /** Creates a gradient fill type.
+        @see setGradient
+    */
+    FillType (ColourGradient&& gradient);
+
     /** Creates a tiled image fill type. The transform allows you to set the scaling, offset
         and rotation of the pattern.
         @see setTiledImage
diff --git a/modules/juce_graphics/contexts/juce_GraphicsContext.cpp b/modules/juce_graphics/contexts/juce_GraphicsContext.cpp
index c8df50d4b4..9bdbf057ca 100644
--- a/modules/juce_graphics/contexts/juce_GraphicsContext.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_graphics/contexts/juce_GraphicsContext.cpp
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ void Graphics::setColour (Colour newColour)
     context.setFill (newColour);
 }
 
-void Graphics::setOpacity (const float newOpacity)
+void Graphics::setOpacity (float newOpacity)
 {
     saveStateIfPending();
     context.setOpacity (newOpacity);
@@ -201,6 +201,11 @@ void Graphics::setGradientFill (const ColourGradient& gradient)
     setFillType (gradient);
 }
 
+void Graphics::setGradientFill (ColourGradient&& gradient)
+{
+    setFillType (static_cast<ColourGradient&&> (gradient));
+}
+
 void Graphics::setTiledImageFill (const Image& imageToUse, const int anchorX, const int anchorY, const float opacity)
 {
     saveStateIfPending();
diff --git a/modules/juce_graphics/contexts/juce_GraphicsContext.h b/modules/juce_graphics/contexts/juce_GraphicsContext.h
index 41bbd69b60..86260657bb 100644
--- a/modules/juce_graphics/contexts/juce_GraphicsContext.h
+++ b/modules/juce_graphics/contexts/juce_GraphicsContext.h
@@ -82,10 +82,12 @@ public:
     */
     void setOpacity (float newOpacity);
 
-    /** Sets the context to use a gradient for its fill pattern.
-    */
+    /** Sets the context to use a gradient for its fill pattern. */
     void setGradientFill (const ColourGradient& gradient);
 
+    /** Sets the context to use a gradient for its fill pattern. */
+    void setGradientFill (ColourGradient&& gradient);
+
     /** Sets the context to use a tiled image pattern for filling.
         Make sure that you don't delete this image while it's still being used by
         this context!
diff --git a/modules/juce_gui_basics/lookandfeel/juce_LookAndFeel_V2.cpp b/modules/juce_gui_basics/lookandfeel/juce_LookAndFeel_V2.cpp
index 15d02047a7..4dde3a2232 100644
--- a/modules/juce_gui_basics/lookandfeel/juce_LookAndFeel_V2.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_gui_basics/lookandfeel/juce_LookAndFeel_V2.cpp
@@ -1273,8 +1273,7 @@ void LookAndFeel_V2::drawLinearSliderBackground (Graphics& g, int x, int y, int
         const float iy = y + height * 0.5f - sliderRadius * 0.5f;
         const float ih = sliderRadius;
 
-        g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient (gradCol1, 0.0f, iy,
-                                           gradCol2, 0.0f, iy + ih, false));
+        g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient::vertical (gradCol1, iy, gradCol2, iy + ih));
 
         indent.addRoundedRectangle (x - sliderRadius * 0.5f, iy,
                                     width + sliderRadius, ih,
@@ -1285,8 +1284,7 @@ void LookAndFeel_V2::drawLinearSliderBackground (Graphics& g, int x, int y, int
         const float ix = x + width * 0.5f - sliderRadius * 0.5f;
         const float iw = sliderRadius;
 
-        g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient (gradCol1, ix, 0.0f,
-                                           gradCol2, ix + iw, 0.0f, false));
+        g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient::horizontal (gradCol1, ix, gradCol2, ix + iw));
 
         indent.addRoundedRectangle (ix, y - sliderRadius * 0.5f,
                                     iw, height + sliderRadius,
@@ -1765,10 +1763,8 @@ void LookAndFeel_V2::drawDocumentWindowTitleBar (DocumentWindow& window, Graphic
 
     const bool isActive = window.isActiveWindow();
 
-    g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient (window.getBackgroundColour(),
-                                       0.0f, 0.0f,
-                                       window.getBackgroundColour().contrasting (isActive ? 0.15f : 0.05f),
-                                       0.0f, (float) h, false));
+    g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient::vertical (window.getBackgroundColour(), 0,
+                                                 window.getBackgroundColour().contrasting (isActive ? 0.15f : 0.05f), (float) h));
     g.fillAll();
 
     Font font (h * 0.65f, Font::bold);
diff --git a/modules/juce_gui_basics/lookandfeel/juce_LookAndFeel_V3.cpp b/modules/juce_gui_basics/lookandfeel/juce_LookAndFeel_V3.cpp
index 25dffe0b29..d48331bf3f 100644
--- a/modules/juce_gui_basics/lookandfeel/juce_LookAndFeel_V3.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_gui_basics/lookandfeel/juce_LookAndFeel_V3.cpp
@@ -93,8 +93,8 @@ void LookAndFeel_V3::drawConcertinaPanelHeader (Graphics& g, const Rectangle<int
 {
     const Colour bkg (Colours::grey);
 
-    g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient (Colours::white.withAlpha (isMouseOver ? 0.4f : 0.2f), 0, (float) area.getY(),
-                                       Colours::darkgrey.withAlpha (0.1f), 0, (float) area.getBottom(), false));
+    g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient::vertical (Colours::white.withAlpha (isMouseOver ? 0.4f : 0.2f), (float) area.getY(),
+                                                 Colours::darkgrey.withAlpha (0.1f), (float) area.getBottom()));
     g.fillAll();
 
     g.setColour (bkg.contrasting().withAlpha (0.1f));
@@ -111,8 +111,8 @@ static void drawButtonShape (Graphics& g, const Path& outline, Colour baseColour
     const float mainBrightness = baseColour.getBrightness();
     const float mainAlpha = baseColour.getFloatAlpha();
 
-    g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient (baseColour.brighter (0.2f), 0.0f, 0.0f,
-                                       baseColour.darker (0.25f), 0.0f, height, false));
+    g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient::vertical (baseColour.brighter (0.2f), 0.0f,
+                                                 baseColour.darker (0.25f), height));
     g.fillPath (outline);
 
     g.setColour (Colours::white.withAlpha (0.4f * mainAlpha * mainBrightness * mainBrightness));
@@ -213,8 +213,8 @@ void LookAndFeel_V3::drawTabButton (TabBarButton& button, Graphics& g, bool isMo
             default:                              jassertfalse; break;
         }
 
-        g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient (bkg.brighter (0.2f), (float) p1.x, (float) p1.y,
-                                           bkg.darker (0.1f),   (float) p2.x, (float) p2.y, false));
+        g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient (bkg.brighter (0.2f), p1.toFloat(),
+                                           bkg.darker (0.1f),   p2.toFloat(), false));
     }
 
     g.fillRect (activeArea);
@@ -403,12 +403,12 @@ void LookAndFeel_V3::drawLinearSlider (Graphics& g, int x, int y, int width, int
         else
             p.addRectangle (fx, fy, sliderPos - fx, fh);
 
-        Colour baseColour (slider.findColour (Slider::thumbColourId)
+        auto baseColour = slider.findColour (Slider::thumbColourId)
                                 .withMultipliedSaturation (slider.isEnabled() ? 1.0f : 0.5f)
-                                .withMultipliedAlpha (0.8f));
+                                .withMultipliedAlpha (0.8f);
 
-        g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient (baseColour.brighter (0.08f), 0.0f, 0.0f,
-                                           baseColour.darker (0.08f), 0.0f, (float) height, false));
+        g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient::vertical (baseColour.brighter (0.08f), 0.0f,
+                                                     baseColour.darker (0.08f), (float) height));
         g.fillPath (p);
 
         g.setColour (baseColour.darker (0.2f));
@@ -440,19 +440,17 @@ void LookAndFeel_V3::drawLinearSliderBackground (Graphics& g, int x, int y, int
 
     if (slider.isHorizontal())
     {
-        const float iy = y + height * 0.5f - sliderRadius * 0.5f;
+        auto iy = y + height * 0.5f - sliderRadius * 0.5f;
 
-        g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient (gradCol1, 0.0f, iy,
-                                           gradCol2, 0.0f, iy + sliderRadius, false));
+        g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient::vertical (gradCol1, iy, gradCol2, iy + sliderRadius));
 
         indent.addRoundedRectangle (x - sliderRadius * 0.5f, iy, width + sliderRadius, sliderRadius, 5.0f);
     }
     else
     {
-        const float ix = x + width * 0.5f - sliderRadius * 0.5f;
+        auto ix = x + width * 0.5f - sliderRadius * 0.5f;
 
-        g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient (gradCol1, ix, 0.0f,
-                                           gradCol2, ix + sliderRadius, 0.0f, false));
+        g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient::horizontal (gradCol1, ix, gradCol2, ix + sliderRadius));
 
         indent.addRoundedRectangle (ix, y - sliderRadius * 0.5f, sliderRadius, height + sliderRadius, 5.0f);
     }
@@ -477,7 +475,7 @@ void LookAndFeel_V3::drawPopupMenuBackground (Graphics& g, int width, int height
 void LookAndFeel_V3::drawMenuBarBackground (Graphics& g, int width, int height,
                                             bool, MenuBarComponent& menuBar)
 {
-    const Colour colour (menuBar.findColour (PopupMenu::backgroundColourId));
+    auto colour = menuBar.findColour (PopupMenu::backgroundColourId);
 
     Rectangle<int> r (width, height);
 
@@ -485,7 +483,7 @@ void LookAndFeel_V3::drawMenuBarBackground (Graphics& g, int width, int height,
     g.fillRect (r.removeFromTop (1));
     g.fillRect (r.removeFromBottom (1));
 
-    g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient (colour, 0, 0, colour.darker (0.08f), 0, (float) height, false));
+    g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient::vertical (colour, 0, colour.darker (0.08f), (float) height));
     g.fillRect (r);
 }
 
diff --git a/modules/juce_gui_basics/lookandfeel/juce_LookAndFeel_V4.cpp b/modules/juce_gui_basics/lookandfeel/juce_LookAndFeel_V4.cpp
index 2c12901b81..fe8729001b 100644
--- a/modules/juce_gui_basics/lookandfeel/juce_LookAndFeel_V4.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_gui_basics/lookandfeel/juce_LookAndFeel_V4.cpp
@@ -872,7 +872,7 @@ void LookAndFeel_V4::drawMenuBarBackground (Graphics& g, int width, int height,
     g.fillRect  (r.removeFromTop (1));
     g.fillRect  (r.removeFromBottom (1));
 
-    g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient (colour, 0, 0, colour.darker (0.2f), 0, (float) height, false));
+    g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient::vertical (colour, 0, colour.darker (0.2f), (float) height));
     g.fillRect (r);
 }
 
@@ -1132,8 +1132,8 @@ void LookAndFeel_V4::drawConcertinaPanelHeader (Graphics& g, const Rectangle<int
 
     const auto bkg = Colours::grey;
 
-    g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient (Colours::white.withAlpha (isMouseOver ? 0.4f : 0.2f), 0, (float) area.getY(),
-                                       Colours::darkgrey.withAlpha (0.1f), 0, (float) area.getBottom(), false));
+    g.setGradientFill (ColourGradient::vertical (Colours::white.withAlpha (isMouseOver ? 0.4f : 0.2f), (float) area.getY(),
+                                                 Colours::darkgrey.withAlpha (0.1f), (float) area.getBottom()));
     g.fillPath (p);
 }