diff --git a/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Light/Lighting.j3md b/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Light/Lighting.j3md
index 884ff8163..32b1f0ea5 100644
--- a/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Light/Lighting.j3md
+++ b/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Light/Lighting.j3md
@@ -15,9 +15,6 @@ MaterialDef Phong Lighting {
         // Output alpha from the diffuse map
         Boolean UseAlpha
 
-        // Apha threshold for fragment discarding
-        Float AlphaDiscardThreshold
-
         // Normal map is in BC5/ATI2n/LATC/3Dc compression format
         Boolean LATC
 
@@ -160,7 +157,7 @@ MaterialDef Phong Lighting {
             SEPARATE_TEXCOORD : SeparateTexCoord
 
             USE_REFLECTION : EnvMap
-            SPHERE_MAP : SphereMap            
+            SPHERE_MAP : EnvMapAsSphereMap            
         }
     }
 
@@ -174,9 +171,8 @@ MaterialDef Phong Lighting {
             WorldViewMatrix
         }
 
-        Defines {
-            COLOR_MAP : ColorMap
-            DISCARD_ALPHA : AlphaDiscardThreshold
+        Defines {           
+            DIFFUSEMAP : DiffuseMap
         }
 
         RenderState {
@@ -203,12 +199,11 @@ MaterialDef Phong Lighting {
             HARDWARE_SHADOWS : HardwareShadows
             FILTER_MODE : FilterMode
             PCFEDGE : PCFEdge
-            DISCARD_ALPHA : AlphaDiscardThreshold
-            COLOR_MAP : ColorMap
+            DIFFUSEMAP : DiffuseMap         
         }
 
         RenderState {
-            Blend Modulate
+            Blend Alpha
         }
     }
 
@@ -225,12 +220,11 @@ MaterialDef Phong Lighting {
             HARDWARE_SHADOWS : HardwareShadows
             FILTER_MODE : FilterMode
             PCFEDGE : PCFEdge
-            DISCARD_ALPHA : AlphaDiscardThreshold
-            COLOR_MAP : ColorMap
+            DIFFUSEMAP : DiffuseMap     
         }
 
         RenderState {
-            Blend Modulate
+            Blend Alpha
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Shadow/PostShadowPSSM.frag b/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Shadow/PostShadowPSSM.frag
index fd989c60f..f8d8c2fc7 100644
--- a/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Shadow/PostShadowPSSM.frag
+++ b/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Shadow/PostShadowPSSM.frag
@@ -114,31 +114,27 @@ float Shadow_DoPCF(in SHADOWMAP tex, in vec4 projCoord){
     return shadow;
 }
 
-#ifdef DISCARD_ALPHA
-    #ifdef COLOR_MAP
-        uniform sampler2D m_ColorMap;
-    #else    
-        uniform sampler2D m_DiffuseMap;
-    #endif
-    uniform float m_AlphaDiscardThreshold;
+#ifdef COLOR_MAP
+    uniform sampler2D m_ColorMap;
+    varying vec2 texCoord;
+#endif    
+#ifdef DIFFUSEMAP
+    uniform sampler2D m_DiffuseMap;
     varying vec2 texCoord;
 #endif
-
+   
 void main(){   
  
-    #ifdef DISCARD_ALPHA
-        #ifdef COLOR_MAP
-            float alpha = texture2D(m_ColorMap,texCoord).a;
-        #else    
-            float alpha = texture2D(m_DiffuseMap,texCoord).a;
-        #endif
-        if(alpha<=m_AlphaDiscardThreshold){
-            discard;
-        }
-
+    float alpha =1.0;
+    
+    #ifdef COLOR_MAP
+        alpha = texture2D(m_ColorMap,texCoord).a;
     #endif
+    #ifdef DIFFUSEMAP
+        alpha = texture2D(m_DiffuseMap,texCoord).a;
+    #endif       
+    
    
-
     vec4 shadowPerSplit = vec4(0.0);
     shadowPerSplit.x = GETSHADOW(m_ShadowMap0, projCoord0);
     shadowPerSplit.y = GETSHADOW(m_ShadowMap1, projCoord1);
@@ -151,9 +147,6 @@ void main(){
     float shadow = dot(shadowPerSplit, less * more );
     
     shadow = shadow * m_ShadowIntensity + (1.0 - m_ShadowIntensity);
-  
-
-  gl_FragColor = vec4(shadow, shadow, shadow, 1.0);
-  //gl_FragColor = vec4(alpha, alpha, alpha, 1.0);
+    gl_FragColor =  vec4(0.0, 0.0, 0.0, min(1.0 - shadow,alpha));
 }
 
diff --git a/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Shadow/PostShadowPSSM.j3md b/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Shadow/PostShadowPSSM.j3md
index 8b7574838..7151674fb 100644
--- a/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Shadow/PostShadowPSSM.j3md
+++ b/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Shadow/PostShadowPSSM.j3md
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ MaterialDef Post Shadow {
         }
 
         RenderState {
-            Blend Modulate
+            Blend Alpha
         }
     }
 
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ MaterialDef Post Shadow {
         }
 
         RenderState {
-            Blend Modulate
+            Blend Alpha
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Shadow/PostShadowPSSM.vert b/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Shadow/PostShadowPSSM.vert
index c2c8823e3..61bc3aea3 100644
--- a/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Shadow/PostShadowPSSM.vert
+++ b/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Shadow/PostShadowPSSM.vert
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ varying float shadowPosition;
 varying vec2 texCoord;
 
 attribute vec3 inPosition;
-#ifdef DISCARD_ALPHA
+#ifdef DIFFUSEMAP) || defined(COLOR_MAP)
     attribute vec2 inTexCoord;
 #endif
 
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ void main(){
     // get the vertex in world space
     vec4 worldPos = g_WorldMatrix * vec4(inPosition, 1.0);
 
-    #ifdef DISCARD_ALPHA
+    #if defined(DIFFUSEMAP) || defined(COLOR_MAP)
        texCoord = inTexCoord;
     #endif
     // populate the light view matrices array and convert vertex to light viewProj space
diff --git a/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Shadow/PostShadowPSSM15.frag b/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Shadow/PostShadowPSSM15.frag
index 02ac3f68a..b41f86b77 100644
--- a/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Shadow/PostShadowPSSM15.frag
+++ b/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Shadow/PostShadowPSSM15.frag
@@ -120,31 +120,28 @@ float Shadow_DoPCF(in SHADOWMAP tex, in vec4 projCoord){
     return shadow;
 }
 
-#ifdef DISCARD_ALPHA
-    #ifdef COLOR_MAP
-        uniform sampler2D m_ColorMap;
-    #else    
-        uniform sampler2D m_DiffuseMap;
-    #endif
-    uniform float m_AlphaDiscardThreshold;
+
+#ifdef COLOR_MAP
+    uniform sampler2D m_ColorMap;
+    varying vec2 texCoord;
+#endif    
+#ifdef DIFFUSEMAP  
+    uniform sampler2D m_DiffuseMap;
     varying vec2 texCoord;
 #endif
-
+ 
 void main(){
     float shadow = 0.0;
 
+    float alpha = 1.0;
     
-    #ifdef DISCARD_ALPHA
-        #ifdef COLOR_MAP
-             float alpha = texture2D(m_ColorMap,texCoord).a;
-        #else    
-             float alpha = texture2D(m_DiffuseMap,texCoord).a;
-        #endif
-      
-        if(alpha < m_AlphaDiscardThreshold){
-            discard;
-        }
+    #ifdef COLOR_MAP
+          alpha = texture2D(m_ColorMap,texCoord).a;
     #endif
+    #ifdef DIFFUSEMAP   
+          alpha = texture2D(m_DiffuseMap,texCoord).a;
+    #endif
+    
     if(shadowPosition < m_Splits.x){
         shadow = GETSHADOW(m_ShadowMap0, projCoord0);
     }else if( shadowPosition <  m_Splits.y){
@@ -156,6 +153,6 @@ void main(){
     }
     
     shadow = shadow * m_ShadowIntensity + (1.0 - m_ShadowIntensity);
-    outFragColor =  vec4(shadow, shadow, shadow, 1.0);
+    outFragColor =  vec4(0.0, 0.0, 0.0, min(1.0 - shadow,alpha));
 }
 
diff --git a/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Shadow/PreShadow.frag b/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Shadow/PreShadow.frag
index 080666a4e..bb40fc3b5 100644
--- a/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Shadow/PreShadow.frag
+++ b/engine/src/core-data/Common/MatDefs/Shadow/PreShadow.frag
@@ -1,27 +1,24 @@
 varying vec2 texCoord;
 
-#ifdef DISCARD_ALPHA
-   #ifdef COLOR_MAP
-      uniform sampler2D m_ColorMap;
-   #else    
-      uniform sampler2D m_DiffuseMap;
-   #endif
-    uniform float m_AlphaDiscardThreshold;
+
+#ifdef COLOR_MAP
+  uniform sampler2D m_ColorMap;
+#endif 
+#ifdef DIFFUSEMAP
+  uniform sampler2D m_DiffuseMap;
 #endif
+   
 
 
 void main(){
-   #ifdef DISCARD_ALPHA
-       #ifdef COLOR_MAP
-            if (texture2D(m_ColorMap, texCoord).a <= m_AlphaDiscardThreshold){
-                discard;
-            }
-       #else    
-            if (texture2D(m_DiffuseMap, texCoord).a <= m_AlphaDiscardThreshold){
-                discard;
-            }
-       #endif
-   #endif
+    float a = 1.0;
+    
+    #ifdef COLOR_MAP
+        a = texture2D(m_ColorMap, texCoord).a;
+    #endif    
+    #ifdef DIFFUSEMAP
+        a = texture2D(m_DiffuseMap, texCoord).a;
+    #endif
 
-   gl_FragColor = vec4(1.0);
+   gl_FragColor = vec4(a);
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/engine/src/core-effects/Common/MatDefs/SSAO/normal.frag b/engine/src/core-effects/Common/MatDefs/SSAO/normal.frag
index 289c4c031..eda6e1987 100644
--- a/engine/src/core-effects/Common/MatDefs/SSAO/normal.frag
+++ b/engine/src/core-effects/Common/MatDefs/SSAO/normal.frag
@@ -11,11 +11,9 @@ void main(void)
 {
 
     #ifdef DIFFUSEMAP_ALPHA
-        if(texture2D(m_DiffuseMap,texCoord).a<m_AlphaDiscardThreshold){
-            discard;
-        }
+        float alpha=texture2D(m_DiffuseMap,texCoord).a;
     #endif
-    gl_FragColor = vec4(normal.xy* 0.5 + 0.5,-normal.z* 0.5 + 0.5, 1.0);
+    gl_FragColor = vec4(normal.xy* 0.5 + 0.5,-normal.z* 0.5 + 0.5, alpha);
 
 }
 
diff --git a/engine/src/core-effects/Common/MatDefs/SSAO/ssao15.frag b/engine/src/core-effects/Common/MatDefs/SSAO/ssao15.frag
index de3b8468c..d6ea07ede 100644
--- a/engine/src/core-effects/Common/MatDefs/SSAO/ssao15.frag
+++ b/engine/src/core-effects/Common/MatDefs/SSAO/ssao15.frag
@@ -57,12 +57,10 @@ vec2 reflection(in vec2 v1,in vec2 v2){
 }
 
 
-//const vec2 vec[4] = vec2[4](vec2(1.0,0.0), vec2(-1.0,0.0), vec2(0.0,1.0), vec2(0.0,-1.0));
 void main(){
 
    float result;
 
-   //vec2 vec[4] = { vec2(1.0, 0.0), vec2(-1.0, 0.0), vec2(0.0, 1.0), vec2(0.0, -1.0) };
    vec3 position = getPosition(texCoord);
     //optimization, do not calculate AO if depth is 1
    if(depthv==1.0){
@@ -91,6 +89,5 @@ void main(){
    result = 1.0-ao;
 
    gl_FragColor=vec4(result,result,result, 1.0);
-//gl_FragColor=vec4(depthv,depthv,depthv, 1.0);
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/engine/src/core/com/jme3/shadow/PssmShadowRenderer.java b/engine/src/core/com/jme3/shadow/PssmShadowRenderer.java
index f2644400d..03c4390b2 100644
--- a/engine/src/core/com/jme3/shadow/PssmShadowRenderer.java
+++ b/engine/src/core/com/jme3/shadow/PssmShadowRenderer.java
@@ -142,8 +142,6 @@ public class PssmShadowRenderer implements SceneProcessor {
     private Picture[] dispPic;
     private Vector3f[] points = new Vector3f[8];
     private boolean flushQueues = true;
-    //render state for post shadow pass
-    private RenderState state = new RenderState();
     // define if the fallback material should be used.
     private boolean needsfallBackMaterial = false;
     //Name of the post material technique
@@ -216,13 +214,7 @@ public class PssmShadowRenderer implements SceneProcessor {
         for (int i = 0; i < points.length; i++) {
             points[i] = new Vector3f();
         }
-
-        //initializing render state for post shadow pass (modulade blending and cullmode of for back faces )
-        state.setBlendMode(RenderState.BlendMode.Modulate);
-        state.setFaceCullMode(RenderState.FaceCullMode.Off);
-        state.setDepthWrite(false);
-        state.setPolyOffset(-0.1f, 0);
-               
+       
     }
 
     /**
@@ -458,17 +450,15 @@ public class PssmShadowRenderer implements SceneProcessor {
                 renderManager.setForcedMaterial(postshadowMat);
             }
             
-            //forcing the post shadow technique and render state
+            //forcing the post shadow technique
             renderManager.setForcedTechnique(postTechniqueName);
-            renderManager.setForcedRenderState(state);
             
             //rendering the post shadow pass
             viewPort.getQueue().renderShadowQueue(ShadowMode.Receive, renderManager, cam, flushQueues);
 
             //resetting renderManager settings
             renderManager.setForcedTechnique(null);
-            renderManager.setForcedMaterial(null);
-            renderManager.setForcedRenderState(null);
+            renderManager.setForcedMaterial(null);       
             renderManager.setCamera(cam, false);
 
         }
diff --git a/engine/test-data/Models/Tree/Leaves.j3m b/engine/test-data/Models/Tree/Leaves.j3m
index fddc2f75c..293a6da76 100644
--- a/engine/test-data/Models/Tree/Leaves.j3m
+++ b/engine/test-data/Models/Tree/Leaves.j3m
@@ -4,8 +4,7 @@ Material Leaves : Common/MatDefs/Light/Lighting.j3md {
 
     MaterialParameters {
         DiffuseMap : Models/Tree/Leaves.png
-        UseAlpha : true
-        AlphaDiscardThreshold : 0.5
+        UseAlpha : true        
         UseMaterialColors : true
         Ambient : .5 .5 .5 .5
         Diffuse : 0.7 0.7 0.7 1