diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc
index f7a61898ac..dc86a27222 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc
@@ -607,11 +607,7 @@ MixerStrip::set_route (boost::shared_ptr<Route> rt)
 		control_slave_ui.set_sensitive(true);
 	}
 
-	if (_mixer_owned && route()->is_master() ) {
-		spacer.show();
-	} else {
-		spacer.hide();
-	}
+	hide_master_spacer (false);
 
 	if (is_track()) {
 		monitor_input_button->show ();
@@ -2675,3 +2671,13 @@ MixerStrip::set_marked_for_display (bool yn)
 {
 	return RouteUI::mark_hidden (!yn);
 }
+
+void
+MixerStrip::hide_master_spacer (bool yn)
+{
+	if (_mixer_owned && route()->is_master() && !yn) {
+		spacer.show();
+	} else {
+		spacer.hide();
+	}
+}
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.h b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.h
index 1510d38242..7164d15e63 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.h
@@ -114,6 +114,9 @@ public:
 		return _mixer_owned;
 	}
 
+	/* used for screenshots */
+	void hide_master_spacer (bool);
+
 	void hide_things ();
 
 	sigc::signal<void> WidthChanged;
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_ui.cc b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_ui.cc
index 1773c4497c..71f6bca825 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_ui.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_ui.cc
@@ -3503,21 +3503,82 @@ Mixer_UI::vca_unassign (boost::shared_ptr<VCA> vca)
 	}
 }
 
-void
+bool
 Mixer_UI::screenshot (std::string const& filename)
 {
-	Gtk::OffscreenWindow osw;
+	if (!_session) {
+		return false;
+	}
+
 	int height = strip_packer.get_height();
+	bool with_vca = vca_vpacker.is_visible ();
+	MixerStrip* master = strip_by_route (_session->master_out ());
+
+	Gtk::OffscreenWindow osw;
+	Gtk::HBox b;
+	osw.add (b);
+	b.show ();
+
+	/* unpack widgets, add to OffscreenWindow */
+
 	strip_group_box.remove (strip_packer);
-	osw.add (strip_packer);
+	b.pack_start (strip_packer, false, false);
+	/* hide extra elements inside strip_packer */
 	add_button.hide ();
+	scroller_base.hide ();
+#ifdef MIXBUS
+	mb_shadow.hide();
+#endif
+
+	if (with_vca) {
+		/* work around Gtk::ScrolledWindow */
+		Gtk::Viewport* viewport = (Gtk::Viewport*) vca_scroller.get_child();
+		viewport->remove (); // << vca_hpacker
+		b.pack_start (vca_hpacker, false, false);
+		/* hide some growing widgets */
+		add_vca_button.hide ();
+		vca_scroller_base.hide();
+	}
+
+	if (master) {
+		out_packer.remove (*master);
+		b.pack_start (*master, false, false);
+		master->hide_master_spacer (true);
+	}
+
+	/* prepare the OffscreenWindow for rendering */
 	osw.set_size_request (-1, height);
-	osw.show();
+	osw.show ();
+	osw.queue_resize ();
+	osw.queue_draw ();
 	osw.get_window()->process_updates (true);
+
+	/* create screenshot */
 	Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::Pixbuf> pb = osw.get_pixbuf ();
 	pb->save (filename, "png");
+
+	/* unpack elements before destorying the Box & OffscreenWindow */
+	list<Gtk::Widget*> children = b.get_children();
+	for (list<Gtk::Widget*>::iterator child = children.begin(); child != children.end(); ++child) {
+		b.remove (**child);
+	}
 	osw.remove ();
-	pb.release ();
+
+	/* now re-pack the widgets into the main mixer window */
 	add_button.show ();
+	scroller_base.show ();
+#ifdef MIXBUS
+	mb_shadow.show();
+#endif
 	strip_group_box.pack_start (strip_packer);
+	if (with_vca) {
+		add_vca_button.show ();
+		vca_scroller_base.show();
+		vca_scroller.add (vca_hpacker);
+	}
+	if (master) {
+		master->hide_master_spacer (false);
+		out_packer.pack_start (*master, false, false);
+	}
+	return true;
 }
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_ui.h b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_ui.h
index 85197b991d..cda2d4e1bd 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_ui.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_ui.h
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ public:
 	void showhide_mixbusses (bool on);
 #endif
 
-	void screenshot (std::string const&);
+	bool screenshot (std::string const&);
 
 protected:
 	void set_axis_targets_for_operation ();