diff --git a/mixer/src/DPM.C b/mixer/src/DPM.C
index 35edf23..3a50e1b 100644
--- a/mixer/src/DPM.C
+++ b/mixer/src/DPM.C
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ DPM::DPM ( int X, int Y, int W, int H, const char *L ) :
 
     dim( 0.85f );
 
+    box( FL_FLAT_BOX );
+    color( fl_color_average( FL_BLACK,  FL_BACKGROUND_COLOR, 0.66f ) );
+
     /* initialize gradients */
     if ( DPM::_gradient[ 0 ] == 0 )
     {
@@ -65,11 +68,9 @@ DPM::DPM ( int X, int Y, int W, int H, const char *L ) :
             fl_rgb_color( 250, 40, 30 )
         };
 
-        DPM::blend( 6, breaks, cols );
+        DPM::blend( 6, breaks, cols, color() );
     }
 
-    box( FL_FLAT_BOX );
-    color( FL_BACKGROUND_COLOR );
 
     resize( X,Y,W,H);
 }
diff --git a/mixer/src/DPM.H b/mixer/src/DPM.H
index 03f24bb..e41ad3f 100644
--- a/mixer/src/DPM.H
+++ b/mixer/src/DPM.H
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ public:
 
     static
     void
-    blend ( int nbreaks, int* b, Fl_Color *c )
+    blend ( int nbreaks, int* b, Fl_Color *c, Fl_Color bc )
         {
             for ( int i = 0; i < nbreaks - 1; i++ )
             {
@@ -102,6 +102,6 @@ public:
             }
 
             for ( int i = 0; i < 128; i++ )
-                _dim_gradient[ i ] = fl_color_average( FL_BLACK, _gradient[ i ], _dim );
+                _dim_gradient[ i ] = fl_color_average( bc, _gradient[ i ], _dim );
         }
 };
diff --git a/mixer/src/Panner.C b/mixer/src/Panner.C
index 176f42a..ac83906 100644
--- a/mixer/src/Panner.C
+++ b/mixer/src/Panner.C
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ Panner::Panner ( int X, int Y, int W, int H, const char *L ) :
         o->add("5 Meters",0,0,&ranges[2]);
         o->add("10 Meters",0,0,&ranges[3]);
         o->add("15 Meters",0,0,&ranges[4]);
+	o->textcolor( fl_contrast( FL_GRAY0, FL_FOREGROUND_COLOR ));
         o->value(_range_mode);
         o->callback( cb_mode, this );
     }
@@ -69,6 +70,7 @@ Panner::Panner ( int X, int Y, int W, int H, const char *L ) :
         o->add("Spherical");
         o->add("Planar");
         o->value(_projection_mode);
+	o->textcolor( fl_contrast( FL_GRAY0, FL_FOREGROUND_COLOR ));
         o->callback( cb_mode, this );
     }
                   
diff --git a/timeline/src/Audio_Region.C b/timeline/src/Audio_Region.C
index 210e2f8..55c0057 100644
--- a/timeline/src/Audio_Region.C
+++ b/timeline/src/Audio_Region.C
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ Audio_Region::draw ( void )
         /*                                Audio_Region::inherit_track_color ? sequence()->track()->color() :  _box_color, */
         /*                                0.75f ); */
     
-        fl_color( fl_color_add_alpha( FL_DARK1, 127 ) );
+        fl_color( fl_color_add_alpha( fl_rgb_color( 20,20,20 ), 127 ) );
 
         draw_fade( _fade_in, Fade::In, false, X, W );
         draw_fade( _fade_out, Fade::Out, false, X, W );