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

     *  @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 set blendMode(value:String):void
    {
        if (blendModeExplicitlySet && _blendMode == value)
            return;

        var oldValue:String = _blendMode;
        _blendMode = value;
        dispatchPropertyChangeEvent("blendMode", oldValue, value);

		blendModeExplicitlySet = true;

        blendModeChanged = true;
        notifyElementLayerChanged();
