Are there any predefined discrete color set with optimal neighboring contrasts?

I would like N colors in circular order with high (or highest) average contrast for neighboring pairs.

Or just want a discrete color map with N distinguishable colors.

Answer 1

[Julian Hapke]

have a look at this: http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/29702-generate-maximally-perceptually-distinct-colors

Answer 2

[Image Analyst]

You can try the lines() function to get a contrasting colormap.