diff --git a/libs/libkis/Krita.cpp b/libs/libkis/Krita.cpp
--- a/libs/libkis/Krita.cpp
+++ b/libs/libkis/Krita.cpp
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@
     qc.setAlpha(0);
     KoColor bgColor(qc, cs);
 
-    if (!document->newImage(name, width, height, cs, bgColor, true, 1, "", double(resolution / 72) )) {
+    if (!document->newImage(name, width, height, cs, bgColor, KisConfig::RASTER_LAYER, 1, "", double(resolution / 72) )) {
         return 0;
     }
 
diff --git a/libs/libqml/DocumentManager.cpp b/libs/libqml/DocumentManager.cpp
--- a/libs/libqml/DocumentManager.cpp
+++ b/libs/libqml/DocumentManager.cpp
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@
         qc.setAlpha(0);
         KoColor bgColor(qc, cs);
 
-        d->document->newImage("New Image", d->newDocWidth, d->newDocHeight, KoColorSpaceRegistry::instance()->rgb8(), bgColor, true, 2, "", d->newDocResolution);
+        d->document->newImage("New Image", d->newDocWidth, d->newDocHeight, KoColorSpaceRegistry::instance()->rgb8(), bgColor, KisConfig::RASTER_LAYER, 2, "", d->newDocResolution);
         d->document->resetURL();
     }
     else if (d->newDocOptions.contains("template")) {
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@
         background.setAlphaF(d->newDocOptions.value("backgroundOpacity", 1.0f).toFloat());
         KoColor bg(background, cs);
 
-        d->document->newImage(name, width, height, cs, bg, true, 1, "", res);
+        d->document->newImage(name, width, height, cs, bg, KisConfig::RASTER_LAYER, 1, "", res);
         d->document->resetURL();
     }
 
diff --git a/libs/ui/KisApplicationArguments.cpp b/libs/ui/KisApplicationArguments.cpp
--- a/libs/ui/KisApplicationArguments.cpp
+++ b/libs/ui/KisApplicationArguments.cpp
@@ -331,6 +331,6 @@
         return 0;
     }
 
-    doc->newImage(i18n("Unnamed"), d->width, d->height, cs, KoColor(QColor(Qt::white), cs), false, 1, "", 100.0);
+    doc->newImage(i18n("Unnamed"), d->width, d->height, cs, KoColor(QColor(Qt::white), cs), KisConfig::CANVAS_COLOR, 1, "", 100.0);
     return doc;
 }
diff --git a/libs/ui/KisDocument.h b/libs/ui/KisDocument.h
--- a/libs/ui/KisDocument.h
+++ b/libs/ui/KisDocument.h
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include <KisReferenceImage.h>
 #include <kis_debug.h>
 #include <KisImportExportUtils.h>
+#include <kis_config.h>
 
 #include "kritaui_export.h"
 
@@ -531,7 +532,7 @@
      * Create a new image that has this document as a parent and
      * replace the current image with this image.
      */
-    bool newImage(const QString& name, qint32 width, qint32 height, const KoColorSpace * cs, const KoColor &bgColor, bool backgroundAsLayer,
+    bool newImage(const QString& name, qint32 width, qint32 height, const KoColorSpace * cs, const KoColor &bgColor, KisConfig::BackgroundStyle bgStyle,
                   int numberOfLayers, const QString &imageDescription, const double imageResolution);
 
     bool isSaving() const;
diff --git a/libs/ui/KisDocument.cpp b/libs/ui/KisDocument.cpp
--- a/libs/ui/KisDocument.cpp
+++ b/libs/ui/KisDocument.cpp
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@
 
 #include <klocalizedstring.h>
 #include <kis_debug.h>
+#include <kis_generator_layer.h>
+#include <kis_generator_registry.h>
 #include <kdesktopfile.h>
 #include <kconfiggroup.h>
 #include <kbackup.h>
@@ -1632,14 +1634,13 @@
 bool KisDocument::newImage(const QString& name,
                            qint32 width, qint32 height,
                            const KoColorSpace* cs,
-                           const KoColor &bgColor, bool backgroundAsLayer,
+                           const KoColor &bgColor, KisConfig::BackgroundStyle bgStyle,
                            int numberOfLayers,
                            const QString &description, const double imageResolution)
 {
     Q_ASSERT(cs);
 
     KisImageSP image;
-    KisPaintLayerSP layer;
 
     if (!cs) return false;
 
@@ -1656,26 +1657,36 @@
     documentInfo()->setAboutInfo("title", name);
     documentInfo()->setAboutInfo("abstract", description);
 
-    layer = new KisPaintLayer(image.data(), image->nextLayerName(), OPACITY_OPAQUE_U8, cs);
-    Q_CHECK_PTR(layer);
+    KisLayerSP layer;
+    if (bgStyle == KisConfig::RASTER_LAYER || bgStyle == KisConfig::FILL_LAYER) {
+        KoColor strippedAlpha = bgColor;
+        strippedAlpha.setOpacity(OPACITY_OPAQUE_U8);
+
+        if (bgStyle == KisConfig::RASTER_LAYER) {
+            layer = new KisPaintLayer(image.data(), "Background", OPACITY_OPAQUE_U8, cs);;
+            layer->paintDevice()->setDefaultPixel(strippedAlpha);
+        } else if (bgStyle == KisConfig::FILL_LAYER) {
+            KisFilterConfigurationSP filter_config = KisGeneratorRegistry::instance()->get("color")->defaultConfiguration();
+            filter_config->setProperty("color", strippedAlpha.toQColor());
+            layer = new KisGeneratorLayer(image.data(), "Background Fill", filter_config, image->globalSelection());
+        }
 
-    if (backgroundAsLayer) {
-        image->setDefaultProjectionColor(KoColor(cs));
+        layer->setOpacity(bgColor.opacityU8());
 
-        if (bgColor.opacityU8() == OPACITY_OPAQUE_U8) {
-            layer->paintDevice()->setDefaultPixel(bgColor);
-        } else {
-            // Hack: with a semi-transparent background color, the projection isn't composited right if we just set the default pixel
-            KisFillPainter painter;
-            painter.begin(layer->paintDevice());
-            painter.fillRect(0, 0, width, height, bgColor, bgColor.opacityU8());
+        if (numberOfLayers > 1) {
+            //Lock bg layer if others are present.
+            layer->setUserLocked(true);
         }
-    } else {
+    }
+    else { // KisConfig::CANVAS_COLOR (needs an unlocked starting layer).
         image->setDefaultProjectionColor(bgColor);
+        layer = new KisPaintLayer(image.data(), image->nextLayerName(), OPACITY_OPAQUE_U8, cs);
     }
-    layer->setDirty(QRect(0, 0, width, height));
 
+    Q_CHECK_PTR(layer);
     image->addNode(layer.data(), image->rootLayer().data());
+    layer->setDirty(QRect(0, 0, width, height));
+
     setCurrentImage(image);
 
     for(int i = 1; i < numberOfLayers; ++i) {
diff --git a/libs/ui/forms/wdgnewimage.ui b/libs/ui/forms/wdgnewimage.ui
--- a/libs/ui/forms/wdgnewimage.ui
+++ b/libs/ui/forms/wdgnewimage.ui
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
     <x>0</x>
     <y>0</y>
     <width>600</width>
-    <height>462</height>
+    <height>491</height>
    </rect>
   </property>
   <property name="sizePolicy">
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
       </sizepolicy>
      </property>
      <property name="currentIndex">
-      <number>0</number>
+      <number>1</number>
      </property>
      <widget class="QWidget" name="tab">
       <property name="sizePolicy">
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@
        <item row="3" column="1">
         <widget class="QLabel" name="lblOpacity">
          <property name="text">
-          <string>Ima&amp;ge Background Opacity:</string>
+          <string>Background Opacity:</string>
          </property>
          <property name="alignment">
           <set>Qt::AlignRight|Qt::AlignTrailing|Qt::AlignVCenter</set>
@@ -401,6 +401,9 @@
            <height>0</height>
           </size>
          </property>
+         <property name="toolTip">
+          <string>Number of layers that the image will start with, including optional background layer.</string>
+         </property>
          <property name="minimum">
           <number>1</number>
          </property>
@@ -415,7 +418,7 @@
        <item row="2" column="1">
         <widget class="QLabel" name="lblColor">
          <property name="text">
-          <string>Image Bac&amp;kground Color:</string>
+          <string>Bac&amp;kground Color:</string>
          </property>
          <property name="alignment">
           <set>Qt::AlignRight|Qt::AlignTrailing|Qt::AlignVCenter</set>
@@ -467,19 +470,35 @@
        <item row="4" column="2">
         <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_3">
          <item>
-          <widget class="QRadioButton" name="radioBackgroundAsLayer">
+          <widget class="QRadioButton" name="radioBackgroundAsRaster">
+           <property name="toolTip">
+            <string>Use background color and opacity to create a background raster layer.</string>
+           </property>
            <property name="text">
-            <string>As fi&amp;rst layer</string>
+            <string>As &amp;raster layer</string>
            </property>
           </widget>
          </item>
          <item>
           <widget class="QRadioButton" name="radioBackgroundAsProjection">
+           <property name="toolTip">
+            <string>Use background color and opacity as the base canvas color. This can be reconfigured in `Image &gt; Properties.`</string>
+           </property>
            <property name="text">
             <string>As can&amp;vas color</string>
            </property>
           </widget>
          </item>
+         <item>
+          <widget class="QRadioButton" name="radioBackgroundAsFill">
+           <property name="toolTip">
+            <string>Use background color and opacity to create a background fill layer. The color for this layer can be reconfigured in the layer's properties.</string>
+           </property>
+           <property name="text">
+            <string>As &amp;fill layer</string>
+           </property>
+          </widget>
+         </item>
         </layout>
        </item>
        <item row="2" column="2">
@@ -497,7 +516,7 @@
           </size>
          </property>
          <property name="toolTip">
-          <string>Reset the image background color in the Image Properties dialog</string>
+          <string/>
          </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
@@ -556,6 +575,9 @@
        </item>
        <item row="0" column="2">
         <widget class="QLineEdit" name="txtName">
+         <property name="toolTip">
+          <string/>
+         </property>
          <property name="text">
           <string>untitled-1</string>
          </property>
@@ -654,7 +676,7 @@
   <tabstop>bnPortrait</tabstop>
   <tabstop>intNumLayers</tabstop>
   <tabstop>cmbColor</tabstop>
-  <tabstop>radioBackgroundAsLayer</tabstop>
+  <tabstop>radioBackgroundAsRaster</tabstop>
   <tabstop>radioBackgroundAsProjection</tabstop>
   <tabstop>txtDescription</tabstop>
  </tabstops>
diff --git a/libs/ui/kis_config.h b/libs/ui/kis_config.h
--- a/libs/ui/kis_config.h
+++ b/libs/ui/kis_config.h
@@ -435,8 +435,9 @@
     void setDefaultBackgroundColor(QColor value);
 
     enum BackgroundStyle {
-        LAYER = 0,
-        PROJECTION = 1
+        RASTER_LAYER = 0,
+        CANVAS_COLOR = 1,
+        FILL_LAYER = 2
     };
 
     BackgroundStyle defaultBackgroundStyle(bool defaultValue = false) const;
diff --git a/libs/ui/kis_config.cc b/libs/ui/kis_config.cc
--- a/libs/ui/kis_config.cc
+++ b/libs/ui/kis_config.cc
@@ -1555,7 +1555,7 @@
 
 KisConfig::BackgroundStyle KisConfig::defaultBackgroundStyle(bool defaultValue) const
 {
-  return (KisConfig::BackgroundStyle)(defaultValue ? LAYER : m_cfg.readEntry("BackgroundStyleForNewImage", (int)LAYER));
+  return (KisConfig::BackgroundStyle)(defaultValue ? RASTER_LAYER : m_cfg.readEntry("BackgroundStyleForNewImage", (int)RASTER_LAYER));
 }
 
 void KisConfig::setDefaultBackgroundStyle(KisConfig::BackgroundStyle value)
diff --git a/libs/ui/tests/kis_shape_selection_test.cpp b/libs/ui/tests/kis_shape_selection_test.cpp
--- a/libs/ui/tests/kis_shape_selection_test.cpp
+++ b/libs/ui/tests/kis_shape_selection_test.cpp
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
     QColor qc(Qt::white);
     qc.setAlpha(0);
     KoColor bgColor(qc, cs);
-    doc->newImage("test", 300, 300, cs, bgColor, true, 1, "test", 100);
+    doc->newImage("test", 300, 300, cs, bgColor, KisConfig::CANVAS_COLOR, 1, "test", 100);
     KisImageSP image = doc->image();
 
     KisSelectionSP selection = new KisSelection();
diff --git a/libs/ui/widgets/kis_custom_image_widget.cc b/libs/ui/widgets/kis_custom_image_widget.cc
--- a/libs/ui/widgets/kis_custom_image_widget.cc
+++ b/libs/ui/widgets/kis_custom_image_widget.cc
@@ -151,8 +151,10 @@
 
     KisConfig::BackgroundStyle bgStyle = cfg.defaultBackgroundStyle();
 
-    if (bgStyle == KisConfig::LAYER) {
-      radioBackgroundAsLayer->setChecked(true);
+    if (bgStyle == KisConfig::RASTER_LAYER) {
+      radioBackgroundAsRaster->setChecked(true);
+    } else if (bgStyle == KisConfig::FILL_LAYER) {
+      radioBackgroundAsFill->setChecked(true);
     } else {
       radioBackgroundAsProjection->setChecked(true);
     }
@@ -258,7 +260,6 @@
 
 KisDocument* KisCustomImageWidget::createNewImage()
 {
-
     const KoColorSpace * cs = colorSpaceSelector->currentColorSpace();
 
     if (cs->colorModelId() == RGBAColorModelID &&
@@ -303,15 +304,20 @@
     qc.setAlpha(backgroundOpacity());
     KoColor bgColor(qc, cs);
 
-    bool backgroundAsLayer = radioBackgroundAsLayer->isChecked();
+    KisConfig::BackgroundStyle bgStyle = KisConfig::CANVAS_COLOR;
+    if( radioBackgroundAsRaster->isChecked() ){
+        bgStyle = KisConfig::RASTER_LAYER;
+    } else if( radioBackgroundAsFill->isChecked() ){
+        bgStyle = KisConfig::FILL_LAYER;
+    }
 
-    doc->newImage(txtName->text(), width, height, cs, bgColor, backgroundAsLayer, intNumLayers->value(), txtDescription->toPlainText(), resolution);
+    doc->newImage(txtName->text(), width, height, cs, bgColor, bgStyle, intNumLayers->value(), txtDescription->toPlainText(), resolution);
 
     KisConfig cfg(true);
     cfg.setNumDefaultLayers(intNumLayers->value());
     cfg.setDefaultBackgroundOpacity(backgroundOpacity());
     cfg.setDefaultBackgroundColor(cmbColor->color().toQColor());
-    cfg.setDefaultBackgroundStyle(backgroundAsLayer ? KisConfig::LAYER : KisConfig::PROJECTION);
+    cfg.setDefaultBackgroundStyle(bgStyle);
 
     return doc;
 }