diff --git a/Greenshot/Drawing/Surface.cs b/Greenshot/Drawing/Surface.cs
index ba7b979c3..8b23380cb 100644
--- a/Greenshot/Drawing/Surface.cs
+++ b/Greenshot/Drawing/Surface.cs
@@ -545,7 +545,30 @@ namespace Greenshot.Drawing {
 			}
 			return false;
 		}
+		
+		/// <summary>
+		/// "Grow" the canvas with the specified pixels on the left, right, top and bottom. Using the backgroundColor.
+		/// </summary>
+		/// <param name="backgroundColor"></param>
+		/// <param name="left"></param>
+		/// <param name="right"></param>
+		/// <param name="top"></param>
+		/// <param name="bottom"></param>
+		public void GrowCanvas(Color backgroundColor, int left, int right, int top, int bottom) {
+			Bitmap newImage = ImageHelper.GrowCanvas((Bitmap)Image, backgroundColor, left, right, top, bottom);
+			// Make sure the elements move according to the offset the effect made the bitmap move
+			elements.MoveBy(left, top);
+			// Make undoable
+			MakeUndoable(new SurfaceBackgroundChangeMemento(this, new Point(left, top)), false);
+			SetImage(newImage, false);
+			Invalidate();
+			SurfaceSizeChanged(this);
+		}
 
+		/// <summary>
+		/// Apply a bitmap effect to the surface
+		/// </summary>
+		/// <param name="effect"></param>
 		public void ApplyBitmapEffect(Effects effect) {
 			BackgroundForm backgroundForm = new BackgroundForm("Effect", "Please wait");
 			backgroundForm.Show();
diff --git a/GreenshotPlugin/Core/ImageHelper.cs b/GreenshotPlugin/Core/ImageHelper.cs
index c018c9628..07045a2ca 100644
--- a/GreenshotPlugin/Core/ImageHelper.cs
+++ b/GreenshotPlugin/Core/ImageHelper.cs
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ namespace GreenshotPlugin.Core {
 		/// <param name="sourceBitmap">Bitmap to make torn edge off</param>
 		/// <returns>Changed bitmap</returns>
 		public static Bitmap CreateTornEdge(Bitmap sourceBitmap) {
-			Bitmap returnImage = CreateEmptyLike(sourceBitmap);
+			Bitmap returnImage = CreateEmptyLike(sourceBitmap, Color.Empty);
 			using (GraphicsPath path = new GraphicsPath()) {
 				Random random = new Random();
 				int regionWidth = 20;
@@ -686,7 +686,7 @@ namespace GreenshotPlugin.Core {
 			}
 
 			// copy back to image
-			Bitmap newImage = CreateEmptyLike(sourceBitmap);
+			Bitmap newImage = CreateEmptyLike(sourceBitmap, Color.Empty);
 			var bits2 = newImage.LockBits(rct, ImageLockMode.ReadWrite, newImage.PixelFormat);
 			Marshal.Copy(dest, 0, bits2.Scan0, dest.Length);
 			newImage.UnlockBits(bits);
@@ -725,7 +725,7 @@ namespace GreenshotPlugin.Core {
 		/// <returns>Bitmap with the shadow, is bigger than the sourceBitmap!!</returns>
 		public static Bitmap CreateShadow(Image sourceBitmap, float darkness, int shadowSize, Point offset, PixelFormat targetPixelformat) {
 			// Create a new "clean" image
-			Bitmap newImage = CreateEmpty(sourceBitmap.Width + (shadowSize * 2), sourceBitmap.Height + (shadowSize * 2), targetPixelformat, sourceBitmap.HorizontalResolution, sourceBitmap.VerticalResolution);
+			Bitmap newImage = CreateEmpty(sourceBitmap.Width + (shadowSize * 2), sourceBitmap.Height + (shadowSize * 2), targetPixelformat, Color.Empty, sourceBitmap.HorizontalResolution, sourceBitmap.VerticalResolution);
 
 			using (Graphics graphics = Graphics.FromImage(newImage)) {
 				// Make sure we draw with the best quality!
@@ -806,7 +806,7 @@ namespace GreenshotPlugin.Core {
 			offset = new Point(borderSize, borderSize);
 
 			// Create a new "clean" image
-			Bitmap newImage = CreateEmpty(sourceBitmap.Width + (borderSize * 2), sourceBitmap.Height + (borderSize * 2), targetPixelformat, sourceBitmap.HorizontalResolution, sourceBitmap.VerticalResolution);
+			Bitmap newImage = CreateEmpty(sourceBitmap.Width + (borderSize * 2), sourceBitmap.Height + (borderSize * 2), targetPixelformat, Color.Empty, sourceBitmap.HorizontalResolution, sourceBitmap.VerticalResolution);
 			using (Graphics graphics = Graphics.FromImage(newImage)) {
 				// Make sure we draw with the best quality!
 				graphics.SmoothingMode = SmoothingMode.HighQuality;
@@ -839,7 +839,7 @@ namespace GreenshotPlugin.Core {
 		/// <returns>Bitmap with grayscale</returns>
 		public static Bitmap CreateGrayscale(Bitmap sourceBitmap) {
 			//create a blank bitmap the same size as original
-			Bitmap newBitmap = CreateEmptyLike(sourceBitmap);
+			Bitmap newBitmap = CreateEmptyLike(sourceBitmap, Color.Empty);
 
 			//get a graphics object from the new image
 			using (Graphics graphics = Graphics.FromImage(newBitmap)) {
@@ -992,9 +992,10 @@ namespace GreenshotPlugin.Core {
 		/// A generic way to create an empty image
 		/// </summary>
 		/// <param name="sourceBitmap">the source bitmap as the specifications for the new bitmap</param>
+		/// <param name="backgroundColor">The color to fill with, or Color.Empty to take the default depending on the pixel format</param>
 		/// <returns></returns>
-		public static Bitmap CreateEmptyLike(Bitmap sourceBitmap) {
-			return CreateEmpty(sourceBitmap.Width, sourceBitmap.Height, sourceBitmap.PixelFormat, sourceBitmap.HorizontalResolution, sourceBitmap.VerticalResolution);
+		public static Bitmap CreateEmptyLike(Bitmap sourceBitmap, Color backgroundColor) {
+			return CreateEmpty(sourceBitmap.Width, sourceBitmap.Height, sourceBitmap.PixelFormat, backgroundColor, sourceBitmap.HorizontalResolution, sourceBitmap.VerticalResolution);
 		}
 
 		/// <summary>
@@ -1003,17 +1004,20 @@ namespace GreenshotPlugin.Core {
 		/// <param name="width"></param>
 		/// <param name="height"></param>
 		/// <param name="format"></param>
+		/// <param name="backgroundColor">The color to fill with, or Color.Empty to take the default depending on the pixel format</param>
 		/// <param name="horizontalResolution"></param>
 		/// <param name="verticalResolution"></param>
 		/// <returns></returns>
-		public static Bitmap CreateEmpty(int width, int height, PixelFormat format, float horizontalResolution, float verticalResolution) {
+		public static Bitmap CreateEmpty(int width, int height, PixelFormat format, Color backgroundColor, float horizontalResolution, float verticalResolution) {
 			// Create a new "clean" image
 			Bitmap newImage = new Bitmap(width, height, format);
 			newImage.SetResolution(horizontalResolution, verticalResolution);
 
 			using (Graphics graphics = Graphics.FromImage(newImage)) {
 				// Make sure the background color is what we want (transparent or white, depending on the pixel format)
-				if (Image.IsAlphaPixelFormat(format)) {
+				if (!Color.Empty.Equals(backgroundColor)) {
+					graphics.Clear(backgroundColor);
+				} else if (Image.IsAlphaPixelFormat(format)) {
 					graphics.Clear(Color.Transparent);
 				} else {
 					graphics.Clear(Color.White);
@@ -1036,7 +1040,7 @@ namespace GreenshotPlugin.Core {
 			int destWidth  = (int)(sourceWidth * nPercent);
 			int destHeight = (int)(sourceHeight * nPercent);
 			
-			Bitmap scaledBitmap = CreateEmpty(destWidth, destHeight, sourceBitmap.PixelFormat, sourceBitmap.HorizontalResolution, sourceBitmap.VerticalResolution);
+			Bitmap scaledBitmap = CreateEmpty(destWidth, destHeight, sourceBitmap.PixelFormat, Color.Empty, sourceBitmap.HorizontalResolution, sourceBitmap.VerticalResolution);
 			using (Graphics graphics = Graphics.FromImage(scaledBitmap)) {
 				graphics.InterpolationMode = InterpolationMode.HighQualityBicubic;
 				graphics.DrawImage(sourceBitmap, new Rectangle(0, 0, destWidth, destHeight), new Rectangle(0, 0, sourceWidth, sourceHeight), GraphicsUnit.Pixel);
@@ -1048,13 +1052,14 @@ namespace GreenshotPlugin.Core {
 		/// Grow canvas with pixel to the left, right, top and bottom
 		/// </summary>
 		/// <param name="sourceBitmap"></param>
+		/// <param name="backgroundColor">The color to fill with, or Color.Empty to take the default depending on the pixel format</param>
 		/// <param name="left"></param>
 		/// <param name="right"></param>
 		/// <param name="top"></param>
 		/// <param name="bottom"></param>
 		/// <returns>a new bitmap with the source copied on it</returns>
-		public static Bitmap GrowCanvas(Bitmap sourceBitmap, int left, int right, int top, int bottom) {
-			Bitmap newBitmap = CreateEmpty(sourceBitmap.Width + left + right, sourceBitmap.Height + top + bottom, sourceBitmap.PixelFormat, sourceBitmap.HorizontalResolution, sourceBitmap.VerticalResolution);
+		public static Bitmap GrowCanvas(Bitmap sourceBitmap, Color backgroundColor, int left, int right, int top, int bottom) {
+			Bitmap newBitmap = CreateEmpty(sourceBitmap.Width + left + right, sourceBitmap.Height + top + bottom, sourceBitmap.PixelFormat, backgroundColor, sourceBitmap.HorizontalResolution, sourceBitmap.VerticalResolution);
 			using (Graphics graphics = Graphics.FromImage(newBitmap)) {
 				graphics.DrawImageUnscaled(sourceBitmap, left, top);
 			}
@@ -1065,10 +1070,11 @@ namespace GreenshotPlugin.Core {
 		/// Scale the bitmap, keeping aspect ratio, but the canvas will always have the specified size.
 		/// </summary>
 		/// <param name="sourceBitmap">Bitmap to scale</param>
+		/// <param name="backgroundColor">The color to fill with, or Color.Empty to take the default depending on the pixel format</param>
 		/// <param name="newWidth">new width</param>
 		/// <param name="newHeight">new height</param>
 		/// <returns>a new bitmap with the specified size, the source-bitmap scaled to fit with aspect ratio locked</returns>
-		public static Bitmap AspectratioLockedBitmapResize(Bitmap sourceBitmap, int newWidth, int newHeight) {
+		public static Bitmap AspectratioLockedBitmapResize(Bitmap sourceBitmap, Color backgroundColor, int newWidth, int newHeight) {
 			int destX = 0;
 			int destY = 0;
 			
@@ -1089,7 +1095,7 @@ namespace GreenshotPlugin.Core {
 			int destWidth = (int)(sourceBitmap.Width * nPercent);
 			int destHeight = (int)(sourceBitmap.Height * nPercent);
 
-			Bitmap newBitmap = CreateEmpty(newWidth, newHeight, sourceBitmap.PixelFormat, sourceBitmap.HorizontalResolution, sourceBitmap.VerticalResolution);
+			Bitmap newBitmap = CreateEmpty(newWidth, newHeight, sourceBitmap.PixelFormat, backgroundColor, sourceBitmap.HorizontalResolution, sourceBitmap.VerticalResolution);
 			using (Graphics graphics = Graphics.FromImage(newBitmap)) {
 				graphics.InterpolationMode = InterpolationMode.HighQualityBicubic;
 				graphics.DrawImage(sourceBitmap, new Rectangle(destX, destY, destWidth, destHeight), new Rectangle(0, 0, sourceBitmap.Width, sourceBitmap.Height), GraphicsUnit.Pixel);