Now that \presentationstep seems usable, I have another problem. I'm using a color gradient in the background: \startuniqueMPgraphic{Gradient} path p; p=unitsquare xscaled \overlaywidth yscaled \overlayheight; linear_shade(p,1, \MPcolor{BackgroundColor},\MPcolor{TextBackgroundColor}); \stopuniqueMPgraphic \defineoverlay[Gradient][\uniqueMPgraphic{Gradient}] \setupbackgrounds[page][background=Gradient,offset=3pt] The problem is, of course, that the presentationshield is coloured uniformly and covers the background. And since - text would have to be above the background but below the shield - the shield would have to be above the text but below the background I have no idea how to do it. Just sticking to plain backgrounds? Ok, that's not really bad. But those in the audience who are not interested in what you say anyway are often easy to impress by a fancy background - at least. Eckhart