diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 130d3257..efce4487 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ before_install:
   - conda config --set always_yes yes --set changeps1 no
   - conda update -q conda
   - conda info -a
-  - conda create -q -n test-environment python=$PYTHON_VERSION numpy scipy runipy
+  - conda create -q -n test-environment python=$PYTHON_VERSION numpy scipy runipy matplotlib
   - source activate test-environment
   - conda install -c conda-forge pytest==3.8.1 pytest-cov bokeh nodejs matplotlib scikit-image shapely flake8
   - pip install PyChromeDevTools
diff --git a/ipyvolume/transferfunction.py b/ipyvolume/transferfunction.py
index 586e1bd8..700900f7 100644
--- a/ipyvolume/transferfunction.py
+++ b/ipyvolume/transferfunction.py
@@ -2,17 +2,18 @@
 
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 
-__all__ = ['TransferFunction', 'TransferFunctionJsBumps', 'TransferFunctionWidgetJs3', 'TransferFunctionWidget3']
-
+import ipywidgets as widgets
+import matplotlib.colors
+import matplotlib.cm
 import numpy as np
-import ipywidgets as widgets  # we should not have widgets under two names
 import traitlets
-from traitlets import Unicode
+from traitlets import Unicode, validate
 from traittypes import Array
 
+from . import serialize
 import ipyvolume._version
-from ipyvolume import serialize
 
+__all__ = ['TransferFunction', 'TransferFunctionJsBumps', 'TransferFunctionWidgetJs3', 'TransferFunctionWidget3']
 
 N = 1024
 x = np.linspace(0, 1, N, endpoint=True)
@@ -136,3 +137,117 @@ def control(self, max_opacity=0.2):
                 widgets.HBox([widgets.Label(value="opacities:"), o1, o2, o3]),
             ]
         )
+
+
+def linear_transfer_function(color,
+                             min_opacity=0,
+                             max_opacity=0.05,
+                             reverse_opacity=False,
+                             n_elements = 256):
+    """Transfer function of a single color and linear opacity.
+
+    :param color: Listlike RGB, or string with hexidecimal or named color.
+        RGB values should be within 0-1 range.
+    :param min_opacity: Minimum opacity, default value is 0.0.
+        Lowest possible value is 0.0, optional.
+    :param max_opacity: Maximum opacity, default value is 0.05.
+        Highest possible value is 1.0, optional.
+    :param reverse_opacity: Linearly decrease opacity, optional.
+    :param n_elements: Length of rgba array transfer function attribute.
+    :type color: listlike or string
+    :type min_opacity: float, int
+    :type max_opacity: float, int
+    :type reverse_opacity: bool
+    :type n_elements: int
+    :return: transfer_function
+    :rtype: ipyvolume TransferFunction
+
+    :Example:
+    >>> import ipyvolume as ipv
+    >>> green_tf = ipv.transfer_function.linear_transfer_function('green')
+    >>> ds = ipv.datasets.aquariusA2.fetch()
+    >>> ipv.volshow(ds.data[::4,::4,::4], tf=green_tf)
+    >>> ipv.show()
+
+    .. seealso:: matplotlib_transfer_function()
+    """
+    r, g, b = matplotlib.colors.to_rgb(color)
+    opacity = np.linspace(min_opacity, max_opacity, num=n_elements)
+    if reverse_opacity:
+        opacity = np.flip(opacity, axis=0)
+    rgba = np.transpose(np.stack([[r] * n_elements,
+                                  [g] * n_elements,
+                                  [b] * n_elements,
+                                  opacity]))
+    transfer_function = TransferFunction(rgba=rgba)
+    return transfer_function
+
+
+def matplotlib_transfer_function(colormap_name,
+                                 min_opacity=0,
+                                 max_opacity=0.05,
+                                 reverse_colormap=False,
+                                 reverse_opacity=False,
+                                 n_elements=256):
+    """Transfer function from matplotlib colormaps.
+
+    :param colormap_name: name of matplotlib colormap
+    :param min_opacity: Minimum opacity, default value is 0.
+        Lowest possible value is 0, optional.
+    :param max_opacity: Maximum opacity, default value is 0.05.
+        Highest possible value is 1.0, optional.
+    :param reverse_colormap: reversed matplotlib colormap, optional.
+    :param reverse_opacity: Linearly decrease opacity, optional.
+    :param n_elements: Length of rgba array transfer function attribute.
+    :type colormap_name: str
+    :type min_opacity: float, int
+    :type max_opacity: float, int
+    :type reverse_colormap: bool
+    :type reverse_opacity: bool
+    :type n_elements: int
+    :return: transfer_function
+    :rtype: ipyvolume TransferFunction
+
+    :Example:
+    >>> import ipyvolume as ipv
+    >>> rgb = (0, 255, 0)  # RGB value for green
+    >>> green_tf = ipv.transfer_function.matplotlib_transfer_function('bone')
+    >>> ds = ipv.datasets.aquariusA2.fetch()
+    >>> ipv.volshow(ds.data[::4,::4,::4], tf=green_tf)
+    >>> ipv.show()
+
+    .. seealso:: linear_transfer_function()
+    """
+    cmap = matplotlib.cm.get_cmap(name=colormap_name)
+    rgba = np.array([cmap(i) for i in np.linspace(0, 1, n_elements)])
+    if reverse_colormap:
+        rgba = np.flip(rgba, axis=0)
+    # Create opacity values to overwrite default matplotlib opacity=1.0
+    opacity = np.linspace(min_opacity, max_opacity, num=n_elements)
+    if reverse_opacity:
+        opacity = np.flip(opacity, axis=0)
+    rgba[:,-1] = opacity # replace opacity=1 with actual opacity
+    transfer_function = TransferFunction(rgba=rgba)
+    return transfer_function
+
+
+def predefined_transfer_functions():
+    """Load predefined transfer functions into a dictionary.
+
+    :return: dictionary of predefined transfer functions.
+    :rtype: dict of ipyvolume TransferFunction instances
+    """
+    transfer_functions = {}
+    # RGB primary and secondary colors
+    colors = ['red', 'green', 'blue', 'yellow', 'magenta', 'cyan',
+              'black', 'gray', 'white']
+    for color in colors:
+        tf = linear_transfer_function(color)
+        transfer_functions[color] = tf
+        tf_reversed = linear_transfer_function(rgb, reverse_opacity=True)
+        transfer_functions[color_key + '_r'] = tf_reversed
+    # All matplotlib colormaps
+    matplotlib_colormaps = matplotlib.cm.cmap_d.keys()
+    for colormap in matplotlib_colormaps:
+        transfer_functions[colormap] = matplotlib_transfer_function(colormap)
+    return transfer_functions