diff --git a/src/core/slide.rs b/src/core/slide.rs
index a864f3d..e75c28e 100644
--- a/src/core/slide.rs
+++ b/src/core/slide.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
-use cosmic::{
-    cosmic_theme::palette::rgb::Rgba, widget::image::Handle,
-};
+use cosmic::widget::image::Handle;
 // use cosmic::dialog::ashpd::url::Url;
 use crisp::types::{Keyword, Symbol, Value};
 use iced_video_player::Video;
@@ -12,7 +10,7 @@ use std::{
 };
 use tracing::error;
 
-use crate::ui::text_svg::{Shadow, Stroke, TextSvg};
+use crate::ui::text_svg::{Color, Font, Shadow, Stroke, TextSvg};
 
 use super::songs::Song;
 
@@ -23,11 +21,12 @@ pub struct Slide {
     id: i32,
     pub(crate) background: Background,
     text: String,
-    font: String,
+    font: Option<Font>,
     font_size: i32,
     stroke: Option<Stroke>,
     shadow: Option<Shadow>,
     text_alignment: TextAlignment,
+    text_color: Option<Color>,
     audio: Option<PathBuf>,
     video_loop: bool,
     video_start_time: f32,
@@ -280,7 +279,7 @@ impl Slide {
     }
 
     pub fn set_font(mut self, font: impl AsRef<str>) -> Self {
-        self.font = font.as_ref().into();
+        self.font = Some(font.as_ref().into());
         self
     }
 
@@ -315,7 +314,7 @@ impl Slide {
         self.font_size
     }
 
-    pub fn font(&self) -> String {
+    pub fn font(&self) -> Option<Font> {
         self.font.clone()
     }
 
@@ -331,6 +330,18 @@ impl Slide {
         self.pdf_page.clone()
     }
 
+    pub fn text_color(&self) -> Option<Color> {
+        self.text_color.clone()
+    }
+
+    pub fn stroke(&self) -> Option<Stroke> {
+        self.stroke.clone()
+    }
+
+    pub fn shadow(&self) -> Option<Shadow> {
+        self.shadow.clone()
+    }
+
     pub const fn pdf_index(&self) -> u32 {
         self.pdf_index
     }
@@ -543,9 +554,12 @@ pub fn lisp_to_background(lisp: &Value) -> Background {
 pub struct SlideBuilder {
     background: Option<Background>,
     text: Option<String>,
-    font: Option<String>,
+    font: Option<Font>,
     font_size: Option<i32>,
     audio: Option<PathBuf>,
+    stroke: Option<Stroke>,
+    shadow: Option<Shadow>,
+    text_color: Option<Color>,
     text_alignment: Option<TextAlignment>,
     video_loop: Option<bool>,
     video_start_time: Option<f32>,
@@ -584,12 +598,20 @@ impl SlideBuilder {
         self
     }
 
+    pub(crate) fn text_color(
+        mut self,
+        text_color: impl Into<Color>,
+    ) -> Self {
+        let _ = self.text_color.insert(text_color.into());
+        self
+    }
+
     pub(crate) fn audio(mut self, audio: impl Into<PathBuf>) -> Self {
         let _ = self.audio.insert(audio.into());
         self
     }
 
-    pub(crate) fn font(mut self, font: impl Into<String>) -> Self {
+    pub(crate) fn font(mut self, font: impl Into<Font>) -> Self {
         let _ = self.font.insert(font.into());
         self
     }
@@ -599,6 +621,27 @@ impl SlideBuilder {
         self
     }
 
+    pub(crate) fn color(mut self, color: impl Into<Color>) -> Self {
+        let _ = self.text_color.insert(color.into());
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn stroke(
+        mut self,
+        stroke: impl Into<Stroke>,
+    ) -> Self {
+        let _ = self.stroke.insert(stroke.into());
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn shadow(
+        mut self,
+        shadow: impl Into<Shadow>,
+    ) -> Self {
+        let _ = self.shadow.insert(shadow.into());
+        self
+    }
+
     pub(crate) fn text_alignment(
         mut self,
         text_alignment: TextAlignment,
@@ -656,9 +699,6 @@ impl SlideBuilder {
         let Some(text) = self.text else {
             return Err(miette!("No text"));
         };
-        let Some(font) = self.font else {
-            return Err(miette!("No font"));
-        };
         let Some(font_size) = self.font_size else {
             return Err(miette!("No font_size"));
         };
@@ -677,10 +717,13 @@ impl SlideBuilder {
         Ok(Slide {
             background,
             text,
-            font,
+            font: self.font,
             font_size,
             text_alignment,
             audio: self.audio,
+            stroke: self.stroke,
+            shadow: self.shadow,
+            text_color: self.text_color,
             video_loop,
             video_start_time,
             video_end_time,
@@ -710,7 +753,7 @@ mod test {
             text: "This is frodo".to_string(),
             background: Background::try_from("~/pics/frodo.jpg")
                 .unwrap(),
-            font: "Quicksand".to_string(),
+            font: Some("Quicksand".to_string().into()),
             font_size: 140,
             ..Default::default()
         }
@@ -723,7 +766,7 @@ mod test {
                 "~/vids/test/camprules2024.mp4",
             )
             .unwrap(),
-            font: "Quicksand".to_string(),
+            font: Some("Quicksand".to_string().into()),
             ..Default::default()
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/core/songs.rs b/src/core/songs.rs
index 61cad43..bceb96c 100644
--- a/src/core/songs.rs
+++ b/src/core/songs.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use std::{
 };
 
 use cosmic::{
-    cosmic_theme::palette::rgb::Rgba,
+    cosmic_theme::palette::{IntoColor, Srgb, rgb::Rgba},
     iced::clipboard::mime::AsMimeTypes,
 };
 use crisp::types::{Keyword, Symbol, Value};
@@ -16,7 +16,11 @@ use sqlx::{
 };
 use tracing::{debug, error};
 
-use crate::{Slide, SlideBuilder, core::slide};
+use crate::{
+    Slide, SlideBuilder,
+    core::slide,
+    ui::text_svg::{self, Color, Font, Stroke, shadow, stroke},
+};
 
 use super::{
     content::Content,
@@ -41,11 +45,12 @@ pub struct Song {
     pub text_alignment: Option<TextAlignment>,
     pub font: Option<String>,
     pub font_size: Option<i32>,
-    pub stroke_size: Option<i32>,
-    pub stroke_color: Option<Rgba>,
-    pub shadow_size: Option<i32>,
-    pub shadow_offset: Option<(i32, i32)>,
-    pub shadow_color: Option<Rgba>,
+    pub text_color: Option<Srgb>,
+    pub stroke_size: Option<u16>,
+    pub stroke_color: Option<Srgb>,
+    pub shadow_size: Option<u16>,
+    pub shadow_offset: Option<(i16, i16)>,
+    pub shadow_color: Option<Srgb>,
     pub verses: Option<Vec<VerseName>>,
     pub verse_map: Option<HashMap<VerseName, String>>,
 }
@@ -283,15 +288,58 @@ impl ServiceTrait for Song {
         let slides: Vec<Slide> = lyrics
             .iter()
             .filter_map(|l| {
-                SlideBuilder::new()
+                let font =
+                    Font::default()
+                        .name(
+                            self.font
+                                .clone()
+                                .unwrap_or_else(|| "Calibri".into()),
+                        )
+                        .size(self.font_size.unwrap_or_else(|| 100)
+                            as u8);
+                let stroke_size =
+                    self.stroke_size.unwrap_or_default();
+                let stroke: Stroke = stroke(
+                    stroke_size,
+                    self.stroke_color
+                        .map(|color| Color::from(color))
+                        .unwrap_or_default(),
+                );
+                let shadow_size =
+                    self.shadow_size.unwrap_or_default();
+                let shadow = shadow(
+                    self.shadow_offset.unwrap_or_default().0,
+                    self.shadow_offset.unwrap_or_default().1,
+                    shadow_size,
+                    self.shadow_color
+                        .map(|color| Color::from(color))
+                        .unwrap_or_default(),
+                );
+                let builder = SlideBuilder::new();
+                let builder = if shadow_size > 0 {
+                    builder.shadow(shadow)
+                } else {
+                    builder
+                };
+                let builder = if stroke_size > 0 {
+                    builder.stroke(stroke)
+                } else {
+                    builder
+                };
+                builder
                     .background(
                         self.background.clone().unwrap_or_default(),
                     )
-                    .font(self.font.clone().unwrap_or_default())
+                    .font(font)
                     .font_size(self.font_size.unwrap_or_default())
                     .text_alignment(
                         self.text_alignment.unwrap_or_default(),
                     )
+                    .text_color(
+                        self.text_color.unwrap_or_else(|| {
+                            Srgb::new(1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
+                        }),
+                    )
                     .audio(self.audio.clone().unwrap_or_default())
                     .video_loop(true)
                     .video_start_time(0.0)
diff --git a/src/ui/presenter.rs b/src/ui/presenter.rs
index f990015..ebfa664 100644
--- a/src/ui/presenter.rs
+++ b/src/ui/presenter.rs
@@ -458,8 +458,12 @@ impl Presenter {
                 // self.current_slide_index = slide;
                 debug!("cloning slide...");
                 self.current_slide = slide.clone();
-                let _ =
-                    self.update(Message::ChangeFont(slide.font()));
+                let font = if let Some(font) = slide.font() {
+                    font.get_name()
+                } else {
+                    "".into()
+                };
+                let _ = self.update(Message::ChangeFont(font));
                 debug!("changing video now...");
                 if !backgrounds_match {
                     if let Some(video) = &mut self.video {
diff --git a/src/ui/song_editor.rs b/src/ui/song_editor.rs
index cf6174e..c4c9350 100644
--- a/src/ui/song_editor.rs
+++ b/src/ui/song_editor.rs
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ pub struct SongEditor {
     song_slides: Option<Vec<Slide>>,
     slide_state: SlideEditor,
     stroke_sizes: combo_box::State<i32>,
-    stroke_size: i32,
+    stroke_size: u16,
     stroke_open: bool,
     #[debug(skip)]
     stroke_color_model: ColorPickerModel,
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ pub enum Message {
     None,
     ChangeAuthor(String),
     PauseVideo,
-    UpdateStrokeSize(i32),
+    UpdateStrokeSize(u16),
     UpdateStrokeColor(ColorPickerUpdate),
     OpenStroke,
     CloseStroke,
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ impl SongEditor {
                 if let Some(song) = &mut self.song {
                     song.font = Some(font);
                     let song = song.to_owned();
-                    return self.update_song(song);
+                    return Action::Task(self.update_song(song));
                 }
             }
             Message::ChangeFontSize(size) => {
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ impl SongEditor {
                 if let Some(song) = &mut self.song {
                     song.font_size = Some(size as i32);
                     let song = song.to_owned();
-                    return self.update_song(song);
+                    return Action::Task(self.update_song(song));
                 }
             }
             Message::ChangeTitle(title) => {
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ impl SongEditor {
                 if let Some(song) = &mut self.song {
                     song.title = title;
                     let song = song.to_owned();
-                    return self.update_song(song);
+                    return Action::Task(self.update_song(song));
                 }
             }
             Message::ChangeVerseOrder(verse_order) => {
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ impl SongEditor {
                         .map(std::borrow::ToOwned::to_owned)
                         .collect();
                     song.verse_order = Some(verse_order);
-                    return self.update_song(song);
+                    return Action::Task(self.update_song(song));
                 }
             }
             Message::ChangeLyrics(action) => {
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ impl SongEditor {
 
                 if let Some(mut song) = self.song.clone() {
                     song.lyrics = Some(lyrics);
-                    return self.update_song(song);
+                    return Action::Task(self.update_song(song));
                 }
             }
             Message::Edit(edit) => {
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ impl SongEditor {
                 self.author = author.clone();
                 if let Some(mut song) = self.song.clone() {
                     song.author = Some(author);
-                    return self.update_song(song);
+                    return Action::Task(self.update_song(song));
                 }
             }
             Message::ChangeBackground(Ok(path)) => {
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ impl SongEditor {
                     let background = Background::try_from(path).ok();
                     self.background_video(&background);
                     song.background = background;
-                    return self.update_song(song);
+                    return Action::Task(self.update_song(song));
                 }
             }
             Message::ChangeBackground(Err(error)) => {
@@ -394,19 +394,21 @@ impl SongEditor {
                         song.stroke_size = Some(size);
                     }
                     let song = song.to_owned();
-                    return self.update_song(song);
+                    return Action::Task(self.update_song(song));
                 }
             }
             Message::UpdateStrokeColor(update) => {
-                let task = self.stroke_color_model.update(update);
-                if let Some(song) = self.song.as_mut()
+                let mut tasks = Vec::with_capacity(2);
+                tasks.push(self.stroke_color_model.update(update));
+                if let Some(mut song) = self.song.clone()
                     && let Some(color) =
                         self.stroke_color_model.get_applied_color()
                 {
                     debug!(?color);
                     song.stroke_color = Some(color.into());
+                    tasks.push(self.update_song(song));
                 }
-                return Action::Task(task);
+                return Action::Task(Task::batch(tasks));
             }
             Message::UpdateSlides(slides) => {
                 self.song_slides = Some(slides);
@@ -473,7 +475,9 @@ impl SongEditor {
                                     &old_verse_name,
                                 );
 
-                                return self.update_song(song);
+                                return Action::Task(
+                                    self.update_song(song),
+                                );
                             }
                         }
                         verse_editor::Action::UpdateVerse((
@@ -486,14 +490,18 @@ impl SongEditor {
                                 // song.update_verse(
                                 //     index, verse, lyric,
                                 // );
-                                return self.update_song(song);
+                                return Action::Task(
+                                    self.update_song(song),
+                                );
                             }
                         }
                         verse_editor::Action::DeleteVerse(verse) => {
                             if let Some(mut song) = self.song.clone()
                             {
                                 song.delete_verse(verse);
-                                return self.update_song(song);
+                                return Action::Task(
+                                    self.update_song(song),
+                                );
                             };
                         }
                         verse_editor::Action::None => (),
@@ -517,7 +525,7 @@ impl SongEditor {
                 }
                 if let Some(mut song) = self.song.clone() {
                     song.add_verse(verse, lyric);
-                    return self.update_song(song);
+                    return Action::Task(self.update_song(song));
                 }
             }
             Message::RemoveVerse(index) => {
@@ -528,7 +536,7 @@ impl SongEditor {
                             verses.remove(index);
                         },
                     );
-                    return self.update_song(song);
+                    return Action::Task(self.update_song(song));
                 }
             }
             Message::ChipHovered(index) => {
@@ -546,7 +554,9 @@ impl SongEditor {
                             {
                                 verses.insert(index, verse);
                                 let song = song.clone();
-                                return self.update_song(song);
+                                return Action::Task(
+                                    self.update_song(song),
+                                );
                             }
                             error!("No verses in this song?");
                         } else {
@@ -567,7 +577,9 @@ impl SongEditor {
                         {
                             verses.push(verse);
                             let song = song.clone();
-                            return self.update_song(song);
+                            return Action::Task(
+                                self.update_song(song),
+                            );
                         } else {
                             error!(
                                 "No verses in this song or no song here"
@@ -592,7 +604,7 @@ impl SongEditor {
                         let verse = verses.remove(index);
                         verses.insert(target_index, verse);
                         debug!(?verses);
-                        return self.update_song(song);
+                        return Action::Task(self.update_song(song));
                     }
                 }
                 draggable::DragEvent::Canceled { index } => (),
@@ -606,7 +618,7 @@ impl SongEditor {
             Message::SetTextAlignment(alignment) => {
                 if let Some(mut song) = self.song.clone() {
                     song.text_alignment = Some(alignment);
-                    return self.update_song(song);
+                    return Action::Task(self.update_song(song));
                 }
             }
             Message::None => (),
@@ -1147,7 +1159,7 @@ impl SongEditor {
             dropdown(
                 &["0", "1", "2", "3", "4", "5", "6", "7"],
                 Some(self.stroke_size as usize),
-                |i| Message::UpdateStrokeSize(i as i32),
+                |i| Message::UpdateStrokeSize(i as u16),
             )
             .gap(5.0),
         ]
@@ -1389,11 +1401,11 @@ impl SongEditor {
         self.editing
     }
 
-    fn update_song(&mut self, song: Song) -> Action {
-        use cosmic::iced_futures::futures::stream;
+    fn update_song(&mut self, song: Song) -> Task<Message> {
+        // use cosmic::iced_futures::futures::stream;
         // use cosmic::iced_futures::futures::{Stream, StreamExt};
         // use cosmic::iced_futures::stream::channel;
-        use cosmic::task::stream;
+        // use cosmic::task::stream;
         let font_db = Arc::clone(&self.font_db);
         // need to test to see which of these methods yields faster
         // text_svg slide creation. There is a small thought in me that
@@ -1464,7 +1476,7 @@ impl SongEditor {
         }
         tasks.push(Task::done(Message::UpdateSong(song)));
 
-        Action::Task(Task::batch(tasks))
+        Task::batch(tasks)
     }
 
     fn background_video(&mut self, background: &Option<Background>) {
diff --git a/src/ui/text_svg.rs b/src/ui/text_svg.rs
index f5526ec..f798acd 100644
--- a/src/ui/text_svg.rs
+++ b/src/ui/text_svg.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ use resvg::{
     usvg::{Tree, fontdb},
 };
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use tracing::error;
+use tracing::{debug, error};
 
 use crate::TextAlignment;
 
@@ -378,7 +378,11 @@ impl TextSvg {
                 stroke.color, stroke.size
             ));
         }
-        final_svg.push_str(" style=\"filter:url(#shadow);\">");
+
+        if self.shadow.is_some() {
+            final_svg.push_str(" style=\"filter:url(#shadow);\"");
+        }
+        final_svg.push_str(">");
 
         let text: String = self
             .text
@@ -496,20 +500,7 @@ pub fn text_svg_generator(
     slide: &mut crate::core::slide::Slide,
     fontdb: Arc<fontdb::Database>,
 ) {
-    if !slide.text().is_empty() {
-        let text_svg = TextSvg::new(slide.text())
-            .alignment(slide.text_alignment())
-            .fill("#fff")
-            .shadow(shadow(2, 2, 5, "#000000"))
-            .stroke(stroke(3, "#000"))
-            .font(
-                Font::from(slide.font())
-                    .size(slide.font_size().try_into().unwrap()),
-            )
-            .fontdb(Arc::clone(&fontdb))
-            .build(Size::new(1280.0, 720.0), true);
-        slide.text_svg = Some(text_svg);
-    }
+    text_svg_generator_with_cache(slide, fontdb, true);
 }
 
 pub fn text_svg_generator_with_cache(
@@ -518,17 +509,31 @@ pub fn text_svg_generator_with_cache(
     cache: bool,
 ) {
     if !slide.text().is_empty() {
+        let font = if let Some(font) = slide.font() {
+            font
+        } else {
+            Font::default()
+        };
         let text_svg = TextSvg::new(slide.text())
             .alignment(slide.text_alignment())
-            .fill("#fff")
-            .shadow(shadow(2, 2, 5, "#000000"))
-            .stroke(stroke(3, "#000"))
-            .font(
-                Font::from(slide.font())
-                    .size(slide.font_size().try_into().unwrap()),
-            )
-            .fontdb(Arc::clone(&fontdb))
-            .build(Size::new(1280.0, 720.0), cache);
+            .fill(
+                slide.text_color().unwrap_or_else(|| "#fff".into()),
+            );
+        let text_svg = if let Some(stroke) = slide.stroke() {
+            text_svg.stroke(stroke)
+        } else {
+            text_svg
+        };
+        let text_svg = if let Some(shadow) = slide.shadow() {
+            text_svg.shadow(shadow)
+        } else {
+            text_svg
+        };
+        let text_svg =
+            text_svg.font(font).fontdb(Arc::clone(&fontdb));
+        debug!(fill = ?text_svg.fill, font = ?text_svg.font, stroke = ?text_svg.stroke, shadow = ?text_svg.shadow, text = ?text_svg.text);
+        let text_svg =
+            text_svg.build(Size::new(1280.0, 720.0), cache);
         slide.text_svg = Some(text_svg);
     }
 }
@@ -538,6 +543,7 @@ mod tests {
     use crate::core::slide::Slide;
 
     use super::*;
+    use rayon::iter::{IntoParallelIterator, ParallelIterator};
     use resvg::usvg::fontdb::Database;
 
     #[test]
@@ -547,12 +553,12 @@ mod tests {
         let mut fontdb = Database::new();
         fontdb.load_system_fonts();
         let fontdb = Arc::new(fontdb);
-        (0..100).for_each(|index| {
+        (0..40).into_par_iter().for_each(|_| {
             let mut slide = slide
                 .clone()
                 .set_font_size(120)
                 .set_font("Quicksand")
-                .set_text(index.to_string());
+                .set_text("This is the first slide of text\nAnd we are singing\nTo save the world!");
             text_svg_generator_with_cache(
                 &mut slide,
                 Arc::clone(&fontdb),