Hi all... I would like to report a weird behavior when compiling the attached tex file... If I put the background layer definitions before the columnset definitions everything works well. \useexternalfigure[test][buttons][frame=true] \definelayer[graphics][x=0.5cm,y=2cm,width=\paperwidth,height=\paperheight] \setupbackgrounds[page][background=graphics] \definelayerpreset[lefttop][corner={left,top},location={right,bottom}] \setlayer[graphics][preset=lefttop]{\externalfigure[test]} \definecolumnset[threecolumns][n=3,distance=12pt] \definecolumnsetspan[spantwo][n=2] \definecolumnsetspan[spanthree][n=3] \definecolumnsethsize{threecolumns}{1}{1}\OneColumn \definecolumnsethsize{threecolumns}{1}{2}\TwoColumns \definecolumnsethsize{threecolumns}{1}{3}\ThreeColumns If I put them after then I get an "ERROR: Bad character code (648)" \definecolumnset[threecolumns][n=3,distance=12pt] \definecolumnsetspan[spantwo][n=2] \definecolumnsetspan[spanthree][n=3] \definecolumnsethsize{threecolumns}{1}{1}\OneColumn \definecolumnsethsize{threecolumns}{1}{2}\TwoColumns \definecolumnsethsize{threecolumns}{1}{3}\ThreeColumns \useexternalfigure[test][buttons][frame=true] \definelayer[graphics][x=0.5cm,y=2cm,width=\paperwidth,height=\paperheight] \setupbackgrounds[page][background=graphics] \definelayerpreset[lefttop][corner={left,top},location={right,bottom}] \setlayer[graphics][preset=lefttop]{\externalfigure[test]} I have spent one hour trying to figure out what was wrong with my file and only by hasard, after having done some experiments, I put the things in the "working" order. Why this happens? See you, Fabio