diff --git a/collects/scribblings/slideshow/picts.scrbl b/collects/scribblings/slideshow/picts.scrbl
index 7f1f2ce336..113cc35457 100644
--- a/collects/scribblings/slideshow/picts.scrbl
+++ b/collects/scribblings/slideshow/picts.scrbl
@@ -223,9 +223,16 @@ override settings supplied by the context.}
 Unfilled and filled ellipses.}
 
 @defproc*[([(rectangle [w real?] [h real?]) pict?]
-           [(filled-rectangle [w real?] [h real?]) pict?])]{
+           [(filled-rectangle [w real?]
+                              [h real?] 
+                              [#:draw-border? draw-border? any/c #t])
+            pict?])]{
 
-Unfilled and filled rectangles.}
+Unfilled and filled rectangles.
+
+If @scheme[draw-border?] is @scheme[#f], then the pen is set to be transparent
+before drawing the rectangle.
+}
 
 @defproc*[([(rounded-rectangle [w real?] [h real?] 
                                [corner-radius real? -0.25]
diff --git a/collects/texpict/utils.ss b/collects/texpict/utils.ss
index 869cd8b873..121568d159 100644
--- a/collects/texpict/utils.ss
+++ b/collects/texpict/utils.ss
@@ -257,15 +257,19 @@
   (define (pip-arrows-line dx dy size)
     (arrows-line dx (- dy) size))
 
-  (define (filled-rectangle w h)
+  (define (filled-rectangle w h #:draw-border? [draw-border? #t])
     (dc
      (lambda (dc x y)
-       (let ([b (send dc get-brush)])
+       (let ([b (send dc get-brush)]
+             [p (send dc get-pen)])
          (send dc set-brush (send the-brush-list find-or-create-brush
-				  (send (send dc get-pen) get-color)
+                                  (send p get-color)
                                   'solid))
+         (unless draw-border?
+           (send dc set-pen "black" 1 'transparent))
 	 (send dc draw-rectangle x y w h)
-	 (send dc set-brush b)))
+         (send dc set-brush b)
+         (send dc set-pen p)))
      w
      h))