diff --git a/lib/squib/api/text.rb b/lib/squib/api/text.rb
index 9bf5be8..256ea73 100644
--- a/lib/squib/api/text.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/api/text.rb
@@ -48,12 +48,11 @@ module Squib
     # @return [Array] Returns an Array of hashes keyed by :width and :height that mark the ink extents of the text rendered.
     # @api public
     def text(opts = {})
-      opts  = { stroke_width: 0, width: :auto, height: :auto }.merge(opts)
       range = Args::CardRange.new(opts[:range], deck_size: size)
       para  = Args::Paragraph.new(font).load!(opts, expand_by: size, layout: layout)
-      box   = Args::Box.new(self).load!(opts, expand_by: size, layout: layout, dpi: dpi)
+      box   = Args::Box.new(self, {width: :auto, height: :auto}).load!(opts, expand_by: size, layout: layout, dpi: dpi)
       trans = Args::Transform.new.load!(opts, expand_by: size, layout: layout, dpi: dpi)
-      draw  = Args::Draw.new(custom_colors).load!(opts, expand_by: size, layout: layout, dpi: dpi)
+      draw  = Args::Draw.new(custom_colors, {stroke_width: 0.0}).load!(opts, expand_by: size, layout: layout, dpi: dpi)
       embed = TextEmbed.new
       yield(embed) if block_given? #store the opts for later use
       extents = Array.new(@cards.size)
diff --git a/lib/squib/args/arg_loader.rb b/lib/squib/args/arg_loader.rb
index ad1d5f1..ef80653 100644
--- a/lib/squib/args/arg_loader.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/args/arg_loader.rb
@@ -45,18 +45,21 @@ module Squib
       #  (1) Use whatever is specified if it is
       #  (2) Go over all layout specifications (if any) and look them up
       #     - Use layout when it's specified for that card
-      #     - Use default if no layout was specified,
-      #                      or the layout itself did not specify
+      #     - Use "default" if no layout was specified, or the layout itself did not specify
+      #           Defaut can be overriden for a given dsl method (@dsl_method_defaults)
+      #           (e.g stroke width is 0.0 for text, non-zero everywhere else)
+      #
       def defaultify(p, args, layout)
         return args[p] if args.key? p # arg was specified, no defaults used
+        dsl_method_defaults = @dsl_method_defaults || {}
         args[:layout].map do |layout_arg|
           if layout_arg.nil?
-            self.class.parameters[p]  # no layout specified, use default
+            self.class.parameters.merge(dsl_method_defaults)[p]  # no layout specified, use default
           else
             if layout[layout_arg.to_s].key? p.to_s
               layout[layout_arg.to_s][p.to_s] # param specified in layout
             else
-              self.class.parameters[p]  # layout specified, but not this param
+              self.class.parameters.merge(dsl_method_defaults)[p]  # layout specified, but not this param
             end
           end
         end
diff --git a/lib/squib/args/box.rb b/lib/squib/args/box.rb
index 8402dbe..4265b72 100644
--- a/lib/squib/args/box.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/args/box.rb
@@ -7,8 +7,9 @@ module Squib
     class Box
       include ArgLoader
 
-      def initialize(deck = nil)
+      def initialize(deck = nil, dsl_method_defaults = {})
         @deck = deck
+        @dsl_method_defaults = dsl_method_defaults
       end
 
       def self.parameters
diff --git a/lib/squib/args/draw.rb b/lib/squib/args/draw.rb
index 15013ef..dabcd8a 100644
--- a/lib/squib/args/draw.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/args/draw.rb
@@ -10,9 +10,10 @@ module Squib
       include ArgLoader
       include ColorValidator
 
-      def initialize(custom_colors)
+      def initialize(custom_colors, dsl_method_defaults = {})
         @custom_colors = custom_colors
-      end 
+        @dsl_method_defaults = dsl_method_defaults
+      end
 
       def self.parameters
         { color: :black,
diff --git a/spec/args/draw_spec.rb b/spec/args/draw_spec.rb
index aca08eb..a304aab 100644
--- a/spec/args/draw_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/args/draw_spec.rb
@@ -15,6 +15,16 @@ describe Squib::Args::Draw do
 
   end
 
+  context 'dsl overrides' do
+    subject(:draw)      {Squib::Args::Draw.new(custom_colors, {stroke_width: 0.0})}
+
+    it 'works when specified' do
+      draw.load!({}) # go right to defaults
+      expect(draw.stroke_width).to eq( [0.0] ) #ordinarily a non-zero according
+    end
+
+  end
+
   context 'validation' do
 
     it 'converts to Cairo options' do