diff --git a/Gruntfile.js b/Gruntfile.js
index 90c64ba..af6a371 100644
--- a/Gruntfile.js
+++ b/Gruntfile.js
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@
         },
         jshint: {
             options: {
-                jshintrc: '.jshintrc'
+                jshintrc: './.jshintrc'
             },
             source: srcFiles.filter(function(v) { return v.match(/(Intro|Outro|Spine|Pixi)\.js$/) === null; }).concat('Gruntfile.js'),
             test: {

diff --git a/Gruntfile.js b/Gruntfile.js
index 90c64ba..af6a371 100644
--- a/Gruntfile.js
+++ b/Gruntfile.js
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@
         },
         jshint: {
             options: {
-                jshintrc: '.jshintrc'
+                jshintrc: './.jshintrc'
             },
             source: srcFiles.filter(function(v) { return v.match(/(Intro|Outro|Spine|Pixi)\.js$/) === null; }).concat('Gruntfile.js'),
             test: {
diff --git a/bin/pixi.dev.js b/bin/pixi.dev.js
index 70b5eda..0205fe9 100644
--- a/bin/pixi.dev.js
+++ b/bin/pixi.dev.js
@@ -1756,6 +1756,9 @@
 
 PIXI.Sprite.prototype._renderCanvas = function(renderSession)
 {
+    // if the sprite is not visible or the alpha is 0 then no need to render this element
+    if(this.visible === false || this.alpha === 0)return;
+    
     if(this._mask)
     {
         renderSession.maskManager.pushMask(this._mask, renderSession.context);

diff --git a/Gruntfile.js b/Gruntfile.js
index 90c64ba..af6a371 100644
--- a/Gruntfile.js
+++ b/Gruntfile.js
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@
         },
         jshint: {
             options: {
-                jshintrc: '.jshintrc'
+                jshintrc: './.jshintrc'
             },
             source: srcFiles.filter(function(v) { return v.match(/(Intro|Outro|Spine|Pixi)\.js$/) === null; }).concat('Gruntfile.js'),
             test: {
diff --git a/bin/pixi.dev.js b/bin/pixi.dev.js
index 70b5eda..0205fe9 100644
--- a/bin/pixi.dev.js
+++ b/bin/pixi.dev.js
@@ -1756,6 +1756,9 @@
 
 PIXI.Sprite.prototype._renderCanvas = function(renderSession)
 {
+    // if the sprite is not visible or the alpha is 0 then no need to render this element
+    if(this.visible === false || this.alpha === 0)return;
+    
     if(this._mask)
     {
         renderSession.maskManager.pushMask(this._mask, renderSession.context);
diff --git a/src/pixi/display/Sprite.js b/src/pixi/display/Sprite.js
index 0c0c5ad..34fa410 100644
--- a/src/pixi/display/Sprite.js
+++ b/src/pixi/display/Sprite.js
@@ -299,6 +299,9 @@
 
 PIXI.Sprite.prototype._renderCanvas = function(renderSession)
 {
+    // if the sprite is not visible or the alpha is 0 then no need to render this element
+    if(this.visible === false || this.alpha === 0)return;
+    
     if(this._mask)
     {
         renderSession.maskManager.pushMask(this._mask, renderSession.context);