diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 21053e8d..26b8ced6 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 - fix to vipsthumbnail --crop, thanks Alessandro 
 - add vips_sum()
 - add vips_hough base class and vips_hough_line()
-- add vips_draw_add()
+- add "mode" param to vips_draw_image()
 
 6/3/14 started 7.38.6
 - grey ramp minimum was wrong
diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index 09b4715a..f9f17dbc 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-- add a "mode" param to draw_image.c, get rid of draw_add.c
+- vips_draw_image() might need a direct mode? see vips_flood_direct()
 
 - hough_line.c should have a main accumulator and use vips_draw_add() to add
   threads to that
diff --git a/bootstrap.sh b/bootstrap.sh
index 2488f60c..d07e6996 100755
--- a/bootstrap.sh
+++ b/bootstrap.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
-set -x
+# set -x
 
 # a bunch of cleaning up ... make certain everything will be regenerated
 rm -f Makefile Makefile.in aclocal.m4 
diff --git a/libvips/draw/Makefile.am b/libvips/draw/Makefile.am
index fe68356f..20f8ece2 100644
--- a/libvips/draw/Makefile.am
+++ b/libvips/draw/Makefile.am
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ libdraw_la_SOURCES = \
 	draw_flood.c \
 	draw_mask.c \
 	draw_image.c \
-	draw_add.c \
 	draw_rect.c \
 	draw_line.h \
 	draw_line.c \
diff --git a/libvips/draw/draw.c b/libvips/draw/draw.c
index 71ae2ef1..74d8d249 100644
--- a/libvips/draw/draw.c
+++ b/libvips/draw/draw.c
@@ -130,7 +130,6 @@ vips_draw_operation_init( void )
 {
 	extern GType vips_draw_rect_get_type( void ); 
 	extern GType vips_draw_image_get_type( void ); 
-	extern GType vips_draw_add_get_type( void ); 
 	extern GType vips_draw_mask_get_type( void ); 
 	extern GType vips_draw_line_get_type( void ); 
 	extern GType vips_draw_line_mask_get_type( void ); 
@@ -141,7 +140,6 @@ vips_draw_operation_init( void )
 
 	vips_draw_rect_get_type();
 	vips_draw_image_get_type();
-	vips_draw_add_get_type();
 	vips_draw_mask_get_type();
 	vips_draw_line_get_type();
 	vips_draw_line_mask_get_type();
diff --git a/libvips/draw/draw_add.c b/libvips/draw/draw_add.c
deleted file mode 100644
index 2d5f85b7..00000000
--- a/libvips/draw/draw_add.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,238 +0,0 @@
-/* in-place add, ie. a = a + b
- *
- * 26/3/14
- * 	- from draw_image.c
- */
-
-/*
-
-    This file is part of VIPS.
-    
-    VIPS is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
-    it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
-    the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
-    (at your option) any later version.
-
-    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
-    GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
-
-    You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
-    along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
-    Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA
-    02110-1301  USA
-
- */
-
-/*
-
-    These files are distributed with VIPS - http://www.vips.ecs.soton.ac.uk
-
- */
-
-#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
-#include <config.h>
-#endif /*HAVE_CONFIG_H*/
-#include <vips/intl.h>
-
-#include <stdio.h>
-#include <stdlib.h>
-#include <string.h>
-
-#include <vips/vips.h>
-#include <vips/internal.h>
-
-#include "pdraw.h"
-
-typedef struct _VipsDrawAdd {
-	VipsDraw parent_object;
-
-	/* Parameters.
-	 */
-	VipsImage *sub;
-	int x;
-	int y;
-
-} VipsDrawAdd;
-
-typedef struct _VipsDrawAddClass {
-	VipsDrawClass parent_class;
-
-} VipsDrawAddClass; 
-
-G_DEFINE_TYPE( VipsDrawAdd, vips_draw_add, VIPS_TYPE_DRAW );
-
-#define LOOP( TYPE ) { \
-	TYPE * restrict pt = (TYPE *) p; \
-	TYPE * restrict qt = (TYPE *) q; \
-	\
-	for( x = 0; x < sz; x++ ) \
-		qt[x] += pt[x]; \
-}
-
-static int
-vips_draw_add_build( VipsObject *object )
-{
-	VipsObjectClass *class = VIPS_OBJECT_GET_CLASS( object );
-	VipsDraw *draw = VIPS_DRAW( object );
-	VipsDrawAdd *image = (VipsDrawAdd *) object;
-	VipsImage **t = (VipsImage **) vips_object_local_array( object, 3 );
-
-	VipsImage *im;
-	VipsRect image_rect;
-	VipsRect sub_rect; 
-	VipsRect clip_rect;
-
-	if( VIPS_OBJECT_CLASS( vips_draw_add_parent_class )->build( object ) )
-		return( -1 );
-
-	if( vips_check_uncoded( class->nickname, draw->image ) ||
-		vips_check_coding_same( class->nickname, 
-			draw->image, image->sub ) ||
-		vips_check_bands_1orn_unary( class->nickname, 
-			image->sub, draw->image->Bands ) )
-		return( -1 );
-
-	/* Cast sub to match main in bands and format.
-	 */
-	im = image->sub;
-	if( vips__bandup( class->nickname, 
-		im, &t[0], draw->image->Bands ) ||
-		vips_cast( t[0], &t[1], draw->image->BandFmt, NULL ) )
-		return( -1 );
-	im = t[1];
-
-	/* Make rects for main and sub and clip.
-	 */
-	image_rect.left = 0;
-	image_rect.top = 0;
-	image_rect.width = draw->image->Xsize;
-	image_rect.height = draw->image->Ysize;
-	sub_rect.left = image->x;
-	sub_rect.top = image->y;
-	sub_rect.width = im->Xsize;
-	sub_rect.height = im->Ysize;
-	vips_rect_intersectrect( &image_rect, &sub_rect, &clip_rect );
-
-	if( !vips_rect_isempty( &clip_rect ) ) {
-		/* Complex just doubles the size.
-		 */
-		const int sz = clip_rect.width * im->Bands * 
-			(vips_band_format_iscomplex( im->BandFmt ) ? 
-		 	2 : 1);
-
-		VipsPel *p, *q;
-		int x, y;
-
-		if( vips_image_wio_input( im ) )
-			return( -1 ); 
-
-		p = VIPS_IMAGE_ADDR( im, 
-			clip_rect.left - image->x, clip_rect.top - image->y );
-		q = VIPS_IMAGE_ADDR( draw->image, 
-			clip_rect.left, clip_rect.top );
-
-		for( y = 0; y < clip_rect.height; y++ ) {
-			switch( im->BandFmt ) {
-			case VIPS_FORMAT_UCHAR: 	
-				LOOP( unsigned char ); break; 
-			case VIPS_FORMAT_CHAR: 	
-				LOOP( signed char ); break; 
-			case VIPS_FORMAT_USHORT: 
-				LOOP( unsigned short ); break; 
-			case VIPS_FORMAT_SHORT: 	
-				LOOP( signed short ); break; 
-			case VIPS_FORMAT_UINT: 	
-				LOOP( unsigned int ); break; 
-			case VIPS_FORMAT_INT: 	
-				LOOP( signed int ); break; 
-
-			case VIPS_FORMAT_FLOAT: 		
-			case VIPS_FORMAT_COMPLEX: 
-				LOOP( float ); break; 
-
-			case VIPS_FORMAT_DOUBLE:	
-			case VIPS_FORMAT_DPCOMPLEX: 
-				LOOP( double ); break;
-
-			default:
-				g_assert( 0 );
-			}
-
-			p += VIPS_IMAGE_SIZEOF_LINE( im );
-			q += VIPS_IMAGE_SIZEOF_LINE( draw->image );
-		}
-	}
-
-	return( 0 );
-}
-
-static void
-vips_draw_add_class_init( VipsDrawAddClass *class )
-{
-	GObjectClass *gobject_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS( class );
-	VipsObjectClass *vobject_class = VIPS_OBJECT_CLASS( class );
-
-	gobject_class->set_property = vips_object_set_property;
-	gobject_class->get_property = vips_object_get_property;
-
-	vobject_class->nickname = "draw_add";
-	vobject_class->description = _( "add an image into another image" );
-	vobject_class->build = vips_draw_add_build;
-
-	VIPS_ARG_IMAGE( class, "sub", 5, 
-		_( "Sub-image" ), 
-		_( "Sub-image to add to main image" ),
-		VIPS_ARGUMENT_REQUIRED_INPUT,
-		G_STRUCT_OFFSET( VipsDrawAdd, sub ) );
-
-	VIPS_ARG_INT( class, "x", 6, 
-		_( "x" ), 
-		_( "Add image here" ),
-		VIPS_ARGUMENT_REQUIRED_INPUT,
-		G_STRUCT_OFFSET( VipsDrawAdd, x ),
-		-1000000000, 1000000000, 0 );
-
-	VIPS_ARG_INT( class, "y", 7, 
-		_( "y" ), 
-		_( "Add image here" ),
-		VIPS_ARGUMENT_REQUIRED_INPUT,
-		G_STRUCT_OFFSET( VipsDrawAdd, y ),
-		-1000000000, 1000000000, 0 );
-
-}
-
-static void
-vips_draw_add_init( VipsDrawAdd *draw_add )
-{
-}
-
-/**
- * vips_draw_add:
- * @image: image to add to
- * @sub: image to add from
- * @x: add @sub here
- * @y: add @sub here
- *
- * Add @sub to @image at position @x, @y. The two images must be uncoded.
- * If @sub has 1 band, the bands will be duplicated to match the
- * number of bands in @image. @sub will be converted to @image's format, see
- * vips_cast().
- *
- * See also: vips_draw_mask(), vips_draw_image(), vips_insert().
- *
- * Returns: 0 on success, or -1 on error.
- */
-int
-vips_draw_add( VipsImage *image, VipsImage *sub, int x, int y, ... )
-{
-	va_list ap;
-	int result;
-
-	va_start( ap, y );
-	result = vips_call_split( "draw_add", ap, image, sub, x, y );
-	va_end( ap );
-
-	return( result );
-}
diff --git a/libvips/draw/draw_image.c b/libvips/draw/draw_image.c
index c65bd939..4e5123cf 100644
--- a/libvips/draw/draw_image.c
+++ b/libvips/draw/draw_image.c
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@
  * 	- gtk-doc
  * 9/2/14
  * 	- redo as a class, based on draw_image
+ * 28/3/14
+ * 	- add "mode" param
  */
 
 /*
@@ -63,6 +65,7 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
+#include <limits.h>
 
 #include <vips/vips.h>
 #include <vips/internal.h>
@@ -88,7 +91,25 @@ typedef struct _VipsDrawImageClass {
 
 G_DEFINE_TYPE( VipsDrawImage, vips_draw_image, VIPS_TYPE_DRAW );
 
-#define LOOP( TYPE ) { \
+#define LOOP( TYPE, TEMP, MIN, MAX ) { \
+	TYPE * restrict pt = (TYPE *) p; \
+	TYPE * restrict qt = (TYPE *) q; \
+	\
+	for( x = 0; x < sz; x++ ) { \
+		TEMP v; \
+		\
+		v = pt[x] + qt[x]; \
+		\
+		if( v > MAX ) \
+			v = MAX; \
+		else if( v < MIN ) \
+			v = MIN; \
+		\
+		qt[x] = v; \
+	} \
+}
+
+#define LOOPF( TYPE ) { \
 	TYPE * restrict pt = (TYPE *) p; \
 	TYPE * restrict qt = (TYPE *) q; \
 	\
@@ -97,37 +118,37 @@ G_DEFINE_TYPE( VipsDrawImage, vips_draw_image, VIPS_TYPE_DRAW );
 }
 
 static void
-vips_draw_image_mode_add( VipsDrawImage *draw_image,
+vips_draw_image_mode_add( VipsDrawImage *draw_image, VipsImage *im, 
 	VipsPel *q, VipsPel *p, int n )
 {
 	/* Complex just doubles the size.
 	 */
-	const int sz = clip_rect.width * im->Bands * 
+	const int sz = n * im->Bands * 
 		(vips_band_format_iscomplex( im->BandFmt ) ?  2 : 1);
 
 	int x;
 
 	switch( im->BandFmt ) {
 	case VIPS_FORMAT_UCHAR: 	
-		LOOP( unsigned char ); break; 
+		LOOP( unsigned char, int, 0, UCHAR_MAX ); break; 
 	case VIPS_FORMAT_CHAR: 	
-		LOOP( signed char ); break; 
+		LOOP( signed char, int, SCHAR_MIN, SCHAR_MAX ); break; 
 	case VIPS_FORMAT_USHORT: 
-		LOOP( unsigned short ); break; 
+		LOOP( unsigned short, int, 0, USHRT_MAX ); break; 
 	case VIPS_FORMAT_SHORT: 	
-		LOOP( signed short ); break; 
+		LOOP( signed short, int, SCHAR_MIN, SCHAR_MAX ); break; 
 	case VIPS_FORMAT_UINT: 	
-		LOOP( unsigned int ); break; 
+		LOOP( unsigned int, gint64, 0, UINT_MAX ); break; 
 	case VIPS_FORMAT_INT: 	
-		LOOP( signed int ); break; 
+		LOOP( signed int, gint64, INT_MIN, INT_MAX ); break; 
 
 	case VIPS_FORMAT_FLOAT: 		
 	case VIPS_FORMAT_COMPLEX: 
-		LOOP( float ); break; 
+		LOOPF( float ); break; 
 
 	case VIPS_FORMAT_DOUBLE:	
 	case VIPS_FORMAT_DPCOMPLEX: 
-		LOOP( double ); break;
+		LOOPF( double ); break;
 
 	default:
 		g_assert( 0 );
@@ -210,8 +231,8 @@ vips_draw_image_build( VipsObject *object )
 				break;
 
 			case VIPS_COMBINE_MODE_ADD:
-				vips_draw_image_add( draw_image, 
-					q, p, clip_rect.width ); 
+				vips_draw_image_mode_add( draw_image, 
+					im, q, p, clip_rect.width ); 
 				break;
 
 			default:
@@ -283,11 +304,18 @@ vips_draw_image_init( VipsDrawImage *draw_image )
  * @x: draw @sub here
  * @y: draw @sub here
  *
+ * Optional arguments:
+ *
+ * @mode: how to combine pixels 
+ *
  * Draw @sub on top of @image at position @x, @y. The two images must have the 
  * same Coding. If @sub has 1 band, the bands will be duplicated to match the
  * number of bands in @image. @sub will be converted to @image's format, see
  * vips_cast().
  *
+ * Use @mode to set how pixels are combined. If you use 
+ * #VIPS_COMBINE_MODE_ADD, both images muct be uncoded. 
+ *
  * See also: vips_draw_mask(), vips_insert().
  *
  * Returns: 0 on success, or -1 on error.
diff --git a/libvips/include/vips/Makefile.am b/libvips/include/vips/Makefile.am
index 9f7b796e..270110a9 100644
--- a/libvips/include/vips/Makefile.am
+++ b/libvips/include/vips/Makefile.am
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ vips_scan_headers = \
 	${top_srcdir}/libvips/include/vips/operation.h \
 	${top_srcdir}/libvips/include/vips/convolution.h \
 	${top_srcdir}/libvips/include/vips/morphology.h \
+	${top_srcdir}/libvips/include/vips/draw.h \
 	${top_srcdir}/libvips/include/vips/object.h
 
 enumtypes.h: $(vips_scan_headers) Makefile
diff --git a/libvips/include/vips/draw.h b/libvips/include/vips/draw.h
index 3b9ce377..cafbe339 100644
--- a/libvips/include/vips/draw.h
+++ b/libvips/include/vips/draw.h
@@ -57,8 +57,6 @@ int vips_draw_point1( VipsImage *image, double ink, int x, int y, ... )
 
 int vips_draw_image( VipsImage *image, VipsImage *sub, int x, int y, ... )
 	__attribute__((sentinel));
-int vips_draw_add( VipsImage *image, VipsImage *sub, int x, int y, ... )
-	__attribute__((sentinel));
 
 int vips_draw_mask( VipsImage *image, 
 	double *ink, int n, VipsImage *mask, int x, int y, ... )
diff --git a/libvips/include/vips/enumtypes.h b/libvips/include/vips/enumtypes.h
index 6fff1c4d..9e4978f7 100644
--- a/libvips/include/vips/enumtypes.h
+++ b/libvips/include/vips/enumtypes.h
@@ -81,6 +81,9 @@ GType vips_combine_get_type (void) G_GNUC_CONST;
 /* enumerations from "../../../libvips/include/vips/morphology.h" */
 GType vips_operation_morphology_get_type (void) G_GNUC_CONST;
 #define VIPS_TYPE_OPERATION_MORPHOLOGY (vips_operation_morphology_get_type())
+/* enumerations from "../../../libvips/include/vips/draw.h" */
+GType vips_combine_mode_get_type (void) G_GNUC_CONST;
+#define VIPS_TYPE_COMBINE_MODE (vips_combine_mode_get_type())
 /* enumerations from "../../../libvips/include/vips/object.h" */
 GType vips_argument_flags_get_type (void) G_GNUC_CONST;
 #define VIPS_TYPE_ARGUMENT_FLAGS (vips_argument_flags_get_type())
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/Makefile.am b/libvips/iofuncs/Makefile.am
index 1342bd62..af1af54b 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/Makefile.am
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/Makefile.am
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ vips_scan_headers = \
 	${top_srcdir}/libvips/include/vips/operation.h \
 	${top_srcdir}/libvips/include/vips/convolution.h \
 	${top_srcdir}/libvips/include/vips/morphology.h \
+	${top_srcdir}/libvips/include/vips/draw.h \
 	${top_srcdir}/libvips/include/vips/object.h
 
 enumtypes.c: $(vips_scan_headers) Makefile
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/enumtypes.c b/libvips/iofuncs/enumtypes.c
index fec6fe77..d0a7c547 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/enumtypes.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/enumtypes.c
@@ -690,6 +690,25 @@ vips_operation_morphology_get_type( void )
 
 	return( etype );
 }
+/* enumerations from "../../libvips/include/vips/draw.h" */
+GType
+vips_combine_mode_get_type( void )
+{
+	static GType etype = 0;
+
+	if( etype == 0 ) {
+		static const GEnumValue values[] = {
+			{VIPS_COMBINE_MODE_SET, "VIPS_COMBINE_MODE_SET", "set"},
+			{VIPS_COMBINE_MODE_ADD, "VIPS_COMBINE_MODE_ADD", "add"},
+			{VIPS_COMBINE_MODE_LAST, "VIPS_COMBINE_MODE_LAST", "last"},
+			{0, NULL, NULL}
+		};
+		
+		etype = g_enum_register_static( "VipsCombineMode", values );
+	}
+
+	return( etype );
+}
 /* enumerations from "../../libvips/include/vips/object.h" */
 GType
 vips_argument_flags_get_type( void )