diff --git a/src/git.js b/src/git.js
index ec26adc0..fa495976 100644
--- a/src/git.js
+++ b/src/git.js
@@ -85,7 +85,13 @@ GitEngine.prototype.exportTree = function() {
 GitEngine.prototype.loadTree = function(tree) {
   // first clear everything
   this.removeAll();
+  
+  this.instantiateFromTree(tree);
 
+  this.reloadGraphics();
+};
+
+GitEngine.prototype.instantiateFromTree = function(tree) {
   // now we do the loading part
   var createdSoFar = {};
   _.each(tree.commits, function(commitJSON) {
@@ -100,7 +106,18 @@ GitEngine.prototype.loadTree = function(tree) {
 
   var HEAD = this.getOrMakeRecursive(tree, createdSoFar, tree.HEAD.id);
   this.HEAD = HEAD;
+};
 
+GitEngine.prototype.reloadGraphics = function() {
+  // this just basically makes the HEAD branch. the head branch really should have been
+  // a member of a collection and not this annoying edge case stuff...
+  console.log('calling when git engine ready');
+  gitVisuals.whenGitEngineReady(this);
+
+  // when the paper is ready
+  gitVisuals.drawTreeFirstTime();
+
+  console.log('refreshing hars');
   gitVisuals.refreshTreeHarsh();
 };
 
@@ -172,12 +189,7 @@ GitEngine.prototype.getOrMakeRecursive = function(tree, createdSoFar, objID) {
 };
 
 GitEngine.prototype.removeAll = function() {
-  this.branchCollection.each(function(branch) {
-    branch.get('visBranch').remove();
-  }, this);
-  this.commitCollection.each(function(commit) {
-    commit.get('visNode').removeAll();
-  }, this);
+  gitVisuals.resetAll();
 
   this.branchCollection.reset();
   this.commitCollection.reset();
diff --git a/src/tree.js b/src/tree.js
index ef65edac..6f9cb7a1 100644
--- a/src/tree.js
+++ b/src/tree.js
@@ -439,6 +439,7 @@ var VisNode = VisBase.extend({
 
   setDepthBasedOn: function(depthIncrement) {
     if (this.get('depth') === undefined) {
+      debugger
       throw new Error('no depth yet!');
     }
     var pos = this.get('pos');
diff --git a/src/visuals.js b/src/visuals.js
index a1ca4a87..885877cd 100644
--- a/src/visuals.js
+++ b/src/visuals.js
@@ -33,11 +33,33 @@ function GitVisuals(options) {
   events.on('gitEngineReady', this.whenGitEngineReady, this);
 }
 
+GitVisuals.prototype.resetAll = function() {
+  this.visEdgeCollection.each(function(visEdge) {
+    visEdge.remove();
+  }, this);
+  this.visBranchCollection.each(function(visBranch) {
+    visBranch.remove();
+  }, this);
+  _.each(this.visNodeMap, function(visNode) {
+    visNode.remove();
+  }, this);
+
+  this.visEdgeCollection.reset();
+  this.visBranchCollection.reset();
+
+  this.visNodeMap = {};
+  this.rootCommit = null;
+  this.commitMap = {};
+};
+
 GitVisuals.prototype.whenGitEngineReady = function(gitEngine) {
   // seed this with the HEAD pseudo-branch
-  this.visBranchCollection.add(new VisBranch({
+
+  var headBranch = new VisBranch({
     branch: gitEngine.HEAD
-  }));
+  });
+
+  this.visBranchCollection.add(headBranch);
 };
 
 GitVisuals.prototype.getScreenBounds = function() {
@@ -304,10 +326,7 @@ GitVisuals.prototype.calcDepth = function() {
   var maxDepth = this.calcDepthRecursive(this.rootCommit, 0);
   if (maxDepth > 15) {
     // issue warning
-    events.trigger('issueWarning',
-      'Max Depth Exceeded! Visuals may degrade here. ' +
-      'Please start fresh'
-    );
+    // TODO
   }
 
   var depthIncrement = this.getDepthIncrement(maxDepth);