diff --git a/demos/calc.cpp b/demos/calc.cpp
index c8f69ab..c96ffea 100644
--- a/demos/calc.cpp
+++ b/demos/calc.cpp
@@ -141,12 +141,12 @@ struct CalculatorUI {
     $gui.layout(
         "[*%(400)stack  |_|_|_]"
         "[*%(400)readout|_|_|_]"
-        "[push|pop|clear|eq]"
-        "[add |sub|mul  |div]"
-        "[btn7|btn8|btn9]"
-        "[btn4|btn5|btn6]"
-        "[btn1|btn2|btn3]"
-        "[neg |btn0|del]");
+        "[=push|=pop|=clear|=eq]"
+        "[=add |=sub|=mul  |=div]"
+        "[=btn7|=btn8|=btn9]"
+        "[=btn4|=btn5|=btn6]"
+        "[=btn1|=btn2|=btn3]"
+        "[=neg |=btn0|=del]");
   }
 
   void init() {
@@ -161,12 +161,12 @@ struct CalculatorUI {
       $gui.set<guecs::Rectangle>(id, {});
 
       if(name == "readout") {
-        $gui.set<guecs::Textual>(id, {L"", 40});
+        $gui.set<guecs::Text>(id, {L"", 40});
       } else if(name == "stack") {
-        $gui.set<guecs::Textual>(id, {L"", 20});
+        $gui.set<guecs::Text>(id, {L"", 20});
       } else {
         $gui.set<guecs::Effect>(id, {});
-        $gui.set<guecs::Label>(id, { label });
+        $gui.set<guecs::Text>(id, { label });
         wchar_t op = label[0];
         $gui.set<guecs::Clickable>(id, {
             [&, op](auto, auto) { handle_button(op); }
diff --git a/demos/clicker_game.cpp b/demos/clicker_game.cpp
index 7651ee1..7f41742 100644
--- a/demos/clicker_game.cpp
+++ b/demos/clicker_game.cpp
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ struct ClickerUI {
         "[_|_               |_|_|_]"
         "[_|_               |_|_|_]"
         "[_|_               |_|_|_]"
-        "[a1|a2|a3|a4|a5]");
+        "[(30,30)a1|=(30,30)a2|a3|=a4|a5]");
   }
 
   void init() {
@@ -91,9 +91,9 @@ struct ClickerUI {
     for(auto& [name, cell] : $gui.cells()) {
       auto id = $gui.entity(name);
       if(name != "clicker") {
-        $gui.set<guecs::Rectangle>(id, {});
+        $gui.set<guecs::Rectangle>(id, {0, {255, 0, 0, 255}});
         $gui.set<guecs::Effect>(id, {});
-        $gui.set<guecs::Sprite>(id, { "clicker_treat_bone" });
+        // $gui.set<guecs::Sprite>(id, { "clicker_treat_bone" });
         $gui.set<guecs::Clickable>(id, {
             [&](auto, auto) { handle_button(Event::A_BUTTON); }
             });
diff --git a/include/guecs/sfml/components.hpp b/include/guecs/sfml/components.hpp
index c7d989f..dc82033 100644
--- a/include/guecs/sfml/components.hpp
+++ b/include/guecs/sfml/components.hpp
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 namespace guecs {
   using std::shared_ptr, std::wstring, std::string;
 
-  struct Textual {
+  struct Text {
     std::wstring content;
     unsigned int size = THEME.TEXT_SIZE;
     sf::Color color = THEME.TEXT_COLOR;
@@ -24,19 +24,6 @@ namespace guecs {
     void render(sf::RenderWindow& window, sf::Shader *shader_ptr);
   };
 
-  struct Label : public Textual {
-    template<typename... Args>
-      Label(Args... args) : Textual(args...)
-    {
-      centered = true;
-      size = THEME.LABEL_SIZE;
-    }
-
-    Label() {
-      centered = true;
-    };
-  };
-
   struct Sprite {
     string name;
     int padding = THEME.PADDING;
@@ -49,20 +36,6 @@ namespace guecs {
     void render(sf::RenderWindow& window, sf::Shader *shader_ptr);
   };
 
-  struct Icon : public Sprite {
-    template<typename... Args>
-      Icon(Args... args) : Sprite(args...)
-    {
-      stretch = false;
-      is_icon = true;
-    }
-
-    Icon() {
-      // BUG: why do I have to do this again?
-      stretch = false;
-    };
-  };
-
   struct Rectangle {
     int padding = THEME.PADDING;
     sf::Color color = THEME.FILL_COLOR;
diff --git a/src/guecs/lel.cpp b/src/guecs/lel.cpp
index b363293..c8efccc 100644
--- a/src/guecs/lel.cpp
+++ b/src/guecs/lel.cpp
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ namespace lel {
     int cell_height = grid_h / rows;
 
     for(auto& row : grid) {
+      // BUG: see issue #16
       size_t columns = row.size();
       int cell_width = grid_w / columns;
       assert(cell_width > 0 && "invalid cell width calc");
diff --git a/src/guecs/sfml/components.cpp b/src/guecs/sfml/components.cpp
index 06c2f0f..6dbb221 100644
--- a/src/guecs/sfml/components.cpp
+++ b/src/guecs/sfml/components.cpp
@@ -7,7 +7,28 @@
 namespace guecs {
   using std::make_shared;
 
-  void Textual::init(lel::Cell &cell, shared_ptr<sf::Font> font_ptr) {
+  template<typename T>
+    void sfml_center_helper(T& obj, lel::Cell& cell, int padding) {
+      sf::Vector2f position{float(cell.x + padding), float(cell.y + padding)};
+
+      if(cell.center) {
+        auto bounds = obj->getLocalBounds();
+        position = {float(cell.mid_x), float(cell.mid_y)};
+        obj->setOrigin({bounds.size.x/2, bounds.size.y/2});
+      }
+
+      obj->setPosition(position);
+    }
+
+  inline SpriteTexture load_texture(const string& name, bool is_icon) {
+    if(is_icon) {
+      return BACKEND->get_icon(name);
+    } else {
+      return BACKEND->get_sprite(name);
+    }
+  }
+
+  void Text::init(lel::Cell &cell, shared_ptr<sf::Font> font_ptr) {
     assert(font_ptr != nullptr && "you failed to initialize this WideText");
     if(font == nullptr) font = font_ptr;
     if(text == nullptr) text = make_shared<sf::Text>(*font, content, size);
@@ -25,11 +46,11 @@ namespace guecs {
     text->setCharacterSize(size);
   }
 
-  void Textual::render(sf::RenderWindow& window, sf::Shader *shader_ptr) {
+  void Text::render(sf::RenderWindow& window, sf::Shader *shader_ptr) {
     window.draw(*text, shader_ptr);
   }
 
-  void Textual::update(const wstring& new_content) {
+  void Text::update(const wstring& new_content) {
     content = new_content;
     text->setString(content);
   }
@@ -43,23 +64,14 @@ namespace guecs {
     }
   }
 
-  inline SpriteTexture load_texture(const string& name, bool is_icon) {
-    if(is_icon) {
-      return BACKEND->get_icon(name);
-    } else {
-      return BACKEND->get_sprite(name);
-    }
-  }
-
   void Sprite::init(lel::Cell &cell) {
+    if(cell.center) stretch = false;
+
     auto sprite_texture = load_texture(name, is_icon);
     auto bounds = sprite_texture.frame_size;
 
     sf::IntRect rect{{0,0}, bounds};
     sprite = make_shared<sf::Sprite>(*sprite_texture.texture, rect);
-    fmt::println("SPRITE centered: {}", cell.center);
-
-    sprite->setPosition({float(cell.x + padding), float(cell.y + padding)});
 
     if(stretch) {
       sprite->setScale({
@@ -71,6 +83,8 @@ namespace guecs {
       float scale = std::min(box_width / float(bounds.x), box_height / float(bounds.y));
       sprite->setScale({scale, scale});
     }
+
+    sfml_center_helper(sprite, cell, padding);
   }
 
   void Sprite::render(sf::RenderWindow& window, sf::Shader *shader_ptr) {
@@ -80,7 +94,6 @@ namespace guecs {
   void Rectangle::init(lel::Cell& cell) {
     sf::Vector2f size{float(cell.w) - padding * 2, float(cell.h) - padding * 2};
     if(shape == nullptr) shape = make_shared<sf::RectangleShape>(size);
-    shape->setPosition({float(cell.x + padding), float(cell.y + padding)});
     shape->setFillColor(color);
     shape->setOutlineColor(border_color);
     shape->setOutlineThickness(border_px);
diff --git a/src/guecs/ui.cpp b/src/guecs/ui.cpp
index b1824c6..5e8d498 100644
--- a/src/guecs/ui.cpp
+++ b/src/guecs/ui.cpp
@@ -82,21 +82,13 @@ namespace guecs {
       }
     });
 
-    query<lel::Cell, Textual>([this](auto, auto& cell, auto& text) {
-      text.init(cell, $font);
-    });
-
-    query<lel::Cell, Label>([this](auto, auto& cell, auto& text) {
+    query<lel::Cell, Text>([this](auto, auto& cell, auto& text) {
       text.init(cell, $font);
     });
 
     query<lel::Cell, Sprite>([&](auto, auto &cell, auto &sprite) {
       sprite.init(cell);
     });
-
-    query<lel::Cell, Icon>([&](auto, auto &cell, auto &icon) {
-      icon.init(cell);
-    });
   }
 
   void UI::debug_layout(sf::RenderWindow& window) {
@@ -142,17 +134,7 @@ namespace guecs {
       sprite.render(window, shader_ptr);
     });
 
-    query<Icon>([&](auto ent, auto& icon) {
-      auto shader_ptr = find_shader(ent, false);
-      icon.render(window, shader_ptr);
-    });
-
-    query<Label>([&](auto ent, auto& text) {
-      auto shader_ptr = find_shader(ent, false);
-      text.render(window, shader_ptr);
-    });
-
-    query<Textual>([&](auto ent, auto& text) {
+    query<Text>([&](auto ent, auto& text) {
       auto shader_ptr = find_shader(ent, false);
       text.render(window, shader_ptr);
     });
@@ -209,13 +191,13 @@ namespace guecs {
   void UI::show_text(const string& region, const wstring& content) {
     auto ent = entity(region);
 
-    if(auto tc = get_if<Textual>(ent)) {
+    if(auto tc = get_if<Text>(ent)) {
       tc->text->setString(content);
     } else {
       auto &cell = cell_for(ent);
-      Textual to_set{content, THEME.TEXT_SIZE};
+      Text to_set{content, THEME.TEXT_SIZE};
       to_set.init(cell, $font);
-      set<Textual>(ent, to_set);
+      set<Text>(ent, to_set);
     }
   }
 
@@ -240,20 +222,6 @@ namespace guecs {
     }
   }
 
-  void UI::show_label(const string& region, const wstring& content) {
-    auto ent = entity(region);
-
-    if(auto tc = get_if<Label>(ent)) {
-      tc->text->setString(content);
-    } else {
-      auto &cell = cell_for(ent);
-      Label to_set{content, THEME.LABEL_SIZE};
-      to_set.init(cell, $font);
-      to_set.text->setFillColor(THEME.TEXT_COLOR);
-      set<Label>(ent, to_set);
-    }
-  }
-
   wstring to_wstring(const string& str) {
     std::wstring_convert<std::codecvt_utf8_utf16<wchar_t>> $converter;
     return $converter.from_bytes(str);