diff --git a/include/mapnik/text/glyph_info.hpp b/include/mapnik/text/glyph_info.hpp
index 0ca1990bf..0b78137f3 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/text/glyph_info.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/text/glyph_info.hpp
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ struct glyph_info
     glyph_index_t glyph_index;
     face_ptr face;
     unsigned char_index; //Position in the string of all characters i.e. before itemizing
-    char_properties *format;
     double width;
 
     double ymin;
diff --git a/include/mapnik/text/itemizer.hpp b/include/mapnik/text/itemizer.hpp
index e84b0cfdb..1f2373e54 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/text/itemizer.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/text/itemizer.hpp
@@ -39,12 +39,13 @@ namespace mapnik
 
 struct text_item
 {
-    UnicodeString str;
+    unsigned start; //First char
+    unsigned end; //First char after this item
     UScriptCode script;
-    char_properties format;
+    char_properties_ptr format;
     UBiDiDirection rtl;
-    text_item(UnicodeString const& str) :
-        str(str), script(), format(), rtl(UBIDI_LTR)
+    text_item() :
+        start(0), end(0), script(), format(), rtl(UBIDI_LTR)
     {
 
     }
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ class text_itemizer
 {
 public:
     text_itemizer();
-    void add_text(UnicodeString str, char_properties const& format);
+    void add_text(UnicodeString str, char_properties_ptr format);
     std::list<text_item> const& itemize();
     void clear();
     UnicodeString const& get_text() { return text; }
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@ private:
         unsigned limit;
         T data;
     };
-    typedef run<char_properties> format_run_t;
+    typedef run<char_properties_ptr> format_run_t;
     typedef run<UBiDiDirection> direction_run_t;
     typedef run<UScriptCode> script_run_t;
     UnicodeString text;
diff --git a/include/mapnik/text_properties.hpp b/include/mapnik/text_properties.hpp
index 78527d6ca..343a8f00c 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/text_properties.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/text_properties.hpp
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 
 // boost
 #include <boost/property_tree/ptree.hpp>
+#include <boost/shared_ptr.hpp>
 
 namespace mapnik
 {
@@ -70,6 +71,7 @@ struct char_properties
     color halo_fill;
     double halo_radius;
 };
+typedef boost::shared_ptr<char_properties> char_properties_ptr;
 
 
 enum label_placement_enum
diff --git a/src/text/itemizer.cpp b/src/text/itemizer.cpp
index 9c82b1860..0ed200fda 100644
--- a/src/text/itemizer.cpp
+++ b/src/text/itemizer.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ text_itemizer::text_itemizer() : text(), format_runs(), direction_runs(), script
 
 }
 
-void text_itemizer::add_text(UnicodeString str, char_properties const& format)
+void text_itemizer::add_text(UnicodeString str, char_properties_ptr format)
 {
     text += str;
     format_runs.push_back(format_run_t(format, text.length()));
@@ -112,7 +112,9 @@ void text_itemizer::create_item_list()
     while (position < text.length())
     {
         unsigned next_position = std::min(script_itr->limit, std::min(dir_itr->limit, format_itr->limit));
-        text_item item(text.tempSubStringBetween(position, next_position));
+        text_item item;
+        item.start = position;
+        item.end = next_position;
         item.format = format_itr->data;
         item.script = script_itr->data;
         item.rtl = dir_itr->data;