diff --git a/USAGE.md b/USAGE.md
index 78860bf3d..89f17a74c 100644
--- a/USAGE.md
+++ b/USAGE.md
@@ -2452,8 +2452,22 @@ a file. Both RGBA and BGRA 8bpc arrangements can be used.
 // are actual data. There must be 'rows' lines. The total size of 'rgba'
 // must thus be at least (rows * rowstride) bytes, of which (rows * cols * 4)
 // bytes are actual data. The resulting plane will be ceil('rows'/2)x'cols'.
-ncvisual* ncvisual_from_rgba(notcurses* nc, const void* rgba, int rows, int rowstride, int cols);
+struct ncvisual* ncvisual_from_rgba(struct notcurses* nc, const void* rgba,
+                                    int rows, int rowstride, int cols);
 
 // ncvisual_from_rgba(), but for BGRA.
-ncvisual* ncvisual_from_bgra(notcurses* nc, const void* bgra, int rows, int rowstride, int cols);
+struct ncvisual* ncvisual_from_bgra(struct notcurses* nc, const void* bgra,
+                                    int rows, int rowstride, int cols);
+```
+
+Finally, an `ncvisual` can be "promoted" from the contents of a plane.
+
+```c
+// Promote an ncplane 'n' to an ncvisual. The plane should not be associated
+// with an existing ncvisual, and may contain only spaces, half blocks, and
+// full blocks. The latter will be checked, and any other glyph will result
+// in a NULL being returned. This function exists so that planes can be
+// subjected to ncvisual transformations. If possible, it's usually better
+// to create the ncvisual from memory using ncvisual_from_rgba().
+struct ncvisual* ncvisual_from_plane(struct ncplane* n);
 ```
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_visual.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_visual.3.md
index 8220b3000..f34813e23 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_visual.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_visual.3.md
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ typedef int (*streamcb)(struct notcurses*, struct ncvisual*, void*);
 
 **struct ncvisual* ncvisual_from_bgra(struct notcurses* nc, const void* bgra, int rows, int rowstride, int cols);**
 
+**struct ncvisual* ncvisual_from_plane(struct ncplane* n);**
+
 **void ncvisual_destroy(struct ncvisual* ncv);**
 
 **nc_err_e ncvisual_decode(struct ncvisual* nc);**
@@ -74,6 +76,11 @@ is necessary. The resulting plane will be ceil(**rows**/2) rows, and **cols**
 columns. It will not be necessary to call **ncvisual_decode**, but it is
 still necessary to call **ncvisual_render**.
 
+The contents of an **ncplane** can be "promoted" into an **ncvisual** with
+**ncvisual_from_ncplane**. The existing plane will be bound and decoded to a
+new **ncvisual**. Only spaces, half blocks, and full blocks may be present
+in the plane.
+
 **ncvisual_rotate** executes a rotation of **rads** radians, in the clockwise
 (positive) or counterclockwise (negative) direction. If the **ncvisual** owns
 (created) its underlying **ncplane**, that plane will be resized as necessary
@@ -96,6 +103,9 @@ will be updated. **ncvisual_decode** returns **NCERR_SUCCESS** on success, or
 likewise updates **err** in the event of an error. **ncvisual_render** returns
 the number of cells emitted, or -1 on error.
 
+**ncvisual_from_plane** returns **NULL** if the **ncvisual** cannot be created
+and bound. This is usually due to illegal content in the source **ncplane**.
+
 # NOTES
 
 Multimedia decoding requires that Notcurses be built with either FFmpeg or
diff --git a/python/src/notcurses/build_notcurses.py b/python/src/notcurses/build_notcurses.py
index bf9e964d3..d690698f0 100644
--- a/python/src/notcurses/build_notcurses.py
+++ b/python/src/notcurses/build_notcurses.py
@@ -431,6 +431,7 @@ int ncplane_rotate_cw(struct ncplane* n);
 int ncplane_rotate_ccw(struct ncplane* n);
 int ncvisual_rotate(struct ncvisual* n, double rads);
 void ncplane_translate(const struct ncplane* src, const struct ncplane* dst, int* y, int* x);
+struct ncvisual* ncvisual_from_plane(struct ncplane* n);
 bool ncplane_translate_abs(const struct ncplane* n, int* y, int* x);
 typedef enum {
   NCPLOT_1x1,   // full block                █