The discovery of inorganic phosphors that can be excited by GaN light emitting diodes in the wavelength range 380-460 nm is essential for improving the efficiency and light quality of solid state lighting devices. Garnets doped with Ce3+ are of particular interest for this application. We have studied the luminescence of Ce3+ in garnet phosphors and established a relationship between the excitation/emission wavelengths and the deviation from cubic symmetry around the rare-earth ion. Data are presented for both known yttrium aluminum and yttrium gallium garnet systems, as well as newly synthesized inverse garnets of the general formula Mg3Y2-yGdy-Ge3-zSizO12:Ce (0 <= y <= 2, z = 0, 1). (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.