diff --git a/renderer/src/render_graph/compiler.rs b/renderer/src/render_graph/compiler.rs
index c618a86..d5aa24d 100644
--- a/renderer/src/render_graph/compiler.rs
+++ b/renderer/src/render_graph/compiler.rs
@@ -136,6 +136,14 @@ fn color(value: [f32; 4], min: f32, max: f32, base: &str) -> Result<[f32; 3], Gr
 
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Hash, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord)]
 struct OutputKey(usize, u16);
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Hash, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord)]
+enum TransitionTargetKey {
+    Authored(OutputKey),
+    CompilerDefaultInput {
+        owner_node: usize,
+        input_ordinal: u16,
+    },
+}
 #[derive(Clone, Copy)]
 struct BoundInput {
     producer: OutputKey,
@@ -155,7 +163,7 @@ struct DependencyEdge {
 struct TextureTransition {
     writer_node: usize,
     input_socket: &'static str,
-    target: OutputKey,
+    target: TransitionTargetKey,
     output: OutputKey,
 }
 
@@ -164,11 +172,74 @@ enum ResolvedTransition {
     Resolved {
         family: u32,
         version: u32,
-        target: OutputKey,
+        target: TransitionTargetKey,
     },
     Cyclic,
 }
 
+#[derive(Clone)]
+struct DefaultDraft {
+    key: TransitionTargetKey,
+    resource: u32,
+    family: u32,
+    owner_node: usize,
+    input_ordinal: u16,
+    socket: &'static str,
+    role: CompilerTextureRole,
+    format: TextureFormat,
+    descriptor: DraftDescriptor,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone)]
+enum DraftDescriptor {
+    Deferred,
+    Known(NormalizedTextureDescriptor),
+}
+
+enum SampledDescriptor<'a> {
+    Known(&'a NormalizedTextureDescriptor),
+    Deferred,
+    Unproduced,
+}
+
+fn known_family_descriptor<'a>(
+    family: u32,
+    authored_families: &'a [TextureFamily],
+    drafts: &'a [DefaultDraft],
+) -> Option<&'a NormalizedTextureDescriptor> {
+    if let Some(family) = authored_families.get(family as usize) {
+        return Some(family_descriptor(family));
+    }
+    let draft = drafts.get(family as usize - authored_families.len())?;
+    match &draft.descriptor {
+        DraftDescriptor::Known(descriptor) => Some(descriptor),
+        DraftDescriptor::Deferred => None,
+    }
+}
+
+fn sampled_descriptor<'a>(
+    key: OutputKey,
+    version_of: &HashMap<OutputKey, (u32, u32, u32)>,
+    resolved: &HashMap<OutputKey, ResolvedTransition>,
+    authored_families: &'a [TextureFamily],
+    drafts: &'a [DefaultDraft],
+) -> Result<SampledDescriptor<'a>, GraphError> {
+    if let Some(&(family, _, _)) = version_of.get(&key) {
+        return Ok(known_family_descriptor(family, authored_families, drafts)
+            .map(SampledDescriptor::Known)
+            .unwrap_or(SampledDescriptor::Deferred));
+    }
+    match resolved.get(&key) {
+        Some(ResolvedTransition::Cyclic) => Ok(SampledDescriptor::Deferred),
+        Some(ResolvedTransition::Resolved { .. }) => Err(error(
+            "GRAPH_RESOURCE_VERSION_INVALID",
+            "resolved texture has no version",
+            "resources",
+        )),
+        None => Ok(SampledDescriptor::Unproduced),
+    }
+}
+
 fn reaches(
     from: usize,
     to: usize,
@@ -1037,7 +1108,12 @@ pub fn compile(graph: Graph) -> Result<CompiledGraph, GraphError> {
             }
         }
     }
-    let all_outputs: usize = contracts.iter().map(|c| c.outputs.len()).sum();
+    let all_outputs: usize = contracts
+        .iter()
+        .flat_map(|contract| contract.outputs)
+        .filter(|output| !output.semantic_type.is_virtual())
+        .count();
+    let authored_materialized_output_count = output_ids.len();
 
     // Establish families and transitions without relying on a schedule.
     let mut families = Vec::new();
@@ -1054,7 +1130,7 @@ pub fn compile(graph: Graph) -> Result<CompiledGraph, GraphError> {
             } => {
                 let id = families.len() as u32;
                 let r = source.unwrap();
-                source_family.insert(OutputKey(i, 0), id);
+                source_family.insert(TransitionTargetKey::Authored(OutputKey(i, 0)), id);
                 families.push(TextureFamily {
                     id,
                     key: TextureFamilyKey {
@@ -1079,8 +1155,72 @@ pub fn compile(graph: Graph) -> Result<CompiledGraph, GraphError> {
             _ => {}
         }
     }
+
+    // Reserve compiler-owned roots without exposing incomplete public plan entries.
+    // IDs remain stable while effective families and descriptors are resolved.
+    let full_extent = NormalizedTextureExtent::SurfaceRelative {
+        width: Ratio {
+            numerator: 1,
+            denominator: 1,
+        },
+        height: Ratio {
+            numerator: 1,
+            denominator: 1,
+        },
+        depth_or_array_layers: 1,
+    };
+    let authored_family_count = families.len();
+    let mut default_roots: Vec<DefaultDraft> = Vec::new();
+    let mut default_targets = HashMap::new();
+    for i in 0..graph.nodes.len() {
+        if !live.contains(&i) || contracts[i].key != "pipeline" {
+            continue;
+        }
+        for (input_ordinal, (socket, role, format, opposite)) in [
+            (
+                "colorTarget",
+                CompilerTextureRole::ColorTarget,
+                TextureFormat::Rgba16Float,
+                "depthTarget",
+            ),
+            (
+                "depthTarget",
+                CompilerTextureRole::DepthTarget,
+                TextureFormat::Depth32Float,
+                "colorTarget",
+            ),
+        ]
+        .into_iter()
+        .enumerate()
+        {
+            if bound[i].contains_key(socket) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            let input_ordinal = input_ordinal as u16 + 2;
+            let key = TransitionTargetKey::CompilerDefaultInput {
+                owner_node: i,
+                input_ordinal,
+            };
+            let resource = (authored_materialized_output_count + default_roots.len()) as u32;
+            let family = (authored_family_count + default_roots.len()) as u32;
+            default_targets.insert((i, socket), key);
+            source_family.insert(key, family);
+            let _ = opposite;
+            default_roots.push(DefaultDraft {
+                key,
+                resource,
+                family,
+                owner_node: i,
+                input_ordinal,
+                socket,
+                role,
+                format,
+                descriptor: DraftDescriptor::Deferred,
+            });
+        }
+    }
     let mut transitions: Vec<TextureTransition> = Vec::new();
-    let mut transitions_by_target: BTreeMap<OutputKey, Vec<usize>> = BTreeMap::new();
+    let mut transitions_by_target: BTreeMap<TransitionTargetKey, Vec<usize>> = BTreeMap::new();
     for i in 0..graph.nodes.len() {
         if !live.contains(&i) {
             continue;
@@ -1094,7 +1234,10 @@ pub fn compile(graph: Graph) -> Result<CompiledGraph, GraphError> {
             let transition = TextureTransition {
                 writer_node: i,
                 input_socket,
-                target: bound[i][input_socket].producer,
+                target: bound[i]
+                    .get(input_socket)
+                    .map(|b| TransitionTargetKey::Authored(b.producer))
+                    .unwrap_or_else(|| default_targets[&(i, input_socket)]),
                 output: OutputKey(i, output_ordinal),
             };
             let index = transitions.len();
@@ -1110,7 +1253,7 @@ pub fn compile(graph: Graph) -> Result<CompiledGraph, GraphError> {
         output: OutputKey,
         transitions: &[TextureTransition],
         transition_for_output: &HashMap<OutputKey, usize>,
-        source_family: &HashMap<OutputKey, u32>,
+        source_family: &HashMap<TransitionTargetKey, u32>,
         colors: &mut HashMap<OutputKey, u8>,
         resolved: &mut HashMap<OutputKey, ResolvedTransition>,
     ) -> ResolvedTransition {
@@ -1128,23 +1271,27 @@ pub fn compile(graph: Graph) -> Result<CompiledGraph, GraphError> {
                 version: 0,
                 target: transition.target,
             }
-        } else if transition_for_output.contains_key(&transition.target) {
-            match resolve_transition(
-                transition.target,
-                transitions,
-                transition_for_output,
-                source_family,
-                colors,
-                resolved,
-            ) {
-                ResolvedTransition::Resolved {
-                    family, version, ..
-                } => ResolvedTransition::Resolved {
-                    family,
-                    version: version + 1,
-                    target: transition.target,
-                },
-                ResolvedTransition::Cyclic => ResolvedTransition::Cyclic,
+        } else if let TransitionTargetKey::Authored(target_output) = transition.target {
+            if !transition_for_output.contains_key(&target_output) {
+                ResolvedTransition::Cyclic
+            } else {
+                match resolve_transition(
+                    target_output,
+                    transitions,
+                    transition_for_output,
+                    source_family,
+                    colors,
+                    resolved,
+                ) {
+                    ResolvedTransition::Resolved {
+                        family, version, ..
+                    } => ResolvedTransition::Resolved {
+                        family,
+                        version: version + 1,
+                        target: transition.target,
+                    },
+                    ResolvedTransition::Cyclic => ResolvedTransition::Cyclic,
+                }
             }
         } else {
             ResolvedTransition::Cyclic
@@ -1179,7 +1326,16 @@ pub fn compile(graph: Graph) -> Result<CompiledGraph, GraphError> {
             target,
         } = resolved[&transition.output]
         {
-            let target_id = output_ids[&target];
+            let target_id = match target {
+                TransitionTargetKey::Authored(key) => output_ids[&key],
+                TransitionTargetKey::CompilerDefaultInput { .. } => {
+                    default_roots
+                        .iter()
+                        .find(|root| root.key == target)
+                        .unwrap()
+                        .resource
+                }
+            };
             version_of.insert(transition.output, (family, version, target_id));
         }
     }
@@ -1217,7 +1373,8 @@ pub fn compile(graph: Graph) -> Result<CompiledGraph, GraphError> {
             if !version_of.contains_key(&key) {
                 continue;
             }
-            let Some(next_indices) = transitions_by_target.get(&key) else {
+            let Some(next_indices) = transitions_by_target.get(&TransitionTargetKey::Authored(key))
+            else {
                 continue;
             };
             let [next_index] = next_indices.as_slice() else {
@@ -1249,7 +1406,9 @@ pub fn compile(graph: Graph) -> Result<CompiledGraph, GraphError> {
             continue;
         }
         if contracts[i].key == "pipeline" {
-            if bound[i]["colorTarget"].producer == bound[i]["depthTarget"].producer
+            if bound[i].get("colorTarget").map(|b| b.producer)
+                == bound[i].get("depthTarget").map(|b| b.producer)
+                && bound[i].contains_key("colorTarget")
                 || matches!((version_of.get(&OutputKey(i, 0)), version_of.get(&OutputKey(i, 1))), (Some((cf, _, _)), Some((df, _, _))) if cf == df)
             {
                 return Err(error(
@@ -1286,32 +1445,48 @@ pub fn compile(graph: Graph) -> Result<CompiledGraph, GraphError> {
         }
     }
 
-    // Materialize versions only after hazard and writer precedence has been settled.
-    for transition in &transitions {
-        if let Some(&(family, version, target)) = version_of.get(&transition.output) {
-            families[family as usize].versions.push(TextureVersion {
-                version,
-                resource: output_ids[&transition.output],
-                target,
-                initialized: true,
-                stored: true,
-                lifetime: Lifetime {
-                    first_use: 0,
-                    last_use: 0,
-                },
-            });
-        }
-    }
-    for family in &mut families {
-        family.versions.sort_by_key(|version| version.version);
-        for (index, version) in family.versions.iter().enumerate() {
-            if version.version != index as u32 {
-                return Err(error(
-                    "GRAPH_RESOURCE_VERSION_INVALID",
-                    "texture versions must form a dense linear chain",
-                    "resources",
-                ));
+    // Infer draft descriptors without recursion. Unknown and invalid dependencies
+    // remain deferred so descriptor diagnostics never steal cycle diagnostics.
+    for _ in 0..default_roots.len() {
+        let mut changed = false;
+        for index in 0..default_roots.len() {
+            if matches!(default_roots[index].descriptor, DraftDescriptor::Known(_)) {
+                continue;
             }
+            let owner = default_roots[index].owner_node;
+            let opposite_output = if default_roots[index].role == CompilerTextureRole::ColorTarget {
+                OutputKey(owner, 1)
+            } else {
+                OutputKey(owner, 0)
+            };
+            let Some(&(opposite_family, _, _)) = version_of.get(&opposite_output) else {
+                continue;
+            };
+            let extent = if opposite_family as usize >= authored_family_count
+                && default_roots
+                    .get(opposite_family as usize - authored_family_count)
+                    .is_some_and(|draft| draft.owner_node == owner)
+            {
+                Some(full_extent.clone())
+            } else {
+                known_family_descriptor(opposite_family, &families, &default_roots)
+                    .map(|descriptor| descriptor.extent.clone())
+            };
+            if let Some(extent) = extent {
+                default_roots[index].descriptor =
+                    DraftDescriptor::Known(NormalizedTextureDescriptor {
+                        dimension: TextureDimension::D2,
+                        format: default_roots[index].format,
+                        extent,
+                        mip_level_count: 1,
+                        sample_count: 1,
+                        view_formats: vec![],
+                    });
+                changed = true;
+            }
+        }
+        if !changed {
+            break;
         }
     }
 
@@ -1320,102 +1495,146 @@ pub fn compile(graph: Graph) -> Result<CompiledGraph, GraphError> {
         if !live.contains(&i) || contracts[i].key != "pipeline" {
             continue;
         }
-        let (Some(&(cf, _, _)), Some(&(df, _, _))) = (
-            version_of.get(&OutputKey(i, 0)),
-            version_of.get(&OutputKey(i, 1)),
-        ) else {
-            continue;
-        };
-        let TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture { descriptor: cd, .. } =
-            &families[cf as usize].source;
-        let TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture { descriptor: dd, .. } =
-            &families[df as usize].source;
-        let ok_depth = dd.dimension == TextureDimension::D2
-            && dd.format == TextureFormat::Depth32Float
-            && dd.sample_count == 1
-            && extent_layers(&dd.extent) == 1;
-        let ok_color = cd.format != TextureFormat::Depth32Float
-            && cd.dimension == dd.dimension
-            && cd.extent == dd.extent
-            && cd.sample_count == 1;
-        if !ok_depth || !ok_color {
+        let cd = version_of
+            .get(&OutputKey(i, 0))
+            .and_then(|&(family, _, _)| known_family_descriptor(family, &families, &default_roots));
+        let dd = version_of
+            .get(&OutputKey(i, 1))
+            .and_then(|&(family, _, _)| known_family_descriptor(family, &families, &default_roots));
+        let ok_depth = dd.is_none_or(|dd| {
+            dd.dimension == TextureDimension::D2
+                && dd.format == TextureFormat::Depth32Float
+                && dd.sample_count == 1
+                && dd.mip_level_count == 1
+                && dd.view_formats.is_empty()
+                && extent_layers(&dd.extent) == 1
+        });
+        let ok_color = cd.is_none_or(|cd| {
+            cd.dimension == TextureDimension::D2
+                && cd.format != TextureFormat::Depth32Float
+                && cd.sample_count == 1
+                && cd.mip_level_count == 1
+                && cd.view_formats.is_empty()
+                && extent_layers(&cd.extent) == 1
+        });
+        if !ok_color {
             return Err(error(
                 "GRAPH_ILLEGAL_ACCESS",
-                "attachments are incompatible",
-                format!("nodes[{i}].inputs"),
+                "color attachment is invalid",
+                format!("nodes[{i}].inputs.colorTarget"),
             ));
         }
+        if !ok_depth {
+            return Err(error(
+                "GRAPH_ILLEGAL_ACCESS",
+                "depth attachment is invalid",
+                format!("nodes[{i}].inputs.depthTarget"),
+            ));
+        }
+        if let (Some(cd), Some(dd)) = (cd, dd) {
+            if cd.dimension != dd.dimension
+                || cd.extent != dd.extent
+                || cd.sample_count != dd.sample_count
+            {
+                return Err(error(
+                    "GRAPH_ILLEGAL_ACCESS",
+                    "attachments are incompatible",
+                    format!("nodes[{i}].inputs"),
+                ));
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     for i in 0..graph.nodes.len() {
         if !live.contains(&i) || contracts[i].fullscreen_policy.is_none() {
             continue;
         }
-        let source_key = bound[i]["source"].producer;
-        let Some(&(source_family_id, _, _)) = version_of.get(&source_key) else {
+        let source = sampled_descriptor(
+            bound[i]["source"].producer,
+            &version_of,
+            &resolved,
+            &families,
+            &default_roots,
+        )?;
+        let source_descriptor = match source {
+            SampledDescriptor::Known(descriptor) => Some(descriptor),
+            SampledDescriptor::Deferred | SampledDescriptor::Unproduced => None,
+        };
+        let target_family_id = version_of
+            .get(&OutputKey(i, 0))
+            .map(|&(family, _, _)| family)
+            .or_else(|| {
+                source_family
+                    .get(&TransitionTargetKey::Authored(
+                        bound[i]["colorTarget"].producer,
+                    ))
+                    .copied()
+            });
+        let target_descriptor = target_family_id
+            .and_then(|family| known_family_descriptor(family, &families, &default_roots));
+        let bloom = if contracts[i].fullscreen_policy == Some(FullscreenPolicy::BloomComposite) {
+            Some(sampled_descriptor(
+                bound[i]["bloom"].producer,
+                &version_of,
+                &resolved,
+                &families,
+                &default_roots,
+            )?)
+        } else {
+            None
+        };
+        let bloom_descriptor = match &bloom {
+            Some(SampledDescriptor::Known(descriptor)) => Some(*descriptor),
+            _ => None,
+        };
+        let source_ok = source_descriptor.is_none_or(|descriptor| {
+            descriptor.format == TextureFormat::Rgba16Float && is_single_view_d2(descriptor)
+        });
+        let target_ok = target_descriptor.is_none_or(|descriptor| {
+            is_single_view_d2(descriptor)
+                && match contracts[i].fullscreen_policy {
+                    Some(FullscreenPolicy::Copy) => {
+                        descriptor.format != TextureFormat::Depth32Float
+                    }
+                    Some(FullscreenPolicy::BloomExtract)
+                    | Some(FullscreenPolicy::HdrSameExtent)
+                    | Some(FullscreenPolicy::BloomComposite) => {
+                        descriptor.format == TextureFormat::Rgba16Float
+                    }
+                    _ => false,
+                }
+        });
+        let bloom_ok = bloom_descriptor.is_none_or(|descriptor| {
+            descriptor.format == TextureFormat::Rgba16Float && is_single_view_d2(descriptor)
+        });
+        let extent_ok = match contracts[i].fullscreen_policy {
+            Some(FullscreenPolicy::Copy)
+            | Some(FullscreenPolicy::HdrSameExtent)
+            | Some(FullscreenPolicy::BloomComposite) => {
+                !matches!((source_descriptor, target_descriptor), (Some(source), Some(target)) if source.extent != target.extent)
+            }
+            Some(FullscreenPolicy::BloomExtract) => true,
+            _ => false,
+        };
+        if !source_ok || !target_ok || !bloom_ok || !extent_ok {
+            return Err(error(
+                "GRAPH_ILLEGAL_ACCESS",
+                "fullscreen textures are incompatible",
+                format!("nodes[{i}].inputs"),
+            ));
+        }
+        if matches!(source, SampledDescriptor::Unproduced) {
             return Err(error(
                 "GRAPH_UNINITIALIZED_RESOURCE",
                 "copy source is not produced",
                 format!("nodes[{i}].inputs.source"),
             ));
-        };
-        let Some(&(target_family_id, _, _)) = version_of.get(&OutputKey(i, 0)) else {
-            continue;
-        };
-        let source_descriptor = match &families[source_family_id as usize].source {
-            TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture { descriptor, .. } => descriptor,
-        };
-        let source_ok = source_descriptor.format == TextureFormat::Rgba16Float
-            && is_single_view_d2(source_descriptor);
-        let target_descriptor = match &families[target_family_id as usize].source {
-            TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture { descriptor, .. } => Some(descriptor),
-        };
-        let authored_target_ok = target_descriptor.is_some_and(|descriptor| {
-            descriptor.format == TextureFormat::Rgba16Float && is_single_view_d2(descriptor)
-        });
-        let bloom_input_ok = if contracts[i].fullscreen_policy
-            == Some(FullscreenPolicy::BloomComposite)
-        {
-            let bloom_key = bound[i]["bloom"].producer;
-            let Some(&(bloom_family_id, _, _)) = version_of.get(&bloom_key) else {
-                return Err(error(
-                    "GRAPH_UNINITIALIZED_RESOURCE",
-                    "bloom source is not produced",
-                    format!("nodes[{i}].inputs.bloom"),
-                ));
-            };
-            match &families[bloom_family_id as usize].source {
-                TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture { descriptor, .. } => {
-                    descriptor.format == TextureFormat::Rgba16Float && is_single_view_d2(descriptor)
-                }
-            }
-        } else {
-            true
-        };
-        let source_is_full_surface = matches!(&source_descriptor.extent, NormalizedTextureExtent::SurfaceRelative { width, height, depth_or_array_layers: 1 } if *width == Ratio { numerator:1, denominator:1 } && *height == Ratio { numerator:1, denominator:1 });
-        let target_matches_source = target_descriptor
-            .is_some_and(|descriptor| descriptor.extent == source_descriptor.extent);
-        let descriptor_ok = match contracts[i].fullscreen_policy {
-            Some(FullscreenPolicy::Copy) => {
-                target_descriptor.is_none() && source_is_full_surface
-                    || target_descriptor.is_some_and(|descriptor| {
-                        descriptor.format != TextureFormat::Depth32Float
-                            && is_single_view_d2(descriptor)
-                            && descriptor.extent == source_descriptor.extent
-                    })
-            }
-            Some(FullscreenPolicy::BloomExtract) => authored_target_ok,
-            Some(FullscreenPolicy::HdrSameExtent) => authored_target_ok && target_matches_source,
-            Some(FullscreenPolicy::BloomComposite) => {
-                authored_target_ok && target_matches_source && bloom_input_ok
-            }
-            _ => false,
-        };
-        if !source_ok || !descriptor_ok {
+        }
+        if matches!(bloom, Some(SampledDescriptor::Unproduced)) {
             return Err(error(
-                "GRAPH_ILLEGAL_ACCESS",
-                "fullscreen textures are incompatible",
-                format!("nodes[{i}].inputs"),
+                "GRAPH_UNINITIALIZED_RESOURCE",
+                "bloom source is not produced",
+                format!("nodes[{i}].inputs.bloom"),
             ));
         }
     }
@@ -1436,8 +1655,9 @@ pub fn compile(graph: Graph) -> Result<CompiledGraph, GraphError> {
             }
             continue;
         };
-        let TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture { descriptor, .. } =
-            &families[family as usize].source;
+        let Some(descriptor) = known_family_descriptor(family, &families, &default_roots) else {
+            continue;
+        };
         let NormalizedParameters::FrameOut { dynamic_range, .. } = &params[i] else {
             unreachable!()
         };
@@ -1569,6 +1789,9 @@ pub fn compile(graph: Graph) -> Result<CompiledGraph, GraphError> {
     if transitions
         .iter()
         .any(|transition| matches!(resolved[&transition.output], ResolvedTransition::Cyclic))
+        || default_roots
+            .iter()
+            .any(|draft| matches!(draft.descriptor, DraftDescriptor::Deferred))
     {
         return Err(error(
             "GRAPH_RESOURCE_VERSION_INVALID",
@@ -1577,6 +1800,64 @@ pub fn compile(graph: Graph) -> Result<CompiledGraph, GraphError> {
         ));
     }
 
+    for draft in &default_roots {
+        let DraftDescriptor::Known(descriptor) = &draft.descriptor else {
+            unreachable!("deferred drafts rejected above")
+        };
+        families.push(TextureFamily {
+            id: draft.family,
+            key: TextureFamilyKey {
+                source_node: draft.owner_node as u32,
+                source_socket: draft.input_ordinal,
+            },
+            source: TextureFamilySource::CompilerDefaultInput {
+                resource: draft.resource,
+                owner_node_index: draft.owner_node as u32,
+                input_ordinal: draft.input_ordinal,
+                role: draft.role,
+                descriptor: descriptor.clone(),
+            },
+            lifetime: Lifetime {
+                first_use: 0,
+                last_use: 0,
+            },
+            versions: vec![],
+            usage: vec![],
+            allocation: None,
+            aliasable: false,
+        });
+    }
+    for transition in &transitions {
+        if let Some(&(family, version, target)) = version_of.get(&transition.output) {
+            families[family as usize].versions.push(TextureVersion {
+                version,
+                resource: output_ids[&transition.output],
+                target,
+                initialized: true,
+                stored: true,
+                lifetime: Lifetime {
+                    first_use: 0,
+                    last_use: 0,
+                },
+            });
+        }
+    }
+    for family in &mut families {
+        family.versions.sort_by_key(|version| version.version);
+        if family
+            .versions
+            .iter()
+            .enumerate()
+            .any(|(index, version)| version.version != index as u32)
+        {
+            return Err(error(
+                "GRAPH_RESOURCE_VERSION_INVALID",
+                "texture versions must form a dense linear chain",
+                "resources",
+            ));
+        }
+    }
+
     let mut resources = Vec::new();
     for (i, o, out) in resource_meta {
         let key = OutputKey(i, o);
@@ -1589,7 +1870,7 @@ pub fn compile(graph: Graph) -> Result<CompiledGraph, GraphError> {
                 } = &params[i]
                 {
                     ResourcePlan::TextureSource {
-                        family: source_family[&key],
+                        family: source_family[&TransitionTargetKey::Authored(key)],
                         residency: *residency,
                         descriptor: descriptor.clone(),
                     }
@@ -1625,10 +1906,10 @@ pub fn compile(graph: Graph) -> Result<CompiledGraph, GraphError> {
         };
         resources.push(CompiledResource {
             original_node_index: i as u32,
-            output_ordinal: o,
-            origin: NodeOutputRef {
+            origin: ResourceOrigin::AuthoredOutput {
                 node: graph.nodes[i].id.clone(),
                 socket: out.name.into(),
+                output_ordinal: o,
             },
             semantic_type: out.semantic_type,
             producer_execution: None,
@@ -1637,6 +1918,28 @@ pub fn compile(graph: Graph) -> Result<CompiledGraph, GraphError> {
         });
         let _ = id;
     }
+    for draft in &default_roots {
+        let DraftDescriptor::Known(descriptor) = &draft.descriptor else {
+            unreachable!("deferred drafts rejected above")
+        };
+        resources.push(CompiledResource {
+            original_node_index: draft.owner_node as u32,
+            origin: ResourceOrigin::CompilerDefaultInput {
+                owner_node_index: draft.owner_node as u32,
+                input_ordinal: draft.input_ordinal,
+                socket: draft.socket.into(),
+                role: draft.role,
+            },
+            semantic_type: SemanticType::Texture,
+            producer_execution: None,
+            lifetime: None,
+            plan: ResourcePlan::TextureSource {
+                family: draft.family,
+                residency: TextureResidency::Transient,
+                descriptor: descriptor.clone(),
+            },
+        });
+    }
     let mut executions = Vec::new();
     for &i in &order {
         if matches!(
@@ -1647,14 +1950,26 @@ pub fn compile(graph: Graph) -> Result<CompiledGraph, GraphError> {
         }
         let input_resource = |s: &str| output_ids[&bound[i][s].producer];
         let mut inputs = Vec::new();
-        for s in contracts[i].inputs {
+        for (input_ordinal, s) in contracts[i].inputs.iter().enumerate() {
             if s.role != InputRole::Expression {
-                let Some(b) = bound[i].get(s.name) else {
+                let resource = if let Some(b) = bound[i].get(s.name) {
+                    output_ids[&b.producer]
+                } else if s.default_policy == InputDefaultPolicy::CompilerTexture {
+                    let key = TransitionTargetKey::CompilerDefaultInput {
+                        owner_node: i,
+                        input_ordinal: input_ordinal as u16,
+                    };
+                    default_roots
+                        .iter()
+                        .find(|root| root.key == key)
+                        .expect("default policy materialized a root")
+                        .resource
+                } else {
                     continue;
                 };
                 inputs.push(CompiledSocketInput {
                     socket: s.name.into(),
-                    resource: output_ids[&b.producer],
+                    resource,
                 });
             }
         }
@@ -2095,13 +2410,13 @@ pub fn compile(graph: Graph) -> Result<CompiledGraph, GraphError> {
             last_use: last,
         };
         f.usage = texture_usage(f, &executions);
-        f.aliasable = matches!(
-            f.source,
-            TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture {
-                residency: TextureResidency::Transient,
-                ..
+        let transient = match f.source {
+            TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture { residency, .. } => {
+                residency == TextureResidency::Transient
             }
-        ) && f.versions.iter().all(|v| v.initialized);
+            TextureFamilySource::CompilerDefaultInput { .. } => true,
+        };
+        f.aliasable = transient && f.versions.iter().all(|v| v.initialized);
     }
     let (classes, transient) = allocate(&mut families, &mut resources);
     if resources.len() > 1024 {
@@ -2121,7 +2436,7 @@ pub fn compile(graph: Graph) -> Result<CompiledGraph, GraphError> {
         texture_families: families,
         allocation_classes: classes,
         culled_node_count: (graph.nodes.len() - live.len()) as u32,
-        culled_resource_count: (all_outputs - output_ids.len()) as u32,
+        culled_resource_count: (all_outputs - authored_materialized_output_count) as u32,
         transient_slot_count: transient,
         instance_traversal,
     })
@@ -2139,6 +2454,12 @@ fn extent_layers(e: &NormalizedTextureExtent) -> u32 {
         } => *depth_or_array_layers,
     }
 }
+pub(super) fn family_descriptor(family: &TextureFamily) -> &NormalizedTextureDescriptor {
+    match &family.source {
+        TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture { descriptor, .. }
+        | TextureFamilySource::CompilerDefaultInput { descriptor, .. } => descriptor,
+    }
+}
 pub(super) fn is_single_view_d2(descriptor: &NormalizedTextureDescriptor) -> bool {
     descriptor.dimension == TextureDimension::D2
         && descriptor.sample_count == 1
@@ -2195,7 +2516,7 @@ fn allocate(
 ) -> (Vec<AllocationClass>, u32) {
     let mut grouped: BTreeMap<TextureCompatibilityKey, Vec<usize>> = BTreeMap::new();
     for (i, f) in families.iter().enumerate() {
-        let TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture { descriptor, .. } = &f.source;
+        let descriptor = family_descriptor(f);
         grouped
             .entry(TextureCompatibilityKey {
                 dimension: descriptor.dimension,
diff --git a/renderer/src/render_graph/contracts.rs b/renderer/src/render_graph/contracts.rs
index b5951f2..9d5b51e 100644
--- a/renderer/src/render_graph/contracts.rs
+++ b/renderer/src/render_graph/contracts.rs
@@ -44,6 +44,13 @@ pub enum InputCardinality {
     OptionalOne,
 }
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, serde::Serialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "snake_case")]
+pub enum InputDefaultPolicy {
+    None,
+    ParameterLiteral,
+    CompilerTexture,
+}
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, serde::Serialize)]
 #[serde(tag = "kind", content = "types", rename_all = "snake_case")]
 pub enum TypeConstraint {
     Exact(SemanticType),
@@ -67,6 +74,7 @@ pub struct InputSocketContract {
     pub name: &'static str,
     pub accepted: TypeConstraint,
     pub cardinality: InputCardinality,
+    pub default_policy: InputDefaultPolicy,
     pub role: InputRole,
 }
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, serde::Serialize)]
@@ -97,10 +105,20 @@ const fn i(
     cardinality: InputCardinality,
     role: InputRole,
 ) -> InputSocketContract {
+    let default_policy = match cardinality {
+        InputCardinality::RequiredOne => InputDefaultPolicy::None,
+        InputCardinality::OptionalOne => match role {
+            InputRole::ColorTarget { .. } | InputRole::DepthTarget => {
+                InputDefaultPolicy::CompilerTexture
+            }
+            _ => InputDefaultPolicy::ParameterLiteral,
+        },
+    };
     InputSocketContract {
         name,
         accepted: TypeConstraint::Exact(ty),
         cardinality,
+        default_policy,
         role,
     }
 }
@@ -124,10 +142,10 @@ const PIPE_I: &[InputSocketContract] = &[
     i(
         "colorTarget",
         Texture,
-        R,
+        O,
         InputRole::ColorTarget { location: 0 },
     ),
-    i("depthTarget", Texture, R, InputRole::DepthTarget),
+    i("depthTarget", Texture, O, InputRole::DepthTarget),
 ];
 const PIPE_O: &[OutputSocketContract] = &[o("color", Texture), o("depth", Texture)];
 const CULL_I: &[InputSocketContract] = &[
@@ -181,7 +199,7 @@ pub static CONTRACTS: &[Contract] = &[
     c!("mesh", 2, Source, NONE_I, MESH_O, false, None),
     c!("texture", 1, Source, NONE_I, TEXTURE_O, false, None),
     c!("frustum_cull", 2, Expression, CULL_I, CULL_O, false, None),
-    c!("pipeline", 2, Render, PIPE_I, PIPE_O, false, None),
+    c!("pipeline", 3, Render, PIPE_I, PIPE_O, false, None),
     ex!("and", ins!("left":Bool,"right":Bool), outs!("value":Bool)),
     ex!("or", ins!("left":Bool,"right":Bool), outs!("value":Bool)),
     ex!("not", ins!("operand":Bool), outs!("value":Bool)),
diff --git a/renderer/src/render_graph/plan.rs b/renderer/src/render_graph/plan.rs
index c839618..1bc3f17 100644
--- a/renderer/src/render_graph/plan.rs
+++ b/renderer/src/render_graph/plan.rs
@@ -24,14 +24,36 @@ pub struct CompiledGraph {
 #[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
 pub struct CompiledResource {
     pub original_node_index: u32,
-    pub output_ordinal: u16,
-    pub origin: NodeOutputRef,
+    pub origin: ResourceOrigin,
     pub semantic_type: SemanticType,
     pub producer_execution: Option<u32>,
     pub lifetime: Option<Lifetime>,
     pub plan: ResourcePlan,
 }
 
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize)]
+#[serde(tag = "kind", rename_all = "snake_case")]
+pub enum ResourceOrigin {
+    AuthoredOutput {
+        node: String,
+        socket: String,
+        output_ordinal: u16,
+    },
+    CompilerDefaultInput {
+        owner_node_index: u32,
+        input_ordinal: u16,
+        socket: String,
+        role: CompilerTextureRole,
+    },
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Serialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "snake_case")]
+pub enum CompilerTextureRole {
+    ColorTarget,
+    DepthTarget,
+}
+
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize)]
 #[serde(tag = "kind", rename_all = "snake_case")]
 pub enum ResourcePlan {
@@ -331,7 +353,7 @@ pub struct Lifetime {
     pub last_use: u32,
 }
 
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Serialize)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash, Serialize)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
 pub struct TextureFamilyKey {
     pub source_node: u32,
@@ -346,6 +368,13 @@ pub enum TextureFamilySource {
         residency: TextureResidency,
         descriptor: NormalizedTextureDescriptor,
     },
+    CompilerDefaultInput {
+        resource: u32,
+        owner_node_index: u32,
+        input_ordinal: u16,
+        role: CompilerTextureRole,
+        descriptor: NormalizedTextureDescriptor,
+    },
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize)]
diff --git a/renderer/src/render_graph/runtime.rs b/renderer/src/render_graph/runtime.rs
index 416fe33..6eb6a89 100644
--- a/renderer/src/render_graph/runtime.rs
+++ b/renderer/src/render_graph/runtime.rs
@@ -395,7 +395,8 @@ fn texture_descriptor<'a>(
         _ => return None,
     };
     match &graph.texture_families.get(family as usize)?.source {
-        TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture { descriptor, .. } => Some(descriptor),
+        TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture { descriptor, .. }
+        | TextureFamilySource::CompilerDefaultInput { descriptor, .. } => Some(descriptor),
     }
 }
 
@@ -682,6 +683,19 @@ fn validate_fullscreen_execution(
 }
 
 fn validate_canonical_plan(graph: &CompiledGraph) -> Result<(), GraphError> {
+    fn texture_family_for_resource<'a>(
+        graph: &'a CompiledGraph,
+        resource: u32,
+    ) -> Option<&'a TextureFamily> {
+        let resource = graph.resources.get(resource as usize)?;
+        let family = match resource.plan {
+            ResourcePlan::TextureSource { family, .. } | ResourcePlan::Texture { family, .. } => {
+                family
+            }
+            _ => return None,
+        };
+        graph.texture_families.get(family as usize)
+    }
     for (i, resource) in graph.resources.iter().enumerate() {
         if resource.semantic_type.is_virtual() {
             return Err(invalid(
@@ -795,28 +809,221 @@ fn validate_canonical_plan(graph: &CompiledGraph) -> Result<(), GraphError> {
         }
     }
 
+    let mut family_keys = HashSet::new();
+    let mut source_claims = vec![0u8; graph.resources.len()];
     for (fi, family) in graph.texture_families.iter().enumerate() {
-        let TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture {
-            resource: source,
-            residency,
-            descriptor,
-        } = &family.source;
-        let source_resource = graph.resources.get(*source as usize).ok_or_else(|| {
+        if family.id as usize != fi || !family_keys.insert(family.key.clone()) {
+            return Err(invalid(
+                "texture family id/key is not unique and canonical",
+                format!("textureFamilies[{fi}]"),
+            ));
+        }
+        let (source, residency, descriptor) = match &family.source {
+            TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture {
+                resource,
+                residency,
+                descriptor,
+            } => (*resource, *residency, descriptor),
+            TextureFamilySource::CompilerDefaultInput {
+                resource,
+                descriptor,
+                ..
+            } => (*resource, TextureResidency::Transient, descriptor),
+        };
+        let source_resource = graph.resources.get(source as usize).ok_or_else(|| {
             invalid(
                 "texture source resource is out of bounds",
                 format!("textureFamilies[{fi}].source.resource"),
             )
         })?;
+        source_claims[source as usize] = source_claims[source as usize].saturating_add(1);
         if source_resource.semantic_type != SemanticType::Texture
             || source_resource.producer_execution.is_some()
             || !matches!(&source_resource.plan, ResourcePlan::TextureSource { family: f, residency: r, descriptor: d }
-                if *f == family.id && r == residency && d == descriptor)
+                if *f == family.id && *r == residency && d == descriptor)
         {
             return Err(invalid(
                 "texture family source is not canonical",
                 format!("textureFamilies[{fi}].source"),
             ));
         }
+        let origin_ok = match (&family.source, &source_resource.origin) {
+            (
+                TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture { resource, .. },
+                ResourceOrigin::AuthoredOutput {
+                    node: _,
+                    socket,
+                    output_ordinal,
+                },
+            ) => {
+                family.key.source_node == source_resource.original_node_index
+                    && family.key.source_socket == 0
+                    && *output_ordinal == 0
+                    && *socket == "texture"
+                    && *resource == source
+                    && source_resource.producer_execution.is_none()
+            }
+            (
+                TextureFamilySource::CompilerDefaultInput {
+                    owner_node_index,
+                    input_ordinal,
+                    role,
+                    ..
+                },
+                ResourceOrigin::CompilerDefaultInput {
+                    owner_node_index: owner,
+                    input_ordinal: input,
+                    socket,
+                    role: origin_role,
+                },
+            ) => {
+                let owner_executions: Vec<_> = graph
+                    .executions
+                    .iter()
+                    .filter(|execution| execution.original_node_index == *owner_node_index)
+                    .collect();
+                let owner_input_ok = owner_executions
+                    .as_slice()
+                    .first()
+                    .is_some_and(|execution| {
+                        execution
+                            .inputs
+                            .iter()
+                            .filter(|input| input.socket == *socket && input.resource == source)
+                            .count()
+                            == 1
+                    })
+                    && owner_executions[0].executor.key == "pipeline"
+                    && owner_executions[0].executor.version == 3
+                    && graph
+                        .executions
+                        .iter()
+                        .flat_map(|execution| &execution.inputs)
+                        .filter(|input| input.resource == source)
+                        .count()
+                        == 1
+                    && contract("pipeline")
+                        .and_then(|contract| contract.inputs.get(*input_ordinal as usize))
+                        .is_some_and(|input| {
+                            input.name == *socket
+                                && matches!(
+                                    (input.role, role),
+                                    (
+                                        InputRole::ColorTarget { location: 0 },
+                                        CompilerTextureRole::ColorTarget
+                                    ) | (InputRole::DepthTarget, CompilerTextureRole::DepthTarget)
+                                )
+                        });
+                owner == owner_node_index
+                    && owner_executions.len() == 1
+                    && input == input_ordinal
+                    && origin_role == role
+                    && owner_input_ok
+                    && socket
+                        == if *role == CompilerTextureRole::ColorTarget {
+                            "colorTarget"
+                        } else {
+                            "depthTarget"
+                        }
+            }
+            _ => false,
+        };
+        if !origin_ok {
+            return Err(invalid(
+                "texture source origin is not canonical",
+                format!("resources[{source}].origin"),
+            ));
+        }
+        if let TextureFamilySource::CompilerDefaultInput {
+            owner_node_index,
+            input_ordinal,
+            role,
+            descriptor,
+            ..
+        } = &family.source
+        {
+            let fixed = descriptor.dimension == TextureDimension::D2
+                && descriptor.format
+                    == if *role == CompilerTextureRole::ColorTarget {
+                        TextureFormat::Rgba16Float
+                    } else {
+                        TextureFormat::Depth32Float
+                    }
+                && descriptor.mip_level_count == 1
+                && descriptor.sample_count == 1
+                && descriptor.view_formats.is_empty()
+                && matches!(
+                    descriptor.extent,
+                    NormalizedTextureExtent::Absolute {
+                        depth_or_array_layers: 1,
+                        ..
+                    } | NormalizedTextureExtent::SurfaceRelative {
+                        depth_or_array_layers: 1,
+                        ..
+                    }
+                )
+                && family.key.source_node == *owner_node_index
+                && family.key.source_socket == *input_ordinal
+                && source_resource.original_node_index == *owner_node_index;
+            if !fixed {
+                return Err(invalid(
+                    "compiler default descriptor is not canonical",
+                    format!("textureFamilies[{fi}].source.descriptor"),
+                ));
+            }
+            let owner = graph
+                .executions
+                .iter()
+                .find(|execution| execution.original_node_index == *owner_node_index)
+                .expect("origin validation found owner");
+            let opposite_socket = if *role == CompilerTextureRole::ColorTarget {
+                "depthTarget"
+            } else {
+                "colorTarget"
+            };
+            let opposite_resource = owner
+                .inputs
+                .iter()
+                .find(|input| input.socket == opposite_socket)
+                .map(|input| input.resource)
+                .ok_or_else(|| {
+                    invalid(
+                        "compiler default opposite input is missing",
+                        format!("executions[{owner_node_index}].inputs"),
+                    )
+                })?;
+            let opposite_family = texture_family_for_resource(graph, opposite_resource)
+                .ok_or_else(|| {
+                    invalid(
+                        "compiler default opposite input is invalid",
+                        format!("executions[{owner_node_index}].inputs"),
+                    )
+                })?;
+            let both_defaults = matches!(&opposite_family.source, TextureFamilySource::CompilerDefaultInput { owner_node_index: opposite_owner, .. } if opposite_owner == owner_node_index);
+            let expected_extent = if both_defaults {
+                NormalizedTextureExtent::SurfaceRelative {
+                    width: Ratio {
+                        numerator: 1,
+                        denominator: 1,
+                    },
+                    height: Ratio {
+                        numerator: 1,
+                        denominator: 1,
+                    },
+                    depth_or_array_layers: 1,
+                }
+            } else {
+                super::compiler::family_descriptor(opposite_family)
+                    .extent
+                    .clone()
+            };
+            if descriptor.extent != expected_extent {
+                return Err(invalid(
+                    "compiler default extent is not canonical",
+                    format!("textureFamilies[{fi}].source.descriptor.extent"),
+                ));
+            }
+        }
         if family.versions.is_empty() {
             return Err(invalid(
                 "texture family has no versions",
@@ -828,7 +1035,7 @@ fn validate_canonical_plan(graph: &CompiledGraph) -> Result<(), GraphError> {
         let mut all_initialized = true;
         for (vi, version) in family.versions.iter().enumerate() {
             let expected_target = if vi == 0 {
-                *source
+                source
             } else {
                 family.versions[vi - 1].resource
             };
@@ -870,7 +1077,7 @@ fn validate_canonical_plan(graph: &CompiledGraph) -> Result<(), GraphError> {
                 format!("textureFamilies[{fi}].lifetime"),
             ));
         }
-        let expected_aliasable = *residency == TextureResidency::Transient && all_initialized;
+        let expected_aliasable = residency == TextureResidency::Transient && all_initialized;
         if family.aliasable != expected_aliasable {
             return Err(invalid(
                 "texture family aliasability is not canonical",
@@ -878,6 +1085,15 @@ fn validate_canonical_plan(graph: &CompiledGraph) -> Result<(), GraphError> {
             ));
         }
     }
+    for (ri, resource) in graph.resources.iter().enumerate() {
+        let is_source = matches!(resource.plan, ResourcePlan::TextureSource { .. });
+        if is_source != (source_claims[ri] == 1) {
+            return Err(invalid(
+                "texture source must be claimed by exactly one family",
+                format!("resources[{ri}].plan"),
+            ));
+        }
+    }
     Ok(())
 }
 
@@ -1590,7 +1806,7 @@ pub fn prepare_runtime_plan(
             format!("resources[{color}].plan.family"),
         )
     })?;
-    let TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture { descriptor, .. } = &family.source;
+    let descriptor = super::compiler::family_descriptor(family);
     if !super::compiler::frame_out_source_compatible(descriptor, dynamic_range) {
         return Err(invalid(
             "frame_out texture descriptor is incompatible",
@@ -1648,6 +1864,14 @@ pub fn prepare_runtime_plan(
                     ));
                 }
             }
+            TextureFamilySource::CompilerDefaultInput { descriptor, .. } => {
+                if !super::compiler::is_single_view_d2(descriptor) || family.allocation.is_none() {
+                    return Err(invalid(
+                        "compiler default family is not canonical",
+                        format!("textureFamilies[{fi}]"),
+                    ));
+                }
+            }
         }
         for (vi, version) in family.versions.iter().enumerate() {
             if version.version as usize != vi {
@@ -1755,24 +1979,29 @@ pub fn prepare_runtime_plan(
                         format!("allocationClasses[{ci}].slots[{si}].occupants"),
                     ));
                 }
-                let TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture {
-                    descriptor,
-                    residency,
-                    ..
-                } = &family.source;
+                let (descriptor, residency) = match &family.source {
+                    TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture {
+                        descriptor,
+                        residency,
+                        ..
+                    } => (descriptor, *residency),
+                    TextureFamilySource::CompilerDefaultInput { descriptor, .. } => {
+                        (descriptor, TextureResidency::Transient)
+                    }
+                };
                 expected_usage.extend(family.usage.iter().copied());
                 let kind_valid = match slot.kind {
                     AllocationKind::AliasedTransient => {
-                        *residency == TextureResidency::Transient && family.aliasable
+                        residency == TextureResidency::Transient && family.aliasable
                     }
                     AllocationKind::DedicatedTransient => {
                         slot.occupants.len() == 1
-                            && *residency == TextureResidency::Transient
+                            && residency == TextureResidency::Transient
                             && !family.aliasable
                     }
                     AllocationKind::Persistent => {
                         slot.occupants.len() == 1
-                            && *residency == TextureResidency::Persistent
+                            && residency == TextureResidency::Persistent
                             && !family.aliasable
                     }
                 };
diff --git a/renderer/src/render_graph/tests.rs b/renderer/src/render_graph/tests.rs
index 4d71c69..f41afcc 100644
--- a/renderer/src/render_graph/tests.rs
+++ b/renderer/src/render_graph/tests.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,13 @@ fn texture(id: &str, format: &str) -> Value {
     })
 }
 
+fn set_extent_ratio(texture: &mut Value, numerator: u32, denominator: u32) {
+    texture["parameters"]["texture"]["extent"]["width"] =
+        json!({"numerator":numerator,"denominator":denominator});
+    texture["parameters"]["texture"]["extent"]["height"] =
+        json!({"numerator":numerator,"denominator":denominator});
+}
+
 fn node(id: &str, key: &str, version: u32, parameters: Value, inputs: Value) -> Value {
     json!({ "id": id, "state": "enabled", "executor": { "key": key, "version": version },
         "parameters": parameters, "inputs": inputs })
@@ -38,7 +45,7 @@ pub(crate) fn full_cull_graph() -> Value {
         node("visible", "not", 1, json!({"operandDefault":false}), json!({"operand":input("cull","isFrustumCulled")})),
         node("class", "and", 1, json!({"leftDefault":true,"rightDefault":true}),
             json!({"left":input("bits","bit0"),"right":input("visible","value")})),
-        node("pipeline", "pipeline", 2,
+        node("pipeline", "pipeline", 3,
             json!({"pipeline":"gltf_standard","depthCompare":"less_equal","depthWriteEnabled":true,"clearDepth":1.0,"clearColor":[0,0,0,1],"predicateDefault":true}),
             json!({"mesh":input("mesh","mesh"),"predicate":input("class","value"),"colorTarget":input("color","texture"),"depthTarget":input("depth","texture")})),
         node("frame", "frame_out", 3,
@@ -51,7 +58,7 @@ pub(crate) fn full_cull_graph() -> Value {
 #[test]
 fn catalog_exposes_final_mesh_pipeline_and_generic_expression_contracts() {
     assert_eq!(contract("mesh").unwrap().version, 2);
-    assert_eq!(contract("pipeline").unwrap().version, 2);
+    assert_eq!(contract("pipeline").unwrap().version, 3);
     assert_eq!(
         contract("mesh")
             .unwrap()
@@ -145,3 +152,543 @@ fn expression_provenance_rejects_cross_mesh_values() {
     let error = compile_value(graph).unwrap_err();
     assert_eq!(error.code, "GRAPH_SOCKET_TYPE_MISMATCH");
 }
+
+fn implicit_pipeline_graph() -> Value {
+    json!({ "schemaVersion": 2, "graphId": "implicit", "revision": 1, "nodes": [
+        node("mesh", "mesh", 2, json!({}), json!({})),
+        node("first", "pipeline", 3,
+            json!({"pipeline":"ground_plane","depthCompare":"less_equal","depthWriteEnabled":true,"clearDepth":1.0,"clearColor":[0,0,0,1],"predicateDefault":true}),
+            json!({"mesh":input("mesh","mesh")})),
+        node("second", "pipeline", 3,
+            json!({"pipeline":"gltf_standard","depthCompare":"less_equal","depthWriteEnabled":true,"clearDepth":1.0,"clearColor":[0,0,0,1],"predicateDefault":true}),
+            json!({"mesh":input("mesh","mesh"),"colorTarget":input("first","color"),"depthTarget":input("first","depth")})),
+        node("frame", "frame_out", 3,
+            json!({"surfaceFormat":"preferred","hdrEnabled":true,"toneMapper":"aces","exposureStops":0,"outputTransfer":"srgb","scaleMode":"stretch","filter":"linear","backgroundColor":[0,0,0,1]}),
+            json!({"color":input("second","color")}))
+    ]})
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn contract_v3_declares_strict_default_policies() {
+    let pipeline = contract("pipeline").unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(pipeline.version, 3);
+    assert_eq!(pipeline.inputs[0].default_policy, InputDefaultPolicy::None);
+    assert_eq!(
+        pipeline.inputs[1].default_policy,
+        InputDefaultPolicy::ParameterLiteral
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        pipeline.inputs[2].default_policy,
+        InputDefaultPolicy::CompilerTexture
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        pipeline.inputs[3].default_policy,
+        InputDefaultPolicy::CompilerTexture
+    );
+    assert!(CONTRACTS
+        .iter()
+        .flat_map(|c| c.inputs)
+        .all(|input| matches!(
+            (input.cardinality, input.default_policy),
+            (InputCardinality::RequiredOne, InputDefaultPolicy::None)
+                | (
+                    InputCardinality::OptionalOne,
+                    InputDefaultPolicy::ParameterLiteral
+                )
+                | (
+                    InputCardinality::OptionalOne,
+                    InputDefaultPolicy::CompilerTexture
+                )
+        )));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn disconnected_targets_have_tagged_roots_and_clear_version_zero() {
+    let compiled = compile_value(implicit_pipeline_graph()).unwrap();
+    let roots: Vec<_> = compiled
+        .resources
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|r| matches!(r.origin, ResourceOrigin::CompilerDefaultInput { .. }))
+        .collect();
+    assert_eq!(roots.len(), 2);
+    assert_eq!(compiled.culled_resource_count, 0);
+    assert!(compiled
+        .texture_families
+        .iter()
+        .take(2)
+        .all(|f| f.aliasable));
+    let first = compiled
+        .executions
+        .iter()
+        .find(|e| e.id == "first")
+        .unwrap();
+    let ExecutionKind::Render {
+        color_attachments,
+        depth_stencil: Some(depth),
+    } = &first.kind
+    else {
+        panic!()
+    };
+    assert!(matches!(
+        color_attachments[0].load,
+        NormalizedColorLoad::Clear { .. }
+    ));
+    assert!(matches!(depth.load, NormalizedDepthLoad::Clear { .. }));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn implicit_chain_is_deterministic_and_loads_successors() {
+    let a = compile_value(implicit_pipeline_graph()).unwrap();
+    let b = compile_value(implicit_pipeline_graph()).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(
+        serde_json::to_value(&a).unwrap(),
+        serde_json::to_value(&b).unwrap()
+    );
+    let second = a.executions.iter().find(|e| e.id == "second").unwrap();
+    let ExecutionKind::Render {
+        color_attachments,
+        depth_stencil: Some(depth),
+    } = &second.kind
+    else {
+        panic!()
+    };
+    assert_eq!(color_attachments[0].load, NormalizedColorLoad::Load);
+    assert_eq!(depth.load, NormalizedDepthLoad::Load);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn one_missing_attachment_copies_authored_opposite_extent() {
+    for missing in ["colorTarget", "depthTarget"] {
+        let mut graph = full_cull_graph();
+        graph["nodes"][8]["inputs"]
+            .as_object_mut()
+            .unwrap()
+            .remove(missing);
+        let compiled = compile_value(graph).unwrap();
+        let default = compiled
+            .texture_families
+            .iter()
+            .find(|f| matches!(f.source, TextureFamilySource::CompilerDefaultInput { .. }))
+            .unwrap();
+        let explicit = compiled
+            .texture_families
+            .iter()
+            .find(|f| {
+                matches!(f.source, TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture { .. })
+                    && f.id != default.id
+            })
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            super::compiler::family_descriptor(default).extent,
+            super::compiler::family_descriptor(explicit).extent
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn default_extent_follows_half_surface_and_prior_default_families() {
+    let mut half = full_cull_graph();
+    set_extent_ratio(&mut half["nodes"][0], 1, 2);
+    half["nodes"][8]["inputs"]
+        .as_object_mut()
+        .unwrap()
+        .remove("depthTarget");
+    let compiled = compile_value(half).unwrap();
+    let default = compiled
+        .texture_families
+        .iter()
+        .find(|family| {
+            matches!(
+                family.source,
+                TextureFamilySource::CompilerDefaultInput { .. }
+            )
+        })
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(
+        super::compiler::family_descriptor(default).extent,
+        NormalizedTextureExtent::SurfaceRelative {
+            width: Ratio {
+                numerator: 1,
+                denominator: 2
+            },
+            height: Ratio {
+                numerator: 1,
+                denominator: 2
+            },
+            depth_or_array_layers: 1
+        }
+    );
+
+    let compiled = compile_value(implicit_pipeline_graph()).unwrap();
+    let defaults: Vec<_> = compiled
+        .texture_families
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|family| {
+            matches!(
+                family.source,
+                TextureFamilySource::CompilerDefaultInput { .. }
+            )
+        })
+        .collect();
+    assert_eq!(defaults.len(), 2);
+    assert_eq!(
+        super::compiler::family_descriptor(defaults[0]).extent,
+        super::compiler::family_descriptor(defaults[1]).extent
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn explicit_attachment_diagnostics_are_socket_specific_then_mutual() {
+    let mut color = full_cull_graph();
+    color["nodes"][0]["parameters"]["texture"]["format"] = json!("depth32_float");
+    let error = compile_value(color).unwrap_err();
+    assert_eq!(error.details["path"], "nodes[8].inputs.colorTarget");
+
+    let mut depth = full_cull_graph();
+    depth["nodes"][1]["parameters"]["texture"]["format"] = json!("rgba16_float");
+    let error = compile_value(depth).unwrap_err();
+    assert_eq!(error.details["path"], "nodes[8].inputs.depthTarget");
+
+    let mut mismatch = full_cull_graph();
+    set_extent_ratio(&mut mismatch["nodes"][1], 1, 2);
+    let error = compile_value(mismatch).unwrap_err();
+    assert_eq!(error.details["path"], "nodes[8].inputs");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn descriptor_dependency_cycle_keeps_graph_cycle_priority() {
+    let mut graph = implicit_pipeline_graph();
+    graph["nodes"][1]["inputs"]["depthTarget"] = input("second", "depth");
+    graph["nodes"][2]["inputs"]
+        .as_object_mut()
+        .unwrap()
+        .remove("depthTarget");
+    assert_eq!(compile_value(graph).unwrap_err().code, "GRAPH_CYCLE");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn known_attachment_error_precedes_cycle() {
+    let mut graph = full_cull_graph();
+    graph["nodes"][0]["parameters"]["texture"]["format"] = json!("depth32_float");
+    graph["nodes"][8]["inputs"]["depthTarget"] = input("pipeline", "depth");
+    let error = compile_value(graph).unwrap_err();
+    assert_eq!(error.code, "GRAPH_ILLEGAL_ACCESS");
+    assert_eq!(error.details["path"], "nodes[8].inputs.colorTarget");
+}
+
+fn self_targeting_copy(source_format: &str) -> Value {
+    let mut graph = full_cull_graph();
+    graph["nodes"][0]["parameters"]["texture"]["format"] = json!(source_format);
+    graph["nodes"].as_array_mut().unwrap().insert(
+        9,
+        node(
+            "copy",
+            "fullscreen_copy",
+            1,
+            json!({}),
+            json!({
+                "source": input("pipeline", "color"),
+                "colorTarget": input("copy", "color")
+            }),
+        ),
+    );
+    graph["nodes"][10]["inputs"]["color"] = input("copy", "color");
+    graph
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn known_invalid_fullscreen_source_precedes_target_cycle() {
+    let error = compile_value(self_targeting_copy("rgba8_unorm")).unwrap_err();
+    assert_eq!(error.code, "GRAPH_ILLEGAL_ACCESS");
+    assert_eq!(error.details["path"], "nodes[9].inputs");
+
+    assert_eq!(
+        compile_value(self_targeting_copy("rgba16_float"))
+            .unwrap_err()
+            .code,
+        "GRAPH_CYCLE"
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn known_invalid_fullscreen_target_precedes_source_cycle() {
+    let mut graph = implicit_pipeline_graph();
+    graph["nodes"][1]["inputs"]["depthTarget"] = input("second", "depth");
+    graph["nodes"][2]["inputs"]
+        .as_object_mut()
+        .unwrap()
+        .remove("depthTarget");
+    graph["nodes"]
+        .as_array_mut()
+        .unwrap()
+        .insert(3, texture("saturation_target", "rgba8_unorm"));
+    graph["nodes"].as_array_mut().unwrap().insert(
+        4,
+        node(
+            "saturation",
+            "saturation",
+            1,
+            json!({"saturation":1,"factor":1}),
+            json!({
+                "source": input("second", "color"),
+                "colorTarget": input("saturation_target", "texture")
+            }),
+        ),
+    );
+    graph["nodes"][5]["parameters"]["hdrEnabled"] = json!(false);
+    graph["nodes"][5]["inputs"]["color"] = input("saturation", "color");
+    let error = compile_value(graph).unwrap_err();
+    assert_eq!(error.code, "GRAPH_ILLEGAL_ACCESS");
+    assert_eq!(error.details["path"], "nodes[4].inputs");
+}
+
+fn self_targeting_composite(bloom_format: &str) -> Value {
+    let mut graph = full_cull_graph();
+    graph["nodes"]
+        .as_array_mut()
+        .unwrap()
+        .insert(9, texture("bloom_target", bloom_format));
+    graph["nodes"].as_array_mut().unwrap().insert(
+        10,
+        node(
+            "bloom_copy",
+            "fullscreen_copy",
+            1,
+            json!({}),
+            json!({
+                "source": input("pipeline", "color"),
+                "colorTarget": input("bloom_target", "texture")
+            }),
+        ),
+    );
+    graph["nodes"].as_array_mut().unwrap().insert(
+        11,
+        node(
+            "composite",
+            "bloom_composite",
+            1,
+            json!({"intensity":1}),
+            json!({
+                "source": input("pipeline", "color"),
+                "bloom": input("bloom_copy", "color"),
+                "colorTarget": input("composite", "color")
+            }),
+        ),
+    );
+    graph["nodes"][12]["inputs"]["color"] = input("composite", "color");
+    graph
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn known_invalid_bloom_input_precedes_target_cycle() {
+    let error = compile_value(self_targeting_composite("rgba8_unorm")).unwrap_err();
+    assert_eq!(error.code, "GRAPH_ILLEGAL_ACCESS");
+    assert_eq!(error.details["path"], "nodes[11].inputs");
+    assert_eq!(
+        compile_value(self_targeting_composite("rgba16_float"))
+            .unwrap_err()
+            .code,
+        "GRAPH_CYCLE"
+    );
+}
+
+fn cyclic_fullscreen_source(target_format: &str) -> Value {
+    let mut graph = full_cull_graph();
+    graph["nodes"]
+        .as_array_mut()
+        .unwrap()
+        .insert(9, texture("copy_target", target_format));
+    graph["nodes"].as_array_mut().unwrap().insert(
+        10,
+        node(
+            "source_cycle",
+            "fullscreen_copy",
+            1,
+            json!({}),
+            json!({
+                "source": input("pipeline", "color"),
+                "colorTarget": input("source_cycle", "color")
+            }),
+        ),
+    );
+    graph["nodes"].as_array_mut().unwrap().insert(
+        11,
+        node(
+            "copy",
+            "fullscreen_copy",
+            1,
+            json!({}),
+            json!({
+                "source": input("source_cycle", "color"),
+                "colorTarget": input("copy_target", "texture")
+            }),
+        ),
+    );
+    graph["nodes"][12]["inputs"]["color"] = input("copy", "color");
+    graph
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn cyclic_fullscreen_source_defers_uninitialized_error() {
+    let error = compile_value(cyclic_fullscreen_source("depth32_float")).unwrap_err();
+    assert_eq!(error.code, "GRAPH_ILLEGAL_ACCESS");
+    assert_eq!(error.details["path"], "nodes[11].inputs");
+    assert_eq!(
+        compile_value(cyclic_fullscreen_source("rgba16_float"))
+            .unwrap_err()
+            .code,
+        "GRAPH_CYCLE"
+    );
+}
+
+fn cyclic_bloom_input(target_format: &str) -> Value {
+    let mut graph = full_cull_graph();
+    graph["nodes"]
+        .as_array_mut()
+        .unwrap()
+        .insert(9, texture("composite_target", target_format));
+    graph["nodes"].as_array_mut().unwrap().insert(
+        10,
+        node(
+            "bloom_cycle",
+            "fullscreen_copy",
+            1,
+            json!({}),
+            json!({
+                "source": input("pipeline", "color"),
+                "colorTarget": input("bloom_cycle", "color")
+            }),
+        ),
+    );
+    graph["nodes"].as_array_mut().unwrap().insert(
+        11,
+        node(
+            "composite",
+            "bloom_composite",
+            1,
+            json!({"intensity":1}),
+            json!({
+                "source": input("pipeline", "color"),
+                "bloom": input("bloom_cycle", "color"),
+                "colorTarget": input("composite_target", "texture")
+            }),
+        ),
+    );
+    graph["nodes"][12]["inputs"]["color"] = input("composite", "color");
+    graph
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn cyclic_bloom_input_defers_uninitialized_error() {
+    let error = compile_value(cyclic_bloom_input("depth32_float")).unwrap_err();
+    assert_eq!(error.code, "GRAPH_ILLEGAL_ACCESS");
+    assert_eq!(error.details["path"], "nodes[11].inputs");
+    assert_eq!(
+        compile_value(cyclic_bloom_input("rgba16_float"))
+            .unwrap_err()
+            .code,
+        "GRAPH_CYCLE"
+    );
+}
+
+fn compiler_default_source(graph: &CompiledGraph) -> (usize, u32, u32) {
+    graph
+        .texture_families
+        .iter()
+        .enumerate()
+        .find_map(|(family_index, family)| match family.source {
+            TextureFamilySource::CompilerDefaultInput {
+                resource,
+                owner_node_index,
+                ..
+            } => Some((family_index, resource, owner_node_index)),
+            _ => None,
+        })
+        .unwrap()
+}
+
+fn assert_runtime_plan_invalid(graph: &CompiledGraph) {
+    let error = validate_activatable(graph).unwrap_err();
+    assert_eq!(error.code, "GRAPH_RUNTIME_PLAN_INVALID");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn runtime_rejects_duplicate_compiler_default_owner_identity() {
+    let mut graph = compile_value(implicit_pipeline_graph()).unwrap();
+    assert!(validate_activatable(&graph).is_ok());
+    let (_, _, owner) = compiler_default_source(&graph);
+    graph
+        .executions
+        .iter_mut()
+        .find(|execution| execution.executor.key == "frame_out")
+        .unwrap()
+        .original_node_index = owner;
+    assert_runtime_plan_invalid(&graph);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn runtime_rejects_coherently_retagged_authored_texture_origin() {
+    let mut graph = compile_value(full_cull_graph()).unwrap();
+    assert!(validate_activatable(&graph).is_ok());
+    let family = graph
+        .texture_families
+        .iter_mut()
+        .find(|family| matches!(family.source, TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture { .. }))
+        .unwrap();
+    let TextureFamilySource::AuthoredTexture { resource, .. } = family.source else {
+        unreachable!()
+    };
+    family.key.source_node = 2;
+    family.key.source_socket = 1;
+    let source = &mut graph.resources[resource as usize];
+    source.original_node_index = 2;
+    source.origin = ResourceOrigin::AuthoredOutput {
+        node: "mesh".into(),
+        socket: "type".into(),
+        output_ordinal: 1,
+    };
+    assert_runtime_plan_invalid(&graph);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn runtime_rejects_duplicate_compiler_default_input_occurrence() {
+    let mut graph = compile_value(implicit_pipeline_graph()).unwrap();
+    assert!(validate_activatable(&graph).is_ok());
+    let (_, resource, owner) = compiler_default_source(&graph);
+    graph
+        .executions
+        .iter_mut()
+        .find(|execution| execution.original_node_index == owner)
+        .unwrap()
+        .inputs
+        .push(CompiledSocketInput {
+            socket: "duplicate".into(),
+            resource,
+        });
+    assert_runtime_plan_invalid(&graph);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn runtime_rejects_out_of_range_opposite_default_family_without_panicking() {
+    let mut graph = compile_value(implicit_pipeline_graph()).unwrap();
+    assert!(validate_activatable(&graph).is_ok());
+    let (_, _, owner) = compiler_default_source(&graph);
+    let opposite_resource = graph
+        .executions
+        .iter()
+        .find(|execution| execution.original_node_index == owner)
+        .unwrap()
+        .inputs
+        .iter()
+        .find(|input| input.socket == "depthTarget")
+        .unwrap()
+        .resource;
+    let out_of_range = graph.texture_families.len() as u32;
+    let ResourcePlan::TextureSource { family, .. } =
+        &mut graph.resources[opposite_resource as usize].plan
+    else {
+        panic!("expected opposite texture source")
+    };
+    *family = out_of_range;
+    assert_runtime_plan_invalid(&graph);
+}
diff --git a/static/render-graph/catalog.js b/static/render-graph/catalog.js
index aafd841..30a9790 100644
--- a/static/render-graph/catalog.js
+++ b/static/render-graph/catalog.js
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 export const GRAPH_ID = "authored_gpu_culling";
-export const CATALOG_VERSION = 8;
+export const CATALOG_VERSION = 9;
 const exact = (type) => ({ kind: "exact", types: [type] });
-const i = (type, required = true, authoringType) => ({
+const i = (type, required = true, authoringType, defaultPolicy = required ? "none" : "parameter_literal") => ({
   accepted: typeof type === "string" ? exact(type) : type,
   required,
   ...(authoringType ? { authoringType } : {}),
+  defaultPolicy,
 });
 const o = (type) => ({ type });
 const expression = (inputs, outputs) => ({
@@ -107,13 +108,13 @@ export const semanticCatalog = Object.freeze({
     parameters: { cameraSelection: "active" },
   },
   pipeline: {
-    version: 2,
+    version: 3,
     execution: "render",
     inputs: {
       mesh: i("mesh_data"),
       predicate: i("bool", false),
-      colorTarget: i("texture"),
-      depthTarget: i("texture"),
+      colorTarget: i("texture", false, undefined, "compiler_texture"),
+      depthTarget: i("texture", false, undefined, "compiler_texture"),
     },
     outputs: { color: o("texture"), depth: o("texture") },
     parameters: { pipeline: "gltf_standard", depthCompare: "less_equal", depthWriteEnabled: true, clearDepth: 1, clearColor: [0.015, 0.02, 0.03, 1] },
@@ -427,7 +428,7 @@ export const nodeDefinitions = Object.fromEntries(
               n,
               "input",
               v.authoringType ?? v.accepted.types[0],
-              !v.required ? socketDefault(v.accepted.types[0], defaultForInput(key, n, v.accepted.types[0])) : null,
+              v.defaultPolicy === "parameter_literal" ? socketDefault(v.accepted.types[0], defaultForInput(key, n, v.accepted.types[0])) : null,
             ),
           ]),
         ),
diff --git a/static/render-graph/presets.js b/static/render-graph/presets.js
index 3f9777f..1312189 100644
--- a/static/render-graph/presets.js
+++ b/static/render-graph/presets.js
@@ -34,12 +34,13 @@ const predicates = (withCulling = false) => {
 };
 const scene = (colorTarget, clearColor = [0.015, 0.02, 0.03, 1], heightScale = 1, withCulling = false) => {
   const classification = predicates(withCulling);
+  const explicit = colorTarget || heightScale !== 1;
+  const target = colorTarget || "hdr";
   return [
-  node("hdr", "texture", texture("rgba16_float", 1, heightScale)),
-  node("depth", "texture", texture("depth32_float", 1, heightScale)),
+  ...(explicit && !colorTarget ? [node("hdr", "texture", texture("rgba16_float", 1, heightScale))] : []),
   node("mesh", "mesh"),
   ...classification.nodes,
-  node("ground", "pipeline", { pipeline: "ground_plane", depthCompare: "less_equal", depthWriteEnabled: true, clearDepth: 1, clearColor, predicateDefault: true }, { mesh: input("mesh", "mesh"), predicate: input(classification.classes.ground, "value"), colorTarget: input(colorTarget, "texture"), depthTarget: input("depth", "texture") }),
+  node("ground", "pipeline", { pipeline: "ground_plane", depthCompare: "less_equal", depthWriteEnabled: true, clearDepth: 1, clearColor, predicateDefault: true }, { mesh: input("mesh", "mesh"), predicate: input(classification.classes.ground, "value"), ...(explicit ? { colorTarget: input(target, "texture") } : {}) }),
   node("pbr", "pipeline", { pipeline: "gltf_standard", depthCompare: "less_equal", depthWriteEnabled: true, clearDepth: 1, clearColor, predicateDefault: true }, { mesh: input("mesh", "mesh"), predicate: input(classification.classes.pbr, "value"), colorTarget: input("ground", "color"), depthTarget: input("ground", "depth") }),
   node("pbr_double", "pipeline", { pipeline: "gltf_standard_double_sided", depthCompare: "less_equal", depthWriteEnabled: true, clearDepth: 1, clearColor, predicateDefault: true }, { mesh: input("mesh", "mesh"), predicate: input(classification.classes.pbr_double, "value"), colorTarget: input("pbr", "color"), depthTarget: input("pbr", "depth") }),
 ];
@@ -47,20 +48,20 @@ const scene = (colorTarget, clearColor = [0.015, 0.02, 0.03, 1], heightScale = 1
 const graph = (graphId, nodes) => Object.freeze({ schemaVersion: 2, graphId, revision: 1, nodes });
 const direct = (graphId, clearColor) => graph(graphId, [
   node("ldr", "texture", texture("rgba8_unorm")),
-  ...scene("ldr", clearColor).filter((item) => item.id !== "hdr"),
+  ...scene("ldr", clearColor),
   node("frame_out", "frame_out", frameOut(false), { color: input("pbr_double", "color") }),
 ]);
 export const midnight = direct("preset_midnight", [0.015, 0.06, 0.18, 1]);
 export const ember = direct("preset_ember", [0.18, 0.035, 0.012, 1]);
 export const hdr = graph("preset_hdr_fullscreen", [
-  ...scene("hdr"),
+  ...scene(),
   node("frame_out", "frame_out", frameOut(true), { color: input("pbr_double", "color") }),
 ]);
 export const culling = graph("preset_gpu_culling", (() => {
-  return [...scene("hdr", undefined, 1, true), node("frame_out", "frame_out", frameOut(true), { color: input("pbr_double", "color") })];
+  return [...scene(undefined, undefined, 1, true), node("frame_out", "frame_out", frameOut(true), { color: input("pbr_double", "color") })];
 })());
 const postPreset = (graphId, kind) => {
-  const nodes = [...scene("hdr")];
+  const nodes = [...scene()];
   let source = "pbr_double";
   if (kind === "edges") {
     nodes.splice(0, 0, node("edge_hdr", "texture", texture("rgba16_float")));
@@ -89,7 +90,7 @@ const postPreset = (graphId, kind) => {
 };
 export const tone = postPreset("preset_tone", "tone");
 const displayPreset = (id, parameters, heightScale = 1) => graph(id, [
-  ...scene("hdr", undefined, heightScale),
+  ...scene(undefined, undefined, heightScale),
   node("frame_out", "frame_out", parameters, { color: input("pbr_double", "color") }),
 ]);
 export const contain = displayPreset("preset_contain", frameOut(false, { scaleMode: "contain", filter: "nearest", backgroundColor: [0.18, 0.18, 0.18, 0.25] }), 2);
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ export const bloom = postPreset("preset_bloom", "bloom");
 export const combined = postPreset("preset_combined", "combined");
 export const grading = graph("preset_grading", [
   node("balance_hdr", "texture", texture("rgba16_float")), node("exposure_hdr", "texture", texture("rgba16_float")), node("saturation_hdr", "texture", texture("rgba16_float")), node("mixer_hdr", "texture", texture("rgba16_float")),
-  ...scene("hdr"),
+  ...scene(),
   node("balance", "color_balance", { mode: "lift_gamma_gain", factor: 1, lift: 0, liftColor: [1,1,1,1], gamma: 1, gammaColor: [1,1,1,1], gain: 1, gainColor: [1,1,1,1], offset: 0, offsetColor: [1,1,1,1], power: 1, powerColor: [1,1,1,1], slope: 1, slopeColor: [1,1,1,1] }, { source: input("pbr_double", "color"), colorTarget: input("balance_hdr", "texture") }),
   node("exposure", "exposure_contrast", { exposureStops: 0, contrast: 1, pivot: 0.18, factor: 1 }, { source: input("balance", "color"), colorTarget: input("exposure_hdr", "texture") }),
   node("saturation", "saturation", { saturation: 1, factor: 1 }, { source: input("exposure", "color"), colorTarget: input("saturation_hdr", "texture") }),
diff --git a/tests/fxnode-composition.test.js b/tests/fxnode-composition.test.js
index a36f8fb..8cb8148 100644
--- a/tests/fxnode-composition.test.js
+++ b/tests/fxnode-composition.test.js
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ test("production render graph composition passes fxnode's public validator", asy
       result.ok ? undefined : JSON.stringify(result.issues, null, 2),
     );
     assert.equal(fxNodeComposition.schemaVersion, 2);
-    assert.equal(fxNodeComposition.version, 8);
+    assert.equal(fxNodeComposition.version, 9);
     assert.equal(Object.keys(fxNodeComposition.nodes).length, 42);
     assert.ok(
       Object.values(fxNodeComposition.nodes).every(
diff --git a/tests/render-graph-authoring.test.js b/tests/render-graph-authoring.test.js
index 780c622..4be63c9 100644
--- a/tests/render-graph-authoring.test.js
+++ b/tests/render-graph-authoring.test.js
@@ -5,14 +5,14 @@ import {
   CATALOG_VERSION, semanticCatalog, nodeDefinitions, descriptors,
 } from "../static/render-graph/catalog.js";
 
-test("catalog v8 exposes the final mesh, pipeline, and typed-expression contracts", () => {
-  assert.equal(CATALOG_VERSION, 8);
+test("catalog v9 exposes the final mesh, pipeline, and typed-expression contracts", () => {
+  assert.equal(CATALOG_VERSION, 9);
   assert.deepEqual(semanticCatalog.mesh.outputs, {
     mesh: { type: "mesh_data" }, type: { type: "u32x16" }, localAabb: { type: "local_aabb" },
   });
   assert.equal(semanticCatalog.mesh.version, 2);
   assert.equal(nodeDefinitions.mesh.sockets.localAabb.title, "Local AABB");
-  assert.equal(semanticCatalog.pipeline.version, 2);
+  assert.equal(semanticCatalog.pipeline.version, 3);
   assert.equal(semanticCatalog.pipeline.inputs.predicate.required, false);
   for (const key of ["and", "xnor", "equals_f32", "greater_than_u32", "combine_vec4",
     "separate_mat4", "combine_u32_bits", "separate_u32x16", "separate_local_aabb"])
@@ -27,10 +27,19 @@ test("current culling fixture uses type-bit predicates and final socket versions
   const byId = Object.fromEntries(culling.nodes.map((node) => [node.id, node]));
   assert.deepEqual(byId.cull.inputs.localAabb, { node: "mesh", socket: "localAabb" });
   assert.deepEqual(byId.type_words.inputs.value, { node: "mesh", socket: "type" });
-  assert.equal(byId.ground.executor.version, 2);
+  assert.equal(byId.ground.executor.version, 3);
   assert.equal(byId.ground.inputs.predicate.node, "ground_final");
 });
 
+test("compiler texture sockets expose policy metadata without literal widgets", () => {
+  for (const socket of ["colorTarget", "depthTarget"]) {
+    assert.equal(semanticCatalog.pipeline.inputs[socket].defaultPolicy, "compiler_texture");
+    assert.equal(nodeDefinitions.pipeline.sockets[socket].default, undefined);
+  }
+  assert.equal(semanticCatalog.pipeline.inputs.predicate.defaultPolicy, "parameter_literal");
+  assert.notEqual(nodeDefinitions.pipeline.sockets.predicate.default, null);
+});
+
 test("removed architecture is absent from the authoring catalog", () => {
   for (const removed of ["mesh_query", "pipeline_registry"])
     assert.equal(semanticCatalog[removed], undefined);
diff --git a/tests/render-graph-presets.test.js b/tests/render-graph-presets.test.js
index d435ed6..933c2b6 100644
--- a/tests/render-graph-presets.test.js
+++ b/tests/render-graph-presets.test.js
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ test("presets classify visibility and material through type.words[0] predicates"
     assert.deepEqual(byId.pbr_double.inputs.predicate, { node: name === "culling" ? "pbr_double_final" : "double_class", socket: "value" }, name);
     for (const pipeline of [byId.ground, byId.pbr, byId.pbr_double]) {
       assert.deepEqual(pipeline.inputs.mesh, { node: "mesh", socket: "mesh" });
-      assert.equal(pipeline.executor.version, 2);
+      assert.equal(pipeline.executor.version, 3);
     }
   }
 });
@@ -39,3 +39,15 @@ test("culling adds a local-AABB expression to each material predicate", () => {
   for (const id of ["ground", "pbr", "pbr_double"])
     assert.equal(byId[id].inputs.predicate.node.endsWith("_final"), true);
 });
+
+test("implicit presets start disconnected and then chain both attachments", () => {
+  for (const name of ["hdr", "culling", "grading"]) {
+    const byId = Object.fromEntries(presets[name].nodes.map((node) => [node.id, node]));
+    assert.equal("colorTarget" in byId.ground.inputs, false, name);
+    assert.equal("depthTarget" in byId.ground.inputs, false, name);
+    assert.deepEqual(byId.pbr.inputs.colorTarget, { node: "ground", socket: "color" }, name);
+    assert.deepEqual(byId.pbr.inputs.depthTarget, { node: "ground", socket: "depth" }, name);
+  }
+  const midnight = Object.fromEntries(presets.midnight.nodes.map((node) => [node.id, node]));
+  assert.deepEqual(midnight.ground.inputs.colorTarget, { node: "ldr", socket: "texture" });
+});