diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor-private.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor-private.h
index c44f6342f..9bf1a3049 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor-private.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor-private.h
@@ -297,8 +297,6 @@ const gchar *                   _clutter_actor_get_debug_name
 void                            _clutter_actor_push_clone_paint                         (void);
 void                            _clutter_actor_pop_clone_paint                          (void);
 
-guint32                         _clutter_actor_get_pick_id                              (ClutterActor *self);
-
 void                            _clutter_actor_shader_pre_paint                         (ClutterActor *actor,
                                                                                          gboolean      repeat);
 void                            _clutter_actor_shader_post_paint                        (ClutterActor *actor);
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor.c
index de17b8954..34ebe38cf 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor.c
@@ -736,8 +736,6 @@ struct _ClutterActorPrivate
 
   gchar *name; /* a non-unique name, used for debugging */
 
-  gint32 pick_id; /* per-stage unique id, used for picking */
-
   /* a back-pointer to the Pango context that we can use
    * to create pre-configured PangoLayout
    */
@@ -1290,6 +1288,106 @@ clutter_actor_verify_map_state (ClutterActor *self)
 
 #endif /* CLUTTER_ENABLE_DEBUG */
 
+static gboolean
+_clutter_actor_transform_local_box_to_stage (ClutterActor          *self,
+                                             ClutterStage          *stage,
+                                             const ClutterActorBox *box,
+                                             ClutterPoint           vertices[4])
+{
+  CoglFramebuffer *fb = cogl_get_draw_framebuffer ();
+  CoglMatrix stage_transform, inv_stage_transform;
+  CoglMatrix modelview, transform_to_stage;
+  int v;
+
+  clutter_actor_get_transform (CLUTTER_ACTOR (stage), &stage_transform);
+  if (!cogl_matrix_get_inverse (&stage_transform, &inv_stage_transform))
+    return FALSE;
+  cogl_framebuffer_get_modelview_matrix (fb, &modelview);
+  cogl_matrix_multiply (&transform_to_stage, &inv_stage_transform, &modelview);
+
+  vertices[0].x = box->x1;
+  vertices[0].y = box->y1;
+
+  vertices[1].x = box->x2;
+  vertices[1].y = box->y1;
+
+  vertices[2].x = box->x2;
+  vertices[2].y = box->y2;
+
+  vertices[3].x = box->x1;
+  vertices[3].y = box->y2;
+
+  for (v = 0; v < 4; v++)
+    {
+      float z = 0.f;
+      float w = 1.f;
+
+      cogl_matrix_transform_point (&transform_to_stage,
+                                   &vertices[v].x,
+                                   &vertices[v].y,
+                                   &z,
+                                   &w);
+    }
+
+  return TRUE;
+}
+
+/**
+ * clutter_actor_pick_box:
+ * @self: The #ClutterActor being "pick" painted.
+ * @box: A rectangle in the actor's own local coordinates.
+ *
+ * Logs (does a virtual paint of) a rectangle for picking. Note that @box is
+ * in the actor's own local coordinates, so is usually {0,0,width,height}
+ * to include the whole actor. That is unless the actor has a shaped input
+ * region in which case you may wish to log the (multiple) smaller rectangles
+ * that make up the input region.
+ */
+void
+clutter_actor_pick_box (ClutterActor          *self,
+                        const ClutterActorBox *box)
+{
+  ClutterStage *stage;
+  ClutterPoint vertices[4];
+
+  g_return_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_ACTOR (self));
+  g_return_if_fail (box != NULL);
+
+  /* An empty box to a "pick" paint means to paint nothing at all. */
+  if (box->x1 >= box->x2 || box->y1 >= box->y2)
+    return;
+
+  stage = CLUTTER_STAGE (_clutter_actor_get_stage_internal (self));
+
+  if (_clutter_actor_transform_local_box_to_stage (self, stage, box, vertices))
+    _clutter_stage_log_pick (stage, vertices, self);
+}
+
+static gboolean
+_clutter_actor_push_pick_clip (ClutterActor          *self,
+                               const ClutterActorBox *clip)
+{
+  ClutterStage *stage;
+  ClutterPoint vertices[4];
+
+  stage = CLUTTER_STAGE (_clutter_actor_get_stage_internal (self));
+
+  if (!_clutter_actor_transform_local_box_to_stage (self, stage, clip, vertices))
+    return FALSE;
+
+  _clutter_stage_push_pick_clip (stage, vertices);
+  return TRUE;
+}
+
+static void
+_clutter_actor_pop_pick_clip (ClutterActor *self)
+{
+  ClutterActor *stage;
+
+  stage = _clutter_actor_get_stage_internal (self);
+  _clutter_stage_pop_pick_clip (CLUTTER_STAGE (stage));
+}
+
 static void
 clutter_actor_set_mapped (ClutterActor *self,
                           gboolean      mapped)
@@ -1518,8 +1616,7 @@ clutter_actor_update_map_state (ClutterActor  *self,
 static void
 clutter_actor_real_map (ClutterActor *self)
 {
-  ClutterActorPrivate *priv = self->priv;
-  ClutterActor *stage, *iter;
+  ClutterActor *iter;
 
   g_assert (!CLUTTER_ACTOR_IS_MAPPED (self));
 
@@ -1530,13 +1627,6 @@ clutter_actor_real_map (ClutterActor *self)
 
   self->priv->needs_paint_volume_update = TRUE;
 
-  stage = _clutter_actor_get_stage_internal (self);
-  priv->pick_id = _clutter_stage_acquire_pick_id (CLUTTER_STAGE (stage), self);
-
-  CLUTTER_NOTE (ACTOR, "Pick id '%d' for actor '%s'",
-                priv->pick_id,
-                _clutter_actor_get_debug_name (self));
-
   clutter_actor_ensure_resource_scale (self);
 
   /* notify on parent mapped before potentially mapping
@@ -1641,11 +1731,6 @@ clutter_actor_real_unmap (ClutterActor *self)
 
       stage = CLUTTER_STAGE (_clutter_actor_get_stage_internal (self));
 
-      if (stage != NULL)
-        _clutter_stage_release_pick_id (stage, priv->pick_id);
-
-      priv->pick_id = -1;
-
       if (stage != NULL &&
           clutter_stage_get_key_focus (stage) == self)
         {
@@ -2264,46 +2349,16 @@ static void
 clutter_actor_real_pick (ClutterActor       *self,
 			 const ClutterColor *color)
 {
-  CoglFramebuffer *framebuffer = cogl_get_draw_framebuffer ();
-
-  /* the default implementation is just to paint a rectangle
-   * with the same size of the actor using the passed color
-   */
   if (clutter_actor_should_pick_paint (self))
     {
-      static CoglPipeline *default_pick_pipeline = NULL;
-      ClutterActorBox box = { 0, };
-      CoglPipeline *pick_pipeline;
-      float width, height;
+      ClutterActorBox box = {
+        .x1 = 0,
+        .y1 = 0,
+        .x2 = clutter_actor_get_width (self),
+        .y2 = clutter_actor_get_height (self),
+      };
 
-      if (G_UNLIKELY (default_pick_pipeline == NULL))
-        {
-          CoglContext *ctx =
-            clutter_backend_get_cogl_context (clutter_get_default_backend ());
-
-          default_pick_pipeline = cogl_pipeline_new (ctx);
-        }
-
-      g_assert (default_pick_pipeline != NULL);
-      pick_pipeline = cogl_pipeline_copy (default_pick_pipeline);
-
-      clutter_actor_get_allocation_box (self, &box);
-
-      width = box.x2 - box.x1;
-      height = box.y2 - box.y1;
-
-      cogl_pipeline_set_color4ub (pick_pipeline,
-                                  color->red,
-                                  color->green,
-                                  color->blue,
-                                  color->alpha);
-
-      cogl_framebuffer_draw_rectangle (framebuffer,
-                                       pick_pipeline,
-                                       0, 0,
-                                       width, height);
-
-      cogl_object_unref (pick_pipeline);
+      clutter_actor_pick_box (self, &box);
     }
 
   /* XXX - this thoroughly sucks, but we need to maintain compatibility
@@ -3594,15 +3649,6 @@ _clutter_actor_update_last_paint_volume (ClutterActor *self)
   priv->last_paint_volume_valid = TRUE;
 }
 
-guint32
-_clutter_actor_get_pick_id (ClutterActor *self)
-{
-  if (self->priv->pick_id < 0)
-    return 0;
-
-  return self->priv->pick_id;
-}
-
 /* This is the same as clutter_actor_add_effect except that it doesn't
    queue a redraw and it doesn't notify on the effect property */
 static void
@@ -3834,6 +3880,7 @@ clutter_actor_paint (ClutterActor *self)
 {
   ClutterActorPrivate *priv;
   ClutterPickMode pick_mode;
+  ClutterActorBox clip;
   gboolean clip_set = FALSE;
   ClutterStage *stage;
 
@@ -3927,26 +3974,40 @@ clutter_actor_paint (ClutterActor *self)
 
   if (priv->has_clip)
     {
-      CoglFramebuffer *fb = _clutter_stage_get_active_framebuffer (stage);
-      cogl_framebuffer_push_rectangle_clip (fb,
-                                            priv->clip.origin.x,
-                                            priv->clip.origin.y,
-                                            priv->clip.origin.x + priv->clip.size.width,
-                                            priv->clip.origin.y + priv->clip.size.height);
+      clip.x1 = priv->clip.origin.x;
+      clip.y1 = priv->clip.origin.y;
+      clip.x2 = priv->clip.origin.x + priv->clip.size.width;
+      clip.y2 = priv->clip.origin.y + priv->clip.size.height;
       clip_set = TRUE;
     }
   else if (priv->clip_to_allocation)
     {
-      CoglFramebuffer *fb = _clutter_stage_get_active_framebuffer (stage);
-      gfloat width, height;
-
-      width  = priv->allocation.x2 - priv->allocation.x1;
-      height = priv->allocation.y2 - priv->allocation.y1;
-
-      cogl_framebuffer_push_rectangle_clip (fb, 0, 0, width, height);
+      clip.x1 = 0.f;
+      clip.y1 = 0.f;
+      clip.x2 = priv->allocation.x2 - priv->allocation.x1;
+      clip.y2 = priv->allocation.y2 - priv->allocation.y1;
       clip_set = TRUE;
     }
 
+  if (clip_set)
+    {
+      if (pick_mode == CLUTTER_PICK_NONE)
+        {
+          CoglFramebuffer *fb = _clutter_stage_get_active_framebuffer (stage);
+
+          cogl_framebuffer_push_rectangle_clip (fb,
+                                                clip.x1,
+                                                clip.y1,
+                                                clip.x2,
+                                                clip.y2);
+        }
+      else
+        {
+          if (!_clutter_actor_push_pick_clip (self, &clip))
+            clip_set = FALSE;
+        }
+    }
+
   if (pick_mode == CLUTTER_PICK_NONE)
     {
       /* We check whether we need to add the flatten effect before
@@ -4025,9 +4086,16 @@ clutter_actor_paint (ClutterActor *self)
 done:
   if (clip_set)
     {
-      CoglFramebuffer *fb = _clutter_stage_get_active_framebuffer (stage);
+      if (pick_mode == CLUTTER_PICK_NONE)
+        {
+          CoglFramebuffer *fb = _clutter_stage_get_active_framebuffer (stage);
 
-      cogl_framebuffer_pop_clip (fb);
+          cogl_framebuffer_pop_clip (fb);
+        }
+      else
+        {
+          _clutter_actor_pop_pick_clip (self);
+        }
     }
 
   cogl_pop_matrix ();
@@ -4098,11 +4166,12 @@ clutter_actor_continue_paint (ClutterActor *self)
         {
           ClutterColor col = { 0, };
 
-          _clutter_id_to_color (_clutter_actor_get_pick_id (self), &col);
-
-          /* Actor will then paint silhouette of itself in supplied
-           * color.  See clutter_stage_get_actor_at_pos() for where
-           * picking is enabled.
+          /* The actor will log a silhouette of itself to the stage pick log.
+           * Note that the picking color is no longer used as the "log" instead
+           * keeps a weak pointer to the actor itself. But we keep the color
+           * parameter for now so as to maintain ABI compatibility. The color
+           * parameter can be removed when someone feels like breaking the ABI
+           * along with gnome-shell.
            *
            * XXX:2.0 - Call the pick() virtual directly
            */
@@ -8651,8 +8720,6 @@ clutter_actor_init (ClutterActor *self)
 
   self->priv = priv = clutter_actor_get_instance_private (self);
 
-  priv->pick_id = -1;
-
   priv->opacity = 0xff;
   priv->show_on_set_parent = TRUE;
   priv->resource_scale = -1.0f;
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor.h
index 7d2168af1..b1abff86d 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor.h
@@ -902,6 +902,10 @@ void                            clutter_actor_bind_model_with_properties
                                                                                  const char                 *first_model_property,
                                                                                  ...);
 
+CLUTTER_EXPORT
+void clutter_actor_pick_box (ClutterActor          *self,
+                             const ClutterActorBox *box);
+
 G_END_DECLS
 
 #endif /* __CLUTTER_ACTOR_H__ */
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-debug.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-debug.h
index 2462385f6..7d170d2d5 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-debug.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-debug.h
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ typedef enum
 typedef enum
 {
   CLUTTER_DEBUG_NOP_PICKING         = 1 << 0,
-  CLUTTER_DEBUG_DUMP_PICK_BUFFERS   = 1 << 1
 } ClutterPickDebugFlag;
 
 typedef enum
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.c
index 171441577..2bb5bd2c8 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.c
@@ -129,7 +129,6 @@ static const GDebugKey clutter_debug_keys[] = {
 
 static const GDebugKey clutter_pick_debug_keys[] = {
   { "nop-picking", CLUTTER_DEBUG_NOP_PICKING },
-  { "dump-pick-buffers", CLUTTER_DEBUG_DUMP_PICK_BUFFERS },
 };
 
 static const GDebugKey clutter_paint_debug_keys[] = {
@@ -401,125 +400,6 @@ clutter_disable_accessibility (void)
   clutter_enable_accessibility = FALSE;
 }
 
-void
-_clutter_id_to_color (guint         id_,
-                      ClutterColor *col)
-{
-  ClutterMainContext *ctx;
-  gint red, green, blue;
-
-  ctx = _clutter_context_get_default ();
-
-  if (ctx->fb_g_mask == 0)
-    {
-      /* Figure out framebuffer masks used for pick */
-      cogl_get_bitmasks (&ctx->fb_r_mask,
-			 &ctx->fb_g_mask,
-			 &ctx->fb_b_mask, NULL);
-
-      ctx->fb_r_mask_used = ctx->fb_r_mask;
-      ctx->fb_g_mask_used = ctx->fb_g_mask;
-      ctx->fb_b_mask_used = ctx->fb_b_mask;
-
-      /* XXX - describe what "fuzzy picking" is */
-      if (clutter_use_fuzzy_picking)
-	{
-	  ctx->fb_r_mask_used--;
-	  ctx->fb_g_mask_used--;
-	  ctx->fb_b_mask_used--;
-	}
-    }
-
-  /* compute the numbers we'll store in the components */
-  red   = (id_ >> (ctx->fb_g_mask_used+ctx->fb_b_mask_used))
-        & (0xff >> (8-ctx->fb_r_mask_used));
-  green = (id_ >> ctx->fb_b_mask_used)
-        & (0xff >> (8-ctx->fb_g_mask_used));
-  blue  = (id_)
-        & (0xff >> (8-ctx->fb_b_mask_used));
-
-  /* shift left bits a bit and add one, this circumvents
-   * at least some potential rounding errors in GL/GLES
-   * driver / hw implementation.
-   */
-  if (ctx->fb_r_mask_used != ctx->fb_r_mask)
-    red = red * 2;
-  if (ctx->fb_g_mask_used != ctx->fb_g_mask)
-    green = green * 2;
-  if (ctx->fb_b_mask_used != ctx->fb_b_mask)
-    blue  = blue  * 2;
-
-  /* shift up to be full 8bit values */
-  red   = (red   << (8 - ctx->fb_r_mask)) | (0x7f >> (ctx->fb_r_mask_used));
-  green = (green << (8 - ctx->fb_g_mask)) | (0x7f >> (ctx->fb_g_mask_used));
-  blue  = (blue  << (8 - ctx->fb_b_mask)) | (0x7f >> (ctx->fb_b_mask_used));
-
-  col->red   = red;
-  col->green = green;
-  col->blue  = blue;
-  col->alpha = 0xff;
-
-  /* XXX: We rotate the nibbles of the colors here so that there is a
-   * visible variation between colors of sequential actor identifiers;
-   * otherwise pick buffers dumped to an image will pretty much just look
-   * black.
-   */
-  if (G_UNLIKELY (clutter_pick_debug_flags & CLUTTER_DEBUG_DUMP_PICK_BUFFERS))
-    {
-      col->red   = (col->red << 4)   | (col->red >> 4);
-      col->green = (col->green << 4) | (col->green >> 4);
-      col->blue  = (col->blue << 4)  | (col->blue >> 4);
-    }
-}
-
-guint
-_clutter_pixel_to_id (guchar pixel[4])
-{
-  ClutterMainContext *ctx;
-  gint red, green, blue;
-  guint retval;
-
-  ctx = _clutter_context_get_default ();
-
-  /* reduce the pixel components to the number of bits actually used of the
-   * 8bits.
-   */
-  if (G_UNLIKELY (clutter_pick_debug_flags & CLUTTER_DEBUG_DUMP_PICK_BUFFERS))
-    {
-      guchar tmp;
-
-      /* XXX: In _clutter_id_to_color we rotated the nibbles of the colors so
-       * that there is a visible variation between colors of sequential actor
-       * identifiers (otherwise pick buffers dumped to an image will pretty
-       * much just look black.) Here we reverse that rotation.
-       */
-      tmp = ((pixel[0] << 4) | (pixel[0] >> 4));
-      red = tmp >> (8 - ctx->fb_r_mask);
-      tmp = ((pixel[1] << 4) | (pixel[1] >> 4));
-      green = tmp >> (8 - ctx->fb_g_mask);
-      tmp = ((pixel[2] << 4) | (pixel[2] >> 4));
-      blue = tmp >> (8 - ctx->fb_b_mask);
-    }
-  else
-    {
-      red   = pixel[0] >> (8 - ctx->fb_r_mask);
-      green = pixel[1] >> (8 - ctx->fb_g_mask);
-      blue  = pixel[2] >> (8 - ctx->fb_b_mask);
-    }
-
-  /* divide potentially by two if 'fuzzy' */
-  red   = red   >> (ctx->fb_r_mask - ctx->fb_r_mask_used);
-  green = green >> (ctx->fb_g_mask - ctx->fb_g_mask_used);
-  blue  = blue  >> (ctx->fb_b_mask - ctx->fb_b_mask_used);
-
-  /* combine the correct per component values into the final id */
-  retval = blue
-         + (green <<  ctx->fb_b_mask_used)
-         + (red << (ctx->fb_b_mask_used + ctx->fb_g_mask_used));
-
-  return retval;
-}
-
 static CoglPangoFontMap *
 clutter_context_get_pango_fontmap (void)
 {
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-private.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-private.h
index ac44edadc..a34cae44b 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-private.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-private.h
@@ -199,11 +199,6 @@ gboolean      _clutter_feature_init (GError **error);
 gboolean        _clutter_diagnostic_enabled     (void);
 void            _clutter_diagnostic_message     (const char *fmt, ...) G_GNUC_PRINTF (1, 2);
 
-/* Picking code */
-guint           _clutter_pixel_to_id            (guchar        pixel[4]);
-void            _clutter_id_to_color            (guint         id,
-                                                 ClutterColor *col);
-
 CLUTTER_EXPORT
 void            _clutter_set_sync_to_vblank     (gboolean      sync_to_vblank);
 
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage-private.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage-private.h
index 35e67d574..c4334d87c 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage-private.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage-private.h
@@ -79,6 +79,15 @@ gint64    _clutter_stage_get_update_time                  (ClutterStage *stage);
 void     _clutter_stage_clear_update_time                 (ClutterStage *stage);
 gboolean _clutter_stage_has_full_redraw_queued            (ClutterStage *stage);
 
+void _clutter_stage_log_pick (ClutterStage       *stage,
+                              const ClutterPoint *vertices,
+                              ClutterActor       *actor);
+
+void _clutter_stage_push_pick_clip (ClutterStage       *stage,
+                                    const ClutterPoint *vertices);
+
+void _clutter_stage_pop_pick_clip (ClutterStage *stage);
+
 ClutterActor *_clutter_stage_do_pick (ClutterStage    *stage,
                                       gint             x,
                                       gint             y,
@@ -97,13 +106,6 @@ void                          _clutter_stage_queue_redraw_entry_invalidate (Clut
 
 CoglFramebuffer *_clutter_stage_get_active_framebuffer (ClutterStage *stage);
 
-gint32          _clutter_stage_acquire_pick_id          (ClutterStage *stage,
-                                                         ClutterActor *actor);
-void            _clutter_stage_release_pick_id          (ClutterStage *stage,
-                                                         gint32        pick_id);
-ClutterActor *  _clutter_stage_get_actor_by_pick_id     (ClutterStage *stage,
-                                                         gint32        pick_id);
-
 void            _clutter_stage_add_pointer_drag_actor    (ClutterStage       *stage,
                                                           ClutterInputDevice *device,
                                                           ClutterActor       *actor);
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage-window.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage-window.c
index 76421d6a0..5da7c50f5 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage-window.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage-window.c
@@ -275,24 +275,6 @@ _clutter_stage_window_redraw (ClutterStageWindow *window)
     iface->redraw (window);
 }
 
-
-void
-_clutter_stage_window_get_dirty_pixel (ClutterStageWindow *window,
-                                       ClutterStageView   *view,
-                                       int *x, int *y)
-{
-  ClutterStageWindowInterface *iface;
-
-  *x = 0;
-  *y = 0;
-
-  g_return_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_STAGE_WINDOW (window));
-
-  iface = CLUTTER_STAGE_WINDOW_GET_IFACE (window);
-  if (iface->get_dirty_pixel)
-    iface->get_dirty_pixel (window, view, x, y);
-}
-
 gboolean
 _clutter_stage_window_can_clip_redraws (ClutterStageWindow *window)
 {
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage-window.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage-window.h
index b72ffe3d8..8e7f2a765 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage-window.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage-window.h
@@ -64,10 +64,6 @@ struct _ClutterStageWindowInterface
 
   void              (* redraw)                  (ClutterStageWindow *stage_window);
 
-  void              (* get_dirty_pixel)         (ClutterStageWindow *stage_window,
-                                                 ClutterStageView   *view,
-                                                 int *x, int *y);
-
   gboolean          (* can_clip_redraws)        (ClutterStageWindow *stage_window);
 
   GList            *(* get_views)               (ClutterStageWindow *stage_window);
@@ -112,10 +108,6 @@ void              _clutter_stage_window_set_accept_focus        (ClutterStageWin
 
 void              _clutter_stage_window_redraw                  (ClutterStageWindow *window);
 
-void              _clutter_stage_window_get_dirty_pixel         (ClutterStageWindow *window,
-                                                                 ClutterStageView   *view,
-                                                                 int *x, int *y);
-
 gboolean          _clutter_stage_window_can_clip_redraws        (ClutterStageWindow *window);
 
 GList *           _clutter_stage_window_get_views               (ClutterStageWindow *window);
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.c
index eece2450b..93c1c82e8 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.c
@@ -105,6 +105,19 @@ struct _ClutterStageQueueRedrawEntry
   ClutterPaintVolume clip;
 };
 
+typedef struct _PickRecord
+{
+  ClutterPoint vertex[4];
+  ClutterActor *actor;
+  int clip_stack_top;
+} PickRecord;
+
+typedef struct _PickClipRecord
+{
+  int prev;
+  ClutterPoint vertex[4];
+} PickClipRecord;
+
 struct _ClutterStagePrivate
 {
   /* the stage implementation */
@@ -138,7 +151,11 @@ struct _ClutterStagePrivate
   GTimer *fps_timer;
   gint32 timer_n_frames;
 
-  ClutterIDPool *pick_id_pool;
+  GArray *pick_stack;
+  GArray *pick_clip_stack;
+  int pick_clip_stack_top;
+  gboolean pick_stack_frozen;
+  ClutterPickMode cached_pick_mode;
 
 #ifdef CLUTTER_ENABLE_DEBUG
   gulong redraw_count;
@@ -323,6 +340,214 @@ clutter_stage_get_preferred_height (ClutterActor *self,
     *natural_height_p = geom.height;
 }
 
+/* In order to keep weak pointers valid between frames we need them to not
+ * move in memory, so the stack is marked as "frozen".
+ */
+static void
+_clutter_stage_freeze_pick_stack (ClutterStage *stage)
+{
+  ClutterStagePrivate *priv = stage->priv;
+  int i;
+
+  if (priv->pick_stack_frozen)
+    return;
+
+  for (i = 0; i < priv->pick_stack->len; i++)
+    {
+      PickRecord *rec = &g_array_index (priv->pick_stack, PickRecord, i);
+
+      if (rec->actor)
+        g_object_add_weak_pointer (G_OBJECT (rec->actor),
+                                   (gpointer) &rec->actor);
+    }
+
+  priv->pick_stack_frozen = TRUE;
+}
+
+static void
+_clutter_stage_thaw_pick_stack (ClutterStage *stage)
+{
+  ClutterStagePrivate *priv = stage->priv;
+  int i;
+
+  if (!priv->pick_stack_frozen)
+    return;
+
+  for (i = 0; i < priv->pick_stack->len; i++)
+    {
+      PickRecord *rec = &g_array_index (priv->pick_stack, PickRecord, i);
+
+      if (rec->actor)
+        g_object_remove_weak_pointer (G_OBJECT (rec->actor),
+                                      (gpointer) &rec->actor);
+    }
+
+  priv->pick_stack_frozen = FALSE;
+}
+
+static void
+_clutter_stage_clear_pick_stack (ClutterStage *stage)
+{
+  ClutterStagePrivate *priv = stage->priv;
+
+  _clutter_stage_thaw_pick_stack (stage);
+  g_array_set_size (priv->pick_stack, 0);
+  g_array_set_size (priv->pick_clip_stack, 0);
+  priv->pick_clip_stack_top = -1;
+  priv->cached_pick_mode = CLUTTER_PICK_NONE;
+}
+
+void
+_clutter_stage_log_pick (ClutterStage       *stage,
+                         const ClutterPoint *vertices,
+                         ClutterActor       *actor)
+{
+  ClutterStagePrivate *priv;
+  PickRecord rec;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_STAGE (stage));
+  g_return_if_fail (actor != NULL);
+
+  priv = stage->priv;
+
+  g_assert (!priv->pick_stack_frozen);
+
+  memcpy (rec.vertex, vertices, 4 * sizeof (ClutterPoint));
+  rec.actor = actor;
+  rec.clip_stack_top = priv->pick_clip_stack_top;
+
+  g_array_append_val (priv->pick_stack, rec);
+}
+
+void
+_clutter_stage_push_pick_clip (ClutterStage       *stage,
+                               const ClutterPoint *vertices)
+{
+  ClutterStagePrivate *priv;
+  PickClipRecord clip;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_STAGE (stage));
+
+  priv = stage->priv;
+
+  g_assert (!priv->pick_stack_frozen);
+
+  clip.prev = priv->pick_clip_stack_top;
+  memcpy (clip.vertex, vertices, 4 * sizeof (ClutterPoint));
+
+  g_array_append_val (priv->pick_clip_stack, clip);
+  priv->pick_clip_stack_top = priv->pick_clip_stack->len - 1;
+}
+
+void
+_clutter_stage_pop_pick_clip (ClutterStage *stage)
+{
+  ClutterStagePrivate *priv;
+  const PickClipRecord *top;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_STAGE (stage));
+
+  priv = stage->priv;
+
+  g_assert (!priv->pick_stack_frozen);
+  g_assert (priv->pick_clip_stack_top >= 0);
+
+  /* Individual elements of pick_clip_stack are not freed. This is so they
+   * can be shared as part of a tree of different stacks used by different
+   * actors in the pick_stack. The whole pick_clip_stack does however get
+   * freed later in _clutter_stage_clear_pick_stack.
+   */
+
+  top = &g_array_index (priv->pick_clip_stack,
+                        PickClipRecord,
+                        priv->pick_clip_stack_top);
+
+  priv->pick_clip_stack_top = top->prev;
+}
+
+static gboolean
+is_quadrilateral_axis_aligned_rectangle (const ClutterPoint *vertices)
+{
+  int i;
+
+  for (i = 0; i < 4; i++)
+    {
+      if (!G_APPROX_VALUE (vertices[i].x,
+                           vertices[(i + 1) % 4].x,
+                           FLT_EPSILON) &&
+          !G_APPROX_VALUE (vertices[i].y,
+                           vertices[(i + 1) % 4].y,
+                           FLT_EPSILON))
+        return FALSE;
+    }
+  return TRUE;
+}
+
+static gboolean
+is_inside_axis_aligned_rectangle (const ClutterPoint *point,
+                                  const ClutterPoint *vertices)
+{
+  float min_x = FLT_MAX;
+  float max_x = FLT_MIN;
+  float min_y = FLT_MAX;
+  float max_y = FLT_MIN;
+  int i;
+
+  for (i = 0; i < 3; i++)
+    {
+      min_x = MIN (min_x, vertices[i].x);
+      min_y = MIN (min_y, vertices[i].y);
+      max_x = MAX (max_x, vertices[i].x);
+      max_y = MAX (max_y, vertices[i].y);
+    }
+
+  return (point->x >= min_x &&
+          point->y >= min_y &&
+          point->x < max_x &&
+          point->y < max_y);
+}
+
+static gboolean
+is_inside_input_region (const ClutterPoint *point,
+                        const ClutterPoint *vertices)
+{
+
+  if (is_quadrilateral_axis_aligned_rectangle (vertices))
+    return is_inside_axis_aligned_rectangle (point, vertices);
+  else
+    return clutter_point_inside_quadrilateral (point, vertices);
+}
+
+static gboolean
+pick_record_contains_pixel (ClutterStage       *stage,
+                            const PickRecord   *rec,
+                            int                 x,
+                            int                 y)
+{
+  const ClutterPoint point = { x, y };
+  ClutterStagePrivate *priv;
+  int clip_index;
+
+  if (!is_inside_input_region (&point, rec->vertex))
+      return FALSE;
+
+  priv = stage->priv;
+  clip_index = rec->clip_stack_top;
+  while (clip_index >= 0)
+    {
+      const PickClipRecord *clip = &g_array_index (priv->pick_clip_stack,
+                                                   PickClipRecord,
+                                                   clip_index);
+
+      if (!is_inside_input_region (&point, clip->vertex))
+        return FALSE;
+
+      clip_index = clip->prev;
+    }
+
+  return TRUE;
+}
+
 static inline void
 queue_full_redraw (ClutterStage *stage)
 {
@@ -630,6 +855,12 @@ clutter_stage_do_paint_view (ClutterStage                *stage,
   float viewport[4];
   cairo_rectangle_int_t geom;
 
+  /* Any mode of painting/picking invalidates the pick cache, unless we're
+   * in the middle of building it. So we reset the cached flag but don't
+   * completely clear the pick stack.
+   */
+  priv->cached_pick_mode = CLUTTER_PICK_NONE;
+
   _clutter_stage_window_get_geometry (priv->impl, &geom);
 
   viewport[0] = priv->viewport[0];
@@ -1398,40 +1629,6 @@ clutter_stage_get_redraw_clip_bounds (ClutterStage          *stage,
     }
 }
 
-static void
-read_pixels_to_file (CoglFramebuffer *fb,
-                     char            *filename_stem,
-                     int              x,
-                     int              y,
-                     int              width,
-                     int              height)
-{
-  guint8 *data;
-  cairo_surface_t *surface;
-  static int read_count = 0;
-  char *filename = g_strdup_printf ("%s-%05d.png",
-                                    filename_stem,
-                                    read_count);
-
-  data = g_malloc (4 * width * height);
-  cogl_framebuffer_read_pixels (fb,
-                                x, y, width, height,
-                                CLUTTER_CAIRO_FORMAT_ARGB32,
-                                data);
-
-  surface = cairo_image_surface_create_for_data (data, CAIRO_FORMAT_RGB24,
-                                                 width, height,
-                                                 width * 4);
-
-  cairo_surface_write_to_png (surface, filename);
-  cairo_surface_destroy (surface);
-
-  g_free (data);
-  g_free (filename);
-
-  read_count++;
-}
-
 static ClutterActor *
 _clutter_stage_do_pick_on_view (ClutterStage     *stage,
                                 gint              x,
@@ -1439,140 +1636,42 @@ _clutter_stage_do_pick_on_view (ClutterStage     *stage,
                                 ClutterPickMode   mode,
                                 ClutterStageView *view)
 {
-  ClutterActor *actor = CLUTTER_ACTOR (stage);
+  ClutterMainContext *context = _clutter_context_get_default ();
   ClutterStagePrivate *priv = stage->priv;
   CoglFramebuffer *fb = clutter_stage_view_get_framebuffer (view);
-  cairo_rectangle_int_t view_layout;
-  ClutterMainContext *context;
-  guchar pixel[4] = { 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff };
-  CoglColor stage_pick_id;
-  gboolean dither_enabled_save;
-  ClutterActor *retval;
-  gint dirty_x;
-  gint dirty_y;
-  gint read_x;
-  gint read_y;
-  float fb_width, fb_height;
-  float fb_scale;
-  float viewport_offset_x;
-  float viewport_offset_y;
+  int i;
 
-  priv = stage->priv;
+  g_assert (context->pick_mode == CLUTTER_PICK_NONE);
 
-  context = _clutter_context_get_default ();
-  fb_scale = clutter_stage_view_get_scale (view);
-  clutter_stage_view_get_layout (view, &view_layout);
-
-  fb_width = view_layout.width * fb_scale;
-  fb_height = view_layout.height * fb_scale;
-  cogl_push_framebuffer (fb);
-
-  /* needed for when a context switch happens */
-  _clutter_stage_maybe_setup_viewport (stage, view);
-
-  /* FIXME: For some reason leaving the cogl clip stack empty causes the
-   * picking to not work at all, so setting it the whole framebuffer content
-   * for now. */
-  cogl_framebuffer_push_scissor_clip (fb, 0, 0,
-                                      view_layout.width * fb_scale,
-                                      view_layout.height * fb_scale);
-
-  _clutter_stage_window_get_dirty_pixel (priv->impl, view, &dirty_x, &dirty_y);
-
-  if (G_LIKELY (!(clutter_pick_debug_flags & CLUTTER_DEBUG_DUMP_PICK_BUFFERS)))
+  if (mode != priv->cached_pick_mode)
     {
-      CLUTTER_NOTE (PICK, "Pushing pick scissor clip x: %d, y: %d, 1x1",
-                    (int) (dirty_x * fb_scale),
-                    (int) (dirty_y * fb_scale));
-      cogl_framebuffer_push_scissor_clip (fb, dirty_x * fb_scale, dirty_y * fb_scale, 1, 1);
+      _clutter_stage_clear_pick_stack (stage);
+
+      cogl_push_framebuffer (fb);
+
+      context->pick_mode = mode;
+      clutter_stage_do_paint_view (stage, view, NULL);
+      context->pick_mode = CLUTTER_PICK_NONE;
+      priv->cached_pick_mode = mode;
+
+      cogl_pop_framebuffer ();
+
+      _clutter_stage_freeze_pick_stack (stage);
     }
 
-  viewport_offset_x = x * fb_scale - dirty_x * fb_scale;
-  viewport_offset_y = y * fb_scale - dirty_y * fb_scale;
-  CLUTTER_NOTE (PICK, "Setting viewport to %f, %f, %f, %f",
-                priv->viewport[0] * fb_scale - viewport_offset_x,
-                priv->viewport[1] * fb_scale - viewport_offset_y,
-                priv->viewport[2] * fb_scale,
-                priv->viewport[3] * fb_scale);
-  cogl_framebuffer_set_viewport (fb,
-                                 priv->viewport[0] * fb_scale - viewport_offset_x,
-                                 priv->viewport[1] * fb_scale - viewport_offset_y,
-                                 priv->viewport[2] * fb_scale,
-                                 priv->viewport[3] * fb_scale);
-
-  read_x = dirty_x * fb_scale;
-  read_y = dirty_y * fb_scale;
-
-  CLUTTER_NOTE (PICK, "Performing pick at %i,%i on view %dx%d+%d+%d s: %f",
-                x, y,
-                view_layout.width, view_layout.height,
-                view_layout.x, view_layout.y, fb_scale);
-
-  cogl_color_init_from_4ub (&stage_pick_id, 255, 255, 255, 255);
-  cogl_framebuffer_clear (fb, COGL_BUFFER_BIT_COLOR | COGL_BUFFER_BIT_DEPTH, &stage_pick_id);
-
-  /* Disable dithering (if any) when doing the painting in pick mode */
-  dither_enabled_save = cogl_framebuffer_get_dither_enabled (fb);
-  cogl_framebuffer_set_dither_enabled (fb, FALSE);
-
-  /* Render the entire scence in pick mode - just single colored silhouette's
-   * are drawn offscreen (as we never swap buffers)
-  */
-  context->pick_mode = mode;
-
-  clutter_stage_do_paint_view (stage, view, NULL);
-  context->pick_mode = CLUTTER_PICK_NONE;
-
-  /* Read the color of the screen co-ords pixel. RGBA_8888_PRE is used
-     even though we don't care about the alpha component because under
-     GLES this is the only format that is guaranteed to work so Cogl
-     will end up having to do a conversion if any other format is
-     used. The format is requested as pre-multiplied because Cogl
-     assumes that all pixels in the framebuffer are premultiplied so
-     it avoids a conversion. */
-  cogl_framebuffer_read_pixels (fb,
-                                read_x, read_y, 1, 1,
-                                COGL_PIXEL_FORMAT_RGBA_8888_PRE,
-                                pixel);
-
-  if (G_UNLIKELY (clutter_pick_debug_flags & CLUTTER_DEBUG_DUMP_PICK_BUFFERS))
+  /* Search all "painted" pickable actors from front to back. A linear search
+   * is required, and also performs fine since there is typically only
+   * on the order of dozens of actors in the list (on screen) at a time.
+   */
+  for (i = priv->pick_stack->len - 1; i >= 0; i--)
     {
-      char *file_name =
-        g_strdup_printf ("pick-buffer-%s-view-x-%d",
-                         _clutter_actor_get_debug_name (actor),
-                         view_layout.x);
+      const PickRecord *rec = &g_array_index (priv->pick_stack, PickRecord, i);
 
-      read_pixels_to_file (fb, file_name, 0, 0, fb_width, fb_height);
-
-      g_free (file_name);
+      if (rec->actor && pick_record_contains_pixel (stage, rec, x, y))
+        return rec->actor;
     }
 
-  /* Restore whether GL_DITHER was enabled */
-  cogl_framebuffer_set_dither_enabled (fb, dither_enabled_save);
-
-  if (G_LIKELY (!(clutter_pick_debug_flags & CLUTTER_DEBUG_DUMP_PICK_BUFFERS)))
-    cogl_framebuffer_pop_clip (fb);
-
-  cogl_framebuffer_pop_clip (fb);
-
-  _clutter_stage_dirty_viewport (stage);
-
-  if (pixel[0] == 0xff && pixel[1] == 0xff && pixel[2] == 0xff)
-    retval = actor;
-  else
-    {
-      guint32 id_ = _clutter_pixel_to_id (pixel);
-
-      retval = _clutter_stage_get_actor_by_pick_id (stage, id_);
-      CLUTTER_NOTE (PICK, "Picking actor %s with id %u (pixel: 0x%x%x%x%x",
-                    G_OBJECT_TYPE_NAME (retval),
-                    id_,
-                    pixel[0], pixel[1], pixel[2], pixel[3]);
-    }
-
-  cogl_pop_framebuffer ();
-
-  return retval;
+  return CLUTTER_ACTOR (stage);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1867,7 +1966,9 @@ clutter_stage_finalize (GObject *object)
 
   g_array_free (priv->paint_volume_stack, TRUE);
 
-  _clutter_id_pool_free (priv->pick_id_pool);
+  _clutter_stage_clear_pick_stack (stage);
+  g_array_free (priv->pick_clip_stack, TRUE);
+  g_array_free (priv->pick_stack, TRUE);
 
   if (priv->fps_timer != NULL)
     g_timer_destroy (priv->fps_timer);
@@ -2302,7 +2403,10 @@ clutter_stage_init (ClutterStage *self)
   priv->paint_volume_stack =
     g_array_new (FALSE, FALSE, sizeof (ClutterPaintVolume));
 
-  priv->pick_id_pool = _clutter_id_pool_new (256);
+  priv->pick_stack = g_array_new (FALSE, FALSE, sizeof (PickRecord));
+  priv->pick_clip_stack = g_array_new (FALSE, FALSE, sizeof (PickClipRecord));
+  priv->pick_clip_stack_top = -1;
+  priv->cached_pick_mode = CLUTTER_PICK_NONE;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -3980,6 +4084,12 @@ _clutter_stage_queue_actor_redraw (ClutterStage                 *stage,
   CLUTTER_NOTE (CLIPPING, "stage_queue_actor_redraw (actor=%s, clip=%p): ",
                 _clutter_actor_get_debug_name (actor), clip);
 
+  /* Queuing a redraw or clip change invalidates the pick cache, unless we're
+   * in the middle of building it. So we reset the cached flag but don't
+   * completely clear the pick stack...
+   */
+  priv->cached_pick_mode = CLUTTER_PICK_NONE;
+
   if (!priv->redraw_pending)
     {
       ClutterMasterClock *master_clock;
@@ -4240,39 +4350,6 @@ _clutter_stage_get_active_framebuffer (ClutterStage *stage)
   return stage->priv->active_framebuffer;
 }
 
-gint32
-_clutter_stage_acquire_pick_id (ClutterStage *stage,
-                                ClutterActor *actor)
-{
-  ClutterStagePrivate *priv = stage->priv;
-
-  g_assert (priv->pick_id_pool != NULL);
-
-  return _clutter_id_pool_add (priv->pick_id_pool, actor);
-}
-
-void
-_clutter_stage_release_pick_id (ClutterStage *stage,
-                                gint32        pick_id)
-{
-  ClutterStagePrivate *priv = stage->priv;
-
-  g_assert (priv->pick_id_pool != NULL);
-
-  _clutter_id_pool_remove (priv->pick_id_pool, pick_id);
-}
-
-ClutterActor *
-_clutter_stage_get_actor_by_pick_id (ClutterStage *stage,
-                                     gint32        pick_id)
-{
-  ClutterStagePrivate *priv = stage->priv;
-
-  g_assert (priv->pick_id_pool != NULL);
-
-  return _clutter_id_pool_lookup (priv->pick_id_pool, pick_id);
-}
-
 void
 _clutter_stage_add_pointer_drag_actor (ClutterStage       *stage,
                                        ClutterInputDevice *device,
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/cogl/clutter-stage-cogl.c b/clutter/clutter/cogl/clutter-stage-cogl.c
index 8f97a5fa6..7dfd9b839 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/cogl/clutter-stage-cogl.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/cogl/clutter-stage-cogl.c
@@ -1004,55 +1004,6 @@ clutter_stage_cogl_redraw (ClutterStageWindow *stage_window)
   COGL_TRACE_END (ClutterStageCoglRedraw);
 }
 
-static void
-clutter_stage_cogl_get_dirty_pixel (ClutterStageWindow *stage_window,
-                                    ClutterStageView   *view,
-                                    int                *x,
-                                    int                *y)
-{
-  CoglFramebuffer *framebuffer = clutter_stage_view_get_framebuffer (view);
-  gboolean has_buffer_age =
-    cogl_is_onscreen (framebuffer) &&
-    is_buffer_age_enabled ();
-  float fb_scale;
-  gboolean scale_is_fractional;
-
-  fb_scale = clutter_stage_view_get_scale (view);
-  if (fb_scale != floorf (fb_scale))
-    scale_is_fractional = TRUE;
-  else
-    scale_is_fractional = FALSE;
-
-  /*
-   * Buffer damage is tracked in the framebuffer coordinate space
-   * using the damage history. When fractional scaling is used, a
-   * coordinate on the stage might not correspond to the exact position of any
-   * physical pixel, which causes issues when painting using the pick mode.
-   *
-   * For now, always use the (0, 0) pixel for picking when using fractional
-   * framebuffer scaling.
-   */
-  if (!has_buffer_age || scale_is_fractional)
-    {
-      *x = 0;
-      *y = 0;
-    }
-  else
-    {
-      ClutterStageViewCogl *view_cogl = CLUTTER_STAGE_VIEW_COGL (view);
-      ClutterStageViewCoglPrivate *view_priv =
-        clutter_stage_view_cogl_get_instance_private (view_cogl);
-      cairo_rectangle_int_t view_layout;
-      cairo_rectangle_int_t *fb_damage;
-
-      clutter_stage_view_get_layout (view, &view_layout);
-
-      fb_damage = &view_priv->damage_history[DAMAGE_HISTORY (view_priv->damage_index - 1)];
-      *x = fb_damage->x / fb_scale;
-      *y = fb_damage->y / fb_scale;
-    }
-}
-
 static void
 clutter_stage_window_iface_init (ClutterStageWindowInterface *iface)
 {
@@ -1070,7 +1021,6 @@ clutter_stage_window_iface_init (ClutterStageWindowInterface *iface)
   iface->ignoring_redraw_clips = clutter_stage_cogl_ignoring_redraw_clips;
   iface->get_redraw_clip_bounds = clutter_stage_cogl_get_redraw_clip_bounds;
   iface->redraw = clutter_stage_cogl_redraw;
-  iface->get_dirty_pixel = clutter_stage_cogl_get_dirty_pixel;
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/deprecated/clutter-texture.c b/clutter/clutter/deprecated/clutter-texture.c
index 40da8efcb..b4a60cc8c 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/deprecated/clutter-texture.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/deprecated/clutter-texture.c
@@ -572,83 +572,6 @@ gen_texcoords_and_draw_cogl_rectangle (ClutterActor    *self,
                                             0, 0, t_w, t_h);
 }
 
-static CoglPipeline *
-create_pick_pipeline (ClutterActor *self)
-{
-  ClutterTexture *texture = CLUTTER_TEXTURE (self);
-  ClutterTexturePrivate *priv = texture->priv;
-  CoglPipeline *pick_pipeline = cogl_pipeline_copy (texture_template_pipeline);
-  GError *error = NULL;
-
-  if (!cogl_pipeline_set_layer_combine (pick_pipeline, 0,
-                                        "RGBA = "
-                                        "  MODULATE (CONSTANT, TEXTURE[A])",
-                                        &error))
-    {
-      if (!priv->seen_create_pick_pipeline_warning)
-        g_warning ("Error setting up texture combine for shaped "
-                   "texture picking: %s", error->message);
-      priv->seen_create_pick_pipeline_warning = TRUE;
-      g_error_free (error);
-      cogl_object_unref (pick_pipeline);
-      return NULL;
-    }
-
-  cogl_pipeline_set_blend (pick_pipeline,
-                           "RGBA = ADD (SRC_COLOR[RGBA], 0)",
-                           NULL);
-
-  cogl_pipeline_set_alpha_test_function (pick_pipeline,
-                                         COGL_PIPELINE_ALPHA_FUNC_EQUAL,
-                                         1.0);
-
-  return pick_pipeline;
-}
-
-static void
-clutter_texture_pick (ClutterActor       *self,
-                      const ClutterColor *color)
-{
-  ClutterTexture *texture = CLUTTER_TEXTURE (self);
-  ClutterTexturePrivate *priv = texture->priv;
-  CoglFramebuffer *framebuffer = cogl_get_draw_framebuffer ();
-
-  if (!clutter_actor_should_pick_paint (self))
-    return;
-
-  if (G_LIKELY (priv->pick_with_alpha_supported) && priv->pick_with_alpha)
-    {
-      CoglColor pick_color;
-
-      if (priv->pick_pipeline == NULL)
-        priv->pick_pipeline = create_pick_pipeline (self);
-
-      if (priv->pick_pipeline == NULL)
-        {
-          priv->pick_with_alpha_supported = FALSE;
-          CLUTTER_ACTOR_CLASS (clutter_texture_parent_class)->pick (self,
-                                                                    color);
-          return;
-        }
-
-      if (priv->fbo_handle != NULL)
-        update_fbo (self);
-
-      cogl_color_init_from_4ub (&pick_color,
-                                color->red,
-                                color->green,
-                                color->blue,
-                                0xff);
-      cogl_pipeline_set_layer_combine_constant (priv->pick_pipeline,
-                                                0, &pick_color);
-      cogl_pipeline_set_layer_texture (priv->pick_pipeline, 0,
-                                       clutter_texture_get_cogl_texture (texture));
-      gen_texcoords_and_draw_cogl_rectangle (self, priv->pick_pipeline, framebuffer);
-    }
-  else
-    CLUTTER_ACTOR_CLASS (clutter_texture_parent_class)->pick (self, color);
-}
-
 static void
 clutter_texture_paint (ClutterActor *self)
 {
@@ -767,12 +690,6 @@ clutter_texture_dispose (GObject *object)
       priv->pipeline = NULL;
     }
 
-  if (priv->pick_pipeline != NULL)
-    {
-      cogl_object_unref (priv->pick_pipeline);
-      priv->pick_pipeline = NULL;
-    }
-
   G_OBJECT_CLASS (clutter_texture_parent_class)->dispose (object);
 }
 
@@ -944,7 +861,6 @@ clutter_texture_class_init (ClutterTextureClass *klass)
   GParamSpec *pspec;
 
   actor_class->paint            = clutter_texture_paint;
-  actor_class->pick             = clutter_texture_pick;
   actor_class->get_paint_volume = clutter_texture_get_paint_volume;
   actor_class->realize          = clutter_texture_realize;
   actor_class->unrealize        = clutter_texture_unrealize;
@@ -1261,11 +1177,9 @@ clutter_texture_init (ClutterTexture *self)
   priv->repeat_y          = FALSE;
   priv->sync_actor_size   = TRUE;
   priv->fbo_handle        = NULL;
-  priv->pick_pipeline     = NULL;
   priv->keep_aspect_ratio = FALSE;
   priv->pick_with_alpha   = FALSE;
   priv->pick_with_alpha_supported = TRUE;
-  priv->seen_create_pick_pipeline_warning = FALSE;
 
   if (G_UNLIKELY (texture_template_pipeline == NULL))
     {
@@ -3048,13 +2962,8 @@ clutter_texture_set_pick_with_alpha (ClutterTexture *texture,
   if (priv->pick_with_alpha == pick_with_alpha)
     return;
 
-  if (!pick_with_alpha && priv->pick_pipeline != NULL)
-    {
-      cogl_object_unref (priv->pick_pipeline);
-      priv->pick_pipeline = NULL;
-    }
+  g_assert (!pick_with_alpha);  /* No longer supported */
 
-  /* NB: the pick pipeline is created lazily when we first pick */
   priv->pick_with_alpha = pick_with_alpha;
 
   /* NB: actors are expected to call clutter_actor_queue_redraw when
diff --git a/src/compositor/meta-surface-actor.c b/src/compositor/meta-surface-actor.c
index 664362c96..26915115f 100644
--- a/src/compositor/meta-surface-actor.c
+++ b/src/compositor/meta-surface-actor.c
@@ -147,38 +147,23 @@ meta_surface_actor_pick (ClutterActor       *actor,
   else
     {
       int n_rects;
-      float *rectangles;
       int i;
-      CoglPipeline *pipeline;
-      CoglContext *ctx;
-      CoglFramebuffer *fb;
-      CoglColor cogl_color;
 
       n_rects = cairo_region_num_rectangles (priv->input_region);
-      rectangles = g_alloca (sizeof (float) * 4 * n_rects);
 
       for (i = 0; i < n_rects; i++)
         {
           cairo_rectangle_int_t rect;
-          int pos = i * 4;
+          ClutterActorBox box;
 
           cairo_region_get_rectangle (priv->input_region, i, &rect);
 
-          rectangles[pos + 0] = rect.x;
-          rectangles[pos + 1] = rect.y;
-          rectangles[pos + 2] = rect.x + rect.width;
-          rectangles[pos + 3] = rect.y + rect.height;
+          box.x1 = rect.x;
+          box.y1 = rect.y;
+          box.x2 = rect.x + rect.width;
+          box.y2 = rect.y + rect.height;
+          clutter_actor_pick_box (actor, &box);
         }
-
-      ctx = clutter_backend_get_cogl_context (clutter_get_default_backend ());
-      fb = cogl_get_draw_framebuffer ();
-
-      cogl_color_init_from_4ub (&cogl_color, color->red, color->green, color->blue, color->alpha);
-
-      pipeline = cogl_pipeline_new (ctx);
-      cogl_pipeline_set_color (pipeline, &cogl_color);
-      cogl_framebuffer_draw_rectangles (fb, pipeline, rectangles, n_rects);
-      cogl_object_unref (pipeline);
     }
 
   clutter_actor_iter_init (&iter, actor);
diff --git a/src/tests/clutter/conform/actor-pick.c b/src/tests/clutter/conform/actor-pick.c
index 430f8442a..09c5bf748 100644
--- a/src/tests/clutter/conform/actor-pick.c
+++ b/src/tests/clutter/conform/actor-pick.c
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 #define STAGE_HEIGHT 480
 #define ACTORS_X 12
 #define ACTORS_Y 16
-#define SHIFT_STEP STAGE_WIDTH / ACTORS_X
 
 typedef struct _State State;
 
@@ -22,84 +21,11 @@ struct _State
   gboolean pass;
 };
 
-struct _ShiftEffect
-{
-  ClutterShaderEffect parent_instance;
-};
-
-struct _ShiftEffectClass
-{
-  ClutterShaderEffectClass parent_class;
-};
-
-typedef struct _ShiftEffect       ShiftEffect;
-typedef struct _ShiftEffectClass  ShiftEffectClass;
-
-#define TYPE_SHIFT_EFFECT        (shift_effect_get_type ())
-
-GType shift_effect_get_type (void);
-
-G_DEFINE_TYPE (ShiftEffect,
-               shift_effect,
-               CLUTTER_TYPE_SHADER_EFFECT);
-
-static void
-shader_paint (ClutterEffect           *effect,
-              ClutterEffectPaintFlags  flags)
-{
-  ClutterShaderEffect *shader = CLUTTER_SHADER_EFFECT (effect);
-  float tex_width;
-  ClutterActor *actor =
-    clutter_actor_meta_get_actor (CLUTTER_ACTOR_META (effect));
-
-  if (g_test_verbose ())
-    g_debug ("shader_paint");
-
-  clutter_shader_effect_set_shader_source (shader,
-    "uniform sampler2D tex;\n"
-    "uniform float step;\n"
-    "void main (void)\n"
-    "{\n"
-    "  cogl_color_out = texture2D(tex, vec2 (cogl_tex_coord_in[0].s + step,\n"
-    "                                        cogl_tex_coord_in[0].t));\n"
-    "}\n");
-
-  tex_width = clutter_actor_get_width (actor);
-
-  clutter_shader_effect_set_uniform (shader, "tex", G_TYPE_INT, 1, 0);
-  clutter_shader_effect_set_uniform (shader, "step", G_TYPE_FLOAT, 1,
-                                     SHIFT_STEP / tex_width);
-
-  CLUTTER_EFFECT_CLASS (shift_effect_parent_class)->paint (effect, flags);
-}
-
-static void
-shader_pick (ClutterEffect           *effect,
-             ClutterEffectPaintFlags  flags)
-{
-  shader_paint (effect, flags);
-}
-
-static void
-shift_effect_class_init (ShiftEffectClass *klass)
-{
-  ClutterEffectClass *shader_class = CLUTTER_EFFECT_CLASS (klass);
-
-  shader_class->paint = shader_paint;
-  shader_class->pick = shader_pick;
-}
-
-static void
-shift_effect_init (ShiftEffect *self)
-{
-}
-
 static const char *test_passes[] = {
   "No covering actor",
   "Invisible covering actor",
   "Clipped covering actor",
   "Blur effect",
-  "Shift effect",
 };
 
 static gboolean
@@ -167,30 +93,10 @@ on_timeout (gpointer data)
           if (g_test_verbose ())
             g_print ("With blur effect:\n");
         }
-      else if (test_num == 4)
-        {
-          if (!clutter_feature_available (CLUTTER_FEATURE_SHADERS_GLSL))
-            continue;
-
-          clutter_actor_hide (over_actor);
-          clutter_actor_remove_effect_by_name (CLUTTER_ACTOR (state->stage),
-                                               "blur");
-
-          clutter_actor_add_effect_with_name (CLUTTER_ACTOR (state->stage),
-                                              "shift",
-                                              g_object_new (TYPE_SHIFT_EFFECT,
-                                                            NULL));
-
-          if (g_test_verbose ())
-            g_print ("With shift effect:\n");
-        }
 
       for (y = 0; y < ACTORS_Y; y++)
         {
-          if (test_num == 4)
-            x = 1;
-          else
-            x = 0;
+          x = 0;
 
           for (; x < ACTORS_X; x++)
             {
@@ -200,9 +106,6 @@ on_timeout (gpointer data)
 
               pick_x = x * state->actor_width + state->actor_width / 2;
 
-              if (test_num == 4)
-                pick_x -= SHIFT_STEP;
-
               actor =
                 clutter_stage_get_actor_at_pos (CLUTTER_STAGE (state->stage),
                                                 CLUTTER_PICK_ALL,
diff --git a/src/tests/clutter/conform/meson.build b/src/tests/clutter/conform/meson.build
index cf91b374d..24c80e82a 100644
--- a/src/tests/clutter/conform/meson.build
+++ b/src/tests/clutter/conform/meson.build
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ clutter_conform_tests_deprecated_tests = [
   'behaviours',
   'group',
   'rectangle',
-  'texture',
 ]
 
 clutter_conform_tests = []
diff --git a/src/tests/clutter/conform/texture.c b/src/tests/clutter/conform/texture.c
deleted file mode 100644
index 3f1160308..000000000
--- a/src/tests/clutter/conform/texture.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,86 +0,0 @@
-#define CLUTTER_DISABLE_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS
-#include <clutter/clutter.h>
-#include <string.h>
-
-#include "tests/clutter-test-utils.h"
-
-static CoglHandle
-make_texture (void)
-{
-  guint32 *data = g_malloc (100 * 100 * 4);
-  int x;
-  int y;
-
-  for (y = 0; y < 100; y ++)
-    for (x = 0; x < 100; x++)
-      {
-        if (x < 50 && y < 50)
-          data[y * 100 + x] = 0xff00ff00;
-        else
-          data[y * 100 + x] = 0xff00ffff;
-      }
-  return cogl_texture_new_from_data (100,
-                                     100,
-                                     COGL_TEXTURE_NONE,
-                                     COGL_PIXEL_FORMAT_ARGB_8888,
-                                     COGL_PIXEL_FORMAT_ARGB_8888,
-                                     400,
-                                     (guchar *)data);
-}
-
-static void
-texture_pick_with_alpha (void)
-{
-  ClutterTexture *tex = CLUTTER_TEXTURE (clutter_texture_new ());
-  ClutterStage *stage = CLUTTER_STAGE (clutter_test_get_stage ());
-  ClutterActor *actor;
-
-  clutter_texture_set_cogl_texture (tex, make_texture ());
-
-  clutter_actor_add_child (CLUTTER_ACTOR (stage), CLUTTER_ACTOR (tex));
-
-  clutter_actor_show (CLUTTER_ACTOR (stage));
-
-  if (g_test_verbose ())
-    {
-      g_print ("\nstage = %p\n", stage);
-      g_print ("texture = %p\n\n", tex);
-    }
-
-  clutter_texture_set_pick_with_alpha (tex, TRUE);
-  if (g_test_verbose ())
-    g_print ("Testing with pick-with-alpha enabled:\n");
-
-  /* This should fall through and hit the stage: */
-  actor = clutter_stage_get_actor_at_pos (stage, CLUTTER_PICK_ALL, 10, 10);
-  if (g_test_verbose ())
-    g_print ("actor @ (10, 10) = %p\n", actor);
-  g_assert (actor == CLUTTER_ACTOR (stage));
-
-  /* The rest should hit the texture */
-  actor = clutter_stage_get_actor_at_pos (stage, CLUTTER_PICK_ALL, 90, 10);
-  if (g_test_verbose ())
-    g_print ("actor @ (90, 10) = %p\n", actor);
-  g_assert (actor == CLUTTER_ACTOR (tex));
-  actor = clutter_stage_get_actor_at_pos (stage, CLUTTER_PICK_ALL, 90, 90);
-  if (g_test_verbose ())
-    g_print ("actor @ (90, 90) = %p\n", actor);
-  g_assert (actor == CLUTTER_ACTOR (tex));
-  actor = clutter_stage_get_actor_at_pos (stage, CLUTTER_PICK_ALL, 10, 90);
-  if (g_test_verbose ())
-    g_print ("actor @ (10, 90) = %p\n", actor);
-  g_assert (actor == CLUTTER_ACTOR (tex));
-
-  clutter_texture_set_pick_with_alpha (tex, FALSE);
-  if (g_test_verbose ())
-    g_print ("Testing with pick-with-alpha disabled:\n");
-
-  actor = clutter_stage_get_actor_at_pos (stage, CLUTTER_PICK_ALL, 10, 10);
-  if (g_test_verbose ())
-    g_print ("actor @ (10, 10) = %p\n", actor);
-  g_assert (actor == CLUTTER_ACTOR (tex));
-}
-
-CLUTTER_TEST_SUITE (
-  CLUTTER_TEST_UNIT ("/texture/pick-with-alpha", texture_pick_with_alpha)
-)