Spinel-type ZnGa₂O₄ and ZnAl₂O₄ powders doped with Eu ⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions, including dual doping, have been prepared by solid phase reactions and by deposition from chemical solutions. XRD analysis demonstrates the high quality of spinel grains constituting the powder. The luminescence shows that the rare earth ions are incorporated in the defect regions at the grain boundaries. The emission spectra of the samples with europium are characterized by an intense emission in red region due to the ⁵D₀ → ⁷F_1,2 transitions of Eu³⁺ ions, whereas in the case of terbium the highest intensity corresponds to the green emission due to the ⁵D ₄→⁷F₅ transitions of Tb³⁺ ions. The possibility to change the color of the emission from green to red by the variation of Tb and Eu doping concentration is demonstrated.