diff --git a/dist/kinetic-core.js b/dist/kinetic-core.js
index f4a344a5..c6389bb9 100644
--- a/dist/kinetic-core.js
+++ b/dist/kinetic-core.js
@@ -2089,8 +2089,15 @@ Kinetic.GlobalObject.extend(Kinetic.Stage, Kinetic.Node);
  * @param {Object} config
  */
 Kinetic.Layer = function(config) {
+    // default attrs
+    if(this.attrs === undefined) {
+        this.attrs = {};
+    }
+    this.attrs.throttle = 12;
+
     this.nodeType = 'Layer';
-    
+    this.lastDrawTime = 0;
+
     this.canvas = document.createElement('canvas');
     this.context = this.canvas.getContext('2d');
     this.canvas.style.position = 'absolute';
@@ -2108,7 +2115,28 @@ Kinetic.Layer.prototype = {
      *  or shapes
      */
     draw: function() {
-        this._draw();
+        var throttle = this.attrs.throttle;
+        var date = new Date();
+        var time = date.getTime();
+        var timeDiff = time - this.lastDrawTime;
+
+        if(timeDiff >= throttle) {
+            this._draw();
+            this.lastDrawTime = time;
+        }
+    },
+    /**
+     * set throttle
+     * @param {Number} throttle in ms
+     */
+    setThrottle: function(throttle) {
+    	this.attrs.throttle = throttle;
+    },
+    /**
+     * get throttle
+     */
+    getThrottle: function() {
+    	return this.attrs.throttle;
     },
     /**
      * clears the canvas context tied to the layer.  Clearing
diff --git a/src/Layer.js b/src/Layer.js
index 5b82b200..040cf0ae 100644
--- a/src/Layer.js
+++ b/src/Layer.js
@@ -10,8 +10,15 @@
  * @param {Object} config
  */
 Kinetic.Layer = function(config) {
+    // default attrs
+    if(this.attrs === undefined) {
+        this.attrs = {};
+    }
+    this.attrs.throttle = 12;
+
     this.nodeType = 'Layer';
-    
+    this.lastDrawTime = 0;
+
     this.canvas = document.createElement('canvas');
     this.context = this.canvas.getContext('2d');
     this.canvas.style.position = 'absolute';
@@ -29,7 +36,28 @@ Kinetic.Layer.prototype = {
      *  or shapes
      */
     draw: function() {
-        this._draw();
+        var throttle = this.attrs.throttle;
+        var date = new Date();
+        var time = date.getTime();
+        var timeDiff = time - this.lastDrawTime;
+
+        if(timeDiff >= throttle) {
+            this._draw();
+            this.lastDrawTime = time;
+        }
+    },
+    /**
+     * set throttle
+     * @param {Number} throttle in ms
+     */
+    setThrottle: function(throttle) {
+    	this.attrs.throttle = throttle;
+    },
+    /**
+     * get throttle
+     */
+    getThrottle: function() {
+    	return this.attrs.throttle;
     },
     /**
      * clears the canvas context tied to the layer.  Clearing
diff --git a/tests/js/functionalTests.js b/tests/js/functionalTests.js
index 5c1aeee8..9a8d6a7b 100644
--- a/tests/js/functionalTests.js
+++ b/tests/js/functionalTests.js
@@ -193,7 +193,9 @@ Test.prototype.tests = {
             width: 578,
             height: 200
         });
-        var layer = new Kinetic.Layer();
+        var layer = new Kinetic.Layer({
+            throttle: 100
+        });
         var rect = new Kinetic.Rect({
             x: 200,
             y: 100,
@@ -1225,7 +1227,9 @@ Test.prototype.tests = {
             width: 578,
             height: 200
         });
-        var layer = new Kinetic.Layer();
+        var layer = new Kinetic.Layer({
+            throttle: 12
+        });
         var circle = new Kinetic.Circle({
             x: stage.getWidth() / 2,
             y: stage.getHeight() / 2,
diff --git a/tests/js/unitTests.js b/tests/js/unitTests.js
index 9005160d..f5dabeca 100644
--- a/tests/js/unitTests.js
+++ b/tests/js/unitTests.js
@@ -88,9 +88,7 @@ Test.prototype.tests = {
         group.add(circle);
         layer.draw();
 
-        //console.log(stage.toJSON())
-
-        var expectedJson = '{"attrs":{"width":578,"height":200,"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Stage","children":[{"attrs":{"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Layer","children":[{"attrs":{"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Group","children":[{"attrs":{"radius":70,"fill":"green","stroke":"black","strokeWidth":4,"detectionType":"path","visible":true,"listening":true,"name":"myCircle","alpha":1,"x":289,"y":100,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":true},"nodeType":"Shape","shapeType":"Circle"}]}]}]}';
+        var expectedJson = '{"attrs":{"width":578,"height":200,"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Stage","children":[{"attrs":{"throttle":12,"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Layer","children":[{"attrs":{"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Group","children":[{"attrs":{"radius":70,"fill":"green","stroke":"black","strokeWidth":4,"detectionType":"path","visible":true,"listening":true,"name":"myCircle","alpha":1,"x":289,"y":100,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":true},"nodeType":"Shape","shapeType":"Circle"}]}]}]}';
         test(stage.toJSON() === expectedJson, 'problem with serialization');
     },
     'STAGE - test getAttrs()': function(containerId) {
@@ -144,7 +142,7 @@ Test.prototype.tests = {
             height: 200
         });
 
-        var json = '{"attrs":{"width":578,"height":200,"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Stage","children":[{"attrs":{"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Layer","children":[{"attrs":{"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Group","children":[{"attrs":{"radius":70,"fill":"green","stroke":"black","strokeWidth":4,"detectionType":"path","visible":true,"listening":true,"name":"myCircle","alpha":1,"x":289,"y":100,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":true},"nodeType":"Shape","shapeType":"Circle"}]}]}]}';
+        var json = '{"attrs":{"width":578,"height":200,"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Stage","children":[{"attrs":{"throttle":12,"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Layer","children":[{"attrs":{"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Group","children":[{"attrs":{"radius":70,"fill":"green","stroke":"black","strokeWidth":4,"detectionType":"path","visible":true,"listening":true,"name":"myCircle","alpha":1,"x":289,"y":100,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":true},"nodeType":"Shape","shapeType":"Circle"}]}]}]}';
         stage.load(json);
 
         test(stage.toJSON() === json, "serialized stage is incorrect");
@@ -180,7 +178,7 @@ Test.prototype.tests = {
         group.add(triangle);
         layer.draw();
 
-        var expectedJson = '{"attrs":{"width":578,"height":200,"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Stage","children":[{"attrs":{"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Layer","children":[{"attrs":{"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Group","children":[{"attrs":{"fill":"#00D2FF","stroke":"black","strokeWidth":4,"detectionType":"path","visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false,"id":"myTriangle"},"nodeType":"Shape"}]}]}]}';
+        var expectedJson = '{"attrs":{"width":578,"height":200,"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Stage","children":[{"attrs":{"throttle":12,"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Layer","children":[{"attrs":{"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Group","children":[{"attrs":{"fill":"#00D2FF","stroke":"black","strokeWidth":4,"detectionType":"path","visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false,"id":"myTriangle"},"nodeType":"Shape"}]}]}]}';
         test(stage.toJSON() === expectedJson, "problem with serialization");
     },
     'STAGE - load stage with custom shape using json': function(containerId) {
@@ -199,7 +197,7 @@ Test.prototype.tests = {
             context.closePath();
             this.fillStroke();
         };
-        var json = '{"attrs":{"width":578,"height":200,"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Stage","children":[{"attrs":{"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Layer","children":[{"attrs":{"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Group","children":[{"attrs":{"fill":"#00D2FF","stroke":"black","strokeWidth":4,"detectionType":"path","visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false,"id":"myTriangle"},"nodeType":"Shape"}]}]}]}';
+        var json = '{"attrs":{"width":578,"height":200,"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Stage","children":[{"attrs":{"throttle":12,"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Layer","children":[{"attrs":{"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Group","children":[{"attrs":{"fill":"#00D2FF","stroke":"black","strokeWidth":4,"detectionType":"path","visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false,"id":"myTriangle"},"nodeType":"Shape"}]}]}]}';
         stage.load(json);
 
         var customShape = stage.get('#myTriangle')[0];
@@ -832,7 +830,8 @@ Test.prototype.tests = {
             stage.add(layer);
 
             var json = stage.toJSON();
-            test(json === '{"attrs":{"width":578,"height":200,"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Stage","children":[{"attrs":{"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Layer","children":[{"attrs":{"crop":{"x":0,"y":0},"detectionType":"path","visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":200,"y":60,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":50,"y":150},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false,"id":"darth"},"nodeType":"Shape","shapeType":"Image"}]}]}', 'problem serializing stage');
+
+            test(json === '{"attrs":{"width":578,"height":200,"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Stage","children":[{"attrs":{"throttle":12,"visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":0,"y":0,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":0,"y":0},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false},"nodeType":"Layer","children":[{"attrs":{"crop":{"x":0,"y":0},"detectionType":"path","visible":true,"listening":true,"alpha":1,"x":200,"y":60,"scale":{"x":1,"y":1},"rotation":0,"centerOffset":{"x":50,"y":150},"dragConstraint":"none","dragBounds":{},"draggable":false,"id":"darth"},"nodeType":"Shape","shapeType":"Image"}]}]}');
         };
         imageObj.src = '../darth-vader.jpg';
     },