diff --git a/src/openseadragon.js b/src/openseadragon.js
index 9b07d922..041dc7aa 100644
--- a/src/openseadragon.js
+++ b/src/openseadragon.js
@@ -185,7 +185,11 @@
   *     If 0, adjusts to fit viewer.
   *
   * @property {Number} [opacity=1]
-  *     Default opacity of the tiled images (1=opaque, 0=transparent)
+  *     Default proportional opacity of the tiled images (1=opaque, 0=hidden)
+  *     Hidden images do not draw and only load when preloading is allowed.
+  *
+  * @property {Boolean} [preload=false]
+  *     Default switch for loading hidden images (true loads, false blocks)
   *
   * @property {String} [compositeOperation=null]
   *     Valid values are 'source-over', 'source-atop', 'source-in', 'source-out',
@@ -1128,6 +1132,7 @@ function OpenSeadragon( options ){
 
             // APPEARANCE
             opacity:                    1,
+            preload:                    false,
             compositeOperation:         null,
             placeholderFillStyle:       null,
 
diff --git a/src/tiledimage.js b/src/tiledimage.js
index 83543acd..779039d4 100644
--- a/src/tiledimage.js
+++ b/src/tiledimage.js
@@ -70,7 +70,8 @@
  * @param {Number} [options.minPixelRatio] - See {@link OpenSeadragon.Options}.
  * @param {Number} [options.smoothTileEdgesMinZoom] - See {@link OpenSeadragon.Options}.
  * @param {Boolean} [options.iOSDevice] - See {@link OpenSeadragon.Options}.
- * @param {Number} [options.opacity=1] - Opacity the tiled image should be drawn at.
+ * @param {Number} [options.opacity=1] - Set to draw at proportional opacity. If zero, images will not draw.
+ * @param {Boolean} [options.preload=false] - Set true to load even when the image is hidden by zero opacity.
  * @param {String} [options.compositeOperation] - How the image is composited onto other images; see compositeOperation in {@link OpenSeadragon.Options} for possible values.
  * @param {Boolean} [options.debugMode] - See {@link OpenSeadragon.Options}.
  * @param {String|CanvasGradient|CanvasPattern|Function} [options.placeholderFillStyle] - See {@link OpenSeadragon.Options}.
@@ -171,9 +172,13 @@ $.TiledImage = function( options ) {
         ajaxWithCredentials:    $.DEFAULT_SETTINGS.ajaxWithCredentials,
         placeholderFillStyle:   $.DEFAULT_SETTINGS.placeholderFillStyle,
         opacity:                $.DEFAULT_SETTINGS.opacity,
+        preload:                $.DEFAULT_SETTINGS.preload,
         compositeOperation:     $.DEFAULT_SETTINGS.compositeOperation
     }, options );
 
+    this._preload = this.preload;
+    delete this.preload;
+
     this._fullyLoaded = false;
 
     this._xSpring = new $.Spring({
@@ -301,7 +306,7 @@ $.extend($.TiledImage.prototype, $.EventSource.prototype, /** @lends OpenSeadrag
      * Draws the TiledImage to its Drawer.
      */
     draw: function() {
-        if (this.opacity !== 0) {
+        if (this.opacity !== 0 || this._preload) {
             this._midDraw = true;
             this._updateViewport();
             this._midDraw = false;
@@ -796,6 +801,21 @@ $.extend($.TiledImage.prototype, $.EventSource.prototype, /** @lends OpenSeadrag
         });
     },
 
+    /**
+     * @returns {Boolean} whether the tiledImage can load its tiles even when it has zero opacity.
+     */
+    getPreload: function() {
+        return this._preload;
+    },
+
+    /**
+     * Set true to load even when hidden. Set false to block loading when hidden.
+     */
+    setPreload: function(preload) {
+        this._preload = !!preload;
+        this._needsDraw = true;
+    },
+
     /**
      * Get the rotation of this tiled image in degrees.
      * @param {Boolean} [current=false] True for current rotation, false for target.
@@ -1785,7 +1805,7 @@ function compareTiles( previousBest, tile ) {
  * @param {OpenSeadragon.Tile[]} lastDrawn - An unordered list of Tiles drawn last frame.
  */
 function drawTiles( tiledImage, lastDrawn ) {
-    if (lastDrawn.length === 0) {
+    if (tiledImage.opacity === 0 || lastDrawn.length === 0) {
         return;
     }
     var tile = lastDrawn[0];
diff --git a/src/viewer.js b/src/viewer.js
index 99e3fa30..649456de 100644
--- a/src/viewer.js
+++ b/src/viewer.js
@@ -1245,7 +1245,8 @@ $.extend( $.Viewer.prototype, $.EventSource.prototype, $.ControlDock.prototype,
      * @param {OpenSeadragon.Rect} [options.clip] - An area, in image pixels, to clip to
      * (portions of the image outside of this area will not be visible). Only works on
      * browsers that support the HTML5 canvas.
-     * @param {Number} [options.opacity] Opacity the tiled image should be drawn at by default.
+     * @param {Number} [options.opacity=1] Proportional opacity of the tiled images (1=opaque, 0=hidden)
+     * @param {Boolean} [options.preload=false]  Default switch for loading hidden images (true loads, false blocks)
      * @param {Number} [options.degrees=0] Initial rotation of the tiled image around
      * its top left corner in degrees.
      * @param {String} [options.compositeOperation] How the image is composited onto other images.
@@ -1292,6 +1293,9 @@ $.extend( $.Viewer.prototype, $.EventSource.prototype, $.ControlDock.prototype,
         if (options.opacity === undefined) {
             options.opacity = this.opacity;
         }
+        if (options.preload === undefined) {
+            options.preload = this.preload;
+        }
         if (options.compositeOperation === undefined) {
             options.compositeOperation = this.compositeOperation;
         }
@@ -1405,6 +1409,7 @@ $.extend( $.Viewer.prototype, $.EventSource.prototype, $.ControlDock.prototype,
                     clip: queueItem.options.clip,
                     placeholderFillStyle: queueItem.options.placeholderFillStyle,
                     opacity: queueItem.options.opacity,
+                    preload: queueItem.options.preload,
                     degrees: queueItem.options.degrees,
                     compositeOperation: queueItem.options.compositeOperation,
                     springStiffness: _this.springStiffness,