diff --git a/manimlib/mobject/mobject.py b/manimlib/mobject/mobject.py
index b3bac0ac..276efd7d 100644
--- a/manimlib/mobject/mobject.py
+++ b/manimlib/mobject/mobject.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import numpy as np
 from manimlib.constants import *
 from manimlib.utils.color import color_gradient
 from manimlib.utils.color import interpolate_color
+from manimlib.utils.color import get_colormap_list
 from manimlib.utils.config_ops import digest_config
 from manimlib.utils.iterables import batch_by_property
 from manimlib.utils.iterables import list_update
@@ -1275,12 +1276,17 @@ class Mobject(object):
         Pass in a glsl expression in terms of x, y and z which returns
         a float.
         """
+        # TODO, add a version of this which changes the point data instead
+        # of the shader code
         for char in "xyz":
             glsl_snippet = glsl_snippet.replace(char, "point." + char)
+        rgb_list = get_colormap_list(colormap)
         self.set_color_by_code(
             "color.rgb = float_to_color({}, {}, {}, {});".format(
-                glsl_snippet, float(min_value), float(max_value),
-                get_colormap_code(colormap)
+                glsl_snippet,
+                float(min_value),
+                float(max_value),
+                get_colormap_code(rgb_list)
             )
         )
         return self
diff --git a/manimlib/shader_wrapper.py b/manimlib/shader_wrapper.py
index 375384a1..282deb8d 100644
--- a/manimlib/shader_wrapper.py
+++ b/manimlib/shader_wrapper.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import re
 import moderngl
 import numpy as np
 import copy
-from matplotlib.cm import get_cmap
 
 from manimlib.utils.directories import get_shader_dir
 from manimlib.utils.file_ops import find_file
@@ -153,14 +152,9 @@ def get_shader_code_from_file(filename):
     return result
 
 
-def get_colormap_code(colormap="viridis"):
-    rgbs = get_cmap(colormap).colors  # Make more general?
-    sparse_rgbs = [
-        rgbs[int(n)]
-        for n in np.linspace(0, len(rgbs) - 1, 9)
-    ]
+def get_colormap_code(rgb_list):
     data = ",".join(
-        "vec3({}, {}, {})".format(*color)
-        for color in sparse_rgbs
+        "vec3({}, {}, {})".format(*rgb)
+        for rgb in rgb_list
     )
-    return f"vec3[9]({data})"
+    return f"vec3[{len(rgb_list)}]({data})"
diff --git a/manimlib/utils/color.py b/manimlib/utils/color.py
index a362b128..efe5e5b7 100644
--- a/manimlib/utils/color.py
+++ b/manimlib/utils/color.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import random
 
 from colour import Color
 import numpy as np
+from matplotlib.cm import get_cmap
 
 from manimlib.constants import PALETTE
 from manimlib.constants import WHITE
@@ -112,3 +113,11 @@ def get_shaded_rgb(rgb, point, unit_normal_vect, light_source):
     result = rgb + factor
     clip_in_place(rgb + factor, 0, 1)
     return result
+
+
+def get_colormap_list(map_name="viridis", n_colors=9):
+    rgbs = get_cmap(map_name).colors  # Make more general?
+    return [
+        rgbs[int(n)]
+        for n in np.linspace(0, len(rgbs) - 1, n_colors)
+    ]