diff --git a/data/widgets/options.xml b/data/widgets/options.xml
index b6c9add7f..9b6130d2e 100644
--- a/data/widgets/options.xml
+++ b/data/widgets/options.xml
@@ -3,20 +3,50 @@
 <jinete>
 <window text="Options" name="options">
   <box vertical="true">
-    <box vertical="true">
+    <box horizontal="true">
+      <box vertical="true">
 
+      <!-- Editor -->
+
+      <separator text="Editor:" horizontal="true" />
       <check text="Smooth auto-scroll" name="smooth" />
       <check text="2 Click Movement" name="move_click2" />
       <check text="2 Click Drawing" name="draw_click2" />
 
+      <!-- Undo -->
+
+      <separator text="Undo:" horizontal="true" />
       <box horizontal="true">
-        <label text="Undo size limit:" />
+        <label text="Undo Limit:" />
         <entry name="undo_size_limit" maxsize="4" tooltip="Limit of memory to be used&#10;for undo information per sprite.&#10;Specified in megabytes." />
         <label text="MB" />
       </box>
 
+      </box>
+      <separator vertical="true" />
+      <box vertical="true">
+
+      <!-- Checked Background -->
+
+      <separator text="Checked Background:" horizontal="true" />
+      <box horizontal="true">
+	<label text="Size:" />
+	<combobox name="checked_bg_size" expansive="true" />
+      </box>
+      <check text="Apply Zoom" name="checked_bg_zoom" />
+      <grid columns="2">
+	<label text="Color 1" />
+	<box horizontal="true" name="checked_bg_color1_box" />
+	<label text="Color 2" />
+	<box horizontal="true" name="checked_bg_color2_box" />
+      </grid>
+      <button name="checked_bg_reset" text="Reset" />
+
+      </box>
     </box>
 
+    <separator horizontal="true" />
+
     <box horizontal="true">
       <box horizontal="true" expansive="true" />
       <box horizontal="true" homogeneous="true">
diff --git a/src/app.cpp b/src/app.cpp
index 7ee45f335..2c8e30bb9 100644
--- a/src/app.cpp
+++ b/src/app.cpp
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@
 #include "ui_context.h"
 #include "util/boundary.h"
 #include "util/recscr.h"
+#include "util/render.h"
 #include "widgets/colbar.h"
 #include "widgets/editor.h"
 #include "widgets/menuitem.h"
@@ -124,6 +125,9 @@ App::App()
   // init editor cursor
   Editor::editor_cursor_init();
 
+  // Load RenderEngine configuration
+  RenderEngine::loadConfig();
+
   /* custom default palette? */
   if (palette_filename) {
     PRINTF("Loading custom palette file: %s\n", palette_filename);
diff --git a/src/commands/cmd_options.cpp b/src/commands/cmd_options.cpp
index ff5bbac39..7db886f0e 100644
--- a/src/commands/cmd_options.cpp
+++ b/src/commands/cmd_options.cpp
@@ -22,18 +22,24 @@
 
 #include "jinete/jinete.h"
 
+#include "app.h"
 #include "commands/command.h"
 #include "core/cfg.h"
 #include "modules/editors.h"
 #include "modules/gui.h"
-
-static JWidget slider_x, slider_y, check_lockmouse;
-
-static bool slider_mouse_hook(JWidget widget, void *data);
+#include "util/render.h"
+#include "widgets/colbut.h"
 
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 // options
 
+// TODO make these variables member of OptionsCommand
+static JWidget checked_bg, checked_bg_zoom;
+static JWidget checked_bg_color1, checked_bg_color2;
+
+// TODO make this a member of OptionsCommand when button signal is converted to Vaca::Signal
+static bool checked_bg_reset_hook(JWidget widget, void *data);
+
 class OptionsCommand : public Command
 {
 public:
@@ -55,7 +61,9 @@ void OptionsCommand::execute(Context* context)
 {
   JWidget check_smooth;
   JWidget button_ok;
-  JWidget move_click2, draw_click2, killer;
+  JWidget move_click2, draw_click2;
+  JWidget checked_bg_reset;
+  JWidget checked_bg_color1_box, checked_bg_color2_box;
   JWidget undo_size_limit;
 
   /* load the window widget */
@@ -64,38 +72,84 @@ void OptionsCommand::execute(Context* context)
 	      "smooth", &check_smooth,
 	      "move_click2", &move_click2,
 	      "draw_click2", &draw_click2,
+	      "checked_bg_size", &checked_bg,
+	      "checked_bg_zoom", &checked_bg_zoom,
+	      "checked_bg_color1_box", &checked_bg_color1_box,
+	      "checked_bg_color2_box", &checked_bg_color2_box,
+	      "checked_bg_reset", &checked_bg_reset,
 	      "undo_size_limit", &undo_size_limit,
 	      "button_ok", &button_ok, NULL);
 
   if (get_config_bool("Options", "MoveClick2", false))
     jwidget_select(move_click2);
+
   if (get_config_bool("Options", "DrawClick2", false))
     jwidget_select(draw_click2);
 
   if (get_config_bool("Options", "MoveSmooth", true))
     jwidget_select(check_smooth);
 
+  // Checked background size
+  jcombobox_add_string(checked_bg, "16x16", NULL);
+  jcombobox_add_string(checked_bg, "8x8", NULL);
+  jcombobox_add_string(checked_bg, "4x4", NULL);
+  jcombobox_add_string(checked_bg, "2x2", NULL);
+  jcombobox_select_index(checked_bg, (int)RenderEngine::getCheckedBgType());
+
+  // Zoom checked background
+  if (RenderEngine::getCheckedBgZoom())
+    jwidget_select(checked_bg_zoom);
+
+  // Checked background colors
+  checked_bg_color1 = colorbutton_new(RenderEngine::getCheckedBgColor1(), app_get_current_image_type());
+  checked_bg_color2 = colorbutton_new(RenderEngine::getCheckedBgColor2(), app_get_current_image_type());
+
+  jwidget_add_child(checked_bg_color1_box, checked_bg_color1);
+  jwidget_add_child(checked_bg_color2_box, checked_bg_color2);
+
+  // Reset button
+  HOOK(checked_bg_reset, JI_SIGNAL_BUTTON_SELECT, checked_bg_reset_hook, 0);
+
+  // Undo limit
   undo_size_limit->setTextf("%d", get_config_int("Options", "UndoSizeLimit", 8));
 
+  // Show the window and wait the user to close it
   window->open_window_fg();
-  killer = window->get_killer();
 
-  if (killer == button_ok) {
+  if (window->get_killer() == button_ok) {
     int undo_size_limit_value;
     
     set_config_bool("Options", "MoveSmooth", jwidget_is_selected(check_smooth));
     set_config_bool("Options", "MoveClick2", jwidget_is_selected(move_click2));
     set_config_bool("Options", "DrawClick2", jwidget_is_selected(draw_click2));
 
+    RenderEngine::setCheckedBgType((RenderEngine::CheckedBgType)jcombobox_get_selected_index(checked_bg));
+    RenderEngine::setCheckedBgZoom(jwidget_is_selected(checked_bg_zoom));
+    RenderEngine::setCheckedBgColor1(colorbutton_get_color(checked_bg_color1));
+    RenderEngine::setCheckedBgColor2(colorbutton_get_color(checked_bg_color2));
+
     undo_size_limit_value = undo_size_limit->getTextInt();
     undo_size_limit_value = MID(1, undo_size_limit_value, 9999);
     set_config_int("Options", "UndoSizeLimit", undo_size_limit_value);
 
-    /* save configuration */
+    // Save configuration
     flush_config_file();
+
+    // Refresh all editors
+    refresh_all_editors();
   }
 }
 
+static bool checked_bg_reset_hook(JWidget widget, void *data)
+{
+  // Default values
+  jcombobox_select_index(checked_bg, (int)RenderEngine::CHECKED_BG_16X16);
+  jwidget_select(checked_bg_zoom);
+  colorbutton_set_color(checked_bg_color1, color_rgb(128, 128, 128));
+  colorbutton_set_color(checked_bg_color2, color_rgb(192, 192, 192));
+  return true;
+}
+
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 // CommandFactory
 
diff --git a/src/util/render.cpp b/src/util/render.cpp
index bc3faf4c3..e15bb70b7 100644
--- a/src/util/render.cpp
+++ b/src/util/render.cpp
@@ -16,15 +16,13 @@
  * Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
  */
 
-/* TODO modificable option: scalable-tiles */
-#define SCALABLE_TILES
-
 #include "config.h"
 
 #include <assert.h>
 
 #include "jinete/jlist.h"
 
+#include "core/cfg.h"
 #include "modules/palettes.h"
 #include "raster/image.h"
 #include "raster/raster.h"
@@ -151,7 +149,7 @@ static void merge_zoomed_image(Image *dst, Image *src,
 
   bottom = dst_y+dst_h-1;
 
-  // the scanline variable is used to 
+  // the scanline variable is used to blend src/dst pixels one time for each pixel
   scanline = new typename Traits::pixel_t[src_w];
 
   // for each line to draw of the source image...
@@ -255,10 +253,70 @@ done_with_blit:;
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 // Render Engine
 
+static RenderEngine::CheckedBgType checked_bg_type;
+static bool checked_bg_zoom;
+static color_t checked_bg_color1;
+static color_t checked_bg_color2;
+
 static int global_opacity = 255;
 static Layer *selected_layer = NULL;
 static Image *rastering_image = NULL;
 
+void RenderEngine::loadConfig()
+{
+  checked_bg_type = (CheckedBgType)get_config_int("Options", "CheckedBgType",
+						  (int)RenderEngine::CHECKED_BG_16X16);
+  checked_bg_zoom = get_config_bool("Options", "CheckedBgZoom", true);
+  checked_bg_color1 = get_config_color("Options", "CheckedBgColor1", color_rgb(128, 128, 128));
+  checked_bg_color2 = get_config_color("Options", "CheckedBgColor2", color_rgb(192, 192, 192));
+}
+
+RenderEngine::CheckedBgType RenderEngine::getCheckedBgType()
+{
+  return checked_bg_type;
+}
+
+void RenderEngine::setCheckedBgType(CheckedBgType type)
+{
+  checked_bg_type = type;
+  set_config_int("Options", "CheckedBgType", (int)type);
+}
+
+bool RenderEngine::getCheckedBgZoom()
+{
+  return checked_bg_zoom;
+}
+
+void RenderEngine::setCheckedBgZoom(bool state)
+{
+  checked_bg_zoom = state;
+  set_config_int("Options", "CheckedBgZoom", state);
+}
+
+color_t RenderEngine::getCheckedBgColor1()
+{
+  return checked_bg_color1;
+}
+
+void RenderEngine::setCheckedBgColor1(color_t color)
+{
+  checked_bg_color1 = color;
+  set_config_color("Options", "CheckedBgColor1", color);
+}
+
+color_t RenderEngine::getCheckedBgColor2()
+{
+  return checked_bg_color2;
+}
+
+void RenderEngine::setCheckedBgColor2(color_t color)
+{
+  checked_bg_color2 = color;
+  set_config_color("Options", "CheckedBgColor2", color);
+}
+
+//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
 void RenderEngine::setPreviewImage(Layer *layer, Image *image)
 {
   selected_layer = layer;
@@ -266,11 +324,11 @@ void RenderEngine::setPreviewImage(Layer *layer, Image *image)
 }
 
 /**
- * Draws the @a frame animation frame of the @a source image in the
- * return image, all positions must have the zoom applied
- * (sorce_x<<zoom, dest_x<<zoom, width<<zoom, etc.)
- *
- * This routine is used to render the sprite 
+   Draws the @a frame of animation of the specified @a sprite
+   in a new image and return it.
+
+   Positions source_x, source_y, width and height must have the
+   zoom applied (sorce_x<<zoom, source_y<<zoom, width<<zoom, etc.)
  */
 Image* RenderEngine::renderSprite(Sprite* sprite,
 				  int source_x, int source_y,
@@ -279,7 +337,7 @@ Image* RenderEngine::renderSprite(Sprite* sprite,
 {
   void (*zoomed_func)(Image *, Image *, int, int, int, int, int);
   LayerImage* background = sprite->getBackgroundLayer();
-  bool need_grid = (background != NULL ? !background->is_readable(): true);
+  bool need_checked_bg = (background != NULL ? !background->is_readable(): true);
   int depth;
   Image *image;
 
@@ -309,56 +367,86 @@ Image* RenderEngine::renderSprite(Sprite* sprite,
   if (!image)
     return NULL;
 
-  /* draw the background */
-  if (need_grid) {
+  // Draw checked background
+  if (need_checked_bg) {
     int x, y, u, v, c1, c2;
+    int tile_x = 0;
+    int tile_y = 0;
+    int tile_w = 16;
+    int tile_h = 16;
 
     switch (image->imgtype) {
       case IMAGE_RGB:
-	c1 = _rgba(128, 128, 128, 255); /* TODO configurable grid color */
-	c2 = _rgba(192, 192, 192, 255);
+	c1 = get_color_for_image(image->imgtype, checked_bg_color1);
+	c2 = get_color_for_image(image->imgtype, checked_bg_color2);
         break;
       case IMAGE_GRAYSCALE:
-	c1 = _graya(128, 255);
-	c2 = _graya(192, 255);
+	c1 = get_color_for_image(image->imgtype, checked_bg_color1);
+	c2 = get_color_for_image(image->imgtype, checked_bg_color2);
         break;
-	/* TODO remove this */
-      /* case IMAGE_INDEXED: */
-      /* 	c1 = rgb_map->data[16][16][16]; */
-      /*   c2 = rgb_map->data[24][24][24]; */
-      /*   break; */
+      // case IMAGE_INDEXED:
+      // 	c1 = get_color_for_image(image->imgtype, checked_bg_color1);
+      // 	c2 = get_color_for_image(image->imgtype, checked_bg_color2);
+      //   break;
       default:
 	c1 = c2 = 0;
 	break;
     }
 
-#ifdef SCALABLE_TILES
-    u = (-source_x / (16<<zoom)) * (16<<zoom);
-    v = (-source_y / (16<<zoom)) * (16<<zoom);
-    for (y=-source_y; y<height+(16<<zoom); y+=(16<<zoom)) {
-      for (x=-source_x; x<width+(16<<zoom); x+=(16<<zoom))
-        image_rectfill(image,
-		       x,
-		       y,
-		       x+(16<<zoom)-1,
-		       y+(16<<zoom)-1,
-		       ((u++)&1)? c1: c2);
-      u = (++v);
+    switch (checked_bg_type) {
+
+      case CHECKED_BG_16X16:
+	tile_w = 16;
+	tile_h = 16;
+	break;
+
+      case CHECKED_BG_8X8:
+	tile_w = 8;
+	tile_h = 8;
+	break;
+
+      case CHECKED_BG_4X4:
+	tile_w = 4;
+	tile_h = 4;
+	break;
+
+      case CHECKED_BG_2X2:
+	tile_w = 2;
+	tile_h = 2;
+	break;
+
     }
-#else
-    u = (-source_x / (16<<zoom)) * 16;
-    v = (-source_y / (16<<zoom)) * 16;
-    for (y=-source_y; y<height+16; y+=16) {
-      for (x=-source_x; x<width+16; x+=16)
-        image_rectfill(image,
-		       x,
-		       y,
-		       x+16-1,
-		       y+16-1,
-		       ((u++)&1)? c1: c2);
-      u = (++v);
+
+    if (checked_bg_zoom) {
+      tile_w <<= zoom;
+      tile_h <<= zoom;
+    }
+
+    // Tile size
+    if (tile_w < (1<<zoom)) tile_w = (1<<zoom);
+    if (tile_h < (1<<zoom)) tile_h = (1<<zoom);
+
+    // Tile position (u,v) is the number of tile we start in (source_x,source_y) coordinate
+    // u = ((source_x>>zoom) - (source_x%(1<<zoom))) / tile_w;
+    // v = ((source_y>>zoom) - (source_y%(1<<zoom))) / tile_h;
+    u = source_x / tile_w;
+    v = source_y / tile_h;
+
+    // Position where we start drawing the first tile in "image"
+    int x_start = -(source_x % tile_w);
+    int y_start = -(source_y % tile_h);
+
+    // Draw checked background (tile by tile)
+    int u_start = u;
+    for (y=y_start; y<height+tile_h; y+=tile_h) {
+      for (x=x_start; x<width+tile_w; x+=tile_w) {
+	image_rectfill(image, x, y, x+tile_w-1, y+tile_h-1,
+		       (((u+v))&1)? c1: c2);
+	++u;
+      }
+      u = u_start;
+      ++v;
     }
-#endif
   }
   else
     image_clear(image, 0);
diff --git a/src/util/render.h b/src/util/render.h
index 284f48c82..c43eee343 100644
--- a/src/util/render.h
+++ b/src/util/render.h
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 #ifndef UTIL_RENDER_H_INCLUDED
 #define UTIL_RENDER_H_INCLUDED
 
+#include "core/color.h"
+
 class Image;
 class Layer;
 class Sprite;
@@ -26,8 +28,33 @@ class Sprite;
 class RenderEngine
 {
 public:
+
+  //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+  // Checked background configuration
+
+  enum CheckedBgType { CHECKED_BG_16X16, 
+		       CHECKED_BG_8X8,
+		       CHECKED_BG_4X4, 
+		       CHECKED_BG_2X2 };
+  
+  static void loadConfig();
+  static CheckedBgType getCheckedBgType();
+  static void setCheckedBgType(CheckedBgType type);
+  static bool getCheckedBgZoom();
+  static void setCheckedBgZoom(bool state);
+  static color_t getCheckedBgColor1();
+  static void setCheckedBgColor1(color_t color);
+  static color_t getCheckedBgColor2();
+  static void setCheckedBgColor2(color_t color);
+
+  //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+  // Preview image
+
   static void setPreviewImage(Layer* layer, Image* drawable);
 
+  //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+  // Main function used by sprite-editors to render the sprite
+
   static Image* renderSprite(Sprite* sprite,
 			     int source_x, int source_y,
 			     int width, int height,