diff --git a/docs/rh-log.txt b/docs/rh-log.txt
index f6a77c315..932d635a9 100644
--- a/docs/rh-log.txt
+++ b/docs/rh-log.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+May 8, 2006
+- Blends created with the ACS fade commands now degrade to transparent overlays
+  when the menu is visible, so they can no longer obscure the menu.
+
 May 7, 2006 (Changes by Graf Zahl)
 - Added a misc/secret sound definition for Heretic.
 - Fixed: Powered up weapons were not properly deselected when the level ended
diff --git a/src/g_shared/sbar.h b/src/g_shared/sbar.h
index 78fadd5b2..ff5b7ab87 100644
--- a/src/g_shared/sbar.h
+++ b/src/g_shared/sbar.h
@@ -175,6 +175,8 @@ public:
 	fixed_t GetDisplacement () { return Displacement; }
 	int GetPlayer ();
 
+	static void AddBlend (float r, float g, float b, float a, float v_blend[4]);
+
 	virtual void Serialize (FArchive &arc);
 
 	virtual void Tick ();
@@ -213,8 +215,6 @@ protected:
 
 	void GetCurrentAmmo (AAmmo *&ammo1, AAmmo *&ammo2, int &ammocount1, int &ammocount2) const;
 
-	static void AddBlend (float r, float g, float b, float a, float v_blend[4]);
-
 public:
 	AInventory *ValidateInvFirst (int numVisible) const;
 	void DrawCrosshair ();
diff --git a/src/g_shared/shared_sbar.cpp b/src/g_shared/shared_sbar.cpp
index 781ba3b87..6210fbecb 100644
--- a/src/g_shared/shared_sbar.cpp
+++ b/src/g_shared/shared_sbar.cpp
@@ -1370,7 +1370,7 @@ void FBaseStatusBar::BlendView (float blend[4])
 		AddBlend (0.25f, 0.25f, 0.853f, 0.4f, blend);
 	}
 
-	if (CPlayer->camera != NULL)
+	if (CPlayer->camera != NULL && menuactive == MENU_Off)
 	{
 		player_t *player = (CPlayer->camera->player != NULL) ? CPlayer->camera->player : CPlayer;
 		AddBlend (player->BlendR, player->BlendG, player->BlendB, player->BlendA, blend);
diff --git a/src/m_menu.cpp b/src/m_menu.cpp
index dd60b3885..bec485bf1 100644
--- a/src/m_menu.cpp
+++ b/src/m_menu.cpp
@@ -2851,11 +2851,22 @@ void M_StartControlPanel (bool makeSound)
 void M_Drawer ()
 {
 	int i, x, y, max;
+	PalEntry fade = 0;
+
+	const player_t *player = &players[consoleplayer];
+	if (player->camera != NULL)
+	{
+		if (player->camera->player != NULL)
+		{
+			player = player->camera->player;
+		}
+		fade = PalEntry (BYTE(player->BlendA*255), BYTE(player->BlendR*255), BYTE(player->BlendG*255), BYTE(player->BlendB*255));
+	}
 
 	// Horiz. & Vertically center string and print it.
 	if (messageToPrint)
 	{
-		screen->Dim ();
+		screen->Dim (fade);
 		BorderNeedRefresh = screen->GetPageCount ();
 		SB_state = screen->GetPageCount ();
 
@@ -2878,7 +2889,7 @@ void M_Drawer ()
 	{
 		if (InfoType == 0 && !OptionsActive)
 		{
-			screen->Dim ();
+			screen->Dim (fade);
 		}
 		// For Heretic shareware message:
 		if (showSharewareMessage)
diff --git a/src/v_video.cpp b/src/v_video.cpp
index bdbb7293e..68791a2b1 100644
--- a/src/v_video.cpp
+++ b/src/v_video.cpp
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@
 #include "cmdlib.h"
 #include "gi.h"
 #include "templates.h"
+#include "sbar.h"
 
 IMPLEMENT_ABSTRACT_CLASS (DCanvas)
 IMPLEMENT_ABSTRACT_CLASS (DFrameBuffer)
@@ -196,8 +197,9 @@ void DCanvas::Clear (int left, int top, int right, int bottom, int color) const
 	}
 }
 
-void DCanvas::Dim () const
+void DCanvas::Dim (PalEntry color) const
 {
+	PalEntry dimmer;
 	float amount = dimamount;
 
 	if (gameinfo.gametype == GAME_Hexen && gamestate == GS_DEMOSCREEN)
@@ -205,7 +207,16 @@ void DCanvas::Dim () const
 		// enough to make the menus readable.
 		amount = MIN<float> (1.f, amount*2.f);
 	}
-	Dim (PalEntry(dimcolor), amount, 0, 0, Width, Height);
+	dimmer = PalEntry(dimcolor);
+	// Add the cvar's dimming on top of the color passed to the function
+	if (color.a != 0)
+	{
+		float dim[4] = { color.r/255.f, color.g/255.f, color.b/255.f, color.a/255.f };
+		FBaseStatusBar::AddBlend (dimmer.r/255.f, dimmer.g/255.f, dimmer.b/255.f, amount, dim);
+		dimmer = PalEntry (BYTE(dim[0]*255), BYTE(dim[1]*255), BYTE(dim[2]*255));
+		amount = dim[3];
+	}
+	Dim (dimmer, amount, 0, 0, Width, Height);
 }
 
 void DCanvas::Dim (PalEntry color, float damount, int x1, int y1, int w, int h) const
diff --git a/src/v_video.h b/src/v_video.h
index 9528d3f6f..b16aa7c1e 100644
--- a/src/v_video.h
+++ b/src/v_video.h
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ public:
 	virtual void GetBlock (int x, int y, int width, int height, byte *dest) const;
 
 	// Dim the entire canvas for the menus
-	virtual void Dim () const;
+	virtual void Dim (PalEntry color = 0) const;
 
 	// Dim part of the canvas
 	virtual void Dim (PalEntry color, float amount, int x1, int y1, int w, int h) const;