diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf.in b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf.in
index 8a0dc1e5ac..ec97908690 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf.in
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_ui_default.conf.in
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <Option name="ui-rc-file" value="ardour3_ui_dark.rc"/>
     <Option name="flat-buttons" value="00000000"/>
     <Option name="waveform-gradient-depth" value="0"/>
-    <Option name="timeline-item-gradient-depth" value="00000.95"/>
+    <Option name="timeline-item-gradient-depth" value="00000.5"/>
     <Option name="all-floating-windows-are-dialogs" value="00000000"/>
     <Option name="color-regions-using-track-color" value="00000000"/>
     <Option name="show-waveform-clipping" value="00000001"/>
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ui_config_vars.h b/gtk2_ardour/ui_config_vars.h
index 56eec53852..e2141128cf 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ui_config_vars.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ui_config_vars.h
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@
 UI_CONFIG_VARIABLE(std::string, icon_set, "icon-set", "default")
 UI_CONFIG_VARIABLE(std::string, ui_rc_file, "ui-rc-file", "ardour3_ui_dark.rc")
 UI_CONFIG_VARIABLE(bool, flat_buttons, "flat-buttons", false)
-UI_CONFIG_VARIABLE(float, waveform_gradient_depth, "waveform-gradient-depth", 0.6)
-UI_CONFIG_VARIABLE(float, timeline_item_gradient_depth, "timeline-item-gradient-depth", 1.3)
+UI_CONFIG_VARIABLE(float, waveform_gradient_depth, "waveform-gradient-depth", 0)
+UI_CONFIG_VARIABLE(float, timeline_item_gradient_depth, "timeline-item-gradient-depth", 0.5)
 UI_CONFIG_VARIABLE(bool, all_floating_windows_are_dialogs, "all-floating-windows-are-dialogs", false)
 UI_CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, color_regions_using_track_color, "color-regions-using-track-color", false)
 UI_CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, show_waveform_clipping, "show-waveform-clipping", true)