* @exception IllegalArgumentException if type is not either
     *			<code>EtchedBorder.RAISED</code> or 
     *			<code>EtchedBorder.LOWERED</code>
     * @since 1.3
     */
    public static Border createEtchedBorder(int type)    {
	switch (type) {
	case EtchedBorder.RAISED:
	    if (sharedRaisedEtchedBorder == null) {
		sharedRaisedEtchedBorder = new EtchedBorder
		                           (EtchedBorder.RAISED);
	    }
	    return sharedRaisedEtchedBorder;
	case EtchedBorder.LOWERED:
	    return sharedEtchedBorder;
	default:
	    throw new IllegalArgumentException("type must be one of EtchedBorder.RAISED or EtchedBorder.LOWERED");
	}
    }

    /**
     * Creates a border with an "etched" look using
     * the specified highlighting and shading colors.
     *
     * @param type    	one of <code>EtchedBorder.RAISED</code>, or
     *			<code>EtchedBorder.LOWERED</code>
     * @param highlight  a <code>Color</code> object for the border highlights
     * @param shadow     a <code>Color</code> object for the border shadows
     * @return the <code>Border</code> object 
     * @since 1.3
     */
    public static Border createEtchedBorder(int type, Color highlight,
					    Color shadow)    {
        return new EtchedBorder(type, highlight, shadow);
    }

//// TitledBorder ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    /**
     * Creates a new titled border with the specified title,
     * the default border type (determined by the current look and feel),
     * the default text position (sitting on the top line),
     * the default justification (leading), and the default
     * font and text color (determined by the current look and feel).
     *
     * @param title      a <code>String</code> containing the text of the title
     * @return the <code>TitledBorder</code> object
     */
    public static TitledBorder createTitledBorder(String title)     {
        return new TitledBorder(title);
    }

    /**
     * Creates a new titled border with an empty title,
     * the specified border object,
     * the default text position (sitting on the top line),
     * the default justification (leading), and the default
     * font and text color (determined by the current look and feel).
     *
     * @param border     the <code>Border</code> object to add the title to; if
     *                   <code>null</code> the <code>Border</code> is determined
     *                   by the current look and feel.
     * @return the <code>TitledBorder</code> object
     */
    public static TitledBorder createTitledBorder(Border border)       {
        return new TitledBorder(border);
    }

    /**
     * Adds a title to an existing border,
     * with default positioning (sitting on the top line),
     * default justification (leading) and the default
     * font and text color (determined by the current look and feel).
     *
     * @param border     the <code>Border</code> object to add the title to
     * @param title      a <code>String</code> containing the text of the title
     * @return the <code>TitledBorder</code> object
     */
    public static TitledBorder createTitledBorder(Border border, 
						   String title) {
        return new TitledBorder(border, title);
    }

    /**
     * Adds a title to an existing border, with the specified
     * positioning and using the default
     * font and text color (determined by the current look and feel).
     *
     * @param border      the <code>Border</code> object to add the title to
     * @param title       a <code>String</code> containing the text of the title
     * @param titleJustification  an integer specifying the justification 
     *        of the title -- one of the following:
     *<ul>
     *<li><code>TitledBorder.LEFT</code>
     *<li><code>TitledBorder.CENTER</code>
     *<li><code>TitledBorder.RIGHT</code>
     *<li><code>TitledBorder.LEADING</code>
     *<li><code>TitledBorder.TRAILING</code>
     *<li><code>TitledBorder.DEFAULT_JUSTIFICATION</code> (leading)
     *</ul>
     * @param titlePosition       an integer specifying the vertical position of