diff --git a/include/notcurses/notcurses.h b/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
index 6d1377b0b..0e108fe6d 100644
--- a/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
+++ b/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
@@ -3399,23 +3399,6 @@ API void ncreader_destroy(struct ncreader* n, char** contents);
 API void notcurses_debug(struct notcurses* nc, FILE* debugfp)
   __attribute__ ((nonnull (1, 2)));
 
-// a system for rendering RGBA pixels as text glyphs
-struct blitset {
-  ncblitter_e geom;
-  int width;
-  int height;
-  // the EGCs which form the various levels of a given plotset. if the geometry
-  // is wide, things are arranged with the rightmost side increasing most
-  // quickly, i.e. it can be indexed as height arrays of 1 + height glyphs. i.e.
-  // the first five braille EGCs are all 0 on the left, [0..4] on the right.
-  const wchar_t* egcs;
-  int (*blit)(struct ncplane* n, int placey, int placex, int linesize,
-              const void* data, int begy, int begx, int leny, int lenx,
-              unsigned blendcolors);
-  const char* name;
-  bool fill;
-};
-
 // replaced by ncvisual_media_defblitter(). this original version never returns
 // NCBLIT_3x2.
 static inline ncblitter_e
diff --git a/src/lib/blit.c b/src/lib/blit.c
index ad9b836ca..dc56e50b7 100644
--- a/src/lib/blit.c
+++ b/src/lib/blit.c
@@ -33,10 +33,11 @@ trilerp(uint32_t c0, uint32_t c1, uint32_t c2){
 
 // Retarded RGBA blitter (ASCII only).
 static inline int
-tria_blit_ascii(ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex, int linesize,
-                const void* data, int begy, int begx,
+tria_blit_ascii(const tinfo* tcache, ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex,
+                int linesize, const void* data, int begy, int begx,
                 int leny, int lenx, unsigned blendcolors){
 //fprintf(stderr, "ASCII %d X %d @ %d X %d (%p) place: %d X %d\n", leny, lenx, begy, begx, data, placey, placex);
+  (void)tcache;
   const int bpp = 32;
   int dimy, dimx, x, y;
   int total = 0; // number of cells written
@@ -82,9 +83,10 @@ tria_blit_ascii(ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex, int linesize,
 // RGBA half-block blitter. Best for most images/videos. Full fidelity
 // combined with 1:1 pixel aspect ratio.
 static inline int
-tria_blit(ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex, int linesize,
-          const void* data, int begy, int begx,
+tria_blit(const tinfo* tcache, ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex,
+          int linesize, const void* data, int begy, int begx,
           int leny, int lenx, unsigned blendcolors){
+  (void)tcache;
 //fprintf(stderr, "HALF %d X %d @ %d X %d (%p) place: %d X %d\n", leny, lenx, begy, begx, data, placey, placex);
   const int bpp = 32;
   int dimy, dimx, x, y;
@@ -416,9 +418,10 @@ qtrans_check(nccell* c, unsigned blendcolors,
 // quadrant blitter. maps 2x2 to each cell. since we only have two colors at
 // our disposal (foreground and background), we lose some fidelity.
 static inline int
-quadrant_blit(ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex, int linesize,
-              const void* data, int begy, int begx,
+quadrant_blit(const tinfo* tcache, ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex,
+              int linesize, const void* data, int begy, int begx,
               int leny, int lenx, unsigned blendcolors){
+  (void)tcache;
   const int bpp = 32;
   int dimy, dimx, x, y;
   int total = 0; // number of cells written
@@ -639,9 +642,10 @@ sex_trans_check(cell* c, const uint32_t rgbas[6], unsigned blendcolors){
 // sextant blitter. maps 3x2 to each cell. since we only have two colors at
 // our disposal (foreground and background), we lose some fidelity.
 static inline int
-sextant_blit(ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex, int linesize,
-             const void* data, int begy, int begx,
+sextant_blit(const tinfo* tcache, ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex,
+             int linesize, const void* data, int begy, int begx,
              int leny, int lenx, unsigned blendcolors){
+  (void)tcache;
   const int bpp = 32;
   int dimy, dimx, x, y;
   int total = 0; // number of cells written
@@ -708,9 +712,10 @@ fold_rgb8(unsigned* restrict r, unsigned* restrict g, unsigned* restrict b,
 // visuals with only two colors in a given area, as it packs lots of
 // resolution. always transparent background.
 static inline int
-braille_blit(ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex, int linesize,
-             const void* data, int begy, int begx,
+braille_blit(const tinfo* tcache, ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex,
+             int linesize, const void* data, int begy, int begx,
              int leny, int lenx, unsigned blendcolors){
+  (void)tcache;
   const int bpp = 32;
   int dimy, dimx, x, y;
   int total = 0; // number of cells written
@@ -922,7 +927,7 @@ int ncblit_rgba(const void* data, int linesize, const struct ncvisual_options* v
     return -1;
   }
   const bool blend = (vopts->flags & NCVISUAL_OPTION_BLEND);
-  return bset->blit(nc, vopts->y, vopts->x, linesize, data, begy, begx,
+  return bset->blit(NULL, nc, vopts->y, vopts->x, linesize, data, begy, begx,
                     leny, lenx, blend);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/direct.cpp b/src/lib/direct.cpp
index 0f8e39a76..79eca220e 100644
--- a/src/lib/direct.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/direct.cpp
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@ ncdirectv* ncdirect_render_frame(ncdirect* n, const char* file,
     ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
     return nullptr;
   }
-  if(ncvisual_blit(ncv, disprows, dispcols, ncdv, bset,
+  if(ncvisual_blit(&n->tcache, ncv, disprows, dispcols, ncdv, bset,
                    0, 0, 0, 0, leny, lenx, n->tcache.cellpixx)){
     ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
     free_plane(ncdv);
diff --git a/src/lib/internal.h b/src/lib/internal.h
index d73b6e270..6169ff8ff 100644
--- a/src/lib/internal.h
+++ b/src/lib/internal.h
@@ -381,6 +381,23 @@ typedef struct notcurses {
   unsigned stdio_blocking_save; // was stdio blocking at entry? restore on stop.
 } notcurses;
 
+// a system for rendering RGBA pixels as text glyphs
+struct blitset {
+  ncblitter_e geom;
+  int width;
+  int height;
+  // the EGCs which form the various levels of a given plotset. if the geometry
+  // is wide, things are arranged with the rightmost side increasing most
+  // quickly, i.e. it can be indexed as height arrays of 1 + height glyphs. i.e.
+  // the first five braille EGCs are all 0 on the left, [0..4] on the right.
+  const wchar_t* egcs;
+  int (*blit)(const tinfo* tcache, struct ncplane* n, int placey, int placex,
+              int linesize, const void* data, int begy, int begx,
+              int leny, int lenx, unsigned blendcolors);
+  const char* name;
+  bool fill;
+};
+
 #include "blitset.h"
 
 void sigwinch_handler(int signo);
@@ -724,10 +741,10 @@ rgba_blitter(const struct notcurses* nc, const struct ncvisual_options* opts) {
 }
 
 static inline int
-rgba_blit_dispatch(ncplane* nc, const struct blitset* bset, int placey,
-                   int placex, int linesize, const void* data, int begy,
-                   int begx, int leny, int lenx, bool blendcolors){
-  return bset->blit(nc, placey, placex, linesize, data, begy, begx,
+rgba_blit_dispatch(const tinfo* tcache, ncplane* nc, const struct blitset* bset,
+                   int placey, int placex, int linesize, const void* data,
+                   int begy, int begx, int leny, int lenx, bool blendcolors){
+  return bset->blit(tcache, nc, placey, placex, linesize, data, begy, begx,
                     leny, lenx, blendcolors);
 }
 
@@ -861,8 +878,8 @@ ALLOC char* ncplane_vprintf_prep(const char* format, va_list ap);
 
 // Resize the provided ncviusal to the specified 'rows' x 'cols', but do not
 // change the internals of the ncvisual. Uses oframe.
-int ncvisual_blit(struct ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols,
-                  ncplane* n, const struct blitset* bset,
+int ncvisual_blit(const tinfo* tcache, struct ncvisual* ncv,
+                  int rows, int cols, ncplane* n, const struct blitset* bset,
                   int placey, int placex, int begy, int begx,
                   int leny, int lenx, bool blendcolors);
 
@@ -1202,8 +1219,8 @@ ncdirect_bg_default_p(const struct ncdirect* nc){
   return channels_bg_default_p(ncdirect_channels(nc));
 }
 
-int sixel_blit(ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex, int linesize,
-               const void* data, int begy, int begx,
+int sixel_blit(const tinfo* tcache, ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex,
+               int linesize, const void* data, int begy, int begx,
                int leny, int lenx, unsigned cellpixx);
 
 int term_fg_rgb8(bool RGBflag, const char* setaf, int colors, FILE* out,
@@ -1212,7 +1229,8 @@ int term_fg_rgb8(bool RGBflag, const char* setaf, int colors, FILE* out,
 typedef struct ncvisual_implementation {
   int (*visual_init)(int loglevel);
   void (*visual_printbanner)(const struct notcurses* nc);
-  int (*visual_blit)(struct ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols, ncplane* n,
+  int (*visual_blit)(const tinfo* tcache, struct ncvisual* ncv,
+                     int rows, int cols, ncplane* n,
                      const struct blitset* bset, int placey, int placex,
                      int begy, int begx, int leny, int lenx,
                      bool blendcolors);
diff --git a/src/lib/sixel.c b/src/lib/sixel.c
index daea7eae8..5f0764c31 100644
--- a/src/lib/sixel.c
+++ b/src/lib/sixel.c
@@ -161,10 +161,10 @@ write_rle(FILE* fp, int seenrle, unsigned char crle){
 
 // Emit the sprixel in its entirety, plus enable and disable pixel mode.
 static int
-write_sixel_data(FILE* fp, int lenx, sixeltable* stab){
+write_sixel_data(const tinfo* tcache, FILE* fp, int lenx, sixeltable* stab){
   // DECSDM (sixel scrolling enable) plus enter sixel mode
   // FIXME i think we can print DESDM on the first one, and never again
-  fprintf(fp, "\e[?80h\ePq"); // FIXME pixelon
+  fprintf(fp, tcache->pixelon);
 
   // Set Raster Attributes - pan/pad=1 (pixel aspect ratio), Ph=lenx, Pv=leny
   // using Ph/Pv causes a background to be drawn using color register 0 for all
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ write_sixel_data(FILE* fp, int lenx, sixeltable* stab){
     }
     p += lenx;
   }
-  fprintf(fp, "\e\\"); // FIXME pixeloff
+  fprintf(fp, tcache->pixeloff);
   if(fclose(fp) == EOF){
     return -1;
   }
@@ -220,15 +220,15 @@ write_sixel_data(FILE* fp, int lenx, sixeltable* stab){
 // are programmed as a set of registers, which are then referenced by the
 // stacks. There is also a RLE component, handled in rasterization.
 // A pixel block is indicated by setting cell_pixels_p().
-int sixel_blit_inner(ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex, int lenx,
-                     sixeltable* stab, unsigned cellpixx){
+int sixel_blit_inner(const tinfo* tcache, ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex,
+                     int lenx, sixeltable* stab, unsigned cellpixx){
   char* buf = NULL;
   size_t size = 0;
   FILE* fp = open_memstream(&buf, &size);
   if(fp == NULL){
     return -1;
   }
-  if(write_sixel_data(fp, lenx, stab)){
+  if(write_sixel_data(tcache, fp, lenx, stab)){
     fclose(fp);
     free(buf);
     return -1;
@@ -243,8 +243,8 @@ int sixel_blit_inner(ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex, int lenx,
   return 1;
 }
 
-int sixel_blit(ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex, int linesize,
-               const void* data, int begy, int begx,
+int sixel_blit(const tinfo* tcache, ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex,
+               int linesize, const void* data, int begy, int begx,
                int leny, int lenx, unsigned cellpixx){
   colortable* ctab = malloc(sizeof(*ctab));
   if(ctab == NULL){
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ int sixel_blit(ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex, int linesize,
     free(stable.data);
     return -1;
   }
-  int r = sixel_blit_inner(nc, placey, placex, lenx, &stable, cellpixx);
+  int r = sixel_blit_inner(tcache, nc, placey, placex, lenx, &stable, cellpixx);
   free(stable.data);
   free(ctab);
   return r;
diff --git a/src/lib/visual.cpp b/src/lib/visual.cpp
index 50ba6bec1..e49bb7d5f 100644
--- a/src/lib/visual.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/visual.cpp
@@ -13,19 +13,20 @@ auto ncvisual_decode(ncvisual* nc) -> int {
   return visual_implementation->visual_decode(nc);
 }
 
-auto ncvisual_blit(ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols, ncplane* n,
-                   const struct blitset* bset, int placey, int placex,
-                   int begy, int begx, int leny, int lenx,
-                   bool blendcolors) -> int {
+auto ncvisual_blit(const tinfo* tcache, ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols,
+                   ncplane* n, const struct blitset* bset,
+                   int placey, int placex, int begy, int begx,
+                   int leny, int lenx, bool blendcolors) -> int {
   int ret = -1;
   if(visual_implementation){
-    if(visual_implementation->visual_blit(ncv, rows, cols, n, bset, placey, placex,
-                           begy, begx, leny, lenx, blendcolors) >= 0){
+    if(visual_implementation->visual_blit(tcache, ncv, rows, cols, n, bset,
+                                          placey, placex, begy, begx,
+                                          leny, lenx, blendcolors) >= 0){
       ret = 0;
     }
   }else{
-    if(rgba_blit_dispatch(n, bset, placey, placex, ncv->rowstride, ncv->data,
-                          begy, begx, leny, lenx, blendcolors) >= 0){
+    if(rgba_blit_dispatch(tcache, n, bset, placey, placex, ncv->rowstride,
+                          ncv->data, begy, begx, leny, lenx, blendcolors) >= 0){
       ret = 0;
     }
   }
@@ -471,7 +472,7 @@ auto ncvisual_render_cells(notcurses* nc, ncvisual* ncv, const blitset* bset,
   leny = (leny / (double)ncv->rows) * ((double)disprows);
   lenx = (lenx / (double)ncv->cols) * ((double)dispcols);
 //fprintf(stderr, "blit: %dx%d:%d+%d of %d/%d stride %u %p\n", begy, begx, leny, lenx, ncv->rows, ncv->cols, ncv->rowstride, ncv->data);
-  if(ncvisual_blit(ncv, disprows, dispcols, n, bset,
+  if(ncvisual_blit(&nc->tcache, ncv, disprows, dispcols, n, bset,
                    placey, placex, begy, begx, leny, lenx, blendcolors)){
     ncplane_destroy(n);
     return nullptr;
@@ -524,7 +525,7 @@ auto ncvisual_render_pixels(tinfo* tcache, ncvisual* ncv, const blitset* bset,
     scale_visual(ncv, &disprows, &dispcols);
   }
 //fprintf(stderr, "blit: %dx%d <- %dx%d:%d+%d of %d/%d stride %u @%dx%d %p\n", disprows, dispcols, begy, begx, leny, lenx, ncv->rows, ncv->cols, ncv->rowstride, placey, placex, ncv->data);
-  if(ncvisual_blit(ncv, disprows, dispcols, n, bset,
+  if(ncvisual_blit(tcache, ncv, disprows, dispcols, n, bset,
                    placey, placex, begy, begx, disprows, dispcols,
                    ncplane_notcurses(stdn)->tcache.cellpixx)){
     ncplane_destroy(n);
diff --git a/src/media/ffmpeg.cpp b/src/media/ffmpeg.cpp
index 4b7f62a45..221a5484f 100644
--- a/src/media/ffmpeg.cpp
+++ b/src/media/ffmpeg.cpp
@@ -467,8 +467,8 @@ int ffmpeg_decode_loop(ncvisual* ncv){
   return r;
 }
 
-int ffmpeg_blit(ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols, ncplane* n,
-                const struct blitset* bset, int placey, int placex,
+int ffmpeg_blit(const tinfo* tcache, ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols,
+                ncplane* n, const struct blitset* bset, int placey, int placex,
                 int begy, int begx, int leny, int lenx, bool blendcolors) {
   const AVFrame* inframe = ncv->details->oframe ? ncv->details->oframe : ncv->details->frame;
 //fprintf(stderr, "inframe: %p oframe: %p frame: %p\n", inframe, ncv->details->oframe, ncv->details->frame);
@@ -522,8 +522,8 @@ int ffmpeg_blit(ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols, ncplane* n,
     data = ncv->data;
   }
 //fprintf(stderr, "place: %d/%d rows/cols: %d/%d %d/%d+%d/%d\n", placey, placex, rows, cols, begy, begx, leny, lenx);
-  if(rgba_blit_dispatch(n, bset, placey, placex, stride, data, begy, begx,
-                        leny, lenx, blendcolors) < 0){
+  if(rgba_blit_dispatch(tcache, n, bset, placey, placex, stride, data,
+                        begy, begx, leny, lenx, blendcolors) < 0){
 //fprintf(stderr, "rgba dispatch failed!\n");
     if(sframe){
       av_freep(sframe->data);
diff --git a/src/media/oiio.cpp b/src/media/oiio.cpp
index 0182cc0e4..41e06f1de 100644
--- a/src/media/oiio.cpp
+++ b/src/media/oiio.cpp
@@ -149,10 +149,10 @@ int oiio_resize(ncvisual* nc, int rows, int cols) {
   return 0;
 }
 
-int oiio_blit(struct ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols,
-                  ncplane* n, const struct blitset* bset,
-                  int placey, int placex, int begy, int begx,
-                  int leny, int lenx, bool blendcolors) {
+int oiio_blit(const tinfo* tcache, struct ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols,
+              ncplane* n, const struct blitset* bset,
+              int placey, int placex, int begy, int begx,
+              int leny, int lenx, bool blendcolors) {
 //fprintf(stderr, "%d/%d -> %d/%d on the resize\n", ncv->rows, ncv->cols, rows, cols);
   void* data = nullptr;
   int stride = 0;
@@ -173,8 +173,8 @@ int oiio_blit(struct ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols,
     data = ncv->data;
     stride = ncv->rowstride;
   }
-  if(rgba_blit_dispatch(n, bset, placey, placex, stride, data, begy, begx,
-                        leny, lenx, blendcolors) < 0){
+  if(rgba_blit_dispatch(tcache, n, bset, placey, placex, stride, data,
+                        begy, begx, leny, lenx, blendcolors) < 0){
     return -1;
   }
   return 0;