diff --git a/src/containers/select-mode.jsx b/src/containers/select-mode.jsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9cabc75e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/containers/select-mode.jsx
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
+import React from 'react';
+import {connect} from 'react-redux';
+import bindAll from 'lodash.bindall';
+import Modes from '../modes/modes';
+import {clearSelection} from '../reducers/selection';
+import {setHoveredItem} from '../reducers/hover';
+import {getHoveredItem} from '../helper/hover';
+import {changeMode} from '../reducers/modes';
+import SelectModeComponent from '../components/select-mode.jsx';
+import paper from 'paper';
+
+class SelectMode extends React.Component {
+    static get TOLERANCE () {
+        return 6;
+    }
+    constructor (props) {
+        super(props);
+        bindAll(this, [
+            'activateTool',
+            'deactivateTool',
+            'getHitOptions',
+            'preProcessSelection',
+            'onMouseDown',
+            'onMouseMove',
+            'onMouseDrag',
+            'onMouseUp'
+        ]);
+        this._hitOptions = {
+            segments: true,
+            stroke: true,
+            curves: true,
+            fill: true,
+            guide: false
+        };
+
+    }
+    componentDidMount () {
+        if (this.props.isSelectModeActive) {
+            this.activateTool(this.props);
+        }
+    }
+    componentWillReceiveProps (nextProps) {
+        if (nextProps.isSelectModeActive && !this.props.isSelectModeActive) {
+            this.activateTool();
+        } else if (!nextProps.isSelectModeActive && this.props.isSelectModeActive) {
+            this.deactivateTool();
+        }
+    }
+    shouldComponentUpdate () {
+        return false; // Static component, for now
+    }
+    getHitOptions () {
+        this._hitOptions.tolerance = SelectMode.TOLERANCE / paper.view.zoom;
+        return this._hitOptions;
+    }
+    activateTool () {
+        clearSelection();
+        this.preProcessSelection();
+        this.tool = new paper.Tool();
+
+
+        this.tool.onMouseDown = function (event) {
+            this.onMouseDown(event);
+        };
+
+        this.tool.onMouseMove = function (event) {
+            this.props.setHoveredItem(getHoveredItem(this.getHitOptions()));
+        };
+
+        
+        this.tool.onMouseDrag = function (event) {
+            this.onMouseDrag(event);
+        };
+
+        this.tool.onMouseUp = function (event) {
+            this.onMouseUp(event);
+        };
+        this.tool.activate();
+    }
+    preProcessSelection () {
+        // when switching to the select tool while having a child object of a
+        // compound path selected, deselect the child and select the compound path
+        // instead. (otherwise the compound path breaks because of scale-grouping)
+        const items = this.props.selectedItems;
+        for (let item of items) {
+            if(isCompoundPathChild(item)) {
+                var cp = getItemsCompoundPath(item);
+                setItemSelection(item, false);
+                setItemSelection(cp, true);
+            }
+        };
+    };
+    deactivateTool () {
+        this.props.setHoveredItem();
+        this.tool.remove();
+        this.tool = null;
+        this.hitResult = null;
+    }
+    render () {
+        return (
+            <SelectModeComponent onMouseDown={this.props.handleMouseDown} />
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+SelectMode.propTypes = {
+    handleMouseDown: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
+    isSelectModeActive: PropTypes.bool.isRequired,
+    onUpdateSvg: PropTypes.func.isRequired
+};
+
+const mapStateToProps = state => ({
+    isSelectModeActive: state.scratchPaint.mode === Modes.SELECT
+});
+const mapDispatchToProps = dispatch => ({
+    setHoveredItem: hoveredItem => {
+        dispatch(setHoveredItem(hoveredItem));
+    },
+    handleMouseDown: () => {
+        dispatch(changeMode(Modes.SELECT));
+    }
+});
+
+export default connect(
+    mapStateToProps,
+    mapDispatchToProps
+)(SelectMode);
diff --git a/src/helper/bounding-box-tool.js b/src/helper/bounding-box-tool.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4479b4a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/helper/bounding-box-tool.js
@@ -0,0 +1,326 @@
+import paper from 'paper';
+
+var mode = 'none';
+var selectionRect;
+
+var itemGroup;
+var pivot;
+var corner;
+var origPivot;
+var origSize;
+var origCenter;
+var scaleItems;
+var scaleItemsInsertBelow;
+
+var rotItems = [];
+var rotGroupPivot;
+var prevRot = [];
+
+class BoundingBoxTool extends paper.Tool {
+    onMouseDown: If BoundingBoxTool got a hit result, switch to bounding box tool as the primary tool.
+    Else switch to the default tool.
+
+    Where should the move tool be handled? Might make sense on bounding box tool since whenever the bounding
+    box is active, move is possible
+
+    Shift button handling? If you shift click, bounding box tool wants to add it to the selection. But shape tools
+    probably don't.
+        - If shift is held down during mouse click, don't switch to the bounding box tool even if it gets a hit?
+        Then we can decide how to deal with it differently for different modes.
+
+    Alt button handling?
+        - Same as shift?
+
+
+
+
+    onMouseDown (event) {
+        if(event.event.button > 0) return;  // only first mouse button
+        clearHoveredItem();
+        
+        const hitResults = paper.project.hitTestAll(event.point, this.getHitOptions());
+        // Prefer scale to trigger over rotate, since their regions overlap
+        if (hitResults && hitResults.length > 0) {
+            let hitResult = hitResults[0];
+            for (let i = 0; i < hitResults.length; i++) {
+                if (hitResults[i].item.data && hitResults[i].item.data.isScaleHandle) {
+                    hitResult = hitResults[i];
+                    this.mode = 'scale';
+                    break;
+                } else if (hitResults[i].item.data && hitResults[i].item.data.isRotHandle) {
+                    hitResult = hitResults[i];
+                    this.mode = 'rotate';
+                }
+            }
+            if (mode === 'rotate') {
+                rotGroupPivot = boundsPath.bounds.center;
+                rotItems = pg.selection.getSelectedItems();
+                
+                jQuery.each(rotItems, function(i, item) {
+                    prevRot[i] = (event.point - rotGroupPivot).angle;
+                });
+            } else if (mode === 'scale') {
+                var index = hitResult.item.data.index;                  
+                pivot = boundsPath.bounds[getOpposingRectCornerNameByIndex(index)].clone();
+                origPivot = boundsPath.bounds[getOpposingRectCornerNameByIndex(index)].clone();
+                corner = boundsPath.bounds[getRectCornerNameByIndex(index)].clone();
+                origSize = corner.subtract(pivot);
+                origCenter = boundsPath.bounds.center;
+                scaleItems = pg.selection.getSelectedItems();
+            } 
+            else { // Move mode
+                // deselect all by default if the shift key isn't pressed
+                // also needs some special love for compound paths and groups,
+                // as their children are not marked as "selected"
+                // deselect a currently selected item if shift is pressed
+                var root = pg.item.getRootItem(hitResult.item);
+                if(pg.item.isCompoundPathItem(root) || pg.group.isGroup(root)) {
+                    if(!root.selected) {
+                        if (!event.modifiers.shift) {
+                            pg.selection.clearSelection()
+                        }
+                        root.selected = true;
+                        for (var i = 0; i < root.children.length; i++) {
+                            root.children[i].selected = true;
+                        }
+                        jQuery(document).trigger('SelectionChanged');
+                        if(event.modifiers.alt) {
+                            mode = 'cloneMove';
+                            pg.selection.cloneSelection();
+
+                        } else {
+                            mode = 'move';
+                        }
+                    } else {
+                        if (event.modifiers.shift) {
+                            root.selected = false;
+                            for (var i = 0; i < root.children.length; i++) {
+                                root.children[i].selected = false;
+                            }
+                        } else {
+                            if(event.modifiers.alt) {
+                                mode = 'cloneMove';
+                                pg.selection.cloneSelection();
+
+                            } else {
+                                mode = 'move';
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                } else if(hitResult.item.selected) {
+                    if (event.modifiers.shift) {
+                        pg.selection.setItemSelection(hitResult.item, false);
+                    } else {
+                        if(event.modifiers.alt) {
+                            mode = 'cloneMove';
+                            pg.selection.cloneSelection();
+
+                        } else {
+                            mode = 'move';
+                        }
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    if (!event.modifiers.shift) {
+                        pg.selection.clearSelection()
+                    }
+                    pg.selection.setItemSelection(hitResult.item, true);
+
+                    if(event.modifiers.alt) {
+                        mode = 'cloneMove';
+                        pg.selection.cloneSelection();
+
+                    } else {
+                        mode = 'move';
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            // while transforming object, never show the bounds stuff
+            removeBoundsPath();
+        } else {
+            if (!event.modifiers.shift) {
+                removeBoundsPath();
+                pg.selection.clearSelection();
+            }
+            mode = 'rectSelection';
+        }
+    }
+    onMouseDrag (event) {
+        if(event.event.button > 0) return; // only first mouse button
+        
+        var modOrigSize = origSize;
+        
+        if(mode == 'rectSelection') {
+            selectionRect = pg.guides.rectSelect(event);
+            // Remove this rect on the next drag and up event
+            selectionRect.removeOnDrag();
+
+        } else if(mode == 'scale') {
+            // get index of scale items
+            var items = paper.project.getItems({
+                'match': function(item) {
+                    if (item instanceof Layer) {
+                        return false;
+                    }
+                    for (var i = 0; i < scaleItems.length; i++) {
+                        if (!scaleItems[i].isBelow(item)) {
+                            return false;
+                        }
+                    }
+                    return true;
+                }
+            });
+            if (items.length > 0) {
+                // Lowest item above all scale items in z index
+                scaleItemsInsertBelow = items[0];
+            }
+
+            itemGroup = new paper.Group(scaleItems);
+            itemGroup.insertBelow(scaleItemsInsertBelow);
+            itemGroup.addChild(boundsPath);
+            itemGroup.data.isHelperItem = true;
+            itemGroup.strokeScaling = false;
+            itemGroup.applyMatrix = false;
+
+            if (event.modifiers.alt) {
+                pivot = origCenter;
+                modOrigSize = origSize*0.5;
+            } else {
+                pivot = origPivot; 
+            }
+
+            corner = corner.add(event.delta);
+            var size = corner.subtract(pivot);
+            var sx = 1.0, sy = 1.0;
+            if (Math.abs(modOrigSize.x) > 0.0000001) {
+                sx = size.x / modOrigSize.x;
+            }
+            if (Math.abs(modOrigSize.y) > 0.0000001) {
+                sy = size.y / modOrigSize.y;
+            }
+
+            if (event.modifiers.shift) {
+                var signx = sx > 0 ? 1 : -1;
+                var signy = sy > 0 ? 1 : -1;
+                sx = sy = Math.max(Math.abs(sx), Math.abs(sy));
+                sx *= signx;
+                sy *= signy;
+            }
+
+            itemGroup.scale(sx, sy, pivot);
+            
+            jQuery.each(boundsScaleHandles, function(index, handle) {
+                handle.position = itemGroup.bounds[getRectCornerNameByIndex(index)];
+                handle.bringToFront();
+            });
+            
+            jQuery.each(boundsRotHandles, function(index, handle) {
+                if(handle) {
+                    handle.position = itemGroup.bounds[getRectCornerNameByIndex(index)]+handle.data.offset;
+                    handle.bringToFront();
+                }
+            });
+            
+        } else if(mode == 'rotate') {
+            var rotAngle = (event.point - rotGroupPivot).angle;
+            
+            jQuery.each(rotItems, function(i, item) {
+                
+                if(!item.data.origRot) {
+                    item.data.origRot = item.rotation;
+                }
+                
+                if(event.modifiers.shift) {
+                    rotAngle = Math.round(rotAngle / 45) *45;
+                    item.applyMatrix = false;
+                    item.pivot = rotGroupPivot;
+                    item.rotation = rotAngle;
+                    
+                } else {
+                    item.rotate(rotAngle - prevRot[i], rotGroupPivot);
+                }
+                prevRot[i] = rotAngle;
+            });
+            
+        } else if(mode == 'move' || mode == 'cloneMove') {
+            
+            var dragVector = (event.point - event.downPoint);
+            var selectedItems = pg.selection.getSelectedItems();
+
+            for(var i=0; i<selectedItems.length; i++) {
+                var item = selectedItems[i];
+                // add the position of the item before the drag started
+                // for later use in the snap calculation
+                if(!item.data.origPos) {
+                    item.data.origPos = item.position;
+                }
+
+                if (event.modifiers.shift) {
+                    item.position = item.data.origPos + 
+                    pg.math.snapDeltaToAngle(dragVector, Math.PI*2/8);
+
+                } else {
+                    item.position += event.delta;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    onMouseUp (event) {
+        if(event.event.button > 0) return; // only first mouse button
+        
+        if(mode == 'rectSelection' && selectionRect) {
+            pg.selection.processRectangularSelection(event, selectionRect);
+            selectionRect.remove();
+            
+        } else if(mode == 'move' || mode == 'cloneMove') {
+            
+            // resetting the items origin point for the next usage
+            var selectedItems = pg.selection.getSelectedItems();
+
+            jQuery.each(selectedItems, function(index, item) {
+                // remove the orig pos again
+                item.data.origPos = null;           
+            });
+            pg.undo.snapshot('moveSelection');
+            
+        } else if(mode == 'scale') {
+            if (itemGroup) {
+                itemGroup.applyMatrix = true;
+                
+                // mark text items as scaled (for later use on font size calc)
+                for(var i=0; i<itemGroup.children.length; i++) {
+                    var child = itemGroup.children[i];
+                    if(child.data.isPGTextItem) {
+                        child.data.wasScaled = true;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                if (scaleItemsInsertBelow) {
+                    // No increment step because itemGroup.children is getting depleted
+                    for (var i = 0; i < itemGroup.children.length;) {
+                        itemGroup.children[i].insertBelow(scaleItemsInsertBelow);
+                    }
+                    scaleItemsInsertBelow = null;
+                } else if (itemGroup.layer) {
+                    itemGroup.layer.addChildren(itemGroup.children);
+                }
+                itemGroup.remove();
+                pg.undo.snapshot('scaleSelection');
+            }
+            
+        } else if(mode == 'rotate') {
+            jQuery.each(rotItems, function(i, item) {
+                item.applyMatrix = true;
+            });
+            pg.undo.snapshot('rotateSelection');
+        }
+        
+        mode = 'none';
+        selectionRect = null;
+        
+        if(pg.selection.getSelectedItems().length <= 0) {
+            removeBoundsPath();
+        } else {
+            setSelectionBounds();
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/helper/compoundPath.js b/src/helper/compoundPath.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..21152ef7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/helper/compoundPath.js
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+
+
+pg.compoundPath = function() {
+	
+	
+	var isCompoundPath = function(item) {
+		return item && item.className === 'CompoundPath';
+	};
+	
+	var isCompoundPathChild = function(item) {
+		if(item.parent) {
+			return item.parent.className === 'CompoundPath';
+		} else {
+			return false;
+		}
+	};
+	
+	
+	var getItemsCompoundPath = function(item) {
+		var itemParent = item.parent;
+
+		if(isCompoundPath(itemParent)) {
+			return itemParent;
+		} else {
+			return null;
+		}
+		
+	};
+	
+	
+	var createFromSelection = function() {
+		var items = pg.selection.getSelectedPaths();
+		if(items.length < 2) return;
+		
+		var path = new paper.CompoundPath({fillRule: 'evenodd'});
+		
+		for(var i=0; i<items.length; i++) {
+			path.addChild(items[i]);
+			items[i].selected = false;
+		}
+		
+		path = pg.stylebar.applyActiveToolbarStyle(path);
+		
+		pg.selection.setItemSelection(path, true);
+		pg.undo.snapshot('createCompoundPathFromSelection');
+	};
+	
+	
+	var releaseSelection = function() {
+		var items = pg.selection.getSelectedItems();
+		
+		var cPathsToDelete = [];
+		for(var i=0; i<items.length; i++) {
+			var item = items[i];
+			
+			if(isCompoundPath(item)) {
+				
+				for(var j=0; j<item.children.length; j++) {
+					var path = item.children[j];
+					path.parent = item.layer;
+					pg.selection.setItemSelection(path, true);
+					j--;
+				}
+				cPathsToDelete.push(item);
+				pg.selection.setItemSelection(item, false);
+				
+			} else {
+				items[i].parent = item.layer;
+			}
+		}
+		
+		for(var j=0; j<cPathsToDelete.length; j++) {
+			cPathsToDelete[j].remove();
+		}
+		pg.undo.snapshot('releaseCompoundPath');
+	};
+	
+	
+	return {
+		isCompoundPath: isCompoundPath,
+		isCompoundPathChild: isCompoundPathChild,
+		getItemsCompoundPath: getItemsCompoundPath,
+		createFromSelection: createFromSelection,
+		releaseSelection: releaseSelection
+	};
+}();
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/helper/group.js b/src/helper/group.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b3fc9018
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/helper/group.js
@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+// function related to groups and grouping
+
+pg.group = function() {
+
+	var groupSelection = function() {
+		var items = pg.selection.getSelectedItems();
+		if(items.length > 0) {
+			var group = new paper.Group(items);
+			pg.selection.clearSelection();
+			pg.selection.setItemSelection(group, true);
+			for (var i = 0; i < group.children.length; i++) {
+				group.children[i].selected = true;
+			}
+			pg.undo.snapshot('groupSelection');
+			jQuery(document).trigger('Grouped');
+			return group;
+		} else {
+			return false;
+		}
+	};
+	
+	
+	var ungroupSelection = function() {
+		var items = pg.selection.getSelectedItems();
+		ungroupItems(items);
+		pg.statusbar.update();
+	};
+	
+	
+	var groupItems = function(items) {
+		if(items.length > 0) {
+			var group = new paper.Group(items);
+			jQuery(document).trigger('Grouped');
+			pg.undo.snapshot('groupItems');
+			return group;
+		} else {
+			return false;
+		}
+	};
+
+
+	// ungroup items (only top hierarchy)
+	var ungroupItems = function(items) {
+		pg.selection.clearSelection();
+		var emptyGroups = [];
+		for(var i=0; i<items.length; i++) {
+			var item = items[i];
+			if(isGroup(item) && !item.data.isPGTextItem) {
+				ungroupLoop(item, false /* recursive */);
+
+				if(!item.hasChildren()) {
+					emptyGroups.push(item);
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		// remove all empty groups after ungrouping
+		for(var j=0; j<emptyGroups.length; j++) {
+			emptyGroups[j].remove();
+		}
+		jQuery(document).trigger('Ungrouped');
+		pg.undo.snapshot('ungroupItems');
+	};
+
+
+	var ungroupLoop = function(group, recursive) {
+		// don't ungroup items that are not groups
+		if(!group || !group.children || !isGroup(group)) return;
+				
+		group.applyMatrix = true;
+		// iterate over group children recursively
+		for(var i=0; i<group.children.length; i++) {
+			var groupChild = group.children[i];
+			if(groupChild.hasChildren()) {
+				// recursion (groups can contain groups, ie. from SVG import)
+				if(recursive) {
+					ungroupLoop(groupChild, true /* recursive */);
+					continue;
+				}
+			}
+			groupChild.applyMatrix = true;
+			// move items from the group to the activeLayer (ungrouping)
+			groupChild.insertBelow(group);
+			groupChild.selected = true;
+			i--;
+		}
+	};
+
+
+	var getItemsGroup = function(item) {
+		var itemParent = item.parent;
+
+		if(isGroup(itemParent)) {
+			return itemParent;
+		} else {
+			return null;
+		}
+	};
+
+
+	var isGroup = function(item) {
+		return pg.item.isGroupItem(item);
+	};
+	
+	
+	var isGroupChild = function(item) {
+		var rootItem = pg.item.getRootItem(item);
+		return isGroup(rootItem);
+	};
+
+	var shouldShowGroup = function() {
+		var items = pg.selection.getSelectedItems();
+		return items.length > 1;
+	};
+	
+	var shouldShowUngroup = function() {
+		var items = pg.selection.getSelectedItems();
+		for(var i=0; i<items.length; i++) {
+			var item = items[i];
+			if(isGroup(item) && !item.data.isPGTextItem && item.children && item.children.length > 0) {
+				return true;
+			}
+		}
+		return false;
+	};
+
+	return {
+		groupSelection: groupSelection,
+		ungroupSelection: ungroupSelection,
+		groupItems: groupItems,
+		ungroupItems: ungroupItems,
+		getItemsGroup: getItemsGroup,
+		isGroup: isGroup,
+		isGroupChild:isGroupChild,
+		shouldShowGroup:shouldShowGroup,
+		shouldShowUngroup:shouldShowUngroup
+	};
+
+}();
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/helper/guides.js b/src/helper/guides.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..58d24fd4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/helper/guides.js
@@ -0,0 +1,184 @@
+// functions related to guide items
+
+pg.guides = function() {
+	
+	var guideBlue = '#009dec';
+	var guideGrey = '#aaaaaa';
+	
+	var hoverItem = function(hitResult) {
+		var segments = hitResult.item.segments;
+		var clone = new paper.Path(segments);
+		setDefaultGuideStyle(clone);
+		if(hitResult.item.closed) {
+			clone.closed = true;
+		}
+		clone.parent = pg.layer.getGuideLayer();
+		clone.strokeColor = guideBlue;
+		clone.fillColor = null;
+		clone.data.isHelperItem = true;
+		clone.bringToFront();
+
+		return clone;
+	};
+	
+	
+	var hoverBounds = function(item) {
+		var rect = new paper.Path.Rectangle(item.internalBounds);
+		rect.matrix = item.matrix;
+		setDefaultGuideStyle(rect);
+		rect.parent = pg.layer.getGuideLayer();
+		rect.strokeColor = guideBlue;
+		rect.fillColor = null;
+		rect.data.isHelperItem = true;
+		rect.bringToFront();
+
+		return rect;
+	};
+	
+	
+	var rectSelect = function(event, color) {
+		var half = new paper.Point(0.5 / paper.view.zoom, 0.5 / paper.view.zoom);
+		var start = event.downPoint.add(half);
+		var end = event.point.add(half);
+		var rect = new paper.Path.Rectangle(start, end);
+		var zoom = 1.0/paper.view.zoom;
+		setDefaultGuideStyle(rect);
+		if(!color) color = guideGrey;
+		rect.parent = pg.layer.getGuideLayer();
+		rect.strokeColor = color;
+		rect.data.isRectSelect = true;
+		rect.data.isHelperItem = true;
+		rect.dashArray = [3.0*zoom, 3.0*zoom];
+		return rect;
+	};
+	
+	
+	var line = function(from, to, color) {
+		var line = new paper.Path.Line(from, to);
+		var zoom = 1/paper.view.zoom;
+		setDefaultGuideStyle(line);
+		if (!color) color = guideGrey;
+		line.parent = pg.layer.getGuideLayer();
+		line.strokeColor = color;
+		line.strokeColor = color;
+		line.dashArray = [5*zoom, 5*zoom];
+		line.data.isHelperItem = true;
+		return line;
+	};
+
+
+	var crossPivot = function(center, color) {
+		var zoom = 1/paper.view.zoom;
+		var star = new paper.Path.Star(center, 4, 4*zoom, 0.5*zoom);
+		setDefaultGuideStyle(star);
+		if(!color) color = guideBlue;
+		star.parent = pg.layer.getGuideLayer();
+		star.fillColor = color;
+		star.strokeColor = color;
+		star.strokeWidth = 0.5*zoom;
+		star.data.isHelperItem = true;
+		star.rotate(45);
+
+		return star;
+	};
+	
+	
+	var rotPivot = function(center, color) {
+		var zoom = 1/paper.view.zoom;
+		var path = new paper.Path.Circle(center, 3*zoom);
+		setDefaultGuideStyle(path);
+		if(!color) color = guideBlue;
+		path.parent = pg.layer.getGuideLayer();
+		path.fillColor = color;
+		path.data.isHelperItem = true;
+
+		return path;
+	};
+	
+	
+	var label = function(pos, content, color) {
+		var text = new paper.PointText(pos);
+		if(!color) color = guideGrey;
+		text.parent = pg.layer.getGuideLayer();
+		text.fillColor = color;
+		text.content = content;
+	};
+	
+	
+	var setDefaultGuideStyle = function(item) {
+		item.strokeWidth = 1/paper.view.zoom;
+		item.opacity = 1;
+		item.blendMode = 'normal';
+		item.guide = true;
+	};
+	
+	
+	var getGuideColor = function(colorName) {
+		if(colorName == 'blue') {
+			return guideBlue;
+		} else if(colorName == 'grey') {
+			return guideGrey;
+		}
+	};
+	
+	
+	var getAllGuides = function() {
+		var allItems = [];
+		for(var i=0; i<paper.project.layers.length; i++) {
+			var layer = paper.project.layers[i];
+			for(var j=0; j<layer.children.length; j++) {
+				var child = layer.children[j];
+				// only give guides
+				if(!child.guide) {
+					continue;
+				}
+				allItems.push(child);
+			}
+		}
+		return allItems;
+	};
+	
+	
+	var getExportRectGuide = function() {
+		var guides = getAllGuides();
+		for(var i=0; i<guides.length; i++){
+			if(guides[i].data && guides[i].data.isExportRect) {
+				return guides[i];
+			}
+		}
+	};
+	
+	
+	var removeHelperItems = function() {
+		pg.helper.removePaperItemsByDataTags(['isHelperItem']);
+	};
+	
+	
+	var removeAllGuides = function() {
+		pg.helper.removePaperItemsByTags(['guide']);
+	};
+	
+	
+	var removeExportRectGuide = function() {
+		pg.helper.removePaperItemsByDataTags(['isExportRect']);
+	};
+	
+	
+	return {
+		hoverItem: hoverItem,
+		hoverBounds: hoverBounds,
+		rectSelect: rectSelect,
+		line: line,
+		crossPivot: crossPivot,
+		rotPivot: rotPivot,
+		label: label,
+		removeAllGuides: removeAllGuides,
+		removeHelperItems: removeHelperItems,
+		removeExportRectGuide: removeExportRectGuide,
+		getAllGuides: getAllGuides,
+		getExportRectGuide: getExportRectGuide,
+		getGuideColor: getGuideColor,
+		setDefaultGuideStyle:setDefaultGuideStyle
+	};
+
+}();
diff --git a/src/helper/hover.js b/src/helper/hover.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..06c6f378
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/helper/hover.js
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+import paper from 'paper';
+
+const CLEAR_HOVERED_ITEM = 'scratch-paint/hover/CLEAR_HOVERED_ITEM';
+/**
+ * @param hitOptions hit options to use
+ * @param event mouse event
+ * @return the hovered item or null if there is none
+ */
+const getHoveredItem = function (hitOptions, event) {
+    const hitResults = paper.project.hitTestAll(event.point, hitOptions);
+    if (hitResults.length === 0) {
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    let hitResult;
+    for (const result of hitResults) {
+        if (!(result.item.data && result.item.data.noHover) && !hitResult.item.selected) {
+            hitResult = result;
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+    if (!hitResult) {
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    if (pg.item.isBoundsItem(hitResult.item)) {
+        return pg.guides.hoverBounds(hitResult.item);
+
+    } else if(pg.group.isGroupChild(hitResult.item)) {
+        return pg.guides.hoverBounds(pg.item.getRootItem(hitResult.item));
+        
+    } else {
+        return pg.guides.hoverItem(hitResult);
+    }
+};
+
+
+// Action creators ==================================
+const clearHoveredItem = function () {
+    return {
+        type: CLEAR_HOVERED_ITEM
+    };
+    // TODO: paper.view.update();
+};
+
+
+export {
+    getHoveredItem,
+    clearHoveredItem
+};