diff --git a/public/assets/img/bench_wood.png b/public/assets/img/bench_wood.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3928382
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diff --git a/public/assets/img/judge_disappointed.png b/public/assets/img/judge_disappointed.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..984769b
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diff --git a/public/assets/img/judge_horrified.png b/public/assets/img/judge_horrified.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..501a934
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diff --git a/public/assets/img/judge_impressed.png b/public/assets/img/judge_impressed.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ac0596f
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diff --git a/public/assets/img/judge_intrigued.png b/public/assets/img/judge_intrigued.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8ef1cb1
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diff --git a/public/assets/img/kitchen_backdrop.png b/public/assets/img/kitchen_backdrop.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4d491dd
Binary files /dev/null and b/public/assets/img/kitchen_backdrop.png differ
diff --git a/public/assets/img/ticket_paper.png b/public/assets/img/ticket_paper.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3cfcc09
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diff --git a/public/assets/img/title_art.png b/public/assets/img/title_art.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..43129ea
Binary files /dev/null and b/public/assets/img/title_art.png differ
diff --git a/src/core/app.ts b/src/core/app.ts
index ad0317e..0305339 100644
--- a/src/core/app.ts
+++ b/src/core/app.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import * as THREE from 'three';
+import { RoomEnvironment } from 'three/addons/environments/RoomEnvironment.js';
 
 /** Shared key light direction — the slice shader rolls its own lighting, so it
  *  has to be told the same thing the real lights are doing. */
@@ -138,8 +139,12 @@ export class App {
   }
 
   resize(): void {
-    const w = window.innerWidth;
-    const h = window.innerHeight;
+    // Guard the zero case: a collapsed or hidden container reports 0, and 0/0
+    // makes the aspect NaN, which poisons the projection matrix for good. Every
+    // raycast then silently returns nothing — no error, the game just stops
+    // responding to the mouse.
+    const w = Math.max(1, window.innerWidth);
+    const h = Math.max(1, window.innerHeight);
     this.renderer.setSize(w, h, false);
     this.camera.aspect = w / h;
     this.camera.updateProjectionMatrix();
@@ -191,9 +196,20 @@ export class App {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Cutlery is the point of half this game, and polished metal with nothing to
+ * reflect renders black. An environment map is not optional here.
+ */
+export function makeEnvironment(app: App): void {
+  const pmrem = new THREE.PMREMGenerator(app.renderer);
+  app.scene.environment = pmrem.fromScene(new RoomEnvironment(), 0.04).texture;
+  app.scene.environmentIntensity = 0.4;
+  pmrem.dispose();
+}
+
 /** Standard kitchen lighting rig, shared by every view. */
 export function makeLights(scene: THREE.Scene): THREE.DirectionalLight {
-  const key = new THREE.DirectionalLight(0xfff2dd, 2.6);
+  const key = new THREE.DirectionalLight(0xfff2dd, 1.5);
   key.position.copy(LIGHT_DIR).multiplyScalar(6);
   key.castShadow = true;
   key.shadow.mapSize.set(2048, 2048);
@@ -207,8 +223,8 @@ export function makeLights(scene: THREE.Scene): THREE.DirectionalLight {
   key.shadow.bias = -0.0016;
   key.shadow.normalBias = 0.02;
   scene.add(key);
-  scene.add(new THREE.HemisphereLight(0xbfc6d2, 0x4a3526, 0.7));
-  const fill = new THREE.DirectionalLight(0xbdd6ff, 0.45);
+  scene.add(new THREE.HemisphereLight(0xbfc6d2, 0x4a3526, 0.22));
+  const fill = new THREE.DirectionalLight(0xbdd6ff, 0.18);
   fill.position.set(-3, 2.2, -2.5);
   scene.add(fill);
   return key;
diff --git a/src/dev.ts b/src/dev.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a8c9ad7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/dev.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+import * as THREE from 'three';
+import type { App } from './core/app';
+import type { KitchenView } from './scenes/kitchen';
+
+/**
+ * Dev harness. The game is driven by mouse gestures over a 3D scene, which makes
+ * "does it actually work" hard to answer by inspection — so this drives real
+ * input through the real code paths, deterministically, at a chosen dt.
+ *
+ * Also the escape hatch for headless/embedded browsers that never fire rAF:
+ * everything here calls app.step() directly.
+ *
+ * Dev builds only.
+ */
+export function installDevHarness(app: App, kitchen: KitchenView): void {
+  const v = new THREE.Vector3();
+  const toNdc = (x: number, y: number, z: number): [number, number] => {
+    v.set(x, y, z).project(app.camera);
+    return [v.x, v.y];
+  };
+  const run = (frames: number, dt = 1 / 60) => {
+    for (let i = 0; i < frames; i++) app.step(dt);
+  };
+  const tap = (code: string) => {
+    window.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { code }));
+    app.step(1 / 60);
+    window.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keyup', { code }));
+  };
+  const point = (x: number, y: number, z: number, down: boolean) => {
+    const n = toNdc(x, y, z);
+    app.input.ndc.set(n[0], n[1]);
+    app.input.down = down;
+  };
+
+  const harness = {
+    app,
+    kitchen,
+    THREE,
+    run,
+    tap,
+    point,
+    toNdc,
+
+    /** Drop the lever, brown for `seconds`, pop, and wait for it to land. */
+    toast(seconds = 10, power?: number) {
+      if (power !== undefined) kitchen.power = power;
+      tap('Space');
+      run(Math.round(seconds * 60));
+      tap('Space');
+      run(200);
+      return harness.stats();
+    },
+
+    dip() {
+      point(3.15, 0.29, 0.45, true);
+      run(4);
+      app.input.down = false;
+      app.step(1 / 60);
+    },
+
+    /**
+     * Raster the whole slice. `speed` is world-units/sec — the thing that
+     * actually decides how thick the spread goes on.
+     */
+    spread(passes = 9, speed = 0.55, angle?: number) {
+      const sl = kitchen.currentSlice;
+      if (angle !== undefined) kitchen.knife.angle = angle;
+      harness.dip();
+      const stepDist = speed / 60;
+      for (let p = 0; p < passes; p++) {
+        const z = 0.55 - 0.44 + (p / Math.max(1, passes - 1)) * 0.88;
+        const steps = Math.ceil(0.96 / stepDist);
+        for (let s = 0; s <= steps; s++) {
+          if (kitchen.knife.load < 0.02) harness.dip();
+          const x = 1.45 + (p % 2 ? 1 : -1) * (0.48 - s * stepDist);
+          point(x, sl.topY, z, true);
+          app.step(1 / 60);
+        }
+      }
+      app.input.down = false;
+      harness.park();
+      return harness.stats();
+    },
+
+    /** Park the cursor off the toast so a screenshot isn't full of knife. */
+    park() {
+      point(2.5, kitchen.currentSlice.topY, 1.3, false);
+      app.step(1 / 60);
+    },
+
+    stats() {
+      const sl = kitchen.currentSlice;
+      const b = sl.browning.stats(sl.mask);
+      const s = sl.spread.stats(sl.mask);
+      const d = sl.damage.stats(sl.mask);
+      const r = (n: number) => +n.toFixed(3);
+      return {
+        phase: kitchen.phase,
+        warmth: r(sl.warmth),
+        browning: { mean: r(b.mean), stdev: r(b.stdev), max: r(b.max) },
+        char: r(sl.browning.fraction(sl.mask, (x) => x > 0.85)),
+        spread: { mean: r(s.mean), stdev: r(s.stdev), max: r(s.max) },
+        coverage: r(sl.spread.fraction(sl.mask, (x) => x > 0.02)),
+        damage: r(d.mean),
+        load: r(kitchen.knife.load),
+        angle: r(kitchen.knife.angle),
+        mode: kitchen.lastFx?.mode ?? 'idle',
+      };
+    },
+
+    /** Move the camera somewhere for a screenshot without disturbing the sim. */
+    look(pos: [number, number, number], at: [number, number, number]) {
+      app.camera.position.set(...pos);
+      app.camera.lookAt(new THREE.Vector3(...at));
+      app.renderer.render(app.scene, app.camera);
+    },
+  };
+
+  (window as unknown as { __t: unknown }).__t = harness;
+}
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index 44ba78c..79b7d69 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -1,20 +1,20 @@
 import * as THREE from 'three';
-import { App, makeLights } from './core/app';
+import { App, makeEnvironment, makeLights } from './core/app';
 import { KitchenView } from './scenes/kitchen';
 import './style.css';
 
 const canvas = document.getElementById('c') as HTMLCanvasElement;
 const app = new App(canvas);
 makeLights(app.scene);
+makeEnvironment(app);
 app.scene.background = new THREE.Color(0x241a15);
 
 const kitchen = new KitchenView(app, 3);
 app.scene.add(kitchen.root);
 app.setView(kitchen);
 
-app.camera.position.set(0.05, 3.15, 5.6);
-app.camera.lookAt(0.0, 0.85, -0.15);
-
-(window as unknown as { __t: unknown }).__t = { app, kitchen, THREE };
+if (import.meta.env.DEV) {
+  void import('./dev').then((m) => m.installDevHarness(app, kitchen));
+}
 
 app.start();
diff --git a/src/scenes/kitchen.ts b/src/scenes/kitchen.ts
index d16c315..281bfd1 100644
--- a/src/scenes/kitchen.ts
+++ b/src/scenes/kitchen.ts
@@ -4,43 +4,82 @@ import { Rng } from '../core/rng';
 import { Slice } from '../sim/slice';
 import { BREADS, type BreadId } from '../sim/bread';
 import { buildHeatMap, coolStep, readToast, smellCue, toastStep } from '../sim/toasting';
+import {
+  SPREADS,
+  SCRAPE_ANGLE,
+  effectiveYield,
+  pressureFromAngle,
+  type SpreadDef,
+  type SpreadId,
+} from '../sim/spreads';
+import { dip, newKnife, stroke, type Knife, type StrokeFx } from '../sim/spreading';
+import { TOOLS, type ToolId } from '../sim/cutlery';
 import { makeBench, makePlate, makeToaster, type Toaster } from './props';
+import { KnifeRig, makeSpreadPot } from './spreadrig';
 import { el, Panel } from '../ui/hud';
 
 const TOASTER_X = -1.5;
 const PLATE_X = 1.45;
 const PLATE_Z = 0.55;
 const PLATE_Y = 0.05;
+const POT_X = 3.15;
+const POT_Z = 0.45;
 
-type Phase = 'ready' | 'toasting' | 'flying' | 'landed';
+export type Phase = 'ready' | 'toasting' | 'flying' | 'spreading';
 
-/**
- * The bench. Owns the toaster, the plate and the current slice, and runs the
- * toasting phase: dial, lever, browning, and the pop.
- */
+interface CamShot {
+  pos: THREE.Vector3;
+  look: THREE.Vector3;
+}
+
+const SHOTS: Record<string, CamShot> = {
+  toast: { pos: new THREE.Vector3(-1.1, 3.0, 4.9), look: new THREE.Vector3(-1.3, 0.85, -0.2) },
+  spread: { pos: new THREE.Vector3(2.05, 2.4, 3.0), look: new THREE.Vector3(2.05, 0.1, 0.35) },
+};
+
+/** The bench: toaster, plate, pot, knife. Runs the toasting and spreading phases. */
 export class KitchenView implements View {
   readonly root = new THREE.Group();
   private toaster: Toaster;
-  private plate: THREE.Group;
   private slice!: Slice;
   private heat!: Float32Array;
   private rng: Rng;
 
   phase: Phase = 'ready';
   power = 6;
-  private leverT = 0; // 0 up, 1 down
+  /** 0 = straight from the fridge, 1 = left out on the bench all morning. */
+  butterSoftness = 0.15;
+  toolId: ToolId = 'butter_knife';
+  spreadId: SpreadId = 'butter';
+
+  private leverT = 0;
   private vel = new THREE.Vector3();
   private spin = 0;
   private toastSeconds = 0;
 
+  knife: Knife = newKnife();
+  private knifeRig: KnifeRig;
+  private pot: THREE.Group | null = null;
+  private potHit: THREE.Mesh | null = null;
+  private ray = new THREE.Raycaster();
+  private hitPoint = new THREE.Vector3();
+  private uv = new THREE.Vector2();
+  private plane = new THREE.Plane(new THREE.Vector3(0, 1, 0), 0);
+  lastFx: StrokeFx | null = null;
+
+  private camPos = new THREE.Vector3();
+  private camLook = new THREE.Vector3();
+  private shot: CamShot = SHOTS.toast;
+
   private panel: Panel;
   private cueEl!: HTMLElement;
   private hintEl!: HTMLElement;
-  private dialEl!: HTMLInputElement;
-  private breadEl!: HTMLSelectElement;
-
-  /** Fired when the slice has landed on the plate — M2 picks up from here. */
-  onLanded: ((slice: Slice) => void) | null = null;
+  private dialRow!: HTMLElement;
+  private gaugeFill!: HTMLElement;
+  private gaugeYield!: HTMLElement;
+  private gaugeScrape!: HTMLElement;
+  private modeEl!: HTMLElement;
+  private loadFill!: HTMLElement;
 
   constructor(
     private app: App,
@@ -51,9 +90,16 @@ export class KitchenView implements View {
     this.toaster = makeToaster();
     this.toaster.root.position.set(TOASTER_X, 0, -0.35);
     this.root.add(this.toaster.root);
-    this.plate = makePlate();
-    this.plate.position.set(PLATE_X, 0, PLATE_Z);
-    this.root.add(this.plate);
+    const plate = makePlate();
+    plate.position.set(PLATE_X, 0, PLATE_Z);
+    this.root.add(plate);
+
+    this.knifeRig = new KnifeRig(TOOLS[this.toolId]);
+    this.knifeRig.root.visible = false;
+    this.root.add(this.knifeRig.root);
+
+    this.camPos.copy(SHOTS.toast.pos);
+    this.camLook.copy(SHOTS.toast.look);
 
     this.panel = new Panel('toast-panel');
     this.buildUi();
@@ -62,32 +108,96 @@ export class KitchenView implements View {
 
   private buildUi(): void {
     const p = this.panel.root;
-    const row = el('div', 'row', p);
-    el('label', 'lbl', row, 'BROWNING');
-    this.dialEl = el('input', 'dial', row);
-    this.dialEl.type = 'range';
-    this.dialEl.min = '1';
-    this.dialEl.max = '10';
-    this.dialEl.step = '1';
-    this.dialEl.value = String(this.power);
-    const val = el('span', 'val', row, String(this.power));
-    this.dialEl.addEventListener('input', () => {
-      this.power = +this.dialEl.value;
-      val.textContent = this.dialEl.value;
+    this.dialRow = el('div', 'row', p);
+    el('label', 'lbl', this.dialRow, 'BROWNING');
+    const dial = el('input', 'dial', this.dialRow);
+    dial.type = 'range';
+    dial.min = '1';
+    dial.max = '10';
+    dial.step = '1';
+    dial.value = String(this.power);
+    const val = el('span', 'val', this.dialRow, String(this.power));
+    dial.addEventListener('input', () => {
+      this.power = +dial.value;
+      val.textContent = dial.value;
       this.toaster.dial.rotation.x = -((this.power - 1) / 9) * 2.4;
     });
 
     const row2 = el('div', 'row', p);
     el('label', 'lbl', row2, 'BREAD');
-    this.breadEl = el('select', 'sel', row2);
+    const breadSel = el('select', 'sel', row2);
     for (const id of Object.keys(BREADS)) {
-      const o = el('option', undefined, this.breadEl, BREADS[id as BreadId].name);
+      const o = el('option', undefined, breadSel, BREADS[id as BreadId].name);
       o.value = id;
     }
-    this.breadEl.addEventListener('change', () => this.loadBread(this.breadEl.value as BreadId));
+    breadSel.addEventListener('change', () => this.loadBread(breadSel.value as BreadId));
+
+    const row3 = el('div', 'row', p);
+    el('label', 'lbl', row3, 'SPREAD');
+    const spreadSel = el('select', 'sel', row3);
+    for (const id of Object.keys(SPREADS)) {
+      const o = el('option', undefined, spreadSel, SPREADS[id as SpreadId].name);
+      o.value = id;
+    }
+    spreadSel.addEventListener('change', () => this.setSpread(spreadSel.value as SpreadId));
+
+    const row4 = el('div', 'row', p);
+    el('label', 'lbl', row4, 'TOOL');
+    const toolSel = el('select', 'sel', row4);
+    for (const id of Object.keys(TOOLS)) {
+      const o = el('option', undefined, toolSel, TOOLS[id as ToolId].name);
+      o.value = id;
+    }
+    toolSel.addEventListener('change', () => {
+      this.toolId = toolSel.value as ToolId;
+      this.knifeRig.setTool(TOOLS[this.toolId]);
+    });
+
+    const row5 = el('div', 'row', p);
+    el('label', 'lbl', row5, 'BUTTER');
+    const soft = el('input', 'dial', row5);
+    soft.type = 'range';
+    soft.min = '0';
+    soft.max = '100';
+    soft.value = String(this.butterSoftness * 100);
+    const softVal = el('span', 'val', row5, 'hard');
+    soft.addEventListener('input', () => {
+      this.butterSoftness = +soft.value / 100;
+      softVal.textContent =
+        this.butterSoftness > 0.66 ? 'soft' : this.butterSoftness > 0.33 ? 'ok' : 'hard';
+    });
+
+    // The pressure gauge — the mechanic made legible. The fill is the pressure
+    // your wrist angle is producing; the gold mark is what this spread needs in
+    // order to flow; the red mark is where the knife stops spreading and starts
+    // scraping. When gold sits past red, no angle can win, and the answer isn't
+    // technique — it's warmer toast.
+    const gauge = el('div', 'gauge', p);
+    this.gaugeFill = el('div', 'gauge-fill', gauge);
+    this.gaugeYield = el('div', 'gauge-mark yield', gauge);
+    this.gaugeScrape = el('div', 'gauge-mark scrape', gauge);
+    this.modeEl = el('div', 'mode', p, '');
+
+    const loadBar = el('div', 'load', p);
+    this.loadFill = el('div', 'load-fill', loadBar);
 
     this.cueEl = el('div', 'cue', p, 'smells like bread');
     this.hintEl = el('div', 'hint', p, 'SPACE — push the lever down');
+    this.setSpread(this.spreadId);
+  }
+
+  setSpread(id: SpreadId): void {
+    this.spreadId = id;
+    const def = SPREADS[id];
+    this.slice?.setSpread(def);
+    this.knifeRig.setSpread(def);
+    if (this.pot) this.root.remove(this.pot);
+    const { root, hit } = makeSpreadPot(def);
+    root.position.set(POT_X, 0, POT_Z);
+    this.pot = root;
+    this.potHit = hit;
+    this.pot.visible = this.phase === 'spreading';
+    this.root.add(root);
   }
 
   loadBread(id: BreadId): void {
@@ -96,12 +206,18 @@ export class KitchenView implements View {
       this.slice.dispose();
     }
     this.slice = new Slice(BREADS[id], new Rng(this.rng.int(1, 1e6)));
+    this.slice.setSpread(SPREADS[this.spreadId]);
     this.heat = buildHeatMap(this.slice, new Rng(this.rng.int(1, 1e6)));
     this.root.add(this.slice.mesh);
     this.phase = 'ready';
     this.leverT = 0;
     this.toastSeconds = 0;
     this.slice.warmth = 0;
+    this.knife = newKnife();
+    this.knifeRig.root.visible = false;
+    if (this.pot) this.pot.visible = false;
+    this.shot = SHOTS.toast;
+    this.dialRow.style.opacity = '1';
     this.placeInSlot(0);
     this.hintEl.textContent = 'SPACE — push the lever down';
   }
@@ -110,11 +226,10 @@ export class KitchenView implements View {
     return this.slice;
   }
 
-  /** t: 0 = sitting proud of the slot, 1 = fully down. */
   private placeInSlot(t: number): void {
     const y = this.toaster.slotY + 0.16 - t * 0.74;
     this.slice.mesh.position.set(TOASTER_X, y, -0.35);
-    this.slice.mesh.rotation.set(Math.PI / 2, 0, 0); // standing, dome up
+    this.slice.mesh.rotation.set(Math.PI / 2, 0, 0);
   }
 
   enter(): void {
@@ -135,9 +250,6 @@ export class KitchenView implements View {
     this.phase = 'flying';
     this.slice.warmth = 1;
     this.toaster.setGlow(0);
-
-    // Solve a real arc from the slot to the plate rather than tweening: the
-    // slice should look thrown, because it is.
     const p0 = this.slice.mesh.position.clone();
     const y1 = PLATE_Y + 0.02;
     const vy = 4.2;
@@ -145,11 +257,20 @@ export class KitchenView implements View {
     const disc = Math.max(0.01, vy * vy - 2 * g * (y1 - p0.y));
     const T = (vy + Math.sqrt(disc)) / g;
     this.vel.set((PLATE_X - p0.x) / T, vy, (PLATE_Z - p0.z) / T);
-    this.spin = (Math.PI / 2 - 0) / T;
+    this.spin = Math.PI / 2 / T;
     this.app.shake = 0.045;
     this.hintEl.textContent = '';
   }
 
+  beginSpreading(): void {
+    this.phase = 'spreading';
+    this.shot = SHOTS.spread;
+    this.knifeRig.root.visible = true;
+    if (this.pot) this.pot.visible = true;
+    this.dialRow.style.opacity = '0.35';
+    this.hintEl.textContent = 'dip in the pot · drag on the toast · WHEEL tilts the knife';
+  }
+
   update(dt: number): void {
     const inp = this.app.input;
     if (inp.justPressed('Space')) {
@@ -157,7 +278,6 @@ export class KitchenView implements View {
       else if (this.phase === 'toasting') this.pop();
     }
 
-    // lever + slice ride down together
     const target = this.phase === 'ready' ? 0 : this.phase === 'toasting' ? 1 : 0;
     this.leverT += (target - this.leverT) * Math.min(1, dt * 14);
     this.toaster.lever.position.y = 1.62 * 0.72 - this.leverT * 0.62;
@@ -166,7 +286,9 @@ export class KitchenView implements View {
       this.placeInSlot(this.leverT);
       this.toastSeconds += dt;
       toastStep(this.slice, this.heat, this.power, dt);
-      this.toaster.setGlow(0.35 + 0.65 * (this.power / 10) * (0.92 + Math.sin(this.toastSeconds * 9) * 0.08));
+      this.toaster.setGlow(
+        0.35 + 0.65 * (this.power / 10) * (0.92 + Math.sin(this.toastSeconds * 9) * 0.08),
+      );
       this.slice.setHeatGlow(0.55 + 0.45 * Math.sin(this.toastSeconds * 7) * 0.3);
     } else if (this.phase === 'ready') {
       this.placeInSlot(this.leverT);
@@ -179,20 +301,121 @@ export class KitchenView implements View {
       if (this.slice.mesh.position.y <= PLATE_Y + 0.02 && this.vel.y < 0) {
         this.slice.mesh.position.set(PLATE_X, PLATE_Y + 0.02, PLATE_Z);
         this.slice.mesh.rotation.set(0, 0, 0);
-        this.phase = 'landed';
         this.app.shake = 0.02;
-        this.onLanded?.(this.slice);
+        this.beginSpreading();
       }
+    } else if (this.phase === 'spreading') {
+      this.updateSpreading(dt);
     }
 
     if (this.phase !== 'toasting') coolStep(this.slice, dt);
+    this.updateCamera(dt);
 
-    const t = readToast(this.slice);
-    this.cueEl.textContent = smellCue(t);
-    this.cueEl.style.color = t.smoke > 0.45 ? '#e2603a' : '';
+    if (this.phase !== 'spreading') {
+      const t = readToast(this.slice);
+      this.cueEl.textContent = smellCue(t);
+      this.cueEl.style.color = t.smoke > 0.45 ? '#e2603a' : '';
+    }
     this.slice.sync();
   }
 
+  private updateSpreading(dt: number): void {
+    const inp = this.app.input;
+    const def = SPREADS[this.spreadId];
+    const tool = TOOLS[this.toolId];
+
+    if (inp.wheel !== 0) {
+      this.knife.angle = Math.max(0, Math.min(1, this.knife.angle + inp.wheel * 0.055));
+    }
+
+    this.ray.setFromCamera(inp.ndc, this.app.camera);
+
+    // Dipping wins over spreading: if the cursor is over the pot you're loading up.
+    let overPot = false;
+    if (this.potHit) {
+      const hits = this.ray.intersectObject(this.potHit, false);
+      if (hits.length) {
+        overPot = true;
+        this.knifeRig.update(hits[0].point, this.knife.angle * 0.3, this.knife.load, hits[0].point.y);
+        if (inp.down) dip(this.knife, def);
+        this.knife.hasPrev = false;
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (!overPot) {
+      this.plane.constant = -this.slice.topY;
+      if (this.ray.ray.intersectPlane(this.plane, this.hitPoint)) {
+        this.knifeRig.update(this.hitPoint, this.knife.angle, this.knife.load, this.slice.topY);
+        this.slice.uvAt(this.hitPoint, this.uv);
+        const onBread = this.slice.mask.sample(this.uv.x, this.uv.y) > 0.5;
+        if (inp.down && onBread) {
+          this.lastFx = stroke(
+            this.slice,
+            def,
+            tool,
+            this.knife,
+            this.uv.x,
+            this.uv.y,
+            dt,
+            this.butterSoftness,
+          );
+          if (this.lastFx.tore > 0.004 || this.lastFx.gouged > 0.004) this.app.shake = 0.012;
+        } else {
+          this.knife.hasPrev = false;
+          this.lastFx = null;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    this.updateGauge(def);
+  }
+
+  private updateGauge(def: SpreadDef): void {
+    const tool = TOOLS[this.toolId];
+    const pressure = Math.min(1.4, pressureFromAngle(this.knife.angle) / tool.contactScale);
+    const yieldP = effectiveYield(def, this.butterSoftness, this.slice.warmth);
+    const scrapeP = Math.min(1.4, pressureFromAngle(SCRAPE_ANGLE) / tool.contactScale);
+    const pct = (v: number) => `${Math.min(100, (v / 1.4) * 100)}%`;
+    this.gaugeFill.style.width = pct(pressure);
+    this.gaugeYield.style.left = pct(yieldP);
+    this.gaugeScrape.style.left = pct(scrapeP);
+    const scraping = this.knife.angle >= SCRAPE_ANGLE;
+    this.gaugeFill.style.background = scraping
+      ? '#c0392b'
+      : pressure >= yieldP
+        ? '#6cbf6c'
+        : '#8a7f70';
+
+    const fx = this.lastFx;
+    let msg = scraping ? 'scraping' : 'spreading';
+    if (fx) {
+      if (fx.mode === 'tear') msg = 'TEARING — the butter is too hard for this';
+      else if (fx.mode === 'gouge') msg = 'GOUGING — there is nothing left to scrape';
+      else if (fx.mode === 'char') msg = 'lifting the burnt bits';
+      else if (fx.mode === 'scrape') msg = 'taking it back off';
+      else if (fx.mode === 'spread') msg = 'spreading nicely';
+    } else if (this.knife.load <= 0.01) {
+      msg = 'the knife is empty — go and dip';
+    }
+    this.modeEl.textContent = msg;
+    this.modeEl.style.color =
+      fx?.mode === 'tear' || fx?.mode === 'gouge'
+        ? '#e2603a'
+        : fx?.mode === 'spread'
+          ? '#8fce8f'
+          : '';
+    this.loadFill.style.width = `${Math.min(100, (this.knife.load / def.pickup) * 100)}%`;
+    this.loadFill.style.background = `rgb(${def.color.map((c) => Math.round(c * 255)).join(',')})`;
+  }
+
+  private updateCamera(dt: number): void {
+    const k = 1 - Math.pow(0.0035, dt);
+    this.camPos.lerp(this.shot.pos, k);
+    this.camLook.lerp(this.shot.look, k);
+    this.app.camera.position.copy(this.camPos);
+    this.app.camera.lookAt(this.camLook);
+  }
+
   dispose(): void {
     this.panel.dispose();
     this.slice.dispose();
diff --git a/src/scenes/spreadrig.ts b/src/scenes/spreadrig.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0312a01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/scenes/spreadrig.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+import * as THREE from 'three';
+import { makeCutleryMesh, type Tool } from '../sim/cutlery';
+import type { SpreadDef } from '../sim/spreads';
+
+/**
+ * The knife you actually hold. Two nested groups so the tilt is about the blade,
+ * not about the mouse cursor: `yaw` sets how the knife is held, `tilt` is the
+ * one control the whole mechanic hangs off.
+ */
+export class KnifeRig {
+  readonly root = new THREE.Group();
+  private yaw = new THREE.Group();
+  private tilt = new THREE.Group();
+  private mesh: THREE.Group;
+  private blob: THREE.Mesh;
+  private blobMat: THREE.MeshStandardMaterial;
+  private bladeCentre: number;
+
+  constructor(tool: Tool) {
+    this.bladeCentre = 0.12 + tool.headL * 0.5;
+    this.mesh = makeCutleryMesh(tool);
+    // Slide the piece so the middle of its head sits at the rig's origin — that
+    // point is the contact patch, and it's what we rotate about.
+    this.mesh.position.z = -this.bladeCentre;
+    this.tilt.add(this.mesh);
+    this.yaw.add(this.tilt);
+    this.root.add(this.yaw);
+    // Held like a right-handed person spreading: handle down toward the player.
+    this.yaw.rotation.y = -0.62;
+
+    // The load on the blade, so you can see when you've run out.
+    const blobGeo = new THREE.SphereGeometry(1, 14, 10);
+    blobGeo.scale(tool.headW * 0.42, 0.035, tool.headL * 0.34);
+    this.blobMat = new THREE.MeshStandardMaterial({ color: 0xf0c040, roughness: 0.32 });
+    this.blob = new THREE.Mesh(blobGeo, this.blobMat);
+    this.blob.position.set(0, 0.028, 0);
+    this.tilt.add(this.blob);
+  }
+
+  setTool(tool: Tool): void {
+    this.tilt.remove(this.mesh);
+    this.mesh = makeCutleryMesh(tool);
+    this.bladeCentre = 0.12 + tool.headL * 0.5;
+    this.mesh.position.z = -this.bladeCentre;
+    this.tilt.add(this.mesh);
+  }
+
+  setSpread(def: SpreadDef | null): void {
+    if (def) this.blobMat.color.setRGB(def.color[0], def.color[1], def.color[2]);
+  }
+
+  /** angle 0..1; load 0..1 */
+  update(pos: THREE.Vector3, angle: number, load: number, topY: number): void {
+    // Tilt lifts the handle and drops the blade onto its edge. At angle 1 the
+    // knife is all but vertical, which is exactly how you scrape burnt toast.
+    const tiltRad = angle * 1.38;
+    this.tilt.rotation.x = -tiltRad;
+    // Ride the contact patch just above the toast whatever the tilt is doing.
+    const lift = Math.sin(tiltRad) * 0.045 + 0.012;
+    this.root.position.set(pos.x, Math.max(topY, pos.y) + lift, pos.z);
+    this.blob.visible = load > 0.01;
+    const s = 0.35 + Math.min(1, load / 0.6) * 0.75;
+    this.blob.scale.set(s, Math.min(1.6, s * (0.6 + load)), s);
+  }
+}
+
+/** The pot you dip into. One per order — you only ever get one spread. */
+export function makeSpreadPot(def: SpreadDef): { root: THREE.Group; hit: THREE.Mesh } {
+  const g = new THREE.Group();
+  const glass = new THREE.MeshStandardMaterial({
+    color: 0xdfe6e6,
+    roughness: 0.12,
+    metalness: 0.02,
+    transparent: true,
+    opacity: 0.42,
+  });
+  const contents = new THREE.MeshStandardMaterial({
+    color: new THREE.Color(def.color[0], def.color[1], def.color[2]),
+    roughness: def.id === 'peanut' ? 0.85 : 0.4,
+  });
+
+  if (def.id === 'butter') {
+    const dish = new THREE.Mesh(new THREE.BoxGeometry(1.15, 0.16, 0.75), glass);
+    dish.position.y = 0.08;
+    g.add(dish);
+    const block = new THREE.Mesh(new THREE.BoxGeometry(0.78, 0.3, 0.44), contents);
+    block.position.y = 0.29;
+    block.castShadow = true;
+    g.add(block);
+    return { root: g, hit: block };
+  }
+
+  const jar = new THREE.Mesh(new THREE.CylinderGeometry(0.42, 0.4, 0.66, 24), glass);
+  jar.position.y = 0.33;
+  g.add(jar);
+  const fill = new THREE.Mesh(new THREE.CylinderGeometry(0.36, 0.34, 0.46, 24), contents);
+  fill.position.y = 0.27;
+  g.add(fill);
+  const surface = new THREE.Mesh(new THREE.CylinderGeometry(0.36, 0.36, 0.02, 24), contents);
+  surface.position.y = 0.5;
+  g.add(surface);
+  const label = new THREE.Mesh(
+    new THREE.CylinderGeometry(0.425, 0.425, 0.3, 24, 1, true),
+    new THREE.MeshStandardMaterial({
+      color: def.id === 'mitey' ? 0xc8102e : 0xf2e2c0,
+      roughness: 0.7,
+      side: THREE.DoubleSide,
+    }),
+  );
+  label.position.y = 0.3;
+  g.add(label);
+  return { root: g, hit: surface };
+}
diff --git a/src/sim/cutlery.ts b/src/sim/cutlery.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4b344a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sim/cutlery.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,353 @@
+import * as THREE from 'three';
+
+/**
+ * The cutlery cast. Deliberately procedural rather than generated: these
+ * silhouettes are gameplay — the drawer asks you to find "the dessert fork"
+ * among things that are almost dessert forks, and that's only fair if the
+ * differences are authored. It also keeps the tines thin without a mesher
+ * mangling them, and lets each piece carry its own physics colliders.
+ */
+
+export type ToolId =
+  | 'butter_knife'
+  | 'dinner_knife'
+  | 'steak_knife'
+  | 'spreader'
+  | 'dinner_fork'
+  | 'dessert_fork'
+  | 'teaspoon'
+  | 'dessert_spoon'
+  | 'soup_spoon';
+
+export type ToolKind = 'knife' | 'fork' | 'spoon';
+
+export interface Tool {
+  id: ToolId;
+  name: string;
+  kind: ToolKind;
+  /** Overall length in slice-units (1 unit ~ 11cm). */
+  length: number;
+  /** Width of the business end. */
+  headW: number;
+  headL: number;
+  /** Multiplies the knife's contact patch — a spreader is wide, a steak knife isn't. */
+  contactScale: number;
+  /** How well it moves spread at all. */
+  transferScale: number;
+  /** Multiplier on gouge risk. Serrated things are bad news. */
+  gougeProne: number;
+  /** 0..1 — how blotchy the deposit is. A spoon can't lay a flat film. */
+  blotch: number;
+  /** Multiplier on tearing when the spread won't yield. */
+  tearProne: number;
+  /** The right tool for spreading. */
+  ideal: boolean;
+  blurb: string;
+}
+
+export const TOOLS: Record<ToolId, Tool> = {
+  butter_knife: {
+    id: 'butter_knife',
+    name: 'Butter Knife',
+    kind: 'knife',
+    length: 1.75,
+    headW: 0.2,
+    headL: 0.72,
+    contactScale: 1,
+    transferScale: 1,
+    gougeProne: 1,
+    blotch: 0,
+    tearProne: 1,
+    ideal: true,
+    blurb: 'Round-tipped, wide, dull. The correct answer.',
+  },
+  dinner_knife: {
+    id: 'dinner_knife',
+    name: 'Dinner Knife',
+    kind: 'knife',
+    length: 2.0,
+    headW: 0.16,
+    headL: 0.85,
+    contactScale: 0.86,
+    transferScale: 0.95,
+    gougeProne: 1.35,
+    blotch: 0.05,
+    tearProne: 1.1,
+    ideal: false,
+    blurb: 'Longer, narrower, and it has opinions about the crumb.',
+  },
+  steak_knife: {
+    id: 'steak_knife',
+    name: 'Steak Knife',
+    kind: 'knife',
+    length: 1.95,
+    headW: 0.13,
+    headL: 0.88,
+    contactScale: 0.62,
+    transferScale: 0.8,
+    gougeProne: 3.2,
+    blotch: 0.12,
+    tearProne: 1.6,
+    ideal: false,
+    blurb: 'Serrated. Every stroke is a small act of violence.',
+  },
+  spreader: {
+    id: 'spreader',
+    name: 'Pâté Spreader',
+    kind: 'knife',
+    length: 1.4,
+    headW: 0.3,
+    headL: 0.5,
+    contactScale: 1.35,
+    transferScale: 1.15,
+    gougeProne: 0.55,
+    blotch: 0,
+    tearProne: 0.7,
+    ideal: true,
+    blurb: 'Stubby, wide, blameless. Somehow always at the back.',
+  },
+  dinner_fork: {
+    id: 'dinner_fork',
+    name: 'Dinner Fork',
+    kind: 'fork',
+    length: 1.85,
+    headW: 0.26,
+    headL: 0.42,
+    contactScale: 0.7,
+    transferScale: 0.55,
+    gougeProne: 2.4,
+    blotch: 0.75,
+    tearProne: 3.0,
+    ideal: false,
+    blurb: 'Four tines. Four furrows.',
+  },
+  dessert_fork: {
+    id: 'dessert_fork',
+    name: 'Dessert Fork',
+    kind: 'fork',
+    length: 1.5,
+    headW: 0.23,
+    headL: 0.34,
+    contactScale: 0.6,
+    transferScale: 0.5,
+    gougeProne: 2.2,
+    blotch: 0.78,
+    tearProne: 2.8,
+    ideal: false,
+    blurb: 'Like a dinner fork, but smaller. That is the entire difference.',
+  },
+  teaspoon: {
+    id: 'teaspoon',
+    name: 'Teaspoon',
+    kind: 'spoon',
+    length: 1.3,
+    headW: 0.24,
+    headL: 0.34,
+    contactScale: 0.75,
+    transferScale: 0.7,
+    gougeProne: 0.5,
+    blotch: 0.6,
+    tearProne: 1.2,
+    ideal: false,
+    blurb: 'You can, technically. It will show.',
+  },
+  dessert_spoon: {
+    id: 'dessert_spoon',
+    name: 'Dessert Spoon',
+    kind: 'spoon',
+    length: 1.65,
+    headW: 0.3,
+    headL: 0.44,
+    contactScale: 0.85,
+    transferScale: 0.75,
+    gougeProne: 0.45,
+    blotch: 0.55,
+    tearProne: 1.15,
+    ideal: false,
+    blurb: 'A teaspoon that has been to the gym.',
+  },
+  soup_spoon: {
+    id: 'soup_spoon',
+    name: 'Soup Spoon',
+    kind: 'spoon',
+    length: 1.6,
+    headW: 0.38,
+    headL: 0.4,
+    contactScale: 0.9,
+    transferScale: 0.7,
+    gougeProne: 0.4,
+    blotch: 0.62,
+    tearProne: 1.1,
+    ideal: false,
+    blurb: 'Round. Deep. Utterly wrong, but confidently so.',
+  },
+};
+
+export const TOOL_IDS = Object.keys(TOOLS) as ToolId[];
+
+const STEEL = new THREE.MeshStandardMaterial({
+  color: 0xd2d7dd,
+  roughness: 0.24,
+  metalness: 0.95,
+});
+
+/**
+ * Extrude a profile drawn in shape-space (x = width, y = length) into a part
+ * lying in the XZ plane: shape +y becomes +z, and the extrusion thickness ends
+ * up centred on y=0.
+ *
+ * Done at the geometry level on purpose. Setting mesh.rotation.x = -PI/2 instead
+ * sends a profile drawn toward +y to -z and one drawn toward -y to +z — which
+ * silently lays the handle and the blade out in opposite directions, on top of
+ * each other, and the piece is nowhere near where the code says it is.
+ */
+function extrudeFlat(shape: THREE.Shape, depth: number, bevel: number): THREE.BufferGeometry {
+  const geo = new THREE.ExtrudeGeometry(shape, {
+    depth,
+    bevelEnabled: bevel > 0,
+    bevelThickness: bevel,
+    bevelSize: bevel,
+    bevelSegments: 2,
+    curveSegments: 12,
+  });
+  geo.rotateX(Math.PI / 2); // shape +y -> +z, extrusion depth -> -y
+  geo.translate(0, depth / 2, 0);
+  return geo;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Build a piece of cutlery lying in the XZ plane, handle at -Z, head at +Z.
+ * Y is thickness.
+ */
+export function makeCutleryMesh(tool: Tool): THREE.Group {
+  const g = new THREE.Group();
+  const L = tool.length;
+  const handleL = L - tool.headL - 0.12;
+
+  // handle: a tapered, slightly domed bar
+  const handleShape = new THREE.Shape();
+  const hw0 = 0.052; // at the neck
+  const hw1 = 0.085; // at the butt
+  handleShape.moveTo(-hw0, 0);
+  handleShape.lineTo(-hw1 * 0.92, -handleL * 0.55);
+  handleShape.quadraticCurveTo(-hw1, -handleL, 0, -handleL);
+  handleShape.quadraticCurveTo(hw1, -handleL, hw1 * 0.92, -handleL * 0.55);
+  handleShape.lineTo(hw0, 0);
+  handleShape.closePath();
+  const handle = new THREE.Mesh(extrudeFlat(handleShape, 0.036, 0.014), STEEL);
+  handle.position.z = -0.02;
+  g.add(handle);
+
+  // neck
+  const neck = new THREE.Mesh(new THREE.BoxGeometry(0.055, 0.028, 0.16), STEEL);
+  neck.position.z = 0.06;
+  g.add(neck);
+
+  if (tool.kind === 'knife') g.add(makeBlade(tool));
+  else if (tool.kind === 'fork') g.add(makeForkHead(tool));
+  else g.add(makeSpoonBowl(tool));
+
+  for (const c of g.children) {
+    c.castShadow = true;
+    c.receiveShadow = true;
+  }
+  return g;
+}
+
+function makeBlade(tool: Tool): THREE.Mesh {
+  const w = tool.headW / 2;
+  const l = tool.headL;
+  const s = new THREE.Shape();
+  s.moveTo(-0.028, 0);
+  s.lineTo(-w * 0.8, l * 0.22);
+  s.lineTo(-w, l * 0.55);
+  // rounded tip for a butter knife, a point for the aggressive ones
+  if (tool.id === 'butter_knife' || tool.id === 'spreader') {
+    s.quadraticCurveTo(-w, l, 0, l);
+    s.quadraticCurveTo(w, l, w, l * 0.55);
+  } else {
+    s.lineTo(-w * 0.55, l * 0.93);
+    s.quadraticCurveTo(0, l * 1.02, w * 0.72, l * 0.86);
+    s.lineTo(w, l * 0.55);
+  }
+  s.lineTo(w * 0.8, l * 0.22);
+  s.lineTo(0.028, 0);
+  s.closePath();
+
+  const blade = new THREE.Mesh(extrudeFlat(s, 0.014, 0.006), STEEL);
+  blade.position.set(0, 0, 0.12);
+  return blade;
+}
+
+function makeForkHead(tool: Tool): THREE.Group {
+  const g = new THREE.Group();
+  const w = tool.headW / 2;
+  const l = tool.headL;
+  // the shoulder the tines grow out of
+  const base = new THREE.Shape();
+  base.moveTo(-0.03, 0);
+  base.lineTo(-w, l * 0.34);
+  base.lineTo(w, l * 0.34);
+  base.lineTo(0.03, 0);
+  base.closePath();
+  const shoulder = new THREE.Mesh(extrudeFlat(base, 0.016, 0), STEEL);
+  shoulder.position.set(0, 0, 0.12);
+  g.add(shoulder);
+
+  // four tines
+  const tineL = l * 0.66;
+  const tineW = (w * 2) / 7;
+  for (let i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
+    const x = (i - 1.5) * (w * 2) / 4;
+    const tine = new THREE.Mesh(new THREE.BoxGeometry(tineW, 0.014, tineL), STEEL);
+    tine.position.set(x, 0, 0.12 + l * 0.34 + tineL / 2);
+    g.add(tine);
+    const tip = new THREE.Mesh(new THREE.ConeGeometry(tineW * 0.5, 0.05, 6), STEEL);
+    tip.rotation.x = Math.PI / 2;
+    tip.position.set(x, 0, 0.12 + l * 0.34 + tineL + 0.02);
+    g.add(tip);
+  }
+  return g;
+}
+
+function makeSpoonBowl(tool: Tool): THREE.Mesh {
+  const geo = new THREE.SphereGeometry(0.5, 20, 14, 0, Math.PI * 2, 0, Math.PI * 0.52);
+  geo.scale(tool.headW * 0.5, 0.11, tool.headL * 0.6);
+  geo.rotateX(Math.PI); // open side up
+  const bowl = new THREE.Mesh(geo, STEEL);
+  bowl.position.set(0, 0.005, 0.12 + tool.headL * 0.42);
+  return bowl;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Compound collider primitives for the drawer, in the mesh's local space.
+ * Boxes only, and few of them: a trimesh of a fork is both slow and a stability
+ * nightmare when a dozen of them are tangled together.
+ */
+export interface ColliderPart {
+  half: [number, number, number];
+  pos: [number, number, number];
+}
+
+export function colliderParts(tool: Tool): ColliderPart[] {
+  const L = tool.length;
+  const handleL = L - tool.headL - 0.12;
+  const parts: ColliderPart[] = [
+    { half: [0.075, 0.03, handleL / 2], pos: [0, 0, -0.02 - handleL / 2] },
+    { half: [0.03, 0.016, 0.08], pos: [0, 0, 0.06] },
+  ];
+  if (tool.kind === 'spoon') {
+    parts.push({
+      half: [tool.headW * 0.5, 0.055, tool.headL * 0.32],
+      pos: [0, 0, 0.12 + tool.headL * 0.42],
+    });
+  } else {
+    // one slab for a blade; for a fork this is the tine envelope, which is what
+    // actually matters — individual tines catching each other is a physics trap.
+    parts.push({
+      half: [tool.headW * 0.5, 0.012, tool.headL * 0.5],
+      pos: [0, 0, 0.12 + tool.headL * 0.5],
+    });
+  }
+  return parts;
+}
diff --git a/src/sim/slice.ts b/src/sim/slice.ts
index fa0df9d..21f2863 100644
--- a/src/sim/slice.ts
+++ b/src/sim/slice.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ export class Slice {
   warmth = 0;
   /** Which spread is currently on the slice (for judging + shading). */
   spreadDef: SpreadDef | null = null;
+  /** Extent of the UV projection, so world hits can be turned back into texels. */
+  readonly sizeX: number;
+  readonly sizeZ: number;
+  readonly halfThickness: number;
 
   private tex: THREE.DataTexture;
   private texData: Uint8Array;
@@ -65,6 +69,10 @@ export class Slice {
     this.tex.needsUpdate = true;
 
     const geo = buildGeometry(shape, bread);
+    const bb = geo.boundingBox!;
+    this.sizeX = bb.max.x - bb.min.x;
+    this.sizeZ = bb.max.z - bb.min.z;
+    this.halfThickness = bb.max.y;
     this.material = buildMaterial(bread, this.tex);
     this.mesh = new THREE.Mesh(geo, this.material);
     this.mesh.castShadow = true;
@@ -72,6 +80,21 @@ export class Slice {
     this.sync();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * World point -> field UV. The UVs were planar-projected from the shape's own
+   * XY before the slice was laid flat, which makes shape +y become world -z —
+   * hence the flip on v.
+   */
+  uvAt(worldPoint: THREE.Vector3, out: THREE.Vector2): THREE.Vector2 {
+    const p = this.mesh.worldToLocal(worldPoint.clone());
+    return out.set(p.x / this.sizeX + 0.5, 0.5 - p.z / this.sizeZ);
+  }
+
+  /** Height of the top face in world space (the slice lies flat when spreading). */
+  get topY(): number {
+    return this.mesh.position.y + this.halfThickness;
+  }
+
   get uniforms() {
     return this.material.uniforms;
   }
@@ -182,6 +205,7 @@ function buildGeometry(shape: THREE.Shape, bread: Bread): THREE.BufferGeometry {
   geo.rotateX(-Math.PI / 2);
   geo.center();
   geo.computeVertexNormals();
+  geo.computeBoundingBox();
   return geo;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/sim/spreading.ts b/src/sim/spreading.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6672ab3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sim/spreading.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,234 @@
+import type { Slice } from './slice';
+import type { SpreadDef } from './spreads';
+import { SCRAPE_ANGLE, contactRadius, effectiveYield, pressureFromAngle } from './spreads';
+import type { Tool } from './cutlery';
+
+/**
+ * The star mechanic.
+ *
+ * One control — knife angle — and three behaviours fall out of it:
+ *
+ *   flat   -> wide contact, low pressure  -> spreads (or tears, if the spread is
+ *             stiffer than the pressure you're allowed to apply)
+ *   steep  -> narrow contact, high pressure -> scrapes spread back off, or scrapes
+ *             char off toast that's burnt
+ *   steep and fast on bread that has nothing left to remove -> gouges
+ *
+ * The trap: pressure comes from steepness, but steepness past SCRAPE_ANGLE stops
+ * spreading. So cold butter can demand more pressure than the spread mode can
+ * physically give — and the answer isn't technique, it's warmer toast.
+ */
+
+/** Scraping lightens toast down to here; past that you're into the crumb. */
+export const BROWN_FLOOR = 0.62;
+
+const TEAR_RATE = 1.15;
+const SCRAPE_RATE = 2.4;
+/**
+ * Lifting char has to feel like progress. A steep knife has a narrow contact
+ * patch (~0.05 UV), so a pass only dwells on any given texel for ~0.2s — at a
+ * lower rate than this you scrape a burnt slice for a minute and it stays burnt.
+ */
+const CHAR_SCRAPE_RATE = 4.0;
+const GOUGE_RATE = 0.85;
+/** Below this pressure you're just wiping; you can't gouge with a flat knife. */
+const GOUGE_PRESSURE = 0.5;
+/** Gouging and tearing both need the knife to be moving. */
+const MOVE_REF = 0.55;
+
+export interface Knife {
+  /** 0 = flat on the toast, 1 = up on its edge. */
+  angle: number;
+  /** Spread carried on the blade, in mean-thickness units (same as the field). */
+  load: number;
+  u: number;
+  v: number;
+  hasPrev: boolean;
+}
+
+export type StrokeMode = 'idle' | 'spread' | 'tear' | 'scrape' | 'char' | 'gouge';
+
+export interface StrokeFx {
+  mode: StrokeMode;
+  deposited: number;
+  tore: number;
+  gouged: number;
+  scrapedSpread: number;
+  scrapedChar: number;
+  speed: number;
+  pressure: number;
+  /** How far short of the yield pressure we are: 0 = flowing, 1 = hopeless. */
+  deficit: number;
+  crumbs: number;
+}
+
+export function newKnife(): Knife {
+  // Starts inside the window where warm-toast butter actually flows: the very
+  // first stroke of the game shouldn't be a mysterious failure.
+  return { angle: 0.45, load: 0, u: 0.5, v: 0.5, hasPrev: false };
+}
+
+export function dip(knife: Knife, def: SpreadDef): void {
+  knife.load = def.pickup;
+}
+
+/** Cheap per-texel hash, for blotchy tools. */
+function blotchAt(i: number): number {
+  const x = Math.sin(i * 12.9898) * 43758.5453;
+  return x - Math.floor(x);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Drag the knife from where it was to (toU,toV). Substeps along the path so a
+ * fast flick can't skip over the middle of the slice.
+ */
+export function stroke(
+  slice: Slice,
+  def: SpreadDef,
+  tool: Tool,
+  knife: Knife,
+  toU: number,
+  toV: number,
+  dt: number,
+  softness: number,
+): StrokeFx {
+  const fx: StrokeFx = {
+    mode: 'idle',
+    deposited: 0,
+    tore: 0,
+    gouged: 0,
+    scrapedSpread: 0,
+    scrapedChar: 0,
+    speed: 0,
+    pressure: 0,
+    deficit: 0,
+    crumbs: 0,
+  };
+  if (!knife.hasPrev) {
+    knife.u = toU;
+    knife.v = toV;
+    knife.hasPrev = true;
+    return fx;
+  }
+  const du = toU - knife.u;
+  const dv = toV - knife.v;
+  const dist = Math.hypot(du, dv);
+  const speed = dt > 0 ? dist / dt : 0;
+  fx.speed = speed;
+
+  const radius = Math.max(0.012, contactRadius(knife.angle) * tool.contactScale);
+  // Pressure is force over area: the same wrist angle through a narrow blade
+  // presses harder than through a wide one.
+  const pressure = Math.min(1.4, pressureFromAngle(knife.angle) / tool.contactScale);
+  fx.pressure = pressure;
+
+  const steps = Math.max(1, Math.min(24, Math.ceil(dist / (radius * 0.45))));
+  const stepDt = dt / steps;
+  for (let s = 1; s <= steps; s++) {
+    const t = s / steps;
+    contact(slice, def, tool, knife, knife.u + du * t, knife.v + dv * t, pressure, radius, speed, stepDt, softness, fx);
+  }
+  knife.u = toU;
+  knife.v = toV;
+
+  // Low-viscosity spreads level themselves out; peanut butter never does.
+  const relax = (1 - def.viscosity) * dt * 3.2;
+  if (relax > 0.001) slice.spread.relax(Math.min(0.5, relax), slice.mask);
+
+  slice.touch();
+  return fx;
+}
+
+function contact(
+  slice: Slice,
+  def: SpreadDef,
+  tool: Tool,
+  knife: Knife,
+  u: number,
+  v: number,
+  pressure: number,
+  radius: number,
+  speed: number,
+  dt: number,
+  softness: number,
+  fx: StrokeFx,
+): void {
+  const mask = slice.mask.data;
+  const spread = slice.spread.data;
+  const brown = slice.browning.data;
+  const damage = slice.damage.data;
+  const moving = Math.min(1.6, speed / MOVE_REF);
+
+  if (knife.angle < SCRAPE_ANGLE) {
+    if (knife.load <= 0.0005) return;
+    const yieldP = effectiveYield(def, softness, slice.warmth);
+    const flowing = pressure >= yieldP;
+    const deficit = flowing ? 0 : Math.min(1, (yieldP - pressure) / Math.max(yieldP, 0.001));
+    fx.deficit = Math.max(fx.deficit, deficit);
+    fx.mode = flowing ? 'spread' : 'tear';
+
+    // Below the yield pressure the spread won't flow, so the blade grabs the
+    // crumb and takes it with it. Some still smears on, badly.
+    const transfer = flowing ? 1 : 0.25;
+    const rate = def.transferRate * tool.transferScale * dt * transfer;
+    let massLeft = knife.load * slice.mask.n * slice.mask.n;
+
+    slice.spread.brush(u, v, radius, (i, w) => {
+      if (mask[i] < 0.5 || massLeft <= 0) return;
+      const blot = 1 - tool.blotch * blotchAt(i);
+      const add = Math.min(rate * w * blot, massLeft);
+      spread[i] += add;
+      massLeft -= add;
+      fx.deposited += add;
+    });
+    knife.load = Math.max(0, massLeft / (slice.mask.n * slice.mask.n));
+
+    if (!flowing && moving > 0.05) {
+      const tear = TEAR_RATE * deficit * moving * tool.tearProne * dt;
+      slice.damage.brush(u, v, radius, (i, w) => {
+        if (mask[i] < 0.5) return;
+        const add = tear * w;
+        damage[i] = Math.min(1, damage[i] + add);
+        fx.tore += add;
+      });
+      fx.crumbs += tear * 26;
+    }
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // --- scrape ---
+  let removedSpread = 0;
+  let removedChar = 0;
+  let gouged = 0;
+  slice.spread.brush(u, v, radius, (i, w) => {
+    if (mask[i] < 0.5) return;
+    if (spread[i] > 0.002) {
+      const off = Math.min(spread[i], SCRAPE_RATE * pressure * def.scrapeEase * dt * w);
+      spread[i] -= off;
+      removedSpread += off;
+      return;
+    }
+    if (brown[i] > BROWN_FLOOR) {
+      // Lifting char off. Cheap in browning, expensive in evenness — the saved
+      // patch ends up lighter than everything around it.
+      const off = Math.min(brown[i] - BROWN_FLOOR, CHAR_SCRAPE_RATE * pressure * dt * w);
+      brown[i] -= off;
+      removedChar += off;
+      return;
+    }
+    // Nothing left to take but the bread itself.
+    if (pressure > GOUGE_PRESSURE && moving > 0.25) {
+      const add = GOUGE_RATE * (pressure - GOUGE_PRESSURE) * moving * tool.gougeProne * dt * w;
+      damage[i] = Math.min(1, damage[i] + add);
+      gouged += add;
+    }
+  });
+
+  // What comes off the toast mostly stays on the blade.
+  knife.load += (removedSpread * 0.6) / (slice.mask.n * slice.mask.n);
+  fx.scrapedSpread += removedSpread;
+  fx.scrapedChar += removedChar;
+  fx.gouged += gouged;
+  fx.crumbs += removedChar * 900 + gouged * 30;
+  fx.mode = gouged > 1e-6 ? 'gouge' : removedChar > 1e-6 ? 'char' : removedSpread > 1e-6 ? 'scrape' : 'idle';
+}
diff --git a/src/sim/spreads.ts b/src/sim/spreads.ts
index 682021d..75dd42b 100644
--- a/src/sim/spreads.ts
+++ b/src/sim/spreads.ts
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ export const SPREADS: Record<SpreadId, SpreadDef> = {
     tempSoftening: 0.78,
     viscosity: 0.72,
     pickup: 0.55,
-    transferRate: 1.5,
+    transferRate: 3.0,
     drag: 0.5,
     scrapeEase: 1.0,
     amounts: { thin: [0.1, 0.22], normal: [0.25, 0.5], thick: [0.55, 0.9] },
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ export const SPREADS: Record<SpreadId, SpreadDef> = {
     tempSoftening: 0.3,
     viscosity: 0.96,
     pickup: 0.95,
-    transferRate: 2.2,
+    transferRate: 4.5,
     drag: 1.0,
     scrapeEase: 0.75,
     amounts: { thin: [0.18, 0.32], normal: [0.38, 0.68], thick: [0.75, 1.1] },
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ export const SPREADS: Record<SpreadId, SpreadDef> = {
     tempSoftening: 0.5,
     viscosity: 0.34,
     pickup: 0.5,
-    transferRate: 2.6,
+    transferRate: 3.5,
     drag: 0.25,
     scrapeEase: 1.25,
     amounts: { thin: [0.03, 0.11], normal: [0.14, 0.28], thick: [0.32, 0.6] },
diff --git a/src/style.css b/src/style.css
index 30d0385..72251c6 100644
--- a/src/style.css
+++ b/src/style.css
@@ -116,3 +116,61 @@ canvas#c {
   color: var(--ink-dim);
   min-height: 14px;
 }
+
+/* Pressure gauge: fill = what your wrist is making, gold = what the spread
+   needs to flow, red = where spreading becomes scraping. */
+.toast-panel .gauge {
+  position: relative;
+  height: 9px;
+  margin-top: 14px;
+  border-radius: 5px;
+  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.09);
+  overflow: hidden;
+}
+
+.toast-panel .gauge-fill {
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0 auto 0 0;
+  width: 0;
+  background: #8a7f70;
+  border-radius: 5px;
+  transition: background 0.15s;
+}
+
+.toast-panel .gauge-mark {
+  position: absolute;
+  top: -3px;
+  bottom: -3px;
+  width: 2px;
+  margin-left: -1px;
+}
+
+.toast-panel .gauge-mark.yield {
+  background: var(--gold);
+}
+
+.toast-panel .gauge-mark.scrape {
+  background: #e2603a;
+}
+
+.toast-panel .mode {
+  margin-top: 8px;
+  font-size: 11px;
+  letter-spacing: 0.09em;
+  color: var(--ink-dim);
+  min-height: 14px;
+}
+
+.toast-panel .load {
+  height: 5px;
+  margin-top: 8px;
+  border-radius: 3px;
+  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.09);
+  overflow: hidden;
+}
+
+.toast-panel .load-fill {
+  height: 100%;
+  width: 0;
+  border-radius: 3px;
+}