created a proper utility function that handles defaults. Integrating the ntew get() method fixes a shadowBlur issue. fixed #587

src/Canvas.js

@@ -455,20 +455,24 @@
             }
         },
         _applyShadow: function(shape) {
-            var context = this.context;
+            var context = this.context,
+                util, absOpacity, color, blur, offset, shadowOpacity;
+
             if(shape.hasShadow() && shape.getShadowEnabled()) {
-                var aa = shape.getAbsoluteOpacity();
+                util = Kinetic.Util;
-                // defaults
+                absOpacity = shape.getAbsoluteOpacity();
-                var color = shape.getShadowColor() || 'black';
+                color = util.get(shape.getShadowColor(), 'black');
-                var blur = shape.getShadowBlur() || 5;
+                blur = util.get(shape.getShadowBlur(), 5);
-                var offset = shape.getShadowOffset() || {
+                shadowOpacity = util.get(shape.getShadowOpacity(), 0);
+                offset = util.get(shape.getShadowOffset(), {
                     x: 0,
                     y: 0
-                };
+                });
 
-                if(shape.getShadowOpacity()) {
+                if(shadowOpacity) {
-                    context.globalAlpha = shape.getShadowOpacity() * aa;
+                    context.globalAlpha = shadowOpacity * absOpacity;
                 }
+
                 context.shadowColor = color;
                 context.shadowBlur = blur;
                 context.shadowOffsetX = offset.x;

src/Util.js

@@ -598,6 +598,19 @@
             }
             return HASH + randColor;
         },
+        /**
+         * return value with default fallback
+         * @method
+         * @memberof Kinetic.Util.prototype
+         */
+        get: function(val, def) {
+            if (val === undefined) {
+                return def;
+            }
+            else {
+                return val;
+            }
+        },
         /**
          * get RGB components of a color
          * @method

tests/js/unit/utilTests.js

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+Test.Modules.UTIL = {
+    'util get()': function(containerId) {
+        var get = Kinetic.Util.get;
+
+        test(get(1, 2) === 1, 'get() should return 1');
+        test(get(0, 2) === 0, 'get() should return 0');
+        test(get(undefined, {foo:'bar'}).foo === 'bar', 'get() should return bar');
+    }
+};