diff --git a/crates/gpu/src/context.rs b/crates/gpu/src/context.rs
index fb7edc812..e2ab46bde 100644
--- a/crates/gpu/src/context.rs
+++ b/crates/gpu/src/context.rs
@@ -128,6 +128,11 @@ const POOL_BUDGET: usize = 256 << 20;
 /// miss (a new allocation), never a wrong pixel.
 const STALE_FRAMES: u64 = 2;
 
+/// The pool owner of uploaded textures: never registered by an [`Enc`] (their ids start at 1),
+/// so an upload takes only from the shared free list ([`Pool::take`], textures no open encoder
+/// can read) and gives its texture back through the guarded [`Pool::release`].
+const UPLOAD_OWNER: u64 = 0;
+
 /// Readback staging buffers kept for reuse across sizes (bytes).
 const STAGING_BUDGET: u64 = 256 << 20;
 
@@ -693,6 +698,10 @@ pub struct GpuContext {
     dummy_tex: wgpu::TextureView,
     dummy_buf: wgpu::Buffer,
     uploads: Mutex<Uploads>,
+    /// Uploaded footage pictures, shared by the layers that show them (see [`crate::upload`]).
+    pictures: Mutex<crate::upload::Pictures>,
+    /// Reused staging buffers of large uploads (see [`crate::upload::Staging`]).
+    upload_staging: crate::upload::Staging,
     upload_budget: std::sync::atomic::AtomicUsize,
     upload_full_warned: std::sync::atomic::AtomicBool,
     pool: Arc<Mutex<Pool>>,
@@ -1017,6 +1026,8 @@ impl GpuContext {
             dummy,
             dummy_buf,
             uploads: Mutex::new(Uploads::default()),
+            pictures: Default::default(),
+            upload_staging: Default::default(),
             upload_budget: std::sync::atomic::AtomicUsize::new(UPLOAD_BUDGET),
             upload_full_warned: Default::default(),
             pool,
@@ -1132,11 +1143,11 @@ impl GpuContext {
     /// Bytes held in long-lived or still-referenced GPU caches/leases that submitting and waiting
     /// on `owner` (`closing_enc`) cannot free.
     fn kept_bytes(&self, owner: u64, closing_enc: Option<u64>) -> u64 {
-        let uploads = self.uploads.lock().map(|u| u.bytes as u64).unwrap_or(0);
+        // (uploaded layer and footage textures are pooled: the pool's leases count them)
         let pool = self.pool.lock().map(|p| p.kept_after_flush(owner, closing_enc) as u64).unwrap_or(0);
         let staging: u64 = self.staging.lock().map(|s| s.iter().map(|(k, v)| k * v.len() as u64).sum()).unwrap_or(0);
         let zeros: u64 = self.zeros.lock().map(|z| z.keys().map(|&(w, h)| w as u64 * h as u64 * 16).sum()).unwrap_or(0);
-        uploads + pool + staging + zeros
+        pool + staging + self.upload_staging.bytes() + zeros
     }
 
     #[cfg(test)]
@@ -1549,6 +1560,8 @@ impl GpuContext {
             dummy: self.dummy.clone(),
             dummy_buf: self.dummy_buf.clone(),
             uploads: Mutex::new(Uploads::default()),
+            pictures: Default::default(),
+            upload_staging: Default::default(),
             upload_budget: std::sync::atomic::AtomicUsize::new(UPLOAD_BUDGET),
             upload_full_warned: Default::default(),
             pool: self.pool.clone(),
@@ -1728,16 +1741,54 @@ impl GpuContext {
             return None;
         }
         self.transfers.count(true, img.data.len() * 16);
-        let g = self.image(img.width, img.height);
-        self.queue.write_texture(
-            wgpu::TexelCopyTextureInfo { texture: &g.texture, mip_level: 0, origin: wgpu::Origin3d::ZERO, aspect: wgpu::TextureAspect::All },
-            bytemuck::cast_slice(&img.data),
-            wgpu::TexelCopyBufferLayout { offset: 0, bytes_per_row: Some(img.width * 16), rows_per_image: Some(img.height) },
-            wgpu::Extent3d { width: img.width, height: img.height, depth_or_array_layers: 1 },
-        );
+        // A texture from the pool's shared free list: no open encoder can still read it, and the
+        // copy below runs before anything recorded after this call.
+        let (g, _) = self.pooled(img.width, img.height, UPLOAD_OWNER);
+        if !self.upload_staging.write(&self.device, &self.queue, img, &g.texture) {
+            self.queue.write_texture(
+                wgpu::TexelCopyTextureInfo { texture: &g.texture, mip_level: 0, origin: wgpu::Origin3d::ZERO, aspect: wgpu::TextureAspect::All },
+                bytemuck::cast_slice(&img.data),
+                wgpu::TexelCopyBufferLayout { offset: 0, bytes_per_row: Some(img.width * 16), rows_per_image: Some(img.height) },
+                wgpu::Extent3d { width: img.width, height: img.height, depth_or_array_layers: 1 },
+            );
+        }
         Some(g)
     }
 
+    /// Upload a decoded footage picture once while the footage source keeps it: every layer
+    /// and effect input showing the same frame shares the texture (`Renderer::footage_picture`).
+    pub(crate) fn upload_picture(&self, img: &Arc<Image>) -> Option<GpuImage> {
+        if let Some(t) = self.pictures.lock().ok().and_then(|mut p| p.get(img)) {
+            return Some(t);
+        }
+        let tex = self.upload_image(img)?;
+        if let Ok(mut p) = self.pictures.lock() {
+            p.insert(img, tex.clone(), crate::upload::PICTURE_BUDGET.min(self.upload_budget() / 4));
+        }
+        Some(tex)
+    }
+
+    /// Entries in the footage picture cache.
+    #[cfg(test)]
+    pub(crate) fn picture_entries(&self) -> usize {
+        self.pictures.lock().map(|p| p.len()).unwrap_or_default()
+    }
+
+    /// The upload staging buffers (tests).
+    #[cfg(test)]
+    pub(crate) fn upload_staging(&self) -> &crate::upload::Staging {
+        &self.upload_staging
+    }
+
+    /// A render is done: drop the footage picture textures and the upload staging buffers
+    /// (the next render's pictures upload again; their textures come from the pool).
+    pub fn trim_uploads(&self) {
+        if let Ok(mut p) = self.pictures.lock() {
+            p.clear();
+        }
+        self.upload_staging.clear();
+    }
+
     /// Entries in the layer upload cache.
     #[cfg(test)]
     pub(crate) fn upload_entries(&self) -> usize {
@@ -1799,6 +1850,10 @@ impl GpuContext {
             u.map.clear();
             u.bytes = 0;
         }
+        if let Ok(mut p) = self.pictures.lock() {
+            p.clear();
+        }
+        self.upload_staging.clear();
         if let Ok(mut p) = self.pool.lock() {
             p.clear();
         }
diff --git a/crates/gpu/src/lib.rs b/crates/gpu/src/lib.rs
index 3ede5c6b9..db6061487 100644
--- a/crates/gpu/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/gpu/src/lib.rs
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ mod memcap;
 mod ops;
 mod particles;
 mod readback;
+mod upload;
 mod walk;
 mod yuv;
 
@@ -439,6 +440,7 @@ impl Accelerator for Gpu {
             target: "effectcraft_gpu",
             "gpu pool: {hits} working textures reused, {misses} allocated ({pct}% reuse) so far"
         );
+        self.ctx.trim_uploads();
         self.ctx.trim_pool();
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/gpu/src/tests.rs b/crates/gpu/src/tests.rs
index 37fcd42d3..9ab9fd49d 100644
--- a/crates/gpu/src/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/gpu/src/tests.rs
@@ -28,8 +28,10 @@ use crate::Gpu;
 
 mod adjust;
 mod adv3d;
+mod bench_share;
 mod deferred;
 mod deferred_jobs;
+mod footage_share;
 mod fx_color;
 mod fx_depth;
 mod fx_distort;
diff --git a/crates/gpu/src/tests/bench_share.rs b/crates/gpu/src/tests/bench_share.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..580c7f4e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/gpu/src/tests/bench_share.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+//! Warm-frame benchmark of #3333 (run by hand): three layers of the same 1080p footage frame,
+//! 32 bpc, a 30-frame sequence already decoded (as the media pool serves a warm frame), with a
+//! layer cache as the Render Queue has. Prints the median and mean ms per frame and a hash of
+//! every frame (to compare the pixels of two builds).
+//!
+//! `cargo test -p effectcraft-gpu --release --lib bench_share -- --ignored --nocapture`
+
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::sync::Mutex;
+
+use super::*;
+
+struct Decoded {
+    frames: Mutex<HashMap<i64, Arc<Image>>>,
+}
+
+impl FootageSource for Decoded {
+    fn frame(&self, item: ItemId, f: &Footage, t: Tick) -> Option<Arc<Image>> {
+        let i = f.frame_rate.frame_at(t).clamp(0, 29);
+        let mut m = self.frames.lock().unwrap();
+        Some(m.entry(i).or_insert_with(|| Arc::new(pattern(item.0 as u32 + i as u32, f.width, f.height))).clone())
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+#[ignore]
+fn bench_share() {
+    let Some(g) = gpu() else { return };
+    let (w, h) = (1920, 1080);
+    let mut p = Project::default();
+    p.settings.bit_depth = BitDepth::Bpc32;
+    let comp = Comp::new(w, h, FrameRate::FPS_30, Tick::from_seconds_f64(1.0));
+    let cid = p.add_item("Comp", Label::Sandstone, None, ItemKind::Comp(comp.clone().into()));
+    let f = Footage {
+        path: "seq.exr".into(),
+        kind: FootageKind::Sequence,
+        width: w,
+        height: h,
+        pixel_aspect: 1.0,
+        frame_rate: FrameRate::FPS_30,
+        duration: Tick::from_seconds_f64(1.0),
+        has_video: true,
+        alpha: AlphaMode::Premultiplied,
+        ..Default::default()
+    };
+    let fid = p.add_item("Sequence", Label::Lavender, None, ItemKind::Footage(f));
+    for i in 0..3 {
+        let mut l = build::layer(&mut p, &comp, "Sequence", LayerSource::Footage { item: fid }, (w, h), None);
+        if i > 0 {
+            l.blend_mode = BlendMode::Add;
+            set(&mut l, "transform/opacity", Value::Scalar(25.0));
+        }
+        p.comp_mut(cid).unwrap().layers.insert(0, l);
+    }
+    let src = Decoded { frames: Mutex::new(HashMap::new()) };
+    let frames = 30;
+    let mut runs = vec![];
+    let mut hashes = vec![];
+    for pass in 0..4 {
+        let cache = effectcraft_render::cache::LayerCache::new(1 << 30);
+        let mut r = Renderer::new(&p, &src, RenderOpts { backend: Backend::Gpu, ..Default::default() });
+        r.accel = Some(g);
+        r.cache = Some(&cache);
+        for k in 0..frames {
+            let t0 = std::time::Instant::now();
+            let img = g.render(&r, cid, Tick::from_seconds_f64(k as f64 / 30.0)).expect("the GPU renders the frame");
+            let ms = t0.elapsed().as_secs_f64() * 1e3;
+            if pass > 0 {
+                runs.push(ms);
+            }
+            if pass == 1 {
+                use std::hash::{Hash, Hasher};
+                let mut hs = std::collections::hash_map::DefaultHasher::new();
+                img.data.iter().for_each(|px| px.map(f32::to_bits).hash(&mut hs));
+                hashes.push(hs.finish());
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    runs.sort_by(f64::total_cmp);
+    let mean = runs.iter().sum::<f64>() / runs.len() as f64;
+    eprintln!("bench_share: {} frames, median {:.1} ms, mean {:.1} ms, min {:.1} ms", runs.len(), runs[runs.len() / 2], mean, runs[0]);
+    eprintln!("bench_share frame hashes: {hashes:016x?}");
+}
diff --git a/crates/gpu/src/tests/footage_share.rs b/crates/gpu/src/tests/footage_share.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1a31c3981
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/gpu/src/tests/footage_share.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,233 @@
+//! #3333: a footage frame uploads once per frame and its texture is shared by every layer and
+//! effect input that shows it; the frame is bit-identical to drawing each layer from its own copy.
+
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::sync::Mutex;
+
+use super::*;
+use crate::walk::SHARED_PICTURES;
+
+/// Keeps decoded frames as the media pool does: the same frame (at the same size) of the same
+/// footage is the same `Arc` while kept. Counts the frames it decodes.
+#[derive(Default)]
+struct Kept {
+    frames: Mutex<HashMap<(ItemId, u32, u32, i64, Option<(u32, u32)>), Arc<Image>>>,
+}
+
+impl Kept {
+    fn get(&self, item: ItemId, f: &Footage, t: Tick, size: Option<(u32, u32)>) -> Option<Arc<Image>> {
+        let i = f.frame_rate.frame_at(t);
+        let mut m = self.frames.lock().unwrap();
+        let img = m.entry((item, f.width, f.height, i, size)).or_insert_with(|| {
+            let full = pattern(item.0 as u32 + i as u32 * 7 + f.width, f.width, f.height);
+            Arc::new(match size {
+                Some((w, h)) => effectcraft_raster::resample(&full, w, h),
+                None => full,
+            })
+        });
+        Some(img.clone())
+    }
+}
+
+impl FootageSource for Kept {
+    fn frame(&self, item: ItemId, f: &Footage, t: Tick) -> Option<Arc<Image>> {
+        self.get(item, f, t, None)
+    }
+    fn frame_at_size(&self, item: ItemId, f: &Footage, t: Tick, width: u32, height: u32) -> Option<Arc<Image>> {
+        self.get(item, f, t, Some((width, height)))
+    }
+}
+
+/// One footage item (a sequence: a new picture every frame) shown by `layers` layers, each
+/// placed differently (the first fills the comp).
+fn shared_scene(depth: BitDepth, layers: usize) -> (Scene, ItemId) {
+    let mut s = Scene::new(depth);
+    let f = Footage {
+        path: "seq.exr".into(),
+        kind: FootageKind::Sequence,
+        width: 97,
+        height: 61,
+        pixel_aspect: 1.0,
+        frame_rate: FrameRate::FPS_30,
+        duration: Tick::from_seconds_f64(2.0),
+        has_video: true,
+        alpha: AlphaMode::Premultiplied,
+        ..Default::default()
+    };
+    let fid = s.p.add_item("Sequence", Label::Lavender, None, ItemKind::Footage(f));
+    for i in 0..layers {
+        let mut l = build::layer(&mut s.p, &s.comp, "Sequence", LayerSource::Footage { item: fid }, (97, 61), None);
+        if i > 0 {
+            set(&mut l, "transform/rotation", Value::Scalar(11.0 * i as f64));
+            set(&mut l, "transform/scale", Value::Vec3([70.0 + 9.0 * i as f64, 64.0, 100.0]));
+            set(&mut l, "transform/position", v3(30.0 + 13.0 * i as f64, 25.0 + 4.0 * i as f64));
+            set(&mut l, "transform/opacity", Value::Scalar(80.0));
+            l.blend_mode = if i % 2 == 0 { BlendMode::Screen } else { BlendMode::Add };
+        }
+        s.push(l);
+    }
+    (s, fid)
+}
+
+/// The GPU frame with shared pictures on and off, and the number of uploads of each.
+fn render_both(g: &crate::Gpu, s: &Scene, src: &Kept, opts: RenderOpts, t: Tick) -> (Image, Image, u64, u64) {
+    let mut r = Renderer::new(&s.p, src, RenderOpts { backend: Backend::Gpu, ..opts });
+    r.accel = Some(g);
+    let before = g.ctx.transfer_stats().uploads;
+    let on = g.render(&r, s.cid, t).expect("the GPU renders the frame");
+    let uploads = g.ctx.transfer_stats().uploads - before;
+    SHARED_PICTURES.store(false, std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed);
+    let before = g.ctx.transfer_stats().uploads;
+    let off = g.render(&r, s.cid, t);
+    let copied = g.ctx.transfer_stats().uploads - before;
+    SHARED_PICTURES.store(true, std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed);
+    (on, off.expect("the GPU renders the frame from per-layer copies"), uploads, copied)
+}
+
+fn check_cpu(label: &str, s: &Scene, src: &Kept, opts: RenderOpts, t: Tick, gpu_img: &Image) {
+    let cpu = Renderer::new(&s.p, src, RenderOpts { backend: Backend::Cpu, ..opts }).comp_frame_cpu(s.cid, t);
+    let mut d = diff(&cpu, gpu_img, tolerance(s.p.settings.bit_depth));
+    d.quantized = s.p.settings.bit_depth != BitDepth::Bpc32;
+    check(label, Some(d), 0.0);
+}
+
+/// Three layers showing the same frame upload it once; a fourth that runs an effect on it
+/// (resident on the GPU) reads the same texture as its input. Every frame of the sequence
+/// uploads its own picture once.
+#[test]
+fn three_layers_of_one_footage_frame_upload_once() {
+    let Some(g) = gpu() else { return };
+    let src = Kept::default();
+    let (mut s, fid) = shared_scene(BitDepth::Bpc32, 3);
+    for k in 0..3 {
+        let t = Tick::from_seconds_f64(k as f64 / 30.0);
+        let (on, off, uploads, copied) = render_both(g, &s, &src, opts(), t);
+        assert_eq!(uploads, 1, "frame {k}: three layers of one footage frame uploaded {uploads} times");
+        assert_eq!(copied, 3, "frame {k}: per-layer copies upload once per layer");
+        assert!(on.data == off.data, "frame {k}: the shared picture changed the frame");
+        check_cpu(&format!("shared picture frame {k}"), &s, &src, opts(), t, &on);
+    }
+    // An effect input: the blur reads the shared texture. Alone, the blurred layer uploads
+    // its picture (and whatever the blur itself uploads); the three plain layers showing the
+    // same frame add no upload.
+    let mut fx = build::layer(&mut s.p, &s.comp, "Blurred", LayerSource::Footage { item: fid }, (97, 61), None);
+    set(&mut fx, "transform/position", v3(20.0, 20.0));
+    s.effect(&mut fx, "ec.blur.gaussian", &[("blurriness", n(3.0))]);
+    let (mut alone, _) = shared_scene(BitDepth::Bpc32, 0);
+    alone.p = s.p.clone();
+    alone.p.comp_mut(alone.cid).unwrap().layers = vec![fx.clone()].into();
+    let (_, _, blur_uploads, _) = render_both(g, &alone, &src, opts(), Tick::from_seconds_f64(0.4));
+    s.push(fx);
+    let t = Tick::from_seconds_f64(0.5);
+    let (on, off, uploads, _) = render_both(g, &s, &src, opts(), t);
+    assert_eq!(uploads, blur_uploads, "three layers and an effect input of one footage frame uploaded {uploads} times, the effect layer alone {blur_uploads}");
+    assert!(on.data == off.data, "the shared picture changed the frame with an effect input");
+    check_cpu("shared picture with an effect input", &s, &src, opts(), t, &on);
+}
+
+/// The frame is bit-identical with shared pictures on and off wherever they apply or not: every
+/// bit depth, colour management and linear blending, half resolution, a track matte, Preserve
+/// Transparency, motion blur, masks, layer styles and a proxy.
+#[test]
+fn shared_pictures_do_not_change_the_frame() {
+    let Some(g) = gpu() else { return };
+    let src = Kept::default();
+    let t = Tick::from_seconds_f64(0.2);
+    for depth in [BitDepth::Bpc8, BitDepth::Bpc16, BitDepth::Bpc32] {
+        let mut cases: Vec<(String, Scene, RenderOpts)> = vec![];
+        cases.push(("plain".into(), shared_scene(depth, 3).0, opts()));
+        cases.push(("half resolution".into(), shared_scene(depth, 3).0, RenderOpts { scale: 0.5, ..opts() }));
+        for (ws, blend_linear) in [(Some(ColorSpace::Rec709), false), (None, true)] {
+            let (mut s, _) = shared_scene(depth, 3);
+            s.p.settings.working_space = ws;
+            s.p.settings.blend_linear = blend_linear;
+            cases.push((format!("colour {ws:?} linear blending {blend_linear}"), s, opts()));
+        }
+        {
+            let (mut s, _) = shared_scene(depth, 3);
+            let comp = s.p.comp_mut(s.cid).unwrap();
+            comp.enable_motion_blur = true;
+            let matte = comp.layers[0].id;
+            comp.layers[1].track_matte = Some(TrackMatte { layer: matte, kind: MatteKind::Luma });
+            comp.layers[2].preserve_transparency = true;
+            comp.layers[2].switches.motion_blur = true;
+            let pos = comp.layers[2].props.prop_mut("transform/position").unwrap();
+            pos.keys = vec![Keyframe::new(Tick::ZERO, v3(10.0, 20.0)), Keyframe::new(Tick::from_seconds_f64(0.5), v3(90.0, 45.0))];
+            s.comp.enable_motion_blur = true;
+            cases.push(("matte, preserve transparency, motion blur".into(), s, opts()));
+        }
+        {
+            let (mut s, _) = shared_scene(depth, 3);
+            let mut next = s.p.next_id;
+            let m = build::mask(&mut Ids(&mut next), "Mask 1", ShapePath::ellipse([40.0, 30.0], 60.0, 40.0), MaskMode::Add, [255, 255, 0]);
+            let comp = s.p.comp_mut(s.cid).unwrap();
+            comp.layers[0].props.sub_mut("masks").unwrap().children.push(m.into());
+            effectcraft_project::styles::add_style(&mut comp.layers[1], &mut Ids(&mut next), "dropShadow", &s.comp.global_light, true).unwrap();
+            s.p.next_id = next;
+            cases.push(("mask and layer style".into(), s, opts()));
+        }
+        {
+            let (mut s, fid) = shared_scene(depth, 3);
+            let proxy = Footage { path: "proxy.png".into(), kind: FootageKind::Still, width: 48, height: 30, has_video: true, ..Default::default() };
+            s.p.item_mut(fid).unwrap().proxy = Some(Box::new(effectcraft_project::Proxy { footage: proxy, enabled: true }));
+            cases.push(("proxy".into(), s, opts()));
+        }
+        for (label, s, o) in cases {
+            let (on, off, _, _) = render_both(g, &s, &src, o, t);
+            assert!(on.data == off.data, "{label} {depth:?}: the shared picture changed the frame");
+            check_cpu(&format!("{label} {depth:?}"), &s, &src, o, t, &on);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// The picture cache keeps no texture of a picture the footage source dropped.
+#[test]
+fn picture_cache_drops_textures_of_dropped_pictures() {
+    let Some(g) = gpu() else { return };
+    let before = g.ctx.picture_entries();
+    for i in 0..6 {
+        let img = Arc::new(pattern(i, 64, 64));
+        let up = g.ctx.upload_picture(&img).expect("upload");
+        let again = g.ctx.upload_picture(&img).expect("upload");
+        assert!(up.texture == again.texture, "the same picture uploaded twice");
+        drop((up, again, img));
+    }
+    let kept = g.ctx.picture_entries();
+    assert!(kept <= before + 1, "the picture cache kept {kept} textures of dropped pictures (had {before})");
+}
+
+/// Large uploads copy through reused staging buffers (rows padded to the copy alignment) with
+/// the same pixels as `Queue::write_texture`; the buffers stay within their budget, and a
+/// clear while one is in flight forgets it.
+#[test]
+fn staging_uploads_keep_pixels_and_reuse_buffers() {
+    let Some(g) = gpu() else { return };
+    let wait = || {
+        let _ = g.ctx.poll_readbacks(wgpu::PollType::wait_indefinitely());
+    };
+    // 300 px: 4800-byte rows, padded to 4864.
+    for (w, h) in [(300u32, 300u32), (512, 600)] {
+        let before = g.ctx.upload_staging().copies();
+        for i in 0..4 {
+            let img = pattern(40 + i, w, h);
+            let up = g.ctx.upload_image(&img).expect("upload");
+            let mut e = crate::context::Enc::new(&g.ctx);
+            let back = e.download(&up).expect("readback");
+            assert!(back.data.iter().flatten().map(|v| v.to_bits()).eq(img.data.iter().flatten().map(|v| v.to_bits())), "{w}×{h} upload {i} changed pixels");
+            drop((up, e));
+            wait();
+        }
+        assert!(g.ctx.upload_staging().copies() - before >= 2, "{w}×{h}: no upload went through a reused staging buffer");
+        assert!(g.ctx.upload_staging().bytes() <= 192 << 20);
+    }
+    // A clear with a copy in flight: nothing kept, and later uploads still work.
+    let img = pattern(7, 300, 300);
+    let up = g.ctx.upload_image(&img).expect("upload");
+    g.ctx.upload_staging().clear();
+    wait();
+    assert_eq!(g.ctx.upload_staging().bytes(), 0, "a cleared staging kept its buffers");
+    let mut e = crate::context::Enc::new(&g.ctx);
+    assert!(e.download(&up).expect("readback").data == img.data);
+    let again = g.ctx.upload_image(&img).expect("upload after a clear");
+    assert!(e.download(&again).expect("readback").data == img.data);
+}
diff --git a/crates/gpu/src/upload.rs b/crates/gpu/src/upload.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9825fb335
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/gpu/src/upload.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,264 @@
+//! Footage uploads (#3333): each decoded footage picture uploads once and its texture is shared
+//! by every layer and effect input that shows it ([`Pictures`]), and large uploads copy through
+//! staging buffers that are kept mapped and reused ([`Staging`]) instead of one that
+//! `Queue::write_texture` allocates and frees per upload.
+
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex, PoisonError, Weak};
+
+use effectcraft_raster::Image;
+
+use crate::context::GpuImage;
+
+/// Bytes of picture textures kept after their frame (a sequence's next frame takes the oldest
+/// one's texture back from the pool), at most a quarter of the context's upload budget. The
+/// newest picture is always kept, whatever its size.
+pub(crate) const PICTURE_BUDGET: usize = 256 << 20;
+
+/// Uploads from this size go through [`Staging`]; smaller ones through `Queue::write_texture`.
+const STAGING_MIN: u64 = 1 << 20;
+
+/// Bytes of staging buffers that may exist at once (mapped and ready, or in flight).
+const STAGING_BUDGET: u64 = 192 << 20;
+
+struct Picture {
+    img: Weak<Image>,
+    tex: GpuImage,
+    bytes: usize,
+    last_use: u64,
+}
+
+/// Uploaded footage pictures by the identity of the decoded frame (its `Arc`): the footage
+/// source serves one `Arc` per (file, frame, size, colour curve) while it keeps the frame, and
+/// a new one when the file changed, so the same `Arc` means the same pixels. The `Weak` keeps
+/// the allocation, so a key cannot be reused by another picture while its entry exists.
+#[derive(Default)]
+pub(crate) struct Pictures {
+    map: HashMap<usize, Picture>,
+    bytes: usize,
+    clock: u64,
+}
+
+impl Pictures {
+    /// The texture of `img` if it was uploaded and is still kept.
+    pub(crate) fn get(&mut self, img: &Arc<Image>) -> Option<GpuImage> {
+        self.clock += 1;
+        let now = self.clock;
+        let e = self.map.get_mut(&(Arc::as_ptr(img) as usize))?;
+        if !e.img.upgrade().is_some_and(|i| Arc::ptr_eq(&i, img)) {
+            return None;
+        }
+        e.last_use = now;
+        Some(e.tex.clone())
+    }
+
+    /// Keep `tex`, the upload of `img`. Pictures the footage source no longer holds go at once
+    /// (nothing can ask for them again), then the least recently used over [`PICTURE_BUDGET`],
+    /// never `img` itself. A dropped texture goes back to the pool once no open encoder can
+    /// still read it.
+    pub(crate) fn insert(&mut self, img: &Arc<Image>, tex: GpuImage, budget: usize) {
+        let key = Arc::as_ptr(img) as usize;
+        let bytes = img.data.len().saturating_mul(16);
+        self.clock += 1;
+        let entry = Picture { img: Arc::downgrade(img), tex, bytes, last_use: self.clock };
+        if let Some(old) = self.map.insert(key, entry) {
+            self.bytes = self.bytes.saturating_sub(old.bytes);
+        }
+        self.bytes = self.bytes.saturating_add(bytes);
+        let dead: Vec<usize> = self.map.iter().filter(|(_, e)| e.img.strong_count() == 0).map(|(k, _)| *k).collect();
+        for k in dead {
+            if let Some(e) = self.map.remove(&k) {
+                self.bytes = self.bytes.saturating_sub(e.bytes);
+            }
+        }
+        while self.bytes > budget {
+            let Some(k) = self.map.iter().filter(|(k, _)| **k != key).min_by_key(|(_, e)| e.last_use).map(|(k, _)| *k) else { break };
+            if let Some(e) = self.map.remove(&k) {
+                self.bytes = self.bytes.saturating_sub(e.bytes);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(test)]
+    pub(crate) fn len(&self) -> usize {
+        self.map.len()
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn clear(&mut self) {
+        self.map.clear();
+        self.bytes = 0;
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Default)]
+struct StagingState {
+    /// Buffers mapped for writing and not in use, each mapped whole.
+    ready: Vec<wgpu::Buffer>,
+    /// Bytes of every staging buffer that exists (ready, being mapped or in flight).
+    total: u64,
+    /// Raised by [`Staging::clear`]: a buffer of an earlier generation is dropped when its
+    /// mapping completes.
+    generation: u64,
+    /// Uploads copied through a staging buffer (diagnostics, tests).
+    copies: u64,
+}
+
+/// Reused upload staging buffers (`MAP_WRITE | COPY_SRC`). A buffer is written while mapped,
+/// unmapped, copied into the texture by a command buffer submitted at once, and mapped again
+/// when that submission is done (`CommandEncoder::map_buffer_on_submit`; the callback runs when
+/// the device is polled, as every frame does). A new buffer is mapped asynchronously too (never
+/// `mapped_at_creation`, which fails hard on drivers that report a failed allocation as an
+/// internal error, #591), so the upload that made it, and any upload while no ready buffer fits
+/// or the budget is spent, goes through `Queue::write_texture` instead.
+#[derive(Default)]
+pub(crate) struct Staging {
+    state: Arc<Mutex<StagingState>>,
+}
+
+/// `bytes_per_row` of a staging copy: rows padded to `COPY_BYTES_PER_ROW_ALIGNMENT`.
+fn padded_row(width: u32) -> Option<u64> {
+    let row = u64::from(width).checked_mul(16)?;
+    let a = u64::from(wgpu::COPY_BYTES_PER_ROW_ALIGNMENT);
+    row.div_ceil(a).checked_mul(a)
+}
+
+impl Staging {
+    fn lock(&self) -> std::sync::MutexGuard<'_, StagingState> {
+        self.state.lock().unwrap_or_else(PoisonError::into_inner)
+    }
+
+    /// Bytes of staging buffers that exist (see [`STAGING_BUDGET`]).
+    pub(crate) fn bytes(&self) -> u64 {
+        self.lock().total
+    }
+
+    /// Uploads copied through a staging buffer so far.
+    #[cfg(test)]
+    pub(crate) fn copies(&self) -> u64 {
+        self.lock().copies
+    }
+
+    /// Forget every staging buffer (after a failed frame, #1319): those in flight are dropped
+    /// when their mapping completes.
+    pub(crate) fn clear(&self) {
+        let mut s = self.lock();
+        s.ready.clear();
+        // (buffers still in flight are no longer counted: they drop when their mapping ends)
+        s.total = 0;
+        s.generation = s.generation.wrapping_add(1);
+    }
+
+    /// The callback of a write mapping of `buffer`: once mapped it is ready for the next
+    /// upload; it is dropped (and its bytes uncounted) when mapping failed, and dropped when
+    /// the staging was cleared meanwhile (whose [`Staging::clear`] stopped counting it).
+    fn on_mapped(&self, buffer: &wgpu::Buffer, generation: u64) -> impl FnOnce(Result<(), wgpu::BufferAsyncError>) + wgpu::WasmNotSend + 'static {
+        let state = Arc::downgrade(&self.state);
+        let buffer = buffer.clone();
+        move |res: Result<(), wgpu::BufferAsyncError>| {
+            let Some(state) = state.upgrade() else { return };
+            let mut s = state.lock().unwrap_or_else(PoisonError::into_inner);
+            if s.generation != generation {
+                return;
+            }
+            if res.is_ok() {
+                s.ready.push(buffer);
+            } else {
+                s.total = s.total.saturating_sub(buffer.size());
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Copy `img` into `texture` (its size) through a ready staging buffer, recorded and
+    /// submitted at once: before anything an open encoder records later, as
+    /// `Queue::write_texture` would. `false`: not done (small, no ready buffer fits, or the
+    /// mapping failed); the caller writes it through the queue. Starts mapping a new buffer for
+    /// later uploads when none fits and the budget allows.
+    pub(crate) fn write(&self, device: &wgpu::Device, queue: &wgpu::Queue, img: &Image, texture: &wgpu::Texture) -> bool {
+        let (w, h) = (img.width, img.height);
+        let row = w as usize * 16;
+        let Some(stride) = padded_row(w) else { return false };
+        let (Some(need), Ok(stride32)) = (stride.checked_mul(u64::from(h)), u32::try_from(stride)) else { return false };
+        if need < STAGING_MIN || img.data.len() != w as usize * h as usize {
+            return false;
+        }
+        let (buffer, generation) = {
+            let mut s = self.lock();
+            let generation = s.generation;
+            // The smallest ready buffer that holds it.
+            let best = s.ready.iter().enumerate().filter(|(_, b)| b.size() >= need).min_by_key(|(_, b)| b.size()).map(|(i, _)| i);
+            match best {
+                Some(i) => (Some(s.ready.swap_remove(i)), generation),
+                None => {
+                    // Ready buffers too small for it make room (a size that no longer occurs).
+                    while s.total.saturating_add(need) > STAGING_BUDGET
+                        && let Some(b) = s.ready.pop()
+                    {
+                        s.total = s.total.saturating_sub(b.size());
+                    }
+                    if s.total.saturating_add(need) <= STAGING_BUDGET {
+                        s.total += need;
+                        drop(s);
+                        let b = device.create_buffer(&wgpu::BufferDescriptor {
+                            label: Some("upload staging"),
+                            size: need,
+                            usage: wgpu::BufferUsages::MAP_WRITE | wgpu::BufferUsages::COPY_SRC,
+                            mapped_at_creation: false,
+                        });
+                        let done = self.on_mapped(&b, generation);
+                        b.map_async(wgpu::MapMode::Write, .., done);
+                    }
+                    (None, generation)
+                }
+            }
+        };
+        let Some(buffer) = buffer else { return false };
+        self.lock().copies += 1;
+        {
+            let Ok(mut view) = buffer.get_mapped_range_mut(..need) else {
+                // Not mapped after all: give it up (its bytes too).
+                let mut s = self.lock();
+                if s.generation == generation {
+                    s.total = s.total.saturating_sub(buffer.size());
+                }
+                return false;
+            };
+            let src: &[u8] = bytemuck::cast_slice(&img.data);
+            let stride = stride as usize;
+            if stride == row {
+                view.slice(..src.len()).copy_from_slice(src);
+            } else {
+                for (y, line) in src.chunks_exact(row).enumerate() {
+                    let at = y * stride;
+                    view.slice(at..at + row).copy_from_slice(line);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        buffer.unmap();
+        let mut enc = device.create_command_encoder(&wgpu::CommandEncoderDescriptor { label: Some("upload") });
+        enc.copy_buffer_to_texture(
+            wgpu::TexelCopyBufferInfo {
+                buffer: &buffer,
+                layout: wgpu::TexelCopyBufferLayout { offset: 0, bytes_per_row: Some(stride32), rows_per_image: Some(h) },
+            },
+            wgpu::TexelCopyTextureInfo { texture, mip_level: 0, origin: wgpu::Origin3d::ZERO, aspect: wgpu::TextureAspect::All },
+            wgpu::Extent3d { width: w, height: h, depth_or_array_layers: 1 },
+        );
+        let done = self.on_mapped(&buffer, generation);
+        enc.map_buffer_on_submit(&buffer, wgpu::MapMode::Write, .., done);
+        queue.submit([enc.finish()]);
+        true
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::padded_row;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn staging_rows_are_padded_to_the_copy_alignment() {
+        assert_eq!(padded_row(1920), Some(30720));
+        assert_eq!(padded_row(97), Some(1792));
+        assert_eq!(padded_row(16), Some(256));
+        assert_eq!(padded_row(1), Some(256));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/gpu/src/walk.rs b/crates/gpu/src/walk.rs
index f688a6375..471c91339 100644
--- a/crates/gpu/src/walk.rs
+++ b/crates/gpu/src/walk.rs
@@ -241,6 +241,9 @@ fn draw_layer_on(e: &mut Enc, r: &Renderer, ctx: &EvalCtx, layer: &Layer, canvas
     if let Some(done) = draw_resident_fx(e, r, ctx, layer, canvas, opacity) {
         return done;
     }
+    if let Some(done) = draw_picture(e, r, ctx, layer, canvas, opacity) {
+        return done;
+    }
     let Some(st) = r.styled_layer(ctx, layer) else { return Some(()) };
     if st.plain {
         return composite_layer(e, r, ctx, layer, &st.body, canvas, opacity);
@@ -286,14 +289,28 @@ fn draw_resident_fx(e: &mut Enc, r: &Renderer, ctx: &EvalCtx, layer: &Layer, can
     {
         return None;
     }
-    let input = r.layer_input(ctx, layer, 0)?;
-    if input.img.is_empty() {
-        return Some(Some(()));
-    }
-    let Some(src) = e.g.upload_buf(&input) else { return Some(None) };
+    // The decoded footage picture itself when it is the layer's input (uploaded once per frame
+    // and shared with every layer that shows it), else the cached input buffer.
+    let (src, offset, scale) = match picture(r, ctx, layer) {
+        Some(p) => {
+            if p.img.is_empty() {
+                return Some(Some(()));
+            }
+            let Some(src) = e.g.upload_picture(&p.img) else { return Some(None) };
+            (src, p.effect_offset, p.scale)
+        }
+        None => {
+            let input = r.layer_input(ctx, layer, 0)?;
+            if input.img.is_empty() {
+                return Some(Some(()));
+            }
+            let Some(src) = e.g.upload_buf(&input) else { return Some(None) };
+            (src, input.offset, input.scale)
+        }
+    };
     let pipe = r.pipe();
     // `layer_input` is in effect space: run the stack there, then back to layer space.
-    let mut fx = crate::effects::GpuFx::new(e, src, input.offset, input.scale, pipe.levels);
+    let mut fx = crate::effects::GpuFx::new(e, src, offset, scale, pipe.levels);
     let origin = r.run_layer_effects_on(ctx, layer, &mut fx);
     let Some((mut img, mut offset, scale)) = fx.finish() else { return Some(None) };
     offset = [offset[0] - origin[0] * scale, offset[1] - origin[1] * scale];
@@ -308,6 +325,52 @@ fn draw_resident_fx(e: &mut Enc, r: &Renderer, ctx: &EvalCtx, layer: &Layer, can
     Some(place_src(e, r, ctx, layer, &shape, img, canvas, layer.blend_mode, opacity, pipe.levels).map(|c| *canvas = c))
 }
 
+/// Shared footage pictures ([`picture`]); tests turn it off to compare.
+pub(crate) static SHARED_PICTURES: std::sync::atomic::AtomicBool = std::sync::atomic::AtomicBool::new(true);
+
+/// The layer's source as the decoded footage picture (`Renderer::footage_picture`), unless
+/// sharing is off or per-layer timings are being recorded (those time the layer-cache path).
+fn picture(r: &Renderer, ctx: &EvalCtx, layer: &Layer) -> Option<effectcraft_render::FootagePicture> {
+    if !SHARED_PICTURES.load(std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed) || r.profile.is_some() {
+        return None;
+    }
+    r.footage_picture(ctx, layer)
+}
+
+/// A footage layer without effects or layer styles whose source is the decoded picture as it
+/// is (`Renderer::footage_picture`) and needs no conversion to the blending space: placed
+/// straight from the picture's texture, uploaded once per frame and shared by every layer that
+/// shows the same frame, instead of from a copy per layer in the layer cache, uploaded per
+/// layer. The pixels are the same: the layer-cache buffer is that picture, copied. `None`: not
+/// this kind of layer; `Some(None)`: the GPU failed.
+fn draw_picture(e: &mut Enc, r: &Renderer, ctx: &EvalCtx, layer: &Layer, canvas: &mut GpuImage, opacity: f32) -> Option<Option<()>> {
+    if (layer.switches.effects && layer.effects().is_some_and(|f| !f.children.is_empty())) || styles::active(ctx, layer) || r.pipe().to_blend().is_some() {
+        return None;
+    }
+    let p = picture(r, ctx, layer)?;
+    if p.img.is_empty() {
+        return Some(Some(()));
+    }
+    let Some(src) = e.g.upload_picture(&p.img) else { return Some(None) };
+    // The placement only reads the buffer's size, offset and scale.
+    let shape = Buf { img: Image { width: p.img.width, height: p.img.height, data: Vec::new() }, offset: [0.0; 2], scale: p.scale };
+    Some(composite_src(e, r, ctx, layer, &shape, src, canvas, opacity))
+}
+
+/// [`composite_layer`] of a GPU image `src` shaped like `shape`.
+#[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
+fn composite_src(e: &mut Enc, r: &Renderer, ctx: &EvalCtx, layer: &Layer, shape: &Buf, src: GpuImage, canvas: &mut GpuImage, opacity: f32) -> Option<()> {
+    if opacity <= 0.0 {
+        return Some(());
+    }
+    if r.track_matte(ctx, layer).is_none() && !layer.preserve_transparency {
+        *canvas = place_src(e, r, ctx, layer, shape, src, canvas, layer.blend_mode, opacity, r.pipe().levels)?;
+        return Some(());
+    }
+    let iso = place_src(e, r, ctx, layer, shape, src, &e.zeros(canvas.width, canvas.height), BlendMode::Normal, 1.0, None)?;
+    composite_iso(e, r, ctx, layer, iso, canvas, opacity)
+}
+
 /// A 2D precomp layer, its nested comp rendered resident on the GPU (`walk::render` one level
 /// down) instead of by the CPU compositor and uploaded every frame (`Renderer::layer_source`
 /// renders nested comps on the CPU: depth > 0). Then the layer's effects (resident), its
diff --git a/crates/render/src/cache.rs b/crates/render/src/cache.rs
index 8a3d7b8ae..4bbd4e198 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/cache.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/cache.rs
@@ -230,6 +230,11 @@ impl LayerCache {
     /// used. (A render that started before a drop may publish its buffer after the drop's
     /// purge, Reload Footage clearing the cache while the buffer was being written: the check
     /// here, not the order of the two, keeps it from being served.)
+    /// Whether a buffer is kept in memory under `key` (a peek: no hit, no miss, no disk read).
+    pub(crate) fn holds(&self, key: u64) -> bool {
+        self.kept(key, false).is_some()
+    }
+
     fn kept(&self, key: u64, hit: bool) -> Option<(Arc<Buf>, Arc<ReadFiles>)> {
         let found = {
             let mut g = self.inner.lock().ok()?;
diff --git a/crates/render/src/lib.rs b/crates/render/src/lib.rs
index e09794de2..0f3243e60 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/lib.rs
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ pub use layers::{Placement, StyledLayer};
 pub(crate) use opts::Collapse3d;
 pub use opts::{LayerTiming, RenderOpts};
 use opts::{MAX_THROUGH, Through};
-pub use pipeline::{Collapsed, MediaOverride, PropertyOverride};
+pub use pipeline::{Collapsed, FootagePicture, MediaOverride, PropertyOverride};
 
 pub struct Renderer<'a> {
     pub project: &'a Project,
diff --git a/crates/render/src/pipeline.rs b/crates/render/src/pipeline.rs
index 6c79ba7bb..1d9efc795 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/pipeline.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/pipeline.rs
@@ -19,6 +19,24 @@ pub(crate) struct EffectStack {
     pub origin: [f64; 2],
 }
 
+/// A footage layer's source as the decoded picture itself (see [`Renderer::footage_picture`]):
+/// its buffer in layer space is `img` at offset `[0, 0]` and `scale`; in effect space (what
+/// [`Renderer::layer_input`] gives) at `effect_offset`.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct FootagePicture {
+    pub img: Arc<Image>,
+    pub scale: f64,
+    pub effect_offset: [f64; 2],
+}
+
+/// How a decoded footage frame becomes a layer buffer ([`Renderer::footage_buf`]).
+enum FootageLayout {
+    /// Its own pixels, at this buffer scale.
+    Native { scale: f64 },
+    /// Resampled to `width`×`height` at this buffer scale.
+    Resample { width: u32, height: u32, scale: f64 },
+}
+
 /// A property value an Essential Properties override gives a layer of a collapsed precomp.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct PropertyOverride {
@@ -861,12 +879,7 @@ impl<'a> Renderer<'a> {
                         return Some(buf);
                     }
                 }
-                let lt = ctx.source_time(layer);
-                // The proxy is decoded instead, at its own size, and fills the footage's frame.
-                let proxy = self.proxy_for(item);
-                let pf = proxy.unwrap_or(f);
-                let size = self.reduced_size(f.width, f.height).filter(|_| proxy.is_none());
-                let img = self.footage_frame(ctx, layer, item, pf, lt, size)?;
+                let (img, pf) = self.footage_picture_of(ctx, layer, item, f)?;
                 Some(self.footage_buf(&img, pf, f.width, f.height))
             }
             // (the font files go to this render's log, which `ctx` may not carry: see
@@ -898,14 +911,9 @@ impl<'a> Renderer<'a> {
     /// A decoded frame of `f` as a layer buffer covering `w`×`h` layer pixels (the footage's
     /// nominal size; proxies are scaled up to it), converted from its colour profile.
     fn footage_buf(&self, img: &Image, f: &Footage, w: u32, h: u32) -> Buf {
-        let s = self.opts.scale;
-        let k = if img.width > 0 { w.max(1) as f64 / img.width as f64 } else { 1.0 };
-        // Keep native pixels when downsampling is small; resample otherwise.
-        let mut buf = match self.reduced_size(w, h) {
-            // The source resampled it already (`FootageSource::frame_at_size`).
-            Some(size) if (img.width, img.height) == size => Buf { img: img.clone(), offset: [0.0; 2], scale: s },
-            Some((rw, rh)) if k <= 1.0 + 1e-9 => Buf { img: effectcraft_raster::resample(img, rw, rh), offset: [0.0; 2], scale: s },
-            _ => Buf { img: img.clone(), offset: [0.0; 2], scale: 1.0 / k },
+        let mut buf = match self.footage_layout(img, w, h) {
+            FootageLayout::Native { scale } => Buf { img: img.clone(), offset: [0.0; 2], scale },
+            FootageLayout::Resample { width, height, scale } => Buf { img: effectcraft_raster::resample(img, width, height), offset: [0.0; 2], scale },
         };
         if let Some(c) = self.pipe.media_in(f) {
             color::convert(&mut buf.img, &c);
@@ -913,6 +921,79 @@ impl<'a> Renderer<'a> {
         buf
     }
 
+    /// How [`Renderer::footage_buf`] lays out a decoded frame `img` of footage `w`×`h` layer
+    /// pixels: its own pixels, or resampled.
+    fn footage_layout(&self, img: &Image, w: u32, h: u32) -> FootageLayout {
+        let s = self.opts.scale;
+        let k = if img.width > 0 { w.max(1) as f64 / img.width as f64 } else { 1.0 };
+        // Keep native pixels when downsampling is small; resample otherwise.
+        match self.reduced_size(w, h) {
+            // The source resampled it already (`FootageSource::frame_at_size`).
+            Some(size) if (img.width, img.height) == size => FootageLayout::Native { scale: s },
+            Some((width, height)) if k <= 1.0 + 1e-9 => FootageLayout::Resample { width, height, scale: s },
+            _ => FootageLayout::Native { scale: 1.0 / k },
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// A footage layer's decoded frame at the context time (the proxy's when one is used) and
+    /// the footage it was decoded from: what [`Renderer::source`] makes the layer's buffer of.
+    fn footage_picture_of(&self, ctx: &EvalCtx, layer: &Layer, item: ItemId, f: &'a Footage) -> Option<(Arc<Image>, &'a Footage)> {
+        let lt = ctx.source_time(layer);
+        // The proxy is decoded instead, at its own size, and fills the footage's frame.
+        let proxy = self.proxy_for(item);
+        let pf = proxy.unwrap_or(f);
+        let size = self.reduced_size(f.width, f.height).filter(|_| proxy.is_none());
+        let img = self.footage_frame(ctx, layer, item, pf, lt, size)?;
+        Some((img, pf))
+    }
+
+    /// The decoded footage picture a layer's masked source is, bit for bit, with no copy: a
+    /// footage layer (not continuously rasterised vector footage) without masks whose frame
+    /// needs no colour conversion, no resampling and no quantisation (32 bpc). The buffer
+    /// [`Renderer::layer_input`] gives for no effects is this picture at `effect_offset` and
+    /// `scale`.
+    /// Layers showing the same frame get the same `Arc` (the footage source's cached frame), so
+    /// an accelerator uploads it once and shares the texture. `None`: the layer's buffer is
+    /// made the usual way (any of the above applies, or the frame is missing), and also when the
+    /// frame is made per call rather than served by the footage source (frame blending,
+    /// separate fields, Invert Alpha, Interpret As Linear Light, Cineon conversion: a new
+    /// picture each time, nothing to share) or when the layer cache already holds the layer's
+    /// buffer (served from memory as before, without asking the footage source).
+    pub fn footage_picture(&self, ctx: &EvalCtx, layer: &Layer) -> Option<FootagePicture> {
+        let LayerSource::Footage { item } = &layer.source else { return None };
+        if self.pipe.levels.is_some() || layer.masks().is_some_and(|m| !m.children.is_empty()) || frame_blend_mode(ctx, layer) != FrameBlend::Off {
+            return None;
+        }
+        let item = ctx.media_item(layer, *item);
+        let ItemKind::Footage(f) = &self.project.item(item)?.kind else { return None };
+        if !f.has_video || (layer.switches.collapse && is_vector_footage(f)) {
+            return None;
+        }
+        let pf = self.proxy_for(item).unwrap_or(f);
+        if self.pipe.media_in(pf).is_some()
+            || pf.fields != effectcraft_project::FieldOrder::Off
+            || pf.invert_alpha
+            || pf.linear_light_applies()
+            || pf.cineon_applies()
+        {
+            return None;
+        }
+        if let Some(cache) = self.cache {
+            let (scale, draft, blur) = (self.raster_scale(ctx, layer), self.opts.draft, self.mb_on(ctx, layer));
+            let content = self.content_key(ctx, layer, cache::layer_key(ctx, layer, scale, draft, blur));
+            let input = self.content_key(ctx, layer, cache::input_key(ctx, layer, scale, draft, blur, 0));
+            if [content, input].into_iter().flatten().any(|k| cache.holds(k)) {
+                return None;
+            }
+        }
+        let (img, _) = self.footage_picture_of(ctx, layer, item, f)?;
+        let FootageLayout::Native { scale } = self.footage_layout(&img, f.width, f.height) else { return None };
+        // `layer_input`'s rebase into effect space (`Buf::rebase` of a buffer at the origin).
+        let mut at = Buf { img: Image { width: 0, height: 0, data: Vec::new() }, offset: [0.0; 2], scale };
+        at.rebase(ctx.effect_bounds(layer).1);
+        Some(FootagePicture { img, scale, effect_offset: at.offset })
+    }
+
     /// The size of `w` × `h` layer pixels in this render when it is reduced enough that footage
     /// is resampled to it (below 3/4 scale).
     fn reduced_size(&self, w: u32, h: u32) -> Option<(u32, u32)> {