diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/RenderPipelines.cpp b/libraries/render-utils/src/RenderPipelines.cpp
index efbe09863b..c6a05e0d65 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/RenderPipelines.cpp
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/RenderPipelines.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@
 #include "simple_vert.h"
 #include "simple_textured_frag.h"
 #include "simple_textured_unlit_frag.h"
+#include "simple_transparent_textured_frag.h"
+#include "simple_transparent_textured_unlit_frag.h"
 
 #include "model_frag.h"
 #include "model_unlit_frag.h"
@@ -152,6 +154,8 @@ void initDeferredPipelines(render::ShapePlumber& plumber) {
     // Pixel shaders
     auto simplePixel = gpu::Shader::createPixel(std::string(simple_textured_frag));
     auto simpleUnlitPixel = gpu::Shader::createPixel(std::string(simple_textured_unlit_frag));
+    auto simpleTranslucentPixel = gpu::Shader::createPixel(std::string(simple_transparent_textured_frag));
+    auto simpleTranslucentUnlitPixel = gpu::Shader::createPixel(std::string(simple_transparent_textured_unlit_frag));
     auto modelPixel = gpu::Shader::createPixel(std::string(model_frag));
     auto modelUnlitPixel = gpu::Shader::createPixel(std::string(model_unlit_frag));
     auto modelNormalMapPixel = gpu::Shader::createPixel(std::string(model_normal_map_frag));
@@ -196,13 +200,13 @@ void initDeferredPipelines(render::ShapePlumber& plumber) {
         modelVertex, modelTranslucentPixel);
     addPipeline(
         Key::Builder().withTranslucent(),
-        simpleVertex, simplePixel);
+        simpleVertex, simpleTranslucentPixel);
     addPipeline(
         Key::Builder().withMaterial().withTranslucent().withUnlit(),
         modelVertex, modelTranslucentUnlitPixel);
     addPipeline(
         Key::Builder().withTranslucent().withUnlit(),
-        simpleVertex, simpleUnlitPixel);
+        simpleVertex, simpleTranslucentUnlitPixel);
     addPipeline(
         Key::Builder().withMaterial().withTranslucent().withTangents(),
         modelNormalMapVertex, modelTranslucentPixel);
diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/simple_textured.slf b/libraries/render-utils/src/simple_textured.slf
index 6067c81a1b..550f6546fd 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/simple_textured.slf
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/simple_textured.slf
@@ -26,15 +26,17 @@ in vec2 _texCoord0;
 
 void main(void) {
     vec4 texel = texture(originalTexture, _texCoord0);
+    float colorAlpha = _color.a;
     if (_color.a <= 0.0) {
         texel = colorToLinearRGBA(texel);
+        colorAlpha = -_color.a;
     }
 
     const float ALPHA_THRESHOLD = 0.999;
-    if (_color.a * texel.a < ALPHA_THRESHOLD) {
+    if (colorAlpha * texel.a < ALPHA_THRESHOLD) {
         packDeferredFragmentTranslucent(
             normalize(_normal),
-            _color.a * texel.a,
+            colorAlpha * texel.a,
             _color.rgb * texel.rgb,
             DEFAULT_FRESNEL,
             DEFAULT_ROUGHNESS);
diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/simple_textured_unlit.slf b/libraries/render-utils/src/simple_textured_unlit.slf
index 1ee2011972..d261fb343a 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/simple_textured_unlit.slf
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/simple_textured_unlit.slf
@@ -25,28 +25,20 @@ in vec2 _texCoord0;
 
 void main(void) {
     vec4 texel = texture(originalTexture, _texCoord0.st);
+    float colorAlpha = _color.a;
     if (_color.a <= 0.0) {
         texel = colorToLinearRGBA(texel);
+        colorAlpha = -_color.a;
     }
 
     const float ALPHA_THRESHOLD = 0.999;
-    if (_color.a * texel.a < ALPHA_THRESHOLD) {
-
-        _fragColor0 = vec4(_color.rgb * texel.rgb, _color.a * texel.a);
-
-        if (_color.a * texel.a <= 0.0) {
-            _fragColor0 = vec4(_color.rgb * texel.rgb, _color.a * texel.a);
-            //discard;
-        } else {
-            _fragColor0 = vec4(_color.rgb * texel.rgb, _color.a * texel.a);
-        }
-       // _fragColor0 = vec4(albedo.rgb, alpha);
-       /* packDeferredFragmentTranslucent(
+    if (colorAlpha * texel.a < ALPHA_THRESHOLD) {
+       packDeferredFragmentTranslucent(
             normalize(_normal),
-            _color.a * texel.a,
+            colorAlpha * texel.a,
             _color.rgb * texel.rgb,
             DEFAULT_FRESNEL,
-            DEFAULT_ROUGHNESS);*/
+            DEFAULT_ROUGHNESS);
     } else {
         packDeferredFragmentUnlit(
             normalize(_normal),
diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/simple_transparent_textured.slf b/libraries/render-utils/src/simple_transparent_textured.slf
index 0fda804129..f61a2c3608 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/simple_transparent_textured.slf
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/simple_transparent_textured.slf
@@ -26,10 +26,15 @@ in vec2 _texCoord0;
 
 void main(void) {
     vec4 texel = texture(originalTexture, _texCoord0.st);
-    texel = colorToLinearRGBA(texel);
+    float colorAlpha = _color.a;
+    if (_color.a <= 0.0) {
+        texel = colorToLinearRGBA(texel);
+        colorAlpha = -_color.a;
+    }
+
     packDeferredFragmentTranslucent(
         normalize(_normal),
-        _color.a,
+        colorAlpha,
         _color.rgb * texel.rgb,
         DEFAULT_FRESNEL,
         DEFAULT_ROUGHNESS);
diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/simple_transparent_textured_unlit.slf b/libraries/render-utils/src/simple_transparent_textured_unlit.slf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9ef3e6b82a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/simple_transparent_textured_unlit.slf
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+<@include gpu/Config.slh@>
+<$VERSION_HEADER$>
+//  Generated on <$_SCRIBE_DATE$>
+//
+//  simple_transparent_textured_unlit.slf
+//  fragment shader
+//
+//  Created by Sam Gateau on 4/3/17.
+//  Copyright 2017 High Fidelity, Inc.
+//
+//  Distributed under the Apache License, Version 2.0.
+//  See the accompanying file LICENSE or http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html
+//
+
+<@include gpu/Color.slh@>
+
+// the albedo texture
+uniform sampler2D originalTexture;
+
+// the interpolated normal
+in vec3 _normal;
+in vec4 _color;
+in vec2 _texCoord0;
+
+void main(void) {
+    vec4 texel = texture(originalTexture, _texCoord0.st);
+    float colorAlpha = _color.a;
+    if (_color.a <= 0.0) {
+        texel = colorToLinearRGBA(texel);
+        colorAlpha = -_color.a;
+    }
+    _fragColor0 = vec4(_color.rgb * texel.rgb, colorAlpha * texel.a);
+}
\ No newline at end of file