diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/media/BackFrameManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/media/BackFrameManager.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..301715ed7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/media/BackFrameManager.java
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+//
+// $Id: BackFrameManager.java,v 1.1 2003/04/26 17:56:26 mdb Exp $
+
+package com.threerings.media;
+
+import java.awt.Graphics2D;
+import java.awt.GraphicsConfiguration;
+import java.awt.Rectangle;
+import java.awt.image.VolatileImage;
+import javax.swing.JFrame;
+
+import com.samskivert.util.StringUtil;
+
+import com.threerings.media.timer.MediaTimer;
+
+/**
+ * A {@link FrameManager} extension that uses a volatile off-screen image
+ * to do its rendering.
+ */
+public class BackFrameManager extends FrameManager
+{
+    // documentation inherited
+    protected void paint (long tickStamp)
+    {
+        // start out assuming we can do an incremental render
+        boolean incremental = true;
+
+        do {
+            GraphicsConfiguration gc = _frame.getGraphicsConfiguration();
+
+            // create our off-screen buffer if necessary
+            if (_backimg == null || _backimg.getWidth() != _frame.getWidth() ||
+                _backimg.getHeight() != _frame.getHeight()) {
+                createBackBuffer(gc);
+            }
+
+            // make sure our back buffer hasn't disappeared
+            int valres = _backimg.validate(gc);
+
+            // if we've changed resolutions, recreate the buffer
+            if (valres == VolatileImage.IMAGE_INCOMPATIBLE) {
+                Log.info("Back buffer incompatible, recreating.");
+                createBackBuffer(gc);
+            }
+
+            // if the image wasn't A-OK, we need to rerender the whole
+            // business rather than just the dirty parts
+            if (valres != VolatileImage.IMAGE_OK) {
+                Log.info("Lost back buffer, redrawing.");
+                incremental = false;
+            }
+
+            // dirty everything if we're not incrementally rendering
+            if (!incremental) {
+                _frame.update(_bgfx);
+            }
+
+            if (!paint(_bgfx)) {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            // we cache our frame's graphics object so that we can avoid
+            // instantiating a new one on every tick
+            if (_fgfx == null) {
+                _fgfx = (Graphics2D)_frame.getGraphics();
+            }
+            _fgfx.drawImage(_backimg, 0, 0, null);
+
+            // if we loop through a second time, we'll need to rerender
+            // everything
+            incremental = false;
+
+        } while (_backimg.contentsLost());
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited
+    protected void restoreFromBack (Rectangle dirty)
+    {
+        if (_fgfx == null || _backimg == null) {
+            return;
+        }
+        Log.info("Restoring from back " + StringUtil.toString(dirty) + ".");
+        _fgfx.setClip(dirty);
+        _fgfx.drawImage(_backimg, 0, 0, null);
+        _fgfx.setClip(null);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Creates the off-screen buffer used to perform double buffered
+     * rendering of the animated panel.
+     */
+    protected void createBackBuffer (GraphicsConfiguration gc)
+    {
+        // if we have an old image, clear it out
+        if (_backimg != null) {
+            _backimg.flush();
+            _bgfx.dispose();
+        }
+
+        // create the offscreen buffer
+        int width = _frame.getWidth(), height = _frame.getHeight();
+        _backimg = gc.createCompatibleVolatileImage(width, height);
+
+        // fill the back buffer with white
+        _bgfx = (Graphics2D)_backimg.getGraphics();
+        _bgfx.fillRect(0, 0, width, height);
+
+        // clear out our frame graphics in case that became invalid for
+        // the same reasons our back buffer became invalid
+        if (_fgfx != null) {
+            _fgfx.dispose();
+            _fgfx = null;
+        }
+
+//         Log.info("Created back buffer [" + width + "x" + height + "].");
+    }
+
+    /** The image used to render off-screen. */
+    protected VolatileImage _backimg;
+
+    /** The graphics object from our back buffer. */
+    protected Graphics2D _bgfx;
+
+    /** The graphics object from our frame. */
+    protected Graphics2D _fgfx;
+}
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/media/FlipFrameManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/media/FlipFrameManager.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0b0c0fc3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/media/FlipFrameManager.java
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+//
+// $Id: FlipFrameManager.java,v 1.1 2003/04/26 17:56:26 mdb Exp $
+
+package com.threerings.media;
+
+import java.awt.BufferCapabilities;
+import java.awt.Graphics2D;
+import java.awt.ImageCapabilities;
+import java.awt.Rectangle;
+import java.awt.image.BufferStrategy;
+
+import javax.swing.JFrame;
+
+import com.threerings.media.timer.MediaTimer;
+
+/**
+ * A {@link FrameManager} extension that uses a flip-buffer (via {@link
+ * BufferStrategy} to do its rendering.
+ */
+public class FlipFrameManager extends FrameManager
+{
+    // documentation inherited
+    protected void paint (long tickStamp)
+    {
+        // create our buffer strategy if we don't already have one
+        if (_bufstrat == null) {
+            BufferCapabilities cap = new BufferCapabilities(
+                new ImageCapabilities(true), new ImageCapabilities(true),
+                BufferCapabilities.FlipContents.COPIED);
+            _frame.createBufferStrategy(2);
+            _bufstrat = _frame.getBufferStrategy();
+        }
+
+        // start out assuming we can do an incremental render
+        boolean incremental = true;
+
+        do {
+            Graphics2D gfx = (Graphics2D)_bufstrat.getDrawGraphics();
+
+            // dirty everything if we're not incrementally rendering
+            if (!incremental) {
+                Log.info("Doing non-incremental render; contents lost.");
+                _frame.update(gfx);
+            }
+
+            // request to paint our participants and components and bail
+            // if they paint nothing
+            if (!paint(gfx)) {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            // flip our buffer to visible
+            _bufstrat.show();
+
+            // if we loop through a second time, we'll need to rerender
+            // everything
+            incremental = false;
+
+        } while (_bufstrat.contentsLost());
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited
+    protected void restoreFromBack (Rectangle dirty)
+    {
+        // nothing doing
+    }
+
+    /** The buffer strategy used to do our rendering. */
+    protected BufferStrategy _bufstrat;
+}
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/media/FrameManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/media/FrameManager.java
index f90cb2085..054507549 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/media/FrameManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/media/FrameManager.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: FrameManager.java,v 1.36 2003/04/19 01:04:29 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: FrameManager.java,v 1.37 2003/04/26 17:56:25 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.media;
 
@@ -11,10 +11,7 @@ import java.awt.Dimension;
 import java.awt.Font;
 import java.awt.FontMetrics;
 import java.awt.Graphics2D;
-import java.awt.Graphics;
-import java.awt.GraphicsConfiguration;
 import java.awt.GraphicsDevice;
-import java.awt.Image;
 import java.awt.KeyEventDispatcher;
 import java.awt.KeyboardFocusManager;
 import java.awt.Rectangle;
@@ -26,15 +23,8 @@ import java.awt.event.KeyEvent;
 import java.awt.event.WindowEvent;
 import java.awt.event.WindowListener;
 
-import java.awt.image.BufferStrategy;
-import java.awt.image.VolatileImage;
-
 import java.awt.EventQueue;
 
-import javax.swing.JFrame;
-import javax.swing.event.AncestorEvent;
-import javax.swing.event.AncestorListener;
-
 import java.util.Date;
 import java.util.Timer;
 import java.util.TimerTask;
@@ -43,12 +33,13 @@ import javax.swing.JComponent;
 import javax.swing.JFrame;
 import javax.swing.JLayeredPane;
 import javax.swing.RepaintManager;
+import javax.swing.event.AncestorEvent;
+import javax.swing.event.AncestorListener;
 
 import com.samskivert.swing.Label;
 import com.samskivert.util.DebugChords;
-import com.samskivert.util.Interval;
-import com.samskivert.util.IntervalManager;
 import com.samskivert.util.ObserverList;
+import com.samskivert.util.RuntimeAdjust;
 import com.samskivert.util.StringUtil;
 
 import com.threerings.media.timer.MediaTimer;
@@ -106,7 +97,7 @@ import com.threerings.media.timer.SystemMediaTimer;
  * SafeScrollPane} or set your scroll panes' viewports to
  * <code>SIMPLE_SCROLL_MODE</code>.
  */
-public class FrameManager
+public abstract class FrameManager
 {
     /** {@link FrameParticipant}s can implement this interface and be
      * added to the performance display. */
@@ -122,11 +113,11 @@ public class FrameManager
      * obtain timing information, which is available on every platform,
      * but returns inaccurate time stamps on many platforms.
      *
-     * @see #FrameManager(JFrame, MediaTimer)
+     * @see #newInstance(JFrame, MediaTimer)
      */
-    public FrameManager (JFrame frame)
+    public static FrameManager newInstance (JFrame frame)
     {
-        this(frame, new SystemMediaTimer());
+        return newInstance(frame, new SystemMediaTimer());
     }
 
     /**
@@ -138,7 +129,24 @@ public class FrameManager
      *
      * @see GraphicsDevice#setFullScreenWindow
      */
-    public FrameManager (JFrame frame, MediaTimer timer)
+    public static FrameManager newInstance (JFrame frame, MediaTimer timer)
+    {
+        FrameManager fmgr;
+        if (_useFlip.getValue()) {
+            Log.info("Creating flip frame manager.");
+            fmgr = new FlipFrameManager();
+        } else {
+            Log.info("Creating back frame manager.");
+            fmgr = new BackFrameManager();
+        }
+        fmgr.init(frame, timer);
+        return fmgr;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Initializes this frame manager and prepares it for operation.
+     */
+    protected void init (JFrame frame, MediaTimer timer)
     {
         _frame = frame;
         if (frame instanceof ManagedJFrame) {
@@ -338,8 +346,8 @@ public class FrameManager
             _frame.getWidth() > 0 && _frame.getHeight() > 0) {
             // tick our participants
             tickParticipants(tickStamp);
-            // repaint our participants
-            paintParticipants(tickStamp);
+            // repaint our participants and components
+            paint(tickStamp);
         }
     }
 
@@ -378,103 +386,46 @@ public class FrameManager
 
     /**
      * Called once per frame to invoke {@link Component#paint} on all of
-     * our frame participants' components.
+     * our frame participants' components and all dirty components managed
+     * by our {@link FrameRepaintManager}.
      */
-    protected void paintParticipants (long tickStamp)
+    protected abstract void paint (long tickStamp);
+
+    /**
+     * Paints our frame participants and any dirty components via the
+     * repaint manager.
+     *
+     * @return true if anything was painted, false if not.
+     */
+    protected boolean paint (Graphics2D gfx)
     {
-//         // create our buffer strategy if we don't already have one
-//         if (_bufstrat == null) {
-//             _frame.createBufferStrategy(2);
-//             _bufstrat = _frame.getBufferStrategy();
-//         }
+        // paint our frame participants (which want to be handled
+        // specially)
+        _participantPaintOp.init(gfx);
+        _participants.apply(_participantPaintOp);
+        boolean ppart = _participantPaintOp.paintedSomething();
 
-        // start out assuming we can do an incremental render
-        boolean incremental = true;
-
-        do {
-            GraphicsConfiguration gc = _frame.getGraphicsConfiguration();
-
-            // create our off-screen buffer if necessary
-            if (_backimg == null || _backimg.getWidth() != _frame.getWidth() ||
-                _backimg.getHeight() != _frame.getHeight()) {
-                createBackBuffer(gc);
-            }
-
-            // make sure our back buffer hasn't disappeared
-            int valres = _backimg.validate(gc);
-
-            // if we've changed resolutions, recreate the buffer
-            if (valres == VolatileImage.IMAGE_INCOMPATIBLE) {
-//                 Log.info("Back buffer incompatible, recreating.");
-                createBackBuffer(gc);
-            }
-
-            // if the image wasn't A-OK, we need to rerender the whole
-            // business rather than just the dirty parts
-            if (valres != VolatileImage.IMAGE_OK) {
-//                 Log.info("Lost back buffer, redrawing.");
-                incremental = false;
-            }
-
-//             g = _bufstrat.getDrawGraphics();
-
-            // dirty everything if we're not incrementally rendering
-            if (!incremental) {
-                _frame.update(_bgfx);
-            }
-
-            // paint our frame participants (which want to be handled
-            // specially)
-            _participantPaintOp.init(_bgfx);
-            _participants.apply(_participantPaintOp);
-            boolean ppart = _participantPaintOp.paintedSomething();
-
-            // repaint any widgets that have declared they need to be
-            // repainted since the last tick
-            boolean pcomp = _remgr.paintComponents(_bgfx, this);
-
-            // if we didn't paint anything, get the fork out of dodge
-            if (!(ppart || pcomp)) {
-                return;
-            }
+        // repaint any widgets that have declared they need to be
+        // repainted since the last tick
+        boolean pcomp = _remgr.paintComponents(gfx, this);
 
+        if (ppart || pcomp) {
             if (_displayPerf && _perfLabel != null) {
                 // render the current performance status
-                _bgfx.setClip(null);
-                _perfLabel.render((Graphics2D)_bgfx, FPS_X, FPS_Y);
+                gfx.setClip(null);
+                _perfLabel.render(gfx, FPS_X, FPS_Y);
             }
+        }
 
-            // we cache our frame's graphics object so that we can avoid
-            // instantiating a new one on every tick
-            if (_fgfx == null) {
-                _fgfx = _frame.getGraphics();
-            }
-            _fgfx.drawImage(_backimg, 0, 0, null);
-
-//             _bufstrat.show();
-
-            // if we loop through a second time, we'll need to rerender
-            // everything
-            incremental = false;
-
-        } while (_backimg.contentsLost());
+        // let the caller know if anybody painted anything
+        return (ppart || pcomp);
     }
 
     /**
      * Called by the {@link ManagedJFrame} when our window was hidden and
      * reexposed.
      */
-    protected void restoreFromBack (Rectangle dirty)
-    {
-        if (_fgfx == null) {
-            _fgfx = _frame.getGraphics();
-        }
-//         Log.info("Restoring from back buffer " +
-//                  StringUtil.toString(dirty) + ".");
-        _fgfx.setClip(dirty);
-        _fgfx.drawImage(_backimg, 0, 0, null);
-        _fgfx.setClip(null);
-    }
+    protected abstract void restoreFromBack (Rectangle dirty);
 
     /**
      * If frame rate display is enabled, builds beginning of performance
@@ -509,17 +460,15 @@ public class FrameManager
         _perfLabel.setText(_perfStatus.toString());
         _perfStatus = null;
 
-        if (_bgfx == null) {
-            return;
-        }
-
         // dirty our previous bounds
         JComponent comp = (JComponent)_frame.getRootPane();
         Dimension lsize = _perfLabel.getSize();
         _remgr.addDirtyRegion(comp, FPS_X, FPS_Y, lsize.width, lsize.height);
 
         // re-layout our status label
-        _perfLabel.layout((Graphics2D)_bgfx);
+        Graphics2D gfx = (Graphics2D)_frame.getGraphics();
+        _perfLabel.layout(gfx);
+        gfx.dispose();
 
         // dirty our new bounds
         lsize = _perfLabel.getSize();
@@ -530,8 +479,8 @@ public class FrameManager
      * Renders all components in all {@link JLayeredPane} layers that
      * intersect the supplied bounds.
      */
-    protected void renderLayers (Graphics g, Component pcomp, Rectangle bounds, 
-                                 boolean[] clipped)
+    protected void renderLayers (Graphics2D g, Component pcomp,
+                                 Rectangle bounds, boolean[] clipped)
     {
         JLayeredPane lpane =
             JLayeredPane.getLayeredPaneAbove(pcomp);
@@ -547,8 +496,9 @@ public class FrameManager
      * Renders all components in the specified layer of the supplied
      * layered pane that intersect the supplied bounds.
      */
-    protected void renderLayer (Graphics g, Rectangle bounds, JLayeredPane pane,
-                                boolean[] clipped, Integer layer)
+    protected void renderLayer (Graphics2D g, Rectangle bounds,
+                                JLayeredPane pane, boolean[] clipped,
+                                Integer layer)
     {
         // stop now if there are no components in that layer
         int ccount = pane.getComponentCountInLayer(layer.intValue());
@@ -586,36 +536,6 @@ public class FrameManager
         Log.info("Frames in last second: " + ticks);
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Creates the off-screen buffer used to perform double buffered
-     * rendering of the animated panel.
-     */
-    protected void createBackBuffer (GraphicsConfiguration gc)
-    {
-        // if we have an old image, clear it out
-        if (_backimg != null) {
-            _backimg.flush();
-            _bgfx.dispose();
-        }
-
-        // create the offscreen buffer
-        int width = _frame.getWidth(), height = _frame.getHeight();
-        _backimg = gc.createCompatibleVolatileImage(width, height);
-
-        // fill the back buffer with white
-        _bgfx = _backimg.getGraphics();
-        _bgfx.fillRect(0, 0, width, height);
-
-        // clear out our frame graphics in case that became invalid for
-        // the same reasons our back buffer became invalid
-        if (_fgfx != null) {
-            _fgfx.dispose();
-            _fgfx = null;
-        }
-
-//         Log.info("Created back buffer [" + width + "x" + height + "].");
-    }
-
     /**
      * Returns the root component for the supplied component or null if it
      * is not part of a rooted hierarchy or if any parent along the way is
@@ -708,7 +628,7 @@ public class FrameManager
          * Sets the graphics context to which the frame participants
          * render themselves.
          */
-        public void init (Graphics g)
+        public void init (Graphics2D g)
         {
             _g = g;
             _painted = 0;
@@ -788,7 +708,7 @@ public class FrameManager
         }
 
         /** The graphics context to which the participants render. */
-        protected Graphics _g;
+        protected Graphics2D _g;
 
         /** The number of participants that were actually painted. */
         protected int _painted;
@@ -865,12 +785,6 @@ public class FrameManager
     /** Our custom repaint manager. */
     protected FrameRepaintManager _remgr;
 
-//     /** The buffer strategy used to do our rendering. */
-//     protected BufferStrategy _bufstrat;
-
-    /** The image used to render off-screen. */
-    protected VolatileImage _backimg;
-
     /** The number of milliseconds per frame (14 by default, which gives
      * an fps of ~71). */
     protected long _millisPerFrame = 14;
@@ -884,12 +798,6 @@ public class FrameManager
     /** Used to track and report frames per second. */
     protected float[] _fps = new float[2];
 
-    /** The graphics object from our back buffer. */
-    protected Graphics _bgfx;
-
-    /** The graphics object from our frame. */
-    protected Graphics _fgfx;
-
     /** Used to avoid creating rectangles when rendering layered
      * components. */
     protected Rectangle _lbounds = new Rectangle();
@@ -938,6 +846,14 @@ public class FrameManager
     /** The y-coordinate at which the frames per second is rendered. */
     protected static final int FPS_Y = 27;
 
+    /** A debug hook that toggles debug rendering of sprite paths. */
+    protected static RuntimeAdjust.BooleanAdjust _useFlip =
+        new RuntimeAdjust.BooleanAdjust(
+            "When active a flip-buffer will be used to manage our " +
+            "rendering, otherwise a volatile back buffer is used " +
+            "[requires restart]", "narya.media.frame",
+            MediaPrefs.config, false);
+
     /** A debug hook that allows toggling the frame rate display. */
     protected DebugChords.Hook FPS_DISPLAY_HOOK = new DebugChords.Hook() {
         public void invoke () {
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/media/FrameRepaintManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/media/FrameRepaintManager.java
index dd2b76e36..004f27031 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/media/FrameRepaintManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/media/FrameRepaintManager.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: FrameRepaintManager.java,v 1.18 2003/04/02 03:59:17 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: FrameRepaintManager.java,v 1.19 2003/04/26 17:56:26 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.media;
 
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import java.applet.Applet;
 import java.awt.Component;
 import java.awt.Font;
 import java.awt.Frame;
+import java.awt.Graphics2D;
 import java.awt.Graphics;
 import java.awt.Image;
 import java.awt.Rectangle;
@@ -384,7 +385,7 @@ public class FrameRepaintManager extends RepaintManager
 
                 // we also need to repaint any components in this layer
                 // that are above our freshly repainted component
-                fmgr.renderLayers(g, ocomp, _cbounds, _clipped);
+                fmgr.renderLayers((Graphics2D)g, ocomp, _cbounds, _clipped);
 
             } else if (root != null) {
                 if (DEBUG) {
diff --git a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/media/util/PathViz.java b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/media/util/PathViz.java
index a254b2a39..91f5195d6 100644
--- a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/media/util/PathViz.java
+++ b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/media/util/PathViz.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: PathViz.java,v 1.2 2002/09/18 20:09:55 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: PathViz.java,v 1.3 2003/04/26 17:56:26 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.media.util;
 
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ public class PathViz extends MediaPanel
     public static void main (String[] args)
     {
         ManagedJFrame frame = new ManagedJFrame("Path viz");
-        FrameManager fmgr = new FrameManager(frame);
+        FrameManager fmgr = FrameManager.newInstance(frame);
 
         frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
         frame.setContentPane(new PathViz(fmgr));
diff --git a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/miso/client/ScrollingTestApp.java b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/miso/client/ScrollingTestApp.java
index ecf174dc6..0defce360 100644
--- a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/miso/client/ScrollingTestApp.java
+++ b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/miso/client/ScrollingTestApp.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: ScrollingTestApp.java,v 1.22 2003/04/25 15:52:25 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: ScrollingTestApp.java,v 1.23 2003/04/26 17:56:26 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.miso.client;
 
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ public class ScrollingTestApp
 	_frame = new ScrollingFrame(gc);
 
         // set up our frame manager
-        _framemgr = new FrameManager(_frame);
+        _framemgr = FrameManager.newInstance(_frame);
 
         // we don't need to configure anything
         ResourceManager rmgr = new ResourceManager("rsrc");
diff --git a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/miso/viewer/ViewerApp.java b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/miso/viewer/ViewerApp.java
index d7b31d7ea..ea75001bc 100644
--- a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/miso/viewer/ViewerApp.java
+++ b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/miso/viewer/ViewerApp.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: ViewerApp.java,v 1.38 2003/04/17 19:21:17 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: ViewerApp.java,v 1.39 2003/04/26 17:56:26 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.miso.viewer;
 
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ public class ViewerApp
 
         // create the window
 	_frame = new ViewerFrame(gc);
-        _framemgr = new FrameManager(_frame);
+        _framemgr = FrameManager.newInstance(_frame);
 
         // we don't need to configure anything
         ResourceManager rmgr = new ResourceManager("rsrc");