diff --git a/include/mapnik/placement_finder.hpp b/include/mapnik/placement_finder.hpp
index 76b1da5a7..cd97579cc 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/placement_finder.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/placement_finder.hpp
@@ -37,88 +37,98 @@
 namespace mapnik
 {
 
-    struct placement_element
-    {
-        double starting_x;
-        double starting_y;
+   struct placement_element
+   {
+         double starting_x;
+         double starting_y;
     
-        text_path path;
-    };
+         text_path path;
+   };
 
-  struct placement
-  {
-    typedef  coord_transform2<CoordTransform,geometry_type> path_type;
+   struct placement
+   {
+         typedef  coord_transform2<CoordTransform,geometry_type> path_type;
+         
+         //For shields
+         placement(string_info *info_, 
+                   CoordTransform *ctrans_, 
+                   const proj_transform *proj_trans_, 
+                   geometry_ptr geom_, 
+                   std::pair<double, double> dimensions_);
+    
+         //For text
+         placement(string_info *info_, 
+                   CoordTransform *ctrans_, 
+                   const proj_transform *proj_trans_, 
+                   geometry_ptr geom_,
+                   position const& displacement,
+                   label_placement_e placement_);
+         
+         ~placement();
+        
+         unsigned path_size() const;
+         string_info *info;
+    
+         CoordTransform *ctrans;
+         const proj_transform *proj_trans;
 
-    //For shields
-    placement(string_info *info_, CoordTransform *ctrans_, const proj_transform *proj_trans_, geometry_ptr geom_, std::pair<double, double> dimensions_);
-    
-    //For text
-    placement(string_info *info_, CoordTransform *ctrans_, const proj_transform *proj_trans_, geometry_ptr geom_, label_placement_e placement_);
-    
-    ~placement();
+         geometry_ptr geom;
+         position displacement_;
+         label_placement_e label_placement;
+         std::pair<double, double> dimensions;
 
-      unsigned path_size() const;
-      string_info *info;
+         bool has_dimensions;
     
-    CoordTransform *ctrans;
-    const proj_transform *proj_trans;
+         path_type shape_path;
+         std::queue< Envelope<double> > envelopes;
+    
+         //output
+         std::vector<placement_element> placements;
 
-    geometry_ptr geom;
-    label_placement_e label_placement;
-    std::pair<double, double> dimensions;
+         // caching output
+         placement_element current_placement;
+    
+         //helpers
+         std::pair<double, double> get_position_at_distance(double target_distance);
+         double get_total_distance();
+         void clear_envelopes();
+    
+         double total_distance_; //cache for distance
+    
+         int wrap_width;
+         int text_ratio;
 
-    bool has_dimensions;
-    
-    path_type shape_path;
-    std::queue< Envelope<double> > envelopes;
-    
-    //output
-    std::vector<placement_element> placements;
+         int label_spacing; // distance between repeated labels on a single geometry
+         unsigned label_position_tolerance; //distance the label can be moved on the line to fit, if 0 the default is used
+         bool force_odd_labels; //Always try render an odd amount of labels
 
-    // caching output
-    placement_element current_placement;
+         double max_char_angle_delta;
     
-    //helpers
-    std::pair<double, double> get_position_at_distance(double target_distance);
-    double get_total_distance();
-    void clear_envelopes();
-    
-    double total_distance_; //cache for distance
-    
-    int wrap_width;
-    int text_ratio;
-
-    int label_spacing; // distance between repeated labels on a single geometry
-    unsigned label_position_tolerance; //distance the label can be moved on the line to fit, if 0 the default is used
-	bool force_odd_labels; //Always try render an odd amount of labels
-
-    double max_char_angle_delta;
-    
-    bool avoid_edges;
-  };
+         bool avoid_edges;
+   };
 
 
   
-  class placement_finder : boost::noncopyable
-  {
-  public:
-    //E is the dimensions of the map, buffer is the buffer used for collission detection.
-    placement_finder(Envelope<double> e, unsigned buffer);
+   class placement_finder : boost::noncopyable
+   {
+      public:
+         //e is the dimensions of the map, buffer is the buffer used for collission detection.
+         placement_finder(Envelope<double> e, unsigned buffer);
   
-    bool find_placements(placement *p);
+         bool find_placements(placement *p);
     
-  protected:
-    bool find_placement_follow(placement *p);
-    bool find_placement_horizontal(placement *p);
+      protected:
+         bool find_placement_follow(placement *p);
+         bool find_placement_horizontal(placement *p);
 
-    bool build_path_follow(placement *p, double target_distance);
-    bool build_path_horizontal(placement *p, double target_distance);
+         bool build_path_follow(placement *p, double target_distance);
+         bool build_path_horizontal(placement *p, double target_distance);
 
-    void update_detector(placement *p);
+         void update_detector(placement *p);
   
-    Envelope<double> dimensions_;
-    label_collision_detector3 detector_;
-  };
+         Envelope<double> dimensions_;
+         label_collision_detector3 detector_;
+   };
   
 }
 
diff --git a/src/agg_renderer.cpp b/src/agg_renderer.cpp
index 00c44e7a8..cb7480c10 100644
--- a/src/agg_renderer.cpp
+++ b/src/agg_renderer.cpp
@@ -521,7 +521,10 @@ namespace mapnik
                     
                ren.get_string_info(text, &info);
                     
-               placement text_placement(&info, &t_, &prj_trans, geom, sym.get_label_placement());
+               placement text_placement(&info, &t_, &prj_trans, geom, 
+                                        sym.get_displacement(),
+                                        sym.get_label_placement());
+               
                text_placement.text_ratio = sym.get_text_ratio();
                text_placement.wrap_width = sym.get_wrap_width();
                text_placement.label_spacing = sym.get_label_spacing();
@@ -530,25 +533,22 @@ namespace mapnik
                text_placement.max_char_angle_delta = sym.get_max_char_angle_delta();
                text_placement.avoid_edges = sym.get_avoid_edges();
                   
-               bool found = finder_.find_placements(&text_placement);
-               if (!found) {
-                  return;
-               }
+               if ( !finder_.find_placements(&text_placement)) return;
                     
                for (unsigned int ii = 0; ii < text_placement.placements.size(); ++ ii)
                {
                   double x = text_placement.placements[ii].starting_x;
                   double y = text_placement.placements[ii].starting_y;
-                        
+                  
                   Envelope<double> dim = ren.prepare_glyphs(&text_placement.placements[ii].path);
-                        
-                  Envelope<double> text_box(x + dim.minx() ,y - dim.maxy(), x + dim.maxx(),y - dim.miny());
+                  
+                  //Envelope<double> text_box(x + dim.minx() ,y - dim.maxy(), x + dim.maxx(),y - dim.miny());
 		        
-                  if (sym.get_halo_radius() > 0)
-                  {
-                     text_box.width(text_box.width() + sym.get_halo_radius()*2);
-                     text_box.height(text_box.height() + sym.get_halo_radius()*2);
-                  }
+                  //if (sym.get_halo_radius() > 0)
+                  //{
+                  //   text_box.width(text_box.width() + sym.get_halo_radius()*2);
+                  //   text_box.height(text_box.height() + sym.get_halo_radius()*2);
+                  //}
                   ren.render(x,y);
                }
             }
diff --git a/src/load_map.cpp b/src/load_map.cpp
index a80ccdb31..60e9f5e34 100644
--- a/src/load_map.cpp
+++ b/src/load_map.cpp
@@ -187,6 +187,12 @@ namespace mapnik
                                 std::string placement_str = 
                                     sym.second.get<std::string>("<xmlattr>.placement","point");
                                 
+                                // displacement 
+                                
+                                int dx = sym.second.get<int>("<xmlattr>.dx",0);
+                                int dy = sym.second.get<int>("<xmlattr>.dy",0);
+                                text_symbol.set_displacement(dx,dy);
+                                
                                 if (placement_str == "line")
                                 {
                                     text_symbol.set_label_placement(line_placement);
@@ -400,10 +406,6 @@ namespace mapnik
                                     }
                                 }
                                 rule.append(poly_sym);
-                            }
-                            else if ( sym.first == "TextSymbolizer")
-                            {
-                                std::cout << sym.first << "\n";
                             } 
                             else if ( sym.first == "RasterSymbolizer")
                             {
diff --git a/src/placement_finder.cpp b/src/placement_finder.cpp
index dd448388f..853fb04fc 100644
--- a/src/placement_finder.cpp
+++ b/src/placement_finder.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include <boost/utility.hpp>
 #include <boost/ptr_container/ptr_vector.hpp>
 #include <boost/thread/mutex.hpp>
+#include <boost/tuple/tuple.hpp>
 
 //mapnik
 #include <mapnik/geometry.hpp>
@@ -45,14 +46,53 @@
 namespace mapnik
 {
     //For shields
-    placement::placement(string_info *info_, CoordTransform *ctrans_, const proj_transform *proj_trans_, geometry_ptr geom_, std::pair<double, double> dimensions_)
-        : info(info_), ctrans(ctrans_), proj_trans(proj_trans_), geom(geom_), label_placement(point_placement), dimensions(dimensions_), has_dimensions(true), shape_path(*ctrans_, *geom_, *proj_trans_), total_distance_(-1.0), wrap_width(0), text_ratio(0), label_spacing(0), label_position_tolerance(0), force_odd_labels(false), max_char_angle_delta(0.0), avoid_edges(false)
+    placement::placement(string_info *info_, 
+                         CoordTransform *ctrans_, 
+                         const proj_transform *proj_trans_, 
+                         geometry_ptr geom_, 
+                         std::pair<double, double> dimensions_)
+        : info(info_), 
+          ctrans(ctrans_), 
+          proj_trans(proj_trans_), 
+          geom(geom_),
+          displacement_(0,0),
+          label_placement(point_placement), 
+          dimensions(dimensions_), 
+          has_dimensions(true), 
+          shape_path(*ctrans_, *geom_, *proj_trans_), 
+          total_distance_(-1.0), 
+          wrap_width(0), 
+          text_ratio(0), 
+          label_spacing(0), 
+          label_position_tolerance(0), 
+          force_odd_labels(false), 
+          max_char_angle_delta(0.0), avoid_edges(false)
     {
     }
 
     //For text
-    placement::placement(string_info *info_, CoordTransform *ctrans_, const proj_transform *proj_trans_, geometry_ptr geom_, label_placement_e placement_)
-        : info(info_), ctrans(ctrans_), proj_trans(proj_trans_), geom(geom_), label_placement(placement_), has_dimensions(false), shape_path(*ctrans_, *geom_, *proj_trans_), total_distance_(-1.0), wrap_width(0), text_ratio(0), label_spacing(0), label_position_tolerance(0), force_odd_labels(false), max_char_angle_delta(0.0), avoid_edges(false)
+    placement::placement(string_info *info_, 
+                         CoordTransform *ctrans_, 
+                         const proj_transform *proj_trans_, 
+                         geometry_ptr geom_,
+                         position const& displacement,
+                         label_placement_e placement_)
+       : info(info_), 
+         ctrans(ctrans_), 
+         proj_trans(proj_trans_), 
+         geom(geom_), 
+         displacement_(displacement),
+         label_placement(placement_), 
+         has_dimensions(false), 
+         shape_path(*ctrans_, *geom_, *proj_trans_), 
+         total_distance_(-1.0), 
+         wrap_width(0), 
+         text_ratio(0), 
+         label_spacing(0), 
+         label_position_tolerance(0), 
+         force_odd_labels(false), 
+         max_char_angle_delta(0.0), 
+         avoid_edges(false)
     {
     }
   
@@ -143,7 +183,8 @@ namespace mapnik
   
   
     placement_finder::placement_finder(Envelope<double> e, unsigned buffer)
-        : dimensions_(e), detector_(Envelope<double>(e.minx() - buffer, e.miny() - buffer, e.maxx() + buffer, e.maxy() + buffer))
+        : dimensions_(e), 
+          detector_(Envelope<double>(e.minx() - buffer, e.miny() - buffer, e.maxx() + buffer, e.maxy() + buffer))
     {
     }
 
@@ -574,6 +615,9 @@ namespace mapnik
             double z=0;  
             p->proj_trans->backward(p->current_placement.starting_x, p->current_placement.starting_y, z);
             p->ctrans->forward(&p->current_placement.starting_x, &p->current_placement.starting_y);
+            // apply displacement ( in pixels ) 
+            p->current_placement.starting_x += boost::tuples::get<0>(p->displacement_);
+            p->current_placement.starting_y += boost::tuples::get<1>(p->displacement_); 
         }
         
         double line_height = 0;
@@ -606,11 +650,17 @@ namespace mapnik
                 Envelope<double> e;
                 if (p->has_dimensions)
                 {
-                    e.init(p->current_placement.starting_x - (p->dimensions.first/2.0), p->current_placement.starting_y - (p->dimensions.second/2.0), p->current_placement.starting_x + (p->dimensions.first/2.0), p->current_placement.starting_y + (p->dimensions.second/2.0));
+                    e.init(p->current_placement.starting_x - (p->dimensions.first/2.0), 
+                           p->current_placement.starting_y - (p->dimensions.second/2.0), 
+                           p->current_placement.starting_x + (p->dimensions.first/2.0), 
+                           p->current_placement.starting_y + (p->dimensions.second/2.0));
                 }
                 else
                 {
-                    e.init(p->current_placement.starting_x + x, p->current_placement.starting_y - y, p->current_placement.starting_x + x + ci.width, p->current_placement.starting_y - y - ci.height);
+                    e.init(p->current_placement.starting_x + x, 
+                           p->current_placement.starting_y - y, 
+                           p->current_placement.starting_x + x + ci.width, 
+                           p->current_placement.starting_y - y - ci.height);
                 }
                 
                 if (!detector_.has_placement(e))
diff --git a/src/text_symbolizer.cpp b/src/text_symbolizer.cpp
index 015aa44cc..9dacc6760 100644
--- a/src/text_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/text_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ namespace mapnik
         displacement_ = boost::make_tuple(x,y);
     }
     
-    position const&  text_symbolizer::get_displacement() const
+    position const& text_symbolizer::get_displacement() const
     {
         return displacement_;
     }