diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..64e11b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+/withAnim/
diff --git a/graphics.xcf b/graphics.xcf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7baa137
Binary files /dev/null and b/graphics.xcf differ
diff --git a/res/container.png b/res/container.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..108b673
Binary files /dev/null and b/res/container.png differ
diff --git a/res/highlight.png b/res/highlight.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3952336
Binary files /dev/null and b/res/highlight.png differ
diff --git a/res/plateRed.png b/res/plateRed.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..450067b
Binary files /dev/null and b/res/plateRed.png differ
diff --git a/res/plateYellow.png b/res/plateYellow.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..530b263
Binary files /dev/null and b/res/plateYellow.png differ
diff --git a/res/test.png b/res/test.png
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..6bd23fd
Binary files /dev/null and b/res/test.png differ
diff --git a/src/de/itsblue/ConnectFour/ConnectFour.java b/src/de/itsblue/ConnectFour/ConnectFour.java
index a8df36d..9f65b1f 100644
--- a/src/de/itsblue/ConnectFour/ConnectFour.java
+++ b/src/de/itsblue/ConnectFour/ConnectFour.java
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ public class ConnectFour extends JFrame implements ActionListener {
     public void validate() {
         // determine optimal size for board
         Dimension boardSize = new Dimension();
-        boardSize.width = this.landscape() ? this.getSize().height / 2 : this.getSize().width / 2;
+        boardSize.width = (int)(this.landscape() ? this.getSize().height * 0.7 : this.getSize().width * 0.7);
         boardSize.height = this.landscape() ? this.getSize().width : this.getSize().height;
 
         // set board size
diff --git a/src/de/itsblue/ConnectFour/Plate.java b/src/de/itsblue/ConnectFour/Plate.java
index b80a913..618a915 100644
--- a/src/de/itsblue/ConnectFour/Plate.java
+++ b/src/de/itsblue/ConnectFour/Plate.java
@@ -101,14 +101,18 @@ public class Plate {
      * @return the color of the PlateType
      */
     public static Color getColor(PlateType type) {
+
+        float[] hsb = new float[3];
         switch (type) {
             case O:
-                return Color.BLACK;
+            Color.RGBtoHSB(249, 227, 6, hsb);
+            break;
             case X:
-                return Color.RED;
-            default:
-                return Color.WHITE;
+            Color.RGBtoHSB(246, 33, 61, hsb);
+                break;
         }
+
+        return Color.getHSBColor(hsb[0], hsb[1], hsb[2]);
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/de/itsblue/ConnectFour/PlateContainer.java b/src/de/itsblue/ConnectFour/PlateContainer.java
index ed42768..b57c37e 100644
--- a/src/de/itsblue/ConnectFour/PlateContainer.java
+++ b/src/de/itsblue/ConnectFour/PlateContainer.java
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@
 
 package de.itsblue.ConnectFour;
 
-import javax.swing.JPanel;
+import de.itsblue.ConnectFour.Plate.PlateType;
+
 import java.awt.*;
 
 /**
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ import java.awt.*;
  * 
  * @author Dorian Zedler
  */
-public class PlateContainer extends JPanel {
+public class PlateContainer extends Canvas {
 
     /**
      *
@@ -46,10 +47,20 @@ public class PlateContainer extends JPanel {
      */
     private boolean highlighted = false;
 
+    private Image containerImg;
+    private Image plateRedImg;
+    private Image plateYellowImg;
+    private Image highlightImg;
+
     /**
      * Constructor
      */
     PlateContainer() {
+        // initialize all images
+        containerImg = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getImage(getClass().getResource("/res/container.png"));
+        plateRedImg = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getImage(getClass().getResource("/res/plateRed.png"));
+        plateYellowImg = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getImage(getClass().getResource("/res/plateYellow.png"));
+        highlightImg = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getImage(getClass().getResource("/res/highlight.png"));
     }
 
     /**
@@ -125,30 +136,26 @@ public class PlateContainer extends JPanel {
      * Override the paint function to draw the shape of the plate
      */
     @Override
-    public void paint(Graphics g) {
-        if(g == null)
+    public void paint(Graphics g1) {
+        if (g1 == null)
             return;
+            
+        Graphics2D g = (Graphics2D) g1;
+
         // draw background
-        g.setColor(Color.lightGray);
-        g.fillRect(0, 0, this.getWidth(), this.getHeight());
+        g.drawImage(containerImg, 0, 0, this.getWidth(), this.getHeight(), this);
 
-        // set color according to contained plate
-        if (this.containsPlate())
-            g.setColor(this.containedPlate.getColor());
-        else
-            g.setColor(Color.white);
-
-        // draw plate
-        g.fillOval((int) (this.getWidth() * 0.1), (int) (this.getHeight() * 0.1), (int) (this.getWidth() * 0.8),
-                (int) (this.getHeight() * 0.8));
+        // draw contained plate
+        if (this.containsPlate()) {
+            Image plateImage = this.getContainedPlate().getType().equals(PlateType.O) ? this.plateYellowImg
+                    : this.plateRedImg;
+            g.drawImage(plateImage, -1, -1, this.getWidth() + 2, this.getHeight() + 2, this);
+        }
 
+        // draw Highlight
         if (this.highlighted) {
-            g.setColor(Color.green);
-            Graphics2D g2 = (Graphics2D) g;
-            g2.setStroke(new BasicStroke((int) (this.getWidth() * 0.1)));
-
-            g2.drawOval((int) (this.getWidth() * 0.1), (int) (this.getHeight() * 0.1), (int) (this.getWidth() * 0.8),
-                    (int) (this.getHeight() * 0.8));
+            g.drawImage(highlightImg, 0, 0, this.getWidth(), this.getHeight(), this);
         }
     }
+
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/de/itsblue/ConnectFour/res/test.png b/src/de/itsblue/ConnectFour/res/test.png
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..6bd23fd
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/de/itsblue/ConnectFour/res/test.png differ