diff --git a/examples/text/rendering_mode.rb b/examples/text/rendering_mode.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..97905fe1d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/text/rendering_mode.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# encoding: utf-8
+#
+# Example of character spacing
+#
+#
+require File.expand_path(File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__),
+                                   %w[.. example_helper]))
+
+Prawn::Document.generate "rendering_mode.pdf" do |pdf|
+  pdf.fill_color "00ff00"
+  pdf.stroke_color "0000ff"
+
+  # inline rendering mode
+  pdf.text("Inline mode", :mode => 1, :size => 40)
+
+  # block rendering mode
+  pdf.text_rendering_mode(1) do
+    pdf.text("Block", :size => 30)
+    pdf.text("Mode", :size => 30)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/prawn/core/text.rb b/lib/prawn/core/text.rb
index 8bf3cedc6..c6997d122 100644
--- a/lib/prawn/core/text.rb
+++ b/lib/prawn/core/text.rb
@@ -73,6 +73,43 @@ def default_leading(number)
 
       alias_method :default_leading=, :default_leading
 
+      # Call with no argument to retrieve the current text rendering mode.
+      #
+      # Call with an integer and block to temporarily change the current
+      # text rendering mode.
+      #
+      #   pdf.text_rendering_mode(1) do
+      #     pdf.text("Outlined Text")
+      #   end
+      #
+      # Valid modes are:
+      #
+      # * 0 - fill text (default)
+      # * 1 - stroke text
+      # * 2 - fill, then stroke text
+      # * 3 - invisible text
+      # * 4 - fill text then add to path for clipping
+      # * 5 - stroke text then add to path for clipping
+      # * 6 - fill then stroke text, then add to path for clipping
+      # * 7 - add text to path for clipping
+      #
+      def text_rendering_mode(mode=nil)
+        return @text_rendering_mode || 0 if mode.nil?
+        if mode.to_i < 0 || mode.to_i > 7
+          raise ArgumentError, "mode must be between 0 and 7"
+        end
+        original_mode = text_rendering_mode
+        if original_mode == mode
+          yield
+        else
+          @text_rendering_mode = mode
+          add_content "\n#{mode} Tr"
+          yield
+          add_content "\n#{original_mode} Tr"
+          @text_rendering_mode = original_mode
+        end
+      end
+
       # Increases or decreases the space between characters.
       # For horizontal text, a positive value will increase the space.
       # For veritical text, a positive value will decrease the space.
diff --git a/lib/prawn/text/box.rb b/lib/prawn/text/box.rb
index 9fc181dff..bcd0248fc 100644
--- a/lib/prawn/text/box.rb
+++ b/lib/prawn/text/box.rb
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ def valid_options
                                             :rotate, :rotate_around,
                                             :overflow, :min_font_size,
                                             :leading, :character_spacing,
-                                            :single_line,
+                                            :mode, :single_line,
                                             :skip_encoding,
                                             :document]
       end
@@ -189,6 +189,7 @@ def initialize(text, options={})
         @leading           = options[:leading] || @document.default_leading?
         @character_spacing = options[:character_spacing] ||
                              @document.character_spacing
+        @mode              = options[:mode] || @document.text_rendering_mode
         @rotate            = options[:rotate] || 0
         @rotate_around     = options[:rotate_around] || :upper_left
         @single_line       = options[:single_line]
@@ -226,24 +227,26 @@ def render(flags={})
         unprinted_text = ''
         @document.save_font do
           @document.character_spacing(@character_spacing) do
-            process_options
+            @document.text_rendering_mode(@mode) do
+              process_options
 
-            if @skip_encoding
-              text = original_text
-            else
-              text = normalize_encoding
-            end
-
-            @document.font_size(@font_size) do
-              shrink_to_fit(text) if @overflow == :shrink_to_fit
-              process_vertical_alignment(text)
-              @inked = true unless flags[:dry_run]
-              if @rotate != 0 && @inked
-                unprinted_text = render_rotated(text)
+              if @skip_encoding
+                text = original_text
               else
-                unprinted_text = wrap(text)
+                text = normalize_encoding
+              end
+
+              @document.font_size(@font_size) do
+                shrink_to_fit(text) if @overflow == :shrink_to_fit
+                process_vertical_alignment(text)
+                @inked = true unless flags[:dry_run]
+                if @rotate != 0 && @inked
+                  unprinted_text = render_rotated(text)
+                else
+                  unprinted_text = wrap(text)
+                end
+                @inked = false
               end
-              @inked = false
             end
           end
         end
@@ -285,8 +288,10 @@ def draw_line(line_to_print, line_width=0, word_spacing=0, include_ellipses=fals
         if @inked
           @document.word_spacing(word_spacing) {
             @document.character_spacing(@character_spacing) {
-              @document.draw_text!(line_to_print, :at => [x, y],
-                                   :kerning => @kerning)
+              @document.text_rendering_mode(@mode) {
+                @document.draw_text!(line_to_print, :at => [x, y],
+                                    :kerning => @kerning)
+              }
             }
           }
         end
diff --git a/spec/text_box_spec.rb b/spec/text_box_spec.rb
index 2e4230e94..1523115bd 100644
--- a/spec/text_box_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/text_box_spec.rb
@@ -760,6 +760,18 @@
   
 end
 
+describe "Text::Box#render with :mode option" do
+  it "should alter the text rendering mode of the document" do
+    create_pdf
+    string = "hello world"
+    options = { :document => @pdf, :mode => 2 }
+    text_box = Prawn::Text::Box.new(string, options)
+    text_box.render
+    contents = PDF::Inspector::Text.analyze(@pdf.render)
+    contents.text_rendering_mode.should == [2,0]
+  end
+end
+
 def reduce_precision(float)
   ("%.5f" % float).to_f
 end
diff --git a/spec/text_rendering_mode_spec.rb b/spec/text_rendering_mode_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6fdd80e56
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/text_rendering_mode_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# encoding: utf-8
+
+require File.join(File.expand_path(File.dirname(__FILE__)), "spec_helper")
+
+describe "#text_rendering_mode" do
+  it "should draw the text rendering mode to the document" do
+    create_pdf
+    @pdf.text_rendering_mode(1) do
+      @pdf.text("hello world")
+    end
+    contents = PDF::Inspector::Text.analyze(@pdf.render)
+    contents.text_rendering_mode.first.should == 1
+  end
+  it "should not draw the text rendering mode to the document" +
+    " when the new mode matches the old" do
+    create_pdf
+    @pdf.text_rendering_mode(0) do
+      @pdf.text("hello world")
+    end
+    contents = PDF::Inspector::Text.analyze(@pdf.render)
+    contents.text_rendering_mode.should.be.empty
+  end
+  it "should restore character spacing to 0" do
+    create_pdf
+    @pdf.text_rendering_mode(1) do
+      @pdf.text("hello world")
+    end
+    contents = PDF::Inspector::Text.analyze(@pdf.render)
+    contents.text_rendering_mode.should == [1,0]
+  end
+  it "should function as an accessor when no parameter given" do
+    create_pdf
+    @pdf.text_rendering_mode(2) do
+      @pdf.text("hello world")
+      @pdf.text_rendering_mode.should == 2
+    end
+    @pdf.text_rendering_mode.should == 0
+  end
+  it "should raise an exception when passed a value < 0 or > 7" do
+    create_pdf
+    lambda { @pdf.text_rendering_mode(-1) }.should raise_error(ArgumentError)
+    lambda { @pdf.text_rendering_mode(8) }.should  raise_error(ArgumentError)
+  end
+end