diff --git a/Avalonia.sln b/Avalonia.sln
index 392de31b63..ab4258ab14 100644
--- a/Avalonia.sln
+++ b/Avalonia.sln
@@ -159,6 +159,8 @@ Project("{FAE04EC0-301F-11D3-BF4B-00C04F79EFBC}") = "Avalonia.Win32.NetStandard"
 EndProject
 Project("{FAE04EC0-301F-11D3-BF4B-00C04F79EFBC}") = "Avalonia.DotNetCoreRuntime", "src\Avalonia.DotNetCoreRuntime\Avalonia.DotNetCoreRuntime.csproj", "{7863EA94-F0FB-4386-BF8C-E5BFA761560A}"
 EndProject
+Project("{FAE04EC0-301F-11D3-BF4B-00C04F79EFBC}") = "Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.NetStandard", "src\Skia\Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.NetStandard\Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.NetStandard.csproj", "{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}"
+EndProject
 Global
 	GlobalSection(SharedMSBuildProjectFiles) = preSolution
 		src\Skia\Avalonia.Skia\Avalonia.Skia.projitems*{2f59f3d0-748d-4652-b01e-e0d954756308}*SharedItemsImports = 13
@@ -172,6 +174,8 @@ Global
 		src\Shared\PlatformSupport\PlatformSupport.projitems*{4a1abb09-9047-4bd5-a4ad-a055e52c5ee0}*SharedItemsImports = 4
 		src\Shared\PlatformSupport\PlatformSupport.projitems*{7863ea94-f0fb-4386-bf8c-e5bfa761560a}*SharedItemsImports = 4
 		src\Shared\PlatformSupport\PlatformSupport.projitems*{7b92af71-6287-4693-9dcb-bd5b6e927e23}*SharedItemsImports = 4
+		src\Shared\RenderHelpers\RenderHelpers.projitems*{7d2d3083-71dd-4cc9-8907-39a0d86fb322}*SharedItemsImports = 4
+		src\Skia\Avalonia.Skia\Avalonia.Skia.projitems*{7d2d3083-71dd-4cc9-8907-39a0d86fb322}*SharedItemsImports = 4
 		src\Windows\Avalonia.Win32\Avalonia.Win32.Shared.projitems*{811a76cf-1cf6-440f-963b-bbe31bd72a82}*SharedItemsImports = 4
 		src\Shared\RenderHelpers\RenderHelpers.projitems*{925dd807-b651-475f-9f7c-cbeb974ce43d}*SharedItemsImports = 4
 		src\Skia\Avalonia.Skia\Avalonia.Skia.projitems*{925dd807-b651-475f-9f7c-cbeb974ce43d}*SharedItemsImports = 4
@@ -2383,6 +2387,46 @@ Global
 		{7863EA94-F0FB-4386-BF8C-E5BFA761560A}.Release|Mono.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
 		{7863EA94-F0FB-4386-BF8C-E5BFA761560A}.Release|x86.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
 		{7863EA94-F0FB-4386-BF8C-E5BFA761560A}.Release|x86.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Ad-Hoc|Any CPU.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Ad-Hoc|Any CPU.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Ad-Hoc|iPhone.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Ad-Hoc|iPhone.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Ad-Hoc|iPhoneSimulator.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Ad-Hoc|iPhoneSimulator.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Ad-Hoc|Mono.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Ad-Hoc|Mono.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Ad-Hoc|x86.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Ad-Hoc|x86.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.AppStore|Any CPU.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.AppStore|Any CPU.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.AppStore|iPhone.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.AppStore|iPhone.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.AppStore|iPhoneSimulator.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.AppStore|iPhoneSimulator.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.AppStore|Mono.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.AppStore|Mono.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.AppStore|x86.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.AppStore|x86.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Debug|Any CPU.ActiveCfg = Debug|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Debug|Any CPU.Build.0 = Debug|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Debug|iPhone.ActiveCfg = Debug|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Debug|iPhone.Build.0 = Debug|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Debug|iPhoneSimulator.ActiveCfg = Debug|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Debug|iPhoneSimulator.Build.0 = Debug|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Debug|Mono.ActiveCfg = Debug|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Debug|Mono.Build.0 = Debug|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Debug|x86.ActiveCfg = Debug|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Debug|x86.Build.0 = Debug|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Release|Any CPU.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Release|Any CPU.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Release|iPhone.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Release|iPhone.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Release|iPhoneSimulator.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Release|iPhoneSimulator.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Release|Mono.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Release|Mono.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Release|x86.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}.Release|x86.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
 	EndGlobalSection
 	GlobalSection(SolutionProperties) = preSolution
 		HideSolutionNode = FALSE
@@ -2437,5 +2481,6 @@ Global
 		{29132311-1848-4FD6-AE0C-4FF841151BD3} = {9B9E3891-2366-4253-A952-D08BCEB71098}
 		{9DEFC6B7-845B-4D8F-AFC0-D32BF0032B8C} = {B39A8919-9F95-48FE-AD7B-76E08B509888}
 		{40759A76-D0F2-464E-8000-6FF0F5C4BD7C} = {B39A8919-9F95-48FE-AD7B-76E08B509888}
+		{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322} = {3743B0F2-CC41-4F14-A8C8-267F579BF91E}
 	EndGlobalSection
 EndGlobal
diff --git a/build.cake b/build.cake
index 9ece1f85ba..03768a2c0f 100644
--- a/build.cake
+++ b/build.cake
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ var isNuGetRelease = isTagged && isReleasable;
 // VERSION
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-var version = ParseAssemblyInfo(AssemblyInfoPath).AssemblyVersion;
+var version = Argument("force-nuget-version", ParseAssemblyInfo(AssemblyInfoPath).AssemblyVersion);
 
 if (isRunningOnAppVeyor)
 {
@@ -115,7 +115,9 @@ var buildDirs =
     (DirectoryPath)Directory("./src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Android.TestApp/bin/" + dirSuffix) + 
     (DirectoryPath)Directory("./src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Android.TestApp/obj/" + dirSuffix) + 
     (DirectoryPath)Directory("./src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop/bin/" + dirSuffixSkia) + 
-    (DirectoryPath)Directory("./src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop/obj/" + dirSuffixSkia) + 
+    (DirectoryPath)Directory("./src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop/obj/" + dirSuffixSkia) +
+    (DirectoryPath)Directory("./src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.NetStandard/bin/" + dirSuffix) + 
+    (DirectoryPath)Directory("./src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.NetStandard/obj/" + dirSuffix) + 
     (DirectoryPath)Directory("./src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.iOS/bin/" + dirSuffixIOS) + 
     (DirectoryPath)Directory("./src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.iOS/obj/" + dirSuffixIOS) + 
     (DirectoryPath)Directory("./src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.iOS.TestApp/bin/" + dirSuffixIOS) + 
@@ -518,13 +520,16 @@ var nuspecNuGetSettingsDesktop = new []
         Dependencies = new []
         {
             new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "Avalonia", Version = version },
-            new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "SkiaSharp", Version = SkiaSharpVersion }
+            new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "SkiaSharp", Version = SkiaSharpVersion },
+            new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "NETStandard.Library", TargetFramework = "netcoreapp1.0", Version = "1.6.0" },
+            new NuSpecDependency() { Id = "Microsoft.NETCore.Portable.Compatibility", TargetFramework = "netcoreapp1.0", Version = "1.0.1" }
         },
         Files = new []
         {
-            new NuSpecContent { Source = "Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.dll", Target = "lib/net45" }
+            new NuSpecContent { Source = "Avalonia.Skia.Desktop/bin/" + dirSuffixSkia + "/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.dll", Target = "lib/net45" },
+            new NuSpecContent { Source = "Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.NetStandard/bin/" + dirSuffix + "/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.dll", Target = "lib/netcoreapp1.0" }
         },
-        BasePath = Directory("./src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop/bin/" + dirSuffixSkia),
+        BasePath = Directory("./src/Skia/"),
         OutputDirectory = nugetRoot
     },
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -617,7 +622,7 @@ Task("Clean")
 Task("Prepare-XBuild-Solution")
     .Does(() =>
 {
-    var blacklistedProjects = new[]{"Avalonia.Win32.NetStandard", "Avalonia.DotNetCoreRuntime"};
+    var blacklistedProjects = new[]{"Avalonia.Win32.NetStandard", "Avalonia.DotNetCoreRuntime", "Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.NetStandard"};
     var blacklistedGuids = System.IO.File.ReadAllLines(MSBuildSolution)
         .Where(l=>l.StartsWith("Project") && blacklistedProjects.Any(p=>l.Contains(p)))
         .Select(l => l.Split(',').Select(part => part.Trim()).FirstOrDefault(part => part.StartsWith("\"{")))
diff --git a/src/Android/Avalonia.AndroidTestApplication/Avalonia.AndroidTestApplication.csproj b/src/Android/Avalonia.AndroidTestApplication/Avalonia.AndroidTestApplication.csproj
index ebe268adcf..0e94cecc2d 100644
--- a/src/Android/Avalonia.AndroidTestApplication/Avalonia.AndroidTestApplication.csproj
+++ b/src/Android/Avalonia.AndroidTestApplication/Avalonia.AndroidTestApplication.csproj
@@ -72,9 +72,8 @@
       <HintPath>..\..\..\packages\Splat.1.6.2\lib\monoandroid\Splat.dll</HintPath>
       <Private>True</Private>
     </Reference>
-    <Reference Include="Sprache, Version=2.0.0.51, Culture=neutral, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
-      <HintPath>..\..\..\packages\Sprache.2.0.0.51\lib\portable-net4+netcore45+win8+wp8+sl5+MonoAndroid+Xamarin.iOS10+MonoTouch\Sprache.dll</HintPath>
-      <Private>True</Private>
+    <Reference Include="Sprache, Version=2.1.0.0, Culture=neutral, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
+      <HintPath>..\..\..\packages\Sprache.2.1.0\lib\netstandard1.0\Sprache.dll</HintPath>
     </Reference>
     <Reference Include="System" />
     <Reference Include="System.Core" />
diff --git a/src/Android/Avalonia.AndroidTestApplication/packages.config b/src/Android/Avalonia.AndroidTestApplication/packages.config
index 470074798d..d353146747 100644
--- a/src/Android/Avalonia.AndroidTestApplication/packages.config
+++ b/src/Android/Avalonia.AndroidTestApplication/packages.config
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 <packages>
   <package id="Serilog" version="1.5.14" targetFramework="monoandroid44" />
   <package id="Splat" version="1.6.2" targetFramework="monoandroid51" />
-  <package id="Sprache" version="2.0.0.51" targetFramework="monoandroid44" />
+  <package id="Sprache" version="2.1.0" targetFramework="monoandroid44" />
   <package id="System.Collections" version="4.0.11" targetFramework="monoandroid44" />
   <package id="System.Collections.Concurrent" version="4.0.12" targetFramework="monoandroid44" />
   <package id="System.ComponentModel" version="4.0.1" targetFramework="monoandroid44" />
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
   <package id="System.Resources.ResourceManager" version="4.0.1" targetFramework="monoandroid44" />
   <package id="System.Runtime" version="4.1.0" targetFramework="monoandroid44" />
   <package id="System.Runtime.Extensions" version="4.1.0" targetFramework="monoandroid44" />
+  <package id="System.Text.RegularExpressions" version="4.1.0" targetFramework="monoandroid44" />
   <package id="System.Threading" version="4.0.11" targetFramework="monoandroid44" />
   <package id="System.Threading.Tasks" version="4.0.11" targetFramework="monoandroid44" />
 </packages>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.csproj b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.csproj
index 00edd205f3..4ed20629cf 100644
--- a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.csproj
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.csproj
@@ -322,9 +322,8 @@
     </ProjectReference>
   </ItemGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
-    <Reference Include="Sprache, Version=2.0.0.51, Culture=neutral, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
-      <HintPath>..\..\..\packages\Sprache.2.0.0.51\lib\portable-net4+netcore45+win8+wp8+sl5+MonoAndroid+Xamarin.iOS10+MonoTouch\Sprache.dll</HintPath>
-      <Private>True</Private>
+    <Reference Include="Sprache, Version=2.1.0.0, Culture=neutral, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
+      <HintPath>..\..\..\packages\Sprache.2.1.0\lib\netstandard1.0\Sprache.dll</HintPath>
     </Reference>
     <Reference Include="System.Reactive.Core, Version=3.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=94bc3704cddfc263, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
       <HintPath>..\..\..\packages\System.Reactive.Core.3.0.0\lib\netstandard1.1\System.Reactive.Core.dll</HintPath>
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/packages.config b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/packages.config
index 762fe58c1f..7a9353bb05 100644
--- a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/packages.config
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml/packages.config
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <packages>
-  <package id="Sprache" version="2.0.0.51" targetFramework="portable45-net45+win8" />
+  <package id="Sprache" version="2.1.0" targetFramework="portable45-net45+win8" />
+  <package id="System.Globalization" version="4.0.11" targetFramework="portable45-net45+win8" />
+  <package id="System.Linq" version="4.1.0" targetFramework="portable45-net45+win8" />
   <package id="System.Reactive" version="3.0.0" targetFramework="portable45-net45+win8" />
   <package id="System.Reactive.Core" version="3.0.0" targetFramework="portable45-net45+win8" />
   <package id="System.Reactive.Interfaces" version="3.0.0" targetFramework="portable45-net45+win8" />
   <package id="System.Reactive.Linq" version="3.0.0" targetFramework="portable45-net45+win8" />
   <package id="System.Reactive.PlatformServices" version="3.0.0" targetFramework="portable45-net45+win8" />
+  <package id="System.Runtime" version="4.1.0" targetFramework="portable45-net45+win8" />
+  <package id="System.Text.RegularExpressions" version="4.1.0" targetFramework="portable45-net45+win8" />
 </packages>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Android/Avalonia.Skia.Android.csproj b/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Android/Avalonia.Skia.Android.csproj
index 505b62ace9..ef950fe786 100644
--- a/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Android/Avalonia.Skia.Android.csproj
+++ b/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Android/Avalonia.Skia.Android.csproj
@@ -40,9 +40,8 @@
   <ItemGroup>
     <Reference Include="Mono.Android" />
     <Reference Include="mscorlib" />
-    <Reference Include="SkiaSharp, Version=1.54.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=0738eb9f132ed756, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
-      <HintPath>..\..\..\packages\SkiaSharp.1.54.1\lib\MonoAndroid\SkiaSharp.dll</HintPath>
-      <Private>True</Private>
+    <Reference Include="SkiaSharp, Version=1.56.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=0738eb9f132ed756, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
+      <HintPath>..\..\..\packages\SkiaSharp.1.56.1-beta\lib\MonoAndroid\SkiaSharp.dll</HintPath>
     </Reference>
     <Reference Include="System" />
     <Reference Include="System.Core" />
diff --git a/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Android/packages.config b/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Android/packages.config
index 5aa479d8d2..0b3bfb071f 100644
--- a/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Android/packages.config
+++ b/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Android/packages.config
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <packages>
-  <package id="SkiaSharp" version="1.54.1" targetFramework="monoandroid44" />
+  <package id="SkiaSharp" version="1.56.1-beta" targetFramework="monoandroid44" />
 </packages>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.NetStandard/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.NetStandard.csproj b/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.NetStandard/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.NetStandard.csproj
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5d629f3448
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.NetStandard/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.NetStandard.csproj
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<Project ToolsVersion="14.0" DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
+  <Import Project="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\$(MSBuildToolsVersion)\Microsoft.Common.props" Condition="Exists('$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\$(MSBuildToolsVersion)\Microsoft.Common.props')" />
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <MinimumVisualStudioVersion>14.0</MinimumVisualStudioVersion>
+    <Configuration Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == '' ">Debug</Configuration>
+    <Platform Condition=" '$(Platform)' == '' ">AnyCPU</Platform>
+    <ProjectGuid>{7D2D3083-71DD-4CC9-8907-39A0D86FB322}</ProjectGuid>
+    <OutputType>Library</OutputType>
+    <AppDesignerFolder>Properties</AppDesignerFolder>
+    <RootNamespace>Avalonia.Skia.Desktop</RootNamespace>
+    <AssemblyName>Avalonia.Skia.Desktop</AssemblyName>
+    <DefaultLanguage>en-US</DefaultLanguage>
+    <FileAlignment>512</FileAlignment>
+    <ProjectTypeGuids>{786C830F-07A1-408B-BD7F-6EE04809D6DB};{FAE04EC0-301F-11D3-BF4B-00C04F79EFBC}</ProjectTypeGuids>
+    <TargetFrameworkProfile>
+    </TargetFrameworkProfile>
+    <TargetFrameworkVersion>v5.0</TargetFrameworkVersion>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|AnyCPU' ">
+    <DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
+    <DebugType>full</DebugType>
+    <Optimize>false</Optimize>
+    <OutputPath>bin\Debug\</OutputPath>
+    <DefineConstants>DEBUG;TRACE</DefineConstants>
+    <ErrorReport>prompt</ErrorReport>
+    <WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
+    <AllowUnsafeBlocks>true</AllowUnsafeBlocks>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU' ">
+    <DebugType>pdbonly</DebugType>
+    <Optimize>true</Optimize>
+    <OutputPath>bin\Release\</OutputPath>
+    <DefineConstants>TRACE</DefineConstants>
+    <ErrorReport>prompt</ErrorReport>
+    <WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
+    <AllowUnsafeBlocks>true</AllowUnsafeBlocks>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <!-- A reference to the entire .NET Framework is automatically included -->
+    <None Include="project.json" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <Compile Include="..\..\Shared\SharedAssemblyInfo.cs">
+      <Link>Properties\SharedAssemblyInfo.cs</Link>
+    </Compile>
+    <Compile Include="..\Avalonia.Skia.Desktop\PlatformRenderInterfaceDesktop.cs">
+      <Link>PlatformRenderInterfaceDesktop.cs</Link>
+    </Compile>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\Avalonia.Base\Avalonia.Base.csproj">
+      <Project>{b09b78d8-9b26-48b0-9149-d64a2f120f3f}</Project>
+      <Name>Avalonia.Base</Name>
+    </ProjectReference>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\Avalonia.Controls\Avalonia.Controls.csproj">
+      <Project>{d2221c82-4a25-4583-9b43-d791e3f6820c}</Project>
+      <Name>Avalonia.Controls</Name>
+    </ProjectReference>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\Avalonia.Input\Avalonia.Input.csproj">
+      <Project>{62024b2d-53eb-4638-b26b-85eeaa54866e}</Project>
+      <Name>Avalonia.Input</Name>
+    </ProjectReference>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\Avalonia.Interactivity\Avalonia.Interactivity.csproj">
+      <Project>{6b0ed19d-a08b-461c-a9d9-a9ee40b0c06b}</Project>
+      <Name>Avalonia.Interactivity</Name>
+    </ProjectReference>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\Avalonia.Layout\Avalonia.Layout.csproj">
+      <Project>{42472427-4774-4c81-8aff-9f27b8e31721}</Project>
+      <Name>Avalonia.Layout</Name>
+    </ProjectReference>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\Avalonia.Styling\Avalonia.Styling.csproj">
+      <Project>{f1baa01a-f176-4c6a-b39d-5b40bb1b148f}</Project>
+      <Name>Avalonia.Styling</Name>
+    </ProjectReference>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\Avalonia.Visuals\Avalonia.Visuals.csproj">
+      <Project>{eb582467-6abb-43a1-b052-e981ba910e3a}</Project>
+      <Name>Avalonia.Visuals</Name>
+    </ProjectReference>
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <Import Project="..\Avalonia.Skia\Avalonia.Skia.projitems" Label="Shared" />
+  <Import Project="..\..\Shared\RenderHelpers\RenderHelpers.projitems" Label="Shared" />
+  <Import Project="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath32)\Microsoft\Portable\$(TargetFrameworkVersion)\Microsoft.Portable.CSharp.targets" />
+  <!-- To modify your build process, add your task inside one of the targets below and uncomment it. 
+       Other similar extension points exist, see Microsoft.Common.targets.
+  <Target Name="BeforeBuild">
+  </Target>
+  <Target Name="AfterBuild">
+  </Target>
+  -->
+</Project>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.NetStandard/project.json b/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.NetStandard/project.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8615e024b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.NetStandard/project.json
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+{
+  "supports": {},
+  "dependencies": {
+    "Microsoft.NETCore.Portable.Compatibility": "1.0.1",
+    "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0",
+    "SkiaSharp": "1.56.1-beta"
+  },
+  "frameworks": {
+    "netstandard1.3": {}
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.csproj b/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.csproj
index 62586f750d..c07db0908f 100644
--- a/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.csproj
+++ b/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop.csproj
@@ -57,9 +57,8 @@
     <CodeAnalysisRuleSet>MinimumRecommendedRules.ruleset</CodeAnalysisRuleSet>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
-    <Reference Include="SkiaSharp, Version=1.54.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=0738eb9f132ed756, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
-      <HintPath>..\..\..\packages\SkiaSharp.1.54.1\lib\net45\SkiaSharp.dll</HintPath>
-      <Private>True</Private>
+    <Reference Include="SkiaSharp, Version=1.56.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=0738eb9f132ed756, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
+      <HintPath>..\..\..\packages\SkiaSharp.1.56.1-beta\lib\net45\SkiaSharp.dll</HintPath>
     </Reference>
     <Reference Include="System" />
     <Reference Include="System.Core" />
@@ -115,12 +114,12 @@
   <Import Project="..\Avalonia.Skia\Avalonia.Skia.projitems" Label="Shared" />
   <Import Project="..\..\Shared\RenderHelpers\RenderHelpers.projitems" Label="Shared" />
   <Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />
-  <Import Project="..\..\..\packages\SkiaSharp.1.54.1\build\net45\SkiaSharp.targets" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\packages\SkiaSharp.1.54.1\build\net45\SkiaSharp.targets')" />
+  <Import Project="..\..\..\packages\SkiaSharp.1.56.1-beta\build\net45\SkiaSharp.targets" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\packages\SkiaSharp.1.56.1-beta\build\net45\SkiaSharp.targets')" />
   <Target Name="EnsureNuGetPackageBuildImports" BeforeTargets="PrepareForBuild">
     <PropertyGroup>
       <ErrorText>This project references NuGet package(s) that are missing on this computer. Use NuGet Package Restore to download them.  For more information, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=322105. The missing file is {0}.</ErrorText>
     </PropertyGroup>
-    <Error Condition="!Exists('..\..\..\packages\SkiaSharp.1.54.1\build\net45\SkiaSharp.targets')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\..\..\packages\SkiaSharp.1.54.1\build\net45\SkiaSharp.targets'))" />
+    <Error Condition="!Exists('..\..\..\packages\SkiaSharp.1.56.1-beta\build\net45\SkiaSharp.targets')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\..\..\packages\SkiaSharp.1.56.1-beta\build\net45\SkiaSharp.targets'))" />
   </Target>
   <!-- To modify your build process, add your task inside one of the targets below and uncomment it. 
        Other similar extension points exist, see Microsoft.Common.targets.
diff --git a/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop/packages.config b/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop/packages.config
index 62e854b604..2213dede69 100644
--- a/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop/packages.config
+++ b/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.Desktop/packages.config
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <packages>
-  <package id="SkiaSharp" version="1.54.1" targetFramework="net45" />
+  <package id="SkiaSharp" version="1.56.1-beta" targetFramework="net45" />
 </packages>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.iOS/Avalonia.Skia.iOS.csproj b/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.iOS/Avalonia.Skia.iOS.csproj
index d44b85d081..0b1f8c9b62 100644
--- a/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.iOS/Avalonia.Skia.iOS.csproj
+++ b/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.iOS/Avalonia.Skia.iOS.csproj
@@ -44,9 +44,8 @@
     <Compile Include="WindowDrawingContextImpl.cs" />
   </ItemGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
-    <Reference Include="SkiaSharp, Version=1.54.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=0738eb9f132ed756, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
-      <HintPath>..\..\..\packages\SkiaSharp.1.54.1\lib\XamariniOS\SkiaSharp.dll</HintPath>
-      <Private>True</Private>
+    <Reference Include="SkiaSharp, Version=1.56.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=0738eb9f132ed756, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
+      <HintPath>..\..\..\packages\SkiaSharp.1.56.1-beta\lib\XamariniOS\SkiaSharp.dll</HintPath>
     </Reference>
     <Reference Include="System" />
     <Reference Include="System.Xml" />
diff --git a/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.iOS/packages.config b/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.iOS/packages.config
index 526e5b34de..a48c7f04d5 100644
--- a/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.iOS/packages.config
+++ b/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia.iOS/packages.config
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <packages>
-  <package id="SkiaSharp" version="1.54.1" targetFramework="xamarinios10" />
+  <package id="SkiaSharp" version="1.56.1-beta" targetFramework="xamarinios10" />
 </packages>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Windows/Avalonia.Win32.NetStandard/project.json b/src/Windows/Avalonia.Win32.NetStandard/project.json
index 1bb7133b6e..74e316ac12 100644
--- a/src/Windows/Avalonia.Win32.NetStandard/project.json
+++ b/src/Windows/Avalonia.Win32.NetStandard/project.json
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   "dependencies": {
     "Microsoft.NETCore.Portable.Compatibility": "1.0.1",
     "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0",
-    "System.Reactive.Core": "3.1.1"
+    "System.Reactive.Core": "3.0.0"
   },
   "frameworks": {
     "netstandard1.1": {}
diff --git a/tests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.csproj b/tests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.csproj
index f820f7d5ab..6bb8fb0008 100644
--- a/tests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.csproj
+++ b/tests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.csproj
@@ -50,9 +50,8 @@
       <HintPath>..\..\packages\Splat.1.6.2\lib\Net45\Splat.dll</HintPath>
       <Private>True</Private>
     </Reference>
-    <Reference Include="Sprache, Version=2.0.0.51, Culture=neutral, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
-      <HintPath>..\..\packages\Sprache.2.0.0.51\lib\portable-net4+netcore45+win8+wp8+sl5+MonoAndroid+Xamarin.iOS10+MonoTouch\Sprache.dll</HintPath>
-      <Private>True</Private>
+    <Reference Include="Sprache, Version=2.1.0.0, Culture=neutral, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
+      <HintPath>..\..\packages\Sprache.2.1.0\lib\net40\Sprache.dll</HintPath>
     </Reference>
     <Reference Include="System" />
     <Reference Include="System.Reactive.Core, Version=3.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=94bc3704cddfc263, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
diff --git a/tests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests/packages.config b/tests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests/packages.config
index c9010ec3af..cad6395387 100644
--- a/tests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests/packages.config
+++ b/tests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests/packages.config
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 <packages>
   <package id="Moq" version="4.2.1510.2205" targetFramework="net451" />
   <package id="Splat" version="1.6.2" targetFramework="net451" />
-  <package id="Sprache" version="2.0.0.51" targetFramework="net451" />
+  <package id="Sprache" version="2.1.0" targetFramework="net451" />
   <package id="System.Reactive.Core" version="3.0.0" targetFramework="net451" />
   <package id="System.Reactive.Interfaces" version="3.0.0" targetFramework="net451" />
   <package id="System.Reactive.Linq" version="3.0.0" targetFramework="net451" />