diff --git a/docs/gallery/assets/swatch-grid-hero.webp b/docs/gallery/assets/swatch-grid-hero.webp
index 7e0f7ad4..1ba348ea 100644
Binary files a/docs/gallery/assets/swatch-grid-hero.webp and b/docs/gallery/assets/swatch-grid-hero.webp differ
diff --git a/docs/gallery/assets/turntable-hero.webp b/docs/gallery/assets/turntable-hero.webp
index ca5e30ba..fcd47383 100644
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diff --git a/docs/gallery/contact-sheets/swatch-grid-contact-sheet.webp b/docs/gallery/contact-sheets/swatch-grid-contact-sheet.webp
index cde317c3..4f44994b 100644
Binary files a/docs/gallery/contact-sheets/swatch-grid-contact-sheet.webp and b/docs/gallery/contact-sheets/swatch-grid-contact-sheet.webp differ
diff --git a/docs/gallery/contact-sheets/turntable-contact-sheet.webp b/docs/gallery/contact-sheets/turntable-contact-sheet.webp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fbb2be6b
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diff --git a/docs/gallery/index.html b/docs/gallery/index.html
index 2dc0eb8e..4974f724 100644
--- a/docs/gallery/index.html
+++ b/docs/gallery/index.html
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ <h1>Examples and Showcase</h1>
     <div class="grid" id="grid">
       <article class="card" data-tags="materials rendering">
         <a class="card-media" href="swatch-grid/" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true">
-          <img src="assets/swatch-grid-hero.webp" alt="Six material spheres in two rows: black glossy, copper metal, red, blue, flat orange emission and white." loading="lazy" decoding="async" />
+          <img src="assets/swatch-grid-hero.webp" alt="Six material spheres in two rows against a dark backdrop: mirror gold, brushed copper, red, blue, flat orange emission and white." loading="lazy" decoding="async" />
         </a>
         <div class="card-body">
           <h2><a href="swatch-grid/">swatch-grid</a></h2>
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ <h2><a href="swatch-grid/">swatch-grid</a></h2>
       </article>
       <article class="card" data-tags="animation">
         <a class="card-media" href="turntable/" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true">
-          <img src="assets/turntable-hero.webp" alt="A bronze monkey head (Suzanne) turned three-quarters on a dark studio floor." loading="lazy" decoding="async" />
+          <img src="assets/turntable-hero.webp" alt="A smooth copper monkey head (Suzanne) turned three-quarters on a black turntable with a brushed metal platter." loading="lazy" decoding="async" />
         </a>
         <div class="card-body">
           <h2><a href="turntable/">turntable</a></h2>
diff --git a/docs/gallery/swatch-grid/index.html b/docs/gallery/swatch-grid/index.html
index d49fca53..900ebed3 100644
--- a/docs/gallery/swatch-grid/index.html
+++ b/docs/gallery/swatch-grid/index.html
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@
   <meta property="og:image" content="https://tmhsdigital.github.io/Blender-Developer-Tools/gallery/assets/swatch-grid-hero.webp" />
   <meta property="og:image:width" content="1280" />
   <meta property="og:image:height" content="720" />
-  <meta property="og:image:alt" content="Six material spheres in two rows: black glossy, copper metal, red, blue, flat orange emission and white." />
+  <meta property="og:image:alt" content="Six material spheres in two rows against a dark backdrop: mirror gold, brushed copper, red, blue, flat orange emission and white." />
   <meta property="og:site_name" content="Blender Developer Tools" />
   <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" />
   <meta name="twitter:title" content="swatch-grid — Examples — Blender Developer Tools" />
   <meta name="twitter:description" content="Procedural Principled materials — metal and dielectric, the emission pattern, and the cross-version set_specular shim." />
   <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://tmhsdigital.github.io/Blender-Developer-Tools/gallery/assets/swatch-grid-hero.webp" />
-  <meta name="twitter:image:alt" content="Six material spheres in two rows: black glossy, copper metal, red, blue, flat orange emission and white." />
+  <meta name="twitter:image:alt" content="Six material spheres in two rows against a dark backdrop: mirror gold, brushed copper, red, blue, flat orange emission and white." />
   <style>
     /* fonts are deployed by the landing build (docs/fonts/) */
     @font-face { font-family: 'Barlow Condensed'; font-weight: 600; font-display: swap;
@@ -268,8 +268,8 @@ <h1>swatch-grid</h1>
     <p>Procedural Principled materials — metal and dielectric, the emission pattern, and the cross-version set_specular shim.</p>
   </header>
   <main id="main">
-    <button class="detail-hero" id="heroZoom" type="button" aria-label="View full size: Six material spheres in two rows: black glossy, copper metal, red, blue, flat orange emission and white.">
-      <img src="../assets/swatch-grid-hero.webp" alt="Six material spheres in two rows: black glossy, copper metal, red, blue, flat orange emission and white." width="1280" height="720" />
+    <button class="detail-hero" id="heroZoom" type="button" aria-label="View full size: Six material spheres in two rows against a dark backdrop: mirror gold, brushed copper, red, blue, flat orange emission and white.">
+      <img src="../assets/swatch-grid-hero.webp" alt="Six material spheres in two rows against a dark backdrop: mirror gold, brushed copper, red, blue, flat orange emission and white." width="1280" height="720" />
     </button>
     <p class="zoom-hint">Rendered headless by the example itself — click to zoom.</p>
     <div class="callout"><span class="tag">witnesses</span> EEVEE engine-id mapping: BLENDER_EEVEE on 5.x, BLENDER_EEVEE_NEXT on 4.2–4.5.</div>
@@ -294,6 +294,8 @@ <h2>Run</h2>
 # GPU-less / CI hosts: render the pixels with Cycles (CPU). The EEVEE id is still
 # asserted; only the final pixels use Cycles.
 blender --background --python swatch_grid.py -- --output swatch.png --engine cycles --samples 16 --width 960</code></pre>
+<h2>Staging</h2>
+<p>The backdrop stands 0.16 behind the spheres, so each casts a soft contact shadow. It used to stand 1.58 behind them, and the grid floated. The world is a reflection-only sky: glossy rays see a warm overhead gradient above a dark horizon, and camera and diffuse rays see the dark stage. The mirror-finish gold otherwise reflected the near-black world and rendered as a black ball with two light-card glints. Sphere positions, materials, the camera and the six-region pixel check are unchanged; <code>verify_png</code> still reads six distinct regions on 4.5.11, 5.1.2 and 5.2.1.</p>
 <h2>Exit codes</h2>
 <p>Per-script sequential checks. <code>9</code> is a valid check code; there is no rule against it. <code>10</code> is the shared framing helper.</p>
 <div class="table-wrap"><table><thead><tr><th scope="col">Code</th><th scope="col">Meaning</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>0</td><td>Success</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Uncaught exception (FATAL wrapper)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>argparse / usage</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Distinct swatch colors ≠ 6 (<code>--same-base</code> lands here); also render not six distinct regions</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td><code>--output</code> produced no file</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Wrong-era EEVEE engine id was accepted</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Gallery framing violation</td></tr></tbody></table></div>
@@ -463,7 +465,10 @@ <h2>Source</h2>
     wmat, _ = make_principled(<span class="s">&quot;Studio&quot;</span>, (<span class="n">0.03</span>, <span class="n">0.032</span>, <span class="n">0.037</span>, <span class="n">1</span>), <span class="n">0.0</span>, <span class="n">0.7</span>)
     wall_me.materials.append(wmat)
     wall = bpy.data.objects.new(<span class="s">&quot;Wall&quot;</span>, wall_me)
-    wall.location = (<span class="n">0.0</span>, <span class="n">2.5</span>, <span class="n">0.0</span>)
+    <span class="c"># just behind the spheres (0.16 clear of their backs) so each casts a</span>
+    <span class="c"># soft contact shadow and reads as mounted; at y=2.5 they hung 1.58 in</span>
+    <span class="c"># front of the backdrop with nothing under them</span>
+    wall.location = (<span class="n">0.0</span>, <span class="n">1.08</span>, <span class="n">0.0</span>)
     wall.rotation_euler = (math.radians(<span class="n">90</span>), <span class="n">0.0</span>, <span class="n">0.0</span>)
     bpy.context.collection.objects.link(wall)
 
@@ -492,7 +497,29 @@ <h2>Source</h2>
     bpy.data.objects[<span class="s">&quot;WedgeL&quot;</span>].rotation_euler = (math.radians(-<span class="n">56</span>), <span class="n">0.0</span>, math.radians(<span class="n">190</span>))
     world = bpy.data.worlds.new(<span class="s">&quot;W&quot;</span>)
     world.use_nodes = <span class="k">True</span>
-    world.node_tree.nodes[<span class="s">&quot;Background&quot;</span>].inputs[<span class="n">0</span>].default_value = (<span class="n">0.02</span>, <span class="n">0.021</span>, <span class="n">0.025</span>, <span class="n">1</span>)
+    nt = world.node_tree
+    bg = nt.nodes[<span class="s">&quot;Background&quot;</span>]
+    bg.inputs[<span class="n">0</span>].default_value = (<span class="n">0.02</span>, <span class="n">0.021</span>, <span class="n">0.025</span>, <span class="n">1</span>)
+    <span class="c"># A reflection-only sky: glossy rays see a warm overhead gradient over a</span>
+    <span class="c"># dark horizon, every other ray the dark stage. The mirror-finish gold</span>
+    <span class="c"># otherwise reflected the near-black world and rendered as a black ball</span>
+    <span class="c"># with two light-card glints. Diffuse and camera rays are unchanged, so</span>
+    <span class="c"># the stage stays dark.</span>
+    path = nt.nodes.new(<span class="s">&quot;ShaderNodeLightPath&quot;</span>)
+    coord = nt.nodes.new(<span class="s">&quot;ShaderNodeTexCoord&quot;</span>)
+    sep = nt.nodes.new(<span class="s">&quot;ShaderNodeSeparateXYZ&quot;</span>)
+    nt.links.new(coord.outputs[<span class="s">&quot;Generated&quot;</span>], sep.inputs[<span class="n">0</span>])
+    sky = nt.nodes.new(<span class="s">&quot;ShaderNodeValToRGB&quot;</span>)
+    sky.color_ramp.elements[<span class="n">0</span>].position = <span class="n">0.0</span>
+    sky.color_ramp.elements[<span class="n">0</span>].color = (<span class="n">0.02</span>, <span class="n">0.021</span>, <span class="n">0.025</span>, <span class="n">1</span>)
+    sky.color_ramp.elements[<span class="n">1</span>].position = <span class="n">0.7</span>
+    sky.color_ramp.elements[<span class="n">1</span>].color = (<span class="n">0.70</span>, <span class="n">0.63</span>, <span class="n">0.55</span>, <span class="n">1</span>)
+    nt.links.new(sep.outputs[<span class="s">&quot;Z&quot;</span>], sky.inputs[<span class="s">&quot;Fac&quot;</span>])
+    pick = nt.nodes.new(<span class="s">&quot;ShaderNodeMixRGB&quot;</span>)
+    pick.inputs[<span class="n">1</span>].default_value = (<span class="n">0.02</span>, <span class="n">0.021</span>, <span class="n">0.025</span>, <span class="n">1</span>)
+    nt.links.new(sky.outputs[<span class="s">&quot;Color&quot;</span>], pick.inputs[<span class="n">2</span>])
+    nt.links.new(path.outputs[<span class="s">&quot;Is Glossy Ray&quot;</span>], pick.inputs[<span class="n">0</span>])
+    nt.links.new(pick.outputs[<span class="n">0</span>], bg.inputs[<span class="n">0</span>])
     bpy.context.scene.world = world
 
 
@@ -648,7 +675,7 @@ <h2>Source</h2>
   </main>
   <dialog class="lightbox" id="lightbox" aria-label="Full-size render">
     <button class="lightbox-close" type="button" autofocus>Close</button>
-    <img src="../assets/swatch-grid-hero.webp" alt="Six material spheres in two rows: black glossy, copper metal, red, blue, flat orange emission and white." />
+    <img src="../assets/swatch-grid-hero.webp" alt="Six material spheres in two rows against a dark backdrop: mirror gold, brushed copper, red, blue, flat orange emission and white." />
   </dialog>
   <footer>
     <div class="statusbar">
diff --git a/docs/gallery/turntable/index.html b/docs/gallery/turntable/index.html
index c4424873..e37f985e 100644
--- a/docs/gallery/turntable/index.html
+++ b/docs/gallery/turntable/index.html
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@
   <meta property="og:image" content="https://tmhsdigital.github.io/Blender-Developer-Tools/gallery/assets/turntable-hero.webp" />
   <meta property="og:image:width" content="1280" />
   <meta property="og:image:height" content="720" />
-  <meta property="og:image:alt" content="A bronze monkey head (Suzanne) turned three-quarters on a dark studio floor." />
+  <meta property="og:image:alt" content="A smooth copper monkey head (Suzanne) turned three-quarters on a black turntable with a brushed metal platter." />
   <meta property="og:site_name" content="Blender Developer Tools" />
   <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" />
   <meta name="twitter:title" content="turntable — Examples — Blender Developer Tools" />
   <meta name="twitter:description" content="A slotted-actions Z-rotation turntable keyed through the cross-version channelbag path (get_channelbag_for_slot)." />
   <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://tmhsdigital.github.io/Blender-Developer-Tools/gallery/assets/turntable-hero.webp" />
-  <meta name="twitter:image:alt" content="A bronze monkey head (Suzanne) turned three-quarters on a dark studio floor." />
+  <meta name="twitter:image:alt" content="A smooth copper monkey head (Suzanne) turned three-quarters on a black turntable with a brushed metal platter." />
   <style>
     /* fonts are deployed by the landing build (docs/fonts/) */
     @font-face { font-family: 'Barlow Condensed'; font-weight: 600; font-display: swap;
@@ -268,8 +268,8 @@ <h1>turntable</h1>
     <p>A slotted-actions Z-rotation turntable keyed through the cross-version channelbag path (get_channelbag_for_slot).</p>
   </header>
   <main id="main">
-    <button class="detail-hero" id="heroZoom" type="button" aria-label="View full size: A bronze monkey head (Suzanne) turned three-quarters on a dark studio floor.">
-      <img src="../assets/turntable-hero.webp" alt="A bronze monkey head (Suzanne) turned three-quarters on a dark studio floor." width="1280" height="720" />
+    <button class="detail-hero" id="heroZoom" type="button" aria-label="View full size: A smooth copper monkey head (Suzanne) turned three-quarters on a black turntable with a brushed metal platter.">
+      <img src="../assets/turntable-hero.webp" alt="A smooth copper monkey head (Suzanne) turned three-quarters on a black turntable with a brushed metal platter." width="1280" height="720" />
     </button>
     <p class="zoom-hint">Rendered headless by the example itself — click to zoom.</p>
     <div class="callout"><span class="tag">witnesses</span> Slotted-actions boundary: ensure-helper channelbag on 5.x, strip.channelbag on 4.4/4.5.</div>
@@ -291,6 +291,7 @@ <h2>Run</h2>
 blender --background --python turntable.py -- --output turntable.png
 blender --background --python turntable.py -- --output turntable.png --engine cycles</code></pre>
 <p>By default it runs only the <strong>frame-independent correctness check</strong>: it inserts the rotation keys, samples the object&#x27;s Z rotation at frame 1 vs a later frame, and asserts they <strong>differ</strong> (the keys drive playback). <code>--output</code> additionally renders a still; the full animated loop is a showcase extra, not part of the CI check.</p>
+<p>The still&#x27;s staging is render-only and runs after the check. The head gets a subdivision modifier (the 500-face monkey read as faceted plates) and is seated 10 mm into the platter of a turntable plinth, lifted from its own lowest evaluated vertex. It used to hover just above the floor with nothing under it. The rotation keys, the sampled frames and every exit code are unchanged. This render path does not call <code>gallery_framing.check_framing</code>, because adding it would add exit code 10. The framing was measured with the helper out of band instead: fill y 0.789, minimum margin 0.050, ok.</p>
 <h2>Exit codes</h2>
 <p>Per-script sequential checks. <code>9</code> is a valid check code; there is no rule against it.</p>
 <div class="table-wrap"><table><thead><tr><th scope="col">Code</th><th scope="col">Meaning</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>0</td><td>Success</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Uncaught exception (FATAL wrapper)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>argparse / usage</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Rotation keys do not drive playback (<code>--no-keys</code> lands here)</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td><code>--output</code> produced no file</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Wrong-era EEVEE engine id was accepted</td></tr></tbody></table></div>
@@ -376,9 +377,72 @@ <h2>Source</h2>
     print(<span class="s">f&quot;</span><span class="s">branch=</span>{branch}<span class="s"> rot_z f1=</span>{r1}<span class="s"> fmid=</span>{rmid}<span class="s"> fend=</span>{rend}<span class="s"> drives=</span>{drives}<span class="s">&quot;</span>)
     <span class="k">return</span> drives
 
+PLINTH_R = <span class="n">1.15</span>
+PLINTH_H = <span class="n">0.28</span>
+PLATTER_R = <span class="n">1.05</span>
+PLATTER_H = <span class="n">0.05</span>
+SEAT = <span class="n">0.01</span>
+
+
+<span class="k">def</span> stage_turntable(obj):
+    <span class="s">&quot;&quot;&quot;Render-only staging, after the check has run: a turntable to turn on.
+
+    The head is smoothed by a subdivision modifier (the 500-face monkey read
+    as faceted plates), seated SEAT into a platter on a plinth, and lifted so
+    its lowest evaluated vertex lands there. It used to hover just above the
+    floor with nothing under it. Rotation keys and the correctness samples
+    are untouched; only location and a modifier change here.
+    &quot;&quot;&quot;</span>
+    <span class="k">import</span> bmesh
+    sub = obj.modifiers.new(<span class="s">&quot;Smooth&quot;</span>, <span class="s">&#x27;SUBSURF&#x27;</span>)
+    sub.levels = <span class="n">2</span>
+    sub.render_levels = <span class="n">2</span>
+    dg = bpy.context.evaluated_depsgraph_get()
+    ev = obj.evaluated_get(dg)
+    me = ev.to_mesh()
+    <span class="k">try</span>:
+        zmin = min((ev.matrix_world @ v.co).z <span class="k">for</span> v <span class="k">in</span> me.vertices)
+    <span class="k">finally</span>:
+        ev.to_mesh_clear()
+    obj.location.z += (PLINTH_H + PLATTER_H - SEAT) - zmin
+    b = obj.active_material.node_tree.nodes[<span class="s">&#x27;Principled BSDF&#x27;</span>]
+    <span class="c"># 0.25 blew every brow and ear edge out to white under the key</span>
+    b.inputs[<span class="s">&#x27;Roughness&#x27;</span>].default_value = <span class="n">0.38</span>
+    parts = []
+    <span class="k">for</span> nm, r, z0, h, col, metal, rough <span class="k">in</span> (
+        (<span class="s">&quot;Plinth&quot;</span>, PLINTH_R, <span class="n">0.0</span>, PLINTH_H, (<span class="n">0.035</span>, <span class="n">0.032</span>, <span class="n">0.03</span>), <span class="n">0.0</span>, <span class="n">0.55</span>),
+        (<span class="s">&quot;Platter&quot;</span>, PLATTER_R, PLINTH_H - <span class="n">0.004</span>, PLATTER_H + <span class="n">0.004</span>,
+         (<span class="n">0.42</span>, <span class="n">0.42</span>, <span class="n">0.44</span>), <span class="n">1.0</span>, <span class="n">0.45</span>),
+    ):
+        mesh = bpy.data.meshes.new(nm)
+        bm = bmesh.new()
+        <span class="k">try</span>:
+            bmesh.ops.create_cone(bm, cap_ends=<span class="k">True</span>, segments=<span class="n">64</span>, radius1=r,
+                                  radius2=r, depth=h)
+            bmesh.ops.translate(bm, vec=(<span class="n">0.0</span>, <span class="n">0.0</span>, z0 + h / <span class="n">2.0</span>), verts=bm.verts)
+            bmesh.ops.bevel(bm, geom=[e <span class="k">for</span> e <span class="k">in</span> bm.edges <span class="k">if</span> len(e.link_faces) == <span class="n">2</span>
+                                      <span class="k">and</span> e.calc_face_angle(<span class="n">0.0</span>) &gt; <span class="n">1.0</span>],
+                            offset=<span class="n">0.012</span>, segments=<span class="n">2</span>, affect=<span class="s">&#x27;EDGES&#x27;</span>)
+            bm.to_mesh(mesh)
+        <span class="k">finally</span>:
+            bm.free()
+        mesh.shade_smooth()
+        mat = bpy.data.materials.new(nm); mat.use_nodes = <span class="k">True</span>
+        pb = mat.node_tree.nodes[<span class="s">&#x27;Principled BSDF&#x27;</span>]
+        pb.inputs[<span class="s">&#x27;Base Color&#x27;</span>].default_value = (*col, <span class="n">1.0</span>)
+        pb.inputs[<span class="s">&#x27;Metallic&#x27;</span>].default_value = metal
+        pb.inputs[<span class="s">&#x27;Roughness&#x27;</span>].default_value = rough
+        mesh.materials.append(mat)
+        ob = bpy.data.objects.new(nm, mesh)
+        bpy.context.collection.objects.link(ob)
+        parts.append(ob)
+    <span class="k">return</span> parts
+
+
 <span class="k">def</span> render_still(obj, path, engine):
     <span class="k">import</span> bmesh
     sc = bpy.context.scene
+    stage_turntable(obj)
     fme = bpy.data.meshes.new(<span class="s">&quot;Floor&quot;</span>); bm = bmesh.new()
     <span class="k">try</span>:
         bmesh.ops.create_grid(bm, x_segments=<span class="n">1</span>, y_segments=<span class="n">1</span>, size=<span class="n">30.0</span>); bm.to_mesh(fme)
@@ -396,8 +460,8 @@ <h2>Source</h2>
     wall.rotation_euler = (math.radians(<span class="n">90</span>), <span class="n">0</span>, <span class="n">0</span>); bpy.context.collection.objects.link(wall)
     w = bpy.data.worlds.new(<span class="s">&quot;W&quot;</span>); w.use_nodes = <span class="k">True</span>
     w.node_tree.nodes[<span class="s">&quot;Background&quot;</span>].inputs[<span class="n">0</span>].default_value = (<span class="n">0.02</span>, <span class="n">0.021</span>, <span class="n">0.025</span>, <span class="n">1</span>); sc.world = w
-    aim = bpy.data.objects.new(<span class="s">&quot;Aim&quot;</span>, <span class="k">None</span>); aim.location = (<span class="n">0</span>, <span class="n">0</span>, <span class="n">1.0</span>); bpy.context.collection.objects.link(aim)
-    cam = bpy.data.objects.new(<span class="s">&quot;cam&quot;</span>, bpy.data.cameras.new(<span class="s">&quot;cam&quot;</span>)); cam.location = (<span class="n">0</span>, -<span class="n">5.9</span>, <span class="n">2.4</span>)
+    aim = bpy.data.objects.new(<span class="s">&quot;Aim&quot;</span>, <span class="k">None</span>); aim.location = (<span class="n">0</span>, <span class="n">0</span>, <span class="n">1.1</span>); bpy.context.collection.objects.link(aim)
+    cam = bpy.data.objects.new(<span class="s">&quot;cam&quot;</span>, bpy.data.cameras.new(<span class="s">&quot;cam&quot;</span>)); cam.location = (<span class="n">0</span>, -<span class="n">8.0</span>, <span class="n">3.4</span>)
     bpy.context.collection.objects.link(cam); sc.camera = cam
     c = cam.constraints.new(<span class="s">&#x27;TRACK_TO&#x27;</span>); c.target = aim; c.track_axis = <span class="s">&#x27;TRACK_NEGATIVE_Z&#x27;</span>; c.up_axis = <span class="s">&#x27;UP_Y&#x27;</span>
     <span class="k">for</span> nm, loc, en, size, col <span class="k">in</span> [(<span class="s">&quot;K&quot;</span>, (-<span class="n">4</span>, -<span class="n">5</span>, <span class="n">7</span>), <span class="n">620</span>, <span class="n">5.0</span>, (<span class="n">1.0</span>, <span class="n">0.96</span>, <span class="n">0.9</span>)),
@@ -472,7 +536,7 @@ <h2>Source</h2>
   </main>
   <dialog class="lightbox" id="lightbox" aria-label="Full-size render">
     <button class="lightbox-close" type="button" autofocus>Close</button>
-    <img src="../assets/turntable-hero.webp" alt="A bronze monkey head (Suzanne) turned three-quarters on a dark studio floor." />
+    <img src="../assets/turntable-hero.webp" alt="A smooth copper monkey head (Suzanne) turned three-quarters on a black turntable with a brushed metal platter." />
   </dialog>
   <footer>
     <div class="statusbar">
diff --git a/examples/gallery.json b/examples/gallery.json
index dd0274b6..b3206d7f 100644
--- a/examples/gallery.json
+++ b/examples/gallery.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
       "name": "swatch-grid",
       "dir": "examples/swatch-grid",
       "teaches": "Procedural Principled materials — metal and dielectric, the emission pattern, and the cross-version set_specular shim.",
-      "alt": "Six material spheres in two rows: black glossy, copper metal, red, blue, flat orange emission and white.",
+      "alt": "Six material spheres in two rows against a dark backdrop: mirror gold, brushed copper, red, blue, flat orange emission and white.",
       "witnessesFix": "EEVEE engine-id mapping: BLENDER_EEVEE on 5.x, BLENDER_EEVEE_NEXT on 4.2–4.5.",
       "hero": "docs/gallery/assets/swatch-grid-hero.webp",
       "preview": "examples/swatch-grid/preview.webp",
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
       "name": "turntable",
       "dir": "examples/turntable",
       "teaches": "A slotted-actions Z-rotation turntable keyed through the cross-version channelbag path (get_channelbag_for_slot).",
-      "alt": "A bronze monkey head (Suzanne) turned three-quarters on a dark studio floor.",
+      "alt": "A smooth copper monkey head (Suzanne) turned three-quarters on a black turntable with a brushed metal platter.",
       "witnessesFix": "Slotted-actions boundary: ensure-helper channelbag on 5.x, strip.channelbag on 4.4/4.5.",
       "hero": "docs/gallery/assets/turntable-hero.webp",
       "preview": "examples/turntable/preview.webp",
diff --git a/examples/swatch-grid/README.md b/examples/swatch-grid/README.md
index c8cba9fd..eb256e19 100644
--- a/examples/swatch-grid/README.md
+++ b/examples/swatch-grid/README.md
@@ -34,6 +34,17 @@ blender --background --python swatch_grid.py -- --output swatch.png
 blender --background --python swatch_grid.py -- --output swatch.png --engine cycles --samples 16 --width 960
 ```
 
+## Staging
+
+The backdrop stands 0.16 behind the spheres, so each casts a soft contact
+shadow. It used to stand 1.58 behind them, and the grid floated. The world is
+a reflection-only sky: glossy rays see a warm overhead gradient above a dark
+horizon, and camera and diffuse rays see the dark stage. The mirror-finish
+gold otherwise reflected the near-black world and rendered as a black ball
+with two light-card glints. Sphere positions, materials, the camera and the
+six-region pixel check are unchanged; `verify_png` still reads six distinct
+regions on 4.5.11, 5.1.2 and 5.2.1.
+
 ## Exit codes
 
 Per-script sequential checks. `9` is a valid check code; there is no rule
diff --git a/examples/swatch-grid/preview.webp b/examples/swatch-grid/preview.webp
index f9da58df..7c9b7962 100644
Binary files a/examples/swatch-grid/preview.webp and b/examples/swatch-grid/preview.webp differ
diff --git a/examples/swatch-grid/swatch_grid.py b/examples/swatch-grid/swatch_grid.py
index d3937977..3224374f 100644
--- a/examples/swatch-grid/swatch_grid.py
+++ b/examples/swatch-grid/swatch_grid.py
@@ -153,7 +153,10 @@ def build_scene(mats):
     wmat, _ = make_principled("Studio", (0.03, 0.032, 0.037, 1), 0.0, 0.7)
     wall_me.materials.append(wmat)
     wall = bpy.data.objects.new("Wall", wall_me)
-    wall.location = (0.0, 2.5, 0.0)
+    # just behind the spheres (0.16 clear of their backs) so each casts a
+    # soft contact shadow and reads as mounted; at y=2.5 they hung 1.58 in
+    # front of the backdrop with nothing under them
+    wall.location = (0.0, 1.08, 0.0)
     wall.rotation_euler = (math.radians(90), 0.0, 0.0)
     bpy.context.collection.objects.link(wall)
 
@@ -182,7 +185,29 @@ def build_scene(mats):
     bpy.data.objects["WedgeL"].rotation_euler = (math.radians(-56), 0.0, math.radians(190))
     world = bpy.data.worlds.new("W")
     world.use_nodes = True
-    world.node_tree.nodes["Background"].inputs[0].default_value = (0.02, 0.021, 0.025, 1)
+    nt = world.node_tree
+    bg = nt.nodes["Background"]
+    bg.inputs[0].default_value = (0.02, 0.021, 0.025, 1)
+    # A reflection-only sky: glossy rays see a warm overhead gradient over a
+    # dark horizon, every other ray the dark stage. The mirror-finish gold
+    # otherwise reflected the near-black world and rendered as a black ball
+    # with two light-card glints. Diffuse and camera rays are unchanged, so
+    # the stage stays dark.
+    path = nt.nodes.new("ShaderNodeLightPath")
+    coord = nt.nodes.new("ShaderNodeTexCoord")
+    sep = nt.nodes.new("ShaderNodeSeparateXYZ")
+    nt.links.new(coord.outputs["Generated"], sep.inputs[0])
+    sky = nt.nodes.new("ShaderNodeValToRGB")
+    sky.color_ramp.elements[0].position = 0.0
+    sky.color_ramp.elements[0].color = (0.02, 0.021, 0.025, 1)
+    sky.color_ramp.elements[1].position = 0.7
+    sky.color_ramp.elements[1].color = (0.70, 0.63, 0.55, 1)
+    nt.links.new(sep.outputs["Z"], sky.inputs["Fac"])
+    pick = nt.nodes.new("ShaderNodeMixRGB")
+    pick.inputs[1].default_value = (0.02, 0.021, 0.025, 1)
+    nt.links.new(sky.outputs["Color"], pick.inputs[2])
+    nt.links.new(path.outputs["Is Glossy Ray"], pick.inputs[0])
+    nt.links.new(pick.outputs[0], bg.inputs[0])
     bpy.context.scene.world = world
 
 
diff --git a/examples/turntable/README.md b/examples/turntable/README.md
index 3987b1a6..379cbafa 100644
--- a/examples/turntable/README.md
+++ b/examples/turntable/README.md
@@ -29,6 +29,15 @@ keys, samples the object's Z rotation at frame 1 vs a later frame, and asserts t
 (the keys drive playback). `--output` additionally renders a still; the full animated loop is
 a showcase extra, not part of the CI check.
 
+The still's staging is render-only and runs after the check. The head gets a
+subdivision modifier (the 500-face monkey read as faceted plates) and is
+seated 10 mm into the platter of a turntable plinth, lifted from its own
+lowest evaluated vertex. It used to hover just above the floor with nothing
+under it. The rotation keys, the sampled frames and every exit code are
+unchanged. This render path does not call `gallery_framing.check_framing`,
+because adding it would add exit code 10. The framing was measured with the
+helper out of band instead: fill y 0.789, minimum margin 0.050, ok.
+
 ## Exit codes
 
 Per-script sequential checks. `9` is a valid check code; there is no rule
diff --git a/examples/turntable/preview.webp b/examples/turntable/preview.webp
index 185ac571..b766f741 100644
Binary files a/examples/turntable/preview.webp and b/examples/turntable/preview.webp differ
diff --git a/examples/turntable/turntable.py b/examples/turntable/turntable.py
index 7ea4e4c7..32268fa4 100644
--- a/examples/turntable/turntable.py
+++ b/examples/turntable/turntable.py
@@ -72,9 +72,72 @@ def rz(f):
     print(f"branch={branch} rot_z f1={r1} fmid={rmid} fend={rend} drives={drives}")
     return drives
 
+PLINTH_R = 1.15
+PLINTH_H = 0.28
+PLATTER_R = 1.05
+PLATTER_H = 0.05
+SEAT = 0.01
+
+
+def stage_turntable(obj):
+    """Render-only staging, after the check has run: a turntable to turn on.
+
+    The head is smoothed by a subdivision modifier (the 500-face monkey read
+    as faceted plates), seated SEAT into a platter on a plinth, and lifted so
+    its lowest evaluated vertex lands there. It used to hover just above the
+    floor with nothing under it. Rotation keys and the correctness samples
+    are untouched; only location and a modifier change here.
+    """
+    import bmesh
+    sub = obj.modifiers.new("Smooth", 'SUBSURF')
+    sub.levels = 2
+    sub.render_levels = 2
+    dg = bpy.context.evaluated_depsgraph_get()
+    ev = obj.evaluated_get(dg)
+    me = ev.to_mesh()
+    try:
+        zmin = min((ev.matrix_world @ v.co).z for v in me.vertices)
+    finally:
+        ev.to_mesh_clear()
+    obj.location.z += (PLINTH_H + PLATTER_H - SEAT) - zmin
+    b = obj.active_material.node_tree.nodes['Principled BSDF']
+    # 0.25 blew every brow and ear edge out to white under the key
+    b.inputs['Roughness'].default_value = 0.38
+    parts = []
+    for nm, r, z0, h, col, metal, rough in (
+        ("Plinth", PLINTH_R, 0.0, PLINTH_H, (0.035, 0.032, 0.03), 0.0, 0.55),
+        ("Platter", PLATTER_R, PLINTH_H - 0.004, PLATTER_H + 0.004,
+         (0.42, 0.42, 0.44), 1.0, 0.45),
+    ):
+        mesh = bpy.data.meshes.new(nm)
+        bm = bmesh.new()
+        try:
+            bmesh.ops.create_cone(bm, cap_ends=True, segments=64, radius1=r,
+                                  radius2=r, depth=h)
+            bmesh.ops.translate(bm, vec=(0.0, 0.0, z0 + h / 2.0), verts=bm.verts)
+            bmesh.ops.bevel(bm, geom=[e for e in bm.edges if len(e.link_faces) == 2
+                                      and e.calc_face_angle(0.0) > 1.0],
+                            offset=0.012, segments=2, affect='EDGES')
+            bm.to_mesh(mesh)
+        finally:
+            bm.free()
+        mesh.shade_smooth()
+        mat = bpy.data.materials.new(nm); mat.use_nodes = True
+        pb = mat.node_tree.nodes['Principled BSDF']
+        pb.inputs['Base Color'].default_value = (*col, 1.0)
+        pb.inputs['Metallic'].default_value = metal
+        pb.inputs['Roughness'].default_value = rough
+        mesh.materials.append(mat)
+        ob = bpy.data.objects.new(nm, mesh)
+        bpy.context.collection.objects.link(ob)
+        parts.append(ob)
+    return parts
+
+
 def render_still(obj, path, engine):
     import bmesh
     sc = bpy.context.scene
+    stage_turntable(obj)
     fme = bpy.data.meshes.new("Floor"); bm = bmesh.new()
     try:
         bmesh.ops.create_grid(bm, x_segments=1, y_segments=1, size=30.0); bm.to_mesh(fme)
@@ -92,8 +155,8 @@ def render_still(obj, path, engine):
     wall.rotation_euler = (math.radians(90), 0, 0); bpy.context.collection.objects.link(wall)
     w = bpy.data.worlds.new("W"); w.use_nodes = True
     w.node_tree.nodes["Background"].inputs[0].default_value = (0.02, 0.021, 0.025, 1); sc.world = w
-    aim = bpy.data.objects.new("Aim", None); aim.location = (0, 0, 1.0); bpy.context.collection.objects.link(aim)
-    cam = bpy.data.objects.new("cam", bpy.data.cameras.new("cam")); cam.location = (0, -5.9, 2.4)
+    aim = bpy.data.objects.new("Aim", None); aim.location = (0, 0, 1.1); bpy.context.collection.objects.link(aim)
+    cam = bpy.data.objects.new("cam", bpy.data.cameras.new("cam")); cam.location = (0, -8.0, 3.4)
     bpy.context.collection.objects.link(cam); sc.camera = cam
     c = cam.constraints.new('TRACK_TO'); c.target = aim; c.track_axis = 'TRACK_NEGATIVE_Z'; c.up_axis = 'UP_Y'
     for nm, loc, en, size, col in [("K", (-4, -5, 7), 620, 5.0, (1.0, 0.96, 0.9)),