diff --git a/benches/message_list.rs b/benches/message_list.rs
index d360f6b..2b3295f 100644
--- a/benches/message_list.rs
+++ b/benches/message_list.rs
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ fn bench_input_grows(n: usize, lines: usize) {
     });
 
     let line_height = 24.0;
-    let input_rect = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+    let input_rect = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
     let input_area = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Sized {
         inner: input_rect.any(),
         x: None,
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ fn bench_expand_holds_edge(n: usize, growths: usize) {
     let mut growable = None;
     for i in 0..n {
         if i == growable_index {
-            let rect = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+            let rect = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
             let sized = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Sized {
                 inner: rect.any(),
                 x: None,
diff --git a/core/src/event/controller.rs b/core/src/event/controller.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..597ac6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/src/event/controller.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,261 @@
+use crate::{
+    ActiveData, WidgetId,
+    util::{HashMap, HashSet},
+};
+use std::any::{Any, TypeId};
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Eq, PartialEq, Hash)]
+pub struct ControllerId {
+    host: WidgetId,
+    kind: TypeId,
+}
+
+impl ControllerId {
+    pub fn host(self) -> WidgetId {
+        self.host
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+pub enum Command {
+    Copy,
+    SelectAll,
+    Escape,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+pub enum CommandResult {
+    Unused,
+    Used,
+    Copy(String),
+}
+
+pub trait ControllerValue: Any {
+    fn into_any(self: Box<Self>) -> Box<dyn Any>;
+}
+
+impl<T: Any> ControllerValue for T {
+    fn into_any(self: Box<Self>) -> Box<dyn Any> {
+        self
+    }
+}
+
+pub trait Controller<Rsc>: ControllerValue {
+    fn command(&mut self, _command: Command, _rsc: &mut Rsc) -> CommandResult {
+        CommandResult::Unused
+    }
+}
+
+pub struct ControllerManager<Rsc> {
+    by_widget: HashMap<WidgetId, HashMap<TypeId, Box<dyn Controller<Rsc>>>>,
+    parents: HashMap<WidgetId, Option<WidgetId>>,
+    borrowed: HashSet<ControllerId>,
+    removed_while_borrowed: HashSet<WidgetId>,
+    command_target: Option<ControllerId>,
+    command_target_revision: u64,
+    command_boundary: Option<WidgetId>,
+}
+
+impl<Rsc> Default for ControllerManager<Rsc> {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            by_widget: Default::default(),
+            parents: Default::default(),
+            borrowed: Default::default(),
+            removed_while_borrowed: Default::default(),
+            command_target: None,
+            command_target_revision: 0,
+            command_boundary: None,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<Rsc: 'static> ControllerManager<Rsc> {
+    #[track_caller]
+    pub fn register<C: Controller<Rsc>>(&mut self, host: WidgetId, controller: C) {
+        let kind = TypeId::of::<C>();
+        let id = ControllerId { host, kind };
+        assert!(
+            !self.borrowed.contains(&id),
+            "a controller cannot be replaced while it is handling input"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            !self.removed_while_borrowed.contains(&host),
+            "a controller cannot be attached to a removed widget"
+        );
+        let old = self
+            .by_widget
+            .entry(host)
+            .or_default()
+            .insert(kind, Box::new(controller));
+        assert!(
+            old.is_none(),
+            "a widget cannot have two controllers of type {}",
+            std::any::type_name::<C>()
+        );
+    }
+
+    pub fn id<C: Controller<Rsc>>(&self, host: WidgetId) -> Option<ControllerId> {
+        let kind = TypeId::of::<C>();
+        self.by_widget
+            .get(&host)?
+            .contains_key(&kind)
+            .then_some(ControllerId { host, kind })
+    }
+
+    pub fn nearest_id<C: Controller<Rsc>>(&self, mut origin: WidgetId) -> Option<ControllerId> {
+        let kind = TypeId::of::<C>();
+        loop {
+            let candidate = ControllerId { host: origin, kind };
+            assert!(
+                !self.borrowed.contains(&candidate),
+                "a controller cannot re-enter itself while it is handling input"
+            );
+            if let Some(id) = self.id::<C>(origin) {
+                return Some(id);
+            }
+            origin = self.parents.get(&origin).copied().flatten()?;
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn path_to<C: Controller<Rsc>>(
+        &self,
+        mut origin: WidgetId,
+    ) -> Option<(ControllerId, Vec<WidgetId>)> {
+        let mut path = Vec::new();
+        loop {
+            path.push(origin);
+            if let Some(id) = self.id::<C>(origin) {
+                return Some((id, path));
+            }
+            origin = self.parents.get(&origin).copied().flatten()?;
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn draw(&mut self, active: &ActiveData) {
+        self.parents.insert(active.id, active.parent);
+    }
+
+    pub fn undraw(&mut self, active: &ActiveData) {
+        self.parents.remove(&active.id);
+    }
+
+    pub fn take<C: Controller<Rsc>>(&mut self, id: ControllerId) -> Option<C> {
+        if id.kind != TypeId::of::<C>() {
+            return None;
+        }
+        assert!(
+            !self.borrowed.contains(&id),
+            "a controller cannot re-enter itself while it is handling input"
+        );
+        let boxed = self.by_widget.get_mut(&id.host)?.remove(&id.kind)?;
+        self.borrowed.insert(id);
+        let boxed = boxed.into_any();
+        boxed.downcast().ok().map(|boxed| *boxed)
+    }
+
+    pub fn put<C: Controller<Rsc>>(&mut self, id: ControllerId, controller: C) {
+        debug_assert_eq!(id.kind, TypeId::of::<C>());
+        assert!(
+            self.borrowed.remove(&id),
+            "restored an unborrowed controller"
+        );
+        if self.finish_removed_host(id.host) {
+            return;
+        }
+        let old = self
+            .by_widget
+            .entry(id.host)
+            .or_default()
+            .insert(id.kind, Box::new(controller));
+        debug_assert!(old.is_none(), "a controller was re-entered while borrowed");
+    }
+
+    fn take_dyn(&mut self, id: ControllerId) -> Option<Box<dyn Controller<Rsc>>> {
+        assert!(
+            !self.borrowed.contains(&id),
+            "a controller cannot re-enter itself while it is handling input"
+        );
+        let controller = self.by_widget.get_mut(&id.host)?.remove(&id.kind)?;
+        self.borrowed.insert(id);
+        Some(controller)
+    }
+
+    fn put_dyn(&mut self, id: ControllerId, controller: Box<dyn Controller<Rsc>>) {
+        assert!(
+            self.borrowed.remove(&id),
+            "restored an unborrowed controller"
+        );
+        if self.finish_removed_host(id.host) {
+            return;
+        }
+        let old = self
+            .by_widget
+            .entry(id.host)
+            .or_default()
+            .insert(id.kind, controller);
+        debug_assert!(old.is_none(), "a controller was re-entered while borrowed");
+    }
+
+    pub fn set_command_target(&mut self, target: Option<ControllerId>) {
+        self.command_target = target;
+        self.command_target_revision = self.command_target_revision.wrapping_add(1);
+    }
+
+    pub fn command_target(&self) -> Option<ControllerId> {
+        self.command_target
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn command_target_revision(&self) -> u64 {
+        self.command_target_revision
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn command_boundary(&self) -> Option<WidgetId> {
+        self.command_boundary
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn set_command_boundary(&mut self, boundary: Option<WidgetId>) {
+        self.command_boundary = boundary;
+    }
+
+    pub fn remove(&mut self, host: WidgetId) {
+        self.by_widget.remove(&host);
+        self.parents.remove(&host);
+        if self.borrowed.iter().any(|id| id.host == host) {
+            self.removed_while_borrowed.insert(host);
+        }
+        if self.command_target.is_some_and(|id| id.host == host) {
+            self.command_target = None;
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn take_command_target(
+        &mut self,
+    ) -> Option<(ControllerId, Box<dyn Controller<Rsc>>)> {
+        let id = self.command_target?;
+        match self.take_dyn(id) {
+            Some(controller) => Some((id, controller)),
+            None => {
+                self.command_target = None;
+                None
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn restore(&mut self, id: ControllerId, controller: Box<dyn Controller<Rsc>>) {
+        self.put_dyn(id, controller);
+    }
+
+    /// Returns true when a host disappeared during its controller callback,
+    /// in which case restoring the temporarily extracted value would revive
+    /// state belonging to a dead widget generation.
+    fn finish_removed_host(&mut self, host: WidgetId) -> bool {
+        if !self.removed_while_borrowed.contains(&host) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        if !self.borrowed.iter().any(|id| id.host == host) {
+            self.removed_while_borrowed.remove(&host);
+        }
+        true
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/src/event/manager.rs b/core/src/event/manager.rs
index cda0ff0..71b944b 100644
--- a/core/src/event/manager.rs
+++ b/core/src/event/manager.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use crate::{
-    ActiveData, Event, EventCtx, EventFn, EventIdCtx, EventLike, HasEvents, IdLike, LayerId,
-    WeakWidget, WidgetEventFn, WidgetId,
+    ActiveData, ControllerManager, Event, EventCtx, EventFn, EventIdCtx, EventLike, HasEvents,
+    IdLike, LayerId, WeakWidget, WidgetEventFn, WidgetId,
     util::{HashMap, HashSet, TypeMap},
 };
 use std::{any::TypeId, rc::Rc};
@@ -8,13 +8,15 @@ use std::{any::TypeId, rc::Rc};
 pub struct EventManager<Rsc> {
     widget_to_types: HashMap<WidgetId, HashSet<TypeId>>,
     types: TypeMap<dyn EventManagerLike<Rsc>>,
+    pub controllers: ControllerManager<Rsc>,
 }
 
-impl<Rsc> Default for EventManager<Rsc> {
+impl<Rsc: 'static> Default for EventManager<Rsc> {
     fn default() -> Self {
         Self {
             widget_to_types: Default::default(),
             types: Default::default(),
+            controllers: Default::default(),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -54,15 +56,18 @@ impl<Rsc: HasEvents + 'static> EventsLike for EventManager<Rsc> {
         for t in self.widget_to_types.get(&id).into_flat_iter() {
             self.types.get_mut(t).unwrap().remove(id);
         }
+        self.controllers.remove(id);
     }
 
     fn draw(&mut self, active: &ActiveData) {
+        self.controllers.draw(active);
         for t in self.widget_to_types.get(&active.id).into_flat_iter() {
             self.types.get_mut(t).unwrap().draw(active);
         }
     }
 
     fn undraw(&mut self, active: &ActiveData) {
+        self.controllers.undraw(active);
         for t in self.widget_to_types.get(&active.id).into_flat_iter() {
             self.types.get_mut(t).unwrap().undraw(active);
         }
diff --git a/core/src/event/mod.rs b/core/src/event/mod.rs
index b856850..888cd5e 100644
--- a/core/src/event/mod.rs
+++ b/core/src/event/mod.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
+mod controller;
 mod ctx;
 mod manager;
 mod rsc;
 
+pub use controller::*;
 pub use ctx::*;
 pub use manager::*;
 pub use rsc::*;
diff --git a/core/src/event/rsc.rs b/core/src/event/rsc.rs
index 4824a99..d422dbb 100644
--- a/core/src/event/rsc.rs
+++ b/core/src/event/rsc.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use crate::{
-    Event, EventCtx, EventLike, EventManager, IdLike, UiRsc, WeakWidget, Widget, WidgetEventFn,
+    Command, CommandResult, Controller, ControllerId, Event, EventCtx, EventLike, EventManager,
+    IdLike, UiRsc, WeakWidget, Widget, WidgetEventFn,
 };
 
 pub trait HasState: 'static {
@@ -18,6 +19,75 @@ pub trait HasEvents: Sized + UiRsc + HasState {
     ) {
         self.events_mut().register(id, event, f);
     }
+
+    fn register_controller<W: ?Sized, C: Controller<Self>>(
+        &mut self,
+        id: WeakWidget<W>,
+        controller: C,
+    ) {
+        self.events_mut().controllers.register(id.id(), controller);
+    }
+
+    fn with_controller<C: Controller<Self>, T>(
+        &mut self,
+        id: ControllerId,
+        f: impl FnOnce(&mut C, &mut Self) -> T,
+    ) -> Option<T> {
+        let mut controller = self.events_mut().controllers.take::<C>(id)?;
+        let result = f(&mut controller, self);
+        self.events_mut().controllers.put(id, controller);
+        Some(result)
+    }
+
+    fn with_nearest_controller<C: Controller<Self>, T>(
+        &mut self,
+        origin: impl IdLike,
+        f: impl FnOnce(ControllerId, &mut C, &mut Self) -> T,
+    ) -> Option<T> {
+        let id = self.events().controllers.nearest_id::<C>(origin.id())?;
+        self.with_controller(id, |controller, rsc| f(id, controller, rsc))
+    }
+
+    fn set_command_target(&mut self, target: Option<ControllerId>) {
+        self.events_mut().controllers.set_command_target(target);
+    }
+
+    fn run_command(&mut self, command: Command) -> CommandResult {
+        let revision = self.events().controllers.command_target_revision();
+        if self
+            .events()
+            .controllers
+            .command_target()
+            .is_some_and(|target| {
+                self.events().controllers.command_boundary() == Some(target.host())
+            })
+        {
+            return CommandResult::Unused;
+        }
+        let Some((id, mut controller)) = self.events_mut().controllers.take_command_target() else {
+            return CommandResult::Unused;
+        };
+        let result = controller.command(command, self);
+        self.events_mut().controllers.restore(id, controller);
+        if command == Command::Escape
+            && result != CommandResult::Unused
+            && self.events().controllers.command_target_revision() == revision
+        {
+            self.set_command_target(None);
+        }
+        result
+    }
+
+    #[doc(hidden)]
+    fn run_command_before(&mut self, command: Command, boundary: impl IdLike) -> CommandResult {
+        let old = self.events().controllers.command_boundary();
+        self.events_mut()
+            .controllers
+            .set_command_boundary(Some(boundary.id()));
+        let result = self.run_command(command);
+        self.events_mut().controllers.set_command_boundary(old);
+        result
+    }
 }
 
 pub trait RunEvents: HasEvents {
diff --git a/core/src/lib.rs b/core/src/lib.rs
index 195706a..f93a844 100644
--- a/core/src/lib.rs
+++ b/core/src/lib.rs
@@ -30,5 +30,3 @@ pub use primitive::*;
 pub use render::*;
 pub use ui::*;
 pub use widget::*;
-
-pub type UiColor = primitive::Color<u8>;
diff --git a/core/src/primitive/color.rs b/core/src/primitive/color.rs
index a7579c0..ed39e7c 100644
--- a/core/src/primitive/color.rs
+++ b/core/src/primitive/color.rs
@@ -1,171 +1,518 @@
-use std::marker::Destruct;
+use crate::util::{Dirty, RefCounter};
+use std::{
+    cell::RefCell,
+    fmt,
+    rc::Rc,
+    sync::mpsc::{Receiver, Sender, channel},
+};
 
+/// Encoded, straight-alpha sRGB at an input boundary.
+///
+/// Palette literals, decoded images and colour glyph bitmaps use this
+/// convention. A solid paint is converted to linear light when it enters the
+/// paint table; the renderer never performs colour arithmetic on these bytes.
 #[repr(C)]
-#[derive(Clone, Copy, Hash, PartialEq, Eq, bytemuck::Zeroable, Debug)]
-pub struct Color<T> {
-    pub r: T,
-    pub g: T,
-    pub b: T,
-    pub a: T,
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Hash, PartialEq, Eq, bytemuck::Pod, bytemuck::Zeroable)]
+pub struct Srgba8 {
+    pub r: u8,
+    pub g: u8,
+    pub b: u8,
+    pub a: u8,
 }
 
-/// Required by parley's `Brush`, which every text style is generic over. Opaque
-/// black rather than transparent: a brush that was never set should be visible
-/// and obviously unstyled, not invisible.
-impl<T: ColorNum> Default for Color<T> {
+impl Srgba8 {
+    pub const BLACK: Self = Self::rgb(0, 0, 0);
+    pub const WHITE: Self = Self::rgb(255, 255, 255);
+    pub const GRAY: Self = Self::rgb(127, 127, 127);
+    pub const RED: Self = Self::rgb(255, 0, 0);
+    pub const ORANGE: Self = Self::rgb(255, 127, 0);
+    pub const YELLOW: Self = Self::rgb(255, 255, 0);
+    pub const LIME: Self = Self::rgb(127, 255, 0);
+    pub const GREEN: Self = Self::rgb(0, 255, 0);
+    pub const TURQUOISE: Self = Self::rgb(0, 255, 127);
+    pub const CYAN: Self = Self::rgb(0, 255, 255);
+    pub const SKY: Self = Self::rgb(0, 127, 255);
+    pub const BLUE: Self = Self::rgb(0, 0, 255);
+    pub const PURPLE: Self = Self::rgb(127, 0, 255);
+    pub const MAGENTA: Self = Self::rgb(255, 0, 255);
+    pub const NONE: Self = Self::new(0, 0, 0, 0);
+
+    pub const fn new(r: u8, g: u8, b: u8, a: u8) -> Self {
+        Self { r, g, b, a }
+    }
+
+    pub const fn rgb(r: u8, g: u8, b: u8) -> Self {
+        Self::new(r, g, b, 255)
+    }
+
+    pub fn to_linear(self) -> LinearRgba {
+        LinearRgba::new(
+            srgb_to_linear(self.r as f32 / 255.0),
+            srgb_to_linear(self.g as f32 / 255.0),
+            srgb_to_linear(self.b as f32 / 255.0),
+            self.a as f32 / 255.0,
+        )
+    }
+}
+
+/// Straight-alpha RGBA in linear-light sRGB primaries.
+///
+/// This is Iris's working representation: manipulate and interpolate colours
+/// here, then put the result in [`Paints`]. The GPU paint buffer stores this
+/// exact layout as `vec4<f32>`.
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, bytemuck::Pod, bytemuck::Zeroable)]
+pub struct LinearRgba {
+    pub r: f32,
+    pub g: f32,
+    pub b: f32,
+    pub a: f32,
+}
+
+impl LinearRgba {
+    pub const BLACK: Self = Self::rgb(0.0, 0.0, 0.0);
+    pub const WHITE: Self = Self::rgb(1.0, 1.0, 1.0);
+    pub const NONE: Self = Self::new(0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0);
+
+    pub const fn new(r: f32, g: f32, b: f32, a: f32) -> Self {
+        Self { r, g, b, a }
+    }
+
+    pub const fn rgb(r: f32, g: f32, b: f32) -> Self {
+        Self::new(r, g, b, 1.0)
+    }
+
+    pub fn mul_rgb(self, amount: f32) -> Self {
+        Self::new(self.r * amount, self.g * amount, self.b * amount, self.a)
+    }
+
+    pub fn darker(self, amount: f32) -> Self {
+        self.mul_rgb(1.0 - amount)
+    }
+
+    pub fn brighter(self, amount: f32) -> Self {
+        Self::new(
+            self.r + (1.0 - self.r) * amount,
+            self.g + (1.0 - self.g) * amount,
+            self.b + (1.0 - self.b) * amount,
+            self.a,
+        )
+    }
+
+    pub fn to_wgpu(self) -> wgpu::Color {
+        wgpu::Color {
+            r: self.r as f64,
+            g: self.g as f64,
+            b: self.b as f64,
+            a: self.a as f64,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn srgb_to_linear(value: f32) -> f32 {
+    if value <= 0.04045 {
+        value / 12.92
+    } else {
+        ((value + 0.055) / 1.055).powf(2.4)
+    }
+}
+
+/// A description that can be registered in Iris's paint table.
+///
+/// Only solid paints exist today. Keeping registration behind this trait and
+/// making primitives carry [`PaintId`] leaves one place to add gradient or
+/// texture paint records later.
+pub trait Paint: private::Sealed + 'static {
+    #[doc(hidden)]
+    fn add_to(&self, paints: &mut Paints) -> PaintId;
+
+    #[doc(hidden)]
+    fn replace(&self, paints: &mut Paints, slot: u32);
+
+    /// Erases this definition so a widget can register it lazily on its
+    /// first draw. [`PaintId`] overrides this to stay a direct handle.
+    #[doc(hidden)]
+    fn into_value(self) -> PaintValue
+    where
+        Self: Sized,
+    {
+        PaintValue::pending(self)
+    }
+}
+
+impl Paint for Srgba8 {
+    fn add_to(&self, paints: &mut Paints) -> PaintId {
+        paints.add_linear(self.to_linear())
+    }
+
+    fn replace(&self, paints: &mut Paints, slot: u32) {
+        paints.replace_linear(slot, self.to_linear());
+    }
+}
+
+impl Paint for LinearRgba {
+    fn add_to(&self, paints: &mut Paints) -> PaintId {
+        paints.add_linear(*self)
+    }
+
+    fn replace(&self, paints: &mut Paints, slot: u32) {
+        paints.replace_linear(slot, *self);
+    }
+}
+
+mod private {
+    pub trait Sealed {}
+    impl Sealed for super::Srgba8 {}
+    impl Sealed for super::LinearRgba {}
+    impl Sealed for super::PaintId {}
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+struct PaintLease {
+    slot: u32,
+    counter: RefCounter,
+    send: Sender<u32>,
+}
+
+impl Clone for PaintLease {
+    fn clone(&self) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            slot: self.slot,
+            counter: self.counter.clone(),
+            send: self.send.clone(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Drop for PaintLease {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        if self.counter.drop() {
+            let _ = self.send.send(self.slot);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// A stable reference to one entry in a UI's paint table.
+///
+/// Built-in IDs name the same reserved entries in every [`Paints`]. IDs
+/// returned by [`Paints::add`] retain their slot until the last clone held by a
+/// widget, shaped text or retained draw is dropped.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct PaintId {
+    slot: u32,
+    lease: Option<PaintLease>,
+}
+
+impl PaintId {
+    pub const BLACK: Self = Self::builtin(0);
+    pub const WHITE: Self = Self::builtin(1);
+    pub const GRAY: Self = Self::builtin(2);
+    pub const RED: Self = Self::builtin(3);
+    pub const ORANGE: Self = Self::builtin(4);
+    pub const YELLOW: Self = Self::builtin(5);
+    pub const LIME: Self = Self::builtin(6);
+    pub const GREEN: Self = Self::builtin(7);
+    pub const TURQUOISE: Self = Self::builtin(8);
+    pub const CYAN: Self = Self::builtin(9);
+    pub const SKY: Self = Self::builtin(10);
+    pub const BLUE: Self = Self::builtin(11);
+    pub const PURPLE: Self = Self::builtin(12);
+    pub const MAGENTA: Self = Self::builtin(13);
+    pub const NONE: Self = Self::builtin(14);
+
+    const fn builtin(slot: u32) -> Self {
+        Self { slot, lease: None }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn slot(&self) -> u32 {
+        self.slot
+    }
+
+    fn is_managed(&self) -> bool {
+        self.lease.is_some()
+    }
+}
+
+impl Default for PaintId {
     fn default() -> Self {
         Self::BLACK
     }
 }
 
-impl<T: ColorNum> Color<T> {
-    pub const BLACK: Self = Self::rgb(T::MIN, T::MIN, T::MIN);
-    pub const WHITE: Self = Self::rgb(T::MAX, T::MAX, T::MAX);
-    pub const GRAY: Self = Self::rgb(T::MID, T::MID, T::MID);
-
-    pub const RED: Self = Self::rgb(T::MAX, T::MIN, T::MIN);
-    pub const ORANGE: Self = Self::rgb(T::MAX, T::MID, T::MIN);
-    pub const YELLOW: Self = Self::rgb(T::MAX, T::MAX, T::MIN);
-    pub const LIME: Self = Self::rgb(T::MID, T::MAX, T::MIN);
-    pub const GREEN: Self = Self::rgb(T::MIN, T::MAX, T::MIN);
-    pub const TURQUOISE: Self = Self::rgb(T::MIN, T::MAX, T::MID);
-    pub const CYAN: Self = Self::rgb(T::MIN, T::MAX, T::MAX);
-    pub const SKY: Self = Self::rgb(T::MIN, T::MID, T::MAX);
-    pub const BLUE: Self = Self::rgb(T::MIN, T::MIN, T::MAX);
-    pub const PURPLE: Self = Self::rgb(T::MID, T::MIN, T::MAX);
-    pub const MAGENTA: Self = Self::rgb(T::MAX, T::MIN, T::MAX);
-
-    pub const NONE: Self = Self::new(T::MIN, T::MIN, T::MIN, T::MIN);
-
-    pub const fn new(r: T, g: T, b: T, a: T) -> Self {
-        Self { r, g, b, a }
-    }
-    pub const fn rgb(r: T, g: T, b: T) -> Self {
-        Self { r, g, b, a: T::MAX }
-    }
-    pub fn alpha(mut self, a: T) -> Self {
-        self.a = a;
-        self
-    }
-
-    pub fn as_arr(self) -> [T; 4] {
-        [self.r, self.g, self.b, self.a]
+impl PartialEq for PaintId {
+    fn eq(&self, other: &Self) -> bool {
+        self.slot == other.slot
     }
 }
 
-pub const trait F32Conversion {
-    fn to(self) -> f32;
-    fn from(x: f32) -> Self;
+impl Eq for PaintId {}
+
+impl Paint for PaintId {
+    fn add_to(&self, _paints: &mut Paints) -> PaintId {
+        self.clone()
+    }
+
+    fn replace(&self, paints: &mut Paints, slot: u32) {
+        let value = paints.entries[self.slot as usize];
+        paints.replace_linear(slot, value);
+    }
+
+    fn into_value(self) -> PaintValue {
+        PaintValue(PaintValueInner::Id(self))
+    }
 }
 
-pub trait ColorNum {
-    const MIN: Self;
-    const MID: Self;
-    const MAX: Self;
+struct PendingPaint {
+    definition: Box<dyn Paint>,
+    resolved: RefCell<Option<PaintId>>,
 }
 
-macro_rules! map_rgb {
-    ($x:ident,$self:ident, $e:tt) => {
-        #[allow(unused_braces)]
-        Self {
-            r: {
-                let $x = $self.r;
-                $e
-            },
-            g: {
-                let $x = $self.g;
-                $e
-            },
-            b: {
-                let $x = $self.b;
-                $e
-            },
-            a: $self.a,
+#[derive(Clone)]
+enum PaintValueInner {
+    Id(PaintId),
+    Pending(Rc<PendingPaint>),
+}
+
+/// A widget property containing either an existing paint-table ID or a paint
+/// definition that will receive an ID the first time it is drawn.
+///
+/// Pending definitions are shared across clones and registered only once.
+/// Each property replaces its own pending variant with the resulting direct
+/// ID after that first resolution, so later draws take the direct path.
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct PaintValue(PaintValueInner);
+
+impl PaintValue {
+    fn pending(paint: impl Paint) -> Self {
+        Self(PaintValueInner::Pending(Rc::new(PendingPaint {
+            definition: Box::new(paint),
+            resolved: RefCell::new(None),
+        })))
+    }
+
+    pub fn resolve(&mut self, paints: &mut Paints) -> &PaintId {
+        if let PaintValueInner::Pending(pending) = &self.0 {
+            let resolved = pending.resolved.borrow().clone();
+            let id = match resolved {
+                Some(id) => id,
+                None => {
+                    let id = pending.definition.add_to(paints);
+                    *pending.resolved.borrow_mut() = Some(id.clone());
+                    id
+                }
+            };
+            self.0 = PaintValueInner::Id(id);
         }
-    };
-}
-
-impl<T: ColorNum + const F32Conversion> Color<T>
-where
-    Self: const Destruct,
-{
-    pub const fn mul_rgb(self, amt: impl const F32Conversion) -> Self {
-        let amt = amt.to();
-        map_rgb!(x, self, { T::from(x.to() * amt) })
+        let PaintValueInner::Id(id) = &self.0 else {
+            unreachable!()
+        };
+        id
     }
 
-    pub const fn add_rgb(self, amt: impl const F32Conversion) -> Self {
-        let amt = amt.to();
-        map_rgb!(x, self, { T::from(x.to() + amt) })
-    }
-
-    pub const fn darker(self, amt: f32) -> Self {
-        self.mul_rgb(1.0 - amt)
-    }
-
-    pub const fn brighter(self, amt: f32) -> Self {
-        map_rgb!(x, self, {
-            let x = x.to();
-            T::from(x + (1.0 - x) * amt)
-        })
-    }
-
-    pub fn map_rgb(self, f: impl Fn(T) -> T) -> Self {
-        Self {
-            r: f(self.r),
-            g: f(self.g),
-            b: f(self.b),
-            a: self.a,
-        }
-    }
-
-    pub fn srgb(r: T, g: T, b: T) -> Self {
-        Self {
-            r: s_to_l(r),
-            g: s_to_l(g),
-            b: s_to_l(b),
-            a: T::MAX,
+    pub fn is(&self, id: &PaintId) -> bool {
+        match &self.0 {
+            PaintValueInner::Id(current) => current == id,
+            PaintValueInner::Pending(pending) => pending.resolved.borrow().as_ref() == Some(id),
         }
     }
 }
 
-fn s_to_l<T: F32Conversion>(x: T) -> T {
-    let x = x.to();
-    T::from(if x <= 0.0405 {
-        x / 12.92
-    } else {
-        ((x + 0.055) / 1.055).powf(2.4)
-    })
-}
-
-impl ColorNum for u8 {
-    const MIN: Self = u8::MIN;
-    const MID: Self = u8::MAX / 2;
-    const MAX: Self = u8::MAX;
-}
-
-impl ColorNum for f32 {
-    const MIN: Self = 0.0;
-    const MID: Self = 0.5;
-    const MAX: Self = 1.0;
-}
-
-unsafe impl bytemuck::Pod for Color<u8> {}
-
-const impl F32Conversion for f32 {
-    fn to(self) -> f32 {
-        self
-    }
-    fn from(x: f32) -> Self {
-        x
+impl fmt::Debug for PaintValue {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        match &self.0 {
+            PaintValueInner::Id(id) => f.debug_tuple("PaintValue").field(id).finish(),
+            PaintValueInner::Pending(_) => f.write_str("PaintValue(Pending)"),
+        }
     }
 }
 
-const impl F32Conversion for u8 {
-    fn to(self) -> f32 {
-        self as f32 / 255.0
+const BUILTIN_PAINTS: [Srgba8; 15] = [
+    Srgba8::BLACK,
+    Srgba8::WHITE,
+    Srgba8::GRAY,
+    Srgba8::RED,
+    Srgba8::ORANGE,
+    Srgba8::YELLOW,
+    Srgba8::LIME,
+    Srgba8::GREEN,
+    Srgba8::TURQUOISE,
+    Srgba8::CYAN,
+    Srgba8::SKY,
+    Srgba8::BLUE,
+    Srgba8::PURPLE,
+    Srgba8::MAGENTA,
+    Srgba8::NONE,
+];
+
+/// CPU-side paint table and the dirty set for its GPU mirror.
+pub struct Paints {
+    entries: Vec<LinearRgba>,
+    free: Vec<u32>,
+    dirty: Dirty,
+    send: Sender<u32>,
+    recv: Receiver<u32>,
+}
+
+impl Paints {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        let (send, recv) = channel();
+        Self {
+            entries: BUILTIN_PAINTS.map(Srgba8::to_linear).to_vec(),
+            free: Vec::new(),
+            dirty: Dirty::new_all(),
+            send,
+            recv,
+        }
     }
-    fn from(x: f32) -> Self {
-        (x * 255.0).clamp(0.0, 255.0) as Self
+
+    pub fn add(&mut self, paint: impl Paint) -> PaintId {
+        paint.add_to(self)
+    }
+
+    fn add_linear(&mut self, value: LinearRgba) -> PaintId {
+        self.free_released();
+        let slot = if let Some(slot) = self.free.pop() {
+            self.entries[slot as usize] = value;
+            self.dirty.mark(slot as usize);
+            slot
+        } else {
+            let slot = self.entries.len() as u32;
+            self.entries.push(value);
+            self.dirty.mark(slot as usize);
+            slot
+        };
+        PaintId {
+            slot,
+            lease: Some(PaintLease {
+                slot,
+                counter: RefCounter::new(),
+                send: self.send.clone(),
+            }),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Replaces one managed paint in place. Every primitive keeps the same
+    /// index, so a theme change dirties this table and no primitive buffer.
+    pub fn set(&mut self, id: &PaintId, paint: impl Paint) {
+        assert!(
+            id.is_managed(),
+            "a reserved built-in paint cannot be replaced; allocate a theme slot with Paints::add"
+        );
+        paint.replace(self, id.slot);
+    }
+
+    fn replace_linear(&mut self, slot: u32, value: LinearRgba) {
+        self.entries[slot as usize] = value;
+        self.dirty.mark(slot as usize);
+    }
+
+    pub fn get(&self, id: &PaintId) -> LinearRgba {
+        self.entries[id.slot as usize]
+    }
+
+    pub fn free_released(&mut self) {
+        for slot in self.recv.try_iter() {
+            self.entries[slot as usize] = LinearRgba::NONE;
+            self.dirty.mark(slot as usize);
+            self.free.push(slot);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// A new GPU device has no copy of this table even when the CPU-side UI
+    /// and its paint IDs survived an Android surface recreation.
+    pub fn reupload(&mut self) {
+        self.dirty.mark_all();
+    }
+
+    pub fn for_upload(&mut self) -> (&[LinearRgba], &mut Dirty) {
+        (&self.entries, &mut self.dirty)
+    }
+}
+
+impl Default for Paints {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self::new()
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn srgb_bytes_become_linear_without_transforming_alpha() {
+        let got = Srgba8::new(17, 127, 255, 64).to_linear();
+        assert!((got.r - 0.005605).abs() < 0.000001);
+        assert!((got.g - 0.212231).abs() < 0.000001);
+        assert_eq!(got.b, 1.0);
+        assert!((got.a - 64.0 / 255.0).abs() < f32::EPSILON);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn changing_a_paint_keeps_its_id_and_dirties_only_its_slot() {
+        let mut paints = Paints::new();
+        let id = paints.add(Srgba8::rgb(17, 17, 27));
+        let slot = id.slot();
+        let (_, dirty) = paints.for_upload();
+        dirty.clear();
+
+        paints.set(&id, Srgba8::rgb(205, 214, 244));
+        let (_, dirty) = paints.for_upload();
+        assert!(dirty.contains(slot as usize));
+        assert_eq!(id.slot(), slot);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_released_paint_slot_is_reused_only_after_the_last_clone() {
+        let mut paints = Paints::new();
+        let id = paints.add(Srgba8::RED);
+        let slot = id.slot();
+        let held = id.clone();
+        drop(id);
+        paints.free_released();
+        let other = paints.add(Srgba8::GREEN);
+        assert_ne!(other.slot(), slot);
+
+        drop(held);
+        paints.free_released();
+        let reused = paints.add(Srgba8::BLUE);
+        assert_eq!(reused.slot(), slot);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn cloned_pending_paints_register_once_and_then_become_direct_ids() {
+        let mut paints = Paints::new();
+        let mut first = Srgba8::rgb(17, 17, 27).into_value();
+        let mut second = first.clone();
+        let before = paints.entries.len();
+
+        let first_id = first.resolve(&mut paints).clone();
+        let second_id = second.resolve(&mut paints).clone();
+
+        assert_eq!(first_id, second_id);
+        assert_eq!(paints.entries.len(), before + 1);
+        assert!(first.is(&first_id));
+        assert!(second.is(&first_id));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn independently_constructed_inline_solids_get_independent_slots() {
+        let mut paints = Paints::new();
+        let mut first = Srgba8::rgb(23, 42, 71).into_value();
+        let mut second = Srgba8::rgb(23, 42, 71).into_value();
+        let before = paints.entries.len();
+
+        let first_id = first.resolve(&mut paints).clone();
+        let second_id = second.resolve(&mut paints).clone();
+        assert_ne!(first_id, second_id);
+        assert_eq!(paints.entries.len(), before + 2);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn explicit_theme_paints_with_equal_values_remain_independent() {
+        let mut paints = Paints::new();
+        let first = paints.add(Srgba8::rgb(23, 42, 71));
+        let second = paints.add(Srgba8::rgb(23, 42, 71));
+        assert_ne!(first.slot(), second.slot());
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/src/primitive/text.rs b/core/src/primitive/text.rs
index c621c6e..011aa41 100644
--- a/core/src/primitive/text.rs
+++ b/core/src/primitive/text.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::{Align, GlyphAtlas, GlyphKey, PlacedGlyph, RegionAlign, Textures, UiColor, util::Vec2};
+use crate::{Align, GlyphAtlas, GlyphKey, PaintId, PlacedGlyph, RegionAlign, Textures, util::Vec2};
 use parley::{
     Alignment, AlignmentOptions, FontContext, FontFamily, FontFamilyName, FontStyle, FontWeight,
     GenericFamily, Layout, LayoutContext, LineHeight, PositionedLayoutItem, StyleProperty,
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ pub struct FontDiagnostics {
 
 pub struct TextData {
     pub font_cx: FontContext,
-    pub layout_cx: LayoutContext<UiColor>,
+    pub layout_cx: LayoutContext<PaintId>,
     scale_cx: ScaleContext,
     pub atlas: GlyphAtlas,
     /// Physical pixels per dp -- a second copy of
@@ -240,8 +240,13 @@ impl TextData {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn place(&mut self, buffer: &TextBuffer, textures: &mut Textures) -> Vec<PlacedGlyph> {
+    pub fn place(
+        &mut self,
+        buffer: &TextBuffer,
+        textures: &mut Textures,
+    ) -> (Vec<PlacedGlyph>, Vec<PaintId>) {
         let mut placed = Vec::new();
+        let mut paints = Vec::new();
         for line in buffer.layout.lines() {
             for item in line.items() {
                 let PositionedLayoutItem::GlyphRun(run) = item else {
@@ -250,7 +255,10 @@ impl TextData {
                 let font = run.run().font();
                 let font_size = run.run().font_size();
                 let coords = run.run().normalized_coords();
-                let run_color = run.style().brush;
+                let run_color = run.style().brush.clone();
+                if !paints.contains(&run_color) {
+                    paints.push(run_color.clone());
+                }
                 let Some(font_ref) = FontRef::from_index(font.data.as_ref(), font.index as usize)
                 else {
                     continue;
@@ -301,12 +309,12 @@ impl TextData {
                             glyph.x.floor() + entry.left as f32,
                             glyph.y.floor() - entry.top as f32,
                         ),
-                        color: run_color,
+                        paint: run_color.slot(),
                     });
                 }
             }
         }
-        placed
+        (placed, paints)
     }
 
     pub fn render(
@@ -318,11 +326,12 @@ impl TextData {
         density: f32,
     ) -> RenderedText {
         buffer.shape(self, attrs, width, density);
-        let glyphs = self.place(buffer, textures);
+        let (glyphs, paints) = self.place(buffer, textures);
         RenderedText {
             glyphs: std::sync::Arc::new(glyphs),
+            paints: std::sync::Arc::new(paints),
             size: buffer.size(),
-            color: attrs.color,
+            color: attrs.color.clone(),
             generation: self.atlas.generation(),
         }
     }
@@ -359,7 +368,7 @@ impl Family {
 #[derive(Clone, PartialEq)]
 pub struct SpanStyle {
     pub range: Range<usize>,
-    pub color: Option<UiColor>,
+    pub color: Option<PaintId>,
     pub family: Option<Family>,
     pub font_size: Option<f32>,
     pub bold: bool,
@@ -379,7 +388,7 @@ impl SpanStyle {
             underline: false,
         }
     }
-    pub fn color(mut self, color: UiColor) -> Self {
+    pub fn color(mut self, color: PaintId) -> Self {
         self.color = Some(color);
         self
     }
@@ -407,7 +416,7 @@ impl SpanStyle {
 
 #[derive(Clone, PartialEq)]
 pub struct TextAttrs {
-    pub color: UiColor,
+    pub color: PaintId,
     pub font_size: f32,
     pub line_height: f32,
     pub family: Family,
@@ -421,7 +430,7 @@ impl Default for TextAttrs {
     fn default() -> Self {
         let size = 16.0;
         Self {
-            color: UiColor::WHITE,
+            color: PaintId::WHITE,
             font_size: size,
             line_height: size * LINE_HEIGHT_MULT,
             family: Family::SansSerif,
@@ -436,7 +445,7 @@ impl Default for TextAttrs {
 /// them apart is how they get out of step.
 pub struct TextBuffer {
     text: String,
-    layout: Layout<UiColor>,
+    layout: Layout<PaintId>,
     spans: Vec<SpanStyle>,
     shaped: Option<(TextAttrs, Option<f32>, f32)>,
 }
@@ -464,7 +473,7 @@ impl TextBuffer {
         &self.text
     }
 
-    pub fn layout(&self) -> &Layout<UiColor> {
+    pub fn layout(&self) -> &Layout<PaintId> {
         &self.layout
     }
 
@@ -515,11 +524,11 @@ impl TextBuffer {
         builder.push_default(StyleProperty::LineHeight(LineHeight::Absolute(
             attrs.line_height * density,
         )));
-        builder.push_default(StyleProperty::Brush(attrs.color));
+        builder.push_default(StyleProperty::Brush(attrs.color.clone()));
         for (span, family) in self.spans.iter().zip(&span_families) {
             let range = span.range.clone();
-            if let Some(color) = span.color {
-                builder.push(StyleProperty::Brush(color), range.clone());
+            if let Some(color) = &span.color {
+                builder.push(StyleProperty::Brush(color.clone()), range.clone());
             }
             if let Some(family) = family {
                 builder.push(StyleProperty::FontFamily(family.family()), range.clone());
@@ -563,8 +572,10 @@ fn hash_coords(coords: &[i16]) -> u64 {
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct RenderedText {
     pub glyphs: std::sync::Arc<Vec<PlacedGlyph>>,
+    /// The unique handles whose compact slots the glyphs above carry.
+    pub paints: std::sync::Arc<Vec<PaintId>>,
     pub size: Vec2,
-    pub color: UiColor,
+    pub color: PaintId,
     /// The [`GlyphAtlas::generation`] the glyphs above were placed against.
     /// A holder must re-render rather than re-emit these quads once the
     /// atlas has moved on (`GlyphAtlas::clear`'s doc says what happens
diff --git a/core/src/render/atlas.rs b/core/src/render/atlas.rs
index 4129e78..e121967 100644
--- a/core/src/render/atlas.rs
+++ b/core/src/render/atlas.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use crate::{
-    PatchRect, TextureHandle, Textures, UiColor,
+    PatchRect, TextureHandle, Textures,
     util::{HashMap, Vec2},
 };
 use image::RgbaImage;
@@ -202,5 +202,5 @@ fn write_glyph(page: &mut RgbaImage, image: &Image, x: u32, y: u32) {
 pub struct PlacedGlyph {
     pub entry: GlyphEntry,
     pub offset: Vec2,
-    pub color: UiColor,
+    pub paint: u32,
 }
diff --git a/core/src/render/mod.rs b/core/src/render/mod.rs
index 3285c68..bd4f130 100644
--- a/core/src/render/mod.rs
+++ b/core/src/render/mod.rs
@@ -30,6 +30,46 @@ pub use sdf::{distance_from_rect, rounded_rect_coverage};
 
 pub const SHAPE_SHADER: &str = include_str!("./shader.wgsl");
 
+/// The advertised swapchain format and the sRGB view Iris renders through.
+/// A backend may advertise only the non-sRGB member of an RGBA/BGRA pair;
+/// wgpu permits its sRGB counterpart as a configured view format.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct SurfaceFormat {
+    pub surface: TextureFormat,
+    pub view: TextureFormat,
+}
+
+pub fn srgb_surface_format(caps: &SurfaceCapabilities) -> Result<SurfaceFormat, String> {
+    let supports_srgb_space = |format| caps.color_spaces(format).contains(SurfaceColorSpaces::SRGB);
+    if let Some(surface) = caps
+        .formats
+        .iter()
+        .copied()
+        .find(|format| format.is_srgb() && supports_srgb_space(*format))
+    {
+        return Ok(SurfaceFormat {
+            surface,
+            view: surface,
+        });
+    }
+    if let Some(surface) = caps
+        .formats
+        .iter()
+        .copied()
+        .find(|format| format.add_srgb_suffix().is_srgb() && supports_srgb_space(*format))
+    {
+        return Ok(SurfaceFormat {
+            surface,
+            view: surface.add_srgb_suffix(),
+        });
+    }
+    Err(format!(
+        "the surface has no RGBA/BGRA format with an sRGB render view and sRGB output colour \
+         space; advertised default formats: {:?}",
+        caps.formats
+    ))
+}
+
 pub fn device_limits() -> Limits {
     Limits {
         max_buffer_size: 1 << 30,
@@ -91,6 +131,7 @@ pub struct UiRenderNode {
     instances: ArrBuf<PrimitiveInstance>,
     masks: ArrBuf<Mask>,
     move_offsets: ArrBuf<MoveOffset>,
+    paints: ArrBuf<crate::LinearRgba>,
     masks_layout: BindGroupLayout,
     masks_group: BindGroup,
 }
@@ -196,13 +237,16 @@ impl UiRenderNode {
         let masks_resized = self.masks.update(device, queue, entries, dirty);
         let (entries, dirty) = ui.move_offsets.for_upload();
         let moves_resized = self.move_offsets.update(device, queue, entries, dirty);
-        if masks_resized || moves_resized || instances_resized {
+        let (entries, dirty) = ui.paints.for_upload();
+        let paints_resized = self.paints.update(device, queue, entries, dirty);
+        if masks_resized || moves_resized || instances_resized || paints_resized {
             self.masks_group = Self::masks_group(
                 device,
                 &self.masks_layout,
                 &self.masks,
                 &self.move_offsets,
                 &self.instances,
+                &self.paints,
             );
         }
         let rebuild_main = self.textures.update(&mut ui.textures, &self.rsc_layout);
@@ -212,6 +256,7 @@ impl UiRenderNode {
         FrameUpdateStats {
             masks_resized,
             moves_resized,
+            paints_resized,
         }
     }
 
@@ -231,7 +276,7 @@ impl UiRenderNode {
     pub fn new(
         device: &Device,
         queue: &Queue,
-        config: &SurfaceConfiguration,
+        target_format: TextureFormat,
         window_size: impl Into<Vec2>,
     ) -> Result<Self, String> {
         let oom_scope = device.push_error_scope(ErrorFilter::OutOfMemory);
@@ -305,12 +350,23 @@ impl UiRenderNode {
             BufferUsages::STORAGE | BufferUsages::COPY_DST,
             "ui move offsets",
         );
+        let paints = ArrBuf::new(
+            device,
+            BufferUsages::STORAGE | BufferUsages::COPY_DST,
+            "ui paints",
+        );
 
         let rsc_layout = Self::rsc_layout(device);
         let rsc_group = Self::rsc_group(device, &rsc_layout, &tex_manager);
         let masks_layout = Self::masks_layout(device);
-        let masks_group =
-            Self::masks_group(device, &masks_layout, &masks, &move_offsets, &instances);
+        let masks_group = Self::masks_group(
+            device,
+            &masks_layout,
+            &masks,
+            &move_offsets,
+            &instances,
+            &paints,
+        );
 
         let pipeline_layout = device.create_pipeline_layout(&PipelineLayoutDescriptor {
             label: Some("UI Shape Pipeline Layout"),
@@ -335,7 +391,7 @@ impl UiRenderNode {
                 module: &shader,
                 entry_point: Some("fs_main"),
                 targets: &[Some(ColorTargetState {
-                    format: config.format,
+                    format: target_format,
                     blend: Some(BlendState::ALPHA_BLENDING),
                     write_mask: ColorWrites::ALL,
                 })],
@@ -386,6 +442,7 @@ impl UiRenderNode {
             instances,
             masks,
             move_offsets,
+            paints,
             masks_layout,
             masks_group,
         })
@@ -522,6 +579,16 @@ impl UiRenderNode {
                     },
                     count: None,
                 },
+                BindGroupLayoutEntry {
+                    binding: 3,
+                    visibility: ShaderStages::FRAGMENT,
+                    ty: BindingType::Buffer {
+                        ty: BufferBindingType::Storage { read_only: true },
+                        has_dynamic_offset: false,
+                        min_binding_size: None,
+                    },
+                    count: None,
+                },
             ],
             label: Some("ui masks"),
         })
@@ -533,6 +600,7 @@ impl UiRenderNode {
         masks: &ArrBuf<Mask>,
         move_offsets: &ArrBuf<MoveOffset>,
         instances: &ArrBuf<PrimitiveInstance>,
+        paints: &ArrBuf<crate::LinearRgba>,
     ) -> BindGroup {
         device.create_bind_group(&BindGroupDescriptor {
             layout,
@@ -549,6 +617,10 @@ impl UiRenderNode {
                     binding: 2,
                     resource: instances.buffer.as_entire_binding(),
                 },
+                BindGroupEntry {
+                    binding: 3,
+                    resource: paints.buffer.as_entire_binding(),
+                },
             ],
             label: Some("ui masks"),
         })
@@ -576,4 +648,5 @@ impl UiRenderNode {
 pub struct FrameUpdateStats {
     pub masks_resized: bool,
     pub moves_resized: bool,
+    pub paints_resized: bool,
 }
diff --git a/core/src/render/primitive.rs b/core/src/render/primitive.rs
index daf2185..1d8ffd3 100644
--- a/core/src/render/primitive.rs
+++ b/core/src/render/primitive.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use std::ops::Deref;
 
 use crate::{
-    Color, UiRegion, WidgetId,
+    UiRegion, WidgetId,
     render::{
         ArrBuf,
         data::{MaskIdx, MoveIdx, PrimitiveInstance},
@@ -554,16 +554,18 @@ primitives!(
 #[repr(C)]
 #[derive(Copy, Clone)]
 pub struct RectPrimitive {
-    pub color: Color<u8>,
+    /// Index into the separate paint buffer. Geometry stays untouched when a
+    /// theme replaces the value at this index.
+    pub paint: u32,
     pub radius: f32,
     pub thickness: f32,
     pub inner_radius: f32,
 }
 
 impl RectPrimitive {
-    pub fn color(color: Color<u8>) -> Self {
+    pub fn color(paint: u32) -> Self {
         Self {
-            color,
+            paint,
             radius: 0.0,
             thickness: 0.0,
             inner_radius: 0.0,
@@ -580,7 +582,7 @@ pub struct GlyphPrimitive {
     /// not a bind-group or view index, since a page never gets one of its
     /// own. See TEXTURES.md's "Recommended shape".
     pub layer: u32,
-    pub color: Color<u8>,
+    pub paint: u32,
     pub flags: u32,
     _pad: u32,
 }
@@ -588,18 +590,12 @@ pub struct GlyphPrimitive {
 impl GlyphPrimitive {
     pub const IS_COLOR: u32 = 1;
 
-    pub fn new(
-        uv_min: [f32; 2],
-        uv_max: [f32; 2],
-        layer: u32,
-        color: Color<u8>,
-        flags: u32,
-    ) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(uv_min: [f32; 2], uv_max: [f32; 2], layer: u32, paint: u32, flags: u32) -> Self {
         Self {
             uv_min,
             uv_max,
             layer,
-            color,
+            paint,
             flags,
             _pad: 0,
         }
diff --git a/core/src/render/shader.wgsl b/core/src/render/shader.wgsl
index 57aa63a..6d434f8 100644
--- a/core/src/render/shader.wgsl
+++ b/core/src/render/shader.wgsl
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ var<storage> rects: array<Rect>;
 var<storage> glyphs: array<GlyphInfo>;
 
 struct Rect {
-    color: u32,
+    paint: u32,
     radius: f32,
     thickness: f32,
     inner_radius: f32,
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ struct GlyphInfo {
     uv_max: vec2<f32>,
     // A layer in the shared atlas array, not a bind-group index.
     layer: u32,
-    color: u32,
+    paint: u32,
     flags: u32,
 }
 
@@ -64,6 +64,11 @@ var<storage> move_offsets: array<MoveOffset>;
 // Shared by the vertex stage's drawn primitive and the fragment stage's mask shape.
 @group(3) @binding(2)
 var<storage> instances: array<PrimitiveInstance>;
+// Solid linear RGBA today. Primitives already refer to paint records rather
+// than embedding colours so gradients and texture fills can extend this
+// lookup without rewriting geometry.
+@group(3) @binding(3)
+var<storage> paints: array<vec4<f32>>;
 
 // Keep synchronized with render_state.rs. The bound prevents a malformed
 // parent cycle from hanging the GPU; real widget trees have exceeded 16.
@@ -222,7 +227,7 @@ fn draw_glyph(region: Region, g: GlyphInfo) -> vec4<f32> {
     if (g.flags & 1u) != 0u {
         return texel;
     }
-    var color = unpack4x8unorm(g.color);
+    var color = paints[g.paint];
     color.a *= texel.a;
     return color;
 }
@@ -242,7 +247,7 @@ fn rounded_rect_coverage(
 }
 
 fn draw_rounded_rect(region: Region, rect: Rect) -> vec4<f32> {
-    var color = unpack4x8unorm(rect.color);
+    var color = paints[rect.paint];
 
     let edge = 0.5;
 
diff --git a/core/src/render/texture.rs b/core/src/render/texture.rs
index 7730ebf..e151cac 100644
--- a/core/src/render/texture.rs
+++ b/core/src/render/texture.rs
@@ -271,7 +271,11 @@ impl GpuTextures {
                 mip_level_count: 1,
                 sample_count: 1,
                 dimension: TextureDimension::D2,
-                format: TextureFormat::Rgba8Unorm,
+                // `image` and swash colour-glyph bytes are encoded sRGB.
+                // Sampling this view decodes RGB to the linear-light values
+                // used by the paint buffer and render pipeline; alpha stays
+                // linear.
+                format: TextureFormat::Rgba8UnormSrgb,
                 usage: TextureUsages::TEXTURE_BINDING | TextureUsages::COPY_DST,
                 view_formats: &[],
             },
@@ -337,7 +341,10 @@ impl GpuTextures {
             mip_level_count: 1,
             sample_count: 1,
             dimension: TextureDimension::D2,
-            format: TextureFormat::Rgba8Unorm,
+            // One array contains both alpha-mask glyphs and colour glyphs.
+            // sRGB decoding leaves mask pages' white RGB and alpha unchanged
+            // while correctly decoding colour-glyph RGB.
+            format: TextureFormat::Rgba8UnormSrgb,
             usage: TextureUsages::TEXTURE_BINDING
                 | TextureUsages::COPY_DST
                 | TextureUsages::COPY_SRC,
@@ -430,7 +437,7 @@ pub fn null_texture_view(device: &Device) -> TextureView {
             mip_level_count: 1,
             sample_count: 1,
             dimension: TextureDimension::D2,
-            format: TextureFormat::Rgba8Unorm,
+            format: TextureFormat::Rgba8UnormSrgb,
             usage: TextureUsages::TEXTURE_BINDING,
             view_formats: &[],
         })
diff --git a/core/src/ui/active.rs b/core/src/ui/active.rs
index 9704e78..0d47649 100644
--- a/core/src/ui/active.rs
+++ b/core/src/ui/active.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use crate::{
-    LayerId, MaskIdx, MoveIdx, PrimitiveHandle, Size, TextureHandle, UiRegion, WidgetId, util::Vec2,
+    LayerId, MaskIdx, MoveIdx, PaintId, PrimitiveHandle, Size, TextureHandle, UiRegion, WidgetId,
+    util::Vec2,
 };
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -8,6 +9,10 @@ pub struct ActiveData {
     pub region: UiRegion,
     pub parent: Option<WidgetId>,
     pub textures: Vec<TextureHandle>,
+    /// Paint slots retained by this draw. The GPU primitive stores only the
+    /// slot index, so these handles are what prevent a live primitive from
+    /// observing a recycled paint.
+    pub paints: Vec<PaintId>,
     pub primitives: Vec<PrimitiveHandle>,
     pub children: Vec<WidgetId>,
     pub size_dependencies: Vec<WidgetId>,
diff --git a/core/src/ui/mod.rs b/core/src/ui/mod.rs
index 2ad061a..f4ed28c 100644
--- a/core/src/ui/mod.rs
+++ b/core/src/ui/mod.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use crate::{
-    Mask, MoveOffset, TextData, Textures, WeakWidget, WidgetId, Widgets, util::TrackedArena,
+    Mask, MoveOffset, Paints, TextData, Textures, WeakWidget, WidgetId, Widgets, util::TrackedArena,
 };
 
 mod access;
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ pub use render_state::*;
 #[derive(Default)]
 pub struct UiData {
     pub widgets: Widgets,
+    pub paints: Paints,
     pub textures: Textures,
     pub text: TextData,
     pub masks: TrackedArena<Mask, u32>,
@@ -70,5 +71,6 @@ pub trait UiRsc {
             self.on_remove(id);
         }
         self.ui_mut().textures.free();
+        self.ui_mut().paints.free_released();
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/src/ui/painter.rs b/core/src/ui/painter.rs
index d98b691..e344ac8 100644
--- a/core/src/ui/painter.rs
+++ b/core/src/ui/painter.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use crate::{
-    Axis, Color, Len, MoveOffset, RegionAlign, RenderedText, Size, StrongWidget, TextAttrs,
+    Axis, Len, MoveOffset, PaintId, RegionAlign, RenderedText, Size, StrongWidget, TextAttrs,
     TextBuffer, TextData, TextureHandle, UiRegion, UiRenderState, UiRsc, UiScalar, UiVec2,
     WidgetId,
     render::{
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ pub struct Painter<'a> {
     pub(super) child_move_slot: Option<MoveIdx>,
     pub(super) own_mask: MaskIdx,
     pub(super) textures: Vec<TextureHandle>,
+    pub(super) paints: Vec<PaintId>,
     pub(super) primitives: Vec<PrimitiveHandle>,
     pub(super) recycle: std::iter::Peekable<std::vec::IntoIter<PrimitiveHandle>>,
     pub(super) children: Vec<WidgetId>,
@@ -118,6 +119,20 @@ impl<'a> Painter<'a> {
         self.primitive_at(primitive, self.region)
     }
 
+    /// Resolves a public paint handle to the compact index stored by a GPU
+    /// primitive and retains the handle for exactly as long as that draw.
+    pub fn paint(&mut self, paint: &PaintId) -> u32 {
+        if !self.paints.contains(paint) {
+            self.paints.push(paint.clone());
+        }
+        paint.slot()
+    }
+
+    pub fn paint_value(&mut self, paint: &mut crate::PaintValue) -> u32 {
+        let paint = paint.resolve(&mut self.rsc.ui_mut().paints).clone();
+        self.paint(&paint)
+    }
+
     pub fn primitive_within<P: Primitive>(&mut self, primitive: P, region: UiRegion) {
         self.primitive_at(primitive, region.within(&self.region));
     }
@@ -128,7 +143,8 @@ impl<'a> Painter<'a> {
     /// so keeps pointing at whichever slot it was drawn under. See
     /// `ActiveData::own_mask` for what pushing a fresh one cost.
     pub fn set_mask(&mut self, region: UiRegion) {
-        let shape = self.write_primitive(RectPrimitive::color(Color::NONE), region, Drawn::No);
+        let paint = self.paint(&PaintId::NONE);
+        let shape = self.write_primitive(RectPrimitive::color(paint), region, Drawn::No);
         self.set_mask_to(shape);
     }
 
@@ -433,6 +449,9 @@ impl<'a> Painter<'a> {
                 0
             }
         };
+        for paint in text.paints.iter() {
+            self.paint(paint);
+        }
         for glyph in text.glyphs.iter() {
             let mut region = origin;
             region.x.end = region.x.start;
@@ -445,7 +464,7 @@ impl<'a> Painter<'a> {
                     glyph.entry.uv_min,
                     glyph.entry.uv_max,
                     glyph.entry.layer,
-                    glyph.color,
+                    glyph.paint,
                     flags_for(glyph.entry.is_color),
                 ),
                 region,
diff --git a/core/src/ui/render_state.rs b/core/src/ui/render_state.rs
index 9d43b68..d5e243d 100644
--- a/core/src/ui/render_state.rs
+++ b/core/src/ui/render_state.rs
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ use std::sync::Mutex;
 use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
 
 use crate::{
-    ActiveData, Axis, IdLike, MaskIdx, MoveIdx, Painter, PixelRegion, PrimitiveLayers, RegionAlign,
-    Size, StrongWidget, UiRegion, UiRsc, UiVec2, WidgetId, Widgets,
+    ActiveData, Axis, ChildOrder, IdLike, MaskIdx, MoveIdx, Painter, PixelRegion, PrimitiveLayers,
+    RegionAlign, Size, StrongWidget, UiRegion, UiRsc, UiVec2, Widget, WidgetId, Widgets,
     render::{
         Drawn, MoveOffset, NOT_DRAWN, Primitive, PrimitiveHandle, PrimitiveInst, Primitives,
         RectPrimitive, rounded_rect_coverage,
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ pub(crate) struct Retained {
     pub child_move_slot: Option<MoveIdx>,
     pub own_mask: MaskIdx,
     pub primitives: Vec<PrimitiveHandle>,
+    pub paints: Vec<crate::PaintId>,
 }
 
 impl Default for Retained {
@@ -84,6 +85,7 @@ impl Default for Retained {
             child_move_slot: None,
             own_mask: MaskIdx::NONE,
             primitives: Vec::new(),
+            paints: Vec::new(),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -350,6 +352,7 @@ impl UiRenderState {
             mut child_move_slot,
             mut own_mask,
             primitives: mut recycle,
+            paints: _old_paints,
         } = retained;
         let dirty = rsc.widgets_mut().needs_redraw.remove(&id);
         let requires_exact_region = rsc
@@ -447,6 +450,7 @@ impl UiRenderState {
             layer,
             id,
             textures: Vec::new(),
+            paints: Vec::new(),
             primitives: Vec::new(),
             recycle: recycle.into_iter().peekable(),
             children: Vec::new(),
@@ -498,6 +502,7 @@ impl UiRenderState {
             child_move_slot,
             own_mask,
             textures,
+            paints,
             primitives,
             recycle,
             children,
@@ -517,6 +522,7 @@ impl UiRenderState {
             region,
             parent,
             textures,
+            paints,
             primitives,
             children,
             size_dependencies,
@@ -1046,6 +1052,41 @@ impl UiRenderState {
         Some(region.to_px(self.output_size))
     }
 
+    /// This widget's immediate rendered children in the order non-visual
+    /// consumers should traverse them. The ordinary case costs no sort and
+    /// exactly preserves draw order; axis-aware layout widgets ask for their
+    /// resolved screen positions only when somebody actually queries them.
+    pub fn ordered_children(&self, id: WidgetId, rsc: &dyn UiRsc) -> Vec<WidgetId> {
+        let Some(active) = self.active.get(&id) else {
+            return Vec::new();
+        };
+        let mut children = active.children.clone();
+        // A layout may draw a child to learn its size and then place that
+        // retained drawing. Both operations are recorded for redraw lifetime,
+        // but a semantic traversal visits the child once.
+        let mut seen = HashSet::default();
+        children.retain(|child| seen.insert(*child));
+        let order = rsc
+            .widgets()
+            .get_dyn(id)
+            .map(Widget::child_order)
+            .unwrap_or_default();
+        if let ChildOrder::Axis(axis) = order {
+            children.sort_by(|a, b| {
+                let at = self
+                    .window_region(a, rsc)
+                    .map(|r| r.top_left.axis(axis))
+                    .unwrap_or(f32::INFINITY);
+                let bt = self
+                    .window_region(b, rsc)
+                    .map(|r| r.top_left.axis(axis))
+                    .unwrap_or(f32::INFINITY);
+                at.total_cmp(&bt)
+            });
+        }
+        children
+    }
+
     pub fn redraw(&mut self, id: WidgetId, rsc: &mut dyn UiRsc) {
         rsc.widgets_mut().needs_redraw.remove(&id);
         if self.draw_started.contains(&id) {
@@ -1075,6 +1116,7 @@ impl UiRenderState {
                 child_move_slot: active.child_move_slot,
                 own_mask: active.own_mask,
                 primitives: active.primitives,
+                paints: active.paints,
             },
             rsc,
         );
diff --git a/core/src/widget/mod.rs b/core/src/widget/mod.rs
index bac28c0..0e4acd8 100644
--- a/core/src/widget/mod.rs
+++ b/core/src/widget/mod.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,16 @@ pub use tag::*;
 pub use view::*;
 pub use widgets::*;
 
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Default, Eq, PartialEq)]
+pub enum ChildOrder {
+    /// The order in which the parent drew its children.
+    #[default]
+    Draw,
+    /// Ascending visual position on one screen axis. Equal positions keep
+    /// draw order; the resolved coordinates are sorted only when queried.
+    Axis(Axis),
+}
+
 pub trait Widget: Any {
     fn draw(&mut self, painter: &mut Painter);
 
@@ -34,6 +44,10 @@ pub trait Widget: Any {
         accesskit::Role::Unknown
     }
 
+    fn child_order(&self) -> ChildOrder {
+        ChildOrder::Draw
+    }
+
     #[allow(unused_variables)]
     fn tick(&mut self, now: std::time::Instant) -> bool {
         false
diff --git a/examples/message_list.rs b/examples/message_list.rs
index da7f0e7..4f98211 100644
--- a/examples/message_list.rs
+++ b/examples/message_list.rs
@@ -27,11 +27,11 @@ fn row_image(i: usize) -> image::DynamicImage {
 
 fn build_row<Rsc: UiRsc + 'static>(rsc: &mut Rsc, i: usize) -> StrongWidget {
     let tint = if i.is_multiple_of(2) {
-        Color::rgb(120, 130, 170)
+        Srgba8::rgb(120, 130, 170)
     } else {
-        Color::rgb(70, 80, 140)
+        Srgba8::rgb(70, 80, 140)
     };
-    let text_color = Color::BLACK;
+    let text_color = PaintId::BLACK;
     if i.is_multiple_of(IMAGE_EVERY) {
         let text = wtext(row_text(i))
             .wrap(true)
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ impl DefaultAppState for State {
         let root = list
             .scrollable()
             .masked()
-            .background(rect(Color::WHITE))
+            .background(rect(PaintId::WHITE))
             .add_strong(rsc);
         ui_state.set_root(root.any());
 
diff --git a/examples/minimal.rs b/examples/minimal.rs
index e98ae5b..4484baf 100644
--- a/examples/minimal.rs
+++ b/examples/minimal.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ impl DefaultAppState for State {
         rsc: &mut DefaultRsc<Self>,
         _: Proxy<Self::Event>,
     ) -> Self {
-        rect(Color::RED).set_root(rsc, &mut ui_state);
+        rect(PaintId::RED).set_root(rsc, &mut ui_state);
         Self { ui_state }
     }
 }
diff --git a/examples/task.rs b/examples/task.rs
index 63e4d43..b3aca61 100644
--- a/examples/task.rs
+++ b/examples/task.rs
@@ -16,15 +16,15 @@ impl DefaultAppState for State {
         rsc: &mut DefaultRsc<Self>,
         _: Proxy<Self::Event>,
     ) -> Self {
-        let rect = rect(Color::RED).add(rsc);
+        let rect = rect(PaintId::RED).add(rsc);
         rect.task_on(CursorSense::click(), async move |mut ctx| {
             tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_secs(1)).await;
             ctx.update(move |_, rsc| {
                 let rect = rect(rsc);
-                if rect.color == Color::RED {
-                    rect.color = Color::BLUE;
+                if rect.is_paint(&PaintId::RED) {
+                    rect.set_paint(PaintId::BLUE);
                 } else {
-                    rect.color = Color::RED;
+                    rect.set_paint(PaintId::RED);
                 }
             });
         })
diff --git a/examples/view.rs b/examples/view.rs
index b8e06cf..cbe5ea4 100644
--- a/examples/view.rs
+++ b/examples/view.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ struct Test {
 
 impl Test {
     pub fn new(rsc: &mut Rsc) -> Self {
-        let root = rect(Color::RED).add(rsc);
+        let root = rect(PaintId::RED).add(rsc);
         let cur = rsc.create_state(root, false);
         Self { root, cur }
     }
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ impl Test {
         let cur = &mut rsc[self.cur];
         *cur = !*cur;
         if *cur {
-            rsc[self.root].color = Color::BLUE;
+            rsc[self.root].set_paint(PaintId::BLUE);
         } else {
-            rsc[self.root].color = Color::RED;
+            rsc[self.root].set_paint(PaintId::RED);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/access_tests.rs b/src/access_tests.rs
index 1cbc93b..1bd128b 100644
--- a/src/access_tests.rs
+++ b/src/access_tests.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ fn a_named_widget_reaches_the_tree_with_its_role_and_bounds() {
     let mut rsc = TestRsc {
         ui: UiData::default(),
     };
-    let leaf: WeakWidget<Rect> = rect(UiColor::WHITE).label("Add task").add(&mut rsc);
+    let leaf: WeakWidget<Rect> = rect(PaintId::WHITE).label("Add task").add(&mut rsc);
     let root = leaf.upgrade(&mut rsc).any();
     let mut render = UiRenderState::new();
     render.resize((800.0, 600.0));
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ fn a_widget_with_no_label_never_reaches_the_tree() {
     let mut rsc = TestRsc {
         ui: UiData::default(),
     };
-    let root = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(rect(UiColor::WHITE));
+    let root = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(rect(PaintId::WHITE));
     let mut render = UiRenderState::new();
     render.resize((800.0, 600.0));
     render.update(&root.any(), &mut rsc);
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ fn bounds_follow_a_moved_widget_and_updates_stay_incremental() {
     let mut rsc = TestRsc {
         ui: UiData::default(),
     };
-    let leaf: WeakWidget<Rect> = rect(UiColor::WHITE).label("thing").add(&mut rsc);
+    let leaf: WeakWidget<Rect> = rect(PaintId::WHITE).label("thing").add(&mut rsc);
     let leaf_strong = leaf.upgrade(&mut rsc).any();
     let offset = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Offset {
         inner: leaf_strong,
diff --git a/src/android/render.rs b/src/android/render.rs
index db38540..0aba573 100644
--- a/src/android/render.rs
+++ b/src/android/render.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use android_view::{
     jni::{JavaVM, objects::GlobalRef},
     ndk::native_window::NativeWindow,
 };
-use iris_core::{FrameParts, UiData, UiRenderNode, UiRenderState};
+use iris_core::{FrameParts, LinearRgba, UiData, UiRenderNode, UiRenderState};
 use pollster::FutureExt;
 use std::time::Instant;
 use wgpu::{
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use wgpu::{
     *,
 };
 
-pub const CLEAR_COLOR: Color = Color::BLACK;
+pub const CLEAR_COLOR: LinearRgba = LinearRgba::BLACK;
 
 /// `NativeWindow` (from the surface android-view hands over in
 /// `surfaceChanged`) has a window handle but not a display one -- there is
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ pub struct AndroidRenderer {
     device: Device,
     queue: Queue,
     config: SurfaceConfiguration,
+    view_format: TextureFormat,
     encoder: CommandEncoder,
     pub ui: UiRenderNode,
     pub adapter_name: String,
@@ -73,6 +74,7 @@ pub struct AndroidRenderer {
 pub struct FrameDiagnostics {
     pub masks_resized: bool,
     pub moves_resized: bool,
+    pub paints_resized: bool,
     pub atlas_pages_grown_prev: u64,
     pub image_bind_group_creates_prev: u64,
 }
@@ -189,30 +191,33 @@ impl AndroidRenderer {
         );
 
         let surface_caps = surface.get_capabilities(&adapter);
-        let surface_format = surface_caps
-            .formats
-            .iter()
-            .copied()
-            .find(|f| f.is_srgb())
-            .unwrap_or(surface_caps.formats[0]);
+        let formats = iris_core::srgb_surface_format(&surface_caps)?;
+        log::info!(
+            "iris renderer: surface={:?}, view={:?}, color_space=Srgb",
+            formats.surface,
+            formats.view,
+        );
 
         let config = SurfaceConfiguration {
             usage: TextureUsages::RENDER_ATTACHMENT,
-            format: surface_format,
+            format: formats.surface,
             // wgpu 30's new field; `Auto` is what every earlier version did.
-            color_space: SurfaceColorSpace::Auto,
+            color_space: SurfaceColorSpace::Srgb,
             width,
             height,
             present_mode: PresentMode::AutoVsync,
             alpha_mode: surface_caps.alpha_modes[0],
             desired_maximum_frame_latency: 2,
-            view_formats: vec![],
+            view_formats: (formats.view != formats.surface)
+                .then_some(formats.view)
+                .into_iter()
+                .collect(),
         };
         surface.configure(&device, &config);
 
         let encoder = Self::create_encoder(&device);
         let window_size = iris_core::util::Vec2::new(width as f32, height as f32);
-        let ui = match UiRenderNode::new(&device, &queue, &config, window_size) {
+        let ui = match UiRenderNode::new(&device, &queue, formats.view, window_size) {
             Ok(ui) => ui,
             Err(wgpu_error) => return Err(Self::diagnostic(&adapter, &wgpu_error)),
         };
@@ -222,6 +227,7 @@ impl AndroidRenderer {
             device,
             queue,
             config,
+            view_format: formats.view,
             encoder,
             ui,
             adapter_name,
@@ -289,8 +295,10 @@ impl AndroidRenderer {
         format!(
             "iris diagnostics. Copy this text and send it to Iris.\n\n\
              adapter: {name} ({backend:?}), driver: {driver}\n\
+             surface: {surface:?}, view: {view:?}, color_space: Srgb\n\
              content_scale: {content_scale}\n\
-             atlas format: Rgba8Unorm, views live: {views}\n\
+             paint format: linear vec4<f32>\n\
+             atlas/image format: Rgba8UnormSrgb, views live: {views}\n\
              fonts: {families_found} families found, default={default_family:?} \
              mono={default_mono_family:?}\n\
              fonts resolved: regular={regular:?} bold={bold:?} italic={italic:?} \
@@ -301,6 +309,8 @@ impl AndroidRenderer {
             name = self.adapter_name,
             backend = self.adapter_backend,
             driver = self.adapter_driver,
+            surface = self.config.format,
+            view = self.view_format,
             content_scale = self.content_scale,
             views = self.ui.view_count(),
             families_found = font.families_found,
@@ -328,6 +338,7 @@ impl AndroidRenderer {
         FrameDiagnostics {
             masks_resized: stats.masks_resized,
             moves_resized: stats.moves_resized,
+            paints_resized: stats.paints_resized,
             atlas_pages_grown_prev,
             image_bind_group_creates_prev,
         }
@@ -348,9 +359,10 @@ impl AndroidRenderer {
             other => panic!("no surface texture to draw into: {other:?}"),
         };
         let acquire = acquire_start.elapsed();
-        let view = output
-            .texture
-            .create_view(&TextureViewDescriptor::default());
+        let view = output.texture.create_view(&TextureViewDescriptor {
+            format: Some(self.view_format),
+            ..Default::default()
+        });
 
         let mut encoder = std::mem::replace(&mut self.encoder, Self::create_encoder(&self.device));
         {
@@ -359,7 +371,7 @@ impl AndroidRenderer {
                     view: &view,
                     resolve_target: None,
                     ops: Operations {
-                        load: LoadOp::Clear(CLEAR_COLOR),
+                        load: LoadOp::Clear(CLEAR_COLOR.to_wgpu()),
                         store: StoreOp::Store,
                     },
                     depth_slice: None,
diff --git a/src/android/view.rs b/src/android/view.rs
index cddc95b..48b2de5 100644
--- a/src/android/view.rs
+++ b/src/android/view.rs
@@ -383,10 +383,12 @@ impl<State: AndroidAppState> IrisViewPeer<State> {
         if renderer.frame_count() <= DIAGNOSTIC_FRAMES {
             log::info!(
                 "iris frame diagnostics: frame={} masks_resized={} moves_resized={} \
+                 paints_resized={} \
                  atlas_pages_grown_prev={} image_bind_group_creates_prev={} wgpu_errors={}",
                 renderer.frame_count(),
                 frame_diagnostics.masks_resized,
                 frame_diagnostics.moves_resized,
+                frame_diagnostics.paints_resized,
                 frame_diagnostics.atlas_pages_grown_prev,
                 frame_diagnostics.image_bind_group_creates_prev,
                 renderer.wgpu_errors.snapshot().len(),
@@ -698,6 +700,7 @@ impl<State: AndroidAppState> ViewPeer for IrisViewPeer<State> {
                     self.rsc.ui.text.atlas.page_count(),
                 );
                 self.rsc.ui.textures.reupload();
+                self.rsc.ui.paints.reupload();
                 self.state.android_state_mut().renderer = Some(renderer);
                 self.render(ctx, Instant::now());
             }
diff --git a/src/attr.rs b/src/attr.rs
index 884f8cb..8fbc344 100644
--- a/src/attr.rs
+++ b/src/attr.rs
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ where
 /// whatever is behind the field (a list to pan) still sees every frame of
 /// it, the same as a drag that never touched a selectable field at all.
 fn on_press(
-    rsc: &mut impl UiRsc,
+    rsc: &mut impl HasEvents,
     render: &UiRenderState,
     state: &mut impl FocusHost,
     id: WeakWidget<TextEdit>,
@@ -107,6 +107,12 @@ fn on_press(
     size: Vec2,
     sense: CursorSense,
 ) {
+    if sense == CursorSense::PressStart(CursorButton::Left) {
+        // An editable field becomes the command destination of the new
+        // interaction. Dismiss a retained display-text selection first so
+        // Copy cannot keep going to text the user has visibly left behind.
+        rsc.run_command(Command::Escape);
+    }
     if state.is_focused(id) {
         // Already focused, so there is no keyboard to withhold -- but a
         // vertical drag still is not a selection. Android's own `EditText`
diff --git a/src/default/mod.rs b/src/default/mod.rs
index f0da693..74efc7d 100644
--- a/src/default/mod.rs
+++ b/src/default/mod.rs
@@ -344,7 +344,34 @@ impl<State: DefaultAppState> AppState for DefaultApp<State> {
                 ui_state.window.request_redraw();
             }
             WindowEvent::KeyboardInput { event, .. } => {
-                if let Some(sel) = ui_state.focus
+                let requested = event.state.is_pressed().then(|| match &event.logical_key {
+                    winit::keyboard::Key::Character(c) if ui_state.input.modifiers.control => {
+                        match c.as_str().to_ascii_lowercase().as_str() {
+                            "c" => Some(Command::Copy),
+                            "a" => Some(Command::SelectAll),
+                            _ => None,
+                        }
+                    }
+                    winit::keyboard::Key::Named(winit::keyboard::NamedKey::Escape) => {
+                        Some(Command::Escape)
+                    }
+                    _ => None,
+                });
+                let command = requested
+                    .flatten()
+                    .map_or(CommandResult::Unused, |command| rsc.run_command(command));
+                let command_used = match command {
+                    CommandResult::Copy(text) => {
+                        if let Err(err) = ui_state.clipboard.set_text(text) {
+                            eprintln!("failed to copy text to clipboard: {err}")
+                        }
+                        true
+                    }
+                    CommandResult::Used => true,
+                    CommandResult::Unused => false,
+                };
+                if !command_used
+                    && let Some(sel) = ui_state.focus
                     && event.state.is_pressed()
                 {
                     let mut text = sel.edit(rsc);
diff --git a/src/default/render.rs b/src/default/render.rs
index cc393ec..9b1fcf8 100644
--- a/src/default/render.rs
+++ b/src/default/render.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 use crate::task::RequestRedraw;
-use iris_core::{FrameParts, UiData, UiRenderNode, UiRenderState, util::Vec2};
+use iris_core::{FrameParts, LinearRgba, UiData, UiRenderNode, UiRenderState, util::Vec2};
 use pollster::FutureExt;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::time::Instant;
 use wgpu::*;
 use winit::{dpi::PhysicalSize, window::Window};
 
-pub const CLEAR_COLOR: Color = Color::BLACK;
+pub const CLEAR_COLOR: LinearRgba = LinearRgba::BLACK;
 
 impl RequestRedraw for Window {
     fn request_redraw(&self) {
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ pub struct UiRenderer {
     device: Device,
     queue: Queue,
     config: SurfaceConfiguration,
+    view_format: TextureFormat,
     encoder: CommandEncoder,
     pub ui: UiRenderNode,
 }
@@ -45,9 +46,10 @@ impl UiRenderer {
             other => panic!("no surface texture to draw into: {other:?}"),
         };
         let acquire = acquire_start.elapsed();
-        let view = output
-            .texture
-            .create_view(&TextureViewDescriptor::default());
+        let view = output.texture.create_view(&TextureViewDescriptor {
+            format: Some(self.view_format),
+            ..Default::default()
+        });
 
         let mut encoder = std::mem::replace(&mut self.encoder, Self::create_encoder(&self.device));
         {
@@ -56,7 +58,7 @@ impl UiRenderer {
                     view: &view,
                     resolve_target: None,
                     ops: Operations {
-                        load: LoadOp::Clear(CLEAR_COLOR),
+                        load: LoadOp::Clear(CLEAR_COLOR.to_wgpu()),
                         store: StoreOp::Store,
                     },
                     depth_slice: None,
@@ -170,18 +172,19 @@ impl UiRenderer {
             .expect("Could not get device!");
 
         let surface_caps = surface.get_capabilities(&adapter);
-        let surface_format = surface_caps
-            .formats
-            .iter()
-            .copied()
-            .find(|f| f.is_srgb())
-            .unwrap_or(surface_caps.formats[0]);
+        let formats = iris_core::srgb_surface_format(&surface_caps)
+            .expect("Could not select an sRGB iris surface format");
+        log::info!(
+            "iris renderer: surface={:?}, view={:?}, color_space=Srgb",
+            formats.surface,
+            formats.view,
+        );
 
         let config = SurfaceConfiguration {
             usage: TextureUsages::RENDER_ATTACHMENT,
-            format: surface_format,
+            format: formats.surface,
             // wgpu 30's new field; `Auto` is what every earlier version did.
-            color_space: SurfaceColorSpace::Auto,
+            color_space: SurfaceColorSpace::Srgb,
             width: size.width,
             height: size.height,
             // Vsync, because a toolkit aiming at battery life must not present
@@ -192,7 +195,10 @@ impl UiRenderer {
             present_mode: PresentMode::AutoVsync,
             alpha_mode: surface_caps.alpha_modes[0],
             desired_maximum_frame_latency: 2,
-            view_formats: vec![],
+            view_formats: (formats.view != formats.surface)
+                .then_some(formats.view)
+                .into_iter()
+                .collect(),
         };
 
         surface.configure(&device, &config);
@@ -210,7 +216,7 @@ impl UiRenderer {
         // `default::content_scale` for why this backend stopped dividing
         // into a separate logical space, and what disagreed while it did.
         let physical_size = Vec2::new(size.width as f32, size.height as f32);
-        let ui = UiRenderNode::new(&device, &queue, &config, physical_size)
+        let ui = UiRenderNode::new(&device, &queue, formats.view, physical_size)
             .expect("Could not create iris render node!");
 
         Self {
@@ -218,6 +224,7 @@ impl UiRenderer {
             device,
             queue,
             config,
+            view_format: formats.view,
             encoder,
             ui,
             window,
diff --git a/src/event.rs b/src/event.rs
index 2a20e64..f6a317e 100644
--- a/src/event.rs
+++ b/src/event.rs
@@ -36,6 +36,17 @@ pub trait Eventable<Rsc: HasEvents, Tag>: WidgetLike<Rsc, Tag> {
 }
 impl<WL: WidgetLike<Rsc, Tag>, Rsc: HasEvents, Tag> Eventable<Rsc, Tag> for WL {}
 
+pub trait Controllable<Rsc: HasEvents, Tag>: WidgetLike<Rsc, Tag> {
+    fn controller<C: Controller<Rsc>>(self, controller: C) -> impl WidgetIdFn<Rsc, Self::Widget> {
+        move |rsc| {
+            let id = self.add(rsc);
+            rsc.register_controller(id, controller);
+            id
+        }
+    }
+}
+impl<WL: WidgetLike<Rsc, Tag>, Rsc: HasEvents, Tag> Controllable<Rsc, Tag> for WL {}
+
 widget_trait! {
     pub trait TaskEventable<Rsc: HasEvents + HasTasks>;
     fn task_on<E: EventLike, F: AsyncWidgetEventFn<Rsc, WL::Widget>>(
diff --git a/src/layout_tests.rs b/src/layout_tests.rs
index 85ad7a4..4f75006 100644
--- a/src/layout_tests.rs
+++ b/src/layout_tests.rs
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@ struct FixedRect(f32);
 impl Widget for FixedRect {
     fn draw(&mut self, painter: &mut Painter) {
         let size = Size::from_axis(Axis::Y, Len::abs(self.0), Len::REST);
+        let paint = painter.paint(&PaintId::WHITE);
         painter.primitive_within(
-            RectPrimitive::color(UiColor::WHITE),
+            RectPrimitive::color(paint),
             size.to_uivec2(painter.density())
                 .align(RegionAlign::TOP_LEFT),
         );
@@ -89,8 +90,8 @@ fn a_widget_retains_its_entry_layer_not_its_child_cursor() {
     let mut rsc = TestRsc {
         ui: UiData::default(),
     };
-    let back = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
-    let front = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::RED));
+    let back = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
+    let front = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::RED));
     let stack = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Stack {
         children: vec![back.any(), front.any()],
         size: StackSize::Default,
@@ -277,7 +278,7 @@ fn a_hinted_rest_draws_once_and_only_moves_the_fixed_child_after_it() {
         ui: UiData::default(),
     };
     let first = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(FixedRect(40.0));
-    let fill = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+    let fill = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
     let fill = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Sized {
         inner: fill.any(),
         x: None,
@@ -309,7 +310,7 @@ fn scrolled_rects(
     let mut span = Span::empty(Dir::DOWN);
     let mut rects = Vec::with_capacity(n);
     for _ in 0..n {
-        let rect = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+        let rect = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
         rects.push(rect.weak());
         let row = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Sized {
             inner: rect.any(),
@@ -459,13 +460,13 @@ fn composer_like_tree(rsc: &mut TestRsc) -> (WeakWidget<TextEdit>, StrongWidget)
         .text_align(Align::LEFT)
         .wrap(true)
         .size(18)
-        .color(UiColor::WHITE)
+        .color(PaintId::WHITE)
         .add(rsc);
     let bar = (field.pad(dp(12)).width(rest(1)),)
         .span(Dir::RIGHT)
-        .background(rect(UiColor::new(40, 40, 46, 255)))
+        .background(rect(Srgba8::new(40, 40, 46, 255)))
         .add(rsc);
-    let list_stand_in = rect(UiColor::BLACK).height(rest(1)).add(rsc);
+    let list_stand_in = rect(PaintId::BLACK).height(rest(1)).add(rsc);
     let tree = (list_stand_in, bar).span(Dir::DOWN).add_strong(rsc).any();
     (field, tree)
 }
@@ -517,7 +518,7 @@ fn a_scroll_measures_the_box_it_was_offered_not_the_window() {
     let mut rsc = TestRsc {
         ui: UiData::default(),
     };
-    let rect = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+    let rect = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
     let tall = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Sized {
         inner: rect.any(),
         x: None,
@@ -567,7 +568,7 @@ fn a_panned_widgets_own_hit_box_moves_exactly_once() {
     let mut rsc = TestRsc {
         ui: UiData::default(),
     };
-    let rect = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+    let rect = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
     let tall = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Sized {
         inner: rect.any(),
         x: None,
@@ -609,7 +610,7 @@ fn a_masked_widget_keeps_one_mask_slot_that_is_always_its_own_region() {
         inner: inner_root,
     });
     let masked_id = masked.id();
-    let filler = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::BLACK));
+    let filler = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::BLACK));
     let filler = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Sized {
         inner: filler.any(),
         x: None,
@@ -650,7 +651,7 @@ fn a_dp_cap_is_reported_in_pixels_so_a_span_can_place_it() {
     let mut rsc = TestRsc {
         ui: UiData::default(),
     };
-    let rect = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+    let rect = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
     let tall = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Sized {
         inner: rect.any(),
         x: None,
@@ -662,7 +663,7 @@ fn a_dp_cap_is_reported_in_pixels_so_a_span_can_place_it() {
         y: Some(Len::dp(100.0)),
     });
     let capped_w = capped.weak();
-    let filler = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::BLACK));
+    let filler = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::BLACK));
     let filler = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Sized {
         inner: filler.any(),
         x: None,
@@ -692,14 +693,14 @@ fn a_size_independent_widget_moved_by_its_parent_has_the_hit_box_it_is_drawn_at(
     let mut rsc = TestRsc {
         ui: UiData::default(),
     };
-    let top = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+    let top = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
     let spacer = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Sized {
         inner: top.any(),
         x: None,
         y: Some(Len::abs(100.0)),
     });
     let spacer_w = spacer.weak();
-    let below = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+    let below = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
     let below_w = below.weak();
     let mut span = Span::empty(Dir::DOWN);
     span.push(spacer.any());
@@ -759,7 +760,7 @@ fn a_widget_moved_by_its_parent_and_then_placed_inside_it_lands_at_the_placement
     let mut rsc = TestRsc {
         ui: UiData::default(),
     };
-    let rect = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+    let rect = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
     let child = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Sized {
         inner: rect.any(),
         x: None,
@@ -800,12 +801,12 @@ fn a_widget_moved_by_its_parent_and_then_placed_inside_it_lands_at_the_placement
 const RADIUS: f32 = 20.0;
 
 fn rounded_container(rsc: &mut TestRsc) -> (UiRenderState, MaskIdx, WidgetId, u32) {
-    let child = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+    let child = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
     let child_id = child.id();
     let shape = rsc
         .ui
         .widgets
-        .add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::BLACK).radius(Len::abs(RADIUS)));
+        .add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::BLACK).radius(Len::abs(RADIUS)));
     let shape_id = shape.id();
     let root = rsc
         .ui
@@ -909,13 +910,13 @@ fn nested_masks_multiply_their_coverage() {
     let mut rsc = TestRsc {
         ui: UiData::default(),
     };
-    let child = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+    let child = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
     let child_id = child.id();
 
     let inner_shape = rsc
         .ui
         .widgets
-        .add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::BLACK).radius(Len::abs(RADIUS)));
+        .add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::BLACK).radius(Len::abs(RADIUS)));
     let inner_shape_id = inner_shape.id();
     let inner = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Masked {
         shape: Some(inner_shape.any()),
@@ -924,7 +925,7 @@ fn nested_masks_multiply_their_coverage() {
     let outer_shape = rsc
         .ui
         .widgets
-        .add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::BLACK).radius(Len::abs(RADIUS)));
+        .add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::BLACK).radius(Len::abs(RADIUS)));
     let outer_shape_id = outer_shape.id();
     let root = rsc
         .ui
@@ -1004,7 +1005,7 @@ fn a_scroll_area_opens_at_the_start_of_content_it_has_not_measured_yet() {
         let mut rsc = TestRsc {
             ui: UiData::default(),
         };
-        let fill = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE)).any();
+        let fill = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE)).any();
         let tall = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Sized {
             inner: fill,
             x: None,
@@ -1039,7 +1040,7 @@ fn a_span_of_padded_children_inside_a_span_draws_each_where_its_box_is() {
     let mut rsc = TestRsc {
         ui: UiData::default(),
     };
-    let header_fill = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::RED)).any();
+    let header_fill = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::RED)).any();
     let header_id = header_fill.id();
     let header = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Sized {
         inner: header_fill,
@@ -1049,7 +1050,7 @@ fn a_span_of_padded_children_inside_a_span_draws_each_where_its_box_is() {
     let mut inner = Span::empty(Dir::DOWN);
     let mut rects = Vec::new();
     for _ in 0..3 {
-        let rect = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+        let rect = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
         rects.push(rect.weak());
         let sized = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Sized {
             inner: rect.any(),
@@ -1061,7 +1062,7 @@ fn a_span_of_padded_children_inside_a_span_draws_each_where_its_box_is() {
             inner: sized.any(),
             exact_region: false,
         });
-        let fill = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::BLUE)).any();
+        let fill = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::BLUE)).any();
         let card = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Stack {
             children: vec![fill, padded.any()],
             size: StackSize::Child(1),
@@ -1122,7 +1123,7 @@ fn a_new_child_in_a_growing_lazy_row_uses_its_final_box_immediately() {
     let mut rsc = TestRsc {
         ui: UiData::default(),
     };
-    let first = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+    let first = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
     let first_id = first.id();
     let first = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Sized {
         inner: first.any(),
@@ -1146,7 +1147,7 @@ fn a_new_child_in_a_growing_lazy_row_uses_its_final_box_immediately() {
     render.resize((200.0, 200.0));
     render.update(&root, &mut rsc);
 
-    let second = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+    let second = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
     let second_id = second.id();
     let second = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Sized {
         inner: second.any(),
diff --git a/src/sense.rs b/src/sense.rs
index 61e8d9b..05b66b2 100644
--- a/src/sense.rs
+++ b/src/sense.rs
@@ -1986,7 +1986,7 @@ mod drag_gesture_tests {
     }
 
     fn some_id(ui: &mut UiData) -> WidgetId {
-        ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE)).id()
+        ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE)).id()
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/src/sense_tests.rs b/src/sense_tests.rs
index d8f849b..0c8e3ed 100644
--- a/src/sense_tests.rs
+++ b/src/sense_tests.rs
@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ fn a_button_over_a_list_scrolls_the_list_and_still_clicks() {
     };
 
     // the case in IRIS_TODO.md's report.
-    let list = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+    let list = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
     let list_weak = list.weak();
-    let button = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::RED));
+    let button = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::RED));
     let button_weak = button.weak();
 
     let scrolled = Rc::new(Cell::new(false));
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ fn a_release_outside_every_hit_region_still_reaches_the_captured_widget() {
         events: EventManager::default(),
     };
 
-    let draggable = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE)).any();
+    let draggable = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE)).any();
     let draggable_weak = draggable.weak();
 
     let dropped = Rc::new(Cell::new(false));
@@ -184,9 +184,9 @@ fn capturing_one_widget_starves_every_other_widget_of_events() {
         events: EventManager::default(),
     };
 
-    let a = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+    let a = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
     let a_weak = a.weak();
-    let b = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::RED));
+    let b = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::RED));
     let b_weak = b.weak();
 
     let b_hovered = Rc::new(Cell::new(false));
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ fn a_finger_drag_over_a_scroll_area_pans_it() {
         events: EventManager::default(),
     };
 
-    let scroll_strong = rect(UiColor::WHITE)
+    let scroll_strong = rect(PaintId::WHITE)
         .height(Len::abs(1000.0))
         .scrollable(Axis::Y, Pin::Start)
         .add_strong(&mut rsc);
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ fn a_scroll_area_that_captured_the_pointer_learns_its_gesture_ended() {
         ui: UiData::default(),
         events: EventManager::default(),
     };
-    let scroll_strong = rect(UiColor::WHITE)
+    let scroll_strong = rect(PaintId::WHITE)
         .height(Len::abs(1000.0))
         .scrollable(Axis::Y, Pin::Start)
         .add_strong(&mut rsc);
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ fn taking_the_pointer_cancels_everyone_else_tracking_the_press() {
         events: EventManager::default(),
     };
 
-    let capturer = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+    let capturer = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
     let capturer_weak = capturer.weak();
     let bystander = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Stack {
         children: vec![capturer.any()],
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ fn a_drag_pans_whichever_nested_scroll_area_owns_its_axis() {
         };
         let seen = Rc::new(Cell::new(None));
         let record = seen.clone();
-        let outer_strong = rect(UiColor::WHITE)
+        let outer_strong = rect(PaintId::WHITE)
             .width(Len::abs(1000.0))
             .height(Len::abs(1000.0))
             .scrollable(Axis::X, Pin::Start)
@@ -533,7 +533,7 @@ fn a_press_does_not_reach_a_widget_the_pointer_has_just_left() {
     let seen: [Rc<Cell<Option<WeakWidget<ScrollArea>>>>; 2] = Default::default();
     let half = |slot: &Rc<Cell<Option<WeakWidget<ScrollArea>>>>| {
         let record = slot.clone();
-        rect(UiColor::WHITE)
+        rect(PaintId::WHITE)
             .height(Len::abs(1000.0))
             .scrollable(Axis::Y, Pin::Start)
             .with_id(move |_rsc, id| {
diff --git a/src/widget/position/lazy_span.rs b/src/widget/position/lazy_span.rs
index 425b6c7..eabb8f4 100644
--- a/src/widget/position/lazy_span.rs
+++ b/src/widget/position/lazy_span.rs
@@ -741,6 +741,10 @@ impl Scrollable for LazySpan {
 }
 
 impl Widget for LazySpan {
+    fn child_order(&self) -> ChildOrder {
+        ChildOrder::Axis(self.dir.axis)
+    }
+
     /// A lazy span animates exactly one thing, its fling -- and it drives
     /// its own rather than being handed deltas by a `ScrollArea` around
     /// it, since which rows exist at all is a function of where it is
@@ -842,7 +846,7 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     fn fixed_row(rsc: &mut TestRsc, height: f32) -> (WeakWidget<Sized>, StrongWidget) {
-        let rect = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+        let rect = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
         let sized = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Sized {
             inner: rect.any(),
             x: None,
@@ -1054,9 +1058,9 @@ mod tests {
         rsc: &mut TestRsc,
         height: f32,
     ) -> (WidgetId, WeakWidget<Sized>, StrongWidget) {
-        let bg = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+        let bg = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
         let bg_id = bg.id();
-        let fg_rect = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE));
+        let fg_rect = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE));
         let fg = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Sized {
             inner: fg_rect.any(),
             x: None,
diff --git a/src/widget/position/scroll_area.rs b/src/widget/position/scroll_area.rs
index 5f294a5..87b0933 100644
--- a/src/widget/position/scroll_area.rs
+++ b/src/widget/position/scroll_area.rs
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ mod tests {
         let mut rsc = TestRsc {
             ui: UiData::default(),
         };
-        let fill = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(UiColor::WHITE)).any();
+        let fill = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Rect::new(PaintId::WHITE)).any();
         let id = fill.id();
         let long = Some(Len::abs(1000.0));
         let tall = rsc.ui.widgets.add_strong(Sized {
diff --git a/src/widget/position/span.rs b/src/widget/position/span.rs
index 38b73e1..e805fc4 100644
--- a/src/widget/position/span.rs
+++ b/src/widget/position/span.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ pub struct Span {
 }
 
 impl Widget for Span {
+    fn child_order(&self) -> ChildOrder {
+        ChildOrder::Axis(self.dir.axis)
+    }
+
     fn draw(&mut self, painter: &mut Painter) {
         let axis = self.dir.axis;
         let gap = self.gap.apply_rest(painter.density()).abs;
diff --git a/src/widget/rect.rs b/src/widget/rect.rs
index 588adfd..0b89ba9 100644
--- a/src/widget/rect.rs
+++ b/src/widget/rect.rs
@@ -1,26 +1,36 @@
 use crate::prelude::*;
 
-#[derive(Clone, Copy)]
+#[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct Rect {
-    pub color: UiColor,
+    paint: PaintValue,
     pub radius: Len,
     pub thickness: f32,
     pub inner_radius: f32,
 }
 
 impl Rect {
-    pub fn new(color: UiColor) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(paint: impl Paint) -> Self {
         Self {
-            color,
+            paint: paint.into_value(),
             radius: Len::ZERO,
             inner_radius: 0.0,
             thickness: 0.0,
         }
     }
-    pub fn color(mut self, color: UiColor) -> Self {
-        self.color = color;
+    pub fn paint(mut self, paint: impl Paint) -> Self {
+        self.paint = paint.into_value();
         self
     }
+    pub fn color(self, paint: impl Paint) -> Self {
+        self.paint(paint)
+    }
+
+    pub fn set_paint(&mut self, paint: impl Paint) {
+        self.paint = paint.into_value();
+    }
+    pub fn is_paint(&self, paint: &PaintId) -> bool {
+        self.paint.is(paint)
+    }
     pub fn radius(mut self, radius: impl Into<Len>) -> Self {
         self.radius = radius.into();
         self
@@ -29,8 +39,9 @@ impl Rect {
 
 impl Widget for Rect {
     fn draw(&mut self, painter: &mut Painter) {
+        let paint = painter.paint_value(&mut self.paint);
         painter.primitive(RectPrimitive {
-            color: self.color,
+            paint,
             radius: self.radius.fold_dp(painter.density()).abs,
             thickness: self.thickness,
             inner_radius: self.inner_radius,
@@ -43,6 +54,6 @@ impl Widget for Rect {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn rect(color: UiColor) -> Rect {
-    Rect::new(color)
+pub fn rect(paint: impl Paint) -> Rect {
+    Rect::new(paint)
 }
diff --git a/src/widget/text/build.rs b/src/widget/text/build.rs
index fb826ae..4c835e2 100644
--- a/src/widget/text/build.rs
+++ b/src/widget/text/build.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ impl<State, O, H: WidgetOption<State>> TextBuilder<State, O, H> {
         self.attrs.line_height = self.attrs.font_size * LINE_HEIGHT_MULT;
         self
     }
-    pub fn color(mut self, color: UiColor) -> Self {
+    pub fn color(mut self, color: PaintId) -> Self {
         self.attrs.color = color;
         self
     }
diff --git a/src/widget/text/edit.rs b/src/widget/text/edit.rs
index 999cd64..b0e415d 100644
--- a/src/widget/text/edit.rs
+++ b/src/widget/text/edit.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 use crate::prelude::*;
-use iris_core::{TextData, UiColor};
+use iris_core::{PaintId, TextData};
 use parley::{Affinity, Layout, Selection};
 use std::ops::{Deref, DerefMut};
+
+use super::selection_layout;
 #[cfg(not(target_os = "android"))]
 use winit::{
     event::KeyEvent,
@@ -22,10 +24,8 @@ pub enum Motion {
 
 pub struct TextEdit {
     view: TextView,
-    selection: Option<Selection>,
     #[cfg_attr(target_os = "android", allow(dead_code))]
     history: Vec<(String, Option<Selection>)>,
-    double_hit: Option<usize>,
     pub(crate) press_origin: Option<Vec2>,
     pub mode: EditMode,
 }
@@ -40,20 +40,14 @@ impl TextEdit {
     pub fn new(view: TextView, mode: EditMode) -> Self {
         Self {
             view,
-            selection: None,
             history: Default::default(),
-            double_hit: None,
             press_origin: None,
             mode,
         }
     }
 
     pub fn selected_text(&self) -> Option<String> {
-        let sel = self.selection?;
-        if sel.is_collapsed() {
-            return None;
-        }
-        Some(self.buf.text()[sel.text_range()].to_string())
+        self.view.selection.selected_text(self.view.buf.text())
     }
 
     /// The field's content. Byte-indexed, like everything else here since
@@ -67,46 +61,19 @@ impl TextEdit {
     /// The selection as a byte range, collapsed to `caret..caret` when
     /// there is no span. `None` when the field is not focused.
     pub fn selection_range(&self) -> Option<std::ops::Range<usize>> {
-        Some(self.selection?.text_range())
+        self.view.selection.range()
     }
 
     /// The caret's byte offset -- the focus end of the selection, which is
     /// where typing lands regardless of which end of a span it is.
     pub fn caret(&self) -> Option<usize> {
-        Some(self.selection?.focus().index())
+        self.view.selection.caret()
     }
 }
 
 impl Widget for TextEdit {
     fn draw(&mut self, painter: &mut Painter) {
-        let base = painter.layer;
-        painter.child_layer();
-        let used = self.view.draw(painter);
-        painter.layer = base;
-        let region = self.region();
-
-        let Some(selection) = self.selection else {
-            painter.set_size(used);
-            return;
-        };
-        let layout = self.view.buf.layout();
-
-        for (rect, _) in selection.geometry(layout) {
-            let size = vec2(rect.width() as f32, rect.height() as f32);
-            let top_left = vec2(rect.x0 as f32, rect.y0 as f32);
-            painter.primitive_within(
-                RectPrimitive::color(Color::SKY),
-                size.align(Align::TOP_LEFT).offset(top_left).within(&region),
-            );
-        }
-
-        let caret = selection.focus().geometry(layout, CARET_WIDTH);
-        let size = vec2(caret.width() as f32, caret.height() as f32);
-        let top_left = vec2(caret.x0 as f32, caret.y0 as f32);
-        painter.primitive_within(
-            RectPrimitive::color(Color::WHITE),
-            size.align(Align::TOP_LEFT).offset(top_left).within(&region),
-        );
+        let used = self.view.draw_selectable(painter, true);
         painter.set_size(used);
     }
 
@@ -122,28 +89,26 @@ impl Widget for TextEdit {
     }
 }
 
-const CARET_WIDTH: f32 = 1.0;
-
 pub struct TextEditCtx<'a> {
     pub text: &'a mut TextEdit,
     pub data: &'a mut TextData,
 }
 
 impl<'a> TextEditCtx<'a> {
-    fn layout(&mut self) -> &Layout<UiColor> {
-        let attrs = self.text.view.attrs.clone();
-        let width = self.text.view.wrap_width();
-        let density = self.data.density;
-        self.text.view.buf.shape(self.data, &attrs, width, density);
-        self.text.view.buf.layout()
+    fn selection_ctx(&mut self) -> TextSelectionCtx<'_> {
+        TextSelectionCtx {
+            view: &mut self.text.view,
+            data: self.data,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn layout(&mut self) -> &Layout<iris_core::PaintId> {
+        selection_layout(&mut self.text.view, self.data)
     }
 
     #[cfg_attr(target_os = "android", allow(dead_code))]
     fn refresh(&mut self) {
-        if let Some(sel) = self.text.selection {
-            let layout = self.layout();
-            self.text.selection = Some(sel.refresh(layout));
-        }
+        self.selection_ctx().refresh();
     }
 
     pub fn take(&mut self) -> String {
@@ -156,18 +121,18 @@ impl<'a> TextEditCtx<'a> {
         let text = self.string(text);
         self.text.view.buf.set_text(text);
         self.text.view.buf.changed = true;
-        self.text.selection = None;
+        self.text.view.selection.deselect();
     }
 
     pub fn set_with_spans(&mut self, text: &str, spans: Vec<SpanStyle>) {
         let text = self.string(text);
         self.text.view.buf.set_text(text);
         self.text.view.buf.set_spans(spans);
-        self.text.selection = None;
+        self.text.view.selection.deselect();
     }
 
     pub fn motion(&mut self, motion: Motion, select: bool) {
-        let Some(sel) = self.text.selection else {
+        let Some(sel) = self.text.view.selection.range else {
             return;
         };
         let layout = self.layout();
@@ -184,7 +149,7 @@ impl<'a> TextEditCtx<'a> {
         } else {
             apply_motion(sel, layout, motion, select)
         };
-        self.text.selection = Some(sel);
+        self.text.view.selection.range = Some(sel);
     }
 
     pub fn replace(&mut self, len: usize, text: &str) {
@@ -213,7 +178,7 @@ impl<'a> TextEditCtx<'a> {
             return;
         }
         self.clear_span();
-        let at = match self.text.selection {
+        let at = match self.text.view.selection.range {
             Some(sel) => sel.focus().index(),
             // No caret means nowhere to put the text, so this drops the
             // keystroke -- which is invisible, and was the whole of the
@@ -238,7 +203,7 @@ impl<'a> TextEditCtx<'a> {
     }
 
     pub fn clear_span(&mut self) -> bool {
-        let Some(sel) = self.text.selection else {
+        let Some(sel) = self.text.view.selection.range else {
             return false;
         };
         if sel.is_collapsed() {
@@ -252,13 +217,7 @@ impl<'a> TextEditCtx<'a> {
     }
 
     fn set_caret(&mut self, index: usize) {
-        let index = index.min(self.text.view.buf.text().len());
-        let layout = self.layout();
-        self.text.selection = Some(Selection::from_byte_index(
-            layout,
-            index,
-            Affinity::default(),
-        ));
+        self.selection_ctx().set_caret(index);
     }
 
     pub fn newline(&mut self) {
@@ -271,7 +230,7 @@ impl<'a> TextEditCtx<'a> {
         if self.clear_span() {
             return;
         }
-        let Some(sel) = self.text.selection else {
+        let Some(sel) = self.text.view.selection.range else {
             return;
         };
         let end = sel.focus().index();
@@ -291,7 +250,7 @@ impl<'a> TextEditCtx<'a> {
         if self.clear_span() {
             return;
         }
-        let Some(sel) = self.text.selection else {
+        let Some(sel) = self.text.view.selection.range else {
             return;
         };
         let start = sel.focus().index();
@@ -350,67 +309,33 @@ impl<'a> TextEditCtx<'a> {
     /// actually *on* something" checks its own ranges, which is what
     /// makes a tap in the padding hit no link.
     pub fn byte_at(&mut self, pos: Vec2, size: Vec2) -> usize {
-        let pos = pos - self.text.region().top_left().to_abs(size);
-        let layout = self.layout();
-        Selection::from_point(layout, pos.x, pos.y).focus().index()
+        self.selection_ctx().byte_at(pos, size)
     }
 
     pub fn select_all(&mut self) {
-        let len = self.text.view.buf.text().len();
-        if len == 0 {
-            return;
-        }
-        let layout = self.layout();
-        let anchor = parley::Cursor::from_byte_index(layout, 0, Affinity::default());
-        let focus = parley::Cursor::from_byte_index(layout, len, Affinity::default());
-        self.text.selection = Some(Selection::new(anchor, focus));
+        self.selection_ctx().select_all();
     }
 
     pub fn select(&mut self, pos: Vec2, size: Vec2, drag: bool, recent: bool) {
-        let pos = pos - self.text.region().top_left().to_abs(size);
-        let prev_sel = self.text.selection;
-        let prev_hit = self.text.double_hit;
-
-        let outcome = {
-            let layout = self.layout();
-            if drag {
-                prev_sel.map(|sel| (Some(sel.extend_to_point(layout, pos.x, pos.y)), prev_hit))
-            } else {
-                let hit = Selection::from_point(layout, pos.x, pos.y);
-                let index = hit.focus().index();
-                Some(if recent && prev_hit == Some(index) {
-                    (Some(Selection::line_from_point(layout, pos.x, pos.y)), None)
-                } else if recent && prev_sel.map(|s| s.focus().index()) == Some(index) {
-                    (
-                        Some(Selection::word_from_point(layout, pos.x, pos.y)),
-                        Some(index),
-                    )
-                } else {
-                    (Some(hit), None)
-                })
-            }
-        };
-
-        if let Some((selection, double_hit)) = outcome {
-            self.text.selection = selection;
-            self.text.double_hit = double_hit;
-        }
+        self.selection_ctx().select(pos, size, drag, recent);
     }
 
     pub fn deselect(&mut self) {
-        self.text.selection = None;
-        self.text.double_hit = None;
+        self.selection_ctx().deselect();
     }
 
     #[cfg(not(target_os = "android"))]
     pub fn apply_event(&mut self, event: &KeyEvent, modifiers: &Modifiers) -> TextInputResult {
-        let old = (self.text.view.buf.text().to_string(), self.text.selection);
+        let old = (
+            self.text.view.buf.text().to_string(),
+            self.text.view.selection.range,
+        );
         let mut undo = false;
         let res = self.apply_event_inner(event, modifiers, &mut undo);
         if undo {
             if let Some((old, selection)) = self.text.history.pop() {
                 self.set(&old);
-                self.text.selection = selection;
+                self.text.view.selection.range = selection;
                 self.refresh();
             }
         } else if self.text.view.buf.text() != old.0 {
@@ -495,7 +420,7 @@ impl<'a> TextEditCtx<'a> {
 
 fn apply_motion(
     sel: Selection,
-    layout: &Layout<UiColor>,
+    layout: &Layout<PaintId>,
     motion: Motion,
     extend: bool,
 ) -> Selection {
@@ -512,15 +437,15 @@ fn apply_motion(
 }
 
 trait RangeCursors {
-    fn start_cursor(&self, layout: &Layout<UiColor>) -> parley::Cursor;
-    fn end_cursor(&self, layout: &Layout<UiColor>) -> parley::Cursor;
+    fn start_cursor(&self, layout: &Layout<PaintId>) -> parley::Cursor;
+    fn end_cursor(&self, layout: &Layout<PaintId>) -> parley::Cursor;
 }
 
 impl RangeCursors for std::ops::Range<usize> {
-    fn start_cursor(&self, layout: &Layout<UiColor>) -> parley::Cursor {
+    fn start_cursor(&self, layout: &Layout<PaintId>) -> parley::Cursor {
         parley::Cursor::from_byte_index(layout, self.start, Affinity::default())
     }
-    fn end_cursor(&self, layout: &Layout<UiColor>) -> parley::Cursor {
+    fn end_cursor(&self, layout: &Layout<PaintId>) -> parley::Cursor {
         parley::Cursor::from_byte_index(layout, self.end, Affinity::default())
     }
 }
@@ -605,7 +530,7 @@ mod tests {
         ctx(&mut t, &mut d).set_caret(1);
         ctx(&mut t, &mut d).insert("b");
         assert_eq!(content(&t), "abc");
-        assert_eq!(t.selection.unwrap().focus().index(), 2);
+        assert_eq!(t.caret(), Some(2));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -655,14 +580,14 @@ mod tests {
         ctx(&mut t, &mut d).select_all();
         assert!(ctx(&mut t, &mut d).clear_span());
         assert_eq!(content(&t), "");
-        assert_eq!(t.selection.unwrap().focus().index(), 0);
+        assert_eq!(t.caret(), Some(0));
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn tapping_an_empty_field_places_a_caret_so_typing_lands() {
         let (mut t, mut d) = edit("", EditMode::MultiLine);
         ctx(&mut t, &mut d).select(vec2(40.0, 20.0), vec2(1080.0, 2400.0), false, false);
-        assert!(t.selection.is_some(), "a tap must leave a caret behind");
+        assert!(t.caret().is_some(), "a tap must leave a caret behind");
         ctx(&mut t, &mut d).insert("hi");
         assert_eq!(content(&t), "hi");
     }
@@ -671,14 +596,14 @@ mod tests {
     fn tapping_past_the_end_of_the_text_clamps_to_the_end() {
         let (mut t, mut d) = edit("abc", EditMode::MultiLine);
         ctx(&mut t, &mut d).select(vec2(9000.0, 9000.0), vec2(1080.0, 2400.0), false, false);
-        assert_eq!(t.selection.unwrap().focus().index(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(t.caret(), Some(3));
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn dragging_without_a_previous_selection_selects_nothing() {
         let (mut t, mut d) = edit("abc", EditMode::MultiLine);
         ctx(&mut t, &mut d).select(vec2(10.0, 10.0), vec2(1080.0, 2400.0), true, false);
-        assert!(t.selection.is_none());
+        assert!(t.selection_range().is_none());
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -765,7 +690,7 @@ mod tests {
         let (mut t, mut d) = edit("abc", EditMode::SingleLine);
         ctx(&mut t, &mut d).set_caret(0);
         ctx(&mut t, &mut d).motion(Motion::Right, false);
-        assert_eq!(t.selection.unwrap().focus().index(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(t.caret(), Some(1));
         ctx(&mut t, &mut d).motion(Motion::Right, true);
         assert_eq!(t.selected_text().as_deref(), Some("b"));
     }
@@ -775,11 +700,11 @@ mod tests {
         let (mut t, mut d) = edit("abcdef", EditMode::SingleLine);
         ctx(&mut t, &mut d).select_all();
         ctx(&mut t, &mut d).motion(Motion::Left, false);
-        assert_eq!(t.selection.unwrap().focus().index(), 0);
+        assert_eq!(t.caret(), Some(0));
 
         ctx(&mut t, &mut d).select_all();
         ctx(&mut t, &mut d).motion(Motion::Right, false);
-        assert_eq!(t.selection.unwrap().focus().index(), 6);
+        assert_eq!(t.caret(), Some(6));
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/src/widget/text/mod.rs b/src/widget/text/mod.rs
index 5e85524..8957a1f 100644
--- a/src/widget/text/mod.rs
+++ b/src/widget/text/mod.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 mod build;
 mod edit;
+mod selection;
 
 pub use build::*;
 pub use edit::*;
 use iris_core::util::MutDetect;
+pub use selection::*;
 
 use crate::prelude::*;
 use std::ops::{Deref, DerefMut};
@@ -19,6 +21,7 @@ pub struct TextView {
     tex: Option<RenderedText>,
     width: Option<f32>,
     pub hint: Option<StrongWidget>,
+    selection: TextSelection,
 }
 
 impl TextView {
@@ -37,6 +40,7 @@ impl TextView {
             tex: None,
             width: None,
             hint,
+            selection: TextSelection::default(),
         }
     }
 
@@ -94,6 +98,39 @@ impl TextView {
         Size::abs(tex.size)
     }
 
+    pub(super) fn draw_selectable(&mut self, painter: &mut Painter, caret: bool) -> Size {
+        let base = painter.layer;
+        painter.child_layer();
+        let used = self.draw(painter);
+        painter.layer = base;
+        let region = self.region();
+
+        let Some(selection) = self.selection.range else {
+            return used;
+        };
+        let layout = self.buf.layout();
+        for (rect, _) in selection.geometry(layout) {
+            let size = vec2(rect.width() as f32, rect.height() as f32);
+            let top_left = vec2(rect.x0 as f32, rect.y0 as f32);
+            let paint = painter.paint(&PaintId::SKY);
+            painter.primitive_within(
+                RectPrimitive::color(paint),
+                size.align(Align::TOP_LEFT).offset(top_left).within(&region),
+            );
+        }
+        if caret {
+            let caret = selection.focus().geometry(layout, CARET_WIDTH);
+            let size = vec2(caret.width() as f32, caret.height() as f32);
+            let top_left = vec2(caret.x0 as f32, caret.y0 as f32);
+            let paint = painter.paint(&PaintId::WHITE);
+            painter.primitive_within(
+                RectPrimitive::color(paint),
+                size.align(Align::TOP_LEFT).offset(top_left).within(&region),
+            );
+        }
+        used
+    }
+
     pub fn content(&self) -> String {
         self.buf.text().to_string()
     }
@@ -111,14 +148,36 @@ impl Text {
         if self.content.changed {
             self.content.changed = false;
             self.view.buf.set_text(self.content.as_str());
+            self.view.selection.deselect();
         }
     }
+
+    pub fn selected_text(&self) -> Option<String> {
+        self.view.selection.selected_text(self.view.buf.text())
+    }
+
+    pub fn selection_range(&self) -> Option<std::ops::Range<usize>> {
+        self.view.selection.range()
+    }
+
+    pub fn set_with_spans(&mut self, content: impl Into<String>, spans: Vec<SpanStyle>) {
+        let content = content.into();
+        *self.content = content.clone();
+        self.content.changed = false;
+        self.view.buf.set_text(content);
+        self.view.buf.set_spans(spans);
+        self.view.selection.deselect();
+    }
 }
 
 impl Widget for Text {
     fn draw(&mut self, painter: &mut Painter) {
         self.update_buf();
-        let size = self.view.draw(painter);
+        let size = if self.view.selection.range.is_some() {
+            self.view.draw_selectable(painter, false)
+        } else {
+            self.view.draw(painter)
+        };
         painter.set_size(size);
     }
 
@@ -127,6 +186,8 @@ impl Widget for Text {
     }
 }
 
+pub(super) const CARET_WIDTH: f32 = 1.0;
+
 impl Deref for Text {
     type Target = TextAttrs;
 
@@ -160,6 +221,89 @@ mod tests {
     use crate::layout_tests::TestRsc;
     use crate::prelude::*;
 
+    fn rendered_text(content: &str) -> (TestRsc, UiRenderState, WeakWidget<Text>, StrongWidget) {
+        let mut rsc = TestRsc {
+            ui: UiData::default(),
+        };
+        let text = wtext(content).add_strong(&mut rsc);
+        let id = text.weak();
+        let root = text.any();
+        let mut render = UiRenderState::new();
+        render.resize((800.0, 600.0));
+        render.update(&root, &mut rsc);
+        (rsc, render, id, root)
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn display_text_and_edit_text_use_the_same_selection_engine() {
+        let (mut rsc, _render, text, _root) = rendered_text("hello there");
+        text.selection(&mut rsc).select_all();
+
+        let view = TextView::new(TextBuffer::new("hello there"), TextAttrs::default(), None);
+        let mut edit = TextEdit::new(view, EditMode::MultiLine);
+        let mut data = TextData::default();
+        TextEditCtx {
+            text: &mut edit,
+            data: &mut data,
+        }
+        .select_all();
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            rsc.ui.widgets[text].selection_range(),
+            edit.selection_range()
+        );
+        assert_eq!(rsc.ui.widgets[text].selected_text(), edit.selected_text());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn changing_display_text_clears_its_now_stale_selection() {
+        let (mut rsc, mut render, text, root) = rendered_text("before");
+        text.selection(&mut rsc).select_all();
+        assert_eq!(
+            rsc.ui.widgets[text].selected_text().as_deref(),
+            Some("before")
+        );
+
+        *rsc.ui.widgets[text].content = "after".to_string();
+        render.update(&root, &mut rsc);
+
+        assert_eq!(rsc.ui.widgets[text].selected_text(), None);
+        assert_eq!(rsc.ui.widgets[text].selection_range(), None);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn display_text_draws_the_shared_highlight_without_an_editing_caret() {
+        let (mut rsc, mut render, text, root) = rendered_text("selected");
+        let plain = render.active[&text.id()].primitives.len();
+        text.selection(&mut rsc).select_all();
+        render.update(&root, &mut rsc);
+        let selected = render.active[&text.id()].primitives.len();
+
+        let view = TextView::new(TextBuffer::new("selected"), TextAttrs::default(), None);
+        let edit = rsc
+            .ui
+            .widgets
+            .add_strong(TextEdit::new(view, EditMode::MultiLine));
+        let edit_id = edit.weak();
+        let edit_root = edit.any();
+        let mut edit_render = UiRenderState::new();
+        edit_render.resize((800.0, 600.0));
+        edit_render.update(&edit_root, &mut rsc);
+        edit_id.edit(&mut rsc).select_all();
+        edit_render.update(&edit_root, &mut rsc);
+        let editable = edit_render.active[&edit_id.id()].primitives.len();
+
+        assert!(
+            selected > plain,
+            "the selection added no highlight primitive"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            editable,
+            selected + 1,
+            "editable text should add exactly its caret to the shared highlight"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn clearing_the_atlas_re_renders_cached_text_instead_of_reusing_it() {
         let mut rsc = TestRsc {
@@ -167,7 +311,7 @@ mod tests {
         };
         let root = wtext("hello there")
             .size(18)
-            .color(UiColor::WHITE)
+            .color(PaintId::WHITE)
             .add_strong(&mut rsc)
             .any();
         let mut render = UiRenderState::new();
diff --git a/src/widget/text/selection.rs b/src/widget/text/selection.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..63c9e5d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/widget/text/selection.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,756 @@
+use crate::prelude::*;
+use iris_core::{PaintId, TextData};
+use parley::{Affinity, Layout, Selection as ParleySelection};
+use std::time::Instant;
+
+/// The selection state shared by display text and editable text. Editing,
+/// focus and IME state deliberately live in `TextEdit`; this owns only the
+/// state whose meaning comes from a shaped text layout.
+#[derive(Default)]
+pub(super) struct TextSelection {
+    pub(super) range: Option<ParleySelection>,
+    double_hit: Option<usize>,
+}
+
+impl TextSelection {
+    pub(super) fn selected_text(&self, text: &str) -> Option<String> {
+        let selection = self.range?;
+        if selection.is_collapsed() {
+            return None;
+        }
+        Some(text[selection.text_range()].to_string())
+    }
+
+    pub(super) fn range(&self) -> Option<std::ops::Range<usize>> {
+        Some(self.range?.text_range())
+    }
+
+    pub(super) fn caret(&self) -> Option<usize> {
+        Some(self.range?.focus().index())
+    }
+
+    pub(super) fn deselect(&mut self) {
+        self.range = None;
+        self.double_hit = None;
+    }
+}
+
+/// Selection operations that need both a text widget's shaped buffer and
+/// iris's text resources. `TextEditCtx` delegates to this same context rather
+/// than maintaining an editable-only copy of the geometry and hit testing.
+pub struct TextSelectionCtx<'a> {
+    pub(super) view: &'a mut TextView,
+    pub(super) data: &'a mut TextData,
+}
+
+impl TextSelectionCtx<'_> {
+    pub(super) fn layout(&mut self) -> &Layout<PaintId> {
+        selection_layout(self.view, self.data)
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn refresh(&mut self) {
+        if let Some(selection) = self.view.selection.range {
+            let layout = self.layout();
+            self.view.selection.range = Some(selection.refresh(layout));
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// The byte offset in the text nearest `pos`. Positions and `size` use
+    /// the same widget-local coordinates as a `CursorSense` event.
+    pub fn byte_at(&mut self, pos: Vec2, size: Vec2) -> usize {
+        let pos = pos - self.view.region().top_left().to_abs(size);
+        let layout = self.layout();
+        ParleySelection::from_point(layout, pos.x, pos.y)
+            .focus()
+            .index()
+    }
+
+    pub fn select_all(&mut self) {
+        let len = self.view.buf.text().len();
+        if len == 0 {
+            return;
+        }
+        let layout = self.layout();
+        let anchor = parley::Cursor::from_byte_index(layout, 0, Affinity::default());
+        let focus = parley::Cursor::from_byte_index(layout, len, Affinity::default());
+        self.view.selection.range = Some(ParleySelection::new(anchor, focus));
+    }
+
+    pub fn select(&mut self, pos: Vec2, size: Vec2, drag: bool, recent: bool) {
+        let pos = pos - self.view.region().top_left().to_abs(size);
+        let previous = self.view.selection.range;
+        let previous_hit = self.view.selection.double_hit;
+
+        let outcome = {
+            let layout = self.layout();
+            if drag {
+                previous.map(|selection| {
+                    (
+                        Some(selection.extend_to_point(layout, pos.x, pos.y)),
+                        previous_hit,
+                    )
+                })
+            } else {
+                let hit = ParleySelection::from_point(layout, pos.x, pos.y);
+                let index = hit.focus().index();
+                Some(if recent && previous_hit == Some(index) {
+                    (
+                        Some(ParleySelection::line_from_point(layout, pos.x, pos.y)),
+                        None,
+                    )
+                } else if recent
+                    && previous.map(|selection| selection.focus().index()) == Some(index)
+                {
+                    (
+                        Some(ParleySelection::word_from_point(layout, pos.x, pos.y)),
+                        Some(index),
+                    )
+                } else {
+                    (Some(hit), None)
+                })
+            }
+        };
+
+        if let Some((range, double_hit)) = outcome {
+            self.view.selection.range = range;
+            self.view.selection.double_hit = double_hit;
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn deselect(&mut self) {
+        self.view.selection.deselect();
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn set_caret(&mut self, index: usize) {
+        let index = index.min(self.view.buf.text().len());
+        let layout = self.layout();
+        self.view.selection.range = Some(ParleySelection::from_byte_index(
+            layout,
+            index,
+            Affinity::default(),
+        ));
+    }
+
+    fn select_between(&mut self, anchor: usize, focus: usize) {
+        let len = self.view.buf.text().len();
+        let layout = self.layout();
+        let anchor = parley::Cursor::from_byte_index(layout, anchor.min(len), Affinity::default());
+        let focus = parley::Cursor::from_byte_index(layout, focus.min(len), Affinity::default());
+        self.view.selection.range = Some(ParleySelection::new(anchor, focus));
+    }
+}
+
+pub(super) fn selection_layout<'a>(
+    view: &'a mut TextView,
+    data: &mut TextData,
+) -> &'a Layout<PaintId> {
+    let attrs = view.attrs.clone();
+    let width = view.wrap_width();
+    let density = data.density;
+    view.buf.shape(data, &attrs, width, density);
+    view.buf.layout()
+}
+
+/// Gives an ordinary `Text` handle access to the same selection operations as
+/// `TextEditCtx`. Gesture policy is intentionally not part of this trait; a
+/// selection controller and an editor's focus handler do different
+/// things with the same mechanics.
+pub trait TextSelectable {
+    fn selection<'a>(&self, ui: &'a mut impl UiRsc) -> TextSelectionCtx<'a>;
+}
+
+impl<I: IdLike<Widget = Text>> TextSelectable for I {
+    fn selection<'a>(&self, ui: &'a mut impl UiRsc) -> TextSelectionCtx<'a> {
+        let ui = ui.ui_mut();
+        TextSelectionCtx {
+            view: &mut ui.widgets.get_mut(self).unwrap().view,
+            data: &mut ui.text,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Selection across the ordinary `Text` descendants of the widget this
+/// controller is attached to. The controller owns the cross-widget gesture
+/// and command state; each text leaf owns only its local Parley selection.
+pub struct SelectionController {
+    anchor: Option<(WidgetId, usize)>,
+    order: Vec<WidgetId>,
+    selected: Vec<WidgetId>,
+    gesture: DragGesture,
+    scroll: Option<WeakWidget<LazySpan>>,
+    separator: String,
+    last_input: Option<(Instant, CursorSense, SelectionInput)>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+pub enum SelectionInput {
+    Tapped,
+    Handled,
+}
+
+impl Default for SelectionController {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self::new()
+    }
+}
+
+impl SelectionController {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            anchor: None,
+            order: Vec::new(),
+            selected: Vec::new(),
+            gesture: DragGesture::new(),
+            scroll: None,
+            separator: String::new(),
+            last_input: None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn with_scroll(mut self, scroll: WeakWidget<LazySpan>) -> Self {
+        self.scroll = Some(scroll);
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub fn separator(mut self, separator: impl Into<String>) -> Self {
+        self.separator = separator.into();
+        self
+    }
+
+    fn text_order(host: WidgetId, rsc: &impl UiRsc, render: &UiRenderState) -> Vec<WidgetId> {
+        fn visit(id: WidgetId, rsc: &impl UiRsc, render: &UiRenderState, out: &mut Vec<WidgetId>) {
+            if rsc
+                .widgets()
+                .get_dyn(id)
+                .is_some_and(|widget| widget.as_any().is::<Text>())
+            {
+                out.push(id);
+                return;
+            }
+            // An editor owns its own focus, commands and selection gesture.
+            if rsc
+                .widgets()
+                .get_dyn(id)
+                .is_some_and(|widget| widget.as_any().is::<TextEdit>())
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+            for child in render.ordered_children(id, rsc) {
+                visit(child, rsc, render, out);
+            }
+        }
+
+        let mut out = Vec::new();
+        visit(host, rsc, render, &mut out);
+        out
+    }
+
+    fn with_text<T>(
+        rsc: &mut impl UiRsc,
+        id: WidgetId,
+        f: impl FnOnce(&mut TextSelectionCtx<'_>) -> T,
+    ) -> Option<T> {
+        let ui = rsc.ui_mut();
+        let text = ui
+            .widgets
+            .get_dyn_mut(id)?
+            .as_any_mut()
+            .downcast_mut::<Text>()?;
+        text.update_buf();
+        let mut ctx = TextSelectionCtx {
+            view: &mut text.view,
+            data: &mut ui.text,
+        };
+        Some(f(&mut ctx))
+    }
+
+    fn locate(
+        &self,
+        rsc: &impl UiRsc,
+        render: &UiRenderState,
+        pos: Vec2,
+    ) -> Option<(WidgetId, Vec2, Vec2)> {
+        self.order.iter().find_map(|&id| {
+            let active = render.active.get(&id)?;
+            let region = render.window_region(&id, rsc)?;
+            (region.contains(pos) && render.mask_admits(active.mask, pos, rsc)).then(|| {
+                (
+                    id,
+                    pos - region.top_left,
+                    region.bot_right - region.top_left,
+                )
+            })
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn deselect(&mut self, rsc: &mut impl UiRsc) {
+        let mut ids = std::mem::take(&mut self.selected);
+        if let Some((anchor, _)) = self.anchor.take()
+            && !ids.contains(&anchor)
+        {
+            ids.push(anchor);
+        }
+        for id in ids {
+            Self::with_text(rsc, id, |text| text.deselect());
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn begin(&mut self, rsc: &mut impl UiRsc, id: WidgetId, pos: Vec2, size: Vec2) {
+        self.deselect(rsc);
+        let byte = Self::with_text(rsc, id, |text| {
+            text.select(pos, size, false, false);
+            text.byte_at(pos, size)
+        });
+        self.anchor = byte.map(|byte| (id, byte));
+    }
+
+    fn extend(&mut self, rsc: &mut impl UiRsc, id: WidgetId, pos: Vec2, size: Vec2) {
+        let Some((anchor, anchor_byte)) = self.anchor else {
+            return;
+        };
+        let Some(anchor_at) = self.order.iter().position(|&candidate| candidate == anchor) else {
+            self.deselect(rsc);
+            return;
+        };
+        let Some(focus_at) = self.order.iter().position(|&candidate| candidate == id) else {
+            return;
+        };
+        let Some(focus_byte) = Self::with_text(rsc, id, |text| text.byte_at(pos, size)) else {
+            return;
+        };
+        let (lo, hi) = if anchor_at <= focus_at {
+            (anchor_at, focus_at)
+        } else {
+            (focus_at, anchor_at)
+        };
+
+        let old = std::mem::take(&mut self.selected);
+        for old_id in old {
+            if !self.order[lo..=hi].contains(&old_id) {
+                Self::with_text(rsc, old_id, |text| text.deselect());
+            }
+        }
+
+        for &text_id in &self.order[lo..=hi] {
+            let forward = anchor_at <= focus_at;
+            Self::with_text(rsc, text_id, |text| {
+                let len = text.view.buf.text().len();
+                let (start, end) = if text_id == anchor && text_id == id {
+                    (anchor_byte, focus_byte)
+                } else if text_id == anchor {
+                    (anchor_byte, if forward { len } else { 0 })
+                } else if text_id == id {
+                    (if forward { 0 } else { len }, focus_byte)
+                } else {
+                    (0, len)
+                };
+                text.select_between(start, end);
+            });
+        }
+        self.selected = self.order[lo..=hi].to_vec();
+    }
+
+    pub fn drag<Rsc: HasEvents>(
+        &mut self,
+        id: ControllerId,
+        rsc: &mut Rsc,
+        input: &CursorData<'_>,
+    ) -> SelectionInput {
+        // A leaf listener and the controller host may both cover one point on
+        // the same layer. They are two routes for one physical sample, not two
+        // gestures; the second route must observe the first route's decision.
+        if let Some((last, sense, outcome)) = self.last_input
+            && last == input.cursor.time
+            && sense == input.sense
+        {
+            return outcome;
+        }
+        self.order = Self::text_order(id.host(), rsc, input.render);
+        let hit = self.locate(rsc, input.render, input.cursor.pos);
+        let mut press = PressState::default();
+        if self.gesture.starts_press(input.sense) {
+            press.scrolling = self.scroll.is_some_and(|scroll| scroll(rsc).is_scrolling());
+            if let Some(scroll) = self.scroll {
+                scroll(rsc).cancel_fling();
+            }
+        }
+        press.already_selected = self.has_selection(rsc);
+        let outcome = self.gesture.handle(
+            input.pointer,
+            id.host(),
+            input.sense,
+            input.cursor.pos,
+            input.cursor.time,
+            press,
+        );
+        let input_result = match outcome {
+            GestureOutcome::Pan(delta) => {
+                if let Some(scroll) = self.scroll {
+                    scroll(rsc).scroll(delta);
+                }
+                SelectionInput::Handled
+            }
+            GestureOutcome::SelectStart => {
+                if let Some((text, pos, size)) = hit {
+                    self.begin(rsc, text, pos, size);
+                    rsc.set_command_target(Some(id));
+                }
+                SelectionInput::Handled
+            }
+            GestureOutcome::SelectExtend => {
+                if let Some((text, pos, size)) = hit {
+                    self.extend(rsc, text, pos, size);
+                }
+                SelectionInput::Handled
+            }
+            GestureOutcome::Released(Some(velocity)) => {
+                if let Some(scroll) = self.scroll
+                    && scroll(rsc).fling(velocity)
+                {
+                    rsc.ui_mut().animate(scroll.id());
+                }
+                SelectionInput::Handled
+            }
+            GestureOutcome::Tapped => {
+                if self.anchor.is_some() || !self.selected.is_empty() {
+                    self.deselect(rsc);
+                    rsc.set_command_target(None);
+                    SelectionInput::Handled
+                } else {
+                    SelectionInput::Tapped
+                }
+            }
+            GestureOutcome::Cancelled
+            | GestureOutcome::Undecided
+            | GestureOutcome::Released(None) => SelectionInput::Handled,
+        };
+        self.last_input = Some((input.cursor.time, input.sense, input_result));
+        input_result
+    }
+
+    pub fn has_selection(&self, rsc: &impl UiRsc) -> bool {
+        self.selected.iter().any(|&id| {
+            rsc.widgets()
+                .get_dyn(id)
+                .and_then(|widget| widget.as_any().downcast_ref::<Text>())
+                .is_some_and(|text| text.selected_text().is_some())
+        })
+    }
+
+    pub fn selected_text(&self, rsc: &impl UiRsc) -> Option<String> {
+        let parts: Vec<String> = self
+            .selected
+            .iter()
+            .filter_map(|&id| {
+                rsc.widgets()
+                    .get_dyn(id)
+                    .and_then(|widget| widget.as_any().downcast_ref::<Text>())
+                    .and_then(Text::selected_text)
+            })
+            .collect();
+        (!parts.is_empty()).then(|| parts.join(&self.separator))
+    }
+}
+
+impl<Rsc: HasEvents> Controller<Rsc> for SelectionController {
+    fn command(&mut self, command: Command, rsc: &mut Rsc) -> CommandResult {
+        match command {
+            Command::Copy => self
+                .selected_text(rsc)
+                .map(CommandResult::Copy)
+                .unwrap_or(CommandResult::Unused),
+            Command::SelectAll => {
+                let order = self.order.clone();
+                self.deselect(rsc);
+                for &id in &order {
+                    Self::with_text(rsc, id, |text| text.select_all());
+                }
+                self.selected = order;
+                CommandResult::Used
+            }
+            Command::Escape => {
+                self.deselect(rsc);
+                CommandResult::Used
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod controller_tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    struct TestRsc {
+        ui: UiData,
+        events: EventManager<TestRsc>,
+    }
+
+    impl UiRsc for TestRsc {
+        fn ui(&self) -> &UiData {
+            &self.ui
+        }
+
+        fn ui_mut(&mut self) -> &mut UiData {
+            &mut self.ui
+        }
+
+        fn on_draw(&mut self, active: &ActiveData) {
+            self.events.draw(active);
+        }
+
+        fn on_undraw(&mut self, active: &ActiveData) {
+            self.events.undraw(active);
+        }
+
+        fn on_remove(&mut self, id: WidgetId) {
+            self.events.remove(id);
+        }
+    }
+
+    impl HasState for TestRsc {
+        type State = ();
+    }
+
+    impl HasEvents for TestRsc {
+        fn events(&self) -> &EventManager<Self> {
+            &self.events
+        }
+
+        fn events_mut(&mut self) -> &mut EventManager<Self> {
+            &mut self.events
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn two_texts(
+        dir: Dir,
+    ) -> (
+        TestRsc,
+        UiRenderState,
+        WeakWidget<Span>,
+        WeakWidget<Text>,
+        WeakWidget<Text>,
+        StrongWidget,
+    ) {
+        let mut rsc = TestRsc {
+            ui: UiData::default(),
+            events: EventManager::default(),
+        };
+        let first = wtext("first").add(&mut rsc);
+        let second = wtext("second").add(&mut rsc);
+        let host = (first, second)
+            .span(dir)
+            .controller(SelectionController::new().separator("|"))
+            .add(&mut rsc);
+        let root = host.upgrade(&mut rsc).any();
+        let mut render = UiRenderState::new();
+        render.resize((400.0, 200.0));
+        render.update(&root, &mut rsc);
+        (rsc, render, host, first, second, root)
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_span_orders_selection_on_its_visual_axis() {
+        let (mut rsc, render, host, _first, _second, _root) = two_texts(Dir::LEFT);
+        let id = rsc
+            .events()
+            .controllers
+            .id::<SelectionController>(host.id())
+            .unwrap();
+        rsc.with_controller::<SelectionController, _>(id, |selection, rsc| {
+            selection.order = SelectionController::text_order(host.id(), rsc, &render);
+        });
+        rsc.set_command_target(Some(id));
+
+        assert_eq!(rsc.run_command(Command::SelectAll), CommandResult::Used);
+        assert_eq!(
+            rsc.run_command(Command::Copy),
+            CommandResult::Copy("second|first".to_string())
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_widget_without_an_order_override_keeps_draw_order() {
+        let mut rsc = TestRsc {
+            ui: UiData::default(),
+            events: EventManager::default(),
+        };
+        let first = wtext("back").add(&mut rsc);
+        let second = wtext("front").add(&mut rsc);
+        let host = (first, second)
+            .stack()
+            .controller(SelectionController::new().separator("|"))
+            .add(&mut rsc);
+        let root = host.upgrade(&mut rsc).any();
+        let mut render = UiRenderState::new();
+        render.resize((400.0, 200.0));
+        render.update(&root, &mut rsc);
+        let id = rsc
+            .events()
+            .controllers
+            .id::<SelectionController>(host.id())
+            .unwrap();
+        rsc.with_controller::<SelectionController, _>(id, |selection, rsc| {
+            selection.order = SelectionController::text_order(host.id(), rsc, &render);
+        });
+        rsc.set_command_target(Some(id));
+
+        assert_eq!(rsc.run_command(Command::SelectAll), CommandResult::Used);
+        assert_eq!(
+            rsc.run_command(Command::Copy),
+            CommandResult::Copy("back|front".to_string())
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn nearest_controller_prefers_the_inner_scope() {
+        let mut rsc = TestRsc {
+            ui: UiData::default(),
+            events: EventManager::default(),
+        };
+        let leaf = wtext("leaf").add(&mut rsc);
+        let inner = (leaf,)
+            .span(Dir::DOWN)
+            .controller(SelectionController::new())
+            .add(&mut rsc);
+        let outer = (inner,)
+            .span(Dir::DOWN)
+            .controller(SelectionController::new())
+            .add(&mut rsc);
+        let root = outer.upgrade(&mut rsc).any();
+        let mut render = UiRenderState::new();
+        render.resize((400.0, 200.0));
+        render.update(&root, &mut rsc);
+
+        let found = rsc
+            .events()
+            .controllers
+            .nearest_id::<SelectionController>(leaf.id(), &render)
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(found.host(), inner.id());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn command_target_outlives_pointer_release_and_copies_the_controller_selection() {
+        let (mut rsc, render, host, first, second, _root) = two_texts(Dir::DOWN);
+        let id = rsc
+            .events()
+            .controllers
+            .id::<SelectionController>(host.id())
+            .unwrap();
+        rsc.with_controller::<SelectionController, _>(id, |selection, rsc| {
+            selection.order = SelectionController::text_order(host.id(), rsc, &render);
+            let first_size = render.window_region(&first, rsc).unwrap().size();
+            let second_size = render.window_region(&second, rsc).unwrap().size();
+            selection.begin(rsc, first.id(), Vec2::ZERO, first_size);
+            selection.extend(rsc, second.id(), second_size, second_size);
+        });
+        rsc.set_command_target(Some(id));
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            rsc.run_command(Command::Copy),
+            CommandResult::Copy("first|second".to_string())
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn tapping_after_selection_deselects_and_releases_the_command_target() {
+        let (mut rsc, render, host, _first, _second, _root) = two_texts(Dir::DOWN);
+        let id = rsc
+            .events()
+            .controllers
+            .id::<SelectionController>(host.id())
+            .unwrap();
+        rsc.with_controller::<SelectionController, _>(id, |selection, rsc| {
+            selection.order = SelectionController::text_order(host.id(), rsc, &render);
+            let order = selection.order.clone();
+            for &text in &order {
+                SelectionController::with_text(rsc, text, |text| text.select_all());
+            }
+            selection.selected = order;
+        });
+        rsc.set_command_target(Some(id));
+
+        let pointer = PointerRequests::default();
+        let now = Instant::now();
+        rsc.with_controller::<SelectionController, _>(id, |selection, rsc| {
+            let press = CursorData {
+                pos: Vec2::ZERO,
+                size: Vec2::ZERO,
+                scroll_delta: Vec2::ZERO,
+                hover: Default::default(),
+                cursor: CursorState {
+                    pos: Vec2::ZERO,
+                    time: now,
+                    ..Default::default()
+                },
+                drag_axis: None,
+                captured: false,
+                sense: CursorSense::PressStart(CursorButton::Left),
+                render: &render,
+                pointer: &pointer,
+            };
+            selection.drag(id, rsc, &press);
+            let release = CursorData {
+                pos: Vec2::ZERO,
+                size: Vec2::ZERO,
+                scroll_delta: Vec2::ZERO,
+                hover: Default::default(),
+                cursor: CursorState {
+                    pos: Vec2::ZERO,
+                    time: now + std::time::Duration::from_millis(20),
+                    ..Default::default()
+                },
+                drag_axis: None,
+                captured: false,
+                sense: CursorSense::PressEnd(CursorButton::Left),
+                render: &render,
+                pointer: &pointer,
+            };
+            assert_eq!(selection.drag(id, rsc, &release), SelectionInput::Handled);
+        });
+
+        assert_eq!(rsc.events().controllers.command_target(), None);
+        assert_eq!(rsc.run_command(Command::Copy), CommandResult::Unused);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn removing_a_controller_host_clears_its_command_target() {
+        let (mut rsc, mut render, host, _first, _second, root) = two_texts(Dir::DOWN);
+        let id = rsc
+            .events()
+            .controllers
+            .id::<SelectionController>(host.id())
+            .unwrap();
+        rsc.set_command_target(Some(id));
+
+        drop(root);
+        render.update(None, &mut rsc);
+        rsc.free();
+
+        assert_eq!(rsc.events().controllers.command_target(), None);
+        assert_eq!(rsc.run_command(Command::Copy), CommandResult::Unused);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn removing_a_host_during_a_callback_does_not_restore_its_controller() {
+        let (mut rsc, _render, host, _first, _second, _root) = two_texts(Dir::DOWN);
+        let id = rsc
+            .events()
+            .controllers
+            .id::<SelectionController>(host.id())
+            .unwrap();
+        rsc.set_command_target(Some(id));
+
+        rsc.with_controller::<SelectionController, _>(id, |_selection, rsc| {
+            rsc.events_mut().controllers.remove(host.id());
+        });
+
+        assert!(
+            rsc.events()
+                .controllers
+                .id::<SelectionController>(host.id())
+                .is_none()
+        );
+        assert_eq!(rsc.events().controllers.command_target(), None);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tabs-ui/src/lib.rs b/tabs-ui/src/lib.rs
index a5a2f2a..f661f95 100644
--- a/tabs-ui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/tabs-ui/src/lib.rs
@@ -9,22 +9,23 @@ pub fn build<Rsc: HasEvents>(rsc: &mut Rsc, ui_state: &mut impl HasRoot) -> Clie
 where
     Rsc::State: FocusHost,
 {
-    let rrect = rect(Color::WHITE).radius(20);
+    let rrect = rect(PaintId::WHITE).radius(20);
     let pad_test = (
-        rrect.color(Color::BLUE),
+        rrect.clone().color(PaintId::BLUE),
         (
             rrect
-                .color(Color::RED)
+                .clone()
+                .color(PaintId::RED)
                 .sized((100, 100))
                 .center()
                 .width(rest(2)),
             (
-                rrect.color(Color::ORANGE),
-                rrect.color(Color::LIME).pad(10.0),
+                rrect.clone().color(PaintId::ORANGE),
+                rrect.clone().color(PaintId::LIME).pad(10.0),
             )
                 .span(Dir::RIGHT)
                 .width(rest(2)),
-            rrect.color(Color::YELLOW),
+            rrect.clone().color(PaintId::YELLOW),
         )
             .span(Dir::RIGHT)
             .pad(10)
@@ -34,19 +35,19 @@ where
         .add(rsc);
 
     let span_test = (
-        rrect.color(Color::GREEN).width(100),
-        rrect.color(Color::ORANGE),
-        rrect.color(Color::CYAN),
-        rrect.color(Color::BLUE).width(rel(0.5)),
-        rrect.color(Color::MAGENTA).width(100),
-        rrect.color(Color::RED).width(100),
+        rrect.clone().color(PaintId::GREEN).width(100),
+        rrect.clone().color(PaintId::ORANGE),
+        rrect.clone().color(PaintId::CYAN),
+        rrect.clone().color(PaintId::BLUE).width(rel(0.5)),
+        rrect.clone().color(PaintId::MAGENTA).width(100),
+        rrect.color(PaintId::RED).width(100),
     )
         .span(Dir::LEFT)
         .add(rsc);
 
     let span_add = Span::empty(Dir::RIGHT).add(rsc);
 
-    let add_button = rect(Color::LIME)
+    let add_button = rect(PaintId::LIME)
         .radius(30)
         .on(CursorSense::click(), move |_, rsc| {
             let child = image(include_bytes!("../assets/sungals.png"))
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ where
         .sized((150, 150))
         .align(Align::BOT_RIGHT);
 
-    let del_button = rect(Color::RED)
+    let del_button = rect(PaintId::RED)
         .radius(30)
         .on(CursorSense::click(), move |_, rsc| {
             span_add(rsc).pop();
@@ -79,9 +80,9 @@ where
             btext("'").family(Family::Monospace).align(Align::TOP),
             btext("'").family(Family::Monospace),
             btext(":gamer mode").family(Family::Monospace),
-            rect(Color::CYAN).sized((10, 10)).center(),
-            rect(Color::RED).sized((100, 100)).center(),
-            rect(Color::PURPLE).sized((50, 50)).align(Align::TOP),
+            rect(PaintId::CYAN).sized((10, 10)).center(),
+            rect(PaintId::RED).sized((100, 100)).center(),
+            rect(PaintId::PURPLE).sized((50, 50)).align(Align::TOP),
         )
             .span(Dir::RIGHT)
             .center(),
@@ -94,13 +95,13 @@ where
     let msg_area = texts
         .scrollable(Axis::Y, Pin::Start)
         .masked()
-        .background(rect(Color::SKY));
+        .background(rect(PaintId::SKY));
     let add_text = wtext("add")
         .editable(EditMode::MultiLine)
         .text_align(Align::LEFT)
         .size(30)
         .attr::<Selectable>(())
-        .on(Submit, move |ctx, rsc| {
+        .on(Submit, move |ctx, rsc: &mut Rsc| {
             let w = ctx.widget;
             let content = w.edit(rsc).take();
             let text = wtext(content)
@@ -109,9 +110,11 @@ where
                 .text_align(Align::LEFT)
                 .wrap(true)
                 .attr::<Selectable>(());
-            let msg_box = text
-                .background(rect(Color::WHITE.darker(0.5)))
-                .add_strong(rsc);
+            let fill = rsc
+                .ui_mut()
+                .paints
+                .add(Srgba8::WHITE.to_linear().darker(0.5));
+            let msg_box = text.background(rect(fill)).add_strong(rsc);
             texts(rsc).push(msg_box);
         })
         .add(rsc);
@@ -119,10 +122,14 @@ where
     let text_edit_scroll = (
         msg_area.height(rest(1)),
         (
-            Rect::new(Color::WHITE.darker(0.9)),
+            Rect::new(
+                rsc.ui_mut()
+                    .paints
+                    .add(Srgba8::WHITE.to_linear().darker(0.9)),
+            ),
             (
                 add_text.width(rest(1)),
-                Rect::new(Color::GREEN)
+                Rect::new(PaintId::GREEN)
                     .on(CursorSense::click(), move |ctx, rsc: &mut Rsc| {
                         rsc.run_event::<Submit>(add_text, (), ctx.state);
                     })
@@ -142,7 +149,9 @@ where
     let main = WidgetPtr::new().add(rsc);
 
     let vals = Rc::new(RefCell::new((0, Vec::new())));
-    let mut switch_button = |color, to: WeakWidget, label| {
+    let mut switch_button = |solid: Srgba8, to: WeakWidget, label| {
+        let value = solid.to_linear();
+        let paint = rsc.ui_mut().paints.add(value);
         let to = to.upgrade(rsc);
         let vec = &mut vals.borrow_mut().1;
         let i = vec.len();
@@ -153,38 +162,37 @@ where
             vec.push(Some(to));
         }
         let vals = vals.clone();
-        let rect = rect(color)
-            .on(CursorSense::click(), move |ctx, rsc| {
+        let pressed = paint.clone();
+        let hovered = paint.clone();
+        let normal = paint.clone();
+        let rect = rect(paint)
+            .on(CursorSense::click(), move |_ctx, rsc: &mut Rsc| {
                 let (prev, vec) = &mut *vals.borrow_mut();
                 if let Some(h) = vec[i].take() {
                     vec[*prev] = main(rsc).replace(h);
                     *prev = i;
                 }
-                ctx.widget(rsc).color = color.darker(0.3);
+                rsc.ui_mut().paints.set(&pressed, value.darker(0.3));
             })
             .on(
                 CursorSense::HoverStart | CursorSense::unclick(),
-                move |ctx, rsc| {
-                    ctx.widget(rsc).color = color.brighter(0.2);
+                move |_ctx, rsc: &mut Rsc| {
+                    rsc.ui_mut().paints.set(&hovered, value.brighter(0.2));
                 },
             )
-            .on(CursorSense::HoverEnd, move |ctx, rsc| {
-                ctx.widget(rsc).color = color;
+            .on(CursorSense::HoverEnd, move |_ctx, rsc: &mut Rsc| {
+                rsc.ui_mut().paints.set(&normal, value);
             })
             .label(label);
         (rect, wtext(label).size(30).text_align(Align::CENTER)).stack()
     };
 
     let tabs = (
-        switch_button(Color::RED, pad_test, "pad"),
-        switch_button(Color::GREEN, span_test, "span"),
-        switch_button(Color::BLUE, span_add_test, "image span"),
-        switch_button(Color::MAGENTA, text_test, "text layout"),
-        switch_button(
-            Color::YELLOW.mul_rgb(0.5),
-            text_edit_scroll,
-            "text edit scroll",
-        ),
+        switch_button(Srgba8::RED, pad_test, "pad"),
+        switch_button(Srgba8::GREEN, span_test, "span"),
+        switch_button(Srgba8::BLUE, span_add_test, "image span"),
+        switch_button(Srgba8::MAGENTA, text_test, "text layout"),
+        switch_button(Srgba8::YELLOW, text_edit_scroll, "text edit scroll"),
     )
         .span(Dir::RIGHT);
 
diff --git a/tests/color_space.rs b/tests/color_space.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..88d4d52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/color_space.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+#![recursion_limit = "256"]
+
+use iris::{harness::Harness, prelude::*};
+use pollster::FutureExt;
+use std::sync::OnceLock;
+use wgpu::TextureFormat;
+
+const SIZE: Vec2 = Vec2::new(2.0, 1.0);
+const SOLID: Srgba8 = Srgba8::rgb(17, 127, 231);
+const CHANGED_SOLID: Srgba8 = Srgba8::rgb(243, 139, 168);
+const IMAGE: Srgba8 = Srgba8::rgb(205, 214, 244);
+
+/// Covers the whole colour path rather than a conversion helper: an sRGB
+/// literal enters the linear paint buffer, an sRGB image is sampled as
+/// linear, the Iris shader returns both, and the sRGB attachment encodes the
+/// stored bytes. Replacing only the paint-table entry also proves that a
+/// theme change reaches an already-retained primitive.
+#[test]
+fn solid_paints_and_images_round_trip_through_an_srgb_target() {
+    let gpu = Gpu::open();
+    let mut harness = Harness::new(SIZE, 1.0);
+    let solid = harness.rsc.ui.paints.add(SOLID);
+    let bitmap = image::DynamicImage::ImageRgba8(image::RgbaImage::from_pixel(
+        1,
+        1,
+        image::Rgba([IMAGE.r, IMAGE.g, IMAGE.b, IMAGE.a]),
+    ));
+    let bitmap = image::<iris::harness::HarnessRsc>(bitmap)(&mut harness.rsc);
+    let root = (rect(solid.clone()).sized((1, 1)), bitmap)
+        .span(Dir::RIGHT)
+        .add_strong(&mut harness.rsc)
+        .any();
+    harness.state.set_root(root);
+    harness.frame(0);
+
+    let mut renderer =
+        UiRenderNode::new(&gpu.device, &gpu.queue, TextureFormat::Rgba8UnormSrgb, SIZE)
+            .expect("the Iris pipeline should accept an sRGB render target");
+    let first = render(&gpu, &mut renderer, &mut harness);
+    assert_pixel(first[0], SOLID, "linear paint buffer -> sRGB attachment");
+    assert_pixel(first[1], IMAGE, "sRGB texture -> shader -> sRGB attachment");
+
+    harness.rsc.ui.paints.set(&solid, CHANGED_SOLID);
+    let changed = render(&gpu, &mut renderer, &mut harness);
+    assert_pixel(
+        changed[0],
+        CHANGED_SOLID,
+        "updated paint table -> retained primitive",
+    );
+    assert_pixel(changed[1], IMAGE, "unchanged image after paint update");
+}
+
+fn render(gpu: &Gpu, renderer: &mut UiRenderNode, harness: &mut Harness) -> [[u8; 4]; 2] {
+    renderer.update(
+        &gpu.device,
+        &gpu.queue,
+        &mut harness.rsc.ui,
+        &mut harness.render,
+    );
+    let texture = gpu.device.create_texture(&wgpu::TextureDescriptor {
+        label: Some("Iris colour-space target"),
+        size: wgpu::Extent3d {
+            width: 2,
+            height: 1,
+            depth_or_array_layers: 1,
+        },
+        mip_level_count: 1,
+        sample_count: 1,
+        dimension: wgpu::TextureDimension::D2,
+        format: wgpu::TextureFormat::Rgba8UnormSrgb,
+        usage: wgpu::TextureUsages::RENDER_ATTACHMENT | wgpu::TextureUsages::COPY_SRC,
+        view_formats: &[],
+    });
+    let view = texture.create_view(&Default::default());
+    let readback = gpu.device.create_buffer(&wgpu::BufferDescriptor {
+        label: Some("Iris colour-space readback"),
+        size: 256,
+        usage: wgpu::BufferUsages::MAP_READ | wgpu::BufferUsages::COPY_DST,
+        mapped_at_creation: false,
+    });
+    let mut encoder = gpu.device.create_command_encoder(&Default::default());
+    {
+        let mut pass = encoder.begin_render_pass(&wgpu::RenderPassDescriptor {
+            label: Some("Iris colour-space pass"),
+            color_attachments: &[Some(wgpu::RenderPassColorAttachment {
+                view: &view,
+                depth_slice: None,
+                resolve_target: None,
+                ops: wgpu::Operations {
+                    load: wgpu::LoadOp::Clear(LinearRgba::BLACK.to_wgpu()),
+                    store: wgpu::StoreOp::Store,
+                },
+            })],
+            depth_stencil_attachment: None,
+            timestamp_writes: None,
+            occlusion_query_set: None,
+            multiview_mask: None,
+        });
+        renderer.draw(&mut pass);
+    }
+    encoder.copy_texture_to_buffer(
+        texture.as_image_copy(),
+        wgpu::TexelCopyBufferInfo {
+            buffer: &readback,
+            layout: wgpu::TexelCopyBufferLayout {
+                offset: 0,
+                bytes_per_row: Some(256),
+                rows_per_image: Some(1),
+            },
+        },
+        wgpu::Extent3d {
+            width: 2,
+            height: 1,
+            depth_or_array_layers: 1,
+        },
+    );
+    gpu.queue.submit([encoder.finish()]);
+
+    let slice = readback.slice(..);
+    slice.map_async(wgpu::MapMode::Read, |result| {
+        result.expect("mapping the colour-space readback")
+    });
+    gpu.device
+        .poll(wgpu::PollType::wait_indefinitely())
+        .expect("waiting for the colour-space readback");
+    let mapped = slice
+        .get_mapped_range()
+        .expect("reading the mapped colour-space buffer");
+    let pixels = [
+        mapped[0..4].try_into().unwrap(),
+        mapped[4..8].try_into().unwrap(),
+    ];
+    drop(mapped);
+    readback.unmap();
+    pixels
+}
+
+fn assert_pixel(got: [u8; 4], want: Srgba8, path: &str) {
+    let want = [want.r, want.g, want.b, want.a];
+    assert!(
+        got.into_iter()
+            .zip(want)
+            .all(|(got, want)| got.abs_diff(want) <= 1),
+        "{path}: stored {got:?}, expected {want:?} (within one code value)",
+    );
+}
+
+fn vulkan_instance() -> &'static wgpu::Instance {
+    static INSTANCE: OnceLock<wgpu::Instance> = OnceLock::new();
+    INSTANCE.get_or_init(wgpu::Instance::default)
+}
+
+struct Gpu {
+    device: wgpu::Device,
+    queue: wgpu::Queue,
+}
+
+impl Gpu {
+    fn open() -> Self {
+        let adapter = vulkan_instance()
+            .request_adapter(&wgpu::RequestAdapterOptions::default())
+            .block_on()
+            .expect("no wgpu adapter, so Iris's colour-space pipeline went unchecked");
+        let info = adapter.get_info();
+        eprintln!(
+            "color_space: {} ({:?}, {})",
+            info.name, info.backend, info.driver
+        );
+        let (device, queue) = adapter
+            .request_device(&wgpu::DeviceDescriptor {
+                required_limits: iris_core::device_limits(),
+                ..Default::default()
+            })
+            .block_on()
+            .expect("could not get a device from the adapter");
+        Self { device, queue }
+    }
+}