diff --git a/extensions/fablabchemnitz_primitive.inx b/extensions/fablabchemnitz_primitive.inx
index 0d95169b..a5c0533c 100644
--- a/extensions/fablabchemnitz_primitive.inx
+++ b/extensions/fablabchemnitz_primitive.inx
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
     <label appearance="header">Settings</label>
     <separator/>
     <param name="keeporiginal" type="bool" gui-text="Keep original image on canvas">false</param>
+    <param name="cliprect" type="bool" gui-text="Draw clipping rectangle">true</param>
     <param name="n" type="int" min="0" max="99999" gui-text="Number of shapes">100</param>
     <param name="m" appearance="combo" type="optiongroup" default="1" gui-text="Mode"> 
         <option value="0">Combo</option>
diff --git a/extensions/fablabchemnitz_primitive/fablabchemnitz_primitive.py b/extensions/fablabchemnitz_primitive/fablabchemnitz_primitive.py
index 676d4130..120c1336 100644
--- a/extensions/fablabchemnitz_primitive/fablabchemnitz_primitive.py
+++ b/extensions/fablabchemnitz_primitive/fablabchemnitz_primitive.py
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ class Primitive (inkex.Effect):
     def __init__(self):
         inkex.Effect.__init__(self)
         self.arg_parser.add_argument("--keeporiginal", type=inkex.Boolean, default=False, help="Keep original image on canvas")
+        self.arg_parser.add_argument("--cliprect", type=inkex.Boolean, default=True, help="Draw clipping rectangle")
         self.arg_parser.add_argument("--n", type=int, default=100, help="Number of shapes")
         self.arg_parser.add_argument("--m", default=1, help="Mode")
         self.arg_parser.add_argument("--rep", type=int, default=0,help="Extra shapes/iteration")
@@ -137,7 +138,27 @@ class Primitive (inkex.Effect):
                     
                     #remove the old image or not                    
                     if self.options.keeporiginal is not True:
-                        node.getparent().remove(node)                    
+                        node.getparent().remove(node)  
+
+                    # create clip path to remove the stuffy surroundings
+                    if self.options.cliprect:
+                        path = '//svg:defs'
+                        defslist = self.document.getroot().xpath(path, namespaces=inkex.NSS)
+                        if len(defslist) > 0:
+                            defs = defslist[0]
+                        clipPathData = {inkex.addNS('label', 'inkscape'):'imagetracerClipPath', 'clipPathUnits':'userSpaceOnUse', 'id':'imagetracerClipPath'}
+                        clipPath = etree.SubElement(defs, 'clipPath', clipPathData)
+                        #inkex.utils.debug(image.width)
+                        clipBox = {
+                                'x':str(0), 
+                                'y':str(0),
+                                'width':str(doc.get('width')), 
+                                'height':str(doc.get('height')),
+                                'style':'fill:#000000; stroke:none; fill-opacity:1;'
+                                }
+                        etree.SubElement(clipPath, 'rect', clipBox)
+                        #etree.SubElement(newGroup, 'g', {inkex.addNS('label','inkscape'):'imagetracerjs', 'clip-path':"url(#imagetracerClipPath)"})
+                        newGroup.getchildren()[0].set('clip-path','url(#imagetracerClipPath)')
         else:
             inkex.utils.debug("No image found for tracing. Please select an image first.")        
 
diff --git a/extensions/fablabchemnitz_viewbox.py b/extensions/fablabchemnitz_viewbox.py
index 9e98fdd6..5daec636 100644
--- a/extensions/fablabchemnitz_viewbox.py
+++ b/extensions/fablabchemnitz_viewbox.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
 # Copyright (c) 2012 Stuart Pernsteiner
 # All rights reserved.
 #
@@ -24,8 +26,6 @@
 import sys
 import inkex
 from inkex import Transform
-import gettext
-_ = gettext.gettext
 
 class SetViewBoxEffect(inkex.Effect):
     def __init__(self):
@@ -33,8 +33,10 @@ class SetViewBoxEffect(inkex.Effect):
 
     def effect(self):
         if len(self.svg.selected) != 1:
-            sys.exit(_("Error: You must select exactly one rectangle"))
-
+            sys.exit("Error: You must select exactly one rectangle")
+        elif self.svg.selected[0].tag != inkex.addNS('rect','svg'):
+            sys.exit("Error: You must select exactly one rectangle")
+            
         sel = None
         for pathId in self.svg.selected:
             sel = self.svg.selected[pathId]