diff --git a/src/lib/internal.h b/src/lib/internal.h
index b4cef3902..8ab95341c 100644
--- a/src/lib/internal.h
+++ b/src/lib/internal.h
@@ -401,6 +401,9 @@ struct blitset {
 
 #include "blitset.h"
 
+void reset_stats(ncstats* stats);
+void summarize_stats(notcurses* nc);
+
 void sigwinch_handler(int signo);
 
 void init_lang(notcurses* nc); // nc may be NULL, only used for logging
@@ -854,7 +857,7 @@ ALLOC char* ncplane_vprintf_prep(const char* format, va_list ap);
 int ncvisual_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 leny, int lenx, unsigned blendcolors);
 
 void nclog(const char* fmt, ...);
 
@@ -1069,6 +1072,7 @@ pool_blit_direct(egcpool* pool, nccell* c, const char* gcluster, int bytes, int
     return -1;
   }
   c->width = cols;
+  cell_set_pixels(c, 0);
   if(bytes <= 4){
     c->gcluster = 0;
     memcpy(&c->gcluster, gcluster, bytes);
@@ -1208,7 +1212,7 @@ API const struct blitset* lookup_blitset(const tinfo* tcache, ncblitter_e setid,
 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){
+                   int begx, int leny, int lenx, unsigned blendcolors){
   return bset->blit(nc, placey, placex, linesize, data, begy, begx,
                     leny, lenx, blendcolors);
 }
@@ -1237,7 +1241,7 @@ typedef struct ncvisual_implementation {
   int (*visual_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);
+                     unsigned blendcolors);
   struct ncvisual* (*visual_create)(void);
   struct ncvisual* (*visual_from_file)(const char* fname);
   // ncv constructors other than ncvisual_from_file() need to set up the
diff --git a/src/lib/kitty.c b/src/lib/kitty.c
index 83a9823b6..83b94229f 100644
--- a/src/lib/kitty.c
+++ b/src/lib/kitty.c
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ int kitty_blit_inner(ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex, int linesize,
     free(buf);
     return -1;
   }
+  cell_set_pixels(c, 1);
   free(buf);
   return 1;
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/notcurses.c b/src/lib/notcurses.c
index 62eb09838..a3ab69a8e 100644
--- a/src/lib/notcurses.c
+++ b/src/lib/notcurses.c
@@ -707,84 +707,6 @@ int ncplane_genocide(ncplane *ncp){
   return ret;
 }
 
-static void
-reset_stats(ncstats* stats){
-  uint64_t fbbytes = stats->fbbytes;
-  unsigned planes = stats->planes;
-  memset(stats, 0, sizeof(*stats));
-  stats->render_min_ns = 1ull << 62u;
-  stats->render_min_bytes = 1ull << 62u;
-  stats->raster_min_ns = 1ull << 62u;
-  stats->writeout_min_ns = 1ull << 62u;
-  stats->fbbytes = fbbytes;
-  stats->planes = planes;
-}
-
-void notcurses_stats(notcurses* nc, ncstats* stats){
-  pthread_mutex_lock(&nc->statlock);
-  memcpy(stats, &nc->stats, sizeof(*stats));
-  pthread_mutex_unlock(&nc->statlock);
-}
-
-ncstats* notcurses_stats_alloc(const notcurses* nc __attribute__ ((unused))){
-  return malloc(sizeof(ncstats));
-}
-
-void notcurses_stats_reset(notcurses* nc, ncstats* stats){
-  pthread_mutex_lock(&nc->statlock);
-  if(stats){
-    memcpy(stats, &nc->stats, sizeof(*stats));
-  }
-  // add the stats to the stashed stats, so that we can show true totals on
-  // shutdown in the closing banner
-  ncstats* stash = &nc->stashed_stats;
-  if(nc->stats.render_min_ns < stash->render_min_ns){
-    stash->render_min_ns = nc->stats.render_min_ns;
-  }
-  if(nc->stats.render_min_bytes < stash->render_min_bytes){
-    stash->render_min_bytes = nc->stats.render_min_bytes;
-  }
-  if(nc->stats.raster_min_ns < stash->raster_min_ns){
-    stash->raster_min_ns = nc->stats.raster_min_ns;
-  }
-  if(nc->stats.writeout_min_ns < stash->writeout_min_ns){
-    stash->writeout_min_ns = nc->stats.writeout_min_ns;
-  }
-  if(nc->stats.render_max_ns > stash->render_max_ns){
-    stash->render_max_ns = nc->stats.render_max_ns;
-  }
-  if(nc->stats.render_max_bytes > stash->render_max_bytes){
-    stash->render_max_bytes = nc->stats.render_max_bytes;
-  }
-  if(nc->stats.raster_max_ns > stash->raster_max_ns){
-    stash->raster_max_ns = nc->stats.raster_max_ns;
-  }
-  if(nc->stats.writeout_max_ns > stash->writeout_max_ns){
-    stash->writeout_max_ns = nc->stats.writeout_max_ns;
-  }
-  stash->writeout_ns += nc->stats.writeout_ns;
-  stash->raster_ns += nc->stats.raster_ns;
-  stash->render_ns += nc->stats.render_ns;
-  stash->render_bytes += nc->stats.render_bytes;
-  stash->failed_renders += nc->stats.failed_renders;
-  stash->failed_writeouts += nc->stats.failed_writeouts;
-  stash->renders += nc->stats.renders;
-  stash->writeouts += nc->stats.writeouts;
-  stash->cellelisions += nc->stats.cellelisions;
-  stash->cellemissions += nc->stats.cellemissions;
-  stash->fgelisions += nc->stats.fgelisions;
-  stash->fgemissions += nc->stats.fgemissions;
-  stash->bgelisions += nc->stats.bgelisions;
-  stash->bgemissions += nc->stats.bgemissions;
-  stash->defaultelisions += nc->stats.defaultelisions;
-  stash->defaultemissions += nc->stats.defaultemissions;
-  stash->refreshes = nc->stats.refreshes;
-  stash->fbbytes = nc->stats.fbbytes;
-  stash->planes = nc->stats.planes;
-  reset_stats(&nc->stats);
-  pthread_mutex_unlock(&nc->statlock);
-}
-
 // only invoked without suppress banners flag. prints various warnings based on
 // the environment / terminal definition.
 static void
@@ -1222,67 +1144,7 @@ int notcurses_stop(notcurses* nc){
     // get any current stats loaded into stash_stats
     notcurses_stats_reset(nc, NULL);
     if(!nc->suppress_banner){
-      const ncstats *stats = &nc->stashed_stats;
-      if(stats->renders){
-        char totalbuf[BPREFIXSTRLEN + 1];
-        char minbuf[BPREFIXSTRLEN + 1];
-        char maxbuf[BPREFIXSTRLEN + 1];
-        char avgbuf[BPREFIXSTRLEN + 1];
-        qprefix(stats->render_ns, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, totalbuf, 0);
-        qprefix(stats->render_min_ns, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, minbuf, 0);
-        qprefix(stats->render_max_ns, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, maxbuf, 0);
-        qprefix(stats->render_ns / stats->renders, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, avgbuf, 0);
-        fprintf(stderr, "\n%ju render%s, %ss (%ss min, %ss avg, %ss max)\n",
-                stats->renders, stats->renders == 1 ? "" : "s",
-                totalbuf, minbuf, avgbuf, maxbuf);
-        qprefix(stats->raster_ns, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, totalbuf, 0);
-        qprefix(stats->raster_min_ns, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, minbuf, 0);
-        qprefix(stats->raster_max_ns, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, maxbuf, 0);
-        qprefix(stats->raster_ns / stats->writeouts, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, avgbuf, 0);
-        fprintf(stderr, "%ju raster%s, %ss (%ss min, %ss avg, %ss max)\n",
-                stats->writeouts, stats->writeouts == 1 ? "" : "s",
-                totalbuf, minbuf, avgbuf, maxbuf);
-        qprefix(stats->writeout_ns, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, totalbuf, 0);
-        qprefix(stats->writeout_min_ns, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, minbuf, 0);
-        qprefix(stats->writeout_max_ns, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, maxbuf, 0);
-        qprefix(stats->writeouts ? stats->writeout_ns / stats->writeouts : 0,
-                NANOSECS_IN_SEC, avgbuf, 0);
-        fprintf(stderr, "%ju write%s, %ss (%ss min, %ss avg, %ss max)\n",
-                stats->writeouts, stats->writeouts == 1 ? "" : "s",
-                totalbuf, minbuf, avgbuf, maxbuf);
-        bprefix(stats->render_bytes, 1, totalbuf, 1),
-        bprefix(stats->render_min_bytes, 1, minbuf, 1),
-        bprefix(stats->renders ? stats->render_bytes / stats->renders : 0, 1, avgbuf, 1);
-        bprefix(stats->render_max_bytes, 1, maxbuf, 1),
-        fprintf(stderr, "%sB (%sB min, %sB avg, %sB max)\n",
-                totalbuf, minbuf, avgbuf, maxbuf);
-      }
-      if(stats->renders || stats->failed_renders){
-        fprintf(stderr, "%ju failed render%s, %ju failed write%s, %ju refresh%s\n",
-                stats->failed_renders,
-                stats->failed_renders == 1 ? "" : "s",
-                stats->failed_writeouts,
-                stats->failed_writeouts == 1 ? "" : "s",
-                stats->refreshes,
-                stats->refreshes == 1 ? "" : "es");
-        fprintf(stderr, "RGB emits:elides: def %ju:%ju fg %ju:%ju bg %ju:%ju\n",
-                stats->defaultemissions,
-                stats->defaultelisions,
-                stats->fgemissions,
-                stats->fgelisions,
-                stats->bgemissions,
-                stats->bgelisions);
-        fprintf(stderr, "Cell emits:elides: %ju/%ju (%.2f%%) %.2f%% %.2f%% %.2f%%\n",
-                stats->cellemissions, stats->cellelisions,
-                (stats->cellemissions + stats->cellelisions) == 0 ? 0 :
-                (stats->cellelisions * 100.0) / (stats->cellemissions + stats->cellelisions),
-                (stats->defaultemissions + stats->defaultelisions) == 0 ? 0 :
-                (stats->defaultelisions * 100.0) / (stats->defaultemissions + stats->defaultelisions),
-                (stats->fgemissions + stats->fgelisions) == 0 ? 0 :
-                (stats->fgelisions * 100.0) / (stats->fgemissions + stats->fgelisions),
-                (stats->bgemissions + stats->bgelisions) == 0 ? 0 :
-                (stats->bgelisions * 100.0) / (stats->bgemissions + stats->bgelisions));
-      }
+      summarize_stats(nc);
     }
     del_curterm(cur_term);
     ret |= pthread_mutex_destroy(&nc->statlock);
diff --git a/src/lib/sixel.c b/src/lib/sixel.c
index b289bae80..601839627 100644
--- a/src/lib/sixel.c
+++ b/src/lib/sixel.c
@@ -251,6 +251,7 @@ int sixel_blit_inner(ncplane* nc, int placey, int placex, int lenx,
     free(buf);
     return -1;
   }
+  cell_set_pixels(c, 1);
   free(buf);
   return 1;
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/stats.c b/src/lib/stats.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..239a0feee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/stats.c
@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+#include "internal.h"
+
+void reset_stats(ncstats* stats){
+  uint64_t fbbytes = stats->fbbytes;
+  unsigned planes = stats->planes;
+  memset(stats, 0, sizeof(*stats));
+  stats->render_min_ns = 1ull << 62u;
+  stats->render_min_bytes = 1ull << 62u;
+  stats->raster_min_ns = 1ull << 62u;
+  stats->writeout_min_ns = 1ull << 62u;
+  stats->fbbytes = fbbytes;
+  stats->planes = planes;
+}
+
+void notcurses_stats(notcurses* nc, ncstats* stats){
+  pthread_mutex_lock(&nc->statlock);
+  memcpy(stats, &nc->stats, sizeof(*stats));
+  pthread_mutex_unlock(&nc->statlock);
+}
+
+ncstats* notcurses_stats_alloc(const notcurses* nc __attribute__ ((unused))){
+  return malloc(sizeof(ncstats));
+}
+
+void notcurses_stats_reset(notcurses* nc, ncstats* stats){
+  pthread_mutex_lock(&nc->statlock);
+  if(stats){
+    memcpy(stats, &nc->stats, sizeof(*stats));
+  }
+  // add the stats to the stashed stats, so that we can show true totals on
+  // shutdown in the closing banner
+  ncstats* stash = &nc->stashed_stats;
+  if(nc->stats.render_min_ns < stash->render_min_ns){
+    stash->render_min_ns = nc->stats.render_min_ns;
+  }
+  if(nc->stats.render_min_bytes < stash->render_min_bytes){
+    stash->render_min_bytes = nc->stats.render_min_bytes;
+  }
+  if(nc->stats.raster_min_ns < stash->raster_min_ns){
+    stash->raster_min_ns = nc->stats.raster_min_ns;
+  }
+  if(nc->stats.writeout_min_ns < stash->writeout_min_ns){
+    stash->writeout_min_ns = nc->stats.writeout_min_ns;
+  }
+  if(nc->stats.render_max_ns > stash->render_max_ns){
+    stash->render_max_ns = nc->stats.render_max_ns;
+  }
+  if(nc->stats.render_max_bytes > stash->render_max_bytes){
+    stash->render_max_bytes = nc->stats.render_max_bytes;
+  }
+  if(nc->stats.raster_max_ns > stash->raster_max_ns){
+    stash->raster_max_ns = nc->stats.raster_max_ns;
+  }
+  if(nc->stats.writeout_max_ns > stash->writeout_max_ns){
+    stash->writeout_max_ns = nc->stats.writeout_max_ns;
+  }
+  stash->writeout_ns += nc->stats.writeout_ns;
+  stash->raster_ns += nc->stats.raster_ns;
+  stash->render_ns += nc->stats.render_ns;
+  stash->render_bytes += nc->stats.render_bytes;
+  stash->failed_renders += nc->stats.failed_renders;
+  stash->failed_writeouts += nc->stats.failed_writeouts;
+  stash->renders += nc->stats.renders;
+  stash->writeouts += nc->stats.writeouts;
+  stash->cellelisions += nc->stats.cellelisions;
+  stash->cellemissions += nc->stats.cellemissions;
+  stash->fgelisions += nc->stats.fgelisions;
+  stash->fgemissions += nc->stats.fgemissions;
+  stash->bgelisions += nc->stats.bgelisions;
+  stash->bgemissions += nc->stats.bgemissions;
+  stash->defaultelisions += nc->stats.defaultelisions;
+  stash->defaultemissions += nc->stats.defaultemissions;
+  stash->refreshes = nc->stats.refreshes;
+  stash->fbbytes = nc->stats.fbbytes;
+  stash->planes = nc->stats.planes;
+  reset_stats(&nc->stats);
+  pthread_mutex_unlock(&nc->statlock);
+}
+
+void summarize_stats(notcurses* nc){
+  const ncstats *stats = &nc->stashed_stats;
+  if(stats->renders){
+    char totalbuf[BPREFIXSTRLEN + 1];
+    char minbuf[BPREFIXSTRLEN + 1];
+    char maxbuf[BPREFIXSTRLEN + 1];
+    char avgbuf[BPREFIXSTRLEN + 1];
+    qprefix(stats->render_ns, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, totalbuf, 0);
+    qprefix(stats->render_min_ns, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, minbuf, 0);
+    qprefix(stats->render_max_ns, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, maxbuf, 0);
+    qprefix(stats->render_ns / stats->renders, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, avgbuf, 0);
+    fprintf(stderr, "\n%ju render%s, %ss (%ss min, %ss avg, %ss max)\n",
+            stats->renders, stats->renders == 1 ? "" : "s",
+            totalbuf, minbuf, avgbuf, maxbuf);
+    qprefix(stats->raster_ns, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, totalbuf, 0);
+    qprefix(stats->raster_min_ns, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, minbuf, 0);
+    qprefix(stats->raster_max_ns, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, maxbuf, 0);
+    qprefix(stats->raster_ns / stats->writeouts, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, avgbuf, 0);
+    fprintf(stderr, "%ju raster%s, %ss (%ss min, %ss avg, %ss max)\n",
+            stats->writeouts, stats->writeouts == 1 ? "" : "s",
+            totalbuf, minbuf, avgbuf, maxbuf);
+    qprefix(stats->writeout_ns, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, totalbuf, 0);
+    qprefix(stats->writeout_min_ns, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, minbuf, 0);
+    qprefix(stats->writeout_max_ns, NANOSECS_IN_SEC, maxbuf, 0);
+    qprefix(stats->writeouts ? stats->writeout_ns / stats->writeouts : 0,
+            NANOSECS_IN_SEC, avgbuf, 0);
+    fprintf(stderr, "%ju write%s, %ss (%ss min, %ss avg, %ss max)\n",
+            stats->writeouts, stats->writeouts == 1 ? "" : "s",
+            totalbuf, minbuf, avgbuf, maxbuf);
+    bprefix(stats->render_bytes, 1, totalbuf, 1),
+    bprefix(stats->render_min_bytes, 1, minbuf, 1),
+    bprefix(stats->renders ? stats->render_bytes / stats->renders : 0, 1, avgbuf, 1);
+    bprefix(stats->render_max_bytes, 1, maxbuf, 1),
+    fprintf(stderr, "%sB (%sB min, %sB avg, %sB max)\n",
+            totalbuf, minbuf, avgbuf, maxbuf);
+  }
+  if(stats->renders || stats->failed_renders){
+    fprintf(stderr, "%ju failed render%s, %ju failed write%s, %ju refresh%s\n",
+            stats->failed_renders,
+            stats->failed_renders == 1 ? "" : "s",
+            stats->failed_writeouts,
+            stats->failed_writeouts == 1 ? "" : "s",
+            stats->refreshes,
+            stats->refreshes == 1 ? "" : "es");
+    fprintf(stderr, "RGB emits:elides: def %ju:%ju fg %ju:%ju bg %ju:%ju\n",
+            stats->defaultemissions,
+            stats->defaultelisions,
+            stats->fgemissions,
+            stats->fgelisions,
+            stats->bgemissions,
+            stats->bgelisions);
+    fprintf(stderr, "Cell emits:elides: %ju/%ju (%.2f%%) %.2f%% %.2f%% %.2f%%\n",
+            stats->cellemissions, stats->cellelisions,
+            (stats->cellemissions + stats->cellelisions) == 0 ? 0 :
+            (stats->cellelisions * 100.0) / (stats->cellemissions + stats->cellelisions),
+            (stats->defaultemissions + stats->defaultelisions) == 0 ? 0 :
+            (stats->defaultelisions * 100.0) / (stats->defaultemissions + stats->defaultelisions),
+            (stats->fgemissions + stats->fgelisions) == 0 ? 0 :
+            (stats->fgelisions * 100.0) / (stats->fgemissions + stats->fgelisions),
+            (stats->bgemissions + stats->bgelisions) == 0 ? 0 :
+            (stats->bgelisions * 100.0) / (stats->bgemissions + stats->bgelisions));
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/visual.cpp b/src/lib/visual.cpp
index 8e2d33d1d..990944051 100644
--- a/src/lib/visual.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/visual.cpp
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ auto ncvisual_decode(ncvisual* nc) -> int {
 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 {
+                   unsigned blendcolors) -> int {
   int ret = -1;
   if(visual_implementation){
     if(visual_implementation->visual_blit(ncv, rows, cols, n, bset, placey, placex,
@@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ auto ncvisual_render_pixels(tinfo* tcache, ncvisual* ncv, const blitset* bset,
   if(scaling == NCSCALE_SCALE || scaling == NCSCALE_SCALE_HIRES){
     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);
+//fprintf(stderr, "pblit: %dx%d <- %dx%d of %d/%d stride %u @%dx%d %p %u\n", disprows, dispcols, begy, begx, ncv->rows, ncv->cols, ncv->rowstride, placey, placex, ncv->data, ncplane_notcurses(stdn)->tcache.cellpixx);
   if(ncvisual_blit(ncv, disprows, dispcols, n, bset,
                    placey, placex, begy, begx, disprows, dispcols,
                    ncplane_notcurses(stdn)->tcache.cellpixx)){
diff --git a/src/media/ffmpeg.cpp b/src/media/ffmpeg.cpp
index 4b7f62a45..67cd4db51 100644
--- a/src/media/ffmpeg.cpp
+++ b/src/media/ffmpeg.cpp
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ int ffmpeg_decode_loop(ncvisual* ncv){
 
 int ffmpeg_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 begy, int begx, int leny, int lenx, unsigned 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);
   void* data = nullptr;
diff --git a/src/media/oiio.cpp b/src/media/oiio.cpp
index 70e6c20b1..4e27f07e5 100644
--- a/src/media/oiio.cpp
+++ b/src/media/oiio.cpp
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ int oiio_resize(ncvisual* nc, int rows, int cols) {
 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 leny, int lenx, unsigned blendcolors) {
 //fprintf(stderr, "%d/%d -> %d/%d on the resize\n", ncv->rows, ncv->cols, rows, cols);
   void* data = nullptr;
   int stride = 0;