G1: Lift, soft elevation shadows (off by default)

`Lift` (a GUI toggle, capability lift) lifts the focused pane on a
critically damped spring (animation.Spring: closed form, about 240 ms to
settle, velocity kept across retargets, settled = no frames) and floats
notices. The core puts the lift on the regions (Region.lift, on the wire);
the GUI casts from it: a soft shadow is decor, an erf rectangle on one
quad grown by 3 sigma (decor.frag, flag 0x10000000), in the quad's own
space so a track's transform carries it; darken-only, the caster's rect
left alone, alpha pre-warped for linear light and IGN-dithered. Cast last
in its group, so a neighbour's rails and rules darken with its text; a
notice's before its rule. Strength is capped per theme so text over the
darkest shadow keeps min(its contrast, 4.5) (test over the native themes).

Opt-in until the focus lift/dim default is decided. Feel review material:
docs/effects.md. Test-mode PARDES_TEST_SERIES keeps every captured frame.

Shared files touched: pardes.zig (two fields, one nextWake line),
detached/wire.zig (lift on the region), config.zig, builtins.zig
(capability), gui.zig. Not touched: Messages.zig, mouse.zig, tty,
host_io.

12 files changed, 329 insertions, 18 deletions

diff --git a/docs/effects.md b/docs/effects.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..44f3e949
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/effects.md
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Effects: feel reviews
+
+Each effect of docs/render-pipeline.md §9 lands behind its own switch, off,
+and is kept only after a feel review (§8.4): a frame series on the virtual
+clock, a recording, and a verdict — keep, polish or drop — with one line of
+why. The verdict is the user's.
+
+| effect | switch | state | review material | verdict |
+|---|---|---|---|---|
+| Crt (bundled post pass) | `Crt 0..3` | kept, rewritten (no barrel) | fx-compare stills, live window | kept at the user's live look |
+| Ripple, Glitch | — | removed | live window | dropped by the user after a live look |
+| G1 soft elevation shadows | `Lift` (off) | opt-in until the focus-lift default is decided | frame series + mp4 per theme (forge, acme, dusk): Lift on, a focus switch, a run of quick switches, a notice, Lift off | pending |
+
+Notes on G1: the lift runs on a critically damped spring (§7.2) that settles
+in about 240 ms and keeps its velocity when a quick run of switches retargets
+it; a notice floats on a lift of 1 while Lift is on. The series are the core's
+frames: core animation steps at 62.5 Hz on any display (§7.1), so a 144 Hz
+display shows the same frames, each held for two or three refreshes.
diff --git a/shaders/decor.frag.glsl b/shaders/decor.frag.glsl
index 4c2bd6d8..77f9c95e 100644
--- a/shaders/decor.frag.glsl
+++ b/shaders/decor.frag.glsl
@@ -1,24 +1,68 @@
 #version 450
 
-// Decor: a flat, hard-edged fill (a rule, a rail, a grip mark, a bar cursor)
-// that ui.vert.glsl places like a cell, its track's transition included. Its
-// colour rides in the cell's ground (a_bg) and its coverage in a_fg.r. The
-// pipeline blends it as the overlay pipeline does (backgroundLayerBlend), so
-// a fading rule shows through, and the result is that pipeline's exactly.
-// Ink (a cursor) is drawn with the opacity uniform at 1.
+// Decor, drawn by ui.vert.glsl like a cell, its track's transition included,
+// and blended as the overlay pipeline blends (backgroundLayerBlend). Ink (a
+// cursor) is drawn with the opacity uniform at 1.
+//
+// Flat: a hard-edged fill (a rule, a rail, a grip mark, a bar cursor). Its
+// colour rides in the cell's ground (a_bg), its coverage in a_fg.r, so the
+// result is the overlay pipeline's exactly.
+//
+// Soft shadow (flag 0x10000000): a rectangle's shadow blurred by a Gaussian,
+// in closed form (the product of two erf edges), on one quad grown by 3
+// sigma: no blur pass. Everything is in the quad's own 0..1 space, so a
+// track's transform carries it: sigma per axis in the uv, the caster's
+// offset from its shadow in fg.gb, the strength in fg.r. The caster's own
+// rectangle is left alone (it is drawn already), and the alpha is pre-warped
+// so black darkens in linear light, then dithered so it never bands.
 
 layout(std140, set = 3, binding = 0) uniform UiUniforms {
     float background_opacity;
 } u_ui;
 
+layout(location = 0) in vec2 v_uv;
 layout(location = 1) in vec3 v_fg;
 layout(location = 2) in vec3 v_bg;
+layout(location = 3) in vec2 v_cell_uv;
+layout(location = 4) flat in uvec4 v_effect;
 layout(location = 5) flat in vec4 v_clip;
 
 layout(location = 0) out vec4 o_col;
 
+// erf to about 4e-4 (Winitzki's approximation): smooth, cheap, odd.
+float erfApprox(float x) {
+    float x2 = x * x;
+    const float a = 0.147;
+    float e = sqrt(1.0 - exp(-x2 * (1.2732395 + a * x2) / (1.0 + a * x2)));
+    return x < 0.0 ? -e : e;
+}
+
+// How much of [lo, hi] a Gaussian of sigma s centred at x covers.
+float edge(float x, float lo, float hi, float s) {
+    float k = 0.70710678 / s;
+    return 0.5 * (erfApprox((x - lo) * k) - erfApprox((x - hi) * k));
+}
+
+float ign(vec2 p) {
+    return fract(52.9829189 * fract(dot(p, vec2(0.06711056, 0.00583715))));
+}
+
 void main() {
     if (v_clip.z >= v_clip.x && (gl_FragCoord.x < v_clip.x || gl_FragCoord.x >= v_clip.z ||
         gl_FragCoord.y < v_clip.y || gl_FragCoord.y >= v_clip.w)) discard;
-    o_col = vec4(v_bg * clamp(u_ui.background_opacity, 0.0, 1.0), v_fg.r);
+    float opacity = clamp(u_ui.background_opacity, 0.0, 1.0);
+    if ((v_effect.x & 0x10000000u) == 0u) {
+        o_col = vec4(v_bg * opacity, v_fg.r);
+        return;
+    }
+    vec2 s = v_uv;
+    vec2 m = 3.0 * s;
+    vec2 p = v_cell_uv;
+    vec2 caster0 = m - v_fg.gb;
+    vec2 caster1 = 1.0 - m - v_fg.gb;
+    if (all(greaterThanEqual(p, caster0)) && all(lessThan(p, caster1))) discard;
+    float a = v_fg.r * edge(p.x, m.x, 1.0 - m.x, s.x) * edge(p.y, m.y, 1.0 - m.y, s.y);
+    a = 1.0 - pow(max(1.0 - a, 0.0), 1.0 / 2.2);
+    a = clamp(a + (ign(gl_FragCoord.xy) - 0.5) / 255.0, 0.0, 1.0);
+    o_col = vec4(v_bg * opacity, a);
 }
diff --git a/shaders/ui.frag.glsl b/shaders/ui.frag.glsl
index 0b099db3..dca224ba 100644
--- a/shaders/ui.frag.glsl
+++ b/shaders/ui.frag.glsl
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ void main() {
     float bgA = (v_effect.x & 0x20000000u) != 0u ? 1.0
         : (v_effect.x & 0x40000000u) != 0u ? 0.0
         : clamp(u_ui.background_opacity, 0.0, 1.0);
-    uint effect = v_effect.x & 0x1fffffffu;
+    uint effect = v_effect.x & 0x0fffffffu;
     float progress = clamp(uintBitsToFloat(v_effect.y), 0.0, 1.0);
     uint cellCol = v_effect.w & 0xffffu;
     uint cellRow = v_effect.w >> 16;
diff --git a/shaders/ui.vert.glsl b/shaders/ui.vert.glsl
index c1779add..5551f3f1 100644
--- a/shaders/ui.vert.glsl
+++ b/shaders/ui.vert.glsl
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ layout(location = 3) in vec3 a_bg;
 layout(location = 4) in vec4 a_panel_rect;
 layout(location = 5) in vec4 a_present_rect;
 // effect id, eased-progress float bits, pane serial, local row/column packed
-// into one uint. The THREE high effect bits are flags — the frozen-old cell
-// layer, a see-through cell background and an opaque block-cursor fill — so
-// the id is what is left below them; integer transport preserves the exact
+// into one uint. The FOUR high effect bits are flags — the frozen-old cell
+// layer, a see-through cell background, an opaque block-cursor fill and a
+// soft shadow (decor.frag.glsl) — so the id is what is left below them; integer transport preserves the exact
 // cross-backend hash.
 layout(location = 6) in uvec4 a_effect;
 // A clip rectangle in target pixels (x0, y0, x1, y1): the fragment shader
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ void main() {
         v_cell_uv = vec2(0.0, 1.0);
     }
 
-    uint effect = a_effect.x & 0x1fffffffu;
+    uint effect = a_effect.x & 0x0fffffffu;
     if (effect == 1u || effect == 2u || effect == 5u) {
         // NDC y points up, so a top-left/bottom-right box has a NEGATIVE y
         // delta. Preserve that sign or every local y is mirrored/outside.
diff --git a/src/animation.zig b/src/animation.zig
index 948a6679..ca933b82 100644
--- a/src/animation.zig
+++ b/src/animation.zig
@@ -586,6 +586,86 @@ pub const frame_ms: u32 = 16;
 pub const frame_ns: u64 = frame_ms * std.time.ns_per_ms;
 pub const transition_steps: u16 = 10;
 
+/// A value that follows its target on a critically damped spring, in closed
+/// form (docs/render-pipeline.md §7.2): no overshoot, and a new target taken
+/// partway keeps the value AND its velocity, so a quick run of changes never
+/// snaps or starts over. `omega` sets the pace: it is within 1% of a jump
+/// after about 6.6 / omega seconds, and settles (half a percent, nearly
+/// still) at about 8.6 / omega. Settled, it is exactly its target and asks
+/// for no frames.
+pub const Spring = struct {
+    /// Within 1% of a jump in 6.6 / 36 ≈ 180 ms, settled by 240 ms: a
+    /// state change (§8.1).
+    pub const state_change: f32 = 36;
+
+    omega: f32 = state_change,
+    target: f32 = 0,
+    /// The value and velocity (per second) at `from_ns`.
+    from: f32 = 0,
+    velocity: f32 = 0,
+    from_ns: u64 = 0,
+    settled: bool = true,
+
+    const State = struct { value: f32, velocity: f32 };
+
+    fn at(spring: *const Spring, now_ns: u64) State {
+        if (spring.settled) return .{ .value = spring.target, .velocity = 0 };
+        const t: f32 = @floatCast(@as(f64, @floatFromInt(now_ns -| spring.from_ns)) / std.time.ns_per_s);
+        const w = spring.omega;
+        const x0 = spring.from - spring.target;
+        const c = spring.velocity + w * x0;
+        const decay = @exp(-w * t);
+        return .{ .value = spring.target + (x0 + c * t) * decay, .velocity = (spring.velocity - w * t * c) * decay };
+    }
+
+    pub fn value(spring: *const Spring, now_ns: u64) f32 {
+        return spring.at(now_ns).value;
+    }
+
+    /// Heads for `target` from wherever it is at `now_ns`, moving as it was.
+    pub fn retarget(spring: *Spring, target: f32, now_ns: u64) void {
+        if (target == spring.target) return;
+        const state = spring.at(now_ns);
+        spring.* = .{ .omega = spring.omega, .target = target, .from = state.value, .velocity = state.velocity, .from_ns = now_ns, .settled = false };
+    }
+
+    /// Settles once it is within half a percent of its target and barely
+    /// moving (no pixel of a shadow tells the rest): it is its target from
+    /// then on. True while it still moves.
+    pub fn step(spring: *Spring, now_ns: u64) bool {
+        if (spring.settled) return false;
+        const state = spring.at(now_ns);
+        if (@abs(state.value - spring.target) < 5e-3 and @abs(state.velocity) < 5e-2) spring.settled = true;
+        return !spring.settled;
+    }
+};
+
+test "a spring settles without overshoot and keeps its velocity when retargeted" {
+    var spring: Spring = .{};
+    const ms = std.time.ns_per_ms;
+    spring.retarget(1, 0);
+    var last: f32 = 0;
+    var t: u64 = 0;
+    while (spring.step(t)) : (t += frame_ns) {
+        const v = spring.value(t);
+        try std.testing.expect(v >= last and v <= 1);
+        last = v;
+    }
+    // Settled within a frame or two of 6.6 / omega.
+    try std.testing.expect(t >= 180 * ms and t <= 260 * ms);
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(f32, 1), spring.value(t + 5 * ms));
+    // Back the other way halfway up: it carries on up for a moment, then
+    // turns, never jumping.
+    spring = .{};
+    spring.retarget(1, 0);
+    const before = spring.at(60 * ms);
+    spring.retarget(0, 60 * ms);
+    const after = spring.at(60 * ms);
+    try std.testing.expectApproxEqAbs(before.value, after.value, 1e-6);
+    try std.testing.expectApproxEqAbs(before.velocity, after.velocity, 1e-4);
+    try std.testing.expect(spring.value(64 * ms) > before.value);
+}
+
 /// A displayed value that fades from one target to the next over
 /// `transition_steps` frames; the chrome colours are one.
 pub fn Fade(comptime Value: type) type {
diff --git a/src/builtins.zig b/src/builtins.zig
index 23d853c8..53cf0999 100644
--- a/src/builtins.zig
+++ b/src/builtins.zig
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ pub const capabilities: config.Runtime.Capabilities = .{
     // Only the SDL shell shapes with HarfBuzz and honours the setting. macOS
     // draws CoreText ligatures of its own, but nothing there reads it yet.
     .ligatures = pardes.platform == .gui,
+    // Soft shadows are the SDL shell's decor.
+    .lift = pardes.platform == .gui,
 };
 
 /// Where a builtin acts: at the pane it runs from, or on the editor as a
diff --git a/src/config.zig b/src/config.zig
index 186b29a1..0ed8726a 100644
--- a/src/config.zig
+++ b/src/config.zig
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ pub const leader_path = paths: {
     if (builtins.capabilities.window_opacity) table.set(.WindowOpacity, null);
     if (builtins.capabilities.window_blur) table.set(.WindowBlur, null);
     if (builtins.capabilities.ligatures) table.set(.Ligatures, null);
+    if (builtins.capabilities.lift) table.set(.Lift, null);
     if (builtins.capabilities.panel_transitions) {
         table.set(.PanelSlide, "as");
         table.set(.PanelZoom, "az");
@@ -618,6 +619,10 @@ pub const Runtime = struct {
     /// A font's programming ligatures (`->`, `!=`) draw across their cells.
     /// Only a shell that shapes text has the setting (`Capabilities.ligatures`).
     ligatures: bool = true,
+    /// The focused pane and the notices stand off the page on soft shadows
+    /// (G1, docs/render-pipeline.md §9.1). Opt-in until the focus lift's
+    /// default is decided. Only a pixel shell draws it (`Capabilities.lift`).
+    lift: bool = false,
     /// Builtins announce themselves on the message row.
     verbose: bool = true,
     /// A message falls into its row and dissolves out of it.
@@ -808,6 +813,8 @@ pub const Runtime = struct {
         window_blur: bool = false,
         /// The shell shapes text, so it can draw ligatures and stop drawing them.
         ligatures: bool = false,
+        /// The shell draws soft shadows under what stands off the page.
+        lift: bool = false,
     };
 
     pub const Capability = std.meta.FieldEnum(Capabilities);
@@ -815,7 +822,7 @@ pub const Runtime = struct {
     /// The message timings a setting word sets, each in milliseconds.
     pub const MessageTime = enum { linger, fall, dissolve };
 
-    pub const Toggle = enum { colors, wrap, tree_context_tag_style, tag_bottom, debug, focus_tint, column_tags, syntax_bold, verbose, message_animation, ligatures };
+    pub const Toggle = enum { colors, wrap, tree_context_tag_style, tag_bottom, debug, focus_tint, column_tags, syntax_bold, verbose, message_animation, ligatures, lift };
     /// The bundled post pass, a Shadertoy file in shaders/post/.
     pub const Scene = enum { crt };
 
@@ -863,6 +870,7 @@ pub const Runtime = struct {
         .{ .word = "Verbose", .action = .{ .toggle = .verbose } },
         .{ .word = "MessageAnimation", .action = .{ .toggle = .message_animation } },
         .{ .word = "Ligatures", .action = .{ .toggle = .ligatures }, .availability = .ligatures },
+        .{ .word = "Lift", .action = .{ .toggle = .lift }, .availability = .lift },
         .{ .word = "MessageLinger", .action = .{ .message_ms = .linger } },
         .{ .word = "MessageFall", .action = .{ .message_ms = .fall } },
         .{ .word = "MessageDissolve", .action = .{ .message_ms = .dissolve } },
@@ -924,9 +932,9 @@ pub const Runtime = struct {
                     @compileError("scene effects must use the scene-shader capability"),
                 // A toggle is plain state any shell can hold, except one for
                 // what only some shells draw: that one exists where they do.
-                .toggle => |field| if (field == .ligatures) {
-                    if (setting.availability != .ligatures)
-                        @compileError("the ligatures toggle must use the ligatures capability");
+                .toggle => |field| if (field == .ligatures or field == .lift) {
+                    if (setting.availability == null or !std.mem.eql(u8, @tagName(setting.availability.?), @tagName(field)))
+                        @compileError("a pixel shell's toggle must use its own capability: " ++ @tagName(field));
                 } else if (setting.availability != null)
                     @compileError("unconditional toggles cannot carry a backend capability"),
                 else => if (setting.availability != null)
@@ -1447,6 +1455,7 @@ pub const Runtime = struct {
                 .window_opacity = true,
                 .window_blur = true,
                 .ligatures = true,
+                .lift = true,
             },
             .state = &state,
         };
@@ -1485,6 +1494,7 @@ pub const Runtime = struct {
                     .verbose => "Verbose off\n",
                     .message_animation => "MessageAnimation off\n",
                     .ligatures => "Ligatures off\n",
+                    .lift => "Lift on\n",
                 },
                 .shell => "Shell requested (new panes) fish\n",
                 .tagline_size => "TaglineSize 73\n",
diff --git a/src/detached/wire.zig b/src/detached/wire.zig
index b1b81eda..6e3b2d01 100644
--- a/src/detached/wire.zig
+++ b/src/detached/wire.zig
@@ -253,6 +253,8 @@ pub const Frame = struct {
             region.thumb_h = try r.getU16();
             region.notice = try r.getByte();
             region.clip = try r.getU16();
+            region.lift = @bitCast(try r.getU32());
+            if (!(region.lift >= 0 and region.lift <= 1)) return error.BadValue;
             if (region.rect.x > f.cols or region.rect.w > f.cols - region.rect.x or
                 region.rect.y > f.rows or region.rect.h > f.rows - region.rect.y or
                 region.clip > region.rect.w or region.thumb_y > region.rect.h or region.thumb_h > region.rect.h - region.thumb_y) return error.BadValue;
@@ -723,7 +725,7 @@ pub fn layersBound(layers: []const pardes.Layer, tags: []const pardes.Layer, reg
     return n + regions.len * region_len + chrome_len;
 }
 
-const region_len = 1 + 1 + 4 + 8 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2;
+const region_len = 1 + 1 + 4 + 8 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 4;
 /// The palette: each colour three bytes, a theme's optional ones a flag
 /// before them.
 const chrome_len = @typeInfo(pardes.Chrome).@"struct".fields.len * 4;
@@ -807,6 +809,7 @@ pub fn encodeFrameLayers(out: []u8, cols: u16, rows: u16, cursor: ?Cursor, point
             try w.putU16(region.thumb_h);
             try w.putByte(region.notice);
             try w.putU16(region.clip);
+            try w.putU32(@bitCast(region.lift));
         }
         inline for (@typeInfo(pardes.Chrome).@"struct".fields) |field| {
             const rgb = @field(chrome, field.name);
@@ -1890,7 +1893,7 @@ test "detached wire carries compact body rows and exact pointer metrics" {
     var tag_cells: [3]pardes.Cell = @splat(.{});
     tag_cells[2] = logical[10];
     const tag: pardes.Layer = .{ .kind = .column, .id = 1, .viewport = .{ .x = 0, .y = 0, .w = 2, .h = 1 }, .cols = 3, .rows = 1, .bg = .{ 11, 22, 33 }, .cells = &tag_cells, .cursor = .{ .x = 2, .y = 0, .bar = true } };
-    const placed = [_]pardes.Region{.{ .kind = .rail, .owner = 3, .serial = 42, .rect = .{ .x = 0, .y = 1, .w = 2, .h = 3 }, .active = true, .thumb_y = 1, .thumb_h = 2, .clip = 1 }};
+    const placed = [_]pardes.Region{.{ .kind = .rail, .owner = 3, .serial = 42, .rect = .{ .x = 0, .y = 1, .w = 2, .h = 3 }, .active = true, .thumb_y = 1, .thumb_h = 2, .clip = 1, .lift = 0.5 }};
     const out = try gpa.alloc(u8, frameBound(2, 4) + layersBound(&.{layer}, &.{tag}, &placed));
     defer gpa.free(out);
     const palette: pardes.Chrome = .{ .page = .{ 1, 2, 3 }, .border = .{ 4, 5, 6 }, .tag_focus_bg = .{ 7, 8, 9 }, .scroll_thumb = .{ 10, 11, 12 } };
diff --git a/src/draw.zig b/src/draw.zig
index 2d757635..0998db24 100644
--- a/src/draw.zig
+++ b/src/draw.zig
@@ -119,6 +119,22 @@ pub fn place(p: *Pardes, s: *Surface) void {
         s.addRegion(.{ .kind = .workspace_tag, .rect = .{ .x = 0, .y = 0, .w = s.cols, .h = p.topBarHeight() } });
     // A column carried to the window's right edge shows where it lands as a
     // rail in the last cell: the layers under it stop a cell short.
+    // Lift: the focused pane rises, the others settle back, each on its
+    // spring; a notice floats while Lift is on.
+    for (&p.panes, &p.lifts, &p.lift_serials, 0..) |slot, *spring, *serial, id| {
+        const pane = slot orelse continue;
+        if (serial.* != pane.serial) {
+            serial.* = pane.serial;
+            spring.* = .{};
+        }
+        spring.retarget(if (p.settings.lift and id == p.active) 1 else 0, p.stepped_ns);
+        _ = spring.step(p.stepped_ns);
+    }
+    for (s.regions[0..s.nregions]) |*region| switch (region.kind) {
+        .grip, .tag, .body, .rail => region.lift = p.lifts[region.owner].value(p.stepped_ns),
+        .notice => region.lift = if (p.settings.lift) 1 else 0,
+        else => {},
+    };
     if (p.drag == .column_move) rail: {
         const d = p.drag.column_move;
         const source = layout.columnBySerial(p, d.serial) orelse break :rail;
diff --git a/src/gui/gui.zig b/src/gui/gui.zig
index 5bc1ea6d..92bec92c 100644
--- a/src/gui/gui.zig
+++ b/src/gui/gui.zig
@@ -487,6 +487,8 @@ const initial_image_capacity: u32 = pardes.MAX_PANES;
 const old_layer_bit: u32 = 0x8000_0000;
 const clear_bg_bit: u32 = 0x4000_0000;
 const opaque_bg_bit: u32 = 0x2000_0000;
+/// Decor that is a soft shadow, not a flat fill (decor.frag.glsl).
+const soft_shadow_bit: u32 = 0x1000_0000;
 
 const SavedImagePlace = struct {
     key: pardes.ImageCacheKey,
@@ -1855,6 +1857,10 @@ const Gui = struct {
     /// Pixels the capture holds past the grid (PARDES_TEST_PAD).
     capture_pad: u32 = 0,
     capture_dir: []const u8 = "",
+    /// PARDES_TEST_SERIES: every captured frame is kept too, numbered, for a
+    /// feel review's frame series (docs/render-pipeline.md §8.4).
+    capture_series: bool = false,
+    captured: u32 = 0,
     capture_tex: ?*c.SDL_GPUTexture = null,
     capture_tex_w: u32 = 0,
     capture_tex_h: u32 = 0,
@@ -2457,6 +2463,7 @@ fn runNative(init: std.process.Init, opts_in: pardes.Options, attach: ?[]const u
         .glyphs = std.AutoHashMap(GlyphKey, Slot).init(gpa),
         .capture = test_mode,
         .capture_pad = if (test_mode) envU16(env, "PARDES_TEST_PAD") orelse 0 else 0,
+        .capture_series = test_mode and env.get("PARDES_TEST_SERIES") != null,
         .capture_dir = capture_dir orelse "",
         .soft_present = soft_present,
         .transparent = config.gui_transparent,
@@ -7301,6 +7308,8 @@ fn captureFrame(g: *Gui, gpa: std.mem.Allocator, cmd: *c.SDL_GPUCommandBuffer, t
     try writeCapturePpm(g, gpa, pixels[0..size], sw, sh, "latest");
     var name: [24]u8 = undefined;
     if (transition) |frame| try writeCapturePpm(g, gpa, pixels[0..size], sw, sh, std.fmt.bufPrint(&name, "transition-{d}", .{frame}) catch unreachable);
+    if (g.capture_series) try writeCapturePpm(g, gpa, pixels[0..size], sw, sh, std.fmt.bufPrint(&name, "frame-{d:0>5}", .{g.captured}) catch unreachable);
+    g.captured +%= 1;
 }
 
 fn writeCapturePpm(g: *Gui, gpa: std.mem.Allocator, pixels: []const u8, width: u32, height: u32, name: []const u8) !void {
@@ -7375,6 +7384,99 @@ fn addDecor(g: *Gui, gpa: std.mem.Allocator, x0_in: f32, y0_in: f32, x1_in: f32,
     try g.decor.append(gpa, instance);
 }
 
+/// How a lift of 0 to 1 stands off the page: the shadow's blur and offset
+/// in cell heights, and its darkest, where it leaves the caster's edge.
+/// Within §8.2's budget: sigma 0.4-0.8 cell, at most 30% darker at the edge.
+const Shadow = struct {
+    // A key light above: the drop is most of the blur, so the shadow hangs
+    // below and to the right and barely reaches over the caster's top.
+    const sigma: f32 = 0.42;
+    const drop: f32 = 0.34;
+    const side: f32 = 0.1;
+    const strength: f32 = 0.42;
+};
+
+/// A soft shadow under `caster` (window pixels), `lift` 0 to 1, no darker
+/// than `ceiling`, moved by `track` as its caster is.
+fn addShadow(g: *Gui, gpa: std.mem.Allocator, caster: [4]f32, lift: f32, ceiling: f32, track: ?pardes.animation.Track, win_w: f32, win_h: f32) !void {
+    const strength = @min(Shadow.strength * lift, ceiling);
+    if (lift <= 0.001 or strength <= 0.002) return;
+    const h: f32 = @floatFromInt(g.cell_h);
+    const sigma = @max(0.5, Shadow.sigma * h * lift);
+    const dx = Shadow.side * h * lift;
+    const dy = Shadow.drop * h * lift;
+    const x0 = caster[0] + dx - 3 * sigma;
+    const y0 = caster[1] + dy - 3 * sigma;
+    const x1 = caster[2] + dx + 3 * sigma;
+    const y1 = caster[3] + dy + 3 * sigma;
+    const w = x1 - x0;
+    const ht = y1 - y0;
+    if (w <= 0 or ht <= 0) return;
+    // In the quad's own 0..1 space (decor.frag.glsl): sigma per axis, the
+    // caster's offset from its shadow, the strength.
+    var instance: CellInstance = .{
+        .x0 = (x0 / win_w) * 2.0 - 1.0,
+        .y0 = 1.0 - (y0 / win_h) * 2.0,
+        .x1 = (x1 / win_w) * 2.0 - 1.0,
+        .y1 = 1.0 - (y1 / win_h) * 2.0,
+        .u0 = sigma / w,
+        .v0 = sigma / ht,
+        .u1 = sigma / w,
+        .v1 = sigma / ht,
+        .fr = strength,
+        .fg = dx / w,
+        .fb = dy / ht,
+        .br = 0,
+        .bg = 0,
+        .bb = 0,
+    };
+    setTransitionFields(&instance, track, fixedCellLayout(g), win_w, win_h, 0);
+    instance.effect |= soft_shadow_bit;
+    try g.decor.append(gpa, instance);
+}
+
+/// sRGB's relative luminance (WCAG).
+fn luminance(rgb: [3]u8) f32 {
+    var sum: f32 = 0;
+    for (rgb, [3]f32{ 0.2126, 0.7152, 0.0722 }) |channel, weight| {
+        const v = @as(f32, @floatFromInt(channel)) / 255;
+        sum += weight * (if (v <= 0.04045) v / 12.92 else std.math.pow(f32, (v + 0.055) / 1.055, 2.4));
+    }
+    return sum;
+}
+
+/// How dark a shadow may make the page and its text, both together, before
+/// the pair drops below its own contrast or 4.5, whichever is lower (§8.2):
+/// darkening in linear light by k leaves (k L1 + .05) / (k L2 + .05).
+fn shadowCeiling(fg: [3]u8, bg: [3]u8) f32 {
+    const a = luminance(fg);
+    const b = luminance(bg);
+    const light = @max(a, b);
+    const dark = @min(a, b);
+    const target = @min((light + 0.05) / (dark + 0.05), 4.5);
+    const room = light - target * dark;
+    if (room <= 0) return 0;
+    return std.math.clamp(1 - 0.05 * (target - 1) / room, 0, 1);
+}
+
+test "a shadow never darkens a native theme's text below its contrast or 4.5" {
+    var shaded: usize = 0;
+    for (pardes.themes) |theme| {
+        const fg = theme.fg orelse fg_default;
+        const bg = theme.bg orelse bg_default;
+        const ceiling = shadowCeiling(fg, bg);
+        const k = 1 - @min(Shadow.strength, ceiling);
+        const light = @max(luminance(fg), luminance(bg));
+        const dark = @min(luminance(fg), luminance(bg));
+        const before = (light + 0.05) / (dark + 0.05);
+        const after = (k * light + 0.05) / (k * dark + 0.05);
+        try std.testing.expect(after >= @min(before, 4.5) - 1e-3);
+        shaded += @intFromBool(ceiling > 0.05);
+    }
+    // And most themes have room for one.
+    try std.testing.expect(shaded * 2 > pardes.themes.len);
+}
+
 /// The frame's decor, group by group (docs/render-pipeline.md §3.4), all of it
 /// read from the regions and the palette: the page's rules and the still
 /// panes' rails, rules and grip marks in tier 0, a moving or closing pane's
@@ -7383,6 +7485,10 @@ fn buildDecor(g: *Gui, gpa: std.mem.Allocator, surface: *const pardes.Surface, g
     g.decor.clearRetainingCapacity();
     const chrome = &surface.chrome;
     const regions = surface.regionList();
+    const ceiling = shadowCeiling(chrome.fg orelse fg_default, chrome.page orelse bg_default);
+    const notice_lift = for (regions) |region| {
+        if (region.kind == .notice) break region.lift;
+    } else 0;
     for (groups.items[0..groups.len], 0..) |*group, index| {
         group.decor_start = @intCast(g.decor.items.len);
         defer group.decor_count = @as(u32, @intCast(g.decor.items.len)) - group.decor_start;
@@ -7432,11 +7538,34 @@ fn buildDecor(g: *Gui, gpa: std.mem.Allocator, surface: *const pardes.Surface, g
                 if (y1 > y0) try addDecor(g, gpa, x, y0, x + 1, y1, chrome.border, 1, null, win_w, win_h);
             };
             try gripDecor(g, gpa, placed, grid, groups, index, layout, surface.cols, surface.rows, win_w, win_h, track);
+            // Cast last in the group, over its cells, images and chrome: a
+            // lifted pane's shadow darkens its neighbours' rails and rules
+            // as it darkens their text, and never the pane itself.
+            for (placed) |grip| {
+                if (grip.kind != .grip or grip.lift <= 0.001 or groupOf(groups, grip.serial) != index) continue;
+                var box: [4]f32 = .{ @as(f32, @floatFromInt(grip.rect.x)) * layout.w, @as(f32, @floatFromInt(grip.rect.y)) * layout.h, 0, @as(f32, @floatFromInt(grip.rect.y + grip.rect.h)) * layout.h };
+                box[2] = box[0];
+                for (placed) |part| {
+                    if (part.owner != grip.owner or (part.kind != .tag and part.kind != .rail and part.kind != .body)) continue;
+                    box[1] = @min(box[1], @as(f32, @floatFromInt(part.rect.y)) * layout.h);
+                    box[2] = @max(box[2], @as(f32, @floatFromInt(part.rect.x + part.rect.w)) * layout.w);
+                    box[3] = @max(box[3], @as(f32, @floatFromInt(part.rect.y + part.rect.h)) * layout.h);
+                }
+                try addShadow(g, gpa, box, grip.lift, ceiling, track, win_w, win_h);
+            }
         }
         // A notice chip is tagline hung over the body's top rows, so it is
         // ruled off from the text beneath it the way a tag is: the same
         // colour and thickness along its bottom, running to the window's
         // edge when it does, fading up and dissolving with its band.
+        // A notice floats: its shadow first, then every rule.
+        for (surface.tagLayers()) |*layer| {
+            if (layer.rows == 0 or layer.kind != .notice or noticeGroup(groups, layer) != index) continue;
+            const x = @as(f32, @floatFromInt(layer.viewport.x)) * layout.w;
+            const top = (@as(f32, @floatFromInt(layer.viewport.y)) + layer.slide) * layout.h;
+            const track = groups.items[groupAt(groups, layer.viewport.x, layer.viewport.y)].track;
+            try addShadow(g, gpa, .{ x, top, x + @as(f32, @floatFromInt(layer.viewport.w)) * layout.w, top + layout.h }, notice_lift * layer.fade, ceiling, track, win_w, win_h);
+        }
         for (surface.tagLayers()) |*layer| {
             if (layer.rows == 0 or layer.kind != .notice or noticeGroup(groups, layer) != index) continue;
             const x0 = @as(f32, @floatFromInt(layer.viewport.x)) * layout.w;
diff --git a/src/pardes.zig b/src/pardes.zig
index f559b125..449ef798 100644
--- a/src/pardes.zig
+++ b/src/pardes.zig
@@ -4111,6 +4111,10 @@ pub const Pardes = struct {
     theme_file_generation: u32 = 0,
     theme_file_pane: u8 = 0,
     chrome_animation: colors.ChromeAnimation = colors.ChromeAnimation.init(colors.initial_chrome),
+    /// Each pane's lift off the page (Lift): 1 while it has the focus, on a
+    /// spring. `lift_serials` says whose it is, so a reused slot starts flat.
+    lifts: [MAX_PANES]animation.Spring = @splat(.{}),
+    lift_serials: [MAX_PANES]u32 = @splat(0),
     animate_theme_changes: bool = false,
     native_images: bool = false,
     /// The shell can take a changed image a few rows at a time (a texture row
@@ -6213,6 +6217,7 @@ pub const Pardes = struct {
     pub fn nextWake(p: *const Pardes) ?u64 {
         const next = p.stepped_ns + animation.frame_ns;
         if (p.chrome_animation.isActive() or p.presentation.animating()) return next;
+        for (p.lifts) |spring| if (!spring.settled) return next;
         var frames: ?u64 = null;
         if (p.look_hover_wait) |waiting| {
             const delay = config.look_preview_delay_frames orelse return next;
diff --git a/src/surface.zig b/src/surface.zig
index b6f41853..94b37915 100644
--- a/src/surface.zig
+++ b/src/surface.zig
@@ -364,6 +364,10 @@ pub const Region = struct {
     thumb_h: u16 = 0,
     /// A notice's index in its pane's `notices`.
     notice: u8 = 0,
+    /// How far it stands off the page, 0 to 1: a pane's while it has the
+    /// focus (Lift, on a spring), a notice's while Lift is on. A pixel shell
+    /// casts a soft shadow from it; the tier it is drawn in never changes.
+    lift: f32 = 0,
     /// Cells the column-move rail takes off the right edge while it runs
     /// there: layers and pixel shells stop short of them, the grid does not.
     clip: u16 = 0,