For arcgis 10 you could save a layer file with symbology applied and then use a python script to change the data source as part of the output of the originating script. See layer.findAndReplaceWorkspacePath.
For QGIS the 1-band raster colour table plugin might suit: "After selection of a single band raster ... launch this plugin to generate a colour table ... The colour table is made of the combination of a colour palette ... and a colouring method (the way to relate a colour index in the palette to a real value in the raster). " It's not automatic but may alleviate the work a bit.
Alternatively you may be able to work some magic with rgb2pct utility which has the option of loading a colour pallette from an external file.
In QGIS, the preferred/canonical way to store a color ramp is QGIS layer styles (.qml) files.
If you look inside the qml file using a simple text editor, you'll find there is nothing hard to understand.
ColorRamp example:
<colorramp type="gradient" name="[source]">
<prop k="color1" v="247,251,255,255"/>
<prop k="color2" v="8,48,107,255"/>
<prop k="discrete" v="0"/>
<prop k="stops" v="0.13;222,235,247,255:0.26;198,219,239,255:0.39;158,202,225,255:0.52;107,174,214,255:0.65;66,146,198,255:0.78;33,113,181,255:0.9;8,81,156,255"/>
</colorramp>
ColorRampShader example:
<colorrampshader colorRampType="DISCRETE" clip="0">
<item alpha="255" value="0.5" label="0.1 - 0.5" color="#aaffff"/>
<item alpha="255" value="1" label="0.5 - 1" color="#00aaff"/>
<item alpha="255" value="5" label="1 - 5" color="#0055ff"/>
<item alpha="255" value="10" label="5 - 10" color="#00007f"/>
<item alpha="255" value="15" label="10+" color="#00003c"/>
</colorrampshader>
If you are looking for specifications, please, check this answer.
Best Answer
QGIS comes with a lot of colorramps but not all are enabled by default. It's covered in the User Guide:
Update for QGIS 2.18: I have not found the updated link in the documentation, but
cpt-citycolor ramp type are available:First add a new ramp color as shown below:
Then, select the
cpt-cityoption and you will find the many predefined palettes