diff --git a/VisualStudio/Demos/osghud/osghud.dsp b/VisualStudio/Demos/osghud/osghud.dsp
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..744b3ac15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/VisualStudio/Demos/osghud/osghud.dsp
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+# Microsoft Developer Studio Project File - Name="Demo osghud" - Package Owner=<4>
+# Microsoft Developer Studio Generated Build File, Format Version 6.00
+# ** DO NOT EDIT **
+
+# TARGTYPE "Win32 (x86) Console Application" 0x0103
+
+CFG=Demo osghud - Win32 Release
+!MESSAGE This is not a valid makefile. To build this project using NMAKE,
+!MESSAGE use the Export Makefile command and run
+!MESSAGE 
+!MESSAGE NMAKE /f "osghud.mak".
+!MESSAGE 
+!MESSAGE You can specify a configuration when running NMAKE
+!MESSAGE by defining the macro CFG on the command line. For example:
+!MESSAGE 
+!MESSAGE NMAKE /f "osghud.mak" CFG="Demo osghud - Win32 Release"
+!MESSAGE 
+!MESSAGE Possible choices for configuration are:
+!MESSAGE 
+!MESSAGE "Demo osghud - Win32 Release" (based on "Win32 (x86) Console Application")
+!MESSAGE "Demo osghud - Win32 Debug" (based on "Win32 (x86) Console Application")
+!MESSAGE 
+
+# Begin Project
+# PROP AllowPerConfigDependencies 0
+# PROP Scc_ProjName ""
+# PROP Scc_LocalPath ""
+CPP=cl.exe
+RSC=rc.exe
+
+!IF  "$(CFG)" == "Demo osghud - Win32 Release"
+
+# PROP BASE Use_MFC 0
+# PROP BASE Use_Debug_Libraries 0
+# PROP BASE Output_Dir "Release"
+# PROP BASE Intermediate_Dir "Release"
+# PROP BASE Target_Dir ""
+# PROP Use_MFC 0
+# PROP Use_Debug_Libraries 0
+# PROP Output_Dir "Release"
+# PROP Intermediate_Dir "Release"
+# PROP Ignore_Export_Lib 0
+# PROP Target_Dir ""
+# ADD BASE CPP /nologo /W3 /GX /O2 /D "WIN32" /D "NDEBUG" /D "_CONSOLE" /D "_MBCS" /YX /FD /c
+# ADD CPP /nologo /MD /W3 /GR /GX /O2 /I "../../../include" /D "WIN32" /D "NDEBUG" /D "_CONSOLE" /D "_MBCS" /YX /FD /c
+# ADD BASE RSC /l 0x809 /d "NDEBUG"
+# ADD RSC /l 0x809 /d "NDEBUG"
+BSC32=bscmake.exe
+# ADD BASE BSC32 /nologo
+# ADD BSC32 /nologo
+LINK32=link.exe
+# ADD BASE LINK32 kernel32.lib user32.lib gdi32.lib winspool.lib comdlg32.lib advapi32.lib shell32.lib ole32.lib oleaut32.lib uuid.lib odbc32.lib odbccp32.lib /nologo /subsystem:console /machine:I386
+# ADD LINK32 /nologo /subsystem:console /pdb:none /machine:I386 /out:"../../../bin/osghud.exe" /libpath:"../../../lib"
+
+!ELSEIF  "$(CFG)" == "Demo osghud - Win32 Debug"
+
+# PROP BASE Use_MFC 0
+# PROP BASE Use_Debug_Libraries 1
+# PROP BASE Output_Dir "Debug"
+# PROP BASE Intermediate_Dir "Debug"
+# PROP BASE Target_Dir ""
+# PROP Use_MFC 0
+# PROP Use_Debug_Libraries 1
+# PROP Output_Dir "Debug"
+# PROP Intermediate_Dir "Debug"
+# PROP Ignore_Export_Lib 0
+# PROP Target_Dir ""
+# ADD BASE CPP /nologo /W3 /Gm /GX /Zi /Od /D "WIN32" /D "_DEBUG" /D "_CONSOLE" /D "_MBCS" /YX /FD /c
+# ADD CPP /nologo /MDd /W3 /Gm /vd0 /GR /GX /Zi /Od /I "../../../include" /D "_CONSOLE" /D "_MBCS" /D "WIN32" /D "_DEBUG" /D "FL_DLL" /FR /YX /FD /c
+# ADD BASE RSC /l 0x809 /d "_DEBUG"
+# ADD RSC /l 0x809 /d "_DEBUG"
+BSC32=bscmake.exe
+# ADD BASE BSC32 /nologo
+# ADD BSC32 /nologo
+LINK32=link.exe
+# ADD BASE LINK32 kernel32.lib user32.lib gdi32.lib winspool.lib comdlg32.lib advapi32.lib shell32.lib ole32.lib oleaut32.lib uuid.lib odbc32.lib odbccp32.lib /nologo /subsystem:console /debug /machine:I386 /pdbtype:sept
+# ADD LINK32 glut32.lib glu32.lib opengl32.lib /nologo /subsystem:console /debug /machine:I386 /nodefaultlib:"libcmt" /out:"../../../bin/osghudd.exe" /pdbtype:sept /libpath:"../../../lib"
+# SUBTRACT LINK32 /incremental:no
+
+!ENDIF 
+
+# Begin Target
+
+# Name "Demo osghud - Win32 Release"
+# Name "Demo osghud - Win32 Debug"
+# Begin Source File
+
+SOURCE=..\..\..\src\Demos\osghud\osghud.cpp
+# End Source File
+# End Target
+# Begin Group "Resource Files"
+
+# PROP Default_Filter "ico;cur;bmp;dlg;rc2;rct;bin;rgs;gif;jpg;jpeg;jpe"
+# End Group
+# End Project
diff --git a/VisualStudio/Demos/osgtext/osgtext.dsp b/VisualStudio/Demos/osgtext/osgtext.dsp
index d9ff2b28f..72d1e927f 100644
--- a/VisualStudio/Demos/osgtext/osgtext.dsp
+++ b/VisualStudio/Demos/osgtext/osgtext.dsp
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ BSC32=bscmake.exe
 # ADD BSC32 /nologo
 LINK32=link.exe
 # ADD BASE LINK32 kernel32.lib user32.lib gdi32.lib winspool.lib comdlg32.lib advapi32.lib shell32.lib ole32.lib oleaut32.lib uuid.lib odbc32.lib odbccp32.lib /nologo /subsystem:console /debug /machine:I386 /pdbtype:sept
-# ADD LINK32 /nologo /subsystem:console /debug /machine:I386 /nodefaultlib:"libcmt" /out:"../../../bin/osgtextd.exe" /pdbtype:sept /libpath:"../../../lib"
+# ADD LINK32 glut32.lib glu32.lib opengl32.lib /nologo /subsystem:console /debug /machine:I386 /nodefaultlib:"libcmt" /out:"../../../bin/osgtextd.exe" /pdbtype:sept /libpath:"../../../lib"
 # SUBTRACT LINK32 /incremental:no
 
 !ENDIF 
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ LINK32=link.exe
 # Name "Demo osgtext - Win32 Debug"
 # Begin Source File
 
-SOURCE=..\..\..\src\Demos\osgtext\main.cpp
+SOURCE=..\..\..\src\Demos\osgtext\osgtext.cpp
 # End Source File
 # End Target
 # Begin Group "Resource Files"
diff --git a/VisualStudio/VisualStudio.dsw b/VisualStudio/VisualStudio.dsw
index 322e76a55..ba3451876 100644
--- a/VisualStudio/VisualStudio.dsw
+++ b/VisualStudio/VisualStudio.dsw
@@ -201,6 +201,33 @@ Package=<4>
 
 ###############################################################################
 
+Project: "Demo osghud"=.\Demos\osghud\osghud.dsp - Package Owner=<4>
+
+Package=<5>
+{{{
+}}}
+
+Package=<4>
+{{{
+    Begin Project Dependency
+    Project_Dep_Name Core osg
+    End Project Dependency
+    Begin Project Dependency
+    Project_Dep_Name Core osgDB
+    End Project Dependency
+    Begin Project Dependency
+    Project_Dep_Name Core osgGLUT
+    End Project Dependency
+    Begin Project Dependency
+    Project_Dep_Name Core osgUtil
+    End Project Dependency
+    Begin Project Dependency
+    Project_Dep_Name Core osgText
+    End Project Dependency
+}}}
+
+###############################################################################
+
 Project: "Demo osgimpostor"=.\Demos\osgimpostor\osgimpostor.dsp - Package Owner=<4>
 
 Package=<5>
diff --git a/src/Demos/Makefile b/src/Demos/Makefile
index e2fa12d9b..50f319e85 100644
--- a/src/Demos/Makefile
+++ b/src/Demos/Makefile
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ DIRS = \
 	osgconv\
 	osgcopy\
 	osgcube\
+	osghud\
 	osgimpostor\
 	osgreflect\
 	osgscribe\
diff --git a/src/Demos/osghud/Makefile b/src/Demos/osghud/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d9b02e6a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Demos/osghud/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+TOPDIR = ../../..
+include $(TOPDIR)/Make/makedefs 
+
+CXXFILES =\
+	osghud.cpp\
+
+LINKARGS += -L/usr/local/lib
+LIBS     += -losgText $(OSG_LIBS) $(FREETYPE_LIB) $(GLUT_LIB) $(GL_LIBS) $(X_LIBS) $(OTHER_LIBS)  
+
+INSTFILES = \
+	$(CXXFILES)\
+	Makefile.inst=Makefile
+
+EXEC = osghud
+
+include $(TOPDIR)/Make/makerules 
diff --git a/src/Demos/osghud/osghud.cpp b/src/Demos/osghud/osghud.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3d6d8ca12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Demos/osghud/osghud.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,350 @@
+#include <osg/GL>
+#include <osgGLUT/glut>
+#include <osgGLUT/Viewer>
+
+#include <osg/Transform>
+#include <osg/Projection>
+#include <osg/Billboard>
+#include <osg/Geode>
+#include <osg/Group>
+#include <osg/Notify>
+#include <osg/Material>
+#include <osg/Transparency>
+#include <osg/Depth>
+
+#include <osgDB/Registry>
+#include <osgDB/ReadFile>
+
+#include <osgUtil/TrackballManipulator>
+#include <osgUtil/FlightManipulator>
+#include <osgUtil/DriveManipulator>
+
+#include <osgText/Text>
+
+
+#include <osgUtil/Optimizer>
+
+void write_usage(std::ostream& out,const std::string& name)
+{
+    out << std::endl;
+    out <<"usage:"<< std::endl;
+    out <<"    "<<name<<" [options] infile1 [infile2 ...]"<< std::endl;
+    out << std::endl;
+    out <<"options:"<< std::endl;
+    out <<"    -l libraryName      - load plugin of name libraryName"<< std::endl;
+    out <<"                          i.e. -l osgdb_pfb"<< std::endl;
+    out <<"                          Useful for loading reader/writers which can load"<< std::endl;
+    out <<"                          other file formats in addition to its extension."<< std::endl;
+    out <<"    -e extensionName    - load reader/wrter plugin for file extension"<< std::endl;
+    out <<"                          i.e. -e pfb"<< std::endl;
+    out <<"                          Useful short hand for specifying full library name as"<< std::endl;
+    out <<"                          done with -l above, as it automatically expands to"<< std::endl;
+    out <<"                          the full library name appropriate for each platform."<< std::endl;
+    out <<std::endl;
+    out <<"    -stereo             - switch on stereo rendering, using the default of,"<< std::endl;
+    out <<"                          ANAGLYPHIC or the value set in the OSG_STEREO_MODE "<< std::endl;
+    out <<"                          environmental variable. See doc/stereo.html for "<< std::endl;
+    out <<"                          further details on setting up accurate stereo "<< std::endl;
+    out <<"                          for your system. "<< std::endl;
+    out <<"    -stereo ANAGLYPHIC  - switch on anaglyphic(red/cyan) stereo rendering."<< std::endl;
+    out <<"    -stereo QUAD_BUFFER - switch on quad buffered stereo rendering."<< std::endl;
+    out <<std::endl;
+    out <<"    -stencil            - use a visual with stencil buffer enabled, this "<< std::endl;
+    out <<"                          also allows the depth complexity statistics mode"<< std::endl;
+    out <<"                          to be used (press 'p' three times to cycle to it)."<< std::endl;
+    out << std::endl;
+}
+
+
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// globals
+#define        TEXT_POLYGON    "Polygon Font - jygq"
+#define        TEXT_OUTLINE    "Outline Font - jygq"
+#define        TEXT_TEXTURE    "Texture Font - jygq"
+#define        TEXT_BITMAP        "Bitmap Font - jygq"
+#define        TEXT_PIXMAP        "Pixmap Font - jygq"
+
+#define        TEXT_COL_2D        osg::Vec4(.9,.9,.9,1)
+#define        TEXT_COL_3D        osg::Vec4(.99,.3,.2,1)
+
+
+std::string    ttfPath("fonts/times.ttf");
+std::string    ttfPath1("fonts/arial.ttf");
+
+int    gFontSize=18;
+int    gFontSize1=24;
+std::vector<osg::ref_ptr<osgText::Text > >    gTextList;
+osgText::Text::AlignmentType    gAlignment=osgText::Text::LEFT_BOTTOM;
+
+void set2dScene(osg::Group* rootNode)
+{
+    osgText::Text*    text;
+    osg::Geode*        geode;
+    osg::Material*    textMaterial;
+    osg::StateSet*  textState;
+    double            xOffset=150;
+    double            yOffset=gFontSize+10;
+
+    ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+    // setup the texts
+
+    ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+    // BitmapFont
+    osgText::BitmapFont*    bitmapFont= osgNew  osgText::BitmapFont(ttfPath,
+                                                               gFontSize1);
+    text= osgNew  osgText::Text(bitmapFont);
+    gTextList.push_back(text);
+    text->setText(std::string("2d ")+std::string(TEXT_BITMAP));
+    text->setPosition(osg::Vec3(xOffset,yOffset,0));
+    text->setDrawMode( osgText::Text::TEXT |
+                       osgText::Text::BOUNDINGBOX |
+                       osgText::Text::ALIGNEMENT );
+    text->setAlignment(gAlignment);
+    geode = osgNew osg::Geode();
+    geode->setName("BitmapFont");
+    geode->addDrawable( text );
+
+    textMaterial = osgNew osg::Material();
+    textMaterial->setColorMode( osg::Material::AMBIENT_AND_DIFFUSE);
+    textMaterial->setDiffuse( osg::Material::FRONT_AND_BACK, TEXT_COL_2D);
+    textState = osgNew osg::StateSet();
+    textState->setAttribute(textMaterial );
+    geode->setStateSet( textState );
+
+    rootNode->addChild(geode);
+
+    xOffset+=90;
+    yOffset+=120;
+
+    ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+    // PixmapFont
+    osgText::PixmapFont*    pixmapFont= osgNew  osgText::PixmapFont(ttfPath,
+                                                               gFontSize1);
+    text= osgNew  osgText::Text(pixmapFont);
+    gTextList.push_back(text);
+    text->setText(std::string("2d ")+std::string(TEXT_PIXMAP));
+    text->setPosition(osg::Vec3(xOffset,yOffset,0));
+    text->setDrawMode( osgText::Text::TEXT |
+                       osgText::Text::BOUNDINGBOX |
+                       osgText::Text::ALIGNEMENT );
+    text->setAlignment(gAlignment);
+    geode = osgNew osg::Geode();
+    geode->setName("PixmapFont");
+    geode->addDrawable( text );
+
+    textMaterial = osgNew osg::Material();
+    textMaterial->setColorMode( osg::Material::AMBIENT_AND_DIFFUSE);
+    textMaterial->setDiffuse( osg::Material::FRONT_AND_BACK,TEXT_COL_2D);
+    // to get antiaA pixmapFonts we have to draw them with blending
+    osg::Transparency    *transp= osgNew  osg::Transparency();
+    transp->setFunction(GL_SRC_ALPHA,GL_ONE_MINUS_SRC_ALPHA);
+
+
+
+
+    textState = osgNew osg::StateSet();
+    textState->setAttribute(textMaterial );
+    textState->setAttribute(transp);
+    textState->setMode(GL_BLEND,osg::StateAttribute::ON);
+    textState->setRenderingHint(osg::StateSet::TRANSPARENT_BIN);
+    
+    
+    geode->setStateSet( textState );
+
+    rootNode->addChild(geode);
+
+    xOffset+=90;
+    yOffset+=120;
+
+    ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+    // TextureFont
+    osgText::TextureFont*    textureFont= osgNew  osgText::TextureFont(ttfPath1,
+                                                                 gFontSize1);
+    text= osgNew  osgText::Text(textureFont);
+    gTextList.push_back(text);
+    text->setText(std::string("2d ")+std::string(TEXT_TEXTURE));
+    text->setPosition(osg::Vec3(xOffset,yOffset,0));
+    text->setDrawMode( osgText::Text::TEXT |
+                       osgText::Text::BOUNDINGBOX |
+                       osgText::Text::ALIGNEMENT );
+    text->setAlignment(gAlignment);
+    geode = osgNew osg::Geode();
+    geode->setName("TextureFont");
+    geode->addDrawable( text );
+
+    textMaterial = osgNew osg::Material();
+    textMaterial->setColorMode( osg::Material::AMBIENT_AND_DIFFUSE);
+    textMaterial->setDiffuse( osg::Material::FRONT_AND_BACK, TEXT_COL_2D);
+    // to get antiaA pixmapFonts we have to draw them with blending
+    transp= osgNew  osg::Transparency();
+    transp->setFunction(GL_SRC_ALPHA, GL_ONE_MINUS_SRC_ALPHA);
+
+    textState = osgNew osg::StateSet();
+    textState->setAttribute(textMaterial );
+    textState->setAttribute(transp);
+
+    textState->setMode(GL_TEXTURE_2D,osg::StateAttribute::ON);
+    textState->setRenderingHint(osg::StateSet::TRANSPARENT_BIN);
+    geode->setStateSet( textState );
+
+    rootNode->addChild(geode);
+
+    xOffset+=90;
+    yOffset+=120;
+
+    ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+    // PolygonFont
+    osgText::PolygonFont*    polygonFont= osgNew  osgText::PolygonFont(ttfPath,
+                                                                 gFontSize1,
+                                                                 3);
+    text= osgNew  osgText::Text(polygonFont);
+    gTextList.push_back(text);
+    text->setText(std::string("2d ")+std::string("TEXT_POLYGON"));
+    text->setPosition(osg::Vec3(xOffset,yOffset,0));
+    text->setDrawMode( osgText::Text::TEXT |
+                       osgText::Text::BOUNDINGBOX |
+                       osgText::Text::ALIGNEMENT );
+    text->setAlignment(gAlignment);
+    geode = osgNew osg::Geode();
+    geode->setName("PolygonFont");
+    geode->addDrawable( text );
+
+    textMaterial = osgNew osg::Material();
+    textMaterial->setColorMode( osg::Material::AMBIENT_AND_DIFFUSE);
+    textMaterial->setDiffuse( osg::Material::FRONT_AND_BACK, TEXT_COL_2D);
+    textState = osgNew osg::StateSet();
+    textState->setAttribute(textMaterial );
+    geode->setStateSet( textState );
+
+    rootNode->addChild(geode);
+
+    xOffset+=90;
+    yOffset+=120;
+
+    ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+    // OutlineFont
+    osgText::OutlineFont*    outlineFont= osgNew  osgText::OutlineFont(ttfPath,
+                                                                 gFontSize1,
+                                                                 3);
+
+    text= osgNew  osgText::Text(outlineFont);
+    gTextList.push_back(text);
+    text->setText(std::string("2d ")+std::string(TEXT_OUTLINE));
+    text->setPosition(osg::Vec3(xOffset,yOffset,0));
+    text->setDrawMode( osgText::Text::TEXT |
+                       osgText::Text::BOUNDINGBOX |
+                       osgText::Text::ALIGNEMENT );
+    text->setAlignment(gAlignment);
+    geode = osgNew osg::Geode();
+    geode->setName("OutlineFont");
+    geode->addDrawable( text );
+
+    textMaterial = osgNew osg::Material();
+    textMaterial->setColorMode( osg::Material::AMBIENT_AND_DIFFUSE);
+    textMaterial->setDiffuse( osg::Material::FRONT_AND_BACK, TEXT_COL_2D);
+    textState = osgNew osg::StateSet();
+    textState->setAttribute(textMaterial );
+    geode->setStateSet( textState );
+
+    rootNode->addChild(geode);
+    
+    
+    // now add a depth attribute to the scene to force it to draw on top.
+    osg::Depth* depth = osgNew osg::Depth;
+    depth->setRange(0.0,0.0);
+    
+    osg::StateSet* rootState = osgNew osg::StateSet();
+    rootState->setAttribute(depth);
+    rootState->setMode(GL_LIGHTING,osg::StateAttribute::OFF);
+    
+    rootNode->setStateSet(rootState);
+    
+}
+
+
+
+
+
+
+int main( int argc, char **argv )
+{
+
+    // initialize the GLUT
+    glutInit( &argc, argv );
+
+    if (argc<2)
+    {
+        write_usage(std::cout,argv[0]);
+        return 0;
+    }
+    
+    // create the commandline args.
+    std::vector<std::string> commandLine;
+    for(int i=1;i<argc;++i) commandLine.push_back(argv[i]);
+    
+
+    // initialize the viewer.
+    osgGLUT::Viewer viewer;
+    viewer.setWindowTitle(argv[0]);
+
+    // configure the viewer from the commandline arguments, and eat any
+    // parameters that have been matched.
+    viewer.readCommandLine(commandLine);
+    
+    // configure the plugin registry from the commandline arguments, and 
+    // eat any parameters that have been matched.
+    osgDB::readCommandLine(commandLine);
+
+    // load the nodes from the commandline arguments.
+    osg::Node* rootnode = osgDB::readNodeFiles(commandLine);
+    if (!rootnode)
+    {
+//        write_usage(osg::notify(osg::NOTICE),argv[0]);
+        return 1;
+    }
+    
+    // run optimization over the scene graph
+    osgUtil::Optimizer optimzer;
+    optimzer.optimize(rootnode);
+    
+    // make sure the root node is group so we can add extra nodes to it.
+    osg::Group* group = dynamic_cast<osg::Group*>(rootnode);
+    if (!group)
+    {
+        group = osgNew osg::Group;
+        group->addChild(rootnode);
+        rootnode = group;
+    }
+    
+    // create the hud.
+    osg::Projection* projection = osgNew osg::Projection;
+    projection->setMatrix(osg::Matrix::ortho2D(0,1024,0,768));
+    
+    osg::Transform* modelview_abs = osgNew osg::Transform;
+    modelview_abs->setReferenceFrame(osg::Transform::RELATIVE_TO_ABSOLUTE);
+    modelview_abs->setMatrix(osg::Matrix::identity());
+    
+    
+    set2dScene(modelview_abs);
+
+    projection->addChild(modelview_abs);
+
+    group->addChild(projection);
+    
+     
+    // add a viewport to the viewer and attach the scene graph.
+    viewer.addViewport( rootnode );
+    
+    // register trackball, flight and drive.
+    viewer.registerCameraManipulator(new osgUtil::TrackballManipulator);
+    viewer.registerCameraManipulator(new osgUtil::FlightManipulator);
+    viewer.registerCameraManipulator(new osgUtil::DriveManipulator);
+
+    // open the viewer window.
+    viewer.open();
+    
+    // fire up the event loop.
+    viewer.run();
+
+    return 0;
+}