diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index f769db362..dc2506dc2 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ CHANGES IN FLTK 1.3.4					RELEASED: ??? ?? ????
 
 	Bug fixes
 
+	- Several box types were not drawn correctly when deactivated.
+	  The background color for deactivated widgets is now correct:
+	  fl_inactive(color()) (STR #2907).
 	- Reading of .pbm image files is fixed: 1 is now interpreted as
 	  black, and images of width a multiple of 8 are correctly read.
 	  Note: if you relied on the faulty behavior you may need to fix
@@ -47,15 +50,14 @@ CHANGES IN FLTK 1.3.4					RELEASED: ??? ?? ????
 	  scheme's background (STR #3059). This was a regression since
 	  FLTK 1.3.0.
 	- Fl_Text_Display: style buffer colors are no longer manipulated by
-	  fl_contrast() for normal text drawing (fltk.coredev thread
-	  started 04/08/15, Subject: "RFC: Fl_Text_Display style buffer color weirdness")
+	  fl_contrast() for normal text drawing (fltk.coredev thread started
+	  04/08/15, Subject: "RFC: Fl_Text_Display style buffer color weirdness")
 	- Fl_Tree::deactivate() now affects draw color of items (must have
 	  ABI 1.3.3 or higher enabled). For icons to draw deactivated,
 	  enable ABI 1.3.4. (test/tree has a 'deactivate tree' button)
-
-  - Fixed possible bad border effect when a set of radio menu items
-    is located first in its menu (STR #3176): Fl_Menu_Item::set_only()
-    is deprecated and replaced by Fl_Menu_::set_only(Fl_Menu_item*).
+	- Fixed possible bad border effect when a set of radio menu items
+	  is located first in its menu (STR #3176): Fl_Menu_Item::set_only()
+	  is deprecated and replaced by Fl_Menu_::set_only(Fl_Menu_item*).
 
 
 CHANGES IN FLTK 1.3.3					RELEASED: Nov 03 2014
diff --git a/FL/Fl.H b/FL/Fl.H
index 4c7649f90..3f19545ff 100644
--- a/FL/Fl.H
+++ b/FL/Fl.H
@@ -1092,7 +1092,10 @@ public:
   static int box_dy(Fl_Boxtype);
   static int box_dw(Fl_Boxtype);
   static int box_dh(Fl_Boxtype);
+
   static int draw_box_active();
+  static Fl_Color box_color(Fl_Color);
+  static void set_box_color(Fl_Color);
 
   // back compatibility:
   /** \addtogroup fl_windows 
diff --git a/src/fl_boxtype.cxx b/src/fl_boxtype.cxx
index ab957b705..449c01c53 100644
--- a/src/fl_boxtype.cxx
+++ b/src/fl_boxtype.cxx
@@ -49,13 +49,49 @@ static const uchar inactive_ramp[24] = {
 static int draw_it_active = 1;
 
 /**
-  Determines if the current draw box is active or inactive.
-  If inactive, the box color is changed by the inactive color.
+  Determines if the currently drawn box is active or inactive.
+
+  If inactive, the box color should be changed to the inactive color.
+
+  \see Fl::box_color(Fl_Color c)
 */
 int Fl::draw_box_active() { return draw_it_active; }
 
 const uchar *fl_gray_ramp() {return (draw_it_active?active_ramp:inactive_ramp)-'A';}
 
+/**
+  Gets the drawing color to be used for the background of a box.
+
+  This method is only useful inside box drawing code. It returns the
+  color to be used, either fl_inactive(c) if the widget is inactive_r()
+  or \p c otherwise.
+*/
+Fl_Color Fl::box_color(Fl_Color c) {
+  return (draw_it_active ? c : fl_inactive(c));
+}
+
+/**
+  Sets the drawing color for the box that is currently drawn.
+
+  This method sets the current drawing color fl_color() depending on
+  the widget's state to either \p c or fl_inactive(c).
+
+  It should be used whenever a box background is drawn in the box (type)
+  drawing code instead of calling fl_color(Fl_Color bg) with the
+  background color \p bg, usually Fl_Widget::color().
+
+  This method is only useful inside box drawing code. Whenever a box is
+  drawn with one of the standard box drawing methods, a static variable
+  is set depending on the widget's current state - if the widget is
+  inactive_r() then the internal variable is false (0), otherwise it
+  is true (1). This is faster than calling Fl_Widget::active_r()
+  because the state is cached.
+
+  \see Fl::draw_box_active()
+  \see Fl::box_color(Fl_Color)
+*/
+void Fl::set_box_color(Fl_Color c) { fl_color(box_color(c)); }
+
 /**
   Draws a series of line segments around the given box.
   The string \p s must contain groups of 4 letters which specify one of 24
@@ -127,6 +163,11 @@ void fl_frame2(const char* s, int x, int y, int w, int h) {
 /** Draws a box of type FL_NO_BOX */
 void fl_no_box(int, int, int, int, Fl_Color) {}
 
+/** Draws a box of type FL_FLAT_BOX */
+void fl_flat_box(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color c) {
+  fl_rectf(x, y, w, h, Fl::box_color(c));
+}
+
 /** Draws a frame of type FL_THIN_DOWN_FRAME */
 void fl_thin_down_frame(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color) {
   fl_frame2("WWHH",x,y,w,h);
@@ -135,7 +176,7 @@ void fl_thin_down_frame(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color) {
 /** Draws a box of type FL_THIN_DOWN_BOX */
 void fl_thin_down_box(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color c) {
   fl_thin_down_frame(x,y,w,h,c);
-  fl_color(draw_it_active ? c : fl_inactive(c));
+  Fl::set_box_color(c);
   fl_rectf(x+1, y+1, w-2, h-2);
 }
 
@@ -147,7 +188,7 @@ void fl_thin_up_frame(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color) {
 /** Draws a box of type FL_THIN_UP_BOX */
 void fl_thin_up_box(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color c) {
   fl_thin_up_frame(x,y,w,h,c);
-  fl_color(draw_it_active ? c : fl_inactive(c));
+  Fl::set_box_color(c);
   fl_rectf(x+1, y+1, w-2, h-2);
 }
 
@@ -170,7 +211,7 @@ void fl_up_frame(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color) {
 /** Draws a box of type FL_UP_BOX */
 void fl_up_box(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color c) {
   fl_up_frame(x,y,w,h,c);
-  fl_color(draw_it_active ? c : fl_inactive(c));
+  Fl::set_box_color(c);
   fl_rectf(x+D1, y+D1, w-D2, h-D2);
 }
 
@@ -190,7 +231,8 @@ void fl_down_frame(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color) {
 /** Draws a box of type FL_DOWN_BOX */
 void fl_down_box(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color c) {
   fl_down_frame(x,y,w,h,c);
-  fl_color(c); fl_rectf(x+D1, y+D1, w-D2, h-D2);
+  Fl::set_box_color(c);
+  fl_rectf(x+D1, y+D1, w-D2, h-D2);
 }
 
 /** Draws a frame of type FL_ENGRAVED_FRAME */
@@ -201,7 +243,7 @@ void fl_engraved_frame(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color) {
 /** Draws a box of type FL_ENGRAVED_BOX */
 void fl_engraved_box(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color c) {
   fl_engraved_frame(x,y,w,h,c);
-  fl_color(draw_it_active ? c : fl_inactive(c));
+  Fl::set_box_color(c);
   fl_rectf(x+2, y+2, w-4, h-4);
 }
 
@@ -213,7 +255,7 @@ void fl_embossed_frame(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color) {
 /** Draws a box of type FL_EMBOSSED_BOX */
 void fl_embossed_box(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color c) {
   fl_embossed_frame(x,y,w,h,c);
-  fl_color(draw_it_active ? c : fl_inactive(c));
+  Fl::set_box_color(c);
   fl_rectf(x+2, y+2, w-4, h-4);
 }
 
@@ -222,9 +264,9 @@ void fl_embossed_box(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color c) {
   Equivalent to drawing a box of type FL_BORDER_BOX.
 */
 void fl_rectbound(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color bgcolor) {
-  fl_color(draw_it_active ? FL_BLACK : fl_inactive(FL_BLACK));
+  Fl::set_box_color(FL_BLACK);
   fl_rect(x, y, w, h);
-  fl_color(draw_it_active ? bgcolor : fl_inactive(bgcolor));
+  Fl::set_box_color(bgcolor);
   fl_rectf(x+1, y+1, w-2, h-2);
 }
 #define fl_border_box fl_rectbound	/**< allow consistent naming */
@@ -233,7 +275,7 @@ void fl_rectbound(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color bgcolor) {
   Draws a frame of type FL_BORDER_FRAME.
 */
 void fl_border_frame(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color c) {
-  fl_color(draw_it_active ? c : fl_inactive(c));
+  Fl::set_box_color(c);
   fl_rect(x, y, w, h);
 }
 
@@ -246,7 +288,7 @@ static struct {
 } fl_box_table[256] = {
 // must match list in Enumerations.H!!!
   {fl_no_box,		0,0,0,0,1},
-  {fl_rectf,		0,0,0,0,1}, // FL_FLAT_BOX
+  {fl_flat_box,		0,0,0,0,1}, // FL_FLAT_BOX
   {fl_up_box,		D1,D1,D2,D2,1},
   {fl_down_box,		D1,D1,D2,D2,1},
   {fl_up_frame,		D1,D1,D2,D2,1},
@@ -266,7 +308,7 @@ static struct {
   {fl_border_box,	1,1,2,2,0}, // _FL_ROUNDED_BOX
   {fl_border_box,	1,1,2,2,0}, // _FL_RSHADOW_BOX
   {fl_border_frame,	1,1,2,2,0}, // _FL_ROUNDED_FRAME
-  {fl_rectf,		0,0,0,0,0}, // _FL_RFLAT_BOX
+  {fl_flat_box,		0,0,0,0,0}, // _FL_RFLAT_BOX
   {fl_up_box,		3,3,6,6,0}, // _FL_ROUND_UP_BOX
   {fl_down_box,		3,3,6,6,0}, // _FL_ROUND_DOWN_BOX
   {fl_up_box,		0,0,0,0,0}, // _FL_DIAMOND_UP_BOX
@@ -274,7 +316,7 @@ static struct {
   {fl_border_box,	1,1,2,2,0}, // _FL_OVAL_BOX
   {fl_border_box,	1,1,2,2,0}, // _FL_OVAL_SHADOW_BOX
   {fl_border_frame,	1,1,2,2,0}, // _FL_OVAL_FRAME
-  {fl_rectf,		0,0,0,0,0}, // _FL_OVAL_FLAT_BOX
+  {fl_flat_box,		0,0,0,0,0}, // _FL_OVAL_FLAT_BOX
   {fl_up_box,		4,4,8,8,0}, // _FL_PLASTIC_UP_BOX
   {fl_down_box,		2,2,4,4,0}, // _FL_PLASTIC_DOWN_BOX
   {fl_up_frame,		2,2,4,4,0}, // _FL_PLASTIC_UP_FRAME
diff --git a/src/fl_diamond_box.cxx b/src/fl_diamond_box.cxx
index 9aa3aad88..deafd7bd0 100644
--- a/src/fl_diamond_box.cxx
+++ b/src/fl_diamond_box.cxx
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ static void fl_diamond_up_box(int x,int y,int w,int h,Fl_Color bgcolor) {
   h &= -2;
   int x1 = x+w/2;
   int y1 = y+h/2;
-  fl_color(bgcolor); fl_polygon(x+3, y1, x1,y+3, x+w-3,y1, x1,y+h-3);
+  Fl::set_box_color(bgcolor);
+  fl_polygon(x+3, y1, x1,y+3, x+w-3,y1, x1,y+h-3);
   const uchar *g = fl_gray_ramp();
   fl_color(g[(int)'W']); fl_line(x+1, y1, x1, y+1, x+w-1, y1);
   fl_color(g[(int)'U']); fl_line(x+2, y1, x1, y+2, x+w-2, y1);
@@ -55,7 +56,8 @@ static void fl_diamond_down_box(int x,int y,int w,int h,Fl_Color bgcolor) {
   fl_color(g[(int)'W']); fl_line(x+2, y1, x1, y+h-2, x+w-2, y1);
   fl_color(g[(int)'U']); fl_line(x+1, y1, x1, y+h-1, x+w-1, y1);
   fl_color(g[(int)'S']); fl_line(x+0, y1, x1, y+h-0, x+w-0, y1);
-  fl_color(bgcolor); fl_polygon(x+3, y1, x1,y+3, x+w-3,y1, x1,y+h-3);
+  Fl::set_box_color(bgcolor);
+  fl_polygon(x+3, y1, x1,y+3, x+w-3,y1, x1,y+h-3);
   fl_color(g[(int)'A']); fl_loop(x+3, y1, x1, y+3, x+w-3, y1, x1, y+h-3);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/fl_gleam.cxx b/src/fl_gleam.cxx
index 696bc8a98..39d384adf 100644
--- a/src/fl_gleam.cxx
+++ b/src/fl_gleam.cxx
@@ -30,8 +30,7 @@
 
 
 static void gleam_color(Fl_Color c) {
-  if (Fl::draw_box_active()) fl_color(c);
-  else fl_color(fl_inactive(c));
+  Fl::set_box_color(c);
 }
 
 static void shade_rect_top_bottom(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color fg1, Fl_Color fg2, float th) {
diff --git a/src/fl_gtk.cxx b/src/fl_gtk.cxx
index edf3f920a..7b4126692 100644
--- a/src/fl_gtk.cxx
+++ b/src/fl_gtk.cxx
@@ -30,11 +30,9 @@ extern void fl_internal_boxtype(Fl_Boxtype, Fl_Box_Draw_F*);
 
 
 static void gtk_color(Fl_Color c) {
-  if (Fl::draw_box_active()) fl_color(c);
-  else fl_color(fl_inactive(c));
+  Fl::set_box_color(c);
 }
 
-
 static void gtk_up_frame(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color c) {
   gtk_color(fl_color_average(FL_WHITE, c, 0.5));
   fl_xyline(x + 2, y + 1, x + w - 3);
@@ -204,7 +202,7 @@ static void draw(int which, int x,int y,int w,int h, int inset)
 }
 
 static void gtk_round_up_box(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color c) {
-  fl_color(c);
+  gtk_color(c);
   draw(FILL,	    x,   y, w,   h, 2);
 
   gtk_color(fl_color_average(FL_BLACK, c, 0.025f));
@@ -235,7 +233,7 @@ static void gtk_round_up_box(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color c) {
 }
 
 static void gtk_round_down_box(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color c) {
-  fl_color(c);
+  gtk_color(c);
   draw(FILL,	    x,   y, w,   h, 2);
 
   gtk_color(fl_color_average(FL_BLACK, c, 0.05f));
diff --git a/src/fl_oval_box.cxx b/src/fl_oval_box.cxx
index 7be6b70ae..3868bc403 100644
--- a/src/fl_oval_box.cxx
+++ b/src/fl_oval_box.cxx
@@ -24,12 +24,12 @@
 #include <FL/fl_draw.H>
 
 static void fl_oval_flat_box(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color c) {
-  fl_color(c);
+  Fl::set_box_color(c);
   fl_pie(x, y, w, h, 0, 360);
 }
 
 static void fl_oval_frame(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color c) {
-  fl_color(c);
+  Fl::set_box_color(c);
   fl_arc(x, y, w, h, 0, 360);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/fl_round_box.cxx b/src/fl_round_box.cxx
index e31a8c26f..4adbfccb7 100644
--- a/src/fl_round_box.cxx
+++ b/src/fl_round_box.cxx
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ extern const uchar* fl_gray_ramp();
 
 void fl_round_down_box(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color bgcolor) {
   const uchar *g = fl_gray_ramp();
-  draw(FILL,	    x,   y, w,   h, 2, bgcolor);
+  draw(FILL,	    x,   y, w,   h, 2, Fl::box_color(bgcolor));
   draw(UPPER_LEFT,  x+1, y, w-2, h, 0, (Fl_Color)g[(int)'N']);
   draw(UPPER_LEFT,  x+1, y, w-2, h, 1, (Fl_Color)g[(int)'H']);
   draw(UPPER_LEFT,  x,   y, w,   h, 0, (Fl_Color)g[(int)'N']);
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ void fl_round_down_box(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color bgcolor) {
 
 void fl_round_up_box(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color bgcolor) {
   const uchar *g = fl_gray_ramp();
-  draw(FILL,	    x,   y, w,   h, 2, bgcolor);
+  draw(FILL,	    x,   y, w,   h, 2, Fl::box_color(bgcolor));
   draw(LOWER_RIGHT, x+1, y, w-2, h, 0, (Fl_Color)g[(int)'H']);
   draw(LOWER_RIGHT, x+1, y, w-2, h, 1, (Fl_Color)g[(int)'N']);
   draw(LOWER_RIGHT, x,   y, w,   h, 1, (Fl_Color)g[(int)'H']);
diff --git a/src/fl_rounded_box.cxx b/src/fl_rounded_box.cxx
index 44fa5c9f7..17cc9de81 100644
--- a/src/fl_rounded_box.cxx
+++ b/src/fl_rounded_box.cxx
@@ -46,15 +46,18 @@ static void rbox(int fill, int x, int y, int w, int h) {
 }
 
 static void fl_rflat_box(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color c) {
-  fl_color(c); rbox(1, x, y, w, h); rbox(0, x, y, w, h);
+  Fl::set_box_color(c);
+  rbox(1, x, y, w, h); rbox(0, x, y, w, h);
 }
 
 static void fl_rounded_frame(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color c) {
-  fl_color(c); rbox(0, x, y, w, h);
+  Fl::set_box_color(c);
+  rbox(0, x, y, w, h);
 }
 
 static void fl_rounded_box(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color c) {
-  fl_color(c); rbox(1, x, y, w, h);
+  Fl::set_box_color(c);
+  rbox(1, x, y, w, h);
   fl_color(FL_BLACK); rbox(0, x, y, w, h);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/fl_shadow_box.cxx b/src/fl_shadow_box.cxx
index a3d881906..3b020f920 100644
--- a/src/fl_shadow_box.cxx
+++ b/src/fl_shadow_box.cxx
@@ -25,12 +25,12 @@ static void fl_shadow_frame(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color c) {
   fl_color(FL_DARK3);
   fl_rectf(x+BW, y+h-BW,  w - BW, BW);
   fl_rectf(x+w-BW,  y+BW, BW,  h - BW);
-  fl_color(c);
+  Fl::set_box_color(c);
   fl_rect(x,y,w-BW,h-BW);
 }
 
 static void fl_shadow_box(int x, int y, int w, int h, Fl_Color c) {
-  fl_color(c);
+  Fl::set_box_color(c);
   fl_rectf(x+1,y+1,w-2-BW,h-2-BW);
   fl_shadow_frame(x,y,w,h,FL_GRAY0);
 }