=== modified file 'src/gradient-chemistry.cpp'
--- src/gradient-chemistry.cpp	2012-05-25 23:32:52 +0000
+++ src/gradient-chemistry.cpp	2012-09-12 00:52:32 +0000
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@
 
 #include <2geom/transforms.h>
 #include <2geom/bezier-curve.h>
+#include <2geom/crossing.h>
+#include <2geom/line.h>
+#include <2geom/angle.h>
 
 #include "style.h"
 #include "document-private.h"
@@ -355,10 +358,41 @@
             g_free(c);
         }
     } else if (SP_IS_LINEARGRADIENT(gr)) {
-        sp_repr_set_svg_double(repr, "x1", (center - Geom::Point(width/2, 0))[Geom::X]);
-        sp_repr_set_svg_double(repr, "y1", (center - Geom::Point(width/2, 0))[Geom::Y]);
-        sp_repr_set_svg_double(repr, "x2", (center + Geom::Point(width/2, 0))[Geom::X]);
-        sp_repr_set_svg_double(repr, "y2", (center + Geom::Point(width/2, 0))[Geom::Y]);
+
+        // Assume horizontal line by default
+        Geom::Point p1 = center - Geom::Point(width/2, 0);
+        Geom::Point p2 = center + Geom::Point(width/2, 0);
+
+        // Get the preferred gradient angle from prefs
+        Inkscape::Preferences *prefs = Inkscape::Preferences::get();
+        double angle = prefs->getDouble("/dialogs/gradienteditor/angle", 0.0);
+        Geom::Line grl(center, Geom::deg_to_rad(angle));
+
+        Geom::LineSegment bbl1(bbox->corner(0), bbox->corner(1));
+        Geom::LineSegment bbl2(bbox->corner(1), bbox->corner(2));
+        Geom::LineSegment bbl3(bbox->corner(2), bbox->corner(3));
+        Geom::LineSegment bbl4(bbox->corner(3), bbox->corner(0));
+
+        // Find where our gradient line intersects the bounding box.
+        if (intersection(bbl1, grl)) {
+            //g_message("L1");
+            p1 = bbl1.pointAt((*intersection(bbl1, grl)).ta);
+            p2 = bbl3.pointAt((*intersection(bbl3, grl)).ta);
+        } else if (intersection(bbl2, grl)) {
+            //g_message("L2");
+            p2 = bbl2.pointAt((*intersection(bbl2, grl)).ta);
+            p1 = bbl4.pointAt((*intersection(bbl4, grl)).ta);
+        }
+
+        if (angle < 0 || angle >= 180) {
+            std::swap(p1, p2);
+        }
+
+        sp_repr_set_svg_double(repr, "x1", p1[Geom::X]);
+        sp_repr_set_svg_double(repr, "y1", p1[Geom::Y]);
+        sp_repr_set_svg_double(repr, "x2", p2[Geom::X]);
+        sp_repr_set_svg_double(repr, "y2", p2[Geom::Y]);
+
     } else {
         // Mesh
         // THIS IS BEING CALLED TWICE WHENEVER A NEW GRADIENT IS CREATED, WRITING HERE CAUSES PROBLEMS

=== modified file 'src/ui/dialog/inkscape-preferences.cpp'
--- src/ui/dialog/inkscape-preferences.cpp	2012-09-11 00:14:11 +0000
+++ src/ui/dialog/inkscape-preferences.cpp	2012-09-12 00:48:16 +0000
@@ -478,6 +478,11 @@
     _page_gradient.add_line( false, "", _misc_gradienteditor, "",
                            _("When on, the Gradient Edit button in the Fill & Stroke dialog will show the legacy Gradient Editor dialog, when off the Gradient Tool will be used"), true);
 
+    _misc_gradientangle.init("/dialogs/gradienteditor/angle", -359, 359, 1, 90, 0, false, false);
+    _page_gradient.add_line( false, _("Linear gradient angle:"), _misc_gradientangle, "",
+                           _("Default angle of new linear gradients (clockwise from horizontal"), false);
+
+
     //Dropper
     this->AddPage(_page_dropper, _("Dropper"), iter_tools, PREFS_PAGE_TOOLS_DROPPER);
     this->AddSelcueCheckbox(_page_dropper, "/tools/dropper", true);

=== modified file 'src/ui/dialog/inkscape-preferences.h'
--- src/ui/dialog/inkscape-preferences.h	2012-08-30 00:36:57 +0000
+++ src/ui/dialog/inkscape-preferences.h	2012-09-12 00:48:16 +0000
@@ -300,6 +300,7 @@
     UI::Widget::PrefCheckButton _misc_default_metadata;
     UI::Widget::PrefCheckButton _misc_forkvectors;
     UI::Widget::PrefCheckButton _misc_gradienteditor;
+    UI::Widget::PrefSpinButton  _misc_gradientangle;
     UI::Widget::PrefCheckButton _misc_scripts;
     UI::Widget::PrefCheckButton _misc_namedicon_delay;