diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ffc97b782..352621700 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ MUPDFLIBDIR=$(MUPDFDIR)/$(MUPDFTARGET)
 
 SQLITE3DIR=sqlite-amalgamation-3070900
 LSQLITE3DIR=lsqlite3_svn08
+FREETYPEDIR=$(MUPDFDIR)/thirdparty/freetype-2.4.4
 
 # set this to your ARM cross compiler:
 
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ SQLITE3LDFLAGS := -lpthread
 
 LUALIB := $(LUADIR)/src/liblua.a
 
-kpdfview: kpdfview.o einkfb.o pdf.o blitbuffer.o input.o util.o $(SQLITE3OBJS) $(MUPDFLIBS) $(THIRDPARTYLIBS) $(LUALIB)
+kpdfview: kpdfview.o einkfb.o pdf.o blitbuffer.o input.o util.o ft.o $(SQLITE3OBJS) $(MUPDFLIBS) $(THIRDPARTYLIBS) $(LUALIB)
 	$(CC) -lm -ldl $(EMU_LDFLAGS) $(SQLITE3LDFLAGS) \
 		kpdfview.o \
 		einkfb.o \
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ kpdfview: kpdfview.o einkfb.o pdf.o blitbuffer.o input.o util.o $(SQLITE3OBJS) $
 		blitbuffer.o \
 		input.o \
 		util.o \
+		ft.o \
 		$(SQLITE3OBJS) \
 		$(MUPDFLIBS) \
 		$(THIRDPARTYLIBS) \
@@ -71,6 +73,9 @@ kpdfview: kpdfview.o einkfb.o pdf.o blitbuffer.o input.o util.o $(SQLITE3OBJS) $
 einkfb.o input.o: %.o: %.c
 	$(CC) -c $(KPDFREADER_CFLAGS) $(EMU_CFLAGS) $< -o $@
 
+ft.o: %.o: %.c
+	$(CC) -c $(KPDFREADER_CFLAGS) -I$(FREETYPEDIR)/include $< -o $@
+
 kpdfview.o pdf.o blitbuffer.o util.o: %.o: %.c
 	$(CC) -c $(KPDFREADER_CFLAGS) $< -o $@
 
diff --git a/blitbuffer.c b/blitbuffer.c
index 03f0f675e..5e0458867 100644
--- a/blitbuffer.c
+++ b/blitbuffer.c
@@ -30,6 +30,18 @@ static int newBlitBuffer(lua_State *L) {
 	return 1;
 }
 
+static int getWidth(lua_State *L) {
+	BlitBuffer *bb = (BlitBuffer*) luaL_checkudata(L, 1, "blitbuffer");
+	lua_pushinteger(L, bb->w);
+	return 1;
+}
+
+static int getHeight(lua_State *L) {
+	BlitBuffer *bb = (BlitBuffer*) luaL_checkudata(L, 1, "blitbuffer");
+	lua_pushinteger(L, bb->h);
+	return 1;
+}
+
 static int freeBlitBuffer(lua_State *L) {
 	BlitBuffer *bb = (BlitBuffer*) luaL_checkudata(L, 1, "blitbuffer");
 
@@ -43,6 +55,8 @@ static const struct luaL_reg blitbuffer_func[] = {
 };
 
 static const struct luaL_reg blitbuffer_meth[] = {
+	{"getWidth", getWidth},
+	{"getHeight", getHeight},
 	{"free", freeBlitBuffer},
 	{NULL, NULL}
 };
diff --git a/einkfb.c b/einkfb.c
index 778a7bc9e..26d19f63a 100644
--- a/einkfb.c
+++ b/einkfb.c
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ static int openFrameBuffer(lua_State *L) {
 	fb->finfo.type = FB_TYPE_PACKED_PIXELS;
 	fb->data = malloc(fb->finfo.smem_len);
 #endif
+	memset(fb->data, 0, fb->finfo.smem_len);
 
 	return 1;
 }
@@ -134,9 +135,9 @@ static int blitFullToFrameBuffer(lua_State *L) {
 static int blitToFrameBuffer(lua_State *L) {
 	FBInfo *fb = (FBInfo*) luaL_checkudata(L, 1, "einkfb");
 	BlitBuffer *bb = (BlitBuffer*) luaL_checkudata(L, 2, "blitbuffer");
-	int xdest = luaL_checkint(L, 3) & 0x7FFFFFFE;
+	int xdest = luaL_checkint(L, 3);
 	int ydest = luaL_checkint(L, 4);
-	int xoffs = luaL_checkint(L, 5) & 0x7FFFFFFE;
+	int xoffs = luaL_checkint(L, 5);
 	int yoffs = luaL_checkint(L, 6);
 	int w = luaL_checkint(L, 7);
 	int h = luaL_checkint(L, 8);
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ static int blitToFrameBuffer(lua_State *L) {
 	// check bounds
 	if(yoffs >= bb->h) {
 		return 0;
-	} else if(yoffs + h > bb->w) {
+	} else if(yoffs + h > bb->h) {
 		h = bb->h - yoffs;
 	}
 	if(ydest >= fb->vinfo.yres) {
@@ -164,23 +165,66 @@ static int blitToFrameBuffer(lua_State *L) {
 		w = fb->vinfo.xres - xdest;
 	}
 
+	uint8_t *fbptr;
+	uint8_t *bbptr;
+	uint8_t smask;
+
+	if(xdest & 1) {
+		/* this will render the leftmost column */
+		fbptr = (uint8_t*)(fb->data + 
+				ydest * fb->finfo.line_length + 
+				xdest / 2);
+		bbptr = (uint8_t*)(bb->data +
+				yoffs * bb->w / 2 +
+				xoffs / 2 );
+		if(xoffs & 1) {
+			for(y = 0; y < h; y++) {
+				*fbptr &= 0xF0;
+				*fbptr |= *bbptr & 0x0F;
+				fbptr += fb->finfo.line_length;
+			}
+		} else {
+			for(y = 0; y < h; y++) {
+				*fbptr &= 0xF0;
+				*fbptr |= (*bbptr & 0xF0) >> 4;
+				fbptr += fb->finfo.line_length;
+			}
+		}
+		xdest++;
+		xoffs++;
+		w--;
+	}
 	w = (w+1) / 2; // we'll always do two pixels at once for now
 
-	uint8_t *fbptr = (uint8_t*)(fb->data + 
+	fbptr = (uint8_t*)(fb->data + 
 			ydest * fb->finfo.line_length + 
 			xdest / 2);
-	uint8_t *bbptr = (uint8_t*)(bb->data +
+	bbptr = (uint8_t*)(bb->data +
 			yoffs * bb->w / 2 +
 			xoffs / 2 );
 
-	for(y = 0; y < h; y++) {
-		memcpy(fbptr, bbptr, w);
-		fbptr += fb->finfo.line_length;
-		bbptr += (bb->w / 2);
+	if(xoffs & 1) {
+		for(y = 0; y < h; y++) {
+			for(x = 0; x < w; x++) {
+				fbptr[x] = (bbptr[x-1] << 4) | ((bbptr[x] & 0xF0) >> 4);
+			}
+			fbptr += fb->finfo.line_length;
+			bbptr += (bb->w / 2);
+		}
+	} else {
+		for(y = 0; y < h; y++) {
+			memcpy(fbptr, bbptr, w);
+			fbptr += fb->finfo.line_length;
+			bbptr += (bb->w / 2);
+		}
 	}
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int paintRect(lua_State *L) {
+	FBInfo *fb = (FBInfo*) luaL_checkudata(L, 1, "einkfb");
+}
+
 static int einkUpdate(lua_State *L) {
 	FBInfo *fb = (FBInfo*) luaL_checkudata(L, 1, "einkfb");
 	// for Kindle e-ink display
diff --git a/ft.c b/ft.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6a472dbad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ft.c
@@ -0,0 +1,176 @@
+/*
+    KindlePDFViewer: FreeType font rastering for UI
+    Copyright (C) 2011 Hans-Werner Hilse <hilse@web.de>
+
+    This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+    it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+    the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 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 General Public License for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+    along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+*/
+#include <string.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include <ft2build.h>
+#include FT_FREETYPE_H
+#include "blitbuffer.h"
+
+/* for font access: */
+#include <fitz/fitz.h>
+#include <pdf/mupdf.h>
+
+#include "ft.h"
+
+FT_Library freetypelib;
+
+static int newFace(lua_State *L) {
+	const char *filename = luaL_checkstring(L, 1);
+	int pxsize = luaL_optint(L, 2, 16*64);
+
+	FT_Face *face = (FT_Face*) lua_newuserdata(L, sizeof(FT_Face));
+	luaL_getmetatable(L, "ft_face");
+	lua_setmetatable(L, -2);
+
+	FT_Error error = FT_New_Face(freetypelib, filename, 0, face);
+	if(error) {
+		return luaL_error(L, "freetype error");
+	}
+
+	error = FT_Set_Pixel_Sizes(*face, 0, pxsize);
+	if(error) {
+		error = FT_Done_Face(*face);
+		return luaL_error(L, "freetype error");
+	}
+
+	if((*face)->charmap == NULL) {
+		//TODO
+		//fprintf(stderr, "no unicode charmap found, to be implemented.\n");
+	}
+	return 1;
+}
+
+static int newBuiltinFace(lua_State *L) {
+	const char *fontname = luaL_checkstring(L, 1);
+	int pxsize = luaL_optint(L, 2, 16*64);
+
+	unsigned int size;
+	const char *fontdata = pdf_find_builtin_font(fontname, &size);
+	if(fontdata == NULL) {
+		return luaL_error(L, "no such built-in font");
+	}
+
+	FT_Face *face = (FT_Face*) lua_newuserdata(L, sizeof(FT_Face));
+	luaL_getmetatable(L, "ft_face");
+	lua_setmetatable(L, -2);
+
+	FT_Error error = FT_New_Memory_Face(freetypelib, (FT_Byte*)fontdata, size, 0, face);
+	if(error) {
+		return luaL_error(L, "freetype error");
+	}
+
+	error = FT_Set_Pixel_Sizes(*face, 0, pxsize);
+	if(error) {
+		error = FT_Done_Face(*face);
+		return luaL_error(L, "freetype error");
+	}
+
+	if((*face)->charmap == NULL) {
+		//TODO
+		//fprintf(stderr, "no unicode charmap found, to be implemented.\n");
+	}
+	return 1;
+}
+
+
+static int renderGlyph(lua_State *L) {
+	FT_Face *face = (FT_Face*) luaL_checkudata(L, 1, "ft_face");
+	int ch = luaL_checkint(L, 2);
+	FT_Error error = FT_Load_Char(*face, ch, FT_LOAD_RENDER);
+	if(error) {
+		return luaL_error(L, "freetype error");
+	}
+
+	int w = ((*face)->glyph->bitmap.width + 1) & -2; // 2px steps
+	int h = (*face)->glyph->bitmap.rows;
+
+	lua_newtable(L);
+
+	BlitBuffer *bb = (BlitBuffer*) lua_newuserdata(L, sizeof(BlitBuffer) + (w * h / 2) - 1);
+	luaL_getmetatable(L, "blitbuffer");
+	lua_setmetatable(L, -2);
+
+	lua_setfield(L, -2, "bb");
+
+	bb->w = w;
+	bb->h = h;
+
+	uint8_t *dst = bb->data;
+	int y;
+	int x;
+	w = (*face)->glyph->bitmap.width;
+	for(y = 0; y < h; y++) {
+		uint8_t *src = (*face)->glyph->bitmap.buffer + y * (*face)->glyph->bitmap.pitch;
+		for(x = 0; x < w; x+=2) {
+			*dst = *src & 0xF0;
+			src++;
+			if(x+1 < w) {
+				*dst |= (*src & 0xF0) >> 4;
+				src++;
+			}
+			dst++;
+		}
+	}
+
+	lua_pushinteger(L, (*face)->glyph->bitmap_left);
+	lua_setfield(L, -2, "l");
+	lua_pushinteger(L, (*face)->glyph->bitmap_top);
+	lua_setfield(L, -2, "t");
+	lua_pushinteger(L, (*face)->glyph->advance.x >> 6);
+	lua_setfield(L, -2, "ax");
+
+	return 1;
+}
+
+static int doneFace(lua_State *L) {
+	FT_Face *face = (FT_Face*) luaL_checkudata(L, 1, "ft_face");
+	FT_Error error = FT_Done_Face(*face);
+	if(error) {
+		return luaL_error(L, "freetype error when freeing face");
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static const struct luaL_reg ft_face_meth[] = {
+	{"renderGlyph", renderGlyph},
+	{"done", doneFace},
+	{NULL, NULL}
+};
+
+static const struct luaL_reg ft_func[] = {
+	{"newFace", newFace},
+	{"newBuiltinFace", newBuiltinFace},
+	{NULL, NULL}
+};
+
+int luaopen_ft(lua_State *L) {
+	int error = FT_Init_FreeType(&freetypelib);
+	if(error) {
+		return luaL_error(L, "freetype error on initialization");
+	}
+
+	luaL_newmetatable(L, "ft_face");
+	lua_pushstring(L, "__index");
+	lua_pushvalue(L, -2);
+	lua_settable(L, -3);
+	luaL_register(L, NULL, ft_face_meth);
+
+	luaL_register(L, "freetype", ft_func);
+	return 1;
+}
diff --git a/ft.h b/ft.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1ecad5226
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ft.h
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/*
+    KindlePDFViewer: FreeType font rastering for UI
+    Copyright (C) 2011 Hans-Werner Hilse <hilse@web.de>
+
+    This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+    it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+    the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 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 General Public License for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+    along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+*/
+#ifndef _PDF_FT_H
+#define _PDF_FT_H
+
+#include <lua.h>
+#include <lualib.h>
+#include <lauxlib.h>
+
+int luaopen_ft(lua_State *L);
+
+#endif
+
diff --git a/kpdfview.c b/kpdfview.c
index fbd6579aa..55f56517d 100644
--- a/kpdfview.c
+++ b/kpdfview.c
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "pdf.h"
 #include "einkfb.h"
 #include "input.h"
+#include "ft.h"
 
 /* forward declaration for luasqlite3: */
 LUALIB_API int luaopen_lsqlite3(lua_State *L);
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 		luaopen_pdf(L);
 		luaopen_input(L);
 		luaopen_util(L);
+		luaopen_ft(L);
 
 		luaopen_lsqlite3(L);
 
diff --git a/rendertext.lua b/rendertext.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ab19dd3ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rendertext.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+glyphcache_max_memsize = 256*1024 -- 256kB glyphcache
+glyphcache_current_memsize = 0
+glyphcache = {}
+glyphcache_max_age = 4096
+function glyphcacheclaim(size)
+	if(size > glyphcache_max_memsize) then
+		error("too much memory claimed")
+		return false
+	end
+	while glyphcache_current_memsize + size > glyphcache_max_memsize do
+		for k, _ in pairs(glyphcache) do
+			if glyphcache[k].age > 0 then
+				glyphcache[k].age = glyphcache[k].age - 1
+			else
+				glyphcache_current_memsize = glyphcache_current_memsize - glyphcache[k].size
+				glyphcache[k] = nil
+			end
+		end
+	end
+	glyphcache_current_memsize = glyphcache_current_memsize + size
+	return true
+end
+function getglyph(face, facehash, charcode)
+	local hash = glyphcachehash(facehash, charcode)
+	if glyphcache[hash] == nil then
+		print("render glyph")
+		local glyph = face:renderGlyph(charcode)
+		local size = glyph.bb:getWidth() * glyph.bb:getHeight() / 2 + 32
+		print("cache claim")
+		glyphcacheclaim(size);
+		glyphcache[hash] = {
+			age = glyphcache_max_age,
+			size = size,
+			g = glyph
+		}
+	end
+	return glyphcache[hash].g
+end
+function glyphcachehash(face, charcode)
+	return face..'_'..charcode;
+end
+function clearglyphcache()
+	glyphcache = {}
+end
+
+function renderUtf8Text(x, y, face, facehash, text)
+	local pen_x = 0
+	for uchar in string.gfind(text, "([%z\1-\127\194-\244][\128-\191]*)") do
+		local glyph = getglyph(face, facehash, util.utf8charcode(uchar))
+		fb:blitFrom(glyph.bb, x + pen_x + glyph.l, y - glyph.t, 0, 0, glyph.bb:getWidth(), glyph.bb:getHeight())
+		pen_x = pen_x + glyph.ax
+	end
+end
+
diff --git a/rendertext_example.lua b/rendertext_example.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2d7733844
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rendertext_example.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+require "rendertext"
+
+fb = einkfb.open("/dev/fb0")
+width, height = fb:getSize()
+
+print("open")
+
+face = freetype.newBuiltinFace("Helvetica", 64)
+print("got face")
+
+renderUtf8Text(100,100,face,"h","Hello World! äöü")
+
+fb:refresh()
+
+while true do
+	local ev = input.waitForEvent()
+end
diff --git a/util.c b/util.c
index 4a63997b1..7da912fc0 100644
--- a/util.c
+++ b/util.c
@@ -28,8 +28,27 @@ static int gettime(lua_State *L) {
 	return 2;
 }
 
+static int utf8charcode(lua_State *L) {
+	size_t len;
+	const char* utf8char = luaL_checklstring(L, 1, &len);
+	int c;
+	if(len == 1) {
+		c = utf8char[0] & 0x7F; /* should not be needed */
+	} else if(len == 2) {
+		c = ((utf8char[0] & 0x1F) << 6) | (utf8char[1] & 0x3F);
+	} else if(len == 3) {
+		c = ((utf8char[0] & 0x0F) << 12) | ((utf8char[1] & 0x3F) << 6) | (utf8char[2] & 0x3F);
+	} else {
+		// 4, 5, 6 byte cases still missing
+		return 0;
+	}
+	lua_pushinteger(L, c);
+	return 1;
+}
+
 static const struct luaL_reg util_func[] = {
 	{"gettime", gettime},
+	{"utf8charcode", utf8charcode},
 	{NULL, NULL}
 };