diff --git a/engine/render.py b/engine/render.py
index 1b76570..fb7bc5c 100644
--- a/engine/render.py
+++ b/engine/render.py
@@ -31,6 +31,22 @@ GRAD_COLS = [
     "\033[2;38;5;235m",  # near black
 ]
 
+# Complementary sweep for queue messages (opposite hue family from ticker greens)
+MSG_GRAD_COLS = [
+    "\033[1;38;5;231m",  # white
+    "\033[1;38;5;225m",  # pale pink-white
+    "\033[38;5;219m",    # bright pink
+    "\033[38;5;213m",    # hot pink
+    "\033[38;5;207m",    # magenta
+    "\033[38;5;201m",    # bright magenta
+    "\033[38;5;165m",    # orchid-red
+    "\033[38;5;161m",    # ruby-magenta
+    "\033[38;5;125m",    # dark magenta
+    "\033[38;5;89m",     # deep maroon-magenta
+    "\033[2;38;5;89m",   # dim deep maroon-magenta
+    "\033[2;38;5;235m",  # near black
+]
+
 # ─── FONT LOADING ─────────────────────────────────────────
 _FONT_OBJ = None
 _FONT_CACHE = {}
@@ -132,9 +148,10 @@ def big_wrap(text, max_w, fnt=None):
     return out
 
 
-def lr_gradient(rows, offset=0.0):
+def lr_gradient(rows, offset=0.0, grad_cols=None):
     """Color each non-space block character with a shifting left-to-right gradient."""
-    n = len(GRAD_COLS)
+    cols = grad_cols or GRAD_COLS
+    n = len(cols)
     max_x = max((len(r.rstrip()) for r in rows if r.strip()), default=1)
     out = []
     for row in rows:
@@ -148,11 +165,16 @@ def lr_gradient(rows, offset=0.0):
             else:
                 shifted = (x / max(max_x - 1, 1) + offset) % 1.0
                 idx = min(round(shifted * (n - 1)), n - 1)
-                buf.append(f"{GRAD_COLS[idx]}{ch}\033[0m")
+                buf.append(f"{cols[idx]}{ch}{RST}")
         out.append("".join(buf))
     return out
 
 
+def lr_gradient_opposite(rows, offset=0.0):
+    """Complementary (opposite wheel) gradient used for queue message panels."""
+    return lr_gradient(rows, offset, MSG_GRAD_COLS)
+
+
 # ─── HEADLINE BLOCK ASSEMBLY ─────────────────────────────
 def make_block(title, src, ts, w):
     """Render a headline into a content block with color."""
diff --git a/engine/scroll.py b/engine/scroll.py
index 54ae9ab..f9b7f39 100644
--- a/engine/scroll.py
+++ b/engine/scroll.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from datetime import datetime
 
 from engine import config
 from engine.terminal import RST, W_COOL, CLR, tw, th
-from engine.render import big_wrap, lr_gradient, make_block
+from engine.render import big_wrap, lr_gradient, lr_gradient_opposite, make_block
 from engine.effects import noise, glitch_bar, fade_line, vis_trunc, next_headline, firehose_line
 
 
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ def stream(items, ntfy_poller, mic_monitor):
                 _msg_cache = (cache_key, msg_rows)
             else:
                 msg_rows = _msg_cache[1]
-            msg_rows = lr_gradient(msg_rows, (time.monotonic() * config.GRAD_SPEED) % 1.0)
+            msg_rows = lr_gradient_opposite(msg_rows, (time.monotonic() * config.GRAD_SPEED) % 1.0)
             # Layout: rendered text + meta + border
             elapsed_s = int(time.monotonic() - m_ts)
             remaining = max(0, config.MESSAGE_DISPLAY_SECS - elapsed_s)