diff --git a/rtchallenge/examples/eoc2.rs b/rtchallenge/examples/eoc2.rs
index 9b7bc82..8c0be9c 100644
--- a/rtchallenge/examples/eoc2.rs
+++ b/rtchallenge/examples/eoc2.rs
@@ -44,7 +44,8 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
 
     let w = 800;
     let h = 600;
-    let mut c = Canvas::new(w, h);
+    let bg = Color::new(0.2, 0.2, 0.2);
+    let mut c = Canvas::new(w, h, bg);
     let mut i = 0;
     let w = w as f32;
     let h = h as f32;
diff --git a/rtchallenge/examples/eoc4.rs b/rtchallenge/examples/eoc4.rs
index a6f464a..4463a62 100644
--- a/rtchallenge/examples/eoc4.rs
+++ b/rtchallenge/examples/eoc4.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ fn draw_dot(c: &mut Canvas, x: usize, y: usize) {
 fn main() -> Result<()> {
     let w = 200;
     let h = w;
-    let mut c = Canvas::new(w, h);
+    let bg = Color::new(0.2, 0.2, 0.2);
+    let mut c = Canvas::new(w, h, bg);
     let t = Matrix4x4::translation(0., 0.4, 0.);
     let p = Tuple::point(0., 0., 0.);
     let rot_hour = Matrix4x4::rotation_z(-PI / 6.);
diff --git a/rtchallenge/examples/eoc5.rs b/rtchallenge/examples/eoc5.rs
index 6e374f4..26ce517 100644
--- a/rtchallenge/examples/eoc5.rs
+++ b/rtchallenge/examples/eoc5.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ use anyhow::Result;
 
 use rtchallenge::{
     canvas::Canvas,
+    matrices::Matrix4x4,
     rays::Ray,
     spheres::{intersect, Sphere},
     tuples::{Color, Tuple},
@@ -12,14 +13,17 @@ use rtchallenge::{
 fn main() -> Result<()> {
     let w = 200;
     let h = w;
-    let mut c = Canvas::new(w, h);
+    let bg = Color::new(0.2, 0.2, 0.2);
+    let mut c = Canvas::new(w, h, bg);
     let ray_origin = Tuple::point(0., 0., -5.);
     let wall_z = 10.;
     let wall_size = 7.;
     let pixel_size = wall_size / w as f32;
     let half = wall_size / 2.;
     let color = Color::new(1., 0., 0.);
-    let shape = Sphere::default();
+    let mut shape = Sphere::default();
+    shape.transform =
+        Matrix4x4::shearing(1., 0., 0., 0., 0., 0.) * Matrix4x4::scaling(0.5, 1., 1.0);
 
     for y in 0..h {
         let world_y = half - pixel_size * y as f32;
diff --git a/rtchallenge/src/canvas.rs b/rtchallenge/src/canvas.rs
index 94077a3..e27903c 100644
--- a/rtchallenge/src/canvas.rs
+++ b/rtchallenge/src/canvas.rs
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ pub struct Canvas {
 }
 
 impl Canvas {
-    pub fn new(width: usize, height: usize) -> Canvas {
-        let pixels = vec![Color::new(1., 0., 1.); width * height];
+    pub fn new(width: usize, height: usize, background: Color) -> Canvas {
+        let pixels = vec![background; width * height];
         Canvas {
             width,
             height,
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn create_canvas() {
-        let c = Canvas::new(10, 20);
+        let bg = Color::new(0.0, 0.0, 0.0);
+        let c = Canvas::new(10, 20, bg);
         assert_eq!(c.width, 10);
         assert_eq!(c.height, 20);
         let black = Color::new(0., 0., 0.);
@@ -89,7 +90,8 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn write_to_canvas() {
-        let mut c = Canvas::new(10, 20);
+        let bg = Color::new(0.2, 0.2, 0.2);
+        let mut c = Canvas::new(10, 20, bg);
         let red = Color::new(1., 0., 0.);
         c.set(2, 3, red);
         assert_eq!(c.get(2, 3), red);