diff --git a/src/graphics.c b/src/graphics.c
index 252033f4c..72cf11c73 100644
--- a/src/graphics.c
+++ b/src/graphics.c
@@ -1689,12 +1689,29 @@ void xor_rect(pixel *vid, int x, int y, int w, int h)
 	for (i=0; i<w; i+=2)
 	{
 		xor_pixel(x+i, y, vid);
-		xor_pixel(x+i, y+h-1, vid);
 	}
+	if (h != 1)
+	{
+		if (h%2 == 1) i = 2;
+		else i = 1;
+		for (; i<w; i+=2)
+		{
+			xor_pixel(x+i, y+h-1, vid);
+		}
+	}
+
 	for (i=2; i<h; i+=2)
 	{
 		xor_pixel(x, y+i, vid);
-		xor_pixel(x+w-1, y+i, vid);
+	}
+	if (w != 1)
+	{
+		if (w%2 == 1) i = 2;
+		else i = 1;
+		for (; i<h-1; i+=2)
+		{
+			xor_pixel(x+w-1, y+i, vid);
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 2a091c206..d61e0154c 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -2178,34 +2178,46 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 			save_h = my + 1 - save_y;
 			if (save_w+save_x>XRES) save_w = XRES-save_x;
 			if (save_h+save_y>YRES) save_h = YRES-save_y;
-			if (save_w<1) save_w = 1;
-			if (save_h<1) save_h = 1;
+			if (save_w+save_x<0) save_w = 0;
+			if (save_h+save_y<0) save_h = 0;
+			//if (save_w<1) save_w = 1;
+			//if (save_h<1) save_h = 1;
 			if (!b)
 			{
-				if (copy_mode==1)//CTRL-C, copy
+				if (save_w < 0)
 				{
-					clipboard_data=build_save(&clipboard_length, save_x, save_y, save_w, save_h, bmap, vx, vy, pv, fvx, fvy, signs, parts);
-					if (clipboard_data)
-						clipboard_ready = 1;
-					save_mode = 0;
-					copy_mode = 0;
+					save_x = save_x + save_w - 1;
+					save_w = abs(save_w) + 2;
 				}
-				else if (copy_mode==2)//CTRL-X, cut
+				if (save_h < 0)
 				{
-					clipboard_data=build_save(&clipboard_length, save_x, save_y, save_w, save_h, bmap, vx, vy, pv, fvx, fvy, signs, parts);
-					if (clipboard_data)
+					save_y = save_y + save_h - 1;
+					save_h = abs(save_h) + 2;
+				}
+				if (save_h > 0 && save_w > 0)
+				{
+					if (copy_mode==1)//CTRL-C, copy
 					{
-						clipboard_ready = 1;
-						clear_area(save_x, save_y, save_w, save_h);
+						clipboard_data=build_save(&clipboard_length, save_x, save_y, save_w, save_h, bmap, vx, vy, pv, fvx, fvy, signs, parts);
+						if (clipboard_data)
+							clipboard_ready = 1;
+					}
+					else if (copy_mode==2)//CTRL-X, cut
+					{
+						clipboard_data=build_save(&clipboard_length, save_x, save_y, save_w, save_h, bmap, vx, vy, pv, fvx, fvy, signs, parts);
+						if (clipboard_data)
+						{
+							clipboard_ready = 1;
+							clear_area(save_x, save_y, save_w, save_h);
+						}
+					}
+					else//normal save
+					{
+						stamp_save(save_x, save_y, save_w, save_h);
 					}
-					save_mode = 0;
-					copy_mode = 0;
-				}
-				else//normal save
-				{
-					stamp_save(save_x, save_y, save_w, save_h);
-					save_mode = 0;
 				}
+				copy_mode = 0;
+				save_mode = 0;
 			}
 		}
 		else if (sdl_zoom_trig && zoom_en<2)
@@ -2570,9 +2582,23 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 		if (save_mode)//draw dotted lines for selection
 		{
-			xor_rect(vid_buf, save_x, save_y, save_w, save_h);
+			int savex = save_x, savey = save_y, savew = save_w, saveh = save_h;
+			if (savew < 0)
+			{
+				savex = savex + savew - 1;
+				savew = abs(savew) + 2;
+			}
+			if (saveh < 0)
+			{
+				savey = savey + saveh - 1;
+				saveh = abs(saveh) + 2;
+			}
+			xor_rect(vid_buf, savex, savey, savew, saveh);
 			da = 51;//draws mouseover text for the message
-			db = 269;//the save message
+			if (copy_mode != 2)
+				db = 269;//the save message
+			else
+				db = 278;
 		}
 
 		if (zoom_en!=1 && !load_mode && !save_mode)//draw normal cursor
@@ -2656,6 +2682,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 			case 277:
 				drawtext(vid_buf, 16, YRES-24, "Save the simulation to your hard drive.", 255, 255, 255, da*5);
 				break;
+			case 278: //Fix for Ctrl + X showing copy message
+				drawtext(vid_buf, 16, YRES-24, "Click-and-drag to specify a rectangle to copy and then cut (right click = cancel).", 255, 216, 32, da*5);
+				break;
 			default:
 				drawtext(vid_buf, 16, YRES-24, (char *)ptypes[db].descs, 255, 255, 255, da*5);
 			}
diff --git a/src/powder.c b/src/powder.c
index 188b54c11..ce3e4a98b 100644
--- a/src/powder.c
+++ b/src/powder.c
@@ -3482,6 +3482,8 @@ int create_parts(int x, int y, int rx, int ry, int c, int flags, int fill)
         }
         else return 0;
 	}
+	if (c == PT_STKM || c == PT_STKM2 || c == PT_FIGH)
+		rx = ry = 0;
 	
 	if (dw==1)
 	{