diff --git a/graphicsItems/AxisItem.py b/graphicsItems/AxisItem.py
index 27589636..351b4ed5 100644
--- a/graphicsItems/AxisItem.py
+++ b/graphicsItems/AxisItem.py
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ class AxisItem(GraphicsWidget):
                 
             lineAlpha = 255 / (i+1)
             if self.grid is not False:
-                lineAlpha = self.grid
+                lineAlpha *= self.grid/255. * np.clip((0.05  * lengthInPixels / (len(ticks)+1)), 0., 1.)
             
             for v in ticks:
                 ## determine actual position to draw this tick
diff --git a/graphicsItems/PlotItem/plotConfigTemplate.py b/graphicsItems/PlotItem/plotConfigTemplate.py
index 9a107e9d..0c620839 100644
--- a/graphicsItems/PlotItem/plotConfigTemplate.py
+++ b/graphicsItems/PlotItem/plotConfigTemplate.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ class Ui_Form(object):
         self.gridLayout_2.addWidget(self.yGridCheck, 1, 0, 1, 2)
         self.gridAlphaSlider = QtGui.QSlider(self.gridGroup)
         self.gridAlphaSlider.setMaximum(255)
-        self.gridAlphaSlider.setProperty("value", 70)
+        self.gridAlphaSlider.setProperty("value", 128)
         self.gridAlphaSlider.setOrientation(QtCore.Qt.Horizontal)
         self.gridAlphaSlider.setObjectName(_fromUtf8("gridAlphaSlider"))
         self.gridLayout_2.addWidget(self.gridAlphaSlider, 2, 1, 1, 1)
diff --git a/graphicsItems/PlotItem/plotConfigTemplate.ui b/graphicsItems/PlotItem/plotConfigTemplate.ui
index a1807fd6..516ec721 100644
--- a/graphicsItems/PlotItem/plotConfigTemplate.ui
+++ b/graphicsItems/PlotItem/plotConfigTemplate.ui
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@
        <number>255</number>
       </property>
       <property name="value">
-       <number>70</number>
+       <number>128</number>
       </property>
       <property name="orientation">
        <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
diff --git a/widgets/GraphicsView.py b/widgets/GraphicsView.py
index b3d2863f..6f7da132 100644
--- a/widgets/GraphicsView.py
+++ b/widgets/GraphicsView.py
@@ -104,6 +104,11 @@ class GraphicsView(QtGui.QGraphicsView):
         self.sceneObj = GraphicsScene()
         self.setScene(self.sceneObj)
         
+        ## Workaround for PySide crash
+        ## This ensures that the scene will outlive the view.
+        if pyqtgraph.Qt.USE_PYSIDE:
+            self.sceneObj._view_ref_workaround = self
+        
         ## by default we set up a central widget with a grid layout.
         ## this can be replaced if needed.
         self.centralWidget = None