diff --git a/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.cpp b/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.cpp
index f5d175fadb..a20715635f 100644
--- a/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.cpp
+++ b/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelNode.cpp
@@ -161,7 +161,6 @@ void VoxelNode::safeDeepDeleteChildAtIndex(int childIndex, bool& stagedForDeleti
     }
 }
 
-
 // will average the child colors...
 void VoxelNode::setColorFromAverageOfChildren() {
     int colorArray[4] = {0,0,0,0};
@@ -177,22 +176,19 @@ void VoxelNode::setColorFromAverageOfChildren() {
             density += _children[i]->getDensity();
         }
     }
-    if (_childCount > 0) {
-        //  If there are children, density is sum of child densities
-        density /= (float) NUMBER_OF_CHILDREN;
-    } else {
-        //  If there are no children
-        density = 1.f;
-    }
-    
-    if (colorArray[3] > 0) {
-        printf("children: %d, density = %4.2f\n", colorArray[3], density);
-    }
-    
-    const float VISIBLE_ABOVE_DENSITY = 0.0f;
+    density /= (float) NUMBER_OF_CHILDREN;    
+    //
+    //  The VISIBLE_ABOVE_DENSITY sets the density of matter above which an averaged color voxel will
+    //  be set.  It is an important physical constant in our universe.  A number below 0.5 will cause
+    //  things to get 'fatter' at a distance, because upward averaging will make larger voxels out of
+    //  less data, which is (probably) going to be preferable because it gives a sense that there is
+    //  something out there to go investigate.   A number above 0.5 would cause the world to become
+    //  more 'empty' at a distance.  Exactly 0.5 would match the physical world, at least for materials
+    //  that are not shiny and have equivalent ambient reflectance.  
+    //
+    const float VISIBLE_ABOVE_DENSITY = 0.10f;        
     nodeColor newColor = { 0, 0, 0, 0};
-    //  if (density > VISIBLE_ABOVE_DENSITY) {
-    if (colorArray[3] > 0) {
+    if (density > VISIBLE_ABOVE_DENSITY) {
         // The density of material in the space of the voxel sets whether it is actually colored
         for (int c = 0; c < 3; c++) {
             // set the average color value
@@ -201,9 +197,7 @@ void VoxelNode::setColorFromAverageOfChildren() {
         // set the alpha to 1 to indicate that this isn't transparent
         newColor[3] = 1;
     }
-    // actually set our color, note, if we didn't have enough children
-    // this will be the default value all zeros, and therefore be marked as
-    // transparent with a 4th element of 0
+    //  Set the color from the average of the child colors, and update the density 
     setColor(newColor);
     setDensity(density);
 }
@@ -232,20 +226,21 @@ void VoxelNode::setFalseColored(bool isFalseColored) {
         _falseColored = isFalseColored; 
         _isDirty = true;
         markWithChangedTime();
+        _density = 1.0f;       //   If color set, assume leaf, re-averaging will update density if needed.
+
     }
 };
 
 
 void VoxelNode::setColor(const nodeColor& color) {
     if (_trueColor[0] != color[0] || _trueColor[1] != color[1] || _trueColor[2] != color[2]) {
-        //printLog("VoxelNode::setColor() was: (%d,%d,%d) is: (%d,%d,%d)\n",
-        //    _trueColor[0],_trueColor[1],_trueColor[2],color[0],color[1],color[2]);
         memcpy(&_trueColor,&color,sizeof(nodeColor));
         if (!_falseColored) {
             memcpy(&_currentColor,&color,sizeof(nodeColor));
         }
         _isDirty = true;
         markWithChangedTime();
+        _density = 1.0f;       //   If color set, assume leaf, re-averaging will update density if needed.
     }
 }
 #endif