@@ -56,6 +56,19 @@ shared, while failed loads can be retried. The model, lighting map, and static
 preview are versioned local assets. The official site's `sqlpage.yaml` allows
 jsDelivr scripts while preserving SQLPage's per-request nonce.
 
+The studio is a textured horizontal floor with a 512 × 512 planar reflection,
+filtered to 256 × 256 with the same Gaussian shader as the emission halo.
+Reflection RGB and coverage are blurred together before tone mapping. Its
+contact point follows the actual metal surface as the sculpture rotates.
+Materials stay in `sculpture-materials.js`, lighting in `database-scene.js`,
+and floor shading in the `studio-*.glsl` snippets. After changing the scene,
+run the official site locally, then regenerate both fallback assets with
+`node scripts/render-landing-sculpture.mjs http://127.0.0.1:8080` from the
+repository root. This uses the production renderer at time zero and all 64
+turns; it requires Playwright Chromium and ImageMagick with WebP/AVIF support.
+The low-power handoff retains the last live frame while its atlas decodes and
+attaches the replacement only after drawing it, without showing the preview again.
+
 Without JavaScript the document retains its content, initial live example, and
 navigation. CDN or WebGL failure leaves the static sculpture preview and working
 controls, and a retry is available for the optional scene. Reduced motion disables
 
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ export function createDatabaseScene({
     contextLost = false,
     frame = 0,
     last = 0,
-    time = 0;
+    time = 0,
+    renderedFrames = 0;
   let renderedZoom = 0,
     visible = document.visibilityState !== "hidden",
     loaded = false,
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ export function createDatabaseScene({
   renderer.setClearColor(0x000000, 0);
   renderer.shadowMap.enabled = true;
   renderer.shadowMap.autoUpdate = false;
-  renderer.shadowMap.type = THREE.PCFSoftShadowMap;
+  renderer.shadowMap.type = THREE.PCFShadowMap;
   let canvas = renderer.domElement;
   const canvasStyle =
     "position:absolute;left:0;top:0;width:1000px;height:1000px;transform-origin:0 0";
@@ -107,7 +108,8 @@ export function createDatabaseScene({
     samples = 0,
     slowFrames = 0,
     cpuBusyUntil = 0;
-  let baked, context, lastTurn;
+  let baked, context, lastTurn, pendingAtlas, previousCanvas;
+  let switchingRenderer = false;
   const resetBudget = () => {
     if (fence) gl.deleteSync(fence);
     fence = undefined;
@@ -139,33 +141,33 @@ export function createDatabaseScene({
     renderer.forceContextLoss();
   };
   const useBakedViews = () => {
-    releaseGraphics();
-    baked = new Image();
+    if (switchingRenderer) return;
+    switchingRenderer = true;
+    const atlas = new Image();
+    pendingAtlas = atlas;
     const replacement = document.createElement("canvas");
     replacement.width = 400;
     replacement.height = 400;
-    context = replacement.getContext("2d");
-    if (!context) {
+    const replacementContext = replacement.getContext("2d");
+    if (!replacementContext) {
       onError();
       return;
     }
-    canvas.replaceWith(replacement);
-    canvas = replacement;
-    canvas.style.cssText = canvasStyle;
-    root.dataset.renderer = "baked";
-    root.dataset.scene = "loading";
-    loaded = readySent = false;
-    hitArea.inert = true;
-    if (instructions)
-      instructions.textContent =
-        "Drag sideways or use left/right arrows to rotate. Use plus/minus to zoom and Home to reset. Swipe vertically or pinch to scroll or zoom the page.";
-    baked.src = new URL(
+    atlas.src = new URL(
       "../../assets/sculpture-turns.avif",
       import.meta.url,
     ).href;
-    baked.decode().then(
+    atlas.decode().then(
       () => {
-        loaded = !disposed;
+        if (disposed) return;
+        // Keep the last submitted WebGL frame visible during download/decode.
+        // The replacement is attached only after its first atlas view is drawn.
+        baked = atlas;
+        context = replacementContext;
+        previousCanvas = canvas;
+        canvas = replacement;
+        canvas.style.cssText = canvasStyle;
+        switchingRenderer = false;
         needsRender = true;
       },
       () => {
@@ -180,25 +182,26 @@ export function createDatabaseScene({
   const interior = {
     uInteriorPosition: { value: new THREE.Vector3() },
     uInteriorRadius: { value: 1 },
-    uInteriorPulse: { value: 14 },
+    uInteriorPulse: { value: 2.4 },
   };
-  const interiorLight = new THREE.PointLight(0x72c8de, 0.6, 2.1, 2);
+  const interiorLight = new THREE.PointLight(0x8bb8e8, 0.4, 2.1, 2);
   interiorLight.name = "Soft interior database light";
   const interiorScale = new THREE.Vector3();
   let glow, jewelReflection;
-  const key = new THREE.DirectionalLight(0xe5edf1, 1.7);
-  key.position.set(-3.5, 5, 5);
+  const key = new THREE.DirectionalLight(0xd8e9fa, 1.2);
+  key.position.set(-3, 5, 2.5);
   key.castShadow = true;
-  key.shadow.mapSize.set(512, 512);
+  key.shadow.mapSize.set(1024, 1024);
   Object.assign(key.shadow.camera, {
-    left: -4,
-    right: 4,
-    top: 4,
-    bottom: -4,
+    left: -3,
+    right: 3,
+    top: 3,
+    bottom: -3,
     near: 0.5,
     far: 18,
   });
-  key.shadow.normalBias = 0.025;
+  key.shadow.normalBias = 0.012;
+  key.shadow.radius = 8;
   scene.add(key);
   const rim = new THREE.DirectionalLight(0xa1bac7, 0.8);
   rim.position.set(4, 2, -2);
@@ -208,12 +211,12 @@ export function createDatabaseScene({
   scene.add(fill);
 
   RectAreaLightUniformsLib.init();
-  const softbox = new THREE.RectAreaLight(0xe5edf1, 7, 2.5, 6);
-  softbox.position.set(-3.5, 1.5, 4);
+  const softbox = new THREE.RectAreaLight(0xe5eff9, 9, 1.5, 6);
+  softbox.position.set(-3, 2, 4.5);
   softbox.lookAt(0, 0, 0);
   scene.add(softbox);
-  const edgeSoftbox = new THREE.RectAreaLight(0xa1bac7, 4, 1.2, 5);
-  edgeSoftbox.position.set(3.5, 1.5, 2);
+  const edgeSoftbox = new THREE.RectAreaLight(0xa9cbec, 3, 0.7, 4);
+  edgeSoftbox.position.set(3.5, 2, 3.5);
   edgeSoftbox.lookAt(0, 0, 0);
   scene.add(edgeSoftbox);
   scene.add(new THREE.HemisphereLight(0xa1bac7, 0x18262d, 0.55));
@@ -242,7 +245,7 @@ export function createDatabaseScene({
       );
       glow.setSize(1000, 1000, 1);
       jewelReflection = createFiniteJewelLight(JEWEL_EDGES, shaders);
-      studioSet = createSculptureStudio();
+      studioSet = createSculptureStudio(studio, shaders);
       scene.add(studioSet.group);
       performance.mark("sqlpage:assets-ready");
       const bounds = new THREE.Box3().setFromObject(gltf.scene);
@@ -271,17 +274,24 @@ export function createDatabaseScene({
           if (material.name.includes("Separator"))
             finishLiquid(material, liquidClock, studio, interior, shaders);
           if (material.name.includes("Jewel Wire")) {
-            material.emissiveIntensity = 1.05;
+            material.color.set("#a9d2fa");
+            material.emissive.set("#8bb8e8");
+            material.emissiveIntensity = 1.6;
             wireMaterial = material;
           }
-          if (material.name.includes("Endpoint"))
-            material.emissiveIntensity = 1.2;
+          if (material.name.includes("Endpoint")) {
+            material.color.set("#c9e2fb");
+            material.emissive.set("#a9d2fa");
+            material.emissiveIntensity = 1.8;
+          }
+          if (material.name.includes("Facets")) {
+            material.color.set("#8bb8e8");
+            material.emissive.set("#466689");
+            material.opacity = 0.035;
+          }
           if (material.transparent) material.depthWrite = false;
         }
       });
-      const jewelLight = new THREE.PointLight(0x72c8de, 0.09, 2.4, 2);
-      jewelLight.position.set(0, 1.35, 0);
-      gltf.scene.add(jewelLight);
       // Native model coordinates: stay inside the radius-1.04 database stack.
       interiorLight.position.set(0.4, -0.45, 0);
       gltf.scene.add(interiorLight);
@@ -428,6 +438,7 @@ export function createDatabaseScene({
     }
     if (
       loaded &&
+      !switchingRenderer &&
       (inView || !readySent) &&
       (state.motion || needsRender || changing)
     ) {
@@ -461,6 +472,15 @@ export function createDatabaseScene({
           }
           lastTurn = turn;
         }
+        if (previousCanvas) {
+          previousCanvas.replaceWith(canvas);
+          previousCanvas = undefined;
+          releaseGraphics();
+          root.dataset.renderer = "baked";
+          if (instructions)
+            instructions.textContent =
+              "Drag sideways or use left/right arrows to rotate. Use plus/minus to zoom and Home to reset. Swipe vertically or pinch to scroll or zoom the page.";
+        }
       } else {
         // Prepare GPU-only animation only when a new live frame can be drawn.
         liquidClock.value = time;
@@ -473,9 +493,9 @@ export function createDatabaseScene({
           -0.45 + Math.sin(time * ((Math.PI * 2) / 4)) * 0.28,
           Math.sin(time * ((Math.PI * 2) / 6)) * 0.4,
         );
-        const pulse = 14 + Math.sin(time * ((Math.PI * 2) / 3)) * 6;
+        const pulse = 2.4 + Math.sin(time * ((Math.PI * 2) / 6)) * 0.3;
         interior.uInteriorPulse.value = pulse;
-        interiorLight.intensity = (0.6 * pulse) / 14;
+        interiorLight.intensity = (0.4 * pulse) / 2.4;
         scene.updateMatrixWorld(true);
         studioSet.update(model);
         scene.updateMatrixWorld(true);
@@ -485,15 +505,19 @@ export function createDatabaseScene({
         if (diamond && wireMaterial)
           jewelReflection.update(diamond, camera, wireMaterial);
         syncHitArea();
+        studioSet.renderReflection(renderer, scene, camera);
         renderer.shadowMap.needsUpdate = true;
         renderer.render(scene, camera);
         glow.render(model, [studioSet.group]);
         fence = gl.fenceSync(gl.SYNC_GPU_COMMANDS_COMPLETE, 0);
         submittedAt = performance.now();
+        renderedFrames++;
       }
-      needsRender = false;
+      // The reflection receiver settles on the second submitted frame. Keep
+      // the matching preview visible and time frozen throughout initialization.
+      needsRender = !baked && renderedFrames < 2;
       lastOrientation.copy(dragQuaternion);
-      if (!readySent) {
+      if (!readySent && (baked || renderedFrames >= 2)) {
         readySent = true;
         performance.mark("sqlpage:first-frame");
         performance.measure(
@@ -530,7 +554,9 @@ export function createDatabaseScene({
       timing?.disconnect();
       if (instructions) instructions.textContent = originalInstructions;
       if (baked) baked.src = "";
-      if (!baked) releaseGraphics();
+      if (pendingAtlas) pendingAtlas.src = "";
+      if (!baked || previousCanvas) releaseGraphics();
+      previousCanvas?.remove();
       canvas.remove();
     },
   };
 
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ function frameAt(width, height, anchor, portrait, bodyWidth = width * 0.48) {
   const compositionLeft = (width - compositionWidth) / 2;
   const desiredWidth = portrait
     ? bodyWidth
-    : Math.min(compositionWidth * 0.335, height * 0.59);
+    : Math.min(compositionWidth * 0.26, height * 0.47);
   let size = desiredWidth / SCULPTURE_FRAME.bodyWidth;
   const align = () => {
     const left = anchor.x - SCULPTURE_FRAME.shoulder.x * size;
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ function frameAt(width, height, anchor, portrait, bodyWidth = width * 0.48) {
 export function layoutLandingFrame(viewport, anchor) {
   const width = Math.max(1, viewport.clientWidth);
   const screenHeight = window.innerHeight;
+  const compositionWidth = Math.min(width, screenHeight * 1.95);
   const portrait = width < 900 && screenHeight >= width;
   const shortLandscape = !portrait && screenHeight < 560;
   const section = viewport.parentElement;
@@ -108,13 +109,16 @@ export function layoutLandingFrame(viewport, anchor) {
         rect.left -
         surface.left +
         (ink.actualBoundingBoxRight || rect.width) -
-        fontSize * 0.045,
+        fontSize * 0.045 +
+        // Leave a clear gutter between the compact headline and sculpture.
+        compositionWidth * 0.2,
       y:
         rect.bottom -
         surface.top -
         (ink.fontBoundingBoxDescent ?? fontSize * 0.2) +
         ink.actualBoundingBoxDescent -
-        fontSize * 0.025,
+        fontSize * 0.025 -
+        height * 0.025,
     };
   };
   if (portrait)
 
@@ -31,14 +31,13 @@ function localPosition(shader, varying) {
 
 export function finishMetal(material, environment, shaders) {
   const lid = material.name.includes("Mirror Top");
-  const rim = material.name.includes("Gunmetal");
-  material.color.set(lid ? "#384651" : rim ? "#adb8c2" : "#9ca8b2");
-  material.metalness = lid ? 0.96 : 0.9;
-  // Keep the cap polished: the satin shell roughness blurs the reflected wires.
-  material.roughness = lid ? 0.09 : rim ? 0.24 : 0.3;
+  // One dark satin metal across the lid, shell and rims. Surface orientation
+  // and machining direction shape the highlights, rather than different alloys.
+  material.color.set("#4a5a68");
+  material.metalness = 1;
+  material.roughness = 0.34;
   material.envMap = environment;
-  material.envMapIntensity =
-    (lid ? 0.82 : rim ? 1.15 : 1.08) * STUDIO_RADIANCE_SCALE;
+  material.envMapIntensity = 0.6 * STUDIO_RADIANCE_SCALE;
   material.defines = { ...material.defines, METAL_LID: lid ? 1 : 0 };
   material.onBeforeCompile = (shader) => {
     localPosition(shader, "vMetalPosition");
@@ -48,16 +47,16 @@ export function finishMetal(material, environment, shaders) {
     );
   };
   material.customProgramCacheKey = () =>
-    `sqlpage-black-metal-${lid ? "lid" : "shell"}-v5`;
+    `sqlpage-satin-metal-${lid ? "lid" : "shell"}-v7`;
 }
 
 export function finishLiquid(material, clock, environment, interior, shaders) {
   const rim = material.name.includes("Rims");
-  material.color.set(rim ? "#133340" : "#06131c");
-  material.emissive.set(rim ? "#246582" : "#14638a");
-  material.emissiveIntensity = rim ? 0.28 : 0.55;
-  material.metalness = 0.2;
-  material.roughness = rim ? 0.32 : 0.25;
+  material.color.set(rim ? "#527ba5" : "#345576");
+  material.emissive.set("#719fe8");
+  material.emissiveIntensity = rim ? 0.45 : 0.65;
+  material.metalness = 0.25;
+  material.roughness = rim ? 0.23 : 0.18;
   material.envMap = environment;
   material.envMapIntensity = 0.18 * STUDIO_RADIANCE_SCALE;
   material.transparent = false;