diff --git a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/common/IPlugInPort.java b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/common/IPlugInPort.java
index 705d9d69..8d379dbe 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/common/IPlugInPort.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/common/IPlugInPort.java
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import java.awt.Dimension;
 import java.awt.Graphics2D;
 import java.awt.Point;
 import java.awt.geom.Point2D;
+import java.awt.geom.Rectangle2D;
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
@@ -192,9 +193,10 @@ public interface IPlugInPort extends ISelectionProcessor, IMouseProcessor, IKeyP
    * @param g2d
    * @param drawOptions specific drawing options
    * @param filter
-   * @param externalZoom
+   * @param externalZoom
+   * @param visibleRect
    */
-  void draw(Graphics2D g2d, Set<DrawOption> drawOptions, IComponentFiler filter, Double externalZoom);
+  void draw(Graphics2D g2d, Set<DrawOption> drawOptions, IComponentFiler filter, Double externalZoom, Rectangle2D visibleRect);
 
   Double[] getAvailableZoomLevels();
 
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/DrawingCache.java b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/DrawingCache.java
index 462f9882..24656fdc 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/DrawingCache.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/DrawingCache.java
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ public class DrawingCache {
    */
   @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
   public void draw(IDIYComponent<?> component, G2DWrapper g2d, ComponentState componentState,
-      boolean outlineMode, Project project, double zoom) {
+      boolean outlineMode, Project project, double zoom, Rectangle2D visibleRect) {
     ComponentType type = ComponentProcessor.getInstance()
         .extractComponentTypeFrom((Class<? extends IDIYComponent<?>>) component.getClass());
 
@@ -99,17 +99,20 @@ public class DrawingCache {
       
       long componentStart = System.nanoTime();
 
-      // temporarily scale the graphic to compensate for the zoom, since we are rendering an image with the zoom appled
-      if (Math.abs(1.0 - zoom) > 1e-4) {
-        g2d.getCanvasGraphics().scale(1 / zoom, 1 / zoom);
-      }
-      try {
-        // draw cached image
-        g2d.getCanvasGraphics().drawImage(value.getImage(), (int) ((firstPoint.x - value.getDx()) * zoom),
-            (int) ((firstPoint.y - value.getDy())* zoom), null);
-      } finally {
+      // only render the cached image if it's within the clipping region
+      if (visibleRect == null || visibleRect.intersects(value.getCacheBounds())) {
+        // temporarily scale the graphic to compensate for the zoom, since we are rendering an image with the zoom appled
         if (Math.abs(1.0 - zoom) > 1e-4) {
-          g2d.getCanvasGraphics().scale(zoom, zoom);
+          g2d.getCanvasGraphics().scale(1 / zoom, 1 / zoom);
+        }
+        try {
+          // draw cached image
+          g2d.getCanvasGraphics().drawImage(value.getImage(), (int) ((firstPoint.x - value.getDx()) * zoom),
+              (int) ((firstPoint.y - value.getDy())* zoom), null);
+        } finally {
+          if (Math.abs(1.0 - zoom) > 1e-4) {
+            g2d.getCanvasGraphics().scale(zoom, zoom);
+          }
         }
       }
       
@@ -125,7 +128,7 @@ public class DrawingCache {
       }
       stats.getSecond().add(componentEnd - componentStart);
 
-      // copy over tracking area from the cache
+      // copy over tracking area from the cache, regardless if we rendered or not
       g2d.merge(value.getCurrentArea(), value.getContinuityPositiveAreas(), value.getContinuityNegativeAreas());      
     } else {
       // no caching, just draw as usual
@@ -233,7 +236,7 @@ public class DrawingCache {
       
       // add to the cache        
       value = new CacheValue(component, image, wrapper.getCurrentArea(), wrapper.getContinuityPositiveAreas(),
-          wrapper.getContinuityNegativeAreas(), componentState, zoom, dx, dy);        
+          wrapper.getContinuityNegativeAreas(), componentState, zoom, dx, dy, rect);        
       imageCache.put(component, value);
     }
     
@@ -250,11 +253,13 @@ public class DrawingCache {
     double zoom;
     int dx;
     int dy;
+    Rectangle2D cacheBounds;
 
     public CacheValue(IDIYComponent<?> component, BufferedImage image, Area currentArea,
         Map<String, Area> continuityPositiveAreas,  Map<String, Area> continuityNegativeAreas,
-        ComponentState state, double zoom, int dx, int dy) {
+        ComponentState state, double zoom, int dx, int dy, Rectangle2D cacheBounds) {
       super();
+      this.cacheBounds = cacheBounds;
       // take a copy of the component, so we can check if it changed in the meantime
       try {
         this.component = component.clone();
@@ -305,6 +310,10 @@ public class DrawingCache {
     public int getDy() {
       return dy;
     }
+    
+    public Rectangle2D getCacheBounds() {
+      return cacheBounds;
+    }
 
     @Override
     public String toString() {
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/DrawingManager.java b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/DrawingManager.java
index 6b0810d2..0b477a51 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/DrawingManager.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/DrawingManager.java
@@ -139,12 +139,13 @@ public class DrawingManager {
    * @param componentSlot
    * @param dragInProgress
    * @param externalZoom
+   * @param visibleRect
    * @return
    */
   public List<IDIYComponent<?>> drawProject(Graphics2D g2d, Project project, Set<DrawOption> drawOptions,
       IComponentFiler filter, Rectangle selectionRect, Collection<IDIYComponent<?>> selectedComponents,
       Set<IDIYComponent<?>> lockedComponents, Set<IDIYComponent<?>> groupedComponents, List<Point> controlPointSlot,
-      List<IDIYComponent<?>> componentSlot, boolean dragInProgress, Double externalZoom) {
+      List<IDIYComponent<?>> componentSlot, boolean dragInProgress, Double externalZoom, Rectangle2D visibleRect) {
     long totalStartTime = System.nanoTime();
     failedComponents.clear();
     if (project == null) {
@@ -242,11 +243,16 @@ public class DrawingManager {
 
       // translate to the new (0, 0)
       g2d.transform(AffineTransform.getTranslateInstance(extraSpace, extraSpace));
+      if (visibleRect != null)
+        visibleRect.setRect(visibleRect.getX() - extraSpace, visibleRect.getY() - extraSpace, 
+          visibleRect.getWidth(), visibleRect.getHeight());
     }    
 
     // apply zoom
     if (Math.abs(1.0 - zoom) > 1e-4) {
       g2dWrapper.scale(zoom, zoom);
+      visibleRect.setRect(visibleRect.getX() / zoom, visibleRect.getY() / zoom, 
+          visibleRect.getWidth() / zoom, visibleRect.getHeight() / zoom);
     }
     
     // Composite mainComposite = g2d.getComposite();
@@ -301,7 +307,7 @@ public class DrawingManager {
         try {
           
           if (drawOptions.contains(DrawOption.ENABLE_CACHING)) // go through the DrawingCache          
-            DrawingCache.Instance.draw(component, g2dWrapper, state, drawOptions.contains(DrawOption.OUTLINE_MODE), project, zoom);
+            DrawingCache.Instance.draw(component, g2dWrapper, state, drawOptions.contains(DrawOption.OUTLINE_MODE), project, zoom, visibleRect);
           else // go stragiht to the wrapper
             component.draw(g2dWrapper, state, outlineMode, project, g2dWrapper);
           
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/Presenter.java b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/Presenter.java
index b6bcac97..11130c1a 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/Presenter.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/Presenter.java
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ public class Presenter implements IPlugInPort {
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void draw(Graphics2D g2d, Set<DrawOption> drawOptions, final IComponentFiler filter, Double externalZoom) {
+  public void draw(Graphics2D g2d, Set<DrawOption> drawOptions, final IComponentFiler filter, Double externalZoom, Rectangle2D visibleRect) {
     if (currentProject == null) {
       return;
     }
@@ -501,7 +501,8 @@ public class Presenter implements IPlugInPort {
                 getLockedComponents(),
                 groupedComponents,
                 Arrays.asList(instantiationManager.getFirstControlPoint(),
-                    instantiationManager.getPotentialControlPoint()), componentSlotToDraw, dragInProgress, externalZoom);
+                    instantiationManager.getPotentialControlPoint()), componentSlotToDraw, dragInProgress, externalZoom,
+                visibleRect);
     List<String> failedComponentNames = new ArrayList<String>();
     for (IDIYComponent<?> component : failedComponents) {
       failedComponentNames.add(component.getName());
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/update.xml b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/update.xml
index dec1e598..af52acbc 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/update.xml
+++ b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/update.xml
@@ -2902,6 +2902,10 @@
 					<changeType>IMPROVEMENT</changeType>
 					<description>Improved performance math calculations used to model "Twisted Wires"</description>
 				</org.diylc.appframework.update.Change>	
+				<org.diylc.appframework.update.Change>
+					<changeType>IMPROVEMENT</changeType>
+					<description>Improved performance of "Highlight Connected Areas" feature</description>
+				</org.diylc.appframework.update.Change>
 				<org.diylc.appframework.update.Change>
 					<changeType>BUG_FIX</changeType>
 					<description>Older files that contain "Open Jack 1/4" components sometimes open with the jacks rotated the wrong way</description>
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-library/lib/diylc-core.jar b/diylc/diylc-library/lib/diylc-core.jar
index bebb4c0e..9ae82ec5 100644
Binary files a/diylc/diylc-library/lib/diylc-core.jar and b/diylc/diylc-library/lib/diylc-core.jar differ
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-swing/lib/diylc-core.jar b/diylc/diylc-swing/lib/diylc-core.jar
index bebb4c0e..9ae82ec5 100644
Binary files a/diylc/diylc-swing/lib/diylc-core.jar and b/diylc/diylc-swing/lib/diylc-core.jar differ
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-swing/library/main.jar b/diylc/diylc-swing/library/main.jar
index 52370b0c..57e50ddd 100644
Binary files a/diylc/diylc-swing/library/main.jar and b/diylc/diylc-swing/library/main.jar differ
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/gui/MainFrame.java b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/gui/MainFrame.java
index 461399ea..ea9e70d0 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/gui/MainFrame.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/gui/MainFrame.java
@@ -158,7 +158,8 @@ public class MainFrame extends JFrame implements ISwingUI {
         if (presenter.allowFileAction()) {
           ConfigurationManager.getInstance().writeValue(IPlugInPort.ABNORMAL_EXIT_KEY, false);
           dispose();
-          presenter.dispose();
+          presenter.dispose();
+          LOG.info("Closing the app");
           System.exit(0);
         }
       }
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/gui/TemplateDialog.java b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/gui/TemplateDialog.java
index 2286372d..daec44d3 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/gui/TemplateDialog.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/gui/TemplateDialog.java
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ public class TemplateDialog extends JDialog {
           super.paint(g);
           // Graphics2D g2d = (Graphics2D) g;
           // AffineTransform transform = g2d.getTransform();
-          presenter.draw((Graphics2D) g, EnumSet.of(DrawOption.ZOOM, DrawOption.ANTIALIASING), null, null);
+          presenter.draw((Graphics2D) g, EnumSet.of(DrawOption.ZOOM, DrawOption.ANTIALIASING), null, null, null);
           // g2d.setTransform(transform);
           // Rectangle rect = canvasPanel.getBounds();
           // BorderFactory.createEtchedBorder().paintBorder(canvasPanel,
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/canvas/CanvasPanel.java b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/canvas/CanvasPanel.java
index 60537076..3598ab09 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/canvas/CanvasPanel.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/canvas/CanvasPanel.java
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ public class CanvasPanel extends JComponent implements Autoscroll {
       drawOptions.add(DrawOption.ENABLE_CACHING);
     }
     
-    plugInPort.draw(g2d, drawOptions, null, null);
+    plugInPort.draw(g2d, drawOptions, null, null, visibleRect);
     
     if (useHardwareAcceleration) {
       VolatileImage volatileImage = (VolatileImage) bufferImage;
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/cloud/view/UploadDialog.java b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/cloud/view/UploadDialog.java
index f2786e5c..2ada9160 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/cloud/view/UploadDialog.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/cloud/view/UploadDialog.java
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ public class UploadDialog extends ButtonDialog {
     }
 
 //    g2d.scale(zoomRatio, zoomRatio);
-    UploadDialog.this.plugInPort.draw(g2d, EnumSet.of(DrawOption.ANTIALIASING), null, zoomRatio);
+    UploadDialog.this.plugInPort.draw(g2d, EnumSet.of(DrawOption.ANTIALIASING), null, zoomRatio, null);
   }
 
   public String getKeywords() {
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/file/ProjectDrawingProvider.java b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/file/ProjectDrawingProvider.java
index 8b13dfc5..c6867b6e 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/file/ProjectDrawingProvider.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/file/ProjectDrawingProvider.java
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ public class ProjectDrawingProvider implements IDrawingProvider {
     if (includeExtraSpace) {
       drawOptions.add(DrawOption.EXTRA_SPACE);
     }
-    plugInPort.draw((Graphics2D) g, drawOptions, null, zoomFactor);
+    plugInPort.draw((Graphics2D) g, drawOptions, null, zoomFactor, null);
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/file/ProjectPreview.java b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/file/ProjectPreview.java
index 7d497365..6cdc957c 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/file/ProjectPreview.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/file/ProjectPreview.java
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ public class ProjectPreview extends JPanel implements PropertyChangeListener, IF
 
       // g2d.translate(x, y);
 //      g2d.scale(zoomRatio, zoomRatio);
-      presenter.draw(g2d, EnumSet.noneOf(DrawOption.class), null, zoomRatio);
+      presenter.draw(g2d, EnumSet.noneOf(DrawOption.class), null, zoomRatio, null);
 
       g2d.setColor(Color.black);
       g2d.drawRect(0, 0, d.width - (int) (1 / zoomRatio), d.height - (int) (1 / zoomRatio));
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/file/TraceMaskDrawingProvider.java b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/file/TraceMaskDrawingProvider.java
index aff3561c..11ea8973 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/file/TraceMaskDrawingProvider.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/file/TraceMaskDrawingProvider.java
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ public class TraceMaskDrawingProvider implements IDrawingProvider {
 
   @Override
   public void draw(int page, Graphics g, double zoomFactor) {
-    plugInPort.draw((Graphics2D) g, EnumSet.of(DrawOption.ANTIALIASING), new PCBLayerFiler(getUsedLayers()[page]), zoomFactor);
+    plugInPort.draw((Graphics2D) g, EnumSet.of(DrawOption.ANTIALIASING), new PCBLayerFiler(getUsedLayers()[page]), zoomFactor, null);
   }
 
   @Override