To explore new emission-tunable phosphors with down-shifting and up-conversion properties, a series of Ca8MgGd(PO4)(7):Eu2+, Mn2+ and Ca8MgGd(PO4)(7):Yb3+, Er3+, Ho3+, Tm3+ samples were synthesized by solid-state reaction method, and their photoluminescence properties were studied. For down-shifting, Eu2+-single-doped Ca8MgGd(PO4)(7) exhibits a very broad yellow-white emission from 400 to 800 nm upon 365 nm excitation, which originates from various Eu2+ emission centers. When the Mn2+ is introduced into Ca8MgGd(PO4)(7):Eu2+, an extremely efficient energy transfer from Eu2+ to Mn2+ occurs and decreases the Eu2+ emission intensity strongly. The corresponding energy transfer efficiencies were evaluated from the decay curves. For different Mn2+ concentrations, the emitting light colors can be tuned conveniently and red emission is obtained finally. For up-conversion, the red, green, and blue tri-color emissions upon 980 nm excitation have been gained in the Yb3+-Ho3+, Yb3+-Er3+, and Yb3+-Tm3+ doped Ca8MgGd(PO4)(7), respectively. By varying the relative concentrations of Yb3+, Er3+, Ho3+, and Tm3+, tunable emission was realized upon near-infrared excitation, and an efficient energy transfer from Tm3+ to Er3+ has been found in the Yb3+-Er3+-Tm3+ tridoped Ca8MgGd(PO4)(7) samples. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.