diff --git a/overviewer.py b/overviewer.py
index 1bf6790..565e279 100755
--- a/overviewer.py
+++ b/overviewer.py
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ def main():
     parser.add_option("--forcerender", dest="forcerender", help="Force re-rendering the entire map (or the given regionlist). Useful for re-rendering without deleting the entire map with --delete.", action="store_true")
     parser.add_option("--rendermodes", dest="rendermode", help="Specifies the render types, separated by commas. Use --list-rendermodes to list them all.", type="choice", choices=avail_rendermodes, required=True, default=avail_rendermodes[0], listify=True)
     parser.add_option("--list-rendermodes", dest="list_rendermodes", action="store_true", help="List available render modes and exit.", commandLineOnly=True)
+    parser.add_option("--rendermode-options", dest="rendermode_options", default={}, configFileOnly=True)
     parser.add_option("--imgformat", dest="imgformat", help="The image output format to use. Currently supported: png(default), jpg.", configFileOnly=True )
     parser.add_option("--imgquality", dest="imgquality", default=95, help="Specify the quality of image output when using imgformat=\"jpg\".", type="int", configFileOnly=True)
     parser.add_option("--bg_color", dest="bg_color", help="Configures the background color for the GoogleMap output.  Specify in #RRGGBB format", configFileOnly=True, type="string", default="#1A1A1A")
@@ -217,7 +218,7 @@ def main():
 
     logging.info("Welcome to Minecraft Overviewer!")
     logging.debug("Current log level: {0}".format(logging.getLogger().level))
-   
+       
     useBiomeData = os.path.exists(os.path.join(worlddir, 'biomes'))
     if not useBiomeData:
         logging.info("Notice: Not using biome data for tinting")
diff --git a/rendernode.py b/rendernode.py
index 6f6c76e..f2b9bfb 100644
--- a/rendernode.py
+++ b/rendernode.py
@@ -68,6 +68,10 @@ def pool_initializer(rendernode):
     textures.generate(path=rendernode.options.get('textures_path', None))
     c_overviewer.init_chunk_render()
     
+    # setup c_overviewer rendermode options
+    for mode in rendernode.options.rendermode_options:
+        c_overviewer.set_render_mode_options(mode, rendernode.options.rendermode_options[mode])
+    
     # load biome data in each process, if needed
     for quadtree in rendernode.quadtrees:
         if quadtree.world.useBiomeData:
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 19d3612..a001be1 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ static PyMethodDef COverviewerMethods[] = {
     {"get_render_mode_children", get_render_mode_children, METH_VARARGS,
      "returns (direct) children for a particular render mode"},
     
+    {"set_render_mode_options", set_render_mode_options, METH_VARARGS,
+     "sets the default options for a given render mode"},
+    
     {"extension_version", get_extension_version, METH_VARARGS, 
         "Returns the extension version"},
     
diff --git a/src/rendermode-cave.c b/src/rendermode-cave.c
index c5a2e07..88ee1e7 100644
--- a/src/rendermode-cave.c
+++ b/src/rendermode-cave.c
@@ -161,13 +161,13 @@ rendermode_cave_occluded(void *data, RenderState *state) {
 }
 
 static int
-rendermode_cave_start(void *data, RenderState *state) {
+rendermode_cave_start(void *data, RenderState *state, PyObject *options) {
     RenderModeCave* self;
     int ret;
     self = (RenderModeCave *)data;
 
     /* first, chain up */
-    ret = rendermode_normal.start(data, state);
+    ret = rendermode_normal.start(data, state, options);
     if (ret != 0)
         return ret;
 
diff --git a/src/rendermode-lighting.c b/src/rendermode-lighting.c
index d0d4c64..f1dc6c7 100644
--- a/src/rendermode-lighting.c
+++ b/src/rendermode-lighting.c
@@ -169,11 +169,11 @@ do_shading_with_mask(RenderModeLighting *self, RenderState *state,
 }
 
 static int
-rendermode_lighting_start(void *data, RenderState *state) {
+rendermode_lighting_start(void *data, RenderState *state, PyObject *options) {
     RenderModeLighting* self;
 
     /* first, chain up */
-    int ret = rendermode_normal.start(data, state);
+    int ret = rendermode_normal.start(data, state, options);
     if (ret != 0)
         return ret;
     
diff --git a/src/rendermode-night.c b/src/rendermode-night.c
index 81fc38f..35c4476 100644
--- a/src/rendermode-night.c
+++ b/src/rendermode-night.c
@@ -26,11 +26,11 @@ static float calculate_darkness(unsigned char skylight, unsigned char blocklight
 }
 
 static int
-rendermode_night_start(void *data, RenderState *state) {
+rendermode_night_start(void *data, RenderState *state, PyObject *options) {
     RenderModeNight* self;    
 
     /* first, chain up */
-    int ret = rendermode_lighting.start(data, state);
+    int ret = rendermode_lighting.start(data, state, options);
     if (ret != 0)
         return ret;
     
diff --git a/src/rendermode-normal.c b/src/rendermode-normal.c
index b112192..f5fb124 100644
--- a/src/rendermode-normal.c
+++ b/src/rendermode-normal.c
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 #include "overviewer.h"
 
 static int
-rendermode_normal_start(void *data, RenderState *state) {
+rendermode_normal_start(void *data, RenderState *state, PyObject *options) {
     PyObject *chunk_x_py, *chunk_y_py, *world, *use_biomes, *worlddir;
     RenderModeNormal *self = (RenderModeNormal *)data;
     
diff --git a/src/rendermode-overlay.c b/src/rendermode-overlay.c
index 04c87bf..7807f66 100644
--- a/src/rendermode-overlay.c
+++ b/src/rendermode-overlay.c
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ static void get_color(void *data, RenderState *state,
 }
 
 static int
-rendermode_overlay_start(void *data, RenderState *state) {
+rendermode_overlay_start(void *data, RenderState *state, PyObject *options) {
     PyObject *facemasks_py;
     RenderModeOverlay *self = (RenderModeOverlay *)data;
     
diff --git a/src/rendermode-spawn.c b/src/rendermode-spawn.c
index 2781a2a..20f81dd 100644
--- a/src/rendermode-spawn.c
+++ b/src/rendermode-spawn.c
@@ -62,11 +62,11 @@ static void get_color(void *data, RenderState *state,
 }
 
 static int
-rendermode_spawn_start(void *data, RenderState *state) {
+rendermode_spawn_start(void *data, RenderState *state, PyObject *options) {
     RenderModeSpawn* self;
 
     /* first, chain up */
-    int ret = rendermode_overlay.start(data, state);
+    int ret = rendermode_overlay.start(data, state, options);
     if (ret != 0)
         return ret;
     
diff --git a/src/rendermodes.c b/src/rendermodes.c
index 4eac913..8c11c83 100644
--- a/src/rendermodes.c
+++ b/src/rendermodes.c
@@ -30,8 +30,41 @@ static RenderModeInterface *render_modes[] = {
     NULL
 };
 
+static PyObject *render_mode_options = NULL;
+
+/* rendermode encapsulation */
+
+/* helper to recursively find options for a given mode */
+static inline PyObject *
+render_mode_create_options(RenderModeInterface *iface) {
+    PyObject *base_options, *ret, *parent_options;
+    if (render_mode_options == NULL)
+        return PyDict_New();
+    
+    base_options = PyDict_GetItemString(render_mode_options, iface->name);
+    if (base_options) {
+        ret = PyDict_Copy(base_options);
+    } else {
+        ret = PyDict_New();
+    }
+    
+    if (iface->parent) {
+        parent_options = render_mode_create_options(iface->parent);
+        if (parent_options) {
+            if (PyDict_Merge(ret, parent_options, 0) == -1) {
+                Py_DECREF(parent_options);
+                return NULL;
+            }
+            Py_DECREF(parent_options);
+        }
+    }
+    
+    return ret;
+}
+
 RenderMode *render_mode_create(const char *mode, RenderState *state) {
     unsigned int i;
+    PyObject *options;
     RenderMode *ret = NULL;
     RenderModeInterface *iface = NULL;
     for (i = 0; render_modes[i] != NULL; i++) {
@@ -44,12 +77,19 @@ RenderMode *render_mode_create(const char *mode, RenderState *state) {
     if (iface == NULL)
         return NULL;
     
-    ret = malloc(sizeof(RenderMode));
-    if (ret == NULL)
+    options = render_mode_create_options(iface);
+    if (options == NULL)
         return NULL;
     
+    ret = malloc(sizeof(RenderMode));
+    if (ret == NULL) {
+        Py_DECREF(options);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    
     ret->mode = malloc(iface->data_size);
     if (ret->mode == NULL) {
+        Py_DECREF(options);
         free(ret);
         return NULL;
     }
@@ -57,12 +97,14 @@ RenderMode *render_mode_create(const char *mode, RenderState *state) {
     ret->iface = iface;
     ret->state = state;
     
-    if (iface->start(ret->mode, state)) {
+    if (iface->start(ret->mode, state, options)) {
+        Py_DECREF(options);
         free(ret->mode);
         free(ret);
         return NULL;
     }
     
+    Py_DECREF(options);
     return ret;
 }
     
@@ -213,3 +255,19 @@ PyObject *get_render_mode_children(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) {
     
     return children;
 }
+
+/* python rendermode options bindings */
+PyObject *set_render_mode_options(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) {
+    const char *rendermode;
+    PyObject *opts;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "sO!", &rendermode, &PyDict_Type, &opts))
+        return NULL;
+    
+    /* check options here */
+    
+    if (render_mode_options == NULL)
+        render_mode_options = PyDict_New();
+    
+    PyDict_SetItemString(render_mode_options, rendermode, opts);
+    Py_RETURN_NONE;
+}
diff --git a/src/rendermodes.h b/src/rendermodes.h
index 5be98eb..a369d77 100644
--- a/src/rendermodes.h
+++ b/src/rendermodes.h
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ struct _RenderModeInterface {
     /* the size of the local storage for this rendermode */
     unsigned int data_size;
     
-    /* may return non-zero on error */
-    int (*start)(void *, RenderState *);
+    /* may return non-zero on error, last arg is options */
+    int (*start)(void *, RenderState *, PyObject *);
     void (*finish)(void *, RenderState *);
     /* returns non-zero to skip rendering this block */
     int (*occluded)(void *, RenderState *);
@@ -72,13 +72,16 @@ void render_mode_destroy(RenderMode *self);
 int render_mode_occluded(RenderMode *self);
 void render_mode_draw(RenderMode *self, PyObject *img, PyObject *mask, PyObject *mask_light);
 
-/* python bindings */
+/* python metadata bindings */
 PyObject *get_render_modes(PyObject *self, PyObject *args);
 PyObject *get_render_mode_info(PyObject *self, PyObject *args);
 PyObject *get_render_mode_parent(PyObject *self, PyObject *args);
 PyObject *get_render_mode_inheritance(PyObject *self, PyObject *args);
 PyObject *get_render_mode_children(PyObject *self, PyObject *args);
 
+/* python rendermode options bindings */
+PyObject *set_render_mode_options(PyObject *self, PyObject *args);
+
 /* individual rendermode interface declarations follow */
 
 /* NORMAL */