diff --git a/avogadro/qtplugins/applycolors/applycolors.cpp b/avogadro/qtplugins/applycolors/applycolors.cpp
index 4297bb5aaa..3ec4773f1e 100644
--- a/avogadro/qtplugins/applycolors/applycolors.cpp
+++ b/avogadro/qtplugins/applycolors/applycolors.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@ ApplyColors::ApplyColors(QObject* parent_)
   connect(action, SIGNAL(triggered()), SLOT(applyIndexColors()));
   m_actions.append(action);
 
+  action = new QAction(tr("By Distance"), this);
+  action->setData(atomColors);
+  connect(action, SIGNAL(triggered()), SLOT(applyDistanceColors()));
+  m_actions.append(action);
+
   action = new QAction(tr("By Element"), this);
   action->setData(atomColors);
   connect(action, SIGNAL(triggered()), SLOT(resetColors()));
@@ -164,6 +169,33 @@ void ApplyColors::applyIndexColors()
   m_molecule->emitChanged(QtGui::Molecule::Atoms);
 }
 
+void ApplyColors::applyDistanceColors()
+{
+  if (m_molecule == nullptr && m_molecule->atomCount() == 0)
+    return;
+
+  bool isSelection = !m_molecule->isSelectionEmpty();
+  Vector3 firstPos = m_molecule->atomPosition3d(0);
+  Real size = 2.0 * m_molecule->radius();
+
+  // probably better to get color scales, but for now do it manually
+  auto numAtoms = m_molecule->atomCount();
+  for (Index i = 0; i < numAtoms; ++i) {
+    // if there's a selection and this atom isn't selected, skip  it
+    if (isSelection && !m_molecule->atomSelected(i))
+      continue;
+
+    Vector3 currPos = m_molecule->atomPosition3d(i);
+    Vector3 diff = currPos - firstPos;
+    Real distance = diff.norm();
+    Real distanceFraction = distance / size;
+
+    m_molecule->atom(i).setColor(rainbowGradient(distanceFraction));
+  }
+
+  m_molecule->emitChanged(QtGui::Molecule::Atoms);
+}
+
 void ApplyColors::resetColors()
 {
   if (m_molecule == nullptr)
diff --git a/avogadro/qtplugins/applycolors/applycolors.h b/avogadro/qtplugins/applycolors/applycolors.h
index 4528a88a10..0ff182d2d8 100644
--- a/avogadro/qtplugins/applycolors/applycolors.h
+++ b/avogadro/qtplugins/applycolors/applycolors.h
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ public slots:
 private slots:
   void openColorDialog();
   void applyCustomColor(const QColor& color);
+  void applyDistanceColors();
   void applyIndexColors();
   void resetColors();