diff --git a/lib/squib/api/image.rb b/lib/squib/api/image.rb
index 96c49aa..6b7ff05 100644
--- a/lib/squib/api/image.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/api/image.rb
@@ -14,13 +14,14 @@ module Squib
     # @option opts y [Integer] (0) the y-coordinate to place. Supports Arrays, see {file:README#Arrays_and_Singleton_Expansion Arrays and Singleon Expansion}
     # @option opts layout [String, Symbol] (nil) entry in the layout to use as defaults for this command. See {file:README.md#Custom_Layouts Custom Layouts}. Supports Arrays, see {file:README.md#Arrays_and_Singleton_Expansion Arrays and Singleon Expansion}
     # @option opts alpha [Decimal] (1.0) the alpha-transparency percentage used to blend this image. Supports Arrays, see {file:README.md#Arrays_and_Singleton_Expansion Arrays and Singleon Expansion}
+    # @option opts blend [:none, :multiply, :screen, :overlay, :darken, :lighten, :color_dodge, :color_burn, :hard_light, :soft_light, :difference, :exclusion, :hsl_hue, :hsl_saturation, :hsl_color, :hsl_luminosity] (:none) the composite blend operator used when applying this image. See Blend Modes at http://cairographics.org/operators. Supports Arrays, see {file:README.md#Arrays_and_Singleton_Expansion Arrays and Singleon Expansion}
     # @return [nil] Returns nil
     # @api public
     def png(opts = {})
-      opts = needs(opts, [:range, :files, :x, :y, :alpha, :layout])
+      opts = needs(opts, [:range, :files, :x, :y, :alpha, :layout, :blend])
       @progress_bar.start("Loading PNG(s)", opts[:range].size) do |bar|
         opts[:range].each do |i| 
-          @cards[i].png(opts[:file][i], opts[:x][i], opts[:y][i], opts[:alpha][i]) 
+          @cards[i].png(opts[:file][i], opts[:x][i], opts[:y][i], opts[:alpha][i], opts[:blend][i]) 
           bar.increment
         end
       end
@@ -40,14 +41,16 @@ module Squib
     # @option opts width [Integer] (:native) the pixel width that the image should scale to. SVG scaling is done with vectors, so the scaling should be smooth. When set to `:native`, uses the DPI and units of the loaded SVG document. Supports Arrays, see {file:README.md#Arrays_and_Singleton_Expansion Arrays and Singleon Expansion}
     # @option opts height [Integer] (:native) the pixel width that the image should scale to. SVG scaling is done with vectors, so the scaling should be smooth. When set to `:native`, uses the DPI and units of the loaded SVG document. Supports Arrays, see {file:README.md#Arrays_and_Singleton_Expansion Arrays and Singleon Expansion}
     # @option opts layout [String, Symbol] (nil) entry in the layout to use as defaults for this command. See {file:README.md#Custom_Layouts Custom Layouts}. Supports Arrays, see {file:README.md#Arrays_and_Singleton_Expansion Arrays and Singleon Expansion}
+    # @option opts alpha [Decimal] (1.0) the alpha-transparency percentage used to blend this image. Supports Arrays, see {file:README.md#Arrays_and_Singleton_Expansion Arrays and Singleon Expansion}
+    # @option opts blend [:none, :multiply, :screen, :overlay, :darken, :lighten, :color_dodge, :color_burn, :hard_light, :soft_light, :difference, :exclusion, :hsl_hue, :hsl_saturation, :hsl_color, :hsl_luminosity] (:none) the composite blend operator used when applying this image. See Blend Modes at http://cairographics.org/operators. Supports Arrays, see {file:README.md#Arrays_and_Singleton_Expansion Arrays and Singleon Expansion}
     # @return [nil] Returns nil
     # @api public
     def svg(opts = {})
-      p = needs(opts,[:range, :files, :svgid, :x, :y, :width, :height, :layout])
+      p = needs(opts,[:range, :files, :svgid, :x, :y, :width, :height, :layout, :alpha, :blend])
       @progress_bar.start("Loading SVG(s)", p[:range].size) do |bar|
         p[:range].each do |i| 
           @cards[i].svg(p[:file][i], p[:id][i], p[:x][i], p[:y][i], 
-                        p[:width][i], p[:height][i]) 
+                        p[:width][i], p[:height][i], p[:alpha][i], p[:blend][i]) 
           bar.increment
         end
       end
diff --git a/lib/squib/card.rb b/lib/squib/card.rb
index 8c7c3e6..ae818b7 100644
--- a/lib/squib/card.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/card.rb
@@ -2,35 +2,41 @@ require 'cairo'
 require 'squib/input_helpers'
 
 module Squib
-    # Back end graphics. Private.
-	class Card
-    include Squib::InputHelpers
+  # Back end graphics. Private.
+  class Card
+  include Squib::InputHelpers
 
-    # :nodoc:
-    # @api private 
-    attr_reader :width, :height
+  # :nodoc:
+  # @api private 
+  attr_reader :width, :height
 
-    # :nodoc:
-    # @api private 
-    attr_accessor :cairo_surface, :cairo_context
+  # :nodoc:
+  # @api private 
+  attr_accessor :cairo_surface, :cairo_context
 
-        # :nodoc:
-        # @api private 
-        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
+  # :nodoc:
+  # @api private 
+  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
 
-        ########################
-        ### BACKEND GRAPHICS ###
-        ########################
-        require 'squib/graphics/background'
-        require 'squib/graphics/image'
-        require 'squib/graphics/save_doc'
-        require 'squib/graphics/save_images'
-        require 'squib/graphics/shapes'
-        require 'squib/graphics/text'
-        
-      end
-    end
\ No newline at end of file
+  def use_cairo(&block)
+    @cairo_context.save
+    block.yield(@cairo_context)
+    @cairo_context.restore
+  end
+
+  ########################
+  ### BACKEND GRAPHICS ###
+  ########################
+  require 'squib/graphics/background'
+  require 'squib/graphics/image'
+  require 'squib/graphics/save_doc'
+  require 'squib/graphics/save_images'
+  require 'squib/graphics/shapes'
+  require 'squib/graphics/text'
+      
+  end
+end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/squib/constants.rb b/lib/squib/constants.rb
index 10ffa1e..5cf5ea0 100644
--- a/lib/squib/constants.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/constants.rb
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ module Squib
     SYSTEM_DEFAULTS = { 
       :align => :left,
       :alpha => 1.0,
+      :blend => :none,
       :color => :black,
       :default_font => 'Arial 36',
       :dir => "_output",
@@ -64,6 +65,7 @@ module Squib
     EXPANDING_PARAMS = {
           :align => :align,
           :alpha => :alpha,
+          :blend => :blend,
           :circle_radius => :radius,
           :color => :color,
           :ellipsize => :ellipsize,
diff --git a/lib/squib/graphics/background.rb b/lib/squib/graphics/background.rb
index d4950d2..19d816d 100644
--- a/lib/squib/graphics/background.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/graphics/background.rb
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@ module Squib
     # :nodoc:
     # @api private 
     def background(color)
-      cc = cairo_context
-      cc.set_source_color(color)
-      cc.paint
+      use_cairo do |cc|
+        cc.set_source_color(color)
+        cc.paint
+      end
     end
       
   end
diff --git a/lib/squib/graphics/image.rb b/lib/squib/graphics/image.rb
index 505e656..465f0e0 100644
--- a/lib/squib/graphics/image.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/graphics/image.rb
@@ -14,17 +14,19 @@ module Squib
 
     # :nodoc:
     # @api private 
-    def png(file, x, y, alpha)
+    def png(file, x, y, alpha, blend)
       return if file.nil? or file.eql? ''
-      cc = cairo_context
       png = Squib.cache_load_image(file)
-      cc.set_source(png, x, y)
-      cc.paint(alpha)
+      use_cairo do |cc|
+        cc.set_source(png, x, y)
+        cc.operator = blend unless blend == :none
+        cc.paint(alpha)
+      end
     end
 
     # :nodoc:
     # @api private 
-    def svg(file, id, x, y, width, height)
+    def svg(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
@@ -33,8 +35,11 @@ module Squib
       tmp_cc = Cairo::Context.new(tmp)
       tmp_cc.scale(width.to_f / svg.width.to_f, height.to_f / svg.height.to_f)
       tmp_cc.render_rsvg_handle(svg, id)
-      cairo_context.set_source(tmp, x, y)
-      cairo_context.paint
+      use_cairo do |cc|
+        cc.set_source(tmp, x, y)
+        cc.operator = blend unless blend == :none
+        cc.paint(alpha)
+      end
     end
 
   end
diff --git a/lib/squib/graphics/shapes.rb b/lib/squib/graphics/shapes.rb
index 95a7753..1c42591 100644
--- a/lib/squib/graphics/shapes.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/graphics/shapes.rb
@@ -5,51 +5,55 @@ module Squib
     # @api private 
     def rect(x, y, width, height, x_radius, y_radius, fill_color, stroke_color, stroke_width)
       width=@width if width==:native; height=@height if height==:native
-      cc = cairo_context
-      cc.rounded_rectangle(x, y, width, height, x_radius, y_radius)
-      cc.set_source_color(stroke_color)
-      cc.set_line_width(stroke_width)
-      cc.stroke
-      cc.rounded_rectangle(x, y, width, height, x_radius, y_radius)
-      cc.set_source_color(fill_color)
-      cc.fill
+      use_cairo do |cc|
+        cc.rounded_rectangle(x, y, width, height, x_radius, y_radius)
+        cc.set_source_color(stroke_color)
+        cc.set_line_width(stroke_width)
+        cc.stroke
+        cc.rounded_rectangle(x, y, width, height, x_radius, y_radius)
+        cc.set_source_color(fill_color)
+        cc.fill
+      end
     end
 
     # :nodoc:
     # @api private 
     def circle(x, y, radius, fill_color, stroke_color, stroke_width)
-      cc = cairo_context
-      cc.circle(x, y, radius)
-      cc.set_source_color(stroke_color)
-      cc.set_line_width(stroke_width)
-      cc.stroke
-      cc.circle(x, y, radius)
-      cc.set_source_color(fill_color)
-      cc.fill
+      use_cairo do |cc|
+        cc.circle(x, y, radius)
+        cc.set_source_color(stroke_color)
+        cc.set_line_width(stroke_width)
+        cc.stroke
+        cc.circle(x, y, radius)
+        cc.set_source_color(fill_color)
+        cc.fill
+      end
     end
 
     # :nodoc:
     # @api private 
     def triangle(x1, y1, x2, y2, x3, y3, fill_color, stroke_color, stroke_width)
-      cc = cairo_context
-      cc.triangle(x1, y1, x2, y2, x3, y3)
-      cc.set_source_color(stroke_color)
-      cc.set_line_width(stroke_width)
-      cc.stroke
-      cc.triangle(x1, y1, x2, y2, x3, y3)
-      cc.set_source_color(fill_color)
-      cc.fill
+      use_cairo do |cc|
+        cc.triangle(x1, y1, x2, y2, x3, y3)
+        cc.set_source_color(stroke_color)
+        cc.set_line_width(stroke_width)
+        cc.stroke
+        cc.triangle(x1, y1, x2, y2, x3, y3)
+        cc.set_source_color(fill_color)
+        cc.fill
+      end
     end
 
     # :nodoc:
     # @api private 
     def line(x1, y1, x2, y2, stroke_color, stroke_width)
-      cc = cairo_context
-      cc.move_to(x1, y1)
-      cc.line_to(x2, y2)
-      cc.set_source_color(stroke_color)
-      cc.set_line_width(stroke_width)
-      cc.stroke
+      use_cairo do |cc|
+        cc.move_to(x1, y1)
+        cc.line_to(x2, y2)
+        cc.set_source_color(stroke_color)
+        cc.set_line_width(stroke_width)
+        cc.stroke
+      end
     end
       
   end
diff --git a/lib/squib/graphics/text.rb b/lib/squib/graphics/text.rb
index 6b90533..d178d1a 100644
--- a/lib/squib/graphics/text.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/graphics/text.rb
@@ -89,24 +89,25 @@ module Squib
              x, y, width, height,
              markup, justify, wrap, ellipsize, 
              spacing, align, valign, hint)
-      Squib.logger.debug {"Placing '#{str}'' with font '#{font}' @ #{x}, #{y}, color: #{color}, etc. (TODO FILL THIS IN WITH METAPROGRAMMING)"}
-      cc = cairo_context
-      cc.set_source_color(color)
-      cc.move_to(x,y)
-      layout = cc.create_pango_layout
-      layout.font_description = Pango::FontDescription.new(font)
-      layout.text = str.to_s
-      layout.markup = str.to_s if markup
-      layout = setwh(layout, width, height)
-      layout = wrap(layout, wrap)
-      layout = ellipsize(layout, ellipsize)
-      layout = align(layout, align)
-      layout.justify = justify unless justify.nil?
-      layout.spacing = spacing * Pango::SCALE unless spacing.nil? 
-      cc.update_pango_layout(layout) 
-      valign(cc, layout, x,y, valign)
-      cc.update_pango_layout(layout) ; cc.show_pango_layout(layout)
-      draw_text_hint(x,y,layout,hint)
+      Squib.logger.debug {"Placing '#{str}'' with font '#{font}' @ #{x}, #{y}, color: #{color}, etc."}
+      use_cairo do |cc|
+        cc.set_source_color(color)
+        cc.move_to(x,y)
+        layout = cc.create_pango_layout
+        layout.font_description = Pango::FontDescription.new(font)
+        layout.text = str.to_s
+        layout.markup = str.to_s if markup
+        layout = setwh(layout, width, height)
+        layout = wrap(layout, wrap)
+        layout = ellipsize(layout, ellipsize)
+        layout = align(layout, align)
+        layout.justify = justify unless justify.nil?
+        layout.spacing = spacing * Pango::SCALE unless spacing.nil? 
+        cc.update_pango_layout(layout) 
+        valign(cc, layout, x,y, valign)
+        cc.update_pango_layout(layout) ; cc.show_pango_layout(layout)
+        draw_text_hint(x,y,layout,hint)
+      end
     end
 
   end
diff --git a/samples/ball.png b/samples/ball.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cf990bd
Binary files /dev/null and b/samples/ball.png differ
diff --git a/samples/grit.png b/samples/grit.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1cdbff3
Binary files /dev/null and b/samples/grit.png differ
diff --git a/samples/load_images.rb b/samples/load_images.rb
index d76ffab..e52a7b3 100644
--- a/samples/load_images.rb
+++ b/samples/load_images.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 require 'squib'
 
 Squib::Deck.new(width: 825, height: 1125, cards: 1) do
-  background color: :white
+  background color: '#0b7c8e'
   rect x: 38, y: 38, width: 750, height: 1050, x_radius: 38, y_radius: 38
 
   png file: 'shiny-purse.png', x: 620, y: 75
@@ -19,5 +19,9 @@ Squib::Deck.new(width: 825, height: 1125, cards: 1) do
   # relative to the SVG page. See this example in an SVG editor
   svg file: 'offset.svg', id: 'thing',  x: 0, y: 0, width: 600, height: 600
 
+  # Over 15 different blending operators are supported. See http://cairographics.org/operators
+  png file: 'ball.png', x: 50, y: 700
+  png file: 'grit.png', x: 70, y: 750, blend: :color_burn
+
   save prefix: 'load_images_', format: :png
 end
diff --git a/samples/shiny-purse.png b/samples/shiny-purse.png
index ac3ae19..477ef93 100644
Binary files a/samples/shiny-purse.png and b/samples/shiny-purse.png differ