diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index aa87e0f29..981f6e129 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -650,7 +650,7 @@ target_link_libraries(notcurses-tester
 )
 add_test(
   NAME notcurses-tester
-  COMMAND notcurses-tester -p ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/data
+  COMMAND notcurses-tester -p ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/data --abort-after=1
 )
 set_tests_properties(notcurses-tester PROPERTIES RUN_SERIAL TRUE)
 install(TARGETS notcurses-tester DESTINATION bin)
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 2fedadbb0..1fc5d0c57 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -10,6 +10,18 @@ rearrangements of Notcurses.
     only if its `ncinput` argument has no modifiers active.
   * Added `notcurses_cursor_yx()` to get the current location of the cursor.
   * Added `ncdirect_supported_styles()`.
+  * `ncplane_at_yx()` now properly integrates the plane's base cell when
+    appropriate, and thus represents the cell as it will be used during
+    rendering. This change cascades, affecting `ncplane_at_yx_cell()`,
+    `ncplane_contents()`, and `ncplane_as_rgba()`.
+  * `ncplane_at_yx()` now returns the EGC when called on any column of a
+    wide glyph. `ncplane_at_yx_cell()` continues to duplicate the exact
+    `nccell`, and can thus continue to be used to distinguish between primary
+    and secondary columns of a wide glyph. Likewise, `notcurses_at_yx()`
+    now returns the EGC when called on any column of a wide glyph.
+  * Sadly, `ncplane_contents()` no longer accepts a `const ncplane*`, since it
+    might write temporaries to the plane's EGCpool during operation.
+  * Added `ncdirect_styles()`, to retrieve the current styling.
 
 * 2.3.1 (2021-05-18)
   * Sprixels no longer interact with their associated plane's framebuffer. This
diff --git a/USAGE.md b/USAGE.md
index f9d1ba040..bb8f8ee12 100644
--- a/USAGE.md
+++ b/USAGE.md
@@ -1045,13 +1045,20 @@ char* ncplane_at_cursor(struct ncplane* n, uint16_t* styles, uint64_t* channels)
 int ncplane_at_cursor_cell(struct ncplane* n, nccell* c);
 
 // Retrieve the current contents of the specified cell. The EGC is returned, or
-// NULL on error. This EGC must be free()d by the caller. The styles and
-// channels are written to 'styles' and 'channels', respectively.
+// NULL on error. This EGC must be free()d by the caller. The stylemask and
+// channels are written to 'stylemask' and 'channels', respectively. The return
+// represents how the cell will be used during rendering, and thus integrates
+// any base cell where appropriate. If called upon the secondary columns of a
+// wide glyph, the EGC will be returned (i.e. this function does not distinguish
+// between the primary and secondary columns of a wide glyph).
 char* ncplane_at_yx(const struct ncplane* n, int y, int x,
-                    uint16_t* styles, uint64_t* channels);
+                    uint16_t* stylemask, uint64_t* channels);
 
 // Retrieve the current contents of the specified cell into 'c'. This cell is
-// invalidated if the associated plane is destroyed.
+// invalidated if the associated plane is destroyed. Returns the number of
+// bytes in the EGC, or -1 on error. Unlike ncplane_at_yx(), when called upon
+// the secondary columns of a wide glyph, the return can be distinguished from
+// the primary column (nccell_wide_right_p(c) will return true).
 int ncplane_at_yx_cell(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, nccell* c);
 
 // Create an RGBA flat array from the selected region of the ncplane 'nc'.
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_plane.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_plane.3.md
index f2979a7a9..8b3ac747d 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_plane.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_plane.3.md
@@ -375,6 +375,16 @@ is resized, the plane is erased, or the plane is destroyed. The base cell of a
 sprixelated plane has no effect; if the sprixel is not even multiples of the
 cell geometry, the "excess plane" is ignored during rendering.
 
+**ncplane_at_yx** and **ncplane_at_yx_cell** retrieve the contents of the plane
+at the specified coordinate. The content is returned as it will be used during
+rendering, and thus integrates any base cell as appropriate. If called on the
+secondary columns of a wide glyph, **ncplane_at_yx** returns the EGC, and thus
+cannot be used to distinguish between primary and secondary columns.
+**ncplane_at_yx_cell**, however, preserves this information: retrieving a
+secondary column of a wide glyph with **ncplane_at_yx_cell** will fill in
+the **nccell** argument such that **nccell_extended_gcluster(3)** returns an
+empty string, and **nccell_wide_right_p(3)** returns **true**.
+
 # RETURN VALUES
 
 **ncplane_create** and **ncplane_dup** return a new **struct ncplane** on
@@ -394,10 +404,11 @@ respectively, of the pile containing their argument. **notcurses_top** and
 **notcurses_bottom** do the same for the standard pile.
 
 **ncplane_at_yx** and **ncplane_at_cursor** return a heap-allocated copy of the
-EGC at the relevant cell, or **NULL** if the cell is invalid. The caller should free
-this result. **ncplane_at_yx_cell** and **ncplane_at_cursor_cell** instead load
-these values into an **nccell**, which is invalidated if the associated plane is
-destroyed. The caller should release this **nccell** with **nccell_release**.
+EGC at the relevant cell, or **NULL** if the cell is invalid. The caller should
+free this result. **ncplane_at_yx_cell** and **ncplane_at_cursor_cell** instead
+load these values into an **nccell**, which is invalidated if the associated
+plane is destroyed. The caller should release this **nccell** with
+**nccell_release**.
 
 **ncplane_as_rgba** returns a heap-allocated array of **uint32_t** values,
 each representing a single RGBA pixel, or **NULL** on failure.
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_render.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_render.3.md
index 3c33997ac..f02f228e5 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_render.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_render.3.md
@@ -93,8 +93,9 @@ If the algorithm concludes without an EGC, the cell is rendered with no glyph
 and a default background. If the algorithm concludes without a color locked in,
 the color as computed thus far is used.
 
-**notcurses_at_yx** retrieves a call *as rendered*. The EGC in that cell is
-copied and returned; it must be **free(3)**d by the caller.
+**notcurses_at_yx** retrieves a cell *as rendered*. The EGC in that cell is
+copied and returned; it must be **free(3)**d by the caller. If the cell is a
+secondary column of a wide glyph, the glyph is still returned.
 
 # RETURN VALUES
 
diff --git a/doc/release-checklist.md b/doc/release-checklist.md
index b697a8603..1cc7a0a0f 100644
--- a/doc/release-checklist.md
+++ b/doc/release-checklist.md
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
 
 ### Fedora
 
-* In pagure/notcurses master:
+* In pagure/notcurses rawhide:
   * Update notcurses.spec, bump version, add changelog entry
   * clear out any old ersatz detritus
   * spectool -g notcurses.spec
@@ -56,8 +56,9 @@
   * fedpkg commit
   * git push
   * fedpkg build
-  * fedpkg switch-branch f32
-  * git merge master
+  * for each active branch:
+    * fedpkg switch-branch f32
+    * git merge rawhide
 
 ### Arch
 
diff --git a/include/notcurses/notcurses.h b/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
index cc8114360..3672543dd 100644
--- a/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
+++ b/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
@@ -653,7 +653,7 @@ API int nccell_load(struct ncplane* n, nccell* c, const char* gcluster);
 // nccell_load(), plus blast the styling with 'attr' and 'channels'.
 static inline int
 nccell_prime(struct ncplane* n, nccell* c, const char* gcluster,
-           uint32_t stylemask, uint64_t channels){
+             uint32_t stylemask, uint64_t channels){
   c->stylemask = stylemask;
   c->channels = channels;
   int ret = nccell_load(n, c, gcluster);
@@ -748,7 +748,7 @@ nccell_wide_left_p(const nccell* c){
 
 // return a pointer to the NUL-terminated EGC referenced by 'c'. this pointer
 // can be invalidated by any further operation on the plane 'n', so...watch out!
-API const char* nccell_extended_gcluster(const struct ncplane* n, const nccell* c);
+API __attribute__ ((returns_nonnull)) const char* nccell_extended_gcluster(const struct ncplane* n, const nccell* c);
 
 // return the number of columns occupied by 'c'. returns -1 if passed a
 // sprixcell. see ncstrwidth() for an equivalent for multiple EGCs.
@@ -1467,20 +1467,26 @@ API int ncplane_at_cursor_cell(struct ncplane* n, nccell* c);
 
 // Retrieve the current contents of the specified cell. The EGC is returned, or
 // NULL on error. This EGC must be free()d by the caller. The stylemask and
-// channels are written to 'stylemask' and 'channels', respectively.
+// channels are written to 'stylemask' and 'channels', respectively. The return
+// represents how the cell will be used during rendering, and thus integrates
+// any base cell where appropriate. If called upon the secondary columns of a
+// wide glyph, the EGC will be returned (i.e. this function does not distinguish
+// between the primary and secondary columns of a wide glyph).
 API char* ncplane_at_yx(const struct ncplane* n, int y, int x,
                         uint16_t* stylemask, uint64_t* channels);
 
 // Retrieve the current contents of the specified cell into 'c'. This cell is
 // invalidated if the associated plane is destroyed. Returns the number of
-// bytes in the EGC, or -1 on error.
+// bytes in the EGC, or -1 on error. Unlike ncplane_at_yx(), when called upon
+// the secondary columns of a wide glyph, the return can be distinguished from
+// the primary column (nccell_wide_right_p(c) will return true).
 API int ncplane_at_yx_cell(struct ncplane* n, int y, int x, nccell* c);
 
 // Create a flat string from the EGCs of the selected region of the ncplane
 // 'n'. Start at the plane's 'begy'x'begx' coordinate (which must lie on the
 // plane), continuing for 'leny'x'lenx' cells. Either or both of 'leny' and
 // 'lenx' can be specified as -1 to go through the boundary of the plane.
-API char* ncplane_contents(const struct ncplane* n, int begy, int begx,
+API char* ncplane_contents(struct ncplane* n, int begy, int begx,
                            int leny, int lenx);
 
 // Manipulate the opaque user pointer associated with this plane.
diff --git a/rust/src/plane/methods.rs b/rust/src/plane/methods.rs
index f035769e3..634ccdfc3 100644
--- a/rust/src/plane/methods.rs
+++ b/rust/src/plane/methods.rs
@@ -691,7 +691,7 @@ impl NcPlane {
     ///
     /// *C style function: [ncplane_contents()][crate::ncplane_contents].*
     pub fn contents(
-        &self,
+        &mut self,
         beg_y: NcDim,
         beg_x: NcDim,
         len_y: NcDim,
diff --git a/src/demo/normal.c b/src/demo/normal.c
index fe4caaaa5..af19bafda 100644
--- a/src/demo/normal.c
+++ b/src/demo/normal.c
@@ -62,9 +62,7 @@ rotate_visual(struct notcurses* nc, struct ncplane* n, int dy, int dx){
     fromx = (dx - dy * 2) / 2;
     dx = dy * 2;
   }
-//fprintf(stderr, "ASK %d/%d @ %d/%d: %p\n", dy, dx, fromy, fromx);
-  struct ncvisual* ncv = ncvisual_from_plane(n, NCBLIT_DEFAULT, fromy, fromx, dy, dx);
-//fprintf(stderr, "%d/%d @ %d/%d: %p\n", dy, dx, fromy, fromx, ncv);
+  struct ncvisual* ncv = ncvisual_from_plane(n, NCBLIT_2x1, fromy, fromx, dy, dx);
   if(!ncv){
     ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
     return -1;
diff --git a/src/input/input.cpp b/src/input/input.cpp
index 17b5f0c64..847ed2d35 100644
--- a/src/input/input.cpp
+++ b/src/input/input.cpp
@@ -206,7 +206,22 @@ void Ticker(ncpp::NotCurses* nc) {
 int input_demo(ncpp::NotCurses* nc) {
   constexpr auto PLOTHEIGHT = 6;
   auto n = nc->get_stdplane(&dimy, &dimx);
-  ncpp::Plane pplane{PLOTHEIGHT, dimx, dimy - PLOTHEIGHT,  0, nullptr};
+  struct ncplane_options nopts = {
+    .y = dimy - PLOTHEIGHT,
+    .x = 0,
+    .rows = PLOTHEIGHT,
+    .cols = dimx,
+    .userptr = nullptr,
+    .name = "plot",
+    .resizecb = nullptr, // FIXME
+    .flags = 0,
+    .margin_b = 0,
+    .margin_r = 0,
+  };
+  struct ncplane* pplane = ncplane_create(*n, &nopts);
+  if(pplane == nullptr){
+   return EXIT_FAILURE;
+  }
   struct ncplot_options popts{};
   // FIXME would be nice to switch over to exponential at some level
   popts.flags = NCPLOT_OPTION_LABELTICKSD | NCPLOT_OPTION_PRINTSAMPLE;
@@ -222,11 +237,13 @@ int input_demo(ncpp::NotCurses* nc) {
   n->set_bg_rgb8(0xbb, 0x64, 0xbb);
   n->styles_on(CellStyle::Underline);
   if(n->putstr(0, NCAlign::Center, "mash keys, yo. give that mouse some waggle! ctrl+d exits.") <= 0){
+    ncuplot_destroy(plot);
     return -1;
   }
   n->styles_set(CellStyle::None);
   n->set_bg_default();
   if(!nc->render()){
+    ncuplot_destroy(plot);
     return -1;
   }
   int y = 2;
@@ -243,6 +260,7 @@ int input_demo(ncpp::NotCurses* nc) {
     if((r == 'D' || r == 'd') && ni.ctrl){
       done = true;
       tid.join();
+      ncuplot_destroy(plot);
       return 0;
     }
     if((r == 'L' || r == 'l') && ni.ctrl){
@@ -292,6 +310,7 @@ int input_demo(ncpp::NotCurses* nc) {
     }
     if(!nc->render()){
       mtx.unlock();
+      ncuplot_destroy(plot);
       throw std::runtime_error("error rendering");
     }
     mtx.unlock();
@@ -309,6 +328,7 @@ int input_demo(ncpp::NotCurses* nc) {
   }
   done = true;
   tid.join();
+  ncuplot_destroy(plot);
   return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/blit.c b/src/lib/blit.c
index 716662929..c19beb77b 100644
--- a/src/lib/blit.c
+++ b/src/lib/blit.c
@@ -850,24 +850,38 @@ braille_blit(ncplane* nc, int linesize, const void* data,
 
 // NCBLIT_DEFAULT is not included, as it has no defined properties. It ought
 // be replaced with some real blitter implementation by the calling widget.
+// The order of contents is critical for 'egcs': ncplane_as_rgba() uses these
+// arrays to map cells to source pixels. Map the upper-left logical bit to
+// 1, and increase to the right, followed by down. The first egc ought thus
+// always be space, to indicate an empty cell (all zeroes).
 static struct blitset notcurses_blitters[] = {
-   { .geom = NCBLIT_8x1,     .width = 1, .height = 8, .egcs = L" ▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█",
+   { .geom = NCBLIT_8x1,     .width = 1, .height = 8,
+     .egcs = NULL, .plotegcs = L" ▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█",
      .blit = tria_blit,      .name = "eightstep",     .fill = false, },
-   { .geom = NCBLIT_1x1,     .width = 1, .height = 1, .egcs = L" █",
+   { .geom = NCBLIT_1x1,     .width = 1, .height = 1,
+     .egcs = L" █", .plotegcs = L" █",
      .blit = tria_blit_ascii,.name = "ascii",         .fill = false, },
-   { .geom = NCBLIT_2x1,     .width = 1, .height = 2, .egcs = L" ▄█",
+   { .geom = NCBLIT_2x1,     .width = 1, .height = 2,
+     .egcs = L" ▀▄█", .plotegcs = L" ▄█",
      .blit = tria_blit,      .name = "half",          .fill = false, },
-   { .geom = NCBLIT_2x2,     .width = 2, .height = 2, .egcs = L" ▗▐▖▄▟▌▙█",
+   { .geom = NCBLIT_2x2,     .width = 2, .height = 2,
+     .egcs = L" ▘▝▀▖▌▞▛▗▚▐▜▄▙▟█", .plotegcs = L" ▗▐▖▄▟▌▙█",
      .blit = quadrant_blit,  .name = "quad",          .fill = false, },
-   { .geom = NCBLIT_3x2,     .width = 2, .height = 3, .egcs = L" 🬞🬦▐🬏🬭🬵🬷🬓🬱🬹🬻▌🬲🬺█",
+   { .geom = NCBLIT_3x2,     .width = 2, .height = 3,
+     .egcs = L" 🬀🬁🬂🬃🬄🬅🬆🬇🬈🬊🬋🬌🬍🬎🬏🬐🬑🬒🬓▌🬔🬕🬖🬗🬘🬙🬚🬛🬜🬝🬞🬟🬠🬡🬢🬣🬤🬥🬦🬧🬨🬩🬪🬫🬬🬭🬮🬯🬰🬱🬲🬳🬴🬵🬶🬷🬸🬹🬺🬻█",
+     .plotegcs = L" 🬞🬦▐🬏🬭🬵🬷🬓🬱🬹🬻▌🬲🬺█",
      .blit = sextant_blit,   .name = "sex",           .fill = false, },
-   { .geom = NCBLIT_4x1,     .width = 1, .height = 4, .egcs = L" ▂▄▆█",
+   { .geom = NCBLIT_4x1,     .width = 1, .height = 4,
+     .egcs = NULL, .plotegcs = L" ▂▄▆█",
      .blit = tria_blit,      .name = "fourstep",      .fill = false, },
-   { .geom = NCBLIT_BRAILLE, .width = 2, .height = 4, .egcs = L"⠀⢀⢠⢰⢸⡀⣀⣠⣰⣸⡄⣄⣤⣴⣼⡆⣆⣦⣶⣾⡇⣇⣧⣷⣿",
+   { .geom = NCBLIT_BRAILLE, .width = 2, .height = 4,
+     .egcs = NULL, .plotegcs = L"⠀⢀⢠⢰⢸⡀⣀⣠⣰⣸⡄⣄⣤⣴⣼⡆⣆⣦⣶⣾⡇⣇⣧⣷⣿", // FIXME
      .blit = braille_blit,   .name = "braille",       .fill = true,  },
-   { .geom = NCBLIT_PIXEL,   .width = 1, .height = 1, .egcs = L"",
+   { .geom = NCBLIT_PIXEL,   .width = 1, .height = 1,
+     .egcs = L"", .plotegcs = NULL,
      .blit = sixel_blit,     .name = "pixel",         .fill = true,  },
-   { .geom = 0,              .width = 0, .height = 0, .egcs = NULL,
+   { .geom = 0,              .width = 0, .height = 0,
+     .egcs = NULL, .plotegcs = NULL,
      .blit = NULL,           .name = NULL,            .fill = false,  },
 };
 
@@ -924,7 +938,7 @@ const struct blitset* lookup_blitset(const tinfo* tcache, ncblitter_e setid, boo
     }
   }
   const struct blitset* bset = notcurses_blitters;
-  while(bset->egcs){
+  while(bset->geom){
     if(bset->geom == setid){
       return bset;
     }
diff --git a/src/lib/internal.h b/src/lib/internal.h
index 4f9dd3b00..d83513c02 100644
--- a/src/lib/internal.h
+++ b/src/lib/internal.h
@@ -535,11 +535,14 @@ struct blitset {
   ncblitter_e geom;
   int width;        // number of input pixels per output cell, width
   int height;       // number of input pixels per output cell, height
+  // the EGCs which form the blitter. bits grow left to right, and then top to
+  // bottom. the first character is always a space, the last a full block.
+  const wchar_t* egcs;
   // the EGCs which form the various levels of a given plotset. if the geometry
   // is wide, things are arranged with the rightmost side increasing most
   // quickly, i.e. it can be indexed as height arrays of 1 + height glyphs. i.e.
   // the first five braille EGCs are all 0 on the left, [0..4] on the right.
-  const wchar_t* egcs;
+  const wchar_t* plotegcs;
   ncblitter blit;
   const char* name;
   bool fill;
@@ -809,7 +812,7 @@ pool_extended_gcluster(const egcpool* pool, const nccell* c){
 }
 
 static inline nccell*
-ncplane_cell_ref_yx(ncplane* n, int y, int x){
+ncplane_cell_ref_yx(const ncplane* n, int y, int x){
   return &n->fb[nfbcellidx(n, y, x)];
 }
 
@@ -1425,7 +1428,7 @@ pool_blit_direct(egcpool* pool, nccell* c, const char* gcluster, int bytes, int
 }
 
 // Do an RTL-check, reset the quadrant occupancy bits, and pass the cell down to
-// pool_blit_direct().
+// pool_blit_direct(). Returns the number of bytes loaded.
 static inline int
 pool_load_direct(egcpool* pool, nccell* c, const char* gcluster, int bytes, int cols){
   char* rtl = NULL;
diff --git a/src/lib/notcurses.c b/src/lib/notcurses.c
index 18ee68001..4fee44410 100644
--- a/src/lib/notcurses.c
+++ b/src/lib/notcurses.c
@@ -161,7 +161,27 @@ char* ncplane_at_cursor(ncplane* n, uint16_t* stylemask, uint64_t* channels){
 char* ncplane_at_yx(const ncplane* n, int y, int x, uint16_t* stylemask, uint64_t* channels){
   if(y < n->leny && x < n->lenx){
     if(y >= 0 && x >= 0){
-      return nccell_extract(n, &n->fb[nfbcellidx(n, y, x)], stylemask, channels);
+      const cell* yx = &n->fb[nfbcellidx(n, y, x)];
+      // if we're the right side of a wide glyph, we return the main glyph
+      if(nccell_wide_right_p(yx)){
+        return ncplane_at_yx(n, y, x - 1, stylemask, channels);
+      }
+      char* ret = nccell_extract(n, yx, stylemask, channels);
+      if(ret == NULL){
+        return NULL;
+      }
+//fprintf(stderr, "GOT [%s]\n", ret);
+      if(strcmp(ret, "") == 0){
+        ret = nccell_strdup(n, &n->basecell);
+        if(ret == NULL){
+          return NULL;
+        }
+        if(stylemask){
+          *stylemask = n->basecell.stylemask;
+        }
+      }
+      // FIXME load basecell channels if appropriate
+      return ret;
     }
   }
   return NULL;
@@ -176,6 +196,7 @@ int ncplane_at_yx_cell(ncplane* n, int y, int x, nccell* c){
     if(y >= 0 && x >= 0){
       nccell* targ = ncplane_cell_ref_yx(n, y, x);
       if(nccell_duplicate(n, c, targ) == 0){
+        // FIXME take base cell into account where necessary!
         return strlen(nccell_extended_gcluster(n, targ));
       }
     }
@@ -2583,9 +2604,40 @@ int ncdirect_inputready_fd(ncdirect* n){
   return n->tcache.input.ttyinfd;
 }
 
-uint32_t* ncplane_as_rgba(const ncplane* nc, ncblitter_e blit,
-                          int begy, int begx, int leny, int lenx,
-                          int* pxdimy, int* pxdimx){
+// FIXME speed this up, PoC
+// given an egc, get its index in the blitter's EGC set
+static int
+get_blitter_egc_idx(const struct blitset* bset, const char* egc){
+  wchar_t wc;
+  mbstate_t mbs = {};
+  size_t sret = mbrtowc(&wc, egc, strlen(egc), &mbs);
+  if(sret == (size_t)-1 || sret == (size_t)-2){
+    return -1;
+  }
+  wchar_t* wptr = wcsrchr(bset->egcs, wc);
+  if(wptr == NULL){
+//fprintf(stderr, "FAILED TO FIND [%s] (%lc) in [%ls]\n", egc, wc, bset->egcs);
+    return -1;
+  }
+//fprintf(stderr, "FOUND [%s] (%lc) in [%ls] (%zu)\n", egc, wc, bset->egcs, wptr - bset->egcs);
+  return wptr - bset->egcs;
+}
+
+static bool
+is_bg_p(int idx, int py, int px, int width){
+  // bit increases to the right, and down
+  const int bpos = py * width + px; // bit corresponding to pixel, 0..|egcs|-1
+  const unsigned mask = 1u << bpos;
+  if(idx & mask){
+    return false;
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+static inline uint32_t*
+ncplane_as_rgba_internal(const ncplane* nc, ncblitter_e blit,
+                         int begy, int begx, int leny, int lenx,
+                         int* pxdimy, int* pxdimx){
   const notcurses* ncur = ncplane_notcurses_const(nc);
   if(begy < 0 || begx < 0){
     logerror(ncur, "Nil offset (%d,%d)\n", begy, begx);
@@ -2611,23 +2663,31 @@ uint32_t* ncplane_as_rgba(const ncplane* nc, ncblitter_e blit,
              begx, lenx, nc->lenx, begy, leny, nc->leny);
     return NULL;
   }
-  if(blit > NCBLIT_2x1){
-    logerror(ncur, "Blitter %d is not yet supported\n", blit);
+  if(blit == NCBLIT_PIXEL){ // FIXME extend this to support sprixels
+    logerror(ncur, "Pixel blitter %d not yet supported\n", blit);
     return NULL;
   }
-//fprintf(stderr, "ALLOCATING %zu %d %d\n", 4u * lenx * leny * 2, leny, lenx);
-  // FIXME this all assumes NCBLIT_2x1, need blitter-specific scaling
+  if(blit == NCBLIT_DEFAULT){
+    logerror(ncur, "Must specify exact blitter, not NCBLIT_DEFAULT\n");
+    return NULL;
+  }
+  const struct blitset* bset = lookup_blitset(&ncur->tcache, blit, false);
+  if(bset == NULL){
+    logerror(ncur, "Blitter %d invalid in current environment\n", blit);
+    return NULL;
+  }
+//fprintf(stderr, "ALLOCATING %u %d %d %p\n", 4u * lenx * leny * 2, leny, lenx, bset);
   if(pxdimy){
-    *pxdimy = leny * 2;
+    *pxdimy = leny * bset->height;
   }
   if(pxdimx){
-    *pxdimx = lenx;
+    *pxdimx = lenx * bset->width;
   }
-  uint32_t* ret = malloc(sizeof(*ret) * lenx * leny * 2);
+  uint32_t* ret = malloc(sizeof(*ret) * lenx * bset->width * leny * bset->height);
+//fprintf(stderr, "GEOM: %d/%d %d/%d ret: %p\n", bset->height, bset->width, *pxdimy, *pxdimx, ret);
   if(ret){
-    for(int y = begy, targy = 0 ; y < begy + leny ; ++y, targy += 2){
-      for(int x = begx, targx = 0 ; x < begx + lenx ; ++x, ++targx){
-        // FIXME what if there's a wide glyph to the left of the selection?
+    for(int y = begy, targy = 0 ; y < begy + leny ; ++y, targy += bset->height){
+      for(int x = begx, targx = 0 ; x < begx + lenx ; ++x, targx += bset->width){
         uint16_t stylemask;
         uint64_t channels;
         char* c = ncplane_at_yx(nc, y, x, &stylemask, &channels);
@@ -2635,31 +2695,43 @@ uint32_t* ncplane_as_rgba(const ncplane* nc, ncblitter_e blit,
           free(ret);
           return NULL;
         }
-        uint32_t* top = &ret[targy * lenx + targx];
-        uint32_t* bot = &ret[(targy + 1) * lenx + targx];
-        unsigned fr, fg, fb, br, bg, bb;
-        ncchannels_fg_rgb8(channels, &fr, &fb, &fg);
-        ncchannels_bg_rgb8(channels, &br, &bb, &bg);
-        // FIXME how do we deal with transparency?
-        uint32_t frgba = (fr) + (fg << 16u) + (fb << 8u) + 0xff000000;
-        uint32_t brgba = (br) + (bg << 16u) + (bb << 8u) + 0xff000000;
-        // FIXME need to be able to pick up quadrants!
-        if((strcmp(c, " ") == 0) || (strcmp(c, "") == 0)){
-          *top = *bot = brgba;
-        }else if(strcmp(c, "▄") == 0){
-          *top = frgba;
-          *bot = brgba;
-        }else if(strcmp(c, "▀") == 0){
-          *top = brgba;
-          *bot = frgba;
-        }else if(strcmp(c, "█") == 0){
-          *top = *bot = frgba;
-        }else{
-          free(c);
+        int idx = get_blitter_egc_idx(bset, c);
+        if(idx < 0){
           free(ret);
-//fprintf(stderr, "bad rgba character: %s\n", c);
+          free(c);
           return NULL;
         }
+        unsigned fr, fg, fb, br, bg, bb, fa, ba;
+        ncchannels_fg_rgb8(channels, &fr, &fb, &fg);
+        fa = ncchannels_fg_alpha(channels);
+        ncchannels_bg_rgb8(channels, &br, &bb, &bg);
+        ba = ncchannels_bg_alpha(channels);
+        // handle each destination pixel from this cell
+        for(int py = 0 ; py < bset->height ; ++py){
+          for(int px = 0 ; px < bset->width ; ++px){
+            uint32_t* p = &ret[(targy + py) * (lenx * bset->width) + (targx + px)];
+            bool background = is_bg_p(idx, py, px, bset->width);
+            if(background){
+              if(ba){
+                *p = 0;
+              }else{
+                ncpixel_set_a(p, 0xff);
+                ncpixel_set_r(p, br);
+                ncpixel_set_g(p, bb);
+                ncpixel_set_b(p, bg);
+              }
+            }else{
+              if(fa){
+                *p = 0;
+              }else{
+                ncpixel_set_a(p, 0xff);
+                ncpixel_set_r(p, fr);
+                ncpixel_set_g(p, fb);
+                ncpixel_set_b(p, fg);
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        }
         free(c);
       }
     }
@@ -2667,8 +2739,21 @@ uint32_t* ncplane_as_rgba(const ncplane* nc, ncblitter_e blit,
   return ret;
 }
 
+uint32_t* ncplane_as_rgba(const ncplane* nc, ncblitter_e blit,
+                          int begy, int begx, int leny, int lenx,
+                          int* pxdimy, int* pxdimx){
+  int px, py;
+  if(!pxdimy){
+    pxdimy = &py;
+  }
+  if(!pxdimx){
+    pxdimx = &px;
+  }
+  return ncplane_as_rgba_internal(nc, blit, begy, begx, leny, lenx, pxdimy, pxdimx);
+}
+
 // return a heap-allocated copy of the contents
-char* ncplane_contents(const ncplane* nc, int begy, int begx, int leny, int lenx){
+char* ncplane_contents(ncplane* nc, int begy, int begx, int leny, int lenx){
   if(begy < 0 || begx < 0){
     logerror(ncplane_notcurses_const(nc), "Beginning coordinates (%d/%d) below 0\n", begy, begx);
     return NULL;
@@ -2698,18 +2783,18 @@ char* ncplane_contents(const ncplane* nc, int begy, int begx, int leny, int lenx
   if(ret){
     for(int y = begy, targy = 0 ; y < begy + leny ; ++y, targy += 2){
       for(int x = begx, targx = 0 ; x < begx + lenx ; ++x, ++targx){
-        uint16_t stylemask;
-        uint64_t channels;
-        char* c = ncplane_at_yx(nc, y, x, &stylemask, &channels);
-        if(!c){
+        nccell ncl = CELL_TRIVIAL_INITIALIZER;
+        // we need ncplane_at_yx_cell() here instead of ncplane_at_yx(),
+        // because we should only have one copy of each wide EGC.
+        int clen;
+        if((clen = ncplane_at_yx_cell(nc, y, x, &ncl)) < 0){
           free(ret);
           return NULL;
         }
-        size_t clen = strlen(c);
+        const char* c = nccell_extended_gcluster(nc, &ncl);
         if(clen){
           char* tmp = realloc(ret, retlen + clen);
           if(!tmp){
-            free(c);
             free(ret);
             return NULL;
           }
@@ -2717,7 +2802,6 @@ char* ncplane_contents(const ncplane* nc, int begy, int begx, int leny, int lenx
           memcpy(ret + retlen - 1, c, clen);
           retlen += clen;
         }
-        free(c);
       }
     }
     ret[retlen - 1] = '\0';
diff --git a/src/lib/plot.c b/src/lib/plot.c
index b3a5e3489..7a4f9dfd5 100644
--- a/src/lib/plot.c
+++ b/src/lib/plot.c
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ int redraw_plot_##T(nc##X##plot* ncp){ \
        direction, drawing egcs from the grid specification, aborting early if \
        we can't draw anything in a given cell. */ \
     T intervalbase = ncp->miny; \
-    const wchar_t* egc = ncp->bset->egcs; \
+    const wchar_t* egc = ncp->bset->plotegcs; \
     bool done = !ncp->bset->fill; \
     for(int y = 0 ; y < dimy ; ++y){ \
       uint64_t channels = 0; \
@@ -204,6 +204,7 @@ int redraw_plot_##T(nc##X##plot* ncp){ \
   if(ncp->printsample){ \
     int lastslot = ncp->slotstart ? ncp->slotstart - 1 : ncp->slotcount - 1; \
     ncplane_set_styles(ncp->ncp, ncp->legendstyle); \
+    ncplane_set_channels(ncp->ncp, ncp->maxchannels); \
     ncplane_printf_aligned(ncp->ncp, 0, NCALIGN_RIGHT, "%ju", (uintmax_t)ncp->slots[lastslot]); \
   } \
   ncplane_home(ncp->ncp); \
diff --git a/src/lib/render.c b/src/lib/render.c
index 646f989db..00f6a9869 100644
--- a/src/lib/render.c
+++ b/src/lib/render.c
@@ -1428,6 +1428,9 @@ char* notcurses_at_yx(notcurses* nc, int yoff, int xoff, uint16_t* stylemask, ui
     if(yoff >= 0 && yoff < nc->lfdimy){
       if(xoff >= 0 || xoff < nc->lfdimx){
         const nccell* srccell = &nc->lastframe[yoff * nc->lfdimx + xoff];
+        if(nccell_wide_right_p(srccell)){
+          return notcurses_at_yx(nc, yoff, xoff - 1, stylemask, channels);
+        }
         if(stylemask){
           *stylemask = srccell->stylemask;
         }
diff --git a/src/lib/visual.c b/src/lib/visual.c
index b8a4fed89..cedf856bd 100644
--- a/src/lib/visual.c
+++ b/src/lib/visual.c
@@ -916,9 +916,9 @@ ncplane* ncvisual_render(notcurses* nc, ncvisual* ncv, const struct ncvisual_opt
 
 ncvisual* ncvisual_from_plane(const ncplane* n, ncblitter_e blit, int begy, int begx,
                               int leny, int lenx){
-  uint32_t* rgba = ncplane_as_rgba(n, blit, begy, begx, leny, lenx, NULL, NULL);
+  int py, px;
+  uint32_t* rgba = ncplane_as_rgba(n, blit, begy, begx, leny, lenx, &py, &px);
 //fprintf(stderr, "snarg: %d/%d @ %d/%d (%p)\n", leny, lenx, begy, begx, rgba);
-//fprintf(stderr, "RGBA %p\n", rgba);
   if(rgba == NULL){
     return NULL;
   }
@@ -930,7 +930,7 @@ ncvisual* ncvisual_from_plane(const ncplane* n, ncblitter_e blit, int begy, int
   if(leny == -1){
     leny = (n->leny - begy);
   }
-  ncvisual* ncv = ncvisual_from_rgba(rgba, leny * 2, lenx * 4, lenx);
+  ncvisual* ncv = ncvisual_from_rgba(rgba, py, px * 4, px);
   free(rgba);
 //fprintf(stderr, "RETURNING %p\n", ncv);
   return ncv;
diff --git a/src/poc/sgr-direct.c b/src/poc/sgr-direct.c
index acc4b3f94..1b6722fdb 100644
--- a/src/poc/sgr-direct.c
+++ b/src/poc/sgr-direct.c
@@ -19,10 +19,8 @@ int main(void){
         ncdirect_stop(nc);
         return EXIT_FAILURE;
       }
-      printf("%08x ", i);
-    }else{
-      printf("         ");
     }
+    printf("%08x ", i);
     if(ncdirect_set_styles(nc, NCSTYLE_NONE)){
       ncdirect_stop(nc);
       return EXIT_FAILURE;
diff --git a/src/tests/Ncpp.cpp b/src/tests/Ncpp.cpp
index 1c97a0750..89a1a4f79 100644
--- a/src/tests/Ncpp.cpp
+++ b/src/tests/Ncpp.cpp
@@ -89,11 +89,12 @@ TEST_CASE("Ncpp"
     NotCurses nc{ nopts };
     {
       auto n = nc.get_stdplane();
+      uint64_t chan = CHANNELS_RGB_INITIALIZER(0x22, 0xdd, 0x44, 0, 0, 0);
+      n->set_base(" ", 0, chan);
       REQUIRE(n);
-      // FIXME load something onto standard plane, load it into visual, erase
-      // plane, render visual, check for equivalence...
+      // FIXME load it into visual, erase plane, render visual, check for equivalence...
       {
-        Visual v = Visual(*n, NCBLIT_DEFAULT, 0, 0, -1, -1);
+        Visual v = Visual(*n, NCBLIT_1x1, 0, 0, -1, -1);
       }
     }
     CHECK(nc.stop());
diff --git a/src/tests/blit.cpp b/src/tests/blit.cpp
index f601aaae1..e246cfba9 100644
--- a/src/tests/blit.cpp
+++ b/src/tests/blit.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #include "main.h"
 
-TEST_CASE("Blitting") {
+TEST_CASE("Blit") {
   auto nc_ = testing_notcurses();
   REQUIRE(nullptr != nc_);
   ncplane* ncp_ = notcurses_stdplane(nc_);
@@ -160,5 +160,122 @@ TEST_CASE("Blitting") {
     }
   }
 
+  // put a visual through the ascii blitter, read it back, and check equality
+  SUBCASE("AsciiRoundtrip") {
+    const uint32_t data[2] = {
+      htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xff000000),
+    };
+    auto ncv = ncvisual_from_rgba(data, 1, 8, 2);
+    REQUIRE(nullptr != ncv);
+    struct ncvisual_options vopts = {
+      .n = nullptr,
+      .scaling = NCSCALE_NONE,
+      .y = 0, .x = 0,
+      .begy = 0, .begx = 0,
+      .leny = 0, .lenx = 0,
+      .blitter = NCBLIT_1x1,
+      .flags = 0,
+      .transcolor = 0,
+    };
+    auto p = ncvisual_render(nc_, ncv, &vopts);
+    REQUIRE(nullptr != p);
+    CHECK(1 == ncplane_dim_y(p));
+    CHECK(2 == ncplane_dim_x(p));
+    int pxdimy, pxdimx;
+    auto edata = ncplane_as_rgba(p, vopts.blitter, 0, 0, -1, -1, &pxdimy, &pxdimx);
+    REQUIRE(nullptr != edata);
+    CHECK(0 == memcmp(data, edata, sizeof(data)));
+    free(edata);
+    CHECK(0 == ncplane_destroy(p));
+    ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
+  }
+
+  // put a visual through the halfblock blitter, read it back, and check equality
+  SUBCASE("HalfblockRoundtrip") {
+    if(notcurses_canutf8(nc_)){
+      // two rows of four pixels ought become 1 cell row of 4 cell columns
+      const uint32_t data[8] = {
+        htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffcccccc), htole(0xffcc8844), htole(0xffdddddd),
+        htole(0xffcc8844), htole(0xff000000), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffdddddd),
+      };
+      auto ncv = ncvisual_from_rgba(data, 2, 16, 4);
+      REQUIRE(nullptr != ncv);
+      struct ncvisual_options vopts = {
+        .n = nullptr,
+        .scaling = NCSCALE_NONE,
+        .y = 0, .x = 0,
+        .begy = 0, .begx = 0,
+        .leny = 0, .lenx = 0,
+        .blitter = NCBLIT_2x1,
+        .flags = 0,
+        .transcolor = 0,
+      };
+      auto p = ncvisual_render(nc_, ncv, &vopts);
+      REQUIRE(nullptr != p);
+      CHECK(1 == ncplane_dim_y(p));
+      CHECK(4 == ncplane_dim_x(p));
+      int pxdimy, pxdimx;
+      auto edata = ncplane_as_rgba(p, vopts.blitter, 0, 0, -1, -1, &pxdimy, &pxdimx);
+      REQUIRE(nullptr != edata);
+      for(size_t i = 0 ; i < sizeof(data) / sizeof(*data) ; ++i){
+        CHECK(edata[i] == data[i]);
+      }
+      free(edata);
+      CHECK(0 == ncplane_destroy(p));
+      ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // put a visual through the quadblitter, read it back, and check equality
+  SUBCASE("QuadRoundtrip") {
+    if(notcurses_canquadrant(nc_)){
+      // two rows of 32 pixels ought become 1 cell row of 16 cell columns
+      const uint32_t data[64] = {
+        htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xff000000), htole(0xffffffff),
+        htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xff000000), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff),
+        htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xff000000), htole(0xffffffff),
+        htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xff000000), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff),
+        htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff),
+        htole(0xff000000), htole(0xff000000), htole(0xff000000), htole(0xffffffff),
+        htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xff000000), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff),
+        htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff),
+
+        htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff),
+        htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xff000000), htole(0xffffffff),
+        htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xff000000), htole(0xff000000), htole(0xffffffff),
+        htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xff000000), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff),
+        htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xff000000), htole(0xff000000),
+        htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xff000000),
+        htole(0xff000000), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff),
+        htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff),
+      };
+      auto ncv = ncvisual_from_rgba(data, 2, 128, 32);
+      REQUIRE(nullptr != ncv);
+      struct ncvisual_options vopts = {
+        .n = nullptr,
+        .scaling = NCSCALE_NONE,
+        .y = 0, .x = 0,
+        .begy = 0, .begx = 0,
+        .leny = 0, .lenx = 0,
+        .blitter = NCBLIT_2x2,
+        .flags = 0,
+        .transcolor = 0,
+      };
+      auto p = ncvisual_render(nc_, ncv, &vopts);
+      REQUIRE(nullptr != p);
+      CHECK(1 == ncplane_dim_y(p));
+      CHECK(16 == ncplane_dim_x(p));
+      int pxdimy, pxdimx;
+      auto edata = ncplane_as_rgba(p, vopts.blitter, 0, 0, -1, -1, &pxdimy, &pxdimx);
+      REQUIRE(nullptr != edata);
+      for(size_t i = 0 ; i < sizeof(data) / sizeof(*data) ; ++i){
+        CHECK(edata[i] == data[i]);
+      }
+      free(edata);
+      CHECK(0 == ncplane_destroy(p));
+      ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
+    }
+  }
+
   CHECK(!notcurses_stop(nc_));
 }
diff --git a/src/tests/layout.cpp b/src/tests/textlayout.cpp
similarity index 99%
rename from src/tests/layout.cpp
rename to src/tests/textlayout.cpp
index fe78d16fc..ff51552de 100644
--- a/src/tests/layout.cpp
+++ b/src/tests/textlayout.cpp
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ TEST_CASE("TextLayout") {
       CHECK(bytes == strlen(boundstr));
       char* line = ncplane_contents(sp, 0, 0, -1, -1);
       REQUIRE(line);
-      CHECK(0 == strcmp(line, "a 血的神"));
+      CHECK(0 == strcmp(line, boundstr));
       free(line);
       ncplane_destroy(sp);
     }
diff --git a/tools/release.sh b/tools/release.sh
index e9b67a089..1cd45ec44 100755
--- a/tools/release.sh
+++ b/tools/release.sh
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ OLDVERSION="$1"
 VERSION="$2"
 QUIP="$3"
 
+# finalize the date on the most recent version, add any last-minute notes?
 vi NEWS.md
 
 git clean -f -d -x