diff --git a/README b/README
index c6c966a..d057887 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ girara user interface library and several document libraries.
 Requirements
 ------------
 gtk2 (>= 2.28)
+glib (>= 2.28)
 girara
 sqlite3 (optional, >= 3.5.9)
 check (for tests)
diff --git a/callbacks.c b/callbacks.c
index 992ff23..414bcb7 100644
--- a/callbacks.c
+++ b/callbacks.c
@@ -90,13 +90,14 @@ cb_view_vadjustment_value_changed(GtkAdjustment* GIRARA_UNUSED(adjustment), gpoi
       .height = zathura_page_get_height(page) * scale
     };
     GtkWidget* page_widget = zathura_page_get_widget(zathura, page);
+    ZathuraPage* zathura_page_widget = ZATHURA_PAGE(page_widget);
     gtk_widget_translate_coordinates(page_widget,
                                      zathura->ui.session->gtk.view, 0, 0, &page_rect.x, &page_rect.y);
 
     if (gdk_rectangle_intersect(&view_rect, &page_rect, NULL) == TRUE) {
       if (zathura_page_get_visibility(page) == false) {
         zathura_page_set_visibility(page, true);
-        zathura_page_widget_update_view_time(ZATHURA_PAGE(page_widget));
+        zathura_page_widget_update_view_time(zathura_page_widget);
         zathura_page_cache_add(zathura, zathura_page_get_index(page));
       }
       if (zathura->global.update_page_number == true && updated == false
@@ -106,11 +107,13 @@ cb_view_vadjustment_value_changed(GtkAdjustment* GIRARA_UNUSED(adjustment), gpoi
       }
     } else {
       zathura_page_set_visibility(page, false);
+      /* If a page becomes invisible, abort the render request. */
+      zathura_page_widget_abort_render_request(zathura_page_widget);
       /* if the page is not visible and not cached, but still has a surface, we
        * need to get rid of the surface */
-      if (zathura_page_widget_have_surface(ZATHURA_PAGE(page_widget)) == true &&
+      if (zathura_page_widget_have_surface(zathura_page_widget) == true &&
           zathura_page_cache_is_cached(zathura, zathura_page_get_index(page)) == false) {
-        zathura_page_widget_update_surface(ZATHURA_PAGE(page_widget), NULL);
+        zathura_page_widget_update_surface(zathura_page_widget, NULL);
       }
 
       girara_list_t* results = NULL;
@@ -367,6 +370,13 @@ cb_sc_display_link(GtkEntry* entry, girara_session_t* session)
   return handle_link(entry, session, ZATHURA_LINK_ACTION_DISPLAY);
 }
 
+static gboolean
+file_monitor_reload(void* data)
+{
+  sc_reload((girara_session_t*) data, NULL, NULL, 0);
+  return FALSE;
+}
+
 void
 cb_file_monitor(GFileMonitor* monitor, GFile* file, GFile* UNUSED(other_file), GFileMonitorEvent event, girara_session_t* session)
 {
@@ -377,9 +387,7 @@ cb_file_monitor(GFileMonitor* monitor, GFile* file, GFile* UNUSED(other_file), G
   switch (event) {
     case G_FILE_MONITOR_EVENT_CHANGES_DONE_HINT:
     case G_FILE_MONITOR_EVENT_CREATED:
-      gdk_threads_enter();
-      sc_reload(session, NULL, NULL, 0);
-      gdk_threads_leave();
+      g_main_context_invoke(NULL, file_monitor_reload, session);
       break;
     default:
       return;
@@ -488,11 +496,11 @@ cb_setting_recolor_change(girara_session_t* session, const char* name,
   g_return_if_fail(name != NULL);
   zathura_t* zathura = session->global.data;
 
-  bool bool_value = *((bool*) value);
+  const bool bool_value = *((bool*) value);
 
-  if (zathura->global.recolor != bool_value) {
-    zathura->global.recolor = bool_value;
-    render_all(zathura);
+  if (zathura->sync.render_thread != NULL && zathura_renderer_recolor_enabled(zathura->sync.render_thread) != bool_value) {
+     zathura_renderer_enable_recolor(zathura->sync.render_thread, bool_value);
+     render_all(zathura);
   }
 }
 
@@ -506,11 +514,11 @@ cb_setting_recolor_keep_hue_change(girara_session_t* session, const char* name,
   g_return_if_fail(name != NULL);
   zathura_t* zathura = session->global.data;
 
-  bool bool_value = *((bool*) value);
+  const bool bool_value = *((bool*) value);
 
-  if (zathura->global.recolor_keep_hue != bool_value) {
-    zathura->global.recolor_keep_hue = bool_value;
-    render_all(zathura);
+  if (zathura->sync.render_thread != NULL && zathura_renderer_recolor_hue_enabled(zathura->sync.render_thread) != bool_value) {
+     zathura_renderer_enable_recolor_hue(zathura->sync.render_thread, bool_value);
+     render_all(zathura);
   }
 }
 
@@ -529,7 +537,8 @@ cb_unknown_command(girara_session_t* session, const char* input)
   }
 
   /* check for number */
-  for (unsigned int i = 0; i < strlen(input); i++) {
+  const size_t size = strlen(input);
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < size; i++) {
     if (g_ascii_isdigit(input[i]) == FALSE) {
       return false;
     }
diff --git a/commands.c b/commands.c
index 76e2a27..b12c979 100644
--- a/commands.c
+++ b/commands.c
@@ -381,9 +381,9 @@ cmd_search(girara_session_t* session, const char* input, girara_argument_t* argu
     GtkWidget* page_widget = zathura_page_get_widget(zathura, page);
     g_object_set(page_widget, "draw-links", FALSE, NULL);
 
-    render_lock(zathura->sync.render_thread);
+    zathura_renderer_lock(zathura->sync.render_thread);
     girara_list_t* result = zathura_page_search_text(page, input, &error);
-    render_unlock(zathura->sync.render_thread);
+    zathura_renderer_unlock(zathura->sync.render_thread);
 
     if (result == NULL || girara_list_size(result) == 0) {
       girara_list_free(result);
diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index ecb8075..e14d7e2 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -57,9 +57,13 @@ cb_color_change(girara_session_t* session, const char* name,
   } else if (g_strcmp0(name, "highlight-active-color") == 0) {
     gdk_color_parse(string_value, &(zathura->ui.colors.highlight_color_active));
   } else if (g_strcmp0(name, "recolor-darkcolor") == 0) {
-    gdk_color_parse(string_value, &(zathura->ui.colors.recolor_dark_color));
+    if (zathura->sync.render_thread != NULL) {
+      zathura_renderer_set_recolor_colors_str(zathura->sync.render_thread, NULL, string_value);
+    }
   } else if (g_strcmp0(name, "recolor-lightcolor") == 0) {
-    gdk_color_parse(string_value, &(zathura->ui.colors.recolor_light_color));
+    if (zathura->sync.render_thread != NULL) {
+      zathura_renderer_set_recolor_colors_str(zathura->sync.render_thread, string_value, NULL);
+    }
   } else if (g_strcmp0(name, "render-loading-bg") == 0) {
     gdk_color_parse(string_value, &(zathura->ui.colors.render_loading_bg));
   } else if (g_strcmp0(name, "render-loading-fg") == 0) {
@@ -169,10 +173,8 @@ config_load_default(zathura_t* zathura)
   int_value = 2000;
   girara_setting_add(gsession, "jumplist-size",         &int_value,   INT,    false, _("Number of positions to remember in the jumplist"), cb_jumplist_change, NULL);
 
-  girara_setting_add(gsession, "recolor-darkcolor",      NULL, STRING, false, _("Recoloring (dark color)"),         cb_color_change, NULL);
-  girara_setting_set(gsession, "recolor-darkcolor",      "#FFFFFF");
-  girara_setting_add(gsession, "recolor-lightcolor",     NULL, STRING, false, _("Recoloring (light color)"),        cb_color_change, NULL);
-  girara_setting_set(gsession, "recolor-lightcolor",     "#000000");
+  girara_setting_add(gsession, "recolor-darkcolor",      "#FFFFFF", STRING, false, _("Recoloring (dark color)"),         cb_color_change, NULL);
+  girara_setting_add(gsession, "recolor-lightcolor",     "#000000", STRING, false, _("Recoloring (light color)"),        cb_color_change, NULL);
   girara_setting_add(gsession, "highlight-color",        NULL, STRING, false, _("Color for highlighting"),          cb_color_change, NULL);
   girara_setting_set(gsession, "highlight-color",        "#9FBC00");
   girara_setting_add(gsession, "highlight-active-color", NULL, STRING, false, _("Color for highlighting (active)"), cb_color_change, NULL);
diff --git a/config.mk b/config.mk
index 30a0285..07b9ab6 100644
--- a/config.mk
+++ b/config.mk
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ GTHREAD_LIB ?= $(shell pkg-config --libs   gthread-2.0)
 GMODULE_INC ?= $(shell pkg-config --cflags gmodule-no-export-2.0)
 GMODULE_LIB ?= $(shell pkg-config --libs   gmodule-no-export-2.0)
 
+GLIB_INC ?= $(shell pkg-config --cflags --atleast-version=2.28 glib-2.0)
+GLIB_LIB ?= $(shell pkg-config --libs --atleast-version=2.28 glib-2.0)
+
 GIRARA_INC ?= $(shell pkg-config --cflags girara-gtk${ZATHURA_GTK_VERSION})
 GIRARA_LIB ?= $(shell pkg-config --libs girara-gtk${ZATHURA_GTK_VERSION})
 
@@ -65,8 +68,8 @@ MAGIC_INC ?=
 MAGIC_LIB ?= -lmagic
 endif
 
-INCS = ${GIRARA_INC} ${GTK_INC} ${GTHREAD_INC} ${GMODULE_INC}
-LIBS = ${GIRARA_LIB} ${GTK_LIB} ${GTHREAD_LIB} ${GMODULE_LIB} -lpthread -lm
+INCS = ${GIRARA_INC} ${GTK_INC} ${GTHREAD_INC} ${GMODULE_INC} ${GLIB_INC}
+LIBS = ${GIRARA_LIB} ${GTK_LIB} ${GTHREAD_LIB} ${GMODULE_LIB} ${GLIB_LIB} -lpthread -lm
 
 # flags
 CFLAGS += -std=c99 -pedantic -Wall -Wno-format-zero-length -Wextra $(INCS)
diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index 26d561a..692aa67 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ main(int argc, char* argv[])
 #if !GLIB_CHECK_VERSION(2, 31, 0)
   g_thread_init(NULL);
 #endif
+#if !GTK_CHECK_VERSION(3, 6, 0)
   gdk_threads_init();
+#endif
   gtk_init(&argc, &argv);
 
   /* create zathura session */
@@ -46,7 +48,7 @@ main(int argc, char* argv[])
   bool synctex          = false;
   int page_number       = ZATHURA_PAGE_NUMBER_UNSPECIFIED;
 
-#if (GTK_MAJOR_VERSION == 3)
+#if GTK_CHECK_VERSION(3, 0, 0)
   Window embed = 0;
 #else
   GdkNativeWindow embed = 0;
@@ -148,9 +150,13 @@ main(int argc, char* argv[])
   }
 
   /* run zathura */
+#if !GTK_CHECK_VERSION(3, 6, 0)
   gdk_threads_enter();
+#endif
   gtk_main();
+#if !GTK_CHECK_VERSION(3, 6, 0)
   gdk_threads_leave();
+#endif
 
   /* free zathura */
   zathura_free(zathura);
diff --git a/page-widget.c b/page-widget.c
index 5f0cf26..094af15 100644
--- a/page-widget.c
+++ b/page-widget.c
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include "utils.h"
 #include "shortcuts.h"
 #include "synctex.h"
+#include "zathura.h"
 
 G_DEFINE_TYPE(ZathuraPage, zathura_page_widget, GTK_TYPE_DRAWING_AREA)
 
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ typedef struct zathura_page_widget_private_s {
   zathura_page_t* page; /**< Page object */
   zathura_t* zathura; /**< Zathura object */
   cairo_surface_t* surface; /**< Cairo surface */
-  bool render_requested; /**< No surface and rendering has been requested */
+  ZathuraRenderRequest* render_request; /* Request object */
   gint64 last_view; /**< Last time the page has been viewed */
   mutex lock; /**< Lock */
 
@@ -75,6 +76,7 @@ static gboolean cb_zathura_page_widget_motion_notify(GtkWidget* widget, GdkEvent
 static gboolean cb_zathura_page_widget_popup_menu(GtkWidget* widget);
 static void cb_menu_image_copy(GtkMenuItem* item, ZathuraPage* page);
 static void cb_menu_image_save(GtkMenuItem* item, ZathuraPage* page);
+static void cb_update_surface(ZathuraRenderRequest* request, cairo_surface_t* surface, void* data);
 
 enum properties_e {
   PROP_0,
@@ -174,7 +176,7 @@ zathura_page_widget_init(ZathuraPage* widget)
   zathura_page_widget_private_t* priv = ZATHURA_PAGE_GET_PRIVATE(widget);
   priv->page             = NULL;
   priv->surface          = NULL;
-  priv->render_requested = false;
+  priv->render_request   = NULL;
   priv->last_view        = g_get_real_time();
 
   priv->links.list      = NULL;
@@ -208,7 +210,18 @@ zathura_page_widget_new(zathura_t* zathura, zathura_page_t* page)
 {
   g_return_val_if_fail(page != NULL, NULL);
 
-  return g_object_new(ZATHURA_TYPE_PAGE, "page", page, "zathura", zathura, NULL);
+  GObject* ret = g_object_new(ZATHURA_TYPE_PAGE, "page", page, "zathura", zathura, NULL);
+  if (ret == NULL) {
+    return NULL;
+  }
+
+  ZathuraPage* widget = ZATHURA_PAGE(ret);
+  zathura_page_widget_private_t* priv = ZATHURA_PAGE_GET_PRIVATE(widget);
+  priv->render_request = zathura_render_request_new(zathura->sync.render_thread, page);
+  g_signal_connect_object(priv->render_request, "completed",
+      G_CALLBACK(cb_update_surface), widget, 0);
+
+  return GTK_WIDGET(ret);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -221,6 +234,10 @@ zathura_page_widget_finalize(GObject* object)
     cairo_surface_destroy(priv->surface);
   }
 
+  if (priv->render_request != NULL) {
+    g_object_unref(priv->render_request);
+  }
+
   if (priv->search.list != NULL) {
     girara_list_free(priv->search.list);
   }
@@ -311,7 +328,7 @@ zathura_page_widget_set_property(GObject* object, guint prop_id, const GValue* v
        */
 
       if (priv->search.list != NULL && zathura_page_get_visibility(priv->page)) {
-	gtk_widget_queue_draw(GTK_WIDGET(object));
+        gtk_widget_queue_draw(GTK_WIDGET(object));
       }
       break;
     default:
@@ -479,8 +496,9 @@ zathura_page_widget_draw(GtkWidget* widget, cairo_t* cairo)
     }
   } else {
     /* set background color */
-    if (priv->zathura->global.recolor == true) {
-      GdkColor color = priv->zathura->ui.colors.recolor_light_color;
+    if (zathura_renderer_recolor_enabled(priv->zathura->sync.render_thread) == true) {
+      GdkColor color;
+      zathura_renderer_get_recolor_colors(priv->zathura->sync.render_thread, &color, NULL);
       cairo_set_source_rgb(cairo, color.red/65535.0, color.green/65535.0, color.blue/65535.0);
     } else {
       GdkColor color = priv->zathura->ui.colors.render_loading_bg;
@@ -494,8 +512,9 @@ zathura_page_widget_draw(GtkWidget* widget, cairo_t* cairo)
 
     /* write text */
     if (render_loading == true) {
-      if (priv->zathura->global.recolor == true) {
-        GdkColor color = priv->zathura->ui.colors.recolor_dark_color;
+      if (zathura_renderer_recolor_enabled(priv->zathura->sync.render_thread) == true) {
+        GdkColor color;
+        zathura_renderer_get_recolor_colors(priv->zathura->sync.render_thread, NULL, &color);
         cairo_set_source_rgb(cairo, color.red/65535.0, color.green/65535.0, color.blue/65535.0);
       } else {
         GdkColor color = priv->zathura->ui.colors.render_loading_fg;
@@ -514,10 +533,7 @@ zathura_page_widget_draw(GtkWidget* widget, cairo_t* cairo)
     }
 
     /* render real page */
-    if (priv->render_requested == false) {
-      priv->render_requested = true;
-      render_page(priv->zathura->sync.render_thread, priv->page);
-    }
+    zathura_render_request(priv->render_request, priv->last_view);
   }
   mutex_unlock(&(priv->lock));
   return FALSE;
@@ -539,11 +555,10 @@ zathura_page_widget_update_surface(ZathuraPage* widget, cairo_surface_t* surface
     cairo_surface_destroy(priv->surface);
     priv->surface = NULL;
   }
-  priv->render_requested = false;
   if (surface != NULL) {
     /* if we're not visible or not cached, we don't care about the surface */
-    if (zathura_page_get_visibility(priv->page) == true ||
-        zathura_page_cache_is_cached(priv->zathura, zathura_page_get_index(priv->page)) == true) {
+    /*if (zathura_page_get_visibility(priv->page) == true ||
+        zathura_page_cache_is_cached(priv->zathura, zathura_page_get_index(priv->page)) == true) */ {
       priv->surface = surface;
       cairo_surface_reference(surface);
     }
@@ -555,6 +570,14 @@ zathura_page_widget_update_surface(ZathuraPage* widget, cairo_surface_t* surface
   }
 }
 
+static void
+cb_update_surface(ZathuraRenderRequest* UNUSED(request), cairo_surface_t* surface, void* data)
+{
+  ZathuraPage* widget = data;
+  g_return_if_fail(ZATHURA_IS_PAGE(widget));
+  zathura_page_widget_update_surface(widget, surface);
+}
+
 static void
 zathura_page_widget_size_allocate(GtkWidget* widget, GdkRectangle* allocation)
 {
@@ -914,3 +937,11 @@ zathura_page_widget_have_surface(ZathuraPage* widget)
   return priv->surface != NULL;
 }
 
+void
+zathura_page_widget_abort_render_request(ZathuraPage* widget)
+{
+  g_return_if_fail(ZATHURA_IS_PAGE(widget));
+  zathura_page_widget_private_t* priv = ZATHURA_PAGE_GET_PRIVATE(widget);
+  zathura_render_request_abort(priv->render_request);
+}
+
diff --git a/page-widget.h b/page-widget.h
index 1a54708..5f2c796 100644
--- a/page-widget.h
+++ b/page-widget.h
@@ -94,4 +94,11 @@ void zathura_page_widget_update_view_time(ZathuraPage* widget);
  */
 bool zathura_page_widget_have_surface(ZathuraPage* widget);
 
+/**
+ * Abort outstanding render requests
+ *
+ * @param widget the widget
+ */
+void zathura_page_widget_abort_render_request(ZathuraPage* widget);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/print.c b/print.c
index b32e5b3..8f0a39c 100644
--- a/print.c
+++ b/print.c
@@ -109,9 +109,9 @@ cb_print_draw_page(GtkPrintOperation* print_operation, GtkPrintContext*
   /* Try to render the page without a temporary surface. This only works with
    * plugins that support rendering to any surface.  */
   girara_debug("printing page %d ...", page_number);
-  render_lock(zathura->sync.render_thread);
+  zathura_renderer_lock(zathura->sync.render_thread);
   int err = zathura_page_render(page, cairo, true);
-  render_unlock(zathura->sync.render_thread);
+  zathura_renderer_unlock(zathura->sync.render_thread);
   if (err == ZATHURA_ERROR_OK) {
     return;
   }
@@ -144,9 +144,9 @@ cb_print_draw_page(GtkPrintOperation* print_operation, GtkPrintContext*
 
   /* Render the page to the temporary surface */
   girara_debug("printing page %d ...", page_number);
-  render_lock(zathura->sync.render_thread);
+  zathura_renderer_lock(zathura->sync.render_thread);
   err = zathura_page_render(page, temp_cairo, true);
-  render_unlock(zathura->sync.render_thread);
+  zathura_renderer_unlock(zathura->sync.render_thread);
   if (err != ZATHURA_ERROR_OK) {
     cairo_destroy(temp_cairo);
     cairo_surface_destroy(surface);
diff --git a/render.c b/render.c
index e8bcde3..050cc4f 100644
--- a/render.c
+++ b/render.c
@@ -3,9 +3,6 @@
 #include <math.h>
 #include <girara/datastructures.h>
 #include <girara/utils.h>
-#include <girara/session.h>
-#include <girara/settings.h>
-
 #include "glib-compat.h"
 #include "render.h"
 #include "zathura.h"
@@ -14,83 +11,354 @@
 #include "page-widget.h"
 #include "utils.h"
 
-static void render_job(void* data, void* user_data);
-static bool render(zathura_t* zathura, zathura_page_t* page);
-static gint render_thread_sort(gconstpointer a, gconstpointer b, gpointer data);
+/* define the two types */
+G_DEFINE_TYPE(ZathuraRenderer, zathura_renderer, G_TYPE_OBJECT)
+G_DEFINE_TYPE(ZathuraRenderRequest, zathura_render_request, G_TYPE_OBJECT)
 
-struct render_thread_s {
+/* private methods for ZathuraRenderer  */
+static void zathura_renderer_finalize(GObject* object);
+/* private methods for ZathuraRenderRequest */
+static void zathura_render_request_finalize(GObject* object);
+
+static void render_job(void* data, void* user_data);
+static gint render_thread_sort(gconstpointer a, gconstpointer b, gpointer data);
+static void color2double(const GdkColor* col, double* v);
+
+
+/* private data for ZathuraRenderer */
+typedef struct private_s {
   GThreadPool* pool; /**< Pool of threads */
   mutex mutex; /**< Render lock */
-  bool about_to_close; /**< Render thread is to be freed */
-};
+  volatile bool about_to_close; /**< Render thread is to be freed */
+
+  /* recolor information */
+  struct {
+    bool enabled;
+    bool hue;
+
+    double light[3];
+    GdkColor light_gdk;
+    double dark[3];
+    GdkColor dark_gdk;
+  } recolor;
+} private_t;
+
+/* private data for ZathuraRenderRequest */
+typedef struct request_private_s {
+  ZathuraRenderer* renderer;
+  zathura_page_t* page;
+  bool requested;
+  bool aborted;
+  gint64 last_view_time;
+} request_private_t;
+
+#define GET_PRIVATE(obj) \
+  (G_TYPE_INSTANCE_GET_PRIVATE((obj), ZATHURA_TYPE_RENDERER, private_t))
+#define REQUEST_GET_PRIVATE(obj) \
+  (G_TYPE_INSTANCE_GET_PRIVATE((obj), ZATHURA_TYPE_RENDER_REQUEST, \
+                               request_private_t))
+
+/* init, new and free for ZathuraRenderer */
 
 static void
-render_job(void* data, void* user_data)
+zathura_renderer_class_init(ZathuraRendererClass* class)
 {
-  zathura_page_t* page = data;
-  zathura_t* zathura = user_data;
-  if (page == NULL || zathura == NULL) {
-    return;
+  /* add private members */
+  g_type_class_add_private(class, sizeof(private_t));
+
+  /* overwrite methods */
+  GObjectClass* object_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS(class);
+  object_class->finalize     = zathura_renderer_finalize;
+}
+
+static void
+zathura_renderer_init(ZathuraRenderer* renderer)
+{
+  private_t* priv = GET_PRIVATE(renderer);
+  priv->pool = g_thread_pool_new(render_job, renderer, 1, TRUE, NULL);
+  priv->about_to_close = false;
+  g_thread_pool_set_sort_function(priv->pool, render_thread_sort, NULL);
+  mutex_init(&priv->mutex);
+
+  priv->recolor.enabled = false;
+  priv->recolor.hue = true;
+
+  zathura_renderer_set_recolor_colors_str(renderer, "#000000", "#FFFFFF");
+}
+
+ZathuraRenderer*
+zathura_renderer_new()
+{
+  GObject* obj = g_object_new(ZATHURA_TYPE_RENDERER, NULL);
+  return ZATHURA_RENDERER(obj);
+}
+
+static void
+zathura_renderer_finalize(GObject* object)
+{
+  ZathuraRenderer* renderer = ZATHURA_RENDERER(object);
+  private_t* priv = GET_PRIVATE(renderer);
+
+  zathura_renderer_stop(renderer);
+  if (priv->pool) {
+    g_thread_pool_free(priv->pool, TRUE, TRUE);
+  }
+  mutex_free(&(priv->mutex));
+}
+
+/* init, new and free for ZathuraRenderRequest */
+
+enum {
+  REQUEST_COMPLETED,
+  REQUEST_LAST_SIGNAL
+};
+
+static guint request_signals[REQUEST_LAST_SIGNAL] = { 0 };
+
+static void
+zathura_render_request_class_init(ZathuraRenderRequestClass* class)
+{
+  /* add private members */
+  g_type_class_add_private(class, sizeof(request_private_t));
+
+  /* overwrite methods */
+  GObjectClass* object_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS(class);
+  object_class->finalize     = zathura_render_request_finalize;
+
+  request_signals[REQUEST_COMPLETED] = g_signal_new("completed",
+      ZATHURA_TYPE_RENDER_REQUEST,
+      G_SIGNAL_RUN_LAST,
+      0,
+      NULL,
+      NULL,
+      g_cclosure_marshal_generic,
+      G_TYPE_NONE,
+      1,
+      G_TYPE_POINTER);
+}
+
+static void
+zathura_render_request_init(ZathuraRenderRequest* request)
+{
+  request_private_t* priv = REQUEST_GET_PRIVATE(request);
+  priv->renderer = NULL;
+  priv->page = NULL;
+}
+
+ZathuraRenderRequest*
+zathura_render_request_new(ZathuraRenderer* renderer, zathura_page_t* page)
+{
+  g_return_val_if_fail(renderer != NULL && page != NULL, NULL);
+
+  GObject* obj = g_object_new(ZATHURA_TYPE_RENDER_REQUEST, NULL);
+  if (obj == NULL) {
+    return NULL;
   }
 
-  girara_debug("rendering page %d ...", zathura_page_get_index(page) + 1);
-  if (render(zathura, page) != true) {
-    girara_error("Rendering failed (page %d)\n", zathura_page_get_index(page) + 1);
+  ZathuraRenderRequest* request = ZATHURA_RENDER_REQUEST(obj);
+  request_private_t* priv = REQUEST_GET_PRIVATE(request);
+  /* we want to make sure that renderer lives long enough */
+  priv->renderer = g_object_ref(renderer);
+  priv->page = page;
+  priv->aborted = false;
+  priv->requested = false;
+
+  return request;
+}
+
+static void
+zathura_render_request_finalize(GObject* object)
+{
+  ZathuraRenderRequest* request = ZATHURA_RENDER_REQUEST(object);
+  request_private_t* priv = REQUEST_GET_PRIVATE(request);
+
+  if (priv->renderer) {
+    g_object_unref(priv->renderer);
   }
 }
 
-render_thread_t*
-render_init(zathura_t* zathura)
+/* renderer methods */
+
+bool
+zathura_renderer_recolor_enabled(ZathuraRenderer* renderer)
 {
-  render_thread_t* render_thread = g_malloc0(sizeof(render_thread_t));
+  g_return_val_if_fail(ZATHURA_IS_RENDERER(renderer), false);
 
-  /* setup */
-  render_thread->pool = g_thread_pool_new(render_job, zathura, 1, TRUE, NULL);
-  if (render_thread->pool == NULL) {
-    goto error_free;
-  }
-
-  render_thread->about_to_close = false;
-  g_thread_pool_set_sort_function(render_thread->pool, render_thread_sort, zathura);
-  mutex_init(&render_thread->mutex);
-
-  return render_thread;
-
-error_free:
-
-  render_free(render_thread);
-  return NULL;
+  return GET_PRIVATE(renderer)->recolor.enabled;
 }
 
 void
-render_free(render_thread_t* render_thread)
+zathura_renderer_enable_recolor(ZathuraRenderer* renderer, bool enable)
 {
-  if (render_thread == NULL) {
-    return;
-  }
+  g_return_if_fail(ZATHURA_IS_RENDERER(renderer));
 
-  render_thread->about_to_close = true;
-  if (render_thread->pool) {
-    g_thread_pool_free(render_thread->pool, TRUE, TRUE);
-  }
-
-  mutex_free(&(render_thread->mutex));
-  g_free(render_thread);
+  GET_PRIVATE(renderer)->recolor.enabled = enable;
 }
 
 bool
-render_page(render_thread_t* render_thread, zathura_page_t* page)
+zathura_renderer_recolor_hue_enabled(ZathuraRenderer* renderer)
 {
-  if (render_thread == NULL || page == NULL || render_thread->pool == NULL || render_thread->about_to_close == true) {
-    return false;
-  }
+  g_return_val_if_fail(ZATHURA_IS_RENDERER(renderer), false);
 
-  g_thread_pool_push(render_thread->pool, page, NULL);
-  return true;
+  return GET_PRIVATE(renderer)->recolor.hue;
+}
+
+void
+zathura_renderer_enable_recolor_hue(ZathuraRenderer* renderer, bool enable)
+{
+  g_return_if_fail(ZATHURA_IS_RENDERER(renderer));
+
+  GET_PRIVATE(renderer)->recolor.hue = enable;
+}
+
+void
+zathura_renderer_set_recolor_colors(ZathuraRenderer* renderer,
+    const GdkColor* light, const GdkColor* dark)
+{
+  g_return_if_fail(ZATHURA_IS_RENDERER(renderer));
+
+  private_t* priv = GET_PRIVATE(renderer);
+  if (light != NULL) {
+    priv->recolor.light_gdk.red = light->red;
+    priv->recolor.light_gdk.blue = light->blue;
+    priv->recolor.light_gdk.green = light->green;
+    color2double(light, priv->recolor.light);
+  }
+  if (dark != NULL) {
+    priv->recolor.dark_gdk.red = dark->red;
+    priv->recolor.dark_gdk.blue = dark->blue;
+    priv->recolor.dark_gdk.green = dark->green;
+    color2double(dark, priv->recolor.dark);
+  }
+}
+
+void
+zathura_renderer_set_recolor_colors_str(ZathuraRenderer* renderer,
+    const char* light, const char* dark)
+{
+  g_return_if_fail(ZATHURA_IS_RENDERER(renderer));
+
+  if (dark != NULL) {
+    GdkColor color;
+    gdk_color_parse(dark, &color);
+    zathura_renderer_set_recolor_colors(renderer, NULL, &color);
+  }
+  if (light != NULL) {
+    GdkColor color;
+    gdk_color_parse(light, &color);
+    zathura_renderer_set_recolor_colors(renderer, &color, NULL);
+  }
+}
+
+void
+zathura_renderer_get_recolor_colors(ZathuraRenderer* renderer,
+    GdkColor* light, GdkColor* dark)
+{
+  g_return_if_fail(ZATHURA_IS_RENDERER(renderer));
+
+  private_t* priv = GET_PRIVATE(renderer);
+  if (light != NULL) {
+    light->red = priv->recolor.light_gdk.red;
+    light->blue = priv->recolor.light_gdk.blue;
+    light->green = priv->recolor.light_gdk.green;
+  }
+  if (dark != NULL) {
+    dark->red = priv->recolor.dark_gdk.red;
+    dark->blue = priv->recolor.dark_gdk.blue;
+    dark->green = priv->recolor.dark_gdk.green;
+  }
+}
+
+void
+zathura_renderer_lock(ZathuraRenderer* renderer)
+{
+  g_return_if_fail(ZATHURA_IS_RENDERER(renderer));
+
+  private_t* priv = GET_PRIVATE(renderer);
+  mutex_lock(&priv->mutex);
+}
+
+void
+zathura_renderer_unlock(ZathuraRenderer* renderer)
+{
+  g_return_if_fail(ZATHURA_IS_RENDERER(renderer));
+
+  private_t* priv = GET_PRIVATE(renderer);
+  mutex_unlock(&priv->mutex);
+}
+
+void
+zathura_renderer_stop(ZathuraRenderer* renderer)
+{
+  g_return_if_fail(ZATHURA_IS_RENDERER(renderer));
+  GET_PRIVATE(renderer)->about_to_close = true;
+}
+
+
+/* ZathuraRenderRequest methods */
+
+void
+zathura_render_request(ZathuraRenderRequest* request, gint64 last_view_time)
+{
+  g_return_if_fail(ZATHURA_IS_RENDER_REQUEST(request));
+
+  request_private_t* request_priv = REQUEST_GET_PRIVATE(request);
+  private_t* priv = GET_PRIVATE(request_priv->renderer);
+  if (request_priv->requested == false) {
+    request_priv->requested = true;
+    request_priv->aborted = false;
+    request_priv->last_view_time = last_view_time;
+
+    g_thread_pool_push(priv->pool, request, NULL);
+  }
+}
+
+void
+zathura_render_request_abort(ZathuraRenderRequest* request)
+{
+  g_return_if_fail(ZATHURA_IS_RENDER_REQUEST(request));
+
+  request_private_t* request_priv = REQUEST_GET_PRIVATE(request);
+  if (request_priv->requested == true) {
+    request_priv->aborted = true;
+  }
+}
+
+
+/* render job */
+
+typedef struct emit_completed_signal_s
+{
+  ZathuraRenderer* renderer;
+  ZathuraRenderRequest* request;
+  cairo_surface_t* surface;
+} emit_completed_signal_t;
+
+static gboolean
+emit_completed_signal(void* data)
+{
+  emit_completed_signal_t* ecs = data;
+  private_t* priv = GET_PRIVATE(ecs->renderer);
+  request_private_t* request_priv = REQUEST_GET_PRIVATE(ecs->request);
+
+  if (priv->about_to_close == false && request_priv->aborted == false) {
+    /* emit the signal */
+    g_signal_emit(ecs->request, request_signals[REQUEST_COMPLETED], 0, ecs->surface);
+  }
+  /* mark the request as done */
+  request_priv->requested = false;
+
+  /* clean up the data */
+  cairo_surface_destroy(ecs->surface);
+  g_object_unref(ecs->renderer);
+  g_object_unref(ecs->request);
+  g_free(ecs);
+
+  return FALSE;
 }
 
 static void
-color2double(GdkColor* col, double* v)
+color2double(const GdkColor* col, double* v)
 {
   v[0] = (double) col->red / 65535.;
   v[1] = (double) col->green / 65535.;
@@ -101,7 +369,7 @@ color2double(GdkColor* col, double* v)
    Assumes that l is in the interval l1, l2 and corrects the value to
    force u=0 on l1 and l2 */
 static double
-colorumax(double* h, double l, double l1, double l2)
+colorumax(const double* h, double l, double l1, double l2)
 {
   double u, uu, v, vv, lv;
   if (h[0] == 0 && h[1] == 0 && h[2] == 0) {
@@ -141,13 +409,92 @@ colorumax(double* h, double l, double l1, double l2)
   return fmin(u, v);
 }
 
+static void
+recolor(private_t* priv, unsigned int page_width, unsigned int page_height,
+    cairo_surface_t* surface)
+{
+  /* uses a representation of a rgb color as follows:
+     - a lightness scalar (between 0,1), which is a weighted average of r, g, b,
+     - a hue vector, which indicates a radian direction from the grey axis, inside the equal lightness plane.
+     - a saturation scalar between 0,1. It is 0 when grey, 1 when the color is in the boundary of the rgb cube.
+  */
+
+  const int rowstride  = cairo_image_surface_get_stride(surface);
+  unsigned char* image = cairo_image_surface_get_data(surface);
+
+  /* RGB weights for computing lightness. Must sum to one */
+  static const double a[] = {0.30, 0.59, 0.11};
+
+#define rgb1 priv->recolor.dark
+#define rgb2 priv->recolor.light
+  const double l1 = (a[0]*rgb1[0] + a[1]*rgb1[1] + a[2]*rgb1[2]);
+  const double l2 = (a[0]*rgb2[0] + a[1]*rgb2[1] + a[2]*rgb2[2]);
+
+  const double rgb_diff[] = {
+    rgb2[0] - rgb1[0],
+    rgb2[1] - rgb1[1],
+    rgb2[2] - rgb1[2]
+  };
+
+  for (unsigned int y = 0; y < page_height; y++) {
+    unsigned char* data = image + y * rowstride;
+
+    for (unsigned int x = 0; x < page_width; x++, data += 4) {
+      /* Careful. data color components blue, green, red. */
+      const double rgb[3] = {
+        (double) data[2] / 256.,
+        (double) data[1] / 256.,
+        (double) data[0] / 256.
+      };
+
+      /* compute h, s, l data   */
+      double l = a[0]*rgb[0] + a[1]*rgb[1] + a[2]*rgb[2];
+
+      if (priv->recolor.hue == true) {
+        /* adjusting lightness keeping hue of current color. white and black
+         * go to grays of same ligtness as light and dark colors. */
+        const double h[3] = {
+          rgb[0] - l,
+          rgb[1] - l,
+          rgb[2] - l
+        };
+
+        /* u is the maximum possible saturation for given h and l. s is a
+         * rescaled saturation between 0 and 1 */
+        double u = colorumax(h, l, 0, 1);
+        double s = 0;
+        if (u != 0) {
+          s = 1/u;
+        }
+
+        /* Interpolates lightness between light and dark colors. white goes to
+         * light, and black goes to dark. */
+        l = l * (l2 - l1) + l1;
+        u = colorumax(h, l, l1, l2);
+
+        data[2] = (unsigned char)round(255.*(l + s*u * h[0]));
+        data[1] = (unsigned char)round(255.*(l + s*u * h[1]));
+        data[0] = (unsigned char)round(255.*(l + s*u * h[2]));
+      } else {
+        /* linear interpolation between dark and light with color ligtness as
+         * a parameter */
+        data[2] = (unsigned char)round(255.*(l * rgb_diff[0] + rgb1[0]));
+        data[1] = (unsigned char)round(255.*(l * rgb_diff[1] + rgb1[1]));
+        data[0] = (unsigned char)round(255.*(l * rgb_diff[2] + rgb1[2]));
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+#undef rgb1
+#undef rgb2
+}
 
 static bool
-render(zathura_t* zathura, zathura_page_t* page)
+render(ZathuraRenderRequest* request, ZathuraRenderer* renderer)
 {
-  if (zathura == NULL || page == NULL || zathura->sync.render_thread->about_to_close == true) {
-    return false;
-  }
+  private_t* priv = GET_PRIVATE(renderer);
+  request_private_t* request_priv = REQUEST_GET_PRIVATE(request);
+  zathura_page_t* page = request_priv->page;
 
   /* create cairo surface */
   unsigned int page_width  = 0;
@@ -155,13 +502,11 @@ render(zathura_t* zathura, zathura_page_t* page)
   const double real_scale = page_calc_height_width(page, &page_height, &page_width, false);
 
   cairo_surface_t* surface = cairo_image_surface_create(CAIRO_FORMAT_RGB24, page_width, page_height);
-
   if (surface == NULL) {
     return false;
   }
 
   cairo_t* cairo = cairo_create(surface);
-
   if (cairo == NULL) {
     cairo_surface_destroy(surface);
     return false;
@@ -178,101 +523,70 @@ render(zathura_t* zathura, zathura_page_t* page)
     cairo_scale(cairo, real_scale, real_scale);
   }
 
-  render_lock(zathura->sync.render_thread);
+  zathura_renderer_lock(renderer);
   if (zathura_page_render(page, cairo, false) != ZATHURA_ERROR_OK) {
-    render_unlock(zathura->sync.render_thread);
+    zathura_renderer_unlock(renderer);
     cairo_destroy(cairo);
     cairo_surface_destroy(surface);
     return false;
   }
 
-  render_unlock(zathura->sync.render_thread);
+  zathura_renderer_unlock(renderer);
   cairo_restore(cairo);
   cairo_destroy(cairo);
 
-  const int rowstride  = cairo_image_surface_get_stride(surface);
-  unsigned char* image = cairo_image_surface_get_data(surface);
+  /* before recoloring, check if we've been aborted */
+  if (priv->about_to_close == true || request_priv->aborted == true) {
+    request_priv->requested = false;
+    cairo_surface_destroy(surface);
+    return true;
+  }
 
   /* recolor */
-  /* uses a representation of a rgb color as follows:
-     - a lightness scalar (between 0,1), which is a weighted average of r, g, b,
-     - a hue vector, which indicates a radian direction from the grey axis, inside the equal lightness plane.
-     - a saturation scalar between 0,1. It is 0 when grey, 1 when the color is in the boundary of the rgb cube.
-  */
-  if (zathura->global.recolor == true) {
-    /* RGB weights for computing lightness. Must sum to one */
-    double a[] = {0.30, 0.59, 0.11};
-
-    double l1, l2, l, s, u, t;
-    double h[3];
-    double rgb1[3], rgb2[3], rgb[3];
-
-    color2double(&zathura->ui.colors.recolor_dark_color, rgb1);
-    color2double(&zathura->ui.colors.recolor_light_color, rgb2);
-
-    l1 = (a[0]*rgb1[0] + a[1]*rgb1[1] + a[2]*rgb1[2]);
-    l2 = (a[0]*rgb2[0] + a[1]*rgb2[1] + a[2]*rgb2[2]);
-
-    for (unsigned int y = 0; y < page_height; y++) {
-      unsigned char* data = image + y * rowstride;
-
-      for (unsigned int x = 0; x < page_width; x++) {
-        /* Careful. data color components blue, green, red. */
-        rgb[0] = (double) data[2] / 256.;
-        rgb[1] = (double) data[1] / 256.;
-        rgb[2] = (double) data[0] / 256.;
-
-        /* compute h, s, l data   */
-        l = a[0]*rgb[0] + a[1]*rgb[1] + a[2]*rgb[2];
-
-        h[0] = rgb[0] - l;
-        h[1] = rgb[1] - l;
-        h[2] = rgb[2] - l;
-
-        /* u is the maximum possible saturation for given h and l. s is a rescaled saturation between 0 and 1 */
-        u = colorumax(h, l, 0, 1);
-        if (u == 0) {
-          s = 0;
-        } else {
-          s = 1/u;
-        }
-
-        /* Interpolates lightness between light and dark colors. white goes to light, and black goes to dark. */
-        t = l;
-        l = t * (l2 - l1) + l1;
-
-        if (zathura->global.recolor_keep_hue == true) {
-          /* adjusting lightness keeping hue of current color. white and black go to grays of same ligtness
-             as light and dark colors. */
-          u = colorumax(h, l, l1, l2);
-          data[2] = (unsigned char)round(255.*(l + s*u * h[0]));
-          data[1] = (unsigned char)round(255.*(l + s*u * h[1]));
-          data[0] = (unsigned char)round(255.*(l + s*u * h[2]));
-        } else {
-          /* Linear interpolation between dark and light with color ligtness as a parameter */
-          data[2] = (unsigned char)round(255.*(t * (rgb2[0] - rgb1[0]) + rgb1[0]));
-          data[1] = (unsigned char)round(255.*(t * (rgb2[1] - rgb1[1]) + rgb1[1]));
-          data[0] = (unsigned char)round(255.*(t * (rgb2[2] - rgb1[2]) + rgb1[2]));
-        }
-
-        data += 4;
-      }
-    }
+  if (priv->recolor.enabled == true) {
+    recolor(priv, page_width, page_height, surface);
   }
 
-  if (zathura->sync.render_thread->about_to_close == false) {
-    /* update the widget */
-    gdk_threads_enter();
-    GtkWidget* widget = zathura_page_get_widget(zathura, page);
-    zathura_page_widget_update_surface(ZATHURA_PAGE(widget), surface);
-    gdk_threads_leave();
-  }
+  emit_completed_signal_t* ecs = g_malloc(sizeof(ecs));
+  ecs->renderer = renderer;
+  ecs->request = request;
+  ecs->surface = surface;
+  g_object_ref(renderer);
+  g_object_ref(request);
+  cairo_surface_reference(surface);
+
+  /* emit signal from the main context, i.e. the main thread */
+  g_main_context_invoke(NULL, emit_completed_signal, ecs);
 
   cairo_surface_destroy(surface);
 
   return true;
 }
 
+static void
+render_job(void* data, void* user_data)
+{
+  ZathuraRenderRequest* request = data;
+  ZathuraRenderer* renderer = user_data;
+  g_return_if_fail(ZATHURA_IS_RENDER_REQUEST(request));
+  g_return_if_fail(ZATHURA_IS_RENDERER(renderer));
+
+  private_t* priv = GET_PRIVATE(renderer);
+  request_private_t* request_priv = REQUEST_GET_PRIVATE(request);
+  if (priv->about_to_close == true || request_priv->aborted == true) {
+    /* back out early */
+    request_priv->requested = false;
+    return;
+  }
+
+  girara_debug("Rendering page %d ...", zathura_page_get_index(request_priv->page) + 1);
+  if (render(request, renderer) != true) {
+    girara_error("Rendering failed (page %d)\n", zathura_page_get_index(request_priv->page) + 1);
+    request_priv->requested = false;
+  }
+}
+
+
 void
 render_all(zathura_t* zathura)
 {
@@ -294,50 +608,21 @@ render_all(zathura_t* zathura)
 }
 
 static gint
-render_thread_sort(gconstpointer a, gconstpointer b, gpointer data)
+render_thread_sort(gconstpointer a, gconstpointer b, gpointer UNUSED(data))
 {
-  if (a == NULL || b == NULL || data == NULL) {
+  if (a == NULL || b == NULL) {
     return 0;
   }
 
-  zathura_page_t* page_a = (zathura_page_t*) a;
-  zathura_page_t* page_b = (zathura_page_t*) b;
-  zathura_t* zathura     = (zathura_t*) data;
-
-  unsigned int page_a_index = zathura_page_get_index(page_a);
-  unsigned int page_b_index = zathura_page_get_index(page_b);
-
-  gint64 last_view_a = 0;
-  gint64 last_view_b = 0;
-
-  g_object_get(zathura->pages[page_a_index], "last-view", &last_view_a, NULL);
-  g_object_get(zathura->pages[page_b_index], "last-view", &last_view_b, NULL);
-
-  if (last_view_a < last_view_b) {
-    return -1;
-  } else if (last_view_a > last_view_b) {
-    return 1;
+  ZathuraRenderRequest* request_a = (ZathuraRenderRequest*) a;
+  ZathuraRenderRequest* request_b = (ZathuraRenderRequest*) b;
+  request_private_t* priv_a = REQUEST_GET_PRIVATE(request_a);
+  request_private_t* priv_b = REQUEST_GET_PRIVATE(request_b);
+  if (priv_a->aborted == priv_b->aborted) {
+    return priv_a->last_view_time < priv_b->last_view_time ? -1 :
+        (priv_a->last_view_time > priv_b->last_view_time ? 1 : 0);
   }
 
-  return 0;
-}
-
-void
-render_lock(render_thread_t* render_thread)
-{
-  if (render_thread == NULL) {
-    return;
-  }
-
-  mutex_lock(&render_thread->mutex);
-}
-
-void
-render_unlock(render_thread_t* render_thread)
-{
-  if (render_thread == NULL) {
-    return;
-  }
-
-  mutex_unlock(&render_thread->mutex);
+  /* sort aborted entries earlier so that the are thrown out of the queue */
+  return priv_a->aborted ? 1 : -1;
 }
diff --git a/render.h b/render.h
index 2d7a12c..0963a9e 100644
--- a/render.h
+++ b/render.h
@@ -5,35 +5,177 @@
 
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
+#include <glib-object.h>
+#include <gdk/gdk.h>
 #include <girara/types.h>
+#include "types.h"
 
-#include "zathura.h"
-#include "callbacks.h"
+typedef struct zathura_renderer_class_s ZathuraRendererClass;
+
+struct zathura_renderer_s
+{
+  GObject parent;
+};
+
+struct zathura_renderer_class_s
+{
+  GObjectClass parent_class;
+};
+
+#define ZATHURA_TYPE_RENDERER \
+  (zathura_renderer_get_type())
+#define ZATHURA_RENDERER(obj) \
+  (G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE_CAST((obj), ZATHURA_TYPE_RENDERER, ZathuraRenderer))
+#define ZATHURA_RENDERER_CLASS(obj) \
+  (G_TYPE_CHECK_CLASS_CAST((obj), ZATHURA_TYPE_RENDERER, ZathuraRendererClass))
+#define ZATHURA_IS_RENDERER(obj) \
+  (G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE_TYPE((obj), ZATHURA_TYPE_RENDERER))
+#define ZATHURA_IS_RENDERER_CLASS(obj) \
+  (G_TYPE_CHECK_CLASS_TYPE((obj), ZATHURA_TYPE_RENDERER))
+#define ZATHURA_RENDERER_GET_CLASS \
+  (G_TYPE_INSTANCE_GET_CLASS((obj), ZATHURA_TYPE_RENDERER, ZathuraRendererClass))
 
 /**
- * This function initializes a render thread
- *
- * @param zathura object
- * @return The render thread object or NULL if an error occured
+ * Returns the type of the renderer.
+ * @return the type
  */
-render_thread_t* render_init(zathura_t* zathura);
+GType zathura_renderer_get_type(void);
+/**
+ * Create a renderer.
+ * @return a renderer object
+ */
+ZathuraRenderer* zathura_renderer_new(void);
 
 /**
- * This function destroys the render thread object
- *
- * @param render_thread The render thread object
+ * Return whether recoloring is enabled.
+ * @param renderer a renderer object
+ * @returns true if recoloring is enabled, false otherwise
  */
-void render_free(render_thread_t* render_thread);
+bool zathura_renderer_recolor_enabled(ZathuraRenderer* renderer);
+/**
+ * Enable/disable recoloring.
+ * @param renderer a renderer object
+ * @param enable wheter to enable or disable recoloring
+ */
+void zathura_renderer_enable_recolor(ZathuraRenderer* renderer, bool enable);
+/**
+ * Return whether hue should be preserved while recoloring.
+ * @param renderer a renderer object
+ * @returns true if hue should be preserved, false otherwise
+ */
+bool zathura_renderer_recolor_hue_enabled(ZathuraRenderer* renderer);
+/**
+ * Enable/disable preservation of hue while recoloring.
+ * @param renderer a renderer object
+ * @param enable wheter to enable or disable hue preservation
+ */
+void zathura_renderer_enable_recolor_hue(ZathuraRenderer* renderer,
+    bool enable);
+/**
+ * Set light and dark colors for recoloring.
+ * @param renderer a renderer object
+ * @param light light color
+ * @param dark dark color
+ */
+void zathura_renderer_set_recolor_colors(ZathuraRenderer* renderer,
+    const GdkColor* light, const GdkColor* dark);
+/**
+ * Set light and dark colors for recoloring.
+ * @param renderer a renderer object
+ * @param light light color
+ * @param dark dark color
+ */
+void zathura_renderer_set_recolor_colors_str(ZathuraRenderer* renderer,
+    const char* light, const char* dark);
+/**
+ * Get light and dark colors for recoloring.
+ * @param renderer a renderer object
+ * @param light light color
+ * @param dark dark color
+ */
+void zathura_renderer_get_recolor_colors(ZathuraRenderer* renderer,
+    GdkColor* light, GdkColor* dark);
+/**
+ * Stop rendering.
+ * @param renderer a render object
+ */
+void zathura_renderer_stop(ZathuraRenderer* renderer);
+
+/**
+ * Lock the render thread. This is useful if you want to render on your own (e.g
+ * for printing).
+ *
+ * @param renderer renderer object
+ */
+void zathura_renderer_lock(ZathuraRenderer* renderer);
+
+/**
+ * Unlock the render thread.
+ *
+ * @param renderer renderer object.
+ */
+void zathura_renderer_unlock(ZathuraRenderer* renderer);
+
+
+typedef struct zathura_render_request_s ZathuraRenderRequest;
+typedef struct zathura_render_request_class_s ZathuraRenderRequestClass;
+
+struct zathura_render_request_s
+{
+  GObject parent;
+};
+
+struct zathura_render_request_class_s
+{
+  GObjectClass parent_class;
+};
+
+#define ZATHURA_TYPE_RENDER_REQUEST \
+  (zathura_render_request_get_type())
+#define ZATHURA_RENDER_REQUEST(obj) \
+  (G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE_CAST((obj), ZATHURA_TYPE_RENDER_REQUEST, \
+                              ZathuraRenderRequest))
+#define ZATHURA_RENDER_REQUEST_CLASS(obj) \
+  (G_TYPE_CHECK_CLASS_CAST((obj), ZATHURA_TYPE_RENDER_REQUEST, \
+                           ZathuraRenderRequestClass))
+#define ZATHURA_IS_RENDER_REQUEST(obj) \
+  (G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE_TYPE((obj), ZATHURA_TYPE_RENDER_REQUEST))
+#define ZATHURA_IS_RENDER_REQUEST_CLASS(obj) \
+  (G_TYPE_CHECK_CLASS_TYPE((obj), ZATHURA_TYPE_RENDER_REQUEST))
+#define ZATHURA_RENDER_REQUEST_GET_CLASS \
+  (G_TYPE_INSTANCE_GET_CLASS((obj), ZATHURA_TYPE_RENDER_REQUEST, \
+                             ZathuraRenderRequestClass))
+
+/**
+ * Returns the type of the render request.
+ * @return the type
+ */
+GType zathura_page_render_info_get_type(void);
+/**
+ * Create a render request object
+ * @param renderer a renderer object
+ * @param page the page to be displayed
+ * @returns render request object
+ */
+ZathuraRenderRequest* zathura_render_request_new(ZathuraRenderer* renderer,
+    zathura_page_t* page);
 
 /**
  * This function is used to add a page to the render thread list
  * that should be rendered.
  *
- * @param render_thread The render thread object
- * @param page The page that should be rendered
- * @return true if no error occured
+ * @param request request object of the page that should be renderer
+ * @param last_view_time last view time of the page
  */
-bool render_page(render_thread_t* render_thread, zathura_page_t* page);
+void zathura_render_request(ZathuraRenderRequest* request,
+    gint64 last_view_time);
+
+/**
+ * Abort an existing render request.
+ *
+ * @param reqeust request that should be aborted
+ */
+void zathura_render_request_abort(ZathuraRenderRequest* request);
 
 /**
  * This function is used to unmark all pages as not rendered. This should
@@ -44,19 +186,4 @@ bool render_page(render_thread_t* render_thread, zathura_page_t* page);
  */
 void render_all(zathura_t* zathura);
 
-/**
- * Lock the render thread. This is useful if you want to render on your own (e.g
- * for printing).
- *
- * @param render_thread The render thread object.
- */
-void render_lock(render_thread_t* render_thread);
-
-/**
- * Unlock the render thread.
- *
- * @param render_thread The render thread object.
- */
-void render_unlock(render_thread_t* render_thread);
-
 #endif // RENDER_H
diff --git a/types.h b/types.h
index e3d915e..433bcb5 100644
--- a/types.h
+++ b/types.h
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ typedef struct zathura_s zathura_t;
  */
 typedef struct zathura_plugin_manager_s zathura_plugin_manager_t;
 
+/**
+ * Renderer
+ */
+typedef struct  zathura_renderer_s ZathuraRenderer;
+
 /**
  * Error types
  */
diff --git a/zathura.c b/zathura.c
index c647cc9..bbf2f42 100644
--- a/zathura.c
+++ b/zathura.c
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@ zathura_create(void)
   zathura_t* zathura = g_malloc0(sizeof(zathura_t));
 
   /* global settings */
-  zathura->global.recolor            = false;
   zathura->global.update_page_number = true;
   zathura->global.search_direction = FORWARD;
 
@@ -711,6 +710,29 @@ document_open(zathura_t* zathura, const char* path, const char* password,
 
   zathura->document = document;
 
+  /* threads */
+  zathura->sync.render_thread = zathura_renderer_new();
+
+  if (zathura->sync.render_thread == NULL) {
+    goto error_free;
+  }
+
+  /* set up recolor info in ZathuraRenderer */
+  char* recolor_dark = NULL;
+  char* recolor_light = NULL;
+  girara_setting_get(zathura->ui.session, "recolor-darkcolor", &recolor_dark);
+  girara_setting_get(zathura->ui.session, "recolor-lightcolor", &recolor_light);
+  zathura_renderer_set_recolor_colors_str(zathura->sync.render_thread,
+      recolor_light, recolor_dark);
+  g_free(recolor_dark);
+  g_free(recolor_light);
+
+  bool recolor = false;
+  girara_setting_get(zathura->ui.session, "recolor", &recolor);
+  zathura_renderer_enable_recolor(zathura->sync.render_thread, recolor);
+  girara_setting_get(zathura->ui.session, "recolor-keephue", &recolor);
+  zathura_renderer_enable_recolor_hue(zathura->sync.render_thread, recolor);
+
   /* create blank pages */
   zathura->pages = calloc(number_of_pages, sizeof(GtkWidget*));
   if (zathura->pages == NULL) {
@@ -764,13 +786,6 @@ document_open(zathura_t* zathura, const char* path, const char* password,
 
   girara_set_view(zathura->ui.session, zathura->ui.page_widget_alignment);
 
-  /* threads */
-  zathura->sync.render_thread = render_init(zathura);
-
-  if (zathura->sync.render_thread == NULL) {
-    goto error_free;
-  }
-
   for (unsigned int page_id = 0; page_id < number_of_pages; page_id++) {
     gtk_widget_realize(zathura->pages[page_id]);
   }
@@ -888,6 +903,9 @@ document_close(zathura_t* zathura, bool keep_monitor)
     return false;
   }
 
+  /* stop rendering */
+  zathura_renderer_stop(zathura->sync.render_thread);
+
   /* remove monitor */
   if (keep_monitor == false) {
     if (zathura->file_monitor.monitor != NULL) {
@@ -950,7 +968,7 @@ document_close(zathura_t* zathura, bool keep_monitor)
   zathura->jumplist.size = 0;
 
   /* release render thread */
-  render_free(zathura->sync.render_thread);
+  g_object_unref(zathura->sync.render_thread);
   zathura->sync.render_thread = NULL;
 
   /* remove widgets */
diff --git a/zathura.h b/zathura.h
index 13df384..bea5d0a 100644
--- a/zathura.h
+++ b/zathura.h
@@ -31,10 +31,6 @@ enum {
 /* forward declaration for types from database.h */
 typedef struct _ZathuraDatabase zathura_database_t;
 
-/* forward declaration for types from render.h */
-struct render_thread_s;
-typedef struct render_thread_s render_thread_t;
-
 /**
  * Jump
  */
@@ -60,8 +56,6 @@ struct zathura_s
 
     struct
     {
-      GdkColor recolor_dark_color; /**< Dark color for recoloring */
-      GdkColor recolor_light_color; /**< Light color for recoloring */
       GdkColor highlight_color; /**< Color for highlighting */
       GdkColor highlight_color_active; /** Color for highlighting */
       GdkColor render_loading_bg; /**< Background color for render "Loading..." */
@@ -78,7 +72,7 @@ struct zathura_s
 
   struct
   {
-    render_thread_t* render_thread; /**< The thread responsible for rendering the pages */
+    ZathuraRenderer* render_thread; /**< The thread responsible for rendering the pages */
   } sync;
 
   struct
@@ -106,8 +100,6 @@ struct zathura_s
 
   struct
   {
-    bool recolor_keep_hue; /**< Keep hue when recoloring */
-    bool recolor; /**< Recoloring mode switch */
     bool update_page_number; /**< Update current page number */
     int search_direction; /**< Current search direction (FORWARD or BACKWARD) */
     girara_list_t* marks; /**< Marker */