diff --git a/collects/drscheme/private/bitmap-message.ss b/collects/drscheme/private/bitmap-message.ss
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..10ca5a9339
--- /dev/null
+++ b/collects/drscheme/private/bitmap-message.ss
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#lang scheme
+
+(require mred/mred)
+(provide bitmap-message%)
+
+(define bitmap-message%
+  (class canvas%
+    (inherit min-width min-height get-dc)
+    (define bm #f)
+    (define/override (on-paint)
+      (when bm
+        (let ([dc (get-dc)])
+          (send dc draw-bitmap bm 0 0))))
+    (define/public (set-bm b)
+      (set! bm b)
+      (min-width (send bm get-width))
+      (min-height (send bm get-height)))
+    (super-new (stretchable-width #f)
+               (stretchable-height #f))))
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/collects/drscheme/private/insert-large-letters-typed.ss b/collects/drscheme/private/insert-large-letters-typed.ss
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ace549029d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/collects/drscheme/private/insert-large-letters-typed.ss
@@ -0,0 +1,188 @@
+#lang typed-scheme
+
+(require "mred-typed.ss"
+         scheme/class
+         string-constants/string-constant)
+
+(provide insert-large-letters)
+
+(: insert-large-letters (String Char (Instance Scheme:Text%) Any -> Void))
+(define (insert-large-letters comment-prefix comment-character edit parent)
+  (let ([str (make-large-letters-dialog comment-prefix comment-character #f)])
+    (when (and str
+               (not (equal? str "")))
+      (render-large-letters comment-prefix comment-character (get-chosen-font) str edit)
+      (void))))
+
+(preferences:set-default 'drscheme:large-letters-font #f (λ: ([x : Any])
+                                                             (or (and (pair? x)
+                                                                      (string? (car x))
+                                                                      (let ([i (cdr x)])
+                                                                        (and (integer? i)
+                                                                             (<= 1 i 255))))
+                                                                 (not x))))
+
+(: get-default-font (-> (Instance Font%)))
+(define (get-default-font)
+  (send (send (editor:get-standard-style-list)
+              find-named-style
+              "Standard")
+        get-font))
+
+(: get-chosen-font (-> (Instance Font%)))
+(define (get-chosen-font)
+  (let ([pref-val (preferences:get 'drscheme:large-letters-font)])
+    (cond
+      [pref-val
+       (let ([candidate (send the-font-list find-or-create-font (cdr pref-val) (car pref-val) 'default 'normal 'normal)])
+         (if (equal? (send candidate get-face) (car pref-val))
+             candidate
+             (get-default-font)))]
+      [else
+       (get-default-font)])))
+
+(define columns-string "~a columns")
+
+;; make-large-letters-dialog : string char top-level-window<%> -> void
+(: make-large-letters-dialog (String Char Any -> (Option String)))
+(define (make-large-letters-dialog comment-prefix comment-character parent)
+  (define dlg (new dialog% 
+                   [parent parent] 
+                   [width 700]
+                   [label (string-constant large-semicolon-letters)]))  
+  (define: text-field : (Instance Text-Field%) 
+    (new text-field% 
+         [parent dlg] 
+         [label (string-constant text-to-insert)]
+         [callback (λ: ([x : Any] [y : Any]) (update-txt (send text-field get-value)))]))
+  (: info-bar (Instance Horizontal-Panel%))
+  (define info-bar (new horizontal-panel%
+                        [parent dlg]
+                        [stretchable-height #f]))
+  (define: font-choice : (Instance Choice%)
+    (new choice%
+         [label (string-constant fonts)]
+         [parent info-bar]
+         [choices (get-face-list)]
+         [callback
+          (λ: ([x : Any] [y : Any])
+            (let ([old (preferences:get 'drscheme:large-letters-font)])
+              (preferences:set 'drscheme:large-letters-font
+                               (cons (send font-choice get-string-selection)
+                                     (if old
+                                         (cdr old)
+                                         (send (get-default-font) get-point-size))))
+              (update-txt (send text-field get-value))))]))
+  
+  (: count (Instance Message%))
+  (define count (new message% [label (format columns-string 1000)] [parent info-bar]))
+  (: pane1 (Instance Horizontal-Pane%))
+  (define pane1 (new horizontal-pane% (parent info-bar)))
+  (: dark-msg (Instance Bitmap-Message%))
+  (define dark-msg (new bitmap-message% [parent info-bar]))
+  (: pane2 (Instance Horizontal-Pane%))
+  (define pane2 (new horizontal-pane% (parent info-bar)))
+                                
+  (: txt (Instance Scheme:Text%))
+  (define txt (new scheme:text%))
+  (: ec (Instance Editor-Canvas%))
+  (define ec (new editor-canvas% [parent dlg] [editor txt]))
+  (: button-panel (Instance Horizontal-Panel%))
+  (define button-panel (new horizontal-panel%
+                            [parent dlg]
+                            [stretchable-height #f]
+                            [alignment '(right center)]))
+  (define: ok? : Boolean #f)
+  (: ok Any)
+  (: cancel Any)
+  (define-values (ok cancel)
+    (gui-utils:ok/cancel-buttons button-panel
+                                 (λ: ([x : Any] [y : Any]) (set! ok? #t) (send dlg show #f))
+                                 (λ: ([x : Any] [y : Any]) (send dlg show #f))))
+  (: update-txt (String -> Any))
+  (define (update-txt str)
+    (send txt begin-edit-sequence)
+    (send txt lock #f)
+    (send txt delete 0 (send txt last-position))
+    (let ([bm (render-large-letters comment-prefix comment-character (get-chosen-font) str txt)])
+      (send ec set-line-count (+ 1 (send txt last-paragraph)))
+      (send txt lock #t)
+      (send txt end-edit-sequence)
+      (send count set-label (format columns-string (get-max-line-width txt)))
+      (send dark-msg set-bm bm)))
+  
+  
+  
+  
+  ;; CHANGE - get-face can return #f
+  (let ([face (send (get-chosen-font) get-face)])
+    (when face
+      (send font-choice set-string-selection face)))
+  
+  (send txt auto-wrap #f)
+  (update-txt " ")
+  (send text-field focus)
+  (send dlg show #t)
+  (and ok? (send text-field get-value)))
+
+(: get-max-line-width ((Instance Scheme:Text%) -> Number))
+(define (get-max-line-width txt)
+  (let loop ([i (+ (send txt last-paragraph) 1)]
+             [m #{0 :: Number}])
+    (cond
+      [(zero? i) m]
+      [else (loop (- i 1)
+                  (max m (- (send txt paragraph-end-position (- i 1))
+                            (send txt paragraph-start-position (- i 1)))))])))
+      
+
+(: render-large-letters (String Char (Instance Font%) String (Instance Scheme:Text%) -> (Instance Bitmap%)))
+(define (render-large-letters comment-prefix comment-character the-font str edit)
+  (define bdc (make-object bitmap-dc% (make-object bitmap% 1 1 #t)))
+  (define-values (tw raw-th td ta) (send bdc get-text-extent str the-font))
+  (define th (let-values ([(_1 h _2 _3) (send bdc get-text-extent "X" the-font)])
+               (max raw-th h)))
+  (define tmp-color (make-object color%))
+  
+  (: get-char (Number Number -> Char))
+  (define (get-char x y)
+    (send bdc get-pixel x y tmp-color)
+    (let ([red (send tmp-color red)])
+      (if (= red 0)
+          comment-character
+          #\space)))  
+  (define bitmap
+    (make-object bitmap% 
+      (max 1 (inexact->exact tw))
+      (inexact->exact th)
+      #t))
+  
+  (: fetch-line (Number -> String))
+  (define (fetch-line y)
+    (let: loop : String ([x : Number (send bitmap get-width)]
+                         [chars : (Listof Char) null])
+      (cond
+        [(zero? x) (apply string chars)]
+        [else (loop (- x 1) (cons (get-char (- x 1) y) chars))])))
+  
+  (send bdc set-bitmap bitmap)
+  (send bdc clear)
+  (send bdc set-font the-font)
+  (send bdc draw-text str 0 0)
+  
+  (send edit begin-edit-sequence)
+  (let ([start (send edit get-start-position)]
+        [end (send edit get-end-position)])
+    (send edit delete start end)
+    (send edit insert "\n" start start)
+    (let loop ([y (send bitmap get-height)])
+      (unless (zero? y)
+        (send edit insert (fetch-line (- y 1)) start start)
+        (send edit insert comment-prefix start start)
+        (send edit insert "\n" start start)
+        (loop (- y 1)))))
+  (send edit end-edit-sequence)
+  (send bdc set-bitmap #f)
+  bitmap)
+
+;(make-large-letters-dialog ";" #\; #f)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/collects/drscheme/private/mred-typed.ss b/collects/drscheme/private/mred-typed.ss
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5252df47ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/collects/drscheme/private/mred-typed.ss
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+#lang typed-scheme
+             
+;(require mred/mred)
+(provide (all-defined-out))
+
+(define-type-alias Bitmap% (Class (Number Number Boolean)
+                                  () 
+                                  ([get-width (-> Number)]
+                                   [get-height (-> Number)])))
+(define-type-alias Font-List% (Class () () ([find-or-create-font (Any * -> (Instance Font%))])))
+(define-type-alias Font% (Class () () ([get-face (-> (Option String))]
+                                       [get-point-size (-> Number)])))
+(define-type-alias Dialog% (Class () 
+                                  ([parent Any] [width Number] [label String]) 
+                                  ([show (Any -> Void)])))
+(define-type-alias Text-Field% (Class () 
+                                      ([parent Any] [callback Any] [label String])
+                                      ([get-value (-> String)]
+                                       [focus (-> String)])))
+(define-type-alias Horizontal-Panel% (Class ()
+                                            ([parent Any] 
+                                             [stretchable-height Any #t]
+                                             [alignment (List Symbol Symbol) #t])
+                                            ()))
+(define-type-alias Choice% (Class ()
+                                  ([parent Any] [label String] [choices List] [callback Any])
+                                  ([get-string-selection (-> (Option String))]
+                                   [set-string-selection (String -> Void)])))
+(define-type-alias Message% (Class ()
+                                   ([parent Any] [label String])
+                                   ([set-label ((U String (Instance Bitmap%)) -> Void)])))
+(define-type-alias Horizontal-Pane% (Class ()
+                                           ([parent Any])
+                                           ()))
+(define-type-alias Editor-Canvas% (Class ()
+                                         ([parent Any] [editor Any])
+                                         ([set-line-count (Number -> Void)])))
+(define-type-alias Bitmap-DC% (Class ((Instance Bitmap%))
+                                     ()
+                                     ([get-text-extent (String (Instance Font%) -> (values Number Number Number Number))]
+                                      [get-pixel (Number Number (Instance Color%) -> Boolean)]
+                                      [set-bitmap ((Option (Instance Bitmap%)) -> Void)]
+                                      [clear (-> Void)]
+                                      [set-font ((Instance Font%) -> Void)]
+                                      [draw-text (String Number Number -> Void)])))
+(define-type-alias Color% (Class () () ([red (-> Number)])))
+(define-type-alias Style-List% (Class () 
+                                      ()
+                                      ([find-named-style 
+                                        (String -> (Instance (Class ()
+                                                                    () 
+                                                                    ([get-font (-> (Instance Font%))]))))])))
+
+(define-type-alias Scheme:Text% (Class ()
+                                       ()
+                                       ([begin-edit-sequence (-> Void)]
+                                        [end-edit-sequence (-> Void)]
+                                        [lock (Boolean -> Void)]
+                                        [last-position (-> Number)]
+                                        [last-paragraph (-> Number)]
+                                        [delete (Number Number -> Void)]
+                                        [auto-wrap (Any -> Void)]
+                                        [paragraph-end-position (Number -> Number)]
+                                        [paragraph-start-position (Number -> Number)]
+                                        [get-start-position (-> Number)]
+                                        [get-end-position (-> Number)]
+                                        [insert (String Number Number -> Void)])))
+
+(require/typed mred/mred
+               [the-font-list (Instance Font-List%)]
+               [dialog% Dialog%]
+               [text-field% Text-Field%]
+               [horizontal-panel% Horizontal-Panel%]
+               [choice% Choice%]
+               [get-face-list (-> (Listof String))]
+               [message% Message%]
+               [horizontal-pane% Horizontal-Pane%]
+               [editor-canvas% Editor-Canvas%]
+               [bitmap-dc% Bitmap-DC%]
+               [bitmap% Bitmap%]
+               [color% Color%])
+
+(require/typed framework/framework
+               [preferences:set-default (Symbol Any Any -> Void)]
+               [preferences:set (Symbol Any -> Void)]
+               [editor:get-standard-style-list 
+                (-> (Instance Style-List%))]
+               [scheme:text% Scheme:Text%]
+               [gui-utils:ok/cancel-buttons (Any (Any Any -> Any) (Any Any -> Any) -> (values Any Any))])
+
+(require/typed "prefs-contract.ss"
+               [preferences:get-drscheme:large-letters-font (-> (U #f (Pair String Number)))])
+
+(require (only-in "prefs-contract.ss" preferences:get))
+(provide preferences:get preferences:get-drscheme:large-letters-font)
+
+(define-type-alias Bitmap-Message% (Class () 
+                                          ([parent Any])
+                                          ([set-bm ((Instance Bitmap%) -> Void)])))
+               
+
+(require/typed "bitmap-message.ss"
+               [bitmap-message% Bitmap-Message%])
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/collects/drscheme/private/prefs-contract.ss b/collects/drscheme/private/prefs-contract.ss
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cb648dd533
--- /dev/null
+++ b/collects/drscheme/private/prefs-contract.ss
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#lang scheme/base
+
+(require (for-syntax scheme/base)
+         framework/framework)
+
+(provide (rename-out [-preferences:get preferences:get])
+         preferences:get-drscheme:large-letters-font)
+
+(define (preferences:get-drscheme:large-letters-font)
+  (preferences:get 'drscheme:large-letters-font))
+
+(define-syntax (-preferences:get stx)
+  (syntax-case stx (quote)
+    [(_ (quote sym))
+     (with-syntax ([nm (datum->syntax stx (string->symbol (string-append "preferences:get" "-" (symbol->string (syntax-e #'sym)))))])
+       (syntax/loc stx (nm)))]))
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/collects/drscheme/private/unit.ss b/collects/drscheme/private/unit.ss
index 7faef49b55..e99c9ccd95 100644
--- a/collects/drscheme/private/unit.ss
+++ b/collects/drscheme/private/unit.ss
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ module browser threading seems wrong.
            mrlib/include-bitmap
            "drsig.ss"
            "auto-language.ss"
-           "insert-large-letters.ss"
+           "insert-large-letters-typed.ss"
            "first-line-text.ss"
            mrlib/switchable-button
            mrlib/cache-image-snip
@@ -3956,4 +3956,4 @@ module browser threading seems wrong.
         (send frame update-toolbar-visibility)
         (send frame show #t)
         (set! first-frame? #f)
-        frame)))
\ No newline at end of file
+        frame)))