@@ -130,9 +130,10 @@ def __init__(self,
         # list of unbroadcast/scaled linewidths
         self._us_lw = [0]
         self._linewidths = [0]
+        self._is_filled = True  # May be modified by set_facecolor().
 
-        self.set_edgecolor(edgecolors)
         self.set_facecolor(facecolors)
+        self.set_edgecolor(edgecolors)
         self.set_linewidth(linewidths)
         self.set_linestyle(linestyles)
         self.set_antialiased(antialiaseds)
@@ -494,14 +495,9 @@ def set_linewidth(self, lw):
         ACCEPTS: float or sequence of floats
         """
         if lw is None:
-            if (self._edge_default or
-                    mpl.rcParams['_internal.classic_mode'] or
-                    not self._is_filled):
-                lw = mpl.rcParams['patch.linewidth']
-                if lw is None:
-                    lw = mpl.rcParams['lines.linewidth']
-            else:
-                lw = 0
+            lw = mpl.rcParams['patch.linewidth']
+            if lw is None:
+                lw = mpl.rcParams['lines.linewidth']
         # get the un-scaled/broadcast lw
         self._us_lw = self._get_value(lw)
 
@@ -646,6 +642,20 @@ def set_color(self, c):
         self.set_facecolor(c)
         self.set_edgecolor(c)
 
+    def _set_facecolor(self, c):
+        if c is None:
+            c = mpl.rcParams['patch.facecolor']
+
+        self._is_filled = True
+        try:
+            if c.lower() == 'none':
+                self._is_filled = False
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
+        self._facecolors = mcolors.to_rgba_array(c, self._alpha)
+        self.stale = True
+
+
     def set_facecolor(self, c):
         """
         Set the facecolor(s) of the collection.  *c* can be a
@@ -657,17 +667,9 @@ def set_facecolor(self, c):
 
         ACCEPTS: matplotlib color spec or sequence of specs
         """
-        self._is_filled = True
-        try:
-            if c.lower() == 'none':
-                self._is_filled = False
-        except AttributeError:
-            pass
-        if c is None:
-            c = mpl.rcParams['patch.facecolor']
-        self._facecolors_original = c
-        self._facecolors = mcolors.to_rgba_array(c, self._alpha)
-        self.stale = True
+        self._original_facecolor = c
+        self._set_facecolor(c)
+
 
     def set_facecolors(self, c):
         """alias for set_facecolor"""
@@ -685,38 +687,45 @@ def get_edgecolor(self):
             return self._edgecolors
     get_edgecolors = get_edgecolor
 
-    def set_edgecolor(self, c):
-        """
-        Set the edgecolor(s) of the collection. *c* can be a
-        matplotlib color spec (all patches have same color), or a
-        sequence of specs; if it is a sequence the patches will
-        cycle through the sequence.
-
-        If *c* is 'face', the edge color will always be the same as
-        the face color.  If it is 'none', the patch boundary will not
-        be drawn.
-
-        ACCEPTS: matplotlib color spec or sequence of specs
-        """
+    def _set_edgecolor(self, c):
+        if c is None:
+            if (mpl.rcParams['patch.force_edgecolor'] or
+                    not self._is_filled or self._edge_default):
+                c = mpl.rcParams['patch.edgecolor']
+            else:
+                c = 'none'
         self._is_stroked = True
         try:
             if c.lower() == 'none':
                 self._is_stroked = False
         except AttributeError:
             pass
+
         try:
-            if c.lower() == 'face':
+            if c.lower() == 'face':   # Special case: lookup in "get" method.
                 self._edgecolors = 'face'
-                self._edgecolors_original = 'face'
                 return
         except AttributeError:
             pass
-        if c is None:
-            c = mpl.rcParams['patch.edgecolor']
-        self._edgecolors_original = c
         self._edgecolors = mcolors.to_rgba_array(c, self._alpha)
         self.stale = True
 
+    def set_edgecolor(self, c):
+        """
+        Set the edgecolor(s) of the collection. *c* can be a
+        matplotlib color spec (all patches have same color), or a
+        sequence of specs; if it is a sequence the patches will
+        cycle through the sequence.
+
+        If *c* is 'face', the edge color will always be the same as
+        the face color.  If it is 'none', the patch boundary will not
+        be drawn.
+
+        ACCEPTS: matplotlib color spec or sequence of specs
+        """
+        self._original_edgecolor = c
+        self._set_edgecolor(c)
+
     def set_edgecolors(self, c):
         """alias for set_edgecolor"""
         return self.set_edgecolor(c)
@@ -734,18 +743,8 @@ def set_alpha(self, alpha):
             except TypeError:
                 raise TypeError('alpha must be a float or None')
         artist.Artist.set_alpha(self, alpha)
-        try:
-            self._facecolors = mcolors.to_rgba_array(
-                self._facecolors_original, self._alpha)
-        except (AttributeError, TypeError, IndexError):
-            pass
-        try:
-            if (not isinstance(self._edgecolors_original, six.string_types)
-                             or self._edgecolors_original != str('face')):
-                self._edgecolors = mcolors.to_rgba_array(
-                    self._edgecolors_original, self._alpha)
-        except (AttributeError, TypeError, IndexError):
-            pass
+        self._set_facecolor(self._original_facecolor)
+        self._set_edgecolor(self._original_edgecolor)
 
     def get_linewidths(self):
         return self._linewidths
@@ -781,9 +780,9 @@ def update_from(self, other):
 
         artist.Artist.update_from(self, other)
         self._antialiaseds = other._antialiaseds
-        self._edgecolors_original = other._edgecolors_original
+        self._original_edgecolor = other._original_edgecolor
         self._edgecolors = other._edgecolors
-        self._facecolors_original = other._facecolors_original
+        self._original_facecolor = other._original_facecolor
         self._facecolors = other._facecolors
         self._linewidths = other._linewidths
         self._linestyles = other._linestyles
 
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ markers.fillstyle: full
 # information on patch properties
 patch.linewidth        : 1.0     # edge width in points
 patch.facecolor        : b
+patch.force_edgecolor  : True
 patch.edgecolor        : k
 patch.antialiased      : True    # render patches in antialiased (no jaggies)
 
 
@@ -154,18 +154,26 @@ def get_verts(self):
             return polygons[0]
         return []
 
+    def _process_radius(self, radius):
+        if radius is not None:
+            return radius
+        if cbook.is_numlike(self._picker):
+            _radius = self._picker
+        else:
+            if self.get_edgecolor()[3] == 0:
+                _radius = 0
+            else:
+                _radius = self.get_linewidth()
+        return _radius
+
     def contains(self, mouseevent, radius=None):
         """Test whether the mouse event occurred in the patch.
 
         Returns T/F, {}
         """
         if six.callable(self._contains):
             return self._contains(self, mouseevent)
-        if radius is None:
-            if cbook.is_numlike(self._picker):
-                radius = self._picker
-            else:
-                radius = self.get_linewidth()
+        radius = self._process_radius(radius)
         inside = self.get_path().contains_point(
             (mouseevent.x, mouseevent.y), self.get_transform(), radius)
         return inside, {}
@@ -175,11 +183,7 @@ def contains_point(self, point, radius=None):
         Returns *True* if the given point is inside the path
         (transformed with its transform attribute).
         """
-        if radius is None:
-            if cbook.is_numlike(self._picker):
-                radius = self._picker
-            else:
-                radius = self.get_linewidth()
+        radius = self._process_radius(radius)
         return self.get_path().contains_point(point,
                                               self.get_transform(),
                                               radius)
@@ -281,37 +285,44 @@ def set_aa(self, aa):
         """alias for set_antialiased"""
         return self.set_antialiased(aa)
 
+    def _set_edgecolor(self, color):
+        if color is None:
+            if (mpl.rcParams['patch.force_edgecolor'] or
+                    not self._fill or self._edge_default):
+                color = mpl.rcParams['patch.edgecolor']
+            else:
+                color = 'none'
+        self._edgecolor = colors.to_rgba(color, self._alpha)
+        self.stale = True
+
     def set_edgecolor(self, color):
         """
         Set the patch edge color
 
-        ACCEPTS: mpl color spec, or None for default, or 'none' for no color
+        ACCEPTS: mpl color spec, None, 'none', or 'auto'
         """
-        if color is None:
-            color = mpl.rcParams['patch.edgecolor']
         self._original_edgecolor = color
-        self._edgecolor = colors.to_rgba(color, self._alpha)
-        self.stale = True
+        self._set_edgecolor(color)
 
     def set_ec(self, color):
         """alias for set_edgecolor"""
         return self.set_edgecolor(color)
 
+    def _set_facecolor(self, color):
+        if color is None:
+            color = mpl.rcParams['patch.facecolor']
+        alpha = self._alpha if self._fill else 0
+        self._facecolor = colors.to_rgba(color, alpha)
+        self.stale = True
+
     def set_facecolor(self, color):
         """
         Set the patch face color
 
         ACCEPTS: mpl color spec, or None for default, or 'none' for no color
         """
-        if color is None:
-            color = mpl.rcParams['patch.facecolor']
-        # save: otherwise changing _fill may lose alpha information
         self._original_facecolor = color
-        self._facecolor = colors.to_rgba(color, self._alpha)
-        if not self._fill:
-            self._facecolor = list(self._facecolor)
-            self._facecolor[3] = 0
-        self.stale = True
+        self._set_facecolor(color)
 
     def set_fc(self, color):
         """alias for set_facecolor"""
@@ -343,10 +354,9 @@ def set_alpha(self, alpha):
             except TypeError:
                 raise TypeError('alpha must be a float or None')
         artist.Artist.set_alpha(self, alpha)
-        # using self._fill and self._alpha
-        self.set_facecolor(self._original_facecolor)
-        self.set_edgecolor(self._original_edgecolor)
-        self.stale = True
+        self._set_facecolor(self._facecolor)
+        self._set_edgecolor(self._original_edgecolor)
+        # stale is already True
 
     def set_linewidth(self, w):
         """
@@ -355,14 +365,9 @@ def set_linewidth(self, w):
         ACCEPTS: float or None for default
         """
         if w is None:
-            if (not self._fill or
-                self._edge_default or
-                mpl.rcParams['_internal.classic_mode']):
-                w = mpl.rcParams['patch.linewidth']
-                if w is None:
-                    w = mpl.rcParams['axes.linewidth']
-            else:
-                w = 0
+            w = mpl.rcParams['patch.linewidth']
+            if w is None:
+                w = mpl.rcParams['axes.linewidth']
 
         self._linewidth = float(w)
         # scale the dash pattern by the linewidth
@@ -428,7 +433,8 @@ def set_fill(self, b):
         ACCEPTS: [True | False]
         """
         self._fill = bool(b)
-        self.set_facecolor(self._original_facecolor)
+        self._set_facecolor(self._original_facecolor)
+        self._set_edgecolor(self._original_edgecolor)
         self.stale = True
 
     def get_fill(self):
 
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ def validate_color(s):
     'return a valid color arg'
     try:
         if s.lower() == 'none':
-            return 'None'
+            return 'none'
     except AttributeError:
         pass
 
@@ -891,7 +891,7 @@ def validate_hist_bins(s):
     'lines.linewidth':       [1.5, validate_float],  # line width in points
     'lines.linestyle':       ['-', six.text_type],             # solid line
     'lines.color':           ['C0', validate_color],  # first color in color cycle
-    'lines.marker':          ['None', six.text_type],     # black
+    'lines.marker':          ['None', six.text_type],  # marker name
     'lines.markeredgewidth': [1.0, validate_float],
     'lines.markersize':      [6, validate_float],    # markersize, in points
     'lines.antialiased':     [True, validate_bool],  # antialiased (no jaggies)
@@ -907,10 +907,11 @@ def validate_hist_bins(s):
     'markers.fillstyle': ['full', validate_fillstyle],
 
     ## patch props
-    'patch.linewidth':   [None, validate_float_or_None],  # line width in points
-    'patch.edgecolor':   ['k', validate_color],  # black
-    'patch.facecolor':   ['C0', validate_color],  # first color in color cycle
-    'patch.antialiased': [True, validate_bool],  # antialiased (no jaggies)
+    'patch.linewidth':   [1.0, validate_float],     # line width in points
+    'patch.edgecolor':   ['k', validate_color],
+    'patch.force_edgecolor' : [False, validate_bool],
+    'patch.facecolor':   ['C0', validate_color],    # first color in cycle
+    'patch.antialiased': [True, validate_bool],     # antialiased (no jaggies)
 
     ## hatch props
     'hatch.linewidth': [1.0, validate_float],
 
@@ -181,21 +181,20 @@ def test_remove():
 @image_comparison(baseline_images=["default_edges"], remove_text=True,
                   extensions=['png'], style='default')
 def test_default_edges():
-    with mpl.rc_context({'patch.linewidth': None}):
-        fig, [[ax1, ax2], [ax3, ax4]] = plt.subplots(2, 2)
-
-        ax1.plot(np.arange(10), np.arange(10), 'x',
-                 np.arange(10) + 1, np.arange(10), 'o')
-        ax2.bar(np.arange(10), np.arange(10))
-        ax3.text(0, 0, "BOX", size=24, bbox=dict(boxstyle='sawtooth'))
-        ax3.set_xlim((-1, 1))
-        ax3.set_ylim((-1, 1))
-        pp1 = mpatches.PathPatch(
-            mpath.Path([(0, 0), (1, 0), (1, 1), (0, 0)],
-                 [mpath.Path.MOVETO, mpath.Path.CURVE3,
-                  mpath.Path.CURVE3, mpath.Path.CLOSEPOLY]),
-            fc="none", transform=ax4.transData)
-        ax4.add_patch(pp1)
+    fig, [[ax1, ax2], [ax3, ax4]] = plt.subplots(2, 2)
+
+    ax1.plot(np.arange(10), np.arange(10), 'x',
+             np.arange(10) + 1, np.arange(10), 'o')
+    ax2.bar(np.arange(10), np.arange(10))
+    ax3.text(0, 0, "BOX", size=24, bbox=dict(boxstyle='sawtooth'))
+    ax3.set_xlim((-1, 1))
+    ax3.set_ylim((-1, 1))
+    pp1 = mpatches.PathPatch(
+        mpath.Path([(0, 0), (1, 0), (1, 1), (0, 0)],
+             [mpath.Path.MOVETO, mpath.Path.CURVE3,
+              mpath.Path.CURVE3, mpath.Path.CLOSEPOLY]),
+        fc="none", transform=ax4.transData)
+    ax4.add_patch(pp1)
 
 
 @cleanup