      */
     public function set blendMode(value:String):void
     {
-        if (_blendMode == value)
+        if (blendModeExplicitlySet && _blendMode == value)
             return;
 
         var oldValue:String = _blendMode;
         _blendMode = value;
         dispatchPropertyChangeEvent("blendMode", oldValue, value);
+
+		blendModeExplicitlySet = true;
 
         blendModeChanged = true;
         notifyElementLayerChanged();

     *  @private
     */
    private var blendModeChanged:Boolean;

    [Bindable("propertyChange")]
    [Inspectable(category="General", enumeration="add,alpha,darken,difference,erase,hardlight,invert,layer,lighten,multiply,normal,subtract,screen,overlay", defaultValue="normal")]

     */
    public function get blendMode():String
    {
    	if (blendModeExplicitlySet)
        	return _blendMode;
        else return BlendMode.LAYER;
    }

    /**
