diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/cover_flow.py b/src/calibre/gui2/cover_flow.py
index 7ca475e8f3..3bd554e891 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/cover_flow.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/cover_flow.py
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ if pictureflow is not None:
             self.setFocusPolicy(Qt.WheelFocus)
             self.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Expanding,
                 QSizePolicy.Expanding))
+            self.setZoomFactor(150)
 
         def wheelEvent(self, ev):
             ev.accept()
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/pictureflow/pictureflow.cpp b/src/calibre/gui2/pictureflow/pictureflow.cpp
index 140d918ff9..9bb9a0954c 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/pictureflow/pictureflow.cpp
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/pictureflow/pictureflow.cpp
@@ -85,6 +85,8 @@ typedef long PFreal;
 
 typedef unsigned short QRgb565;
 
+#define FONT_SIZE 18
+
 #define RGB565_RED_MASK 0xF800
 #define RGB565_GREEN_MASK 0x07E0
 #define RGB565_BLUE_MASK 0x001F
@@ -711,14 +713,14 @@ void PictureFlowPrivate::render()
     QPainter painter;
     painter.begin(&buffer);
 
-    QFont font("Arial", 14);
+    QFont font("Arial", FONT_SIZE);
     font.setBold(true);
     painter.setFont(font);
     painter.setPen(Qt::white);
     //painter.setPen(QColor(255,255,255,127));
 
     if (centerIndex < slideCount() && centerIndex > -1) 
-    	painter.drawText( QRect(0,0, buffer.width(), (buffer.height() - slideSize().height())/2),
+    	painter.drawText( QRect(0,0, buffer.width(), buffer.height()*2-FONT_SIZE*3),
                       Qt::AlignCenter, slideImages->caption(centerIndex));
 
     painter.end();
@@ -761,7 +763,7 @@ void PictureFlowPrivate::render()
     QPainter painter;
     painter.begin(&buffer);
 
-    QFont font("Arial", 14);
+    QFont font("Arial", FONT_SIZE);
     font.setBold(true);
     painter.setFont(font);
 
@@ -770,12 +772,12 @@ void PictureFlowPrivate::render()
 
     painter.setPen(QColor(255,255,255, (255-fade) ));
     if (leftTextIndex < sc && leftTextIndex > -1)
-    	painter.drawText( QRect(0,0, buffer.width(), (buffer.height() - slideSize().height())/2),
+    	painter.drawText( QRect(0,0, buffer.width(), buffer.height()*2 - FONT_SIZE*3),
                       Qt::AlignCenter, slideImages->caption(leftTextIndex));
 
     painter.setPen(QColor(255,255,255, fade));
     if (leftTextIndex+1 < sc && leftTextIndex > -2)
-    	painter.drawText( QRect(0,0, buffer.width(), (buffer.height() - slideSize().height())/2),
+    	painter.drawText( QRect(0,0, buffer.width(), buffer.height()*2 - FONT_SIZE*3),
                       Qt::AlignCenter, slideImages->caption(leftTextIndex+1));
 
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/pictureflow/pictureflow.h b/src/calibre/gui2/pictureflow/pictureflow.h
index 3e0b606d8a..8cce025180 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/pictureflow/pictureflow.h
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/pictureflow/pictureflow.h
@@ -115,7 +115,8 @@ public:
   QSize slideSize() const;
 
   /*!
-    Sets the dimension of each slide (in pixels).
+    Sets the dimension of each slide (in pixels). Do not use this method directly
+    instead use resize which automatically sets an appropriate slide size.
   */  
   void setSlideSize(QSize size);