Hinting is set to off, not nil. Some more tests

lib/squib/graphics/image.rb

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ module Squib
     # :nodoc:
     # @api private 
     def svg(file, id, x, y, width, height, alpha, blend)
+      Squib.logger.debug {"Rendering: #{file}, #{id} #{x}, #{y}, #{width}, #{height}, #{alpha}, #{blend}"}
       return if file.nil? or file.eql? ''
       svg = RSVG::Handle.new_from_file(file)
       width = svg.width if width == :native

lib/squib/graphics/text.rb

@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ module Squib
     # :nodoc:
     # @api private 
     def draw_text_hint(x,y,layout, color)
-      return if color.nil? && @deck.text_hint.nil? 
       color ||= @deck.text_hint
+      return if color.to_s.eql? 'off'
       # when w,h < 0, it was never set. extents[1] are ink extents
       w = layout.width / Pango::SCALE
       w = layout.extents[1].width / Pango::SCALE if w < 0