diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f41b5fdb2..c609312ee 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ Released ...
 
 Summary: TODO
 
+- Added support for more seamless blurring by rendering to a larger internal image to avoid edge effects (#1478)
+
 - Fixed rendering of large shapes at high zoom levels, which might dissapear due to integer overflow. This
   bug was previously fixable when geometries were clipped, but would, until now, re-appear if clipping was turned
   off for a symbolizer (#2000)
diff --git a/include/mapnik/agg_renderer.hpp b/include/mapnik/agg_renderer.hpp
index be248ea94..49275d668 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/agg_renderer.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/agg_renderer.hpp
@@ -137,6 +137,21 @@ public:
         return scale_factor_;
     }
 
+    inline box2d<double> clipping_extent() const
+    {
+        if (t_.offset() > 0)
+        {
+            box2d<double> box = query_extent_;
+            double scale = static_cast<double>(query_extent_.width())/static_cast<double>(width_);
+            // 3 is used here because at least 3 was needed for the 'style-level-compositing-tiled-0,1' visual test to pass
+            // TODO - add more tests to hone in on a more robust #
+            scale *= t_.offset()*3;
+            box.pad(scale);
+            return box;
+        }
+        return query_extent_;
+    }
+
 protected:
     template <typename R>
     void debug_draw_box(R& buf, box2d<double> const& extent,
@@ -149,11 +164,11 @@ private:
     buffer_type & pixmap_;
     boost::shared_ptr<buffer_type> internal_buffer_;
     mutable buffer_type * current_buffer_;
+    CoordTransform t_;
     mutable bool style_level_compositing_;
     unsigned width_;
     unsigned height_;
     double scale_factor_;
-    CoordTransform t_;
     freetype_engine font_engine_;
     face_manager<freetype_engine> font_manager_;
     boost::shared_ptr<label_collision_detector4> detector_;
diff --git a/include/mapnik/ctrans.hpp b/include/mapnik/ctrans.hpp
index dfe1fcd5b..f02ab48b4 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/ctrans.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/ctrans.hpp
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ private:
     box2d<double> extent_;
     double offset_x_;
     double offset_y_;
+    int offset_;
     double sx_;
     double sy_;
 
@@ -134,6 +135,7 @@ public:
           extent_(extent),
           offset_x_(offset_x),
           offset_y_(offset_y),
+          offset_(0),
           sx_(1.0),
           sy_(1.0)
     {
@@ -143,6 +145,16 @@ public:
             sy_ = static_cast<double>(height_) / extent_.height();
     }
 
+    inline int offset() const
+    {
+        return offset_;
+    }
+
+    inline void set_offset(int offset)
+    {
+        offset_ = offset;
+    }
+
     inline double offset_x() const
     {
         return offset_x_;
@@ -175,14 +187,14 @@ public:
 
     inline void forward(double *x, double *y) const
     {
-        *x = (*x - extent_.minx()) * sx_ - offset_x_;
-        *y = (extent_.maxy() - *y) * sy_ - offset_y_;
+        *x = (*x - extent_.minx()) * sx_ - (offset_x_ - offset_);
+        *y = (extent_.maxy() - *y) * sy_ - (offset_y_ - offset_);
     }
 
     inline void backward(double *x, double *y) const
     {
-        *x = extent_.minx() + (*x + offset_x_) / sx_;
-        *y = extent_.maxy() - (*y + offset_y_) / sy_;
+        *x = extent_.minx() + (*x + (offset_x_ - offset_)) / sx_;
+        *y = extent_.maxy() - (*y + (offset_y_ - offset_)) / sy_;
     }
 
     inline coord2d& forward(coord2d& c) const
diff --git a/include/mapnik/image_filter.hpp b/include/mapnik/image_filter.hpp
index ab322bb75..af51482da 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/image_filter.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/image_filter.hpp
@@ -775,6 +775,21 @@ struct filter_visitor : boost::static_visitor<void>
     Src & src_;
 };
 
+struct filter_radius_visitor : boost::static_visitor<void>
+{
+    int & radius_;
+    filter_radius_visitor(int & radius)
+        : radius_(radius) {}
+    template <typename T>
+    void operator () (T const& /*filter*/) {}
+
+    void operator () (agg_stack_blur const& op)
+    {
+        if (op.rx > radius_) radius_ = op.rx;
+        if (op.ry > radius_) radius_ = op.ry;
+    }
+};
+
 }}
 
 #endif // MAPNIK_IMAGE_FILTER_HPP
diff --git a/src/agg/agg_renderer.cpp b/src/agg/agg_renderer.cpp
index 0c3367496..3747d853e 100644
--- a/src/agg/agg_renderer.cpp
+++ b/src/agg/agg_renderer.cpp
@@ -70,11 +70,11 @@ agg_renderer<T>::agg_renderer(Map const& m, T & pixmap, double scale_factor, uns
       pixmap_(pixmap),
       internal_buffer_(),
       current_buffer_(&pixmap),
+      t_(m.width(),m.height(),m.get_current_extent(),offset_x,offset_y),
       style_level_compositing_(false),
       width_(pixmap_.width()),
       height_(pixmap_.height()),
       scale_factor_(scale_factor),
-      t_(m.width(),m.height(),m.get_current_extent(),offset_x,offset_y),
       font_engine_(),
       font_manager_(font_engine_),
       detector_(boost::make_shared<label_collision_detector4>(box2d<double>(-m.buffer_size(), -m.buffer_size(), m.width() + m.buffer_size() ,m.height() + m.buffer_size()))),
@@ -92,11 +92,11 @@ agg_renderer<T>::agg_renderer(Map const& m, request const& req, T & pixmap, doub
       pixmap_(pixmap),
       internal_buffer_(),
       current_buffer_(&pixmap),
+      t_(req.width(),req.height(),req.extent(),offset_x,offset_y),
       style_level_compositing_(false),
       width_(pixmap_.width()),
       height_(pixmap_.height()),
       scale_factor_(scale_factor),
-      t_(req.width(),req.height(),req.extent(),offset_x,offset_y),
       font_engine_(),
       font_manager_(font_engine_),
       detector_(boost::make_shared<label_collision_detector4>(box2d<double>(-req.buffer_size(), -req.buffer_size(), req.width() + req.buffer_size() ,req.height() + req.buffer_size()))),
@@ -115,11 +115,11 @@ agg_renderer<T>::agg_renderer(Map const& m, T & pixmap, boost::shared_ptr<label_
       pixmap_(pixmap),
       internal_buffer_(),
       current_buffer_(&pixmap),
+      t_(m.width(),m.height(),m.get_current_extent(),offset_x,offset_y),
       style_level_compositing_(false),
       width_(pixmap_.width()),
       height_(pixmap_.height()),
       scale_factor_(scale_factor),
-      t_(m.width(),m.height(),m.get_current_extent(),offset_x,offset_y),
       font_engine_(),
       font_manager_(font_engine_),
       detector_(detector),
@@ -238,9 +238,27 @@ void agg_renderer<T>::start_style_processing(feature_type_style const& st)
 
     if (style_level_compositing_)
     {
-        if (!internal_buffer_)
+        int radius = 0;
+        mapnik::filter::filter_radius_visitor visitor(radius);
+        BOOST_FOREACH(mapnik::filter::filter_type const& filter_tag, st.image_filters())
         {
-            internal_buffer_ = boost::make_shared<buffer_type>(pixmap_.width(),pixmap_.height());
+            boost::apply_visitor(visitor, filter_tag);
+        }
+        if (radius > t_.offset())
+        {
+            t_.set_offset(radius);
+        }
+        int offset = t_.offset();
+        unsigned target_width = width_;
+        unsigned target_height = height_;
+        target_width = width_ + (offset * 2);
+        target_height = height_ + (offset * 2);
+        ras_ptr->clip_box(-int(offset*2),-int(offset*2),target_width,target_height);
+        if (!internal_buffer_ ||
+           (internal_buffer_->width() < target_width ||
+            internal_buffer_->height() < target_height))
+        {
+            internal_buffer_ = boost::make_shared<buffer_type>(target_width,target_height);
         }
         else
         {
@@ -250,6 +268,8 @@ void agg_renderer<T>::start_style_processing(feature_type_style const& st)
     }
     else
     {
+        t_.set_offset(0);
+        ras_ptr->clip_box(0,0,width_,height_);
         current_buffer_ = &pixmap_;
     }
 }
@@ -269,14 +289,19 @@ void agg_renderer<T>::end_style_processing(feature_type_style const& st)
                 boost::apply_visitor(visitor, filter_tag);
             }
         }
-
         if (st.comp_op())
         {
-            composite(pixmap_.data(),current_buffer_->data(), *st.comp_op(), st.get_opacity(), 0, 0, false);
+            composite(pixmap_.data(), current_buffer_->data(),
+                      *st.comp_op(), st.get_opacity(),
+                      -t_.offset(),
+                      -t_.offset(), false);
         }
         else if (blend_from || st.get_opacity() < 1)
         {
-            composite(pixmap_.data(),current_buffer_->data(), src_over, st.get_opacity(), 0, 0, false);
+            composite(pixmap_.data(), current_buffer_->data(),
+                      src_over, st.get_opacity(),
+                      -t_.offset(),
+                      -t_.offset(), false);
         }
     }
     // apply any 'direct' image filters
diff --git a/src/agg/process_line_pattern_symbolizer.cpp b/src/agg/process_line_pattern_symbolizer.cpp
index 75cc54775..c79410fb2 100644
--- a/src/agg/process_line_pattern_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/agg/process_line_pattern_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ void  agg_renderer<T>::process(line_pattern_symbolizer const& sym,
     agg::trans_affine tr;
     evaluate_transform(tr, feature, sym.get_transform());
 
-    box2d<double> clipping_extent = query_extent_;
+    box2d<double> clip_box = clipping_extent();
     if (sym.clip())
     {
         double padding = (double)(query_extent_.width()/pixmap_.width());
@@ -137,13 +137,13 @@ void  agg_renderer<T>::process(line_pattern_symbolizer const& sym,
         if (std::fabs(sym.offset()) > 0)
             padding *= std::fabs(sym.offset()) * 1.2;
         padding *= scale_factor_;
-        clipping_extent.pad(padding);
+        clip_box.pad(padding);
     }
 
     typedef boost::mpl::vector<clip_line_tag,transform_tag,offset_transform_tag,simplify_tag,smooth_tag> conv_types;
     vertex_converter<box2d<double>, rasterizer_type, line_pattern_symbolizer,
                      CoordTransform, proj_transform, agg::trans_affine, conv_types>
-        converter(clipping_extent,ras,sym,t_,prj_trans,tr,scale_factor_);
+        converter(clip_box,ras,sym,t_,prj_trans,tr,scale_factor_);
 
     if (sym.clip()) converter.set<clip_line_tag>(); //optional clip (default: true)
     converter.set<transform_tag>(); //always transform
diff --git a/src/agg/process_line_symbolizer.cpp b/src/agg/process_line_symbolizer.cpp
index bf7dcd2fb..b4290ffce 100644
--- a/src/agg/process_line_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/agg/process_line_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ void agg_renderer<T>::process(line_symbolizer const& sym,
     agg::trans_affine tr;
     evaluate_transform(tr, feature, sym.get_transform());
 
-    box2d<double> clipping_extent = query_extent_;
+    box2d<double> clip_box = clipping_extent();
     if (sym.clip())
     {
         double padding = (double)(query_extent_.width()/pixmap_.width());
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ void agg_renderer<T>::process(line_symbolizer const& sym,
         if (std::fabs(sym.offset()) > 0)
             padding *= std::fabs(sym.offset()) * 1.2;
         padding *= scale_factor_;
-        clipping_extent.pad(padding);
+        clip_box.pad(padding);
         // debugging
         //box2d<double> inverse = query_extent_;
         //inverse.pad(-padding);
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ void agg_renderer<T>::process(line_symbolizer const& sym,
 
         vertex_converter<box2d<double>, rasterizer_type, line_symbolizer,
                          CoordTransform, proj_transform, agg::trans_affine, conv_types>
-            converter(clipping_extent,ras,sym,t_,prj_trans,tr,scale_factor_);
+            converter(clip_box,ras,sym,t_,prj_trans,tr,scale_factor_);
         if (sym.clip()) converter.set<clip_line_tag>(); // optional clip (default: true)
         converter.set<transform_tag>(); // always transform
         if (std::fabs(sym.offset()) > 0.0) converter.set<offset_transform_tag>(); // parallel offset
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ void agg_renderer<T>::process(line_symbolizer const& sym,
     {
         vertex_converter<box2d<double>, rasterizer, line_symbolizer,
                          CoordTransform, proj_transform, agg::trans_affine, conv_types>
-            converter(clipping_extent,*ras_ptr,sym,t_,prj_trans,tr,scale_factor_);
+            converter(clip_box,*ras_ptr,sym,t_,prj_trans,tr,scale_factor_);
 
         if (sym.clip()) converter.set<clip_line_tag>(); // optional clip (default: true)
         converter.set<transform_tag>(); // always transform
diff --git a/src/agg/process_markers_symbolizer.cpp b/src/agg/process_markers_symbolizer.cpp
index 2e8b5469d..91f6ada6e 100644
--- a/src/agg/process_markers_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/agg/process_markers_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ void agg_renderer<T>::process(markers_symbolizer const& sym,
                                                       snap_pixels);
                     vertex_converter<box2d<double>, dispatch_type, markers_symbolizer,
                                      CoordTransform, proj_transform, agg::trans_affine, conv_types>
-                        converter(query_extent_, rasterizer_dispatch, sym,t_,prj_trans,tr,scale_factor_);
+                        converter(clipping_extent(), rasterizer_dispatch, sym,t_,prj_trans,tr,scale_factor_);
                     if (sym.clip() && feature.paths().size() > 0) // optional clip (default: true)
                     {
                         eGeomType type = feature.paths()[0].type();
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ void agg_renderer<T>::process(markers_symbolizer const& sym,
                                                       snap_pixels);
                     vertex_converter<box2d<double>, dispatch_type, markers_symbolizer,
                                      CoordTransform, proj_transform, agg::trans_affine, conv_types>
-                        converter(query_extent_, rasterizer_dispatch, sym,t_,prj_trans,tr,scale_factor_);
+                        converter(clipping_extent(), rasterizer_dispatch, sym,t_,prj_trans,tr,scale_factor_);
                     if (sym.clip() && feature.paths().size() > 0) // optional clip (default: true)
                     {
                         eGeomType type = feature.paths()[0].type();
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ void agg_renderer<T>::process(markers_symbolizer const& sym,
                                                   true /*snap rasters no matter what*/);
                 vertex_converter<box2d<double>, dispatch_type, markers_symbolizer,
                                  CoordTransform, proj_transform, agg::trans_affine, conv_types>
-                    converter(query_extent_, rasterizer_dispatch, sym,t_,prj_trans,tr,scale_factor_);
+                    converter(clipping_extent(), rasterizer_dispatch, sym,t_,prj_trans,tr,scale_factor_);
 
                 if (sym.clip() && feature.paths().size() > 0) // optional clip (default: true)
                 {
diff --git a/src/agg/process_polygon_pattern_symbolizer.cpp b/src/agg/process_polygon_pattern_symbolizer.cpp
index 71e5b0def..95ff2e056 100644
--- a/src/agg/process_polygon_pattern_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/agg/process_polygon_pattern_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ void agg_renderer<T>::process(polygon_pattern_symbolizer const& sym,
     boost::optional<image_ptr> pat = (*marker)->get_bitmap_data();
 
     if (!pat) return;
+    box2d<double> clip_box = clipping_extent();
 
     typedef agg::rgba8 color;
     typedef agg::order_rgba order;
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ void agg_renderer<T>::process(polygon_pattern_symbolizer const& sym,
         if (feature.num_geometries() > 0)
         {
             clipped_geometry_type clipped(feature.get_geometry(0));
-            clipped.clip_box(query_extent_.minx(),query_extent_.miny(),query_extent_.maxx(),query_extent_.maxy());
+            clipped.clip_box(clip_box.minx(),clip_box.miny(),clip_box.maxx(),clip_box.maxy());
             path_type path(t_,clipped,prj_trans);
             path.vertex(&x0,&y0);
         }
@@ -150,7 +151,7 @@ void agg_renderer<T>::process(polygon_pattern_symbolizer const& sym,
     typedef boost::mpl::vector<clip_poly_tag,transform_tag,simplify_tag,smooth_tag> conv_types;
     vertex_converter<box2d<double>, rasterizer, polygon_pattern_symbolizer,
                      CoordTransform, proj_transform, agg::trans_affine, conv_types>
-        converter(query_extent_,*ras_ptr,sym,t_,prj_trans,tr,scale_factor_);
+        converter(clip_box,*ras_ptr,sym,t_,prj_trans,tr,scale_factor_);
 
     if (prj_trans.equal() && sym.clip()) converter.set<clip_poly_tag>(); //optional clip (default: true)
     converter.set<transform_tag>(); //always transform
diff --git a/src/agg/process_polygon_symbolizer.cpp b/src/agg/process_polygon_symbolizer.cpp
index 25e2f09a2..e22f042f4 100644
--- a/src/agg/process_polygon_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/agg/process_polygon_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ void agg_renderer<T>::process(polygon_symbolizer const& sym,
     typedef boost::mpl::vector<clip_poly_tag,transform_tag,affine_transform_tag,simplify_tag,smooth_tag> conv_types;
     vertex_converter<box2d<double>, rasterizer, polygon_symbolizer,
                      CoordTransform, proj_transform, agg::trans_affine, conv_types>
-        converter(query_extent_,*ras_ptr,sym,t_,prj_trans,tr,scale_factor_);
+        converter(clipping_extent(),*ras_ptr,sym,t_,prj_trans,tr,scale_factor_);
 
     if (prj_trans.equal() && sym.clip()) converter.set<clip_poly_tag>(); //optional clip (default: true)
     converter.set<transform_tag>(); //always transform
diff --git a/src/agg/process_shield_symbolizer.cpp b/src/agg/process_shield_symbolizer.cpp
index 753dccd14..8e09a4020 100644
--- a/src/agg/process_shield_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/agg/process_shield_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ void  agg_renderer<T>::process(shield_symbolizer const& sym,
             width_, height_,
             scale_factor_,
             t_, font_manager_, *detector_,
-            query_extent_);
+            clipping_extent());
 
     text_renderer<T> ren(*current_buffer_,
                          font_manager_,
diff --git a/src/agg/process_text_symbolizer.cpp b/src/agg/process_text_symbolizer.cpp
index 0ee0e9559..dc47b9882 100644
--- a/src/agg/process_text_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/agg/process_text_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ void agg_renderer<T>::process(text_symbolizer const& sym,
             width_,height_,
             scale_factor_,
             t_, font_manager_, *detector_,
-            query_extent_);
+            clipping_extent());
 
     text_renderer<T> ren(*current_buffer_,
                          font_manager_,
diff --git a/tests/visual_tests/images/style-level-compositing-tiled-0,1-512-512-1.0-agg-reference.png b/tests/visual_tests/images/style-level-compositing-tiled-0,1-512-512-1.0-agg-reference.png
index 2ecb9eeb5..e1f8f18dc 100644
Binary files a/tests/visual_tests/images/style-level-compositing-tiled-0,1-512-512-1.0-agg-reference.png and b/tests/visual_tests/images/style-level-compositing-tiled-0,1-512-512-1.0-agg-reference.png differ
diff --git a/tests/visual_tests/images/style-level-compositing-tiled-0,1-512-512-2.0-agg-reference.png b/tests/visual_tests/images/style-level-compositing-tiled-0,1-512-512-2.0-agg-reference.png
index 2ecb9eeb5..e1f8f18dc 100644
Binary files a/tests/visual_tests/images/style-level-compositing-tiled-0,1-512-512-2.0-agg-reference.png and b/tests/visual_tests/images/style-level-compositing-tiled-0,1-512-512-2.0-agg-reference.png differ