diff --git a/examples/sliders/Slider.cpp b/examples/sliders/Slider.cpp
index e1044094..1ff46f97 100644
--- a/examples/sliders/Slider.cpp
+++ b/examples/sliders/Slider.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 
 #include <QskAspect.h>
 #include <QskRgbValue.h>
+#include <QskBoxShapeMetrics.h>
+#include <QskGradient.h>
 #include <QskAnimationHint.h>
 
 QSK_SUBCONTROL( Slider, Scale )
@@ -15,7 +17,15 @@ Slider::Slider( QQuickItem* parentItem ):
 
     setMetric( QskSlider::Handle | Size, 80 );
 
-    setColor( Fill, QskRgbValue::Grey700 );
+#if 0
+    const QskGradient fillGradient( QskGradient::Horizontal,
+        QskRgbValue::Grey700, QskRgbValue::Grey500 );
+#else
+    const QskGradient fillGradient( QskRgbValue::Grey700 );
+#endif
+
+    setBoxShapeHint( Fill, 0 );
+    setGradientHint( Fill, fillGradient );
     setColor( Scale, qRgb( 178, 178, 178 ) ); // for the ticks
 
     setColor( QskSlider::Handle, QskRgbValue::Grey800 );
diff --git a/examples/sliders/SliderSkinlet.cpp b/examples/sliders/SliderSkinlet.cpp
index 20696e9a..38d2fb06 100644
--- a/examples/sliders/SliderSkinlet.cpp
+++ b/examples/sliders/SliderSkinlet.cpp
@@ -8,12 +8,12 @@
 
 #include <QskAspect.h>
 #include <QskSlider.h>
-#include <QskPlainTextRenderer.h>
 #include <QskRgbValue.h>
+#include <QskTextNode.h>
+#include <QskTextOptions.h>
+#include <QskTextColors.h>
 
-#include <QSGTransformNode>
 #include <QSGFlatColorMaterial>
-#include <QSGSimpleRectNode>
 #include <QFontMetricsF>
 
 #include <cmath>
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ public:
         setMaterial( &m_material );
     }
 
-    void update( const QRectF& rect, qreal peak, const QColor& color )
+    void update( const QRectF& rect, qreal peakPos, const QColor& color )
     {
         if ( color != m_color )
         {
@@ -68,15 +68,15 @@ public:
             markDirty( QSGNode::DirtyMaterial );
         }
 
-        if ( rect != m_rect || peak != m_peak )
+        if ( rect != m_rect || peakPos != m_peakPos )
         {
             QSGGeometry::Point2D* p =
                 reinterpret_cast< QSGGeometry::Point2D* >( m_geometry.vertexData() );
 
             const qreal y0 = rect.y() + qskPeak;
 
-            setLine( p, peak, peak, rect.y() );
-            setLine( p + 2, peak - 5, peak + 5, y0 );
+            setLine( p, peakPos, peakPos, rect.y() );
+            setLine( p + 2, peakPos - 5, peakPos + 5, y0 );
 
             // corners manually "rounded" by 3 pixels
 
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ public:
             setLine( p + 14, rect.left() + 2, rect.right() - 2, rect.bottom() );
 
             m_rect = rect;
-            m_peak = peak;
+            m_peakPos = peakPos;
             markDirty( QSGNode::DirtyGeometry );
         }
     }
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ private:
     }
 
     QRectF m_rect;
-    qreal m_peak;
+    qreal m_peakPos;
     QColor m_color;
 
     QSGFlatColorMaterial m_material;
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ QSGNode* SliderSkinlet::updateSubNode(
             return updateDecorationNode( slider, node );
 
         case FillRole:
-            return updateFillNode( slider, node );
+            return Inherited::updateSubNode( skinnable, nodeRole, node );
 
         case HandleRole:
             return updateHandleNode( slider, node );
@@ -224,12 +224,6 @@ QRectF SliderSkinlet::handleRect( const QskSlider* slider ) const
     return handleRect;
 }
 
-QSGNode* SliderSkinlet::updateGrooveNode( const QskSlider*, QSGNode* ) const
-{
-    // we don't have a groove
-    return nullptr;
-}
-
 QSGNode* SliderSkinlet::updateScaleNode(
     const QskSlider* slider, QSGNode* node ) const
 {
@@ -284,7 +278,7 @@ QSGNode* SliderSkinlet::updateDecorationNode(
 
     const int tickCount = std::floor( slider->range() / slider->stepSize() ) + 1;
 
-    auto labelNode = static_cast< QSGTransformNode* >( decorationNode->firstChild() );
+    auto labelNode = static_cast< QskTextNode* >( decorationNode->firstChild() );
 
     auto stepStride = slider->stepSize() / slider->range() * decorationRect.width();
 
@@ -295,24 +289,17 @@ QSGNode* SliderSkinlet::updateDecorationNode(
     {
         if ( labelNode == nullptr )
         {
-            labelNode = new QSGTransformNode;
+            labelNode = new QskTextNode;
             decorationNode->appendChildNode( labelNode );
         }
 
         auto labelText = QString::number( slider->minimum() + slider->stepSize() * i, 'f', 0 );
 
-        QskPlainTextRenderer renderer;
-        renderer.setFont( qskLabelFont );
-        renderer.setAlignment( Qt::AlignHCenter );
-        renderer.updateNode( slider, QRectF(), labelText, labelNode,
-            QskRgbValue::Grey700, Qsk::Normal, Qt::transparent );
-
-        QMatrix4x4 matrix;
-        matrix.translate( x, y );
-        labelNode->setMatrix( matrix );
+        labelNode->setTextData( slider, labelText, QRectF( x, y, 0, 0 ),
+            qskLabelFont, QskTextOptions(), QskTextColors( QskRgbValue::Grey700 ),
+            Qt::AlignHCenter, Qsk::Normal );
 
         labelNode = static_cast< decltype( labelNode ) >( labelNode->nextSibling() );
-
         x += 100 * stepStride;
     }
 
@@ -328,28 +315,6 @@ QSGNode* SliderSkinlet::updateDecorationNode(
     return decorationNode;
 }
 
-QSGNode* SliderSkinlet::updateFillNode(
-    const QskSlider* slider, QSGNode* node ) const
-{
-    const QRectF fillRect = subControlRect( slider, QskSlider::Fill );
-    if ( fillRect.isEmpty() )
-        return nullptr;
-
-    QSGSimpleRectNode* fillNode = static_cast< QSGSimpleRectNode* >( node );
-
-    if ( fillNode == nullptr )
-    {
-        fillNode = new QSGSimpleRectNode;
-        fillNode->setFlags( QSGNode::OwnedByParent );
-        fillNode->setColor( slider->color( QskSlider::Fill ) );
-    }
-
-    fillNode->setRect( fillRect );
-    fillNode->markDirty( QSGNode::DirtyForceUpdate );
-
-    return fillNode;
-}
-
 QSGNode* SliderSkinlet::updateHandleNode(
     const QskSlider* slider, QSGNode* node ) const
 {
@@ -367,31 +332,26 @@ QSGNode* SliderSkinlet::updateHandleNode(
         slider->color( QskSlider::Handle ) );
 
     // finally the value label
-    auto labelNode = static_cast< QSGTransformNode* >( handleNode->firstChild() );
+    auto labelNode = static_cast< QskTextNode* >( handleNode->firstChild() );
     if ( labelNode == nullptr  )
     {
-        labelNode = new QSGTransformNode;
+        labelNode = new QskTextNode;
         handleNode->appendChildNode( labelNode );
     }
 
     QFont font( QStringLiteral( "Roboto" ) );
     font.setPixelSize( 26 );
 
-    QskPlainTextRenderer renderer;
-    renderer.setFont( font );
-    renderer.setAlignment( Qt::AlignHCenter );
-    renderer.updateNode( slider, handleRect.size(),
-        QString::number( slider->value(), 'f', 0 ),
-        labelNode, Qt::white, Qsk::Normal, Qt::transparent );
-
-#if 1
     const qreal h = QFontMetrics( font ).height();
-    qreal y = handleRect.bottom() - 0.5 * ( handleRect.height() - qskPeak + h );
 
-    QMatrix4x4 matrix;
-    matrix.translate( handleRect.x(), y );
-    labelNode->setMatrix( matrix );
-#endif
+    auto textRect = handleRect;
+    textRect.setTop( textRect.bottom() - 0.5 * ( textRect.height() - qskPeak + h ) );
+
+    const QString text = QString::number( slider->value(), 'f', 0 );
+
+    labelNode->setTextData( slider, text, textRect,
+        font, QskTextOptions(), QskTextColors( Qt::white ),
+        Qt::AlignHCenter, Qsk::Normal );
 
     return handleNode;
 }
diff --git a/examples/sliders/SliderSkinlet.h b/examples/sliders/SliderSkinlet.h
index 5d82d37b..39e1ab52 100644
--- a/examples/sliders/SliderSkinlet.h
+++ b/examples/sliders/SliderSkinlet.h
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ class SliderSkinlet : public QskSliderSkinlet
 public:
     enum NodeRole
     {
-        // we have a scale instead of the groove
+        // we have a scale instead of a groove
         ScaleRole = QskSliderSkinlet::HandleRole + 1,
         DecorationRole
     };
@@ -32,20 +32,15 @@ protected:
     virtual QSGNode* updateSubNode(
         const QskSkinnable*, quint8 nodeRole, QSGNode* ) const override;
 
-    virtual QSGNode* updateScaleNode( const QskSlider*, QSGNode* ) const;
-    virtual QSGNode* updateDecorationNode( const QskSlider*, QSGNode* ) const;
-
-    QSGNode* updateFillNode( const QskSlider*, QSGNode* ) const;
-    QSGNode* updateHandleNode( const QskSlider*, QSGNode* ) const;
-    QSGNode* updateGrooveNode( const QskSlider*, QSGNode* ) const;
-
 private:
+    QSGNode* updateScaleNode( const QskSlider*, QSGNode* ) const;
+    QSGNode* updateDecorationNode( const QskSlider*, QSGNode* ) const;
+    QSGNode* updateHandleNode( const QskSlider*, QSGNode* ) const;
+
     QRectF fillRect( const QskSlider* ) const;
     QRectF scaleRect( const QskSlider* ) const;
     QRectF decorationRect( const QskSlider* ) const;
     QRectF handleRect( const QskSlider* ) const;
-
-    void updateHandleLabel( const QskSlider*, QSGTransformNode* ) const;
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/controls/QskInputPanelSkinlet.cpp b/src/controls/QskInputPanelSkinlet.cpp
index e2c05a7b..d499f194 100644
--- a/src/controls/QskInputPanelSkinlet.cpp
+++ b/src/controls/QskInputPanelSkinlet.cpp
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 
 #include "QskAspect.h"
 #include "QskSkin.h"
-#include "QskSkinRenderer.h"
 #include "QskTextOptions.h"
 #include "QskTextNode.h"
 #include "QskBoxNode.h"
@@ -146,6 +145,7 @@ QSGNode* QskInputPanelSkinlet::updatePanelNode(
         const auto rowIndex = &keyRow - panelKeyData;
         auto& frames = panelNode->frames[ rowIndex ];
         auto& glyphs = panelNode->glyphs[ rowIndex ];
+
         for ( const auto& keyData : keyRow )
         {
             const auto colIndex = &keyData - keyRow;
@@ -217,10 +217,8 @@ QSGNode* QskInputPanelSkinlet::updateKeyGlyphNode(
     const auto alignment = textNode->flagHint< Qt::Alignment >(
         QskInputPanel::KeyGlyph | QskAspect::Alignment, Qt::AlignCenter );
 
-    QskSkinRenderer::updateText( textNode, rect, alignment,
-        panel->textForKey( key ), options, textNode, QskInputPanel::KeyGlyph );
-
-    return textNode;
+    return updateTextNode( panel, textNode, rect, alignment,
+        panel->textForKey( key ), options, QskInputPanel::KeyGlyph );
 }
 
 #include "moc_QskInputPanelSkinlet.cpp"
diff --git a/src/controls/QskListViewSkinlet.cpp b/src/controls/QskListViewSkinlet.cpp
index 0246f58c..87b0c940 100644
--- a/src/controls/QskListViewSkinlet.cpp
+++ b/src/controls/QskListViewSkinlet.cpp
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 #include "QskListViewSkinlet.h"
 #include "QskListView.h"
 #include "QskAspect.h"
-#include "QskSkinRenderer.h"
 #include "QskTextOptions.h"
 #include "QskTextNode.h"
 #include "QskGraphic.h"
diff --git a/src/controls/QskSkinRenderer.cpp b/src/controls/QskSkinRenderer.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index af337e98..00000000
--- a/src/controls/QskSkinRenderer.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,152 +0,0 @@
-/******************************************************************************
- * QSkinny - Copyright (C) 2016 Uwe Rathmann
- * This file may be used under the terms of the QSkinny License, Version 1.0
- *****************************************************************************/
-
-#include "QskSkinRenderer.h"
-#include "QskSkinnable.h"
-#include "QskControl.h"
-
-#include "QskTextRenderer.h"
-#include "QskPlainTextRenderer.h"
-#include "QskTextNode.h"
-
-#include <QMatrix4x4>
-
-QSizeF QskSkinRenderer::textSize( const QskSkinnable* skinnable,
-    const QString& text, const QskTextOptions& options,
-    QskAspect::Subcontrol subControl )
-{
-    using namespace QskAspect;
-
-    auto font = skinnable->effectiveFont( subControl );
-
-    if ( options.effectiveFormat( text ) == QskTextOptions::PlainText )
-    {
-        QskPlainTextRenderer renderer;
-        renderer.setFont( font );
-        renderer.setOptions( options );
-
-        return renderer.textSize( text );
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        QskTextRenderer renderer;
-        renderer.setFont( font );
-        renderer.setOptions( options );
-
-        return renderer.textSize( text );
-    }
-}
-
-QSizeF QskSkinRenderer::textSize( const QskSkinnable* skinnable,
-    const QSizeF& boundingSize, const QString& text,
-    const QskTextOptions& options, QskAspect::Subcontrol subControl )
-{
-    const auto font = skinnable->effectiveFont( subControl );
-
-    if ( options.effectiveFormat( text ) == QskTextOptions::PlainText )
-    {
-        QskPlainTextRenderer renderer;
-        renderer.setFont( font );
-        renderer.setOptions( options );
-
-        return renderer.textRect( boundingSize, text ).size();
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        QskTextRenderer renderer;
-        renderer.setFont( font );
-        renderer.setOptions( options );
-
-        return renderer.textRect( boundingSize, text ).size();
-    }
-}
-
-void QskSkinRenderer::updateText( const QskSkinnable* skinnable,
-    const QRectF& bounds, Qt::Alignment alignment,
-    const QString& text, const QskTextOptions& options,
-    QskTextNode* textNode, QskAspect::Subcontrol subControl )
-{
-    using namespace QskAspect;
-
-    QMatrix4x4 matrix;
-    matrix.translate( bounds.left(), bounds.top() );
-    textNode->setMatrix( matrix );
-
-    QskSkinHintStatus status;
-    auto textColor = skinnable->color( subControl, &status );
-    if ( !status.isValid() )
-        textColor = skinnable->color( subControl | QskAspect::TextColor );
-
-    auto font = skinnable->effectiveFont( subControl );
-
-    auto styleColor = skinnable->color( subControl | StyleColor );
-
-    auto textStyle = Qsk::Normal;
-    if ( styleColor.alpha() == 0 )
-    {
-        textStyle = skinnable->flagHint< Qsk::TextStyle >(
-            subControl | Style, Qsk::Normal );
-    }
-
-    const auto isPlainText = options.effectiveFormat( text ) == QskTextOptions::PlainText;
-
-    // doesn't work - we end up with a black rectangle TODO ...
-#if 0
-    // Optimization: only update the color if that is all that has changed
-    if ( isPlainText && color_is_dirty )
-    {
-        QskPlainTextRenderer::updateNodeColor( parentNode, textRgb,
-            fontOptions.textStyle, styleRgb );
-        return;
-    }
-#endif
-
-    switch ( options.fontSizeMode() )
-    {
-        case QskTextOptions::FixedSize:
-            break;
-
-        case QskTextOptions::HorizontalFit:
-            Q_UNIMPLEMENTED();
-            break;
-
-        case QskTextOptions::VerticalFit:
-            font.setPixelSize( bounds.height() * 0.5 );
-            break;
-
-        case QskTextOptions::Fit:
-            Q_UNIMPLEMENTED();
-            break;
-    }
-
-    QColor linkColor;
-    if ( !isPlainText )
-        linkColor = skinnable->color( subControl | LinkColor );
-
-    if ( textNode->setTextData( text, bounds.size(), font,
-        options, alignment, textStyle, textColor, styleColor, linkColor ) )
-    {
-        if ( isPlainText )
-        {
-            QskPlainTextRenderer renderer;
-            renderer.setFont( font );
-            renderer.setOptions( options );
-            renderer.setAlignment( alignment );
-
-            renderer.updateNode( skinnable->owningControl(), bounds.size(),
-                text, textNode, textColor, textStyle, styleColor );
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            QskTextRenderer renderer;
-            renderer.setFont( font );
-            renderer.setOptions( options );
-            renderer.setAlignment( alignment );
-
-            renderer.updateNode( skinnable->owningControl(), bounds.size(),
-                text, textNode, textColor, textStyle, styleColor, linkColor );
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/src/controls/QskSkinRenderer.h b/src/controls/QskSkinRenderer.h
deleted file mode 100644
index d2f09f35..00000000
--- a/src/controls/QskSkinRenderer.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,41 +0,0 @@
-/******************************************************************************
- * QSkinny - Copyright (C) 2016 Uwe Rathmann
- * This file may be used under the terms of the QSkinny License, Version 1.0
- *****************************************************************************/
-
-#ifndef QSK_SKIN_RENDERER_H
-#define QSK_SKIN_RENDERER_H
-
-#include "QskGlobal.h"
-#include "QskAspect.h"
-
-#include <Qt>
-
-class QskSkinnable;
-class QskTextOptions;
-class QskTextNode;
-
-class QPointF;
-class QRectF;
-class QSizeF;
-class QString;
-
-namespace QskSkinRenderer
-{
-    // a loose collection of functions, waiting to be
-    // organized somehow. TODO ...
-
-    QSK_EXPORT void updateText( const QskSkinnable*,
-        const QRectF&, Qt::Alignment,
-        const QString&, const QskTextOptions&,
-        QskTextNode*, QskAspect::Subcontrol );
-
-    QSK_EXPORT QSizeF textSize( const QskSkinnable*,
-        const QString&, const QskTextOptions&, QskAspect::Subcontrol );
-
-    QSK_EXPORT QSizeF textSize( const QskSkinnable*,
-        const QSizeF& boundingSize, const QString&,
-        const QskTextOptions&, QskAspect::Subcontrol );
-}
-
-#endif
diff --git a/src/controls/QskSkinlet.cpp b/src/controls/QskSkinlet.cpp
index 30c40d46..f109bb1b 100644
--- a/src/controls/QskSkinlet.cpp
+++ b/src/controls/QskSkinlet.cpp
@@ -13,10 +13,11 @@
 #include "QskBoxBorderMetrics.h"
 #include "QskBoxBorderColors.h"
 #include "QskGradient.h"
-#include "QskSkinRenderer.h"
 #include "QskBoxNode.h"
 #include "QskBoxClipNode.h"
 #include "QskTextNode.h"
+#include "QskTextColors.h"
+#include "QskTextOptions.h"
 #include "QskGraphicNode.h"
 #include "QskGraphicTextureFactory.h"
 #include "QskFunctions.h"
@@ -89,6 +90,31 @@ static inline bool qskIsBoxVisible( const QskBoxBorderMetrics& borderMetrics,
     return !borderMetrics.isNull() && borderColors.isVisible();
 }
 
+static inline QskTextColors qskTextColors(
+    const QskSkinnable* skinnable, QskAspect::Subcontrol subControl )
+{
+    using namespace QskAspect;
+
+    /*
+        Would be more efficient to have QskTextColors hints instead of
+        storing the colors as seperated hints. TODO ...
+     */
+
+    QskSkinHintStatus status;
+    
+    QskTextColors c;
+    c.textColor = skinnable->color( subControl, &status );
+#if 1
+    if ( !status.isValid() )
+        c.textColor = skinnable->color( subControl | QskAspect::TextColor );
+#endif  
+
+    c.styleColor = skinnable->color( subControl | StyleColor );
+    c.linkColor = skinnable->color( subControl | LinkColor );
+
+    return c;
+}
+
 class QskSkinlet::PrivateData
 {
 public:
@@ -428,8 +454,37 @@ QSGNode* QskSkinlet::updateTextNode(
     if ( textNode == nullptr )
         textNode = new QskTextNode();
 
-    QskSkinRenderer::updateText( skinnable, rect, alignment,
-        text, textOptions, textNode, subControl );
+    auto colors = qskTextColors( skinnable, subControl );
+
+    auto textStyle = Qsk::Normal;
+    if ( colors.styleColor.alpha() == 0 )
+    {
+        textStyle = skinnable->flagHint< Qsk::TextStyle >(
+            subControl | QskAspect::Style, Qsk::Normal );
+    }
+
+    auto font = skinnable->effectiveFont( subControl );
+
+    switch ( textOptions.fontSizeMode() )
+    {
+        case QskTextOptions::FixedSize:
+            break;
+
+        case QskTextOptions::HorizontalFit:
+            Q_UNIMPLEMENTED();
+            break;
+
+        case QskTextOptions::VerticalFit:
+            font.setPixelSize( rect.height() * 0.5 );
+            break;
+
+        case QskTextOptions::Fit:
+            Q_UNIMPLEMENTED();
+            break;
+    }
+
+    textNode->setTextData( skinnable->owningControl(),
+        text, rect, font, textOptions, colors, alignment, textStyle );
 
     return textNode;
 }
diff --git a/src/controls/QskSkinnable.cpp b/src/controls/QskSkinnable.cpp
index 24fc2829..04d09552 100644
--- a/src/controls/QskSkinnable.cpp
+++ b/src/controls/QskSkinnable.cpp
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 #include "QskControl.h"
 #include "QskColorFilter.h"
 #include "QskSkinTransition.h"
-#include "QskSkinRenderer.h"
 
 #include <QFont>
 #include <QElapsedTimer>
diff --git a/src/controls/QskTextLabel.cpp b/src/controls/QskTextLabel.cpp
index 706faa1e..6d38a19c 100644
--- a/src/controls/QskTextLabel.cpp
+++ b/src/controls/QskTextLabel.cpp
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 #include "QskTextLabel.h"
 #include "QskAspect.h"
 #include "QskTextOptions.h"
-#include "QskSkinRenderer.h"
+#include "QskTextNode.h"
 
 #include <QFontMetricsF>
 #include <QtMath>
@@ -172,8 +172,9 @@ QSizeF QskTextLabel::contentsSizeHint() const
 {
     if ( !m_data->text.isEmpty() )
     {
-        return QskSkinRenderer::textSize( this, m_data->text,
-            m_data->effectiveOptions(), QskTextLabel::Text );
+        const auto font = effectiveFont( Text );
+        return QskTextNode::textSize(
+            m_data->text, font, m_data->effectiveOptions() );
     }
 
     return QSizeF( 0, 0 );
@@ -181,7 +182,8 @@ QSizeF QskTextLabel::contentsSizeHint() const
 
 qreal QskTextLabel::heightForWidth( qreal width ) const
 {
-    const qreal lineHeight = QFontMetricsF( effectiveFont( Text ) ).height();
+    const auto font = effectiveFont( Text );
+    const qreal lineHeight = QFontMetricsF( font ).height();
 
     if ( m_data->text.isEmpty() ||
         ( m_data->textOptions.wrapMode() == QskTextOptions::NoWrap ) )
@@ -196,9 +198,8 @@ qreal QskTextLabel::heightForWidth( qreal width ) const
         maxHeight = m_data->textOptions.maximumLineCount() * lineHeight;
     }
 
-    const QSizeF size = QskSkinRenderer::textSize( this,
-        QSizeF( width, maxHeight ), m_data->text,
-        m_data->effectiveOptions(), QskTextLabel::Text );
+    QSizeF size( width, maxHeight );
+    size = QskTextNode::textSize( m_data->text, font, size, m_data->effectiveOptions() );
 
     return qCeil( size.height() );
 }
@@ -211,11 +212,11 @@ qreal QskTextLabel::widthForHeight( qreal height ) const
         return Inherited::widthForHeight( height );
     }
 
+    const auto font = effectiveFont( Text );
     const qreal maxWidth = std::numeric_limits< qreal >::max();
 
-    const QSizeF size = QskSkinRenderer::textSize( this, 
-        QSizeF( maxWidth, height ), m_data->text,
-        m_data->effectiveOptions(), QskTextLabel::Text );
+    QSizeF size( maxWidth, height );
+    size = QskTextNode::textSize( m_data->text, font, size, m_data->effectiveOptions() );
 
     return qCeil( size.width() );
 }
diff --git a/src/controls/QskVariantAnimator.cpp b/src/controls/QskVariantAnimator.cpp
index 1d9cbff7..3edfd680 100644
--- a/src/controls/QskVariantAnimator.cpp
+++ b/src/controls/QskVariantAnimator.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "QskBoxBorderMetrics.h"
 #include "QskBoxBorderColors.h"
 #include "QskGradient.h"
+#include "QskTextColors.h"
 
 // Even if we don't use the standard Qt animation system we
 // use its registry of interpolators: why adding our own ...
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ static void qskRegisterInterpolator()
     qRegisterAnimationInterpolator<QskBoxShapeMetrics>( QskBoxShapeMetrics::interpolate );
     qRegisterAnimationInterpolator<QskBoxBorderMetrics>( QskBoxBorderMetrics::interpolate );
     qRegisterAnimationInterpolator<QskBoxBorderColors>( QskBoxBorderColors::interpolate );
+    qRegisterAnimationInterpolator<QskTextColors>( QskTextColors::interpolate );
 }
 
 Q_CONSTRUCTOR_FUNCTION( qskRegisterInterpolator )
diff --git a/src/nodes/QskPlainTextRenderer.cpp b/src/nodes/QskPlainTextRenderer.cpp
index 47e9d2d6..9499d106 100644
--- a/src/nodes/QskPlainTextRenderer.cpp
+++ b/src/nodes/QskPlainTextRenderer.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 #include "QskPlainTextRenderer.h"
 #include "QskSkinlet.h"
+#include "QskTextColors.h"
 
 #include <QFontMetrics>
 #include <QGuiApplication>
@@ -175,9 +176,9 @@ static void qskRenderText(
     }
 }
 
-void QskPlainTextRenderer::updateNode(
-    const QQuickItem* item, const QRectF& rect, const QString& text, QSGNode* parentNode,
-    const QColor& textColor, Qsk::TextStyle style, const QColor& styleColor )
+void QskPlainTextRenderer::updateNode( const QString& text,
+    const QRectF& rect, Qsk::TextStyle style, const QskTextColors& colors,
+    const QQuickItem* item, QSGTransformNode* node )
 {
     QTextOption textOption( m_alignment );
     textOption.setWrapMode( static_cast< QTextOption::WrapMode >( m_options.wrapMode() ) );
@@ -197,8 +198,16 @@ void QskPlainTextRenderer::updateNode(
         + ( m_alignment & Qt::AlignVCenter
             ? ( rect.height() - position.y() ) * 0.5 : 0 ) );
 
-    qskRenderText( const_cast< QQuickItem* >( item ), parentNode, &layout, position,
-        textColor, static_cast< QQuickText::TextStyle >( style ), styleColor );
+    qskRenderText( const_cast< QQuickItem* >( item ), node, &layout, position,
+        colors.textColor, static_cast< QQuickText::TextStyle >( style ), colors.styleColor );
+}
+
+void QskPlainTextRenderer::updateNode( const QString& text,
+    const QSizeF& size, Qsk::TextStyle style, const QskTextColors& colors,
+    const QQuickItem* item, QSGTransformNode* node )
+{
+    const QRectF textRect( 0, 0, size.width(), size.height() );
+    updateNode( text, textRect, style, colors, item, node );
 }
 
 void QskPlainTextRenderer::updateNodeColor( QSGNode* parentNode, const QColor& textColor,
diff --git a/src/nodes/QskPlainTextRenderer.h b/src/nodes/QskPlainTextRenderer.h
index 5f7a2c28..6b1e8cc4 100644
--- a/src/nodes/QskPlainTextRenderer.h
+++ b/src/nodes/QskPlainTextRenderer.h
@@ -13,9 +13,13 @@
 #include <QFont>
 #include <QFontMetricsF>
 
+class QskTextColors;
+
 class QSGNode;
 class QQuickItem;
 class QColor;
+class QSGTransformNode;
+class QQuickItem;
 
 class QSK_EXPORT QskPlainTextRenderer
 {
@@ -27,13 +31,13 @@ public:
     void setOptions( const QskTextOptions& );
     void setAlignment( Qt::Alignment );
 
-    void updateNode(
-        const QQuickItem*, const QRectF&, const QString&, QSGNode* parentNode,
-        const QColor& textColor, Qsk::TextStyle, const QColor& styleColor );
+    void updateNode( const QString&, const QSizeF&,
+        Qsk::TextStyle, const QskTextColors&,
+        const QQuickItem*, QSGTransformNode* );
 
-    void updateNode(
-        const QQuickItem*, const QSizeF& size, const QString&, QSGNode* parentNode,
-        const QColor& textColor, Qsk::TextStyle, const QColor& styleColor );
+    void updateNode( const QString&, const QRectF&, 
+        Qsk::TextStyle, const QskTextColors&,
+        const QQuickItem*, QSGTransformNode* );
 
     static void updateNodeColor( QSGNode* parentNode,
         const QColor& textColor, Qsk::TextStyle, const QColor& styleColor );
@@ -50,12 +54,4 @@ private:
     Qt::Alignment m_alignment;
 };
 
-inline void QskPlainTextRenderer::updateNode(
-    const QQuickItem* item, const QSizeF& size, const QString& text, QSGNode* parentNode,
-    const QColor& textColor, Qsk::TextStyle style, const QColor& styleColor )
-{
-    updateNode( item, QRectF( QPointF(), size ),
-        text, parentNode, textColor, style, styleColor );
-}
-
 #endif
diff --git a/src/nodes/QskTextNode.cpp b/src/nodes/QskTextNode.cpp
index c7cb8e84..3939b862 100644
--- a/src/nodes/QskTextNode.cpp
+++ b/src/nodes/QskTextNode.cpp
@@ -5,11 +5,32 @@
 
 #include "QskTextNode.h"
 #include "QskTextOptions.h"
+#include "QskTextColors.h"
+#include "QskTextRenderer.h"
+#include "QskPlainTextRenderer.h"
 
 #include <QFont>
 #include <QColor>
 #include <QString>
 
+static inline uint qskHash( 
+    const QString& text, const QSizeF& size, const QFont& font,
+    const QskTextOptions& options, const QskTextColors& colors,
+    Qt::Alignment alignment, Qsk::TextStyle textStyle )
+{
+    uint hash = 11000;
+    
+    hash = qHash( text, hash );
+    hash = qHash( font, hash );
+    hash = qHash( options, hash );
+    hash = qHash( alignment, hash );
+    hash = qHash( textStyle, hash ); 
+    hash = colors.hash( hash ); 
+    hash = qHashBits( &size, sizeof( QSizeF ), hash );
+
+    return hash;
+}
+
 QskTextNode::QskTextNode():
     m_hash( 0 )
 {
@@ -19,26 +40,99 @@ QskTextNode::~QskTextNode()
 {
 }
 
-bool QskTextNode::setTextData(
-    const QString& text, const QSizeF& size, const QFont& font,
-    const QskTextOptions& options, Qt::Alignment alignment, Qsk::TextStyle textStyle,
-    const QColor& textColor, const QColor& styleColor, const QColor& linkColor )
+void QskTextNode::setTextData( const QQuickItem* item,
+    const QString& text, const QRectF& rect, const QFont& font,
+    const QskTextOptions& options, const QskTextColors& colors,
+    Qt::Alignment alignment, Qsk::TextStyle textStyle )
 {
-    uint hash;
+    if ( m_rect != rect )
+    {
+        QMatrix4x4 matrix;
+        matrix.translate( rect.left(), rect.top() );
 
-    hash = qHash( text, 0 );
-    hash = qHash( font, hash );
-    hash = qHash( options, hash );
-    hash = qHash( alignment, hash );
-    hash = qHash( textStyle, hash );
-    hash = qHash( textColor.rgba(), hash );
-    hash = qHash( styleColor.rgba(), hash );
-    hash = qHash( linkColor.rgba(), hash );
-    hash = qHashBits( &size, sizeof( QSizeF ), hash );
+        if ( matrix != this->matrix() ) // avoid setting DirtyMatrix accidently
+            setMatrix( matrix );
+    }
+
+    const uint hash = qskHash( text, rect.size(), font,
+        options, colors, alignment, textStyle );
 
     if ( hash == m_hash )
-        return false;
+        return;
 
     m_hash = hash;
-    return true;
+
+    const QRectF textRect( 0, 0, rect.width(), rect.height() );
+
+    if ( options.format() == QskTextOptions::PlainText )
+    {
+#if 0
+        if ( colors_only )
+        {
+            // doesn't work - we end up with a black rectangle TODO ...
+
+            QskPlainTextRenderer::updateNodeColor( parentNode, textRgb,
+                fontOptions.textStyle, styleRgb );
+            return;
+        }
+#endif
+        QskPlainTextRenderer renderer;
+        renderer.setFont( font );
+        renderer.setOptions( options );
+        renderer.setAlignment( alignment );
+
+        renderer.updateNode( text, textRect, textStyle, colors, item, this );
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        QskTextRenderer renderer;
+        renderer.setFont( font );
+        renderer.setOptions( options );
+        renderer.setAlignment( alignment );
+
+        renderer.updateNode( text, textRect, textStyle, colors, item, this );
+    }
 }
+
+QSizeF QskTextNode::textSize( const QString& text,
+    const QFont& font, const QskTextOptions& options )
+{
+    if ( options.effectiveFormat( text ) == QskTextOptions::PlainText )
+    {
+        QskPlainTextRenderer renderer;
+        renderer.setFont( font );
+        renderer.setOptions( options );
+
+        return renderer.textSize( text );
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        QskTextRenderer renderer;
+        renderer.setFont( font );
+        renderer.setOptions( options );
+    
+        return renderer.textSize( text ); 
+    }   
+}
+
+QSizeF QskTextNode::textSize( const QString& text, const QFont& font,
+    const QSizeF& boundingSize, const QskTextOptions& options )
+{
+    if ( options.effectiveFormat( text ) == QskTextOptions::PlainText )
+    {
+        QskPlainTextRenderer renderer;
+        renderer.setFont( font );
+        renderer.setOptions( options );
+
+        return renderer.textRect( boundingSize, text ).size();
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        QskTextRenderer renderer;
+        renderer.setFont( font );
+        renderer.setOptions( options );
+
+        return renderer.textRect( boundingSize, text ).size();
+    }
+}
+
diff --git a/src/nodes/QskTextNode.h b/src/nodes/QskTextNode.h
index ef30acba..96492b02 100644
--- a/src/nodes/QskTextNode.h
+++ b/src/nodes/QskTextNode.h
@@ -10,10 +10,13 @@
 #include "QskNamespace.h"
 
 #include <QSGTransformNode>
-#include <Qt>
+#include <QRectF>
 
 class QskTextOptions;
+class QskTextColors;
 class QString;
+class QFont;
+class QQuickItem;
 
 class QSK_EXPORT QskTextNode : public QSGTransformNode
 {
@@ -21,10 +24,22 @@ public:
     QskTextNode();
     virtual ~QskTextNode();
 
-    bool setTextData( const QString& text, const QSizeF&, const QFont&,
-        const QskTextOptions&, Qt::Alignment, Qsk::TextStyle,
-        const QColor& textColor, const QColor& styleColor, const QColor& linkColor );
+    void setTextData( const QQuickItem* item,
+        const QString& text, const QRectF&, const QFont&,
+        const QskTextOptions&, const QskTextColors&,
+        Qt::Alignment, Qsk::TextStyle );
+
+#if 1
+    // for the moment here TODO ...
+    static QSizeF textSize( const QString&,
+        const QFont&, const QskTextOptions& );
+        
+    static QSizeF textSize( const QString&, const QFont&,
+        const QSizeF&, const QskTextOptions& );
+#endif
+
 private:
+    QRectF m_rect;
     uint m_hash;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/nodes/QskTextRenderer.cpp b/src/nodes/QskTextRenderer.cpp
index f09b4da5..a699da77 100644
--- a/src/nodes/QskTextRenderer.cpp
+++ b/src/nodes/QskTextRenderer.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
  *****************************************************************************/
 
 #include "QskTextRenderer.h"
+#include "QskTextColors.h"
+
 #include <QQuickWindow>
 
 QSK_QT_PRIVATE_BEGIN
@@ -16,63 +18,40 @@ QSK_QT_PRIVATE_END
 class QskTextHelperItem final : public QQuickText
 {
 public:
-    QskTextHelperItem();
-
     void refWindow( QQuickWindow* window );
     void derefWindow();
 
-    void begin();
-    void end();
+    void begin() { classBegin(); }
+    void end() { componentComplete(); }
 
-    QRectF layedOutTextRect() const;
-    void updateTextNode( QQuickWindow*, QSGNode* );
+    QRectF layedOutTextRect() const
+    {
+        auto that = const_cast< QskTextHelperItem* >( this );
+        return QQuickTextPrivate::get( that )->layedOutTextRect;
+    }
 
+    void updateTextNode( QQuickWindow* window, QSGNode* parentNode )
+    {
+        QQuickItemPrivate::get( this )->refWindow( window );
+
+        while ( parentNode->firstChild() )
+            delete parentNode->firstChild(); 
+
+        auto node = QQuickText::updatePaintNode( nullptr, nullptr );
+        node->reparentChildNodesTo( parentNode );
+        delete node;
+
+        QQuickItemPrivate::get( this )->derefWindow();
+    }
 protected:
     virtual QSGNode* updatePaintNode(
-        QSGNode*, UpdatePaintNodeData* ) override final;
+        QSGNode*, UpdatePaintNodeData* ) override final
+    {
+        // should never be called
+        return nullptr;
+    }
 };
 
-QskTextHelperItem::QskTextHelperItem():
-    QQuickText( nullptr )
-{
-}
-
-QRectF QskTextHelperItem::layedOutTextRect() const
-{
-    auto that = const_cast< QskTextHelperItem* >( this );
-    return QQuickTextPrivate::get( that )->layedOutTextRect;
-}
-
-void QskTextHelperItem::updateTextNode( QQuickWindow* window, QSGNode* parentNode )
-{
-    QQuickItemPrivate::get( this )->refWindow( window );
-
-    while ( parentNode->firstChild() )
-        delete parentNode->firstChild(); // This is done in QQuickText::updatePaintNode anyway
-
-    auto node = QQuickText::updatePaintNode( nullptr, nullptr );
-    node->reparentChildNodesTo( parentNode );
-    delete node;
-
-    QQuickItemPrivate::get( this )->derefWindow();
-}
-
-void QskTextHelperItem::begin()
-{
-    classBegin();
-}
-
-void QskTextHelperItem::end()
-{
-    componentComplete();
-}
-
-QSGNode* QskTextHelperItem::updatePaintNode( QSGNode*, UpdatePaintNodeData* )
-{
-    // should never be called
-    return nullptr;
-}
-
 /*
     size requests and rendering might be from different threads and we
     better use different items as we might end up in events internally
@@ -171,13 +150,12 @@ void QskTextRenderer::setupItem( QskTextHelperItem* textItem ) const
 #endif
 }
 
-void QskTextRenderer::updateNode( const QQuickItem* item,
-    const QRectF& rect, const QString& text, QSGTransformNode* parentNode,
-    const QColor& textColor, Qsk::TextStyle style, const QColor& styleColor,
-    const QColor& linkColor )
+void QskTextRenderer::updateNode( const QString& text,
+    const QRectF& rect, Qsk::TextStyle style, const QskTextColors& colors,
+    const QQuickItem* item, QSGTransformNode* node )
 {
     // are we killing internal caches of QQuickText, when always using
-    // the same item for the creation the text nodes ???
+    // the same item for the creation the text nodes. TODO ... 
 
     if ( qskRenderHelper == NULL )
         qskRenderHelper = new QskTextHelperItem();
@@ -204,16 +182,23 @@ void QskTextRenderer::updateNode( const QQuickItem* item,
         textItem.doLayout();
     }
 
-    textItem.setColor( textColor );
+    textItem.setColor( colors.textColor );
     textItem.setStyle( static_cast< QQuickText::TextStyle >( style ) );
-    textItem.setStyleColor( styleColor );
-    textItem.setLinkColor( linkColor );
+    textItem.setStyleColor( colors.styleColor );
+    textItem.setLinkColor( colors.linkColor );
 
     textItem.setText( text );
 
     textItem.end();
 
-    textItem.updateTextNode( item->window(), parentNode );
-
+    textItem.updateTextNode( item->window(), node );
     textItem.setText( QString::null );
 }
+
+void QskTextRenderer::updateNode( const QString& text,
+    const QSizeF& size, Qsk::TextStyle style, const QskTextColors& colors,
+    const QQuickItem* item, QSGTransformNode* node )
+{
+    const QRectF textRect( 0, 0, size.width(), size.height() );
+    updateNode( text, textRect, style, colors, item, node );
+}
diff --git a/src/nodes/QskTextRenderer.h b/src/nodes/QskTextRenderer.h
index b41b0518..e64f03ae 100644
--- a/src/nodes/QskTextRenderer.h
+++ b/src/nodes/QskTextRenderer.h
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include <QRectF>
 
 class QskTextHelperItem;
+class QskTextColors;
 
 class QQuickItem;
 class QQuickWindow;
@@ -31,13 +32,13 @@ public:
     void setOptions( const QskTextOptions& );
     void setAlignment( Qt::Alignment );
 
-    void updateNode( const QQuickItem*, const QSizeF&, const QString&,
-        QSGTransformNode*, const QColor& textColor,
-        Qsk::TextStyle, const QColor& styleColor, const QColor& linkColor );
+    void updateNode( const QString&, const QSizeF&,
+        Qsk::TextStyle, const QskTextColors&,
+        const QQuickItem*, QSGTransformNode* );
 
-    void updateNode( const QQuickItem*, const QRectF&, const QString&,
-        QSGTransformNode*, const QColor& textColor, Qsk::TextStyle,
-        const QColor& styleColor, const QColor& linkColor );
+    void updateNode( const QString&, const QRectF&, 
+        Qsk::TextStyle, const QskTextColors&,
+        const QQuickItem*, QSGTransformNode* );
 
     QSizeF textSize( const QString& ) const;
     QRectF textRect( const QSizeF&, const QString& ) const;
@@ -50,12 +51,4 @@ private:
     Qt::Alignment m_alignment;
 };
 
-inline void QskTextRenderer::updateNode( const QQuickItem* item, const QSizeF& size,
-    const QString& text, QSGTransformNode* node, const QColor& textColor,
-    Qsk::TextStyle style, const QColor& styleColor, const QColor& linkColor )
-{
-    updateNode( item, QRectF( 0, 0, size.width(), size.height() ), text, node,
-        textColor, style, styleColor, linkColor );
-}
-
 #endif
diff --git a/src/src.pro b/src/src.pro
index 5fe4801a..a0808ab3 100644
--- a/src/src.pro
+++ b/src/src.pro
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ HEADERS += \
     common/QskNamespace.h \
     common/QskObjectCounter.h \
     common/QskSizePolicy.h \
+    common/QskTextColors.h \
     common/QskTextOptions.h
 
 SOURCES += \
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@ SOURCES += \
     common/QskModule.cpp \
     common/QskObjectCounter.cpp \
     common/QskSizePolicy.cpp \
+    common/QskTextColors.cpp \
     common/QskTextOptions.cpp
 
 HEADERS += \
@@ -154,7 +156,6 @@ HEADERS += \
     controls/QskSkinHintTable.h \
     controls/QskSkinlet.h \
     controls/QskSkinnable.h \
-    controls/QskSkinRenderer.h \
     controls/QskSkinTransition.h \
     controls/QskSlider.h \
     controls/QskSliderSkinlet.h \
@@ -218,7 +219,6 @@ SOURCES += \
     controls/QskSkinFactory.cpp \
     controls/QskSkinlet.cpp \
     controls/QskSkinnable.cpp \
-    controls/QskSkinRenderer.cpp \
     controls/QskSkinTransition.cpp \
     controls/QskSlider.cpp \
     controls/QskSliderSkinlet.cpp \