diff --git a/lib/squib/api/settings.rb b/lib/squib/api/settings.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..446c532
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/squib/api/settings.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+module Squib
+  class Deck
+
+    def hint(text: nil)
+      @text_hint = colorify(text, nillable: true)
+    end
+
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/squib/api/shapes.rb b/lib/squib/api/shapes.rb
index 3aeb8e4..9ba831c 100644
--- a/lib/squib/api/shapes.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/api/shapes.rb
@@ -2,10 +2,11 @@ module Squib
   class Deck
     
     def rect(range: :all, x: 0, y: 0, width: 825, height: 1125, \
-              x_radius: 0, y_radius: 0)
+              x_radius: 0, y_radius: 0, color: :black)
       range = rangeify(range)
+      color = colorify(color)
       range.each do |i|
-        @cards[i].draw_rectangle(x, y, width, height, x_radius, y_radius)
+        @cards[i].draw_rectangle(x, y, width, height, x_radius, y_radius, color)
       end
     end
     
diff --git a/lib/squib/api/text.rb b/lib/squib/api/text.rb
index 50bf819..62cdd9c 100644
--- a/lib/squib/api/text.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/api/text.rb
@@ -1,10 +1,5 @@
 module Squib
   class Deck
-    def fontify (font)
-      font = 'Arial 36' if font==:use_set
-      font
-    end
-
     def font(type: 'Arial', size: 12, **options)
       raise 'Not implemented!'
     end
@@ -17,7 +12,8 @@ module Squib
       range = rangeify(range)
       str = [str] * @cards.size unless str.respond_to? :each
       font = fontify(font)
-      color = colorify(options[:color])
+      color = colorify(options[:color], nillable: false)
+      options['hint'] = colorify(options['hint']) unless options['hint'].nil?
       range.each do |i|
         cards[i].text(str[i], font, x, y, color, options)
       end
diff --git a/lib/squib/card.rb b/lib/squib/card.rb
index 0247589..1e6cda7 100644
--- a/lib/squib/card.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/card.rb
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 require 'cairo'
+require 'squib/input_helpers'
 
 module Squib
 	class Card
+        include Squib::InputHelpers
         attr_reader :width, :height
         attr_accessor :cairo_surface, :cairo_context
 
-        def initialize(width, height)
-          @width=width; @height=height
+        def initialize(deck, width, height)
+          @deck=deck; @width=width; @height=height
           @cairo_surface = Cairo::ImageSurface.new(width,height)
           @cairo_context = Cairo::Context.new(@cairo_surface)
         end
diff --git a/lib/squib/deck.rb b/lib/squib/deck.rb
index 3055132..5bb5be3 100644
--- a/lib/squib/deck.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/deck.rb
@@ -1,15 +1,18 @@
 require 'squib/card'
+require 'squib/input_helpers'
 
 module Squib
   class Deck
     include Enumerable
+    include Squib::InputHelpers
     attr_reader :width, :height
     attr_reader :cards
+    attr_reader :text_hint
 
     def initialize(width: 825, height: 1125, cards: 1, &block)
       @width=width; @height=height
       @cards = []
-      cards.times{ @cards << Squib::Card.new(width, height) }
+      cards.times{ @cards << Squib::Card.new(self, width, height) }
       if block_given?
         instance_eval(&block)
       end
@@ -24,26 +27,6 @@ module Squib
       @cards.each { |card| block.call(card) }
     end
 
-    def rangeify (range)
-      range = 0..(@cards.size-1) if range == :all
-      range = range..range if range.is_a? Integer
-      if range.max > (@cards.size-1)
-        raise "#{range} is outside of deck range of 0..#{@card.size-1}"
-      end
-      return range
-    end
-
-    def fileify(file)
-      raise 'File #{file} does not exist!' unless File.exists? file
-      file
-    end
-
-    def colorify(color)
-      color ||= :black
-      color = Cairo::Color.parse(color)
-      color
-    end
-
     ##################
     ### PUBLIC API ###
     ##################
@@ -51,6 +34,7 @@ module Squib
     require 'squib/api/data'
     require 'squib/api/image'
     require 'squib/api/save'
+    require 'squib/api/settings'
     require 'squib/api/shapes'
     require 'squib/api/text'
 
diff --git a/lib/squib/graphics/shapes.rb b/lib/squib/graphics/shapes.rb
index d946f84..2631ef8 100644
--- a/lib/squib/graphics/shapes.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/graphics/shapes.rb
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 module Squib
   class Card
       
-    def draw_rectangle(x, y, width, height, x_radius, y_radius)
+    def draw_rectangle(x, y, width, height, x_radius, y_radius, color)
       cc = cairo_context
-      cc.set_source_rgb(0.0,0.0,0.0)
+      cc.set_source_color(color)
       cc.rounded_rectangle(x, y, width, height, x_radius, y_radius)
       cc.stroke
     end
diff --git a/lib/squib/graphics/text.rb b/lib/squib/graphics/text.rb
index 48091cc..4873329 100644
--- a/lib/squib/graphics/text.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/graphics/text.rb
@@ -3,25 +3,84 @@ require 'pango'
 module Squib
   class Card
 
+    def draw_text_hint(x,y,layout, color)
+      return if color.nil? && @deck.text_hint.nil? 
+      color ||= @deck.text_hint
+      w = layout.width / Pango::SCALE
+      w = layout.extents[1].width / Pango::SCALE if w < 0 #i.e. was never set   
+      h = layout.height / Pango::SCALE
+      h = layout.extents[1].height / Pango::SCALE if h < 0 #i.e. was never set
+      draw_rectangle(x,y,w,h,0,0,color)
+    end
+
+    def ellipsize(layout, options)
+      unless options[:ellipsize].nil?
+        h = { :none   => Pango::Layout::ELLIPSIZE_NONE,
+              :start  => Pango::Layout::ELLIPSIZE_START,
+              :middle => Pango::Layout::ELLIPSIZE_MIDDLE,
+              :end    => Pango::Layout::ELLIPSIZE_END,
+              true    => Pango::Layout::ELLIPSIZE_END,
+              false   => Pango::Layout::ELLIPSIZE_NONE
+            }
+        layout.ellipsize = h[options[:ellipsize]]
+      end
+      layout
+    end
+
+    def wrap(layout, options)
+      unless options[:wrap].nil?
+        h = { :word  => Pango::Layout::WRAP_WORD,
+              :char => Pango::Layout::WRAP_CHAR,
+              :word_char    => Pango::Layout::WRAP_WORD_CHAR,
+              true    => Pango::Layout::WRAP_WORD_CHAR,
+            }
+        layout.wrap = h[options[:wrap]]
+      end
+      layout
+    end
+
+    def align(layout, options)
+      unless options[:align].nil?
+          h = { :left => Pango::ALIGN_LEFT,
+                :right => Pango::ALIGN_RIGHT,
+                :center => Pango::ALIGN_CENTER
+              }
+          layout.alignment = h[options[:align]]
+      end
+      layout
+    end
+
+    def setwh(layout, options)
+      layout.width = options[:width] * Pango::SCALE unless options[:width].nil?
+      layout.height = options[:height] * Pango::SCALE unless options[:height].nil?
+      layout
+    end
+
+    def fitxy(layout, x,y, options)
+      w = options[:width] ; h = options[:height] 
+      w ||= (@width - 2*x); h ||= (@height - 2*y) # default centers to x,y 
+      w *= Pango::SCALE   ; h *= Pango::SCALE    
+      layout.width=w      ; layout.height=h
+      layout
+    end
+
     def text(str, font, x, y, color, options)
       cc = cairo_context
       cc.set_source_color(color)
       cc.move_to(x,y)
       layout = cc.create_pango_layout
       layout.text = str.to_s
-      w = options[:width] ; h = options[:height] 
-      w ||= (@width - 2*x); h ||= (@height - 2*y) # default centers to x,y 
-      w *= Pango::SCALE   ; h *= Pango::SCALE    
-      layout.width=w      ; layout.height=h
-      layout.wrap = Pango::WRAP_WORD
-      layout.justify = true
-      layout.alignment = Pango::ALIGN_LEFT
+      layout.markup = str.to_s if options[:markup]
+      layout = setwh(layout, options) unless options[:width].nil? && options[:height].nil?
+      layout = fitxy(layout, x, y , options) if options[:fitxy]
+      layout = wrap(layout, options)
+      layout = ellipsize(layout, options)
+      layout = align(layout, options)
+      layout.justify = options[:justify] unless options[:justify].nil?
       layout.font_description = Pango::FontDescription.new(font)
-      #Center it vertically?
-      #puts "Height: #{layout.extents[1].height / Pango::SCALE}"
-      #puts "Height: #{layout.pixel_size[1]*layout.line_count}"
       cc.update_pango_layout(layout)
       cc.show_pango_layout(layout)
+      draw_text_hint(x,y,layout,options[:hint])
     end
 
   end
diff --git a/lib/squib/input_helpers.rb b/lib/squib/input_helpers.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f730317
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/squib/input_helpers.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+module Squib
+  module InputHelpers
+
+    def rangeify (range)
+      range = 0..(@cards.size-1) if range == :all
+      range = range..range if range.is_a? Integer
+      if range.max > (@cards.size-1)
+        raise "#{range} is outside of deck range of 0..#{@card.size-1}"
+      end
+      return range
+    end
+    module_function :rangeify
+
+    def fileify(file)
+      raise 'File #{file} does not exist!' unless File.exists? file
+      file
+    end
+    module_function :fileify
+
+    def colorify(color, nillable: false)
+      if nillable # for optional color arguments like text hints
+        color = Cairo::Color.parse(color) unless color.nil?
+      else
+        color ||= :black
+        color = Cairo::Color.parse(color)
+      end
+      color
+    end
+    module_function :colorify
+
+    def fontify (font)
+      font = 'Arial 36' if font==:use_set
+      font
+    end
+    module_function :fontify
+
+  end
+end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/samples/text.rb b/samples/text.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1be53b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/samples/text.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env ruby
+require 'squib'
+
+data = {'name' => ['Thief', 'Grifter', 'Mastermind'], 
+        'level' => [1,2,3]}
+longtext = "This is left-justified text centered on the card based on x and y.\nWhat do you know about tweetle beetles? well... \nWhen tweetle beetles fight, it's called a tweetle beetle battle. And when they battle in a puddle, it's a tweetle beetle puddle battle. AND when tweetle beetles battle with paddles in a puddle, they call it a tweetle beetle puddle paddle battle. AND... When beetles battle beetles in a puddle paddle battle and the beetle battle puddle is a puddle in a bottle... ..they call this a tweetle beetle bottle puddle paddle battle muddle. AND... When beetles fight these battles in a bottle with their paddles and the bottle's on a poodle and the poodle's eating noodles... ...they call this a muddle puddle tweetle poodle beetle noodle bottle paddle battle."
+
+Squib::Deck.new(width: 825, height: 1125, cards: 128) do
+  background color: :white
+  rect x: 15, y: 15, width: 795, height: 1095, x_radius: 50, y_radius: 50
+  rect x: 30, y: 30, width: 128, height: 128, x_radius: 25, y_radius: 25
+
+  text str: data['name'], x: 250, y: 55, font: 'Arial 54'
+  text str: data['level'], x: 65, y: 40, font: 'Arial 72', color: :burnt_orange
+
+  text str: "This text has a hint, fixed width, and fixed height", 
+       hint: :red,
+       x: 65, y: 400,
+       width: 300, height: 200,
+       font: 'Arial 24'
+
+  text str: "Ellipsization!\nThe ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything to life and everything is 42",
+       hint: :green, font: 'Arial 22',
+       x: 450, y: 400,
+       width: 280, height: 180,
+       ellipsize: true
+
+  hint text: :cyan
+  text str: "Text hints are also globally togglable!",
+        x: 65, y: 625,
+        font: 'Arial 22'
+  hint text: nil
+  text str: "See? No hint here.",
+        x: 565, y: 625,
+        font: 'Arial 22'
+
+  text str: longtext, font: 'Arial 16',
+       x: 65, y: 700, 
+       fitxy: true, justify: true
+
+  text str: "<b>Markup</b> is also <i>quite</i> <s>easy</s> awesome", 
+       markup: true,
+       x: 50, y: 1000,
+       font: 'Arial 32'
+  
+  save prefix: 'text_', format: :png
+end
+
+puts "Done!"
+
+