diff --git a/collects/redex/pict.ss b/collects/redex/pict.ss
index 519ae2ab3f..b26fb97032 100644
--- a/collects/redex/pict.ss
+++ b/collects/redex/pict.ss
@@ -8,17 +8,39 @@
          (lib "mred.ss" "mred")
          (lib "mrpict.ss" "texpict"))
 
+(define reduction-rule-style/c
+  (symbols 'compact-vertical
+           'vertical 
+           'vertical-overlapping-side-conditions
+           'horizontal))
+
+(provide reduction-rule-style/c)
+
 (provide/contract 
  [render-reduction-relation
-  (case-> (-> reduction-relation? pict?)
-          (-> reduction-relation? (or/c string? path?) void?))]
- [reduction-relation->pict (-> reduction-relation? pict?)]
+  (->d ([rel reduction-relation?])
+       ([file (or/c false/c path-string?)]
+        #:style [style reduction-rule-style/c])
+       [result (lambda (x)
+                 (if (path-string? file)
+                     (void? x)
+                     (pict? x)))])]
+ [reduction-relation->pict (->* (reduction-relation?)
+                                (#:style reduction-rule-style/c)
+                                pict?)]
  [render-reduction-relation-rules (parameter/c (or/c false/c (listof (or/c symbol? string?))))]
  
- [language->pict (-> compiled-lang? pict?)]
+ [language->pict (->* (compiled-lang?)
+                      (#:nts (or/c false/c (listof (or/c string? symbol?))))
+                      pict?)]
  [render-language
-  (case-> (-> compiled-lang? pict?)
-          (-> compiled-lang? (or/c path? string?) void?))])
+  (->d ([lang compiled-lang?])
+       ([file (or/c false/c path-string?)]
+        #:nts [nts (or/c false/c (listof (or/c string? symbol?)))])
+       [result (lambda (x) 
+                 (if (path-string? file)
+                     (void? x)
+                     (pict? x)))])])
 
 ; syntax
 (provide metafunction->pict
@@ -43,10 +65,7 @@
 
 (provide/contract
  [rule-pict-style 
-  (parameter/c (symbols 'compact-vertical
-                        'vertical 
-                        'vertical-overlapping-side-conditions
-                        'horizontal))]
+  (parameter/c reduction-rule-style/c)]
  [arrow-space (parameter/c natural-number/c)]
  [label-space (parameter/c natural-number/c)]
  [metafunction-pict-style 
diff --git a/collects/redex/private/pict.ss b/collects/redex/private/pict.ss
index 3dcd143e28..95638fe6b5 100644
--- a/collects/redex/private/pict.ss
+++ b/collects/redex/private/pict.ss
@@ -79,9 +79,9 @@
 ;                                                               
 ;                                                               
 
-(define (do-reduction-relation->pict what rr)
+(define (do-reduction-relation->pict what rr style)
   (let ([rules (render-reduction-relation-rules)])
-    ((rule-pict-style->proc)
+    ((rule-pict-style->proc style)
      (map (rr-lws->trees (language-nts (reduction-relation-lang rr)))
           (if rules
               (let ([ht (make-hash)])
@@ -97,18 +97,18 @@
                      rules))
               (reduction-relation-lws rr))))))
 
-(define (reduction-relation->pict rr) (do-reduction-relation->pict 'reduction-relation->pict rr))
+(define (reduction-relation->pict rr #:style [style (rule-pict-style)]) 
+  (do-reduction-relation->pict 'reduction-relation->pict rr style))
 
 (define render-reduction-relation-rules (make-parameter #f))
 
-(define render-reduction-relation
-  (case-lambda
-    [(rr)
-     (parameterize ([dc-for-text-size (make-object bitmap-dc% (make-object bitmap% 1 1))])
-       (do-reduction-relation->pict 'render-reduction-relation rr))]
-    [(rr filename)
-     (save-as-ps (λ () (do-reduction-relation->pict 'render-reduction-relation rr))
-                 filename)]))
+(define (render-reduction-relation rr [filename #f]
+                                   #:style [style (rule-pict-style)])
+  (if filename
+      (save-as-ps (λ () (do-reduction-relation->pict 'render-reduction-relation rr style))
+                  filename)
+      (parameterize ([dc-for-text-size (make-object bitmap-dc% (make-object bitmap% 1 1))])
+        (do-reduction-relation->pict 'render-reduction-relation rr style))))
 
 (define ((rr-lws->trees nts) rp)
   (let ([tp (λ (x) (lw->pict nts x))])
@@ -318,8 +318,8 @@
 (define (make-horiz-space picts) (blank (pict-width (apply cc-superimpose picts)) 0))
 
 (define rule-pict-style (make-parameter 'vertical))
-(define (rule-pict-style->proc)
-  (case (rule-pict-style)
+(define (rule-pict-style->proc style)
+  (case style
     [(vertical) rule-picts->pict/vertical]
     [(compact-vertical) rule-picts->pict/compact-vertical]
     [(vertical-overlapping-side-conditions)
@@ -393,19 +393,17 @@
 ;;  (union (vector flattened-language-pict-info language-pict-info) 
 ;;         flattened-language-pict-info)
 
-(define render-language 
-  (case-lambda
-    [(lang) 
-     (parameterize ([dc-for-text-size (make-object bitmap-dc% (make-object bitmap% 1 1))])
-       (do-language->pict 'render-language lang))]
-    [(lang filename)
-     (save-as-ps (λ () (do-language->pict 'render-language lang)) filename)]))
+(define (render-language lang [filename #f] #:nts [nts (render-language-nts)])
+  (if filename
+      (save-as-ps (λ () (do-language->pict 'render-language lang)) filename nts)
+      (parameterize ([dc-for-text-size (make-object bitmap-dc% (make-object bitmap% 1 1))])
+        (do-language->pict 'render-language lang nts))))
 
-(define (language->pict lang) (do-language->pict 'language->pict lang))
+(define (language->pict lang #:nts [nts (render-language-nts)])
+  (do-language->pict 'language->pict lang nts))
 
-(define (do-language->pict what lang)
-  (let ([specd-non-terminals (render-language-nts)]
-        [all-non-terminals (hash-map (compiled-lang-ht lang) (λ (x y) x))])
+(define (do-language->pict what lang specd-non-terminals)
+  (let ([all-non-terminals (hash-map (compiled-lang-ht lang) (λ (x y) x))])
     (when specd-non-terminals
       (check-non-terminals what specd-non-terminals lang))
     (make-grammar-pict (compiled-lang-pict-builder lang) 
diff --git a/collects/redex/redex.scrbl b/collects/redex/redex.scrbl
index 8d8f60f8ac..cadbb8c47d 100644
--- a/collects/redex/redex.scrbl
+++ b/collects/redex/redex.scrbl
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 	  	     scheme/gui
                      scheme/pretty
                      scheme/contract
-		     (only-in slideshow/pict text dc-for-text-size)
+		     (only-in slideshow/pict pict? text dc-for-text-size)
 		     redex))
 
 @(define-syntax (defpattech stx)
@@ -1164,51 +1164,66 @@ for use in combination with other libraries that operate on picts
 The primary difference between these functions is that the former list
 sets @scheme[dc-for-text-size] and the latter does not.
 
-@defthing[render-language (case-> (-> compiled-lang? 
-                                      pict?) 
-                                  (-> compiled-lang?
-                                      (or/c string? path?)
-                                      void?))]{
+@defproc[(render-language [lang compiled-lang?]
+                          [file (or/c false/c path-string?) #f]
+                          [#:nts nts (or/c false/c (listof (or/c string? symbol?)))
+                           (render-language-nts)])
+         (if file void? pict?)]{
 
-This function renders a language. If it receives just a
-single argument, it produces a pict and if it receives two
-arguments, it saves PostScript in the provided filename.
+Renders a language. If @scheme[file] is @scheme[#f],
+it produces a pict; if @scheme[file] is a path, it saves
+Encapsulated PostScript in the provided filename. See
+@scheme[render-language-nts] for information on the
+@scheme[nts] argument.
 
-That this function calls @scheme[dc-for-text-size] to set
-the dc to a relevant dc (either a @scheme[bitmap-dc%] or a
-@scheme[ps-dc%] depending if the function is called with one
-or two arguments, respectively). 
+This function parameterizes @scheme[dc-for-text-size] to install a
+relevant dc: a @scheme[bitmap-dc%] or a @scheme[post-script-dc%], depending on
+whether @scheme[file] is a path.
 
-See @scheme[language->pict] if you are using slideshow or
+See @scheme[language->pict] if you are using Slideshow or
 are otherwise setting @scheme[dc-for-text-size].  }
 
-@defproc[(language->pict (lang compiled-lang?)) pict?]{
-This function turns a languages into a picts. It is
-primarily designed to be used with Slideshow, or with
-other tools that combine picts together. It does not
-set @scheme[dc-for-text-size].
+@defproc[(language->pict (lang compiled-lang?)
+                         [#:nts nts (or/c false/c (listof (or/c string? symbol?)))
+                          (render-language-nts)])
+         pict?]{
+
+Produce a pict like @scheme[render-language], but without
+adjust @scheme[dc-for-text-size].
+
+This function is
+primarily designed to be used with Slideshow or with
+other tools that combine picts together.
 }
 
-@defthing[render-reduction-relation (case-> (-> reduction-relation?
-                                                pict?)
-                                            (-> reduction-relation?
-                                                (or/c string? path?)
-                                                void?))]{
+@defproc[(render-reduction-relation [rel reduction-relation?]
+                          [file (or/c false/c path-string?) #f]
+                          [#:style style reduction-rule-style/c (rule-pict-style)])
+         (if file void? pict?)]{
 
-If provided with one argument, @scheme[render-reduction-relation]
-produces a pict that renders properly in the definitions
-window in DrScheme. If given two argument, it writes
-postscript into the file named by its second argument.
+Renders a reduction relation. If @scheme[file] is @scheme[#f],
+it produces a pict; if @scheme[file] is a path, it saves
+Encapsulated PostScript in the provided filename. See
+@scheme[rule-pict-style] for information on the
+@scheme[style] argument.
 
-This function sets @scheme[dc-for-text-size]. See also
+This function parameterizes @scheme[dc-for-text-size] to install a
+relevant dc: a @scheme[bitmap-dc%] or a @scheme[post-script-dc%], depending on
+whether @scheme[file] is a path. See also
 @scheme[reduction-relation->pict].
 
 }
 
-@defproc[(reduction-relation->pict (r reduction-relation?)) pict?]{
-  This produces a pict, but without setting @scheme[dc-for-text-size].
-  It is suitable for use in Slideshow or other libraries that combine
-  picts.
+@defproc[(reduction-relation->pict (r reduction-relation?)
+                                   [#:style style reduction-rule-style/c (rule-pict-style)])
+         pict?]{
+
+  Produces a pict like @scheme[render-reduction-relation], but 
+  without setting @scheme[dc-for-text-size].
+
+This function is
+primarily designed to be used with Slideshow or with
+other tools that combine picts together.
 }
 
 @deftogether[[
@@ -1236,7 +1251,7 @@ This function sets @scheme[dc-for-text-size]. See also
 
 @defparam[render-language-nts nts (or/c false/c (listof symbol?))]{
   The value of this parameter controls which non-terminals
-  @scheme[render-language] and @scheme[language->pict] render. If it
+  @scheme[render-language] and @scheme[language->pict] render by default. If it
   is @scheme[#f] (the default), all non-terminals are rendered.
   If it is a list of symbols, only the listed symbols are rendered.
 
@@ -1263,22 +1278,31 @@ multi-line right-hand sides.
   will be rendered.
 }
 
-@defparam[rule-pict-style style
-               (symbols 'vertical 
-                        'compact-vertical
-                        'vertical-overlapping-side-conditions
-                        'horizontal)]{
+@defparam[rule-pict-style style reduction-rule-style/c]{
 
-This parameter controls the style used for the reduction
-relation. It can be either horizontal, where the left and
+This parameter controls the style used by default for the reduction
+relation. It can be @scheme['horizontal], where the left and
 right-hand sides of the reduction rule are beside each other
-or vertical, where the left and right-hand sides of the
-reduction rule are above each other. The vertical mode also
-has a variant where the side-conditions don't contribute to
+or @scheme['vertical], where the left and right-hand sides of the
+reduction rule are above each other. 
+The @scheme['compact-vertical] style moves the reduction arrow
+to the second line and uses less space between lines.
+Finally, in the @scheme['vertical-overlapping-side-conditions] variant, the side-conditions don't contribute to
 the width of the pict, but are just overlaid on the second
 line of each rule.
 }
 
+@defthing[reduction-rule-style/c flat-contract?]{
+
+A contract equivalent to
+
+@schemeblock[
+(symbols 'vertical 
+         'compact-vertical
+         'vertical-overlapping-side-conditions
+         'horizontal)
+]}
+
 @defparam[arrow-space space natural-number/c]{
 
 This parameter controls the amount of extra horizontal space