diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 856451f..d7f6f91 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ OBJS = fped.o expr.o coord.o obj.o delete.o inst.o util.o error.o \
        gui_tool.o gui_over.o gui_meas.o gui_frame.o
 
 XPMS = point.xpm delete.xpm vec.xpm frame.xpm frame_locked.xpm frame_ready.xpm \
-       line.xpm rect.xpm pad.xpm circ.xpm meas.xpm meas_x.xpm meas_y.xpm
+       line.xpm rect.xpm pad.xpm circ.xpm meas.xpm meas_x.xpm meas_y.xpm \
+       stuff.xpm stuff_off.xpm meas_off.xpm
 
 CFLAGS_GTK = `pkg-config --cflags gtk+-2.0`
 LIBS_GTK = `pkg-config --libs gtk+-2.0`
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ y.tab.c y.tab.h: fpd.y
 y.tab.o:	y.tab.c
 		$(CC) -c $(CFLAGS) $(SLOPPY) y.tab.c
 
-gui_tool.o:	$(XPMS:%=icons/%)
+gui_tool.o gui.o: $(XPMS:%=icons/%)
 
 # ----- Dependencies ----------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/gui.c b/gui.c
index 8e349c9..d6b91f6 100644
--- a/gui.c
+++ b/gui.c
@@ -24,10 +24,20 @@
 #include "gui_frame.h"
 #include "gui.h"
 
+#include "icons/stuff.xpm"
+#include "icons/stuff_off.xpm"
+#include "icons/meas.xpm"
+#include "icons/meas_off.xpm"
+
 
 GtkWidget *root;
+int show_stuff = 1;
+int show_meas = 1;
+
 
 static GtkWidget *frames_box;
+static GtkWidget *ev_stuff, *ev_meas;
+static GtkWidget *stuff_image[2], *meas_image[2];
 
 
 /* ----- menu bar ---------------------------------------------------------- */
@@ -39,13 +49,13 @@ static void menu_save(GtkWidget *widget, gpointer user)
 }
 
 
-static void make_menu_bar(GtkWidget *vbox)
+static void make_menu_bar(GtkWidget *hbox)
 {
 	GtkWidget *bar;
 	GtkWidget *file_menu, *file, *quit, *save;
 
 	bar = gtk_menu_bar_new();
-	gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(vbox), bar, FALSE, FALSE, 0);
+	gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(hbox), bar, TRUE, TRUE, 0);
 
 	file_menu = gtk_menu_new();
 
@@ -65,6 +75,67 @@ static void make_menu_bar(GtkWidget *vbox)
 }
 
 
+static gboolean toggle_stuff(GtkWidget *widget, GdkEventButton *event,
+    gpointer data)
+{
+	switch (event->button) {
+	case 1:
+		show_stuff = !show_stuff;
+		set_image(ev_stuff, stuff_image[show_stuff]);
+		redraw();
+		break;
+	}
+        return TRUE;
+}
+
+
+static gboolean toggle_meas(GtkWidget *widget, GdkEventButton *event,
+    gpointer data)
+{
+	switch (event->button) {
+	case 1:
+		show_meas = !show_meas;
+		set_image(ev_meas, meas_image[show_meas]);
+		redraw();
+		break;
+	}
+        return TRUE;
+}
+
+
+static void make_tool_bar(GtkWidget *hbox, GdkDrawable *drawable)
+{
+	GtkWidget *bar;
+
+	bar = gtk_toolbar_new();
+	gtk_box_pack_end(GTK_BOX(hbox), bar, TRUE, TRUE, 0);
+	//gtk_box_pack_end(GTK_BOX(hbox), bar, FALSE, FALSE, 0);
+	gtk_toolbar_set_style(GTK_TOOLBAR(bar), GTK_TOOLBAR_ICONS);
+
+	ev_stuff = tool_button(bar, drawable, NULL, toggle_stuff, NULL);
+	ev_meas = tool_button(bar, drawable, NULL, toggle_meas, NULL);
+
+	stuff_image[0] = gtk_widget_ref(make_image(drawable, xpm_stuff_off));
+	stuff_image[1] = gtk_widget_ref(make_image(drawable, xpm_stuff));
+	meas_image[0] = gtk_widget_ref(make_image(drawable, xpm_meas_off));
+	meas_image[1] = gtk_widget_ref(make_image(drawable, xpm_meas));
+
+	set_image(ev_stuff, stuff_image[show_stuff]);
+	set_image(ev_meas, meas_image[show_meas]);
+}
+
+
+static void make_top_bar(GtkWidget *vbox)
+{
+	GtkWidget *hbox;
+
+	hbox = gtk_hbox_new(FALSE, 0);
+	make_menu_bar(hbox);
+	make_tool_bar(hbox, root->window);
+	gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(vbox), hbox, FALSE, FALSE, 0);
+}
+
+
 /* ----- central screen area ----------------------------------------------- */
 
 
@@ -125,7 +196,7 @@ static void make_screen(GtkWidget *window)
 	vbox = gtk_vbox_new(FALSE, 0);
 	gtk_container_add(GTK_CONTAINER(window), vbox);
 
-	make_menu_bar(vbox);
+	make_top_bar(vbox);
 	make_center_area(vbox);
 	make_status_area(vbox);
 }
diff --git a/gui.h b/gui.h
index 8be6593..a1dbae0 100644
--- a/gui.h
+++ b/gui.h
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
 
 
 extern GtkWidget *root;
+extern int show_stuff;
+extern int show_meas;
 
 
 /* update everything after a model change */
diff --git a/gui_meas.c b/gui_meas.c
index 928a5db..37b9bf2 100644
--- a/gui_meas.c
+++ b/gui_meas.c
@@ -286,8 +286,10 @@ static int end_new_meas(struct inst *from, struct inst *to)
 	default:
 		abort();
 	}
-	meas->inverted = meas_dsc->lt(from->u.rect.end, to->u.rect.end) !=
-	    (mode == min_to_next_or_max);
+	meas->inverted =
+	  mode == min_to_next_or_max && is_min(meas_dsc->lt, to) ? 0 :
+	  meas_dsc->lt(from->u.rect.end, to->u.rect.end) !=
+	  (mode == min_to_next_or_max);
 {
 char *sm[] = { "min_to", "max_to", "next_to" };
 char *st[] = { "nxy", "nx", "ny", "mxy", "mx", "my" };
diff --git a/gui_tool.c b/gui_tool.c
index 67f787d..a032065 100644
--- a/gui_tool.c
+++ b/gui_tool.c
@@ -510,17 +510,9 @@ static int is_parent_of(const struct frame *p, const struct frame *c)
 static struct frame *locked_frame = NULL;
 
 
-static void remove_child(GtkWidget *widget, gpointer data)
-{
-	gtk_container_remove(GTK_CONTAINER(data), widget);
-}
-
-
 static void set_frame_image(GtkWidget *image)
 {
-	gtk_container_foreach(GTK_CONTAINER(ev_frame), remove_child, ev_frame);
-	gtk_container_add(GTK_CONTAINER(ev_frame), image);
-	gtk_widget_show_all(ev_frame);
+	set_image(ev_frame, image);
 }
 
 
@@ -851,63 +843,12 @@ void tool_reset(void)
 static gboolean tool_button_press_event(GtkWidget *widget,
     GdkEventButton *event, gpointer data)
 {
-	tool_select(widget, data);
-	return TRUE;
-}
-
-
-static GtkWidget *make_image(GdkDrawable *drawable,  char **xpm)
-{
-	GdkPixmap *pixmap;
-	GtkWidget *image;
-
-	pixmap = gdk_pixmap_create_from_xpm_d(drawable, NULL, NULL, xpm);
-	image = gtk_image_new_from_pixmap(pixmap, NULL);
-	gtk_misc_set_padding(GTK_MISC(image), 1, 1);
-	return image;
-}
-
-
-static GtkWidget *tool_button(GtkWidget *bar, GdkDrawable *drawable,
-    char **xpm, GtkWidget *last_evbox, struct tool_ops *ops)
-{
-	GtkWidget *image, *evbox;	
-	GtkToolItem *item;
-	GtkToolItem *last = NULL;
-
-	if (last_evbox)
-		last = GTK_TOOL_ITEM(gtk_widget_get_ancestor(last_evbox,
-		    GTK_TYPE_TOOL_ITEM));
-
-/*
- * gtk_radio_tool_button_new_from_widget is *huge*. we try to do things in a
- * more compact way.
- */
-#if 0
-	if (last)
-		item = gtk_radio_tool_button_new_from_widget(
-		    GTK_RADIO_TOOL_BUTTON(last));
-	else
-		item = gtk_radio_tool_button_new(NULL);
-	gtk_tool_button_set_icon_widget(GTK_TOOL_BUTTON(item), image);
-#else
-	evbox = gtk_event_box_new();
-	if (xpm) {
-		image = make_image(drawable, xpm);
-		gtk_container_add(GTK_CONTAINER(evbox), image);
+	switch (event->button) {
+	case 1:
+		tool_select(widget, data);
+		break;
 	}
-	g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(evbox), "button_press_event",
-            G_CALLBACK(tool_button_press_event), ops);
-
-	item = gtk_tool_item_new();
-	gtk_container_add(GTK_CONTAINER(item), evbox);
-
-	gtk_container_set_border_width(GTK_CONTAINER(item), 0);
-#endif
-
-	gtk_toolbar_insert(GTK_TOOLBAR(bar), item, -1);
-
-	return evbox;
+	return TRUE;
 }
 
 
@@ -924,27 +865,36 @@ static void tool_separator(GtkWidget *bar)
 GtkWidget *gui_setup_tools(GdkDrawable *drawable)
 {
 	GtkWidget *bar;
-	GtkWidget *last;
 
 	bar = gtk_toolbar_new();
 	gtk_toolbar_set_style(GTK_TOOLBAR(bar), GTK_TOOLBAR_ICONS);
 	gtk_toolbar_set_orientation(GTK_TOOLBAR(bar),
 	    GTK_ORIENTATION_VERTICAL);
 
-	ev_point = tool_button(bar, drawable, xpm_point, NULL, NULL);
-	last = tool_button(bar, drawable, xpm_delete, ev_point, &delete_ops);
+	ev_point = tool_button(bar, drawable, xpm_point,
+	    tool_button_press_event, NULL);
+	tool_button(bar, drawable, xpm_delete,
+	    tool_button_press_event, &delete_ops);
 	tool_separator(bar);
-	last = tool_button(bar, drawable, xpm_vec, last, &vec_ops);
-	ev_frame = tool_button(bar, drawable, NULL, last, &frame_ops);
-	last = ev_frame;
-	last = tool_button(bar, drawable, xpm_pad, last, &pad_ops);
-	last = tool_button(bar, drawable, xpm_line, last, &line_ops);
-	last = tool_button(bar, drawable, xpm_rect, last, &rect_ops);
-	last = tool_button(bar, drawable, xpm_circ, last, &circ_ops);
+	tool_button(bar, drawable, xpm_vec,
+	    tool_button_press_event, &vec_ops);
+	ev_frame = tool_button(bar, drawable, NULL,
+	    tool_button_press_event, &frame_ops);
+	tool_button(bar, drawable, xpm_pad,
+	    tool_button_press_event, &pad_ops);
+	tool_button(bar, drawable, xpm_line,
+	    tool_button_press_event, &line_ops);
+	tool_button(bar, drawable, xpm_rect,
+	    tool_button_press_event, &rect_ops);
+	tool_button(bar, drawable, xpm_circ,
+	    tool_button_press_event, &circ_ops);
 	tool_separator(bar);
-	last = tool_button(bar, drawable, xpm_meas, last, &meas_ops);
-	last = tool_button(bar, drawable, xpm_meas_x, last, &meas_ops_x);
-	last = tool_button(bar, drawable, xpm_meas_y, last, &meas_ops_y);
+	tool_button(bar, drawable, xpm_meas,
+	    tool_button_press_event, &meas_ops);
+	tool_button(bar, drawable, xpm_meas_x,
+	    tool_button_press_event, &meas_ops_x);
+	tool_button(bar, drawable, xpm_meas_y,
+	    tool_button_press_event, &meas_ops_y);
 
 	frame_image = gtk_widget_ref(make_image(drawable, xpm_frame));
 	frame_image_locked =
diff --git a/gui_util.c b/gui_util.c
index a5ac3aa..b418bea 100644
--- a/gui_util.c
+++ b/gui_util.c
@@ -161,6 +161,67 @@ void label_in_box_bg(GtkWidget *label, const char *color)
 }
 
 
+/* ----- generate a tool button with an XPM image -------------------------- */
+
+
+GtkWidget *make_image(GdkDrawable *drawable, char **xpm)
+{
+	GdkPixmap *pixmap;
+	GtkWidget *image;
+
+	pixmap = gdk_pixmap_create_from_xpm_d(drawable, NULL, NULL, xpm);
+	image = gtk_image_new_from_pixmap(pixmap, NULL);
+	gtk_misc_set_padding(GTK_MISC(image), 1, 1);
+	return image;
+}
+
+
+static void remove_child(GtkWidget *widget, gpointer data)
+{
+	gtk_container_remove(GTK_CONTAINER(data), widget);
+}
+
+
+void set_image(GtkWidget *widget, GtkWidget *image)
+{
+	gtk_container_foreach(GTK_CONTAINER(widget), remove_child, widget);
+	gtk_container_add(GTK_CONTAINER(widget), image);
+	gtk_widget_show_all(widget);
+}
+
+
+GtkWidget *tool_button(GtkWidget *bar, GdkDrawable *drawable, char **xpm,
+    gboolean (*cb)(GtkWidget *widget, GdkEventButton *event, gpointer data),
+    gpointer data)
+{
+	GtkWidget *image, *evbox;	
+	GtkToolItem *item;
+
+	/*
+	 * gtk_radio_tool_button_new_from_widget is *huge*. We try to do things
+	 * in a
+	 * more compact way.
+	 */
+
+	evbox = gtk_event_box_new();
+	if (xpm) {
+		image = make_image(drawable, xpm);
+		gtk_container_add(GTK_CONTAINER(evbox), image);
+	}
+	g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(evbox), "button_press_event",
+            G_CALLBACK(cb), data);
+
+	item = gtk_tool_item_new();
+	gtk_container_add(GTK_CONTAINER(item), evbox);
+
+	gtk_container_set_border_width(GTK_CONTAINER(item), 0);
+
+	gtk_toolbar_insert(GTK_TOOLBAR(bar), item, -1);
+
+	return evbox;
+}
+
+
 /* ----- render a text string ---------------------------------------------- */
 
 
diff --git a/gui_util.h b/gui_util.h
index 52b8390..5bd2090 100644
--- a/gui_util.h
+++ b/gui_util.h
@@ -56,6 +56,12 @@ GtkWidget *label_in_box_new(const char *s);
 GtkWidget *box_of_label(GtkWidget *label);
 void label_in_box_bg(GtkWidget *box, const char *color);
 
+GtkWidget *make_image(GdkDrawable *drawable, char **xpm);
+void set_image(GtkWidget *widget, GtkWidget *image);
+GtkWidget *tool_button(GtkWidget *bar, GdkDrawable *drawable, char **xpm,
+    gboolean (*cb)(GtkWidget *widget, GdkEventButton *event, gpointer data),
+    gpointer data);
+
 void render_text(GdkDrawable *da, GdkGC *gc, int x, int y, double angle,
     const char *s, const char *font, double xalign, double yalign,
     int xmax, int ymax);
diff --git a/icons/meas_off.fig b/icons/meas_off.fig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..97e03cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/icons/meas_off.fig
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#FIG 3.2  Produced by xfig version 3.2.5a
+Landscape
+Center
+Inches
+A4      
+100.00
+Single
+-2
+1200 2
+2 2 0 1 0 7 50 -1 10 0.000 0 0 -1 0 0 5
+	 3600 2400 6000 2400 6000 4800 3600 4800 3600 2400
+2 1 0 10 0 7 40 -1 -1 0.000 0 0 -1 0 0 2
+	 3900 3600 4200 4200
+2 1 0 10 0 7 40 -1 -1 0.000 0 0 -1 1 1 2
+	0 0 10.00 450.00 450.00
+	0 0 10.00 450.00 450.00
+	 4050 3900 5550 3150
+2 1 0 10 0 7 40 -1 -1 0.000 0 0 -1 0 0 2
+	 5400 2850 5700 3450
diff --git a/icons/stuff.fig b/icons/stuff.fig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..08f2d82
--- /dev/null
+++ b/icons/stuff.fig
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#FIG 3.2  Produced by xfig version 3.2.5a
+Landscape
+Center
+Inches
+A4      
+100.00
+Single
+-2
+1200 2
+0 32 #c0c000
+2 2 0 1 0 7 50 -1 -1 0.000 0 0 -1 0 0 5
+	 3600 2400 6000 2400 6000 4800 3600 4800 3600 2400
+2 1 0 10 32 7 50 -1 -1 0.000 0 0 -1 1 0 2
+	1 1 10.00 300.00 300.00
+	 3900 4515 5700 3315
+2 1 0 10 12 7 50 -1 -1 0.000 0 1 -1 0 0 3
+	 3900 3600 3900 2760 5700 2760
diff --git a/icons/stuff_off.fig b/icons/stuff_off.fig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b921711
--- /dev/null
+++ b/icons/stuff_off.fig
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#FIG 3.2  Produced by xfig version 3.2.5a
+Landscape
+Center
+Inches
+A4      
+100.00
+Single
+-2
+1200 2
+0 32 #c0c000
+2 1 0 10 0 7 40 -1 -1 0.000 0 0 -1 1 0 2
+	1 1 10.00 300.00 300.00
+	 3900 4515 5700 3315
+2 1 0 10 0 7 40 -1 -1 0.000 0 1 -1 0 0 3
+	 3900 3600 3900 2760 5700 2760
+2 2 0 1 0 7 50 -1 10 0.000 0 0 -1 0 0 5
+	 3600 2400 6000 2400 6000 4800 3600 4800 3600 2400
diff --git a/inst.c b/inst.c
index 28d1d33..159fe5e 100644
--- a/inst.c
+++ b/inst.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "gui_status.h"
 #include "gui_tool.h"
 #include "gui_inst.h"
+#include "gui.h"
 #include "inst.h"
 
 
@@ -83,6 +84,23 @@ static unsigned long active_set = 0;
 #define	IS_ACTIVE	((active_set & 1))
 
 
+/* ----- selective visibility ---------------------------------------------- */
+
+
+static int show(enum inst_prio prio)
+{
+	switch (prio) {
+	case ip_vec:
+	case ip_frame:
+		return show_stuff;
+	case ip_meas:
+		return show_meas;
+	default:
+		return 1;
+	}
+}
+
+
 /* ----- selection of items not on the canvas ------------------------------ */
 
 
@@ -142,6 +160,8 @@ int inst_select(struct coord pos)
 	edit_nothing();
 	selected_inst = NULL;
 	FOR_INST_PRIOS_DOWN(prio) {
+		if (!show(prio))
+			continue;
 		for (inst = insts[prio]; inst; inst = inst->next) {
 			if (!inst->active || !inst->ops->distance)
 				continue;
@@ -155,6 +175,9 @@ int inst_select(struct coord pos)
 			goto selected;
 	}
 
+	if (!show_stuff)
+		return 0;
+
 	/* give vectors a second chance */
 
 	for (inst = insts[ip_vec]; inst; inst = inst->next) {
@@ -828,15 +851,17 @@ void inst_draw(void)
 	struct inst *inst;
 
 	FOR_INSTS_UP(prio, inst)
-		if (!inst->active && inst->ops->draw)
+		if (show(prio) && !inst->active && inst->ops->draw)
 			inst->ops->draw(inst);
 	FOR_INSTS_UP(prio, inst)
-		if (prio != ip_frame && inst->active &&
+		if (show(prio) && prio != ip_frame && inst->active &&
 		    inst != selected_inst && inst->ops->draw)
 			inst->ops->draw(inst);
-	for (inst = insts[ip_frame]; inst; inst = inst->next)
-		if (inst->active && inst != selected_inst && inst->ops->draw)
-			inst->ops->draw(inst);
+	if (show_stuff)
+		for (inst = insts[ip_frame]; inst; inst = inst->next)
+			if (inst->active && inst != selected_inst &&
+			    inst->ops->draw)
+				inst->ops->draw(inst);
 	if (selected_inst && selected_inst->ops->draw)
 		selected_inst->ops->draw(selected_inst);
 }