diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/canvas-flag.cc b/gtk2_ardour/canvas-flag.cc
index f0361c5bf9..199f4d4054 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/canvas-flag.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/canvas-flag.cc
@@ -48,6 +48,5 @@ CanvasFlag::~CanvasFlag()
 bool
 CanvasFlag::on_event(GdkEvent* ev)
 {
-	cerr << "CanvasFlag::on_event(GdkEvent* ev)" << endl;
 	return false;
 }
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/canvas-note-event.cc b/gtk2_ardour/canvas-note-event.cc
index d89e68786d..cae1d2be83 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/canvas-note-event.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/canvas-note-event.cc
@@ -186,6 +186,7 @@ CanvasNoteEvent::base_color()
 	ColorMode mode = _region.color_mode();
 	
 	const uint8_t minimal_opaqueness = 15;
+	uint8_t       opaqueness = std::max(minimal_opaqueness, uint8_t(_note->velocity() + _note->velocity()));
 	
 	switch (mode) {
 	case TrackColor:
@@ -195,12 +196,12 @@ CanvasNoteEvent::base_color()
 					SCALE_USHORT_TO_UINT8_T(color.get_red()), 
 					SCALE_USHORT_TO_UINT8_T(color.get_green()), 
 					SCALE_USHORT_TO_UINT8_T(color.get_blue()), 
-					minimal_opaqueness + _note->velocity());
+					opaqueness);
 		}
 		
 	case ChannelColors:
 		return UINT_RGBA_CHANGE_A(CanvasNoteEvent::midi_channel_colors[_note->channel()], 
-				                  minimal_opaqueness + _note->velocity());
+				                  opaqueness);
 		
 	default:
 		return meter_style_fill_color(_note->velocity());
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/interactive-item.h b/gtk2_ardour/interactive-item.h
index 13d224fc72..2b54675c11 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/interactive-item.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/interactive-item.h
@@ -52,9 +52,7 @@ public:
 	{}
 	
 	bool on_event(GdkEvent* ev) {
-		std::cerr << "InteractiveRect::on_event(GdkEvent* ev)" << std::endl;
 		if(_parent_item) {
-			std::cerr << " parent not null" << std::endl;
 			return _parent_item->on_event(ev);
 		} else {
 			return false;
@@ -74,9 +72,7 @@ public:
 		{}
 	
 	bool on_event(GdkEvent* ev) {
-		std::cerr << "InteractiveRect::on_event(GdkEvent* ev)" << std::endl;
 		if(_parent_item) {
-			std::cerr << " parent not null" << std::endl;
 			return _parent_item->on_event(ev);
 		} else {
 			return false;