Index: lams_central/web/css/_authoring_base.scss
===================================================================
diff -u -r3da98a1b1c7bcd2df24329ed436a4b6b8cdf5ca8 -r4e46528786b82a794844edf3d31958da538f9f14
--- lams_central/web/css/_authoring_base.scss	(.../_authoring_base.scss)	(revision 3da98a1b1c7bcd2df24329ed436a4b6b8cdf5ca8)
+++ lams_central/web/css/_authoring_base.scss	(.../_authoring_base.scss)	(revision 4e46528786b82a794844edf3d31958da538f9f14)
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 body {
 	background: $canvas-dot-background;
+	background-position: -1px 11px;
 	
 }
 #loadingOverlay {
Index: lams_central/web/includes/javascript/authoring/authoringActivity.js
===================================================================
diff -u -r3da98a1b1c7bcd2df24329ed436a4b6b8cdf5ca8 -r4e46528786b82a794844edf3d31958da538f9f14
--- lams_central/web/includes/javascript/authoring/authoringActivity.js	(.../authoringActivity.js)	(revision 3da98a1b1c7bcd2df24329ed436a4b6b8cdf5ca8)
+++ lams_central/web/includes/javascript/authoring/authoringActivity.js	(.../authoringActivity.js)	(revision 4e46528786b82a794844edf3d31958da538f9f14)
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@
 		}
 		
 		// make the icon more centred
-		x = GeneralLib.snapToGrid(x) + layout.snapToGrid.offset * 2;
+		x = GeneralLib.snapToGrid(x) + 20;
 		y = GeneralLib.snapToGrid(y);
 
 		// create activity SVG elements
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@
 		
 		x = GeneralLib.snapToGrid(x);
 		// make the icon more centred
-		y = GeneralLib.snapToGrid(y) - layout.snapToGrid.offset * 2;
+		y = GeneralLib.snapToGrid(y) - 20;
 		
 		// create activity SVG elements
 		var shape = ActivityLib.getActivityIcon('gate');
@@ -1283,7 +1283,7 @@
 	adjustTransitionPoint : function(bottomLimit, topLimit, target) {
 		// find a good point inside the grid, then make sure it is within bounds
 		return Math.max(bottomLimit + layout.transition.adjustStep, Math.min(topLimit - layout.transition.adjustStep,
-				Math.floor(target / layout.transition.adjustStep) * layout.transition.adjustStep + layout.snapToGrid.offset));
+				Math.floor(target / layout.transition.adjustStep) * layout.transition.adjustStep));
 	},
 
 	/**
Index: lams_central/web/includes/javascript/authoring/authoringGeneral.js
===================================================================
diff -u -r3da98a1b1c7bcd2df24329ed436a4b6b8cdf5ca8 -r4e46528786b82a794844edf3d31958da538f9f14
--- lams_central/web/includes/javascript/authoring/authoringGeneral.js	(.../authoringGeneral.js)	(revision 3da98a1b1c7bcd2df24329ed436a4b6b8cdf5ca8)
+++ lams_central/web/includes/javascript/authoring/authoringGeneral.js	(.../authoringGeneral.js)	(revision 4e46528786b82a794844edf3d31958da538f9f14)
@@ -84,9 +84,7 @@
 			// snapping grid step when dragging an activity
 			'step' : 40,
 			// distance from canvas border so activities are not on edge
-			'padding' : 40,
-			// shift final position by this number so activites are aligned to dots, not between them
-			'offset' : 10
+			'padding' : 40
 		},
 		
 		'activity' : {
@@ -264,7 +262,7 @@
 							if (learningLibraryID == 'grouping'){
 								activity = new ActivityDefs.GroupingActivity(null, null, x, y)
 							} else if (learningLibraryID == 'gate'){
-								activity = new ActivityDefs.GateActivity(null, null, x - 10, y + 20);
+								activity = new ActivityDefs.GateActivity(null, null, x, y + 30);
 							}
 						} else if (activityCategoryID === 5) {
 					    	// construct child activities out of previously referenced HTML templates
@@ -3391,6 +3389,6 @@
 	 
 	 snapToGrid : function(input, skipPadding) {
 		 var snapped = Snap.snapTo(layout.snapToGrid.step, input, layout.snapToGrid.step / 2);
-		 return skipPadding ? snapped : (Math.max(snapped, layout.snapToGrid.padding) + layout.snapToGrid.offset);
+		 return skipPadding ? snapped : Math.max(snapped, layout.snapToGrid.padding);
 	 }
 };