--- a/swtr/static/css/annotorious.css
+++ b/swtr/static/css/annotorious.css
@@ -16,11 +16,11 @@
 }
 
 .annotorious-item-focus {
-  opacity:1.0;
+  opacity:0;
 }
 
 .annotorious-item-unfocus {
-  opacity:0.4;
+  opacity:0;
 }
 
 /** Hint/help popup **/
--- a/swtr/static/js/swtmaker.js
+++ b/swtr/static/js/swtmaker.js
@@ -185,6 +185,12 @@
       this.sweetsview = new SweetsView({collection: swtr.sweets});
       anno.addHandler('onAnnotationCreated', this.showSwtHelp);
       anno.addHandler('onAnnotationUpdated', this.showSwtHelp);
+      anno.addHandler('onSelectionStarted', function(annotation) {
+        anno.hideAnnotations();});
+      anno.addHandler('onSelectionCompleted', function(annotation) {
+        anno.showAnnotations(); });
+      anno.addHandler('onEditorShown', function(annotation) {
+        anno.hideAnnotations();} );
       this.$overlay = $('#app-overlay');
       this.$img = $('#annotatable-img');
       this.imgURL = this.$img.attr('src');