diff --git a/ATTRIBUTION.md b/ATTRIBUTION.md
index 4bf3a044d..5bff5cdb0 100644
--- a/ATTRIBUTION.md
+++ b/ATTRIBUTION.md
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ Screenshots of EffectCraft itself, rendered headlessly, showing only procedurall
   (sidecars `.attribution`).
 - Bundled extension (ScriptUI panel) with its twelve built-in ease presets:
   `extensions/scriptui-panels/Ease Presets.jsx` (sidecar `.attribution`).
-- Example effect plug-in: `examples/plugins/posterize-bands` (plug-in API v1, WebAssembly).
+- Example effect plug-in: `examples/plugins/posterize-bands` (WebAssembly ABI 1).
 
 ## Trained models (optional downloads, not bundled)
 
diff --git a/crates/effects/src/lib.rs b/crates/effects/src/lib.rs
index 0d78c3619..771d51068 100644
--- a/crates/effects/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/effects/src/lib.rs
@@ -1514,7 +1514,7 @@ pub const TIME_DEPENDENT: &[&str] = &[
 pub fn is_time_dependent(id: &str) -> bool {
     // Simulations replay from layer time 0, so every frame differs even when the defaults
     // happen to look static at the test's two sample times.
-    id.starts_with("ec.sim.") || TIME_DEPENDENT.contains(&id)
+    id.starts_with("ec.sim.") || TIME_DEPENDENT.contains(&id) || (!id.starts_with("ec.") && plugin::reads_other_times(id))
 }
 
 /// Does effect `id` read its own parameters at earlier times (the stepped particle systems sample
diff --git a/crates/effects/src/plugin.rs b/crates/effects/src/plugin.rs
index 5c973ac57..8bbe17856 100644
--- a/crates/effects/src/plugin.rs
+++ b/crates/effects/src/plugin.rs
@@ -24,10 +24,12 @@
 //! * rendering must be deterministic (same inputs, same output) and may run on several threads
 //!   at once.
 //!
-//! API 2 (native plug-ins; the WebAssembly ABI stays at 1) adds [`EffectPlugin::padding`] and
-//! [`EffectPlugin::render_v2`], which gets a [`PluginHost`] to read the effect's input or other
-//! layers at other times, and the extra parameter kinds. External effect helpers
-//! (`effectcraft-helper-host`) are built on it.
+//! API 2 (native plug-ins) adds [`EffectPlugin::padding`] and [`EffectPlugin::render_v2`], which
+//! gets a [`PluginHost`] to read the effect's input or other layers at other times, and the extra
+//! parameter kinds. External effect helpers (`effectcraft-helper-host`) are built on it.
+//!
+//! The WebAssembly ABI is versioned separately ([`WASM_API_VERSION`]): ABI 1 is `ec_render`;
+//! ABI 2 adds `ec_render2`, which receives the layer's previous and next frames.
 
 use std::sync::{Arc, OnceLock, RwLock};
 
@@ -39,9 +41,12 @@ use crate::{Buf, EffectCtx, EffectSpec, ParamSpec, Params, RenderFn};
 
 /// The plug-in API version this build implements (manifests with API 1 or 2 are accepted).
 pub const PLUGIN_API_VERSION: u32 = 2;
-/// The plug-in API a WebAssembly module implements (its `ec_api_version`). API 2 is for native
-/// and helper plug-ins; WebAssembly modules stay at 1.
-pub const WASM_API_VERSION: u32 = 1;
+/// The newest WebAssembly ABI this build implements (a module's `ec_api_version`). ABI 1 is
+/// `ec_render`; ABI 2 adds `ec_render2` and the layer's neighbouring frames. This is separate
+/// from the plug-in API version: a module's manifest `api` stays 1 or 2.
+pub const WASM_API_VERSION: u32 = 2;
+/// The oldest WebAssembly ABI this build still loads.
+pub const MIN_WASM_API_VERSION: u32 = 1;
 
 /// The most plug-in effects one process can register (commercial effect suites register a few hundred each).
 pub const MAX_PLUGINS: usize = 1024;
@@ -269,6 +274,22 @@ impl PluginImage {
     fn from_buf(b: Buf) -> PluginImage {
         PluginImage { width: b.img.width, height: b.img.height, pixels: b.img.data, origin: b.offset, scale: b.scale }
     }
+
+    /// This image resampled onto a `width × height` buffer grid at `origin`/`scale` (the current
+    /// frame's); the pixels unchanged when the grids already match.
+    pub fn on_grid(&self, width: u32, height: u32, origin: [f64; 2], scale: f64) -> Vec<[f32; 4]> {
+        if self.width == width && self.height == height && self.origin == origin && self.scale == scale {
+            return self.pixels.clone();
+        }
+        let k = self.scale / scale.max(1e-9);
+        let src = crate::Image { width: self.width, height: self.height, data: self.pixels.clone() };
+        crate::util::gen_image(width, height, |x, y| {
+            let lx = (x as f64 + 0.5 - origin[0]) * k + self.origin[0];
+            let ly = (y as f64 + 0.5 - origin[1]) * k + self.origin[1];
+            src.sample_bilinear(lx, ly)
+        })
+        .data
+    }
 }
 
 /// Services available during an API 2 render ([`EffectPlugin::render_v2`]).
@@ -388,6 +409,12 @@ pub trait EffectPlugin: Send + Sync {
     fn render_v2(&self, frame: &mut PluginFrame, params: &PluginParams, time: f64, _host: &dyn PluginHost) -> Result<(), String> {
         self.render(frame, params, time)
     }
+    /// Whether rendering reads the layer at other times (its neighbouring frames). Default
+    /// false; the render cache keys a layer with such an effect on its layer time. WebAssembly
+    /// ABI 2 plug-ins return true.
+    fn reads_other_times(&self) -> bool {
+        false
+    }
 }
 
 static SLOTS: [OnceLock<Arc<dyn EffectPlugin>>; MAX_PLUGINS] = [const { OnceLock::new() }; MAX_PLUGINS];
@@ -432,6 +459,12 @@ pub fn plugin(id: &str) -> Option<Arc<dyn EffectPlugin>> {
     SLOTS.iter().filter_map(|s| s.get()).find(|p| p.manifest().id == id).cloned()
 }
 
+/// Whether the registered plug-in `id` reads the layer at other times (its neighbouring frames),
+/// so the render cache must key its layer on the layer time.
+pub fn reads_other_times(id: &str) -> bool {
+    SLOTS.iter().filter_map(|s| s.get()).any(|p| p.manifest().id == id && p.reads_other_times())
+}
+
 fn leak(s: &str) -> &'static str {
     Box::leak(s.to_string().into_boxed_str())
 }
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/effect.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/effect.rs
index 1d352d192..1ee132955 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/effect.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/effect.rs
@@ -1352,7 +1352,7 @@ pub fn specs() -> Vec<CommandSpec> {
             "Load Effect Plug-in...",
             [],
             None,
-            "{path (.wasm / .wat plug-in, API v1) | folder (loads every .wasm in it)}",
+            "{path (.wasm / .wat plug-in, WebAssembly ABI 1 or 2) | folder (loads every .wasm in it)}",
             super::always,
             plugins_load
         ),
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/system/library.rs b/crates/engine/src/system/library.rs
index 750ed600a..5b7f63092 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/system/library.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/system/library.rs
@@ -304,7 +304,8 @@ pub fn parse_catalog(bytes: &[u8]) -> std::result::Result<(Catalog, Vec<String>)
 fn runs_here(r: &Release) -> bool {
     // Without a pre-release suffix (`0.18.0-dev` is 0.18.0).
     let app = env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION").split(['-', '+']).next().unwrap_or_default();
-    r.api == crate::effects::plugin::WASM_API_VERSION && r.min_app.as_deref().is_none_or(|m| !newer(m, app))
+    (crate::effects::plugin::MIN_WASM_API_VERSION..=crate::effects::plugin::WASM_API_VERSION).contains(&r.api)
+        && r.min_app.as_deref().is_none_or(|m| !newer(m, app))
 }
 
 /// The newest release this build can run (plug-in API and minimum app version).
@@ -789,12 +790,13 @@ fn pick(s: &Session, c: &str, p: &Value) -> Result<(String, Package, Release)> {
         return Err(bad(
             c,
             format!(
-                "{} {} needs plug-in API {} and EffectCraft {} or later; this is EffectCraft {} with WebAssembly plug-in API {}",
+                "{} {} needs WebAssembly ABI {} and EffectCraft {} or later; this is EffectCraft {} with WebAssembly ABI {} to {}",
                 pkg.name,
                 rel.version,
                 rel.api,
                 rel.min_app.as_deref().unwrap_or("(any)"),
                 env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION"),
+                crate::effects::plugin::MIN_WASM_API_VERSION,
                 crate::effects::plugin::WASM_API_VERSION
             ),
         ));
@@ -1125,8 +1127,9 @@ mod tests {
             ..Default::default()
         };
         assert_eq!(latest_compatible(&p).map(|r| r.version.as_str()), Some("1.2.0"));
-        assert!(runs_here(&rel("1.0.0", 1, None)), "API 1 modules still run on a build with a newer plug-in API");
-        assert!(!runs_here(&rel("1.0.0", 2, None)), "WebAssembly modules are API 1: an API 2 release can't load");
+        assert!(runs_here(&rel("1.0.0", 1, None)), "ABI 1 modules still run on a build with a newer ABI");
+        assert!(runs_here(&rel("1.0.0", 2, None)), "ABI 2 modules run on this build");
+        assert!(!runs_here(&rel("1.0.0", 3, None)), "a WebAssembly ABI this build doesn't implement can't load");
         let j = package_json(&p, None, &Status::default());
         assert_eq!(j["needsNewerApp"], true);
         assert!(latest_compatible(&Package::default()).is_none());
diff --git a/crates/host/tests/it/plugins.rs b/crates/host/tests/it/plugins.rs
index 7e4839e6d..33748d366 100644
--- a/crates/host/tests/it/plugins.rs
+++ b/crates/host/tests/it/plugins.rs
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ fn plugin_loading_reports_bad_modules_and_survives_failing_renders() {
     let files = [
         ("a-good.wasm", wat_plugin("org.test.host.good", 1, "i32.const 0").into_bytes()),
         ("b-garbage.wasm", b"\0asm\x01\0\0\0garbage".to_vec()),
-        ("c-v2.wasm", wat_plugin("org.test.host.v2", 2, "i32.const 0").into_bytes()),
+        ("c-v3.wasm", wat_plugin("org.test.host.v3", 3, "i32.const 0").into_bytes()),
         ("d-empty.wasm", vec![]),
         ("e-trap.wasm", wat_plugin("org.test.host.trap", 1, "unreachable").into_bytes()),
         ("notes.txt", b"not a plug-in".to_vec()),
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ fn plugin_loading_reports_bad_modules_and_survives_failing_renders() {
     let errs: Vec<String> = r["errors"].as_array().unwrap().iter().map(|e| e["path"].as_str().unwrap().to_string()).collect();
     assert_eq!(errs.len(), 3, "{r}");
     assert!(errs.iter().all(|p| !p.ends_with(".txt")));
-    assert!(r["errors"].to_string().contains("API 2"), "{r}");
+    assert!(r["errors"].to_string().contains("ABI 3"), "{r}");
     // A single file: errors come back as command errors; loading twice is refused.
     let good = dir.join("a-good.wasm").to_string_lossy().to_string();
     assert!(s.execute("effect.plugins.load", json!({"path": good})).unwrap_err().to_string().contains("already registered"));
@@ -311,3 +311,130 @@ fn plugin_loading_reports_bad_modules_and_survives_failing_renders() {
     assert_eq!(px(&s), before);
     let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(&dir);
 }
+
+/// An ABI 2 plug-in (WebAssembly text) that shows the neighbouring frames it got: per pixel it
+/// writes |next.red − prev.red| into red, `flags / 8` into green, `prev_time` into blue and 1
+/// into alpha, so a render test can read the frames and their times back from the image.
+fn wat_neighbour_plugin(id: &str) -> String {
+    let manifest = format!(r#"{{"api":2,"id":"{id}","name":"Host {id}","category":"Test Plug-ins","version":"1","params":[]}}"#);
+    let len = manifest.len();
+    let escaped = manifest.replace('"', "\\\"");
+    format!(
+        r#"(module
+  (memory (export "memory") 2)
+  (data (i32.const 16) "{escaped}")
+  (func (export "ec_api_version") (result i32) i32.const 2)
+  (func (export "ec_manifest_ptr") (result i32) i32.const 16)
+  (func (export "ec_manifest_len") (result i32) i32.const {len})
+  (func (export "ec_alloc") (param i32) (result i32) i32.const 1024)
+  (func (export "ec_render2")
+    (param $px i32) (param $w i32) (param $h i32) (param $params i32) (param $np i32)
+    (param $t f64) (param $scale f64)
+    (param $prev i32) (param $prev_t f64) (param $next i32) (param $next_t f64) (param $flags i32)
+    (result i32)
+    (local $i i32)
+    (local $n i32)
+    local.get $w
+    local.get $h
+    i32.mul
+    local.set $n
+    block $done
+      loop $per_pixel
+        local.get $i
+        local.get $n
+        i32.ge_u
+        br_if $done
+        ;; red = |next.red - prev.red|
+        local.get $px
+        local.get $i
+        i32.const 16
+        i32.mul
+        i32.add
+        local.get $next
+        local.get $i
+        i32.const 16
+        i32.mul
+        i32.add
+        f32.load
+        local.get $prev
+        local.get $i
+        i32.const 16
+        i32.mul
+        i32.add
+        f32.load
+        f32.sub
+        f32.abs
+        f32.store
+        ;; green = flags / 8
+        local.get $px
+        local.get $i
+        i32.const 16
+        i32.mul
+        i32.add
+        local.get $flags
+        f32.convert_i32_s
+        f32.const 8
+        f32.div
+        f32.store offset=4
+        ;; blue = prev_time
+        local.get $px
+        local.get $i
+        i32.const 16
+        i32.mul
+        i32.add
+        local.get $prev_t
+        f32.demote_f64
+        f32.store offset=8
+        ;; alpha = 1
+        local.get $px
+        local.get $i
+        i32.const 16
+        i32.mul
+        i32.add
+        f32.const 1
+        f32.store offset=12
+        local.get $i
+        i32.const 1
+        i32.add
+        local.set $i
+        br $per_pixel
+      end
+    end
+    i32.const 0))"#
+    )
+}
+
+/// The neighbouring frames are the layer's own pixels at other times: here a precomp whose
+/// nested solid fades from 0 to 100 % over one second, at 4 fps. At 0.5 s the neighbours are
+/// 0.25 s and 0.75 s, so red (the current frame) was 0.5 and |next − prev| is 0.5.
+#[test]
+fn abi_v2_plugins_render_with_real_neighbour_frames() {
+    let mut s = effectcraft_host::session();
+    let inner = s.execute("comp.new", json!({"name": "Inner", "width": 40, "height": 20, "frameRate": 4, "duration": 1})).unwrap()["comp"].as_u64().unwrap();
+    let solid = s.execute("layer.newSolid", json!({"color": [1.0, 0.0, 0.0], "width": 40, "height": 20})).unwrap()["layer"].as_u64().unwrap();
+    s.execute("prop.addKey", json!({"layer": solid, "path": "transform/opacity", "time": 0.0, "value": 0})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("prop.addKey", json!({"layer": solid, "path": "transform/opacity", "time": 1.0, "value": 100})).unwrap();
+    let outer = s.execute("comp.new", json!({"name": "Outer", "width": 40, "height": 20, "frameRate": 4, "duration": 1})).unwrap()["comp"].as_u64().unwrap();
+    let layer = s.execute("layer.addItem", json!({"comp": outer, "item": inner, "time": 0})).unwrap()["layer"].as_u64().unwrap();
+    let outer = effectcraft_engine::project::ItemId(outer);
+
+    let dir = tempfile::TempDir::new().unwrap();
+    let wasm = dir.path().join("neighbours.wasm");
+    std::fs::write(&wasm, wat_neighbour_plugin("org.test.host.neighbours")).unwrap();
+    let r = s.execute("effect.plugins.load", json!({"path": wasm.to_string_lossy()})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(r["loaded"][0]["id"], "org.test.host.neighbours", "{r}");
+    s.execute("effect.apply", json!({"layer": layer, "effect": "org.test.host.neighbours"})).unwrap();
+
+    let p = s.render(outer, Tick::from_seconds_f64(0.5), Default::default()).get(20, 10);
+    assert!((p[0] - 0.5).abs() < 0.02, "precomp neighbours: {p:?}");
+    // Both neighbours exist, the previous one is the 0.25 s frame, and the frame is opaque.
+    assert!((p[1] - 3.0 / 8.0).abs() < 0.01, "flags: {p:?}");
+    assert!((p[2] - 0.25).abs() < 0.01, "prev time: {p:?}");
+    assert_eq!(p[3], 1.0, "{p:?}");
+
+    // At the very start of the layer only the next frame exists (the previous one is zeroed);
+    // solids are filled with a quantised colour, hence the 8-bit step.
+    let p = s.render(outer, Tick::ZERO, Default::default()).get(20, 10);
+    assert!((p[0] - 0.25).abs() < 0.01, "the next frame's red, with no previous frame: {p:?}");
+    assert!((p[1] - 2.0 / 8.0).abs() < 0.01, "only the next frame is valid: {p:?}");
+}
diff --git a/crates/plugin/Cargo.toml b/crates/plugin/Cargo.toml
index 4081b61b6..d9b35a91a 100644
--- a/crates/plugin/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/plugin/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "effectcraft-plugin"
-description = "EffectCraft effect plug-ins: loads sandboxed WebAssembly effect modules (plug-in API v1) into the effect registry"
+description = "EffectCraft effect plug-ins: loads sandboxed WebAssembly effect modules (WebAssembly ABI v1 and v2) into the effect registry"
 version.workspace = true
 edition.workspace = true
 license.workspace = true
diff --git a/crates/plugin/src/lib.rs b/crates/plugin/src/lib.rs
index 7c85e144b..da21e22a0 100644
--- a/crates/plugin/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/plugin/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,21 +1,25 @@
 //! # effectcraft-plugin (L3)
 //!
-//! Loads **WebAssembly effect plug-ins** (plug-in ABI v1, see `docs/plugins.md`; the native
-//! plug-in API 2 additions such as layer parameters and host services are not part of it) into the effect
-//! registry ([`effectcraft_effects::plugin`]). A plug-in is a `.wasm` (or `.wat`) module with
-//! no imports that exports:
+//! Loads **WebAssembly effect plug-ins** (WebAssembly ABI v1 and v2, see `docs/plugins.md`; the
+//! native plug-in API 2 additions such as layer parameters and host services are not part of it)
+//! into the effect registry ([`effectcraft_effects::plugin`]). A plug-in is a `.wasm` (or
+//! `.wat`) module with no imports that exports:
 //!
 //! | export | signature | |
 //! |---|---|---|
 //! | `memory` | memory | linear memory shared with the host |
-//! | `ec_api_version` | `() -> i32` | must return 1 |
+//! | `ec_api_version` | `() -> i32` | 1 for ABI 1, 2 for ABI 2 (neighbouring frames) |
 //! | `ec_manifest_ptr`, `ec_manifest_len` | `() -> i32` | a UTF-8 JSON [`PluginManifest`] in memory |
 //! | `ec_alloc` | `(bytes: i32) -> i32` | a buffer of at least `bytes` bytes, 8-byte aligned; it may reuse the previous one |
-//! | `ec_render` | `(pixels: i32, width: i32, height: i32, params: i32, nparams: i32, time: f64, scale: f64) -> i32` | process the pixels in place; 0 = ok |
+//! | `ec_render` (ABI 1) | `(pixels: i32, width: i32, height: i32, params: i32, nparams: i32, time: f64, scale: f64) -> i32` | process the pixels in place; 0 = ok |
+//! | `ec_render2` (ABI 2) | `ec_render`'s arguments, then `prev: i32, prev_time: f64, next: i32, next_time: f64, flags: i32` | the same, with the neighbouring frames; 0 = ok |
 //!
 //! For each render the host asks `ec_alloc` for one buffer holding the parameters (`nparams`
 //! little-endian `f64`s) followed by the pixels (`width × height × 4` little-endian `f32`s,
-//! premultiplied RGBA, row-major), calls `ec_render`, and reads the pixels back.
+//! premultiplied RGBA, row-major), calls the render export, and reads the pixels back. An ABI 2
+//! module gets two more pixel buffers after the current frame: the layer's previous and next
+//! frames, resampled onto the current grid, and their layer times. The buffers are always
+//! allocated (zeroed when a frame does not exist); `flags` bit 0/1 says which are real.
 //!
 //! Modules run in the [wasmi](https://github.com/wasmi-labs/wasmi) interpreter (pure Rust,
 //! MIT/Apache-2.0) with deterministic floats, no imports (no files, network or clock) and a
@@ -26,7 +30,9 @@
 #![deny(clippy::unwrap_used, clippy::expect_used, clippy::panic, clippy::unimplemented, clippy::todo, clippy::unreachable)]
 
 use effectcraft_effects::EffectSpec;
-pub use effectcraft_effects::plugin::{EffectPlugin, PLUGIN_API_VERSION, PluginFrame, PluginManifest, PluginParams, WASM_API_VERSION, register_plugin};
+pub use effectcraft_effects::plugin::{
+    EffectPlugin, MIN_WASM_API_VERSION, PLUGIN_API_VERSION, PluginFrame, PluginImage, PluginManifest, PluginParams, WASM_API_VERSION, register_plugin,
+};
 
 #[cfg(feature = "wasm")]
 mod wasm;
diff --git a/crates/plugin/src/tests.rs b/crates/plugin/src/tests.rs
index f68fde00a..a4fadb26b 100644
--- a/crates/plugin/src/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/plugin/src/tests.rs
@@ -163,11 +163,15 @@ fn wasm_plugins_are_sandboxed() {
     // No imports (files, clock, network…).
     let imports = r#"(module (import "env" "now" (func $now (result f64))) (memory (export "memory") 1))"#;
     assert!(load_err(load_wasm(imports.as_bytes(), "imports.wat")).contains("import"));
-    // Garbage, wrong API version, bad manifests.
+    // Garbage, an ABI this build doesn't implement, bad manifests. A module that claims ABI 2
+    // must export `ec_render2` (this one still has only `ec_render`).
     assert!(load_wasm(b"\0asm nope", "bad.wasm").is_err());
     let v2 = gain_module("org.test.v2", "")
         .replace("(func (export \"ec_api_version\") (result i32) i32.const 1)", "(func (export \"ec_api_version\") (result i32) i32.const 2)");
-    assert!(load_err(load_wasm(v2.as_bytes(), "v2.wat")).contains("API 2"));
+    assert!(load_err(load_wasm(v2.as_bytes(), "v2.wat")).contains("ec_render2"));
+    let v3 = gain_module("org.test.v3", "")
+        .replace("(func (export \"ec_api_version\") (result i32) i32.const 1)", "(func (export \"ec_api_version\") (result i32) i32.const 3)");
+    assert!(load_err(load_wasm(v3.as_bytes(), "v3.wat")).contains("ABI 3"));
     let reserved = gain_module("ec.blur.mine", "");
     assert!(load_err(load_wasm(reserved.as_bytes(), "reserved.wat")).contains("reserved"));
 }
@@ -194,14 +198,14 @@ fn abi_violations_fail_to_load_with_reasons() {
     assert!(load_err(load_wasm(m.as_bytes(), "x.wat")).contains("ec_api_version"));
     let m = edit(&base, "(param $scale f64) (result i32)", "(param $scale f32) (result i32)");
     assert!(load_err(load_wasm(m.as_bytes(), "x.wat")).contains("ec_render"));
-    // API versions other than 1.
-    for v in ["0", "-1", "2147483647"] {
+    // WebAssembly ABIs other than 1 and 2.
+    for v in ["0", "-1", "3", "2147483647"] {
         let m = edit(
             &base,
             "(func (export \"ec_api_version\") (result i32) i32.const 1)",
             &format!("(func (export \"ec_api_version\") (result i32) i32.const {v})"),
         );
-        assert!(load_err(load_wasm(m.as_bytes(), "x.wat")).contains(&format!("API {v}")), "{v}");
+        assert!(load_err(load_wasm(m.as_bytes(), "x.wat")).contains(&format!("ABI {v}")), "{v}");
     }
     // Manifest out of bounds, negative or absurd lengths, not JSON.
     let ptr = "(func (export \"ec_manifest_ptr\") (result i32) i32.const 16)";
@@ -317,3 +321,168 @@ fn wasm_rendering_is_deterministic() {
     let twin = load_wasm(gain_module("org.test.det2", body).as_bytes(), "det2.wat").unwrap();
     assert_eq!(bits(&render(twin, 0.37, true)), first);
 }
+
+/// An ABI 2 module whose `ec_render2` writes what it got from the host into each pixel: red is
+/// |next.red − prev.red|, green `flags / 8`, blue `prev_time`, alpha 1.
+fn neighbour_module(id: &str) -> String {
+    let manifest = format!(r#"{{"api":2,"id":"{id}","name":"Neighbours {id}","category":"Test Plug-ins","version":"1","params":[]}}"#);
+    let len = manifest.len();
+    let escaped = manifest.replace('\\', "\\\\").replace('"', "\\\"");
+    format!(
+        r#"(module
+  (memory (export "memory") 2)
+  (data (i32.const 16) "{escaped}")
+  (func (export "ec_api_version") (result i32) i32.const 2)
+  (func (export "ec_manifest_ptr") (result i32) i32.const 16)
+  (func (export "ec_manifest_len") (result i32) i32.const {len})
+  (func (export "ec_alloc") (param i32) (result i32) i32.const 1024)
+  (func (export "ec_render2")
+    (param $px i32) (param $w i32) (param $h i32) (param $params i32) (param $np i32)
+    (param $t f64) (param $scale f64)
+    (param $prev i32) (param $prev_t f64) (param $next i32) (param $next_t f64) (param $flags i32)
+    (result i32)
+    (local $i i32) (local $n i32)
+    local.get $w
+    local.get $h
+    i32.mul
+    local.set $n
+    block $done
+      loop $per_pixel
+        local.get $i
+        local.get $n
+        i32.ge_u
+        br_if $done
+        local.get $px
+        local.get $i
+        i32.const 16
+        i32.mul
+        i32.add
+        local.get $next
+        local.get $i
+        i32.const 16
+        i32.mul
+        i32.add
+        f32.load
+        local.get $prev
+        local.get $i
+        i32.const 16
+        i32.mul
+        i32.add
+        f32.load
+        f32.sub
+        f32.abs
+        f32.store
+        local.get $px
+        local.get $i
+        i32.const 16
+        i32.mul
+        i32.add
+        local.get $flags
+        f32.convert_i32_s
+        f32.const 8
+        f32.div
+        f32.store offset=4
+        local.get $px
+        local.get $i
+        i32.const 16
+        i32.mul
+        i32.add
+        local.get $prev_t
+        f32.demote_f64
+        f32.store offset=8
+        local.get $px
+        local.get $i
+        i32.const 16
+        i32.mul
+        i32.add
+        f32.const 1
+        f32.store offset=12
+        local.get $i
+        i32.const 1
+        i32.add
+        local.set $i
+        br $per_pixel
+      end
+    end
+    i32.const 0))"#
+    )
+}
+
+fn neighbour_image(red: f32) -> effectcraft_effects::plugin::PluginImage {
+    effectcraft_effects::plugin::PluginImage { width: 2, height: 1, pixels: vec![[red, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0]; 2], origin: [0.0; 2], scale: 1.0 }
+}
+
+/// A host with frames at two layer times.
+struct Host {
+    time: f64,
+    fps: f64,
+    prev: Option<(f64, effectcraft_effects::plugin::PluginImage)>,
+    next: Option<(f64, effectcraft_effects::plugin::PluginImage)>,
+}
+
+impl effectcraft_effects::plugin::PluginHost for Host {
+    fn input_at(&self, layer_time: f64) -> Option<effectcraft_effects::plugin::PluginImage> {
+        if let Some((t, img)) = &self.prev
+            && (t - layer_time).abs() < 1e-9
+        {
+            return Some(img.clone());
+        }
+        if let Some((t, img)) = &self.next
+            && (t - layer_time).abs() < 1e-9
+        {
+            return Some(img.clone());
+        }
+        None
+    }
+
+    fn layer_input(&self, _param_id: &str, _layer_time: f64) -> Option<effectcraft_effects::plugin::PluginImage> {
+        None
+    }
+
+    fn params_at(&self, _layer_time: f64) -> Option<(Vec<f64>, Vec<String>)> {
+        None
+    }
+
+    fn frame_rate(&self) -> f64 {
+        self.fps
+    }
+
+    fn time(&self) -> f64 {
+        self.time
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn abi_v2_receives_neighbour_frames_and_times() {
+    load_wasm(neighbour_module("org.test.neighbours").as_bytes(), "neighbours.wat").unwrap();
+    let p = effectcraft_effects::plugin::plugin("org.test.neighbours").unwrap();
+    assert!(effectcraft_effects::plugin::reads_other_times("org.test.neighbours"));
+    assert!(effectcraft_effects::is_time_dependent("org.test.neighbours"));
+    // The module has no parameters, so the flattened vector is empty.
+    let params = effectcraft_effects::plugin::PluginParams { manifest: p.manifest(), flat: &[], texts: &[] };
+    let mut px = vec![[0.0f32; 4]; 2];
+    let host = Host { time: 0.5, fps: 4.0, prev: Some((0.25, neighbour_image(0.1))), next: Some((0.75, neighbour_image(0.6))) };
+    let mut frame = effectcraft_effects::plugin::PluginFrame { width: 2, height: 1, pixels: &mut px, scale: 1.0, origin: [0.0; 2], layer_size: [2.0, 1.0] };
+    p.render_v2(&mut frame, &params, 0.5, &host).unwrap();
+    assert!((px[0][0] - 0.5).abs() < 1e-6, "|next − prev|: {px:?}");
+    assert!((px[0][1] - 3.0 / 8.0).abs() < 1e-6, "both flags: {px:?}");
+    assert!((px[0][2] - 0.25).abs() < 1e-6, "previous frame's time: {px:?}");
+    assert_eq!(px[0][3], 1.0);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn abi_v2_without_a_host_gets_zeroed_neighbours() {
+    let spec = load_wasm(neighbour_module("org.test.neighbours.empty").as_bytes(), "empty.wat").unwrap();
+    let mut next_id = 1;
+    let g = effectcraft_effects::instantiate(spec, &mut Ids(&mut next_id), spec.name, [2.0, 1.0]);
+    let params = effectcraft_effects::flatten_params(&g, &mut |p| p.value.clone());
+    let ctx = EffectCtx { params: &params, time: 0.5, layer_size: [2.0, 1.0], seed: 1, adjustment: false, env: EffectEnv::default() };
+    let buf = Buf { img: Image::filled(2, 1, [0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 1.0]), offset: [0.0; 2], scale: 1.0 };
+    // No host: both neighbour buffers are zeroed and no flag is set.
+    assert_eq!((spec.render)(&ctx, buf).img.get(0, 0), [0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0]);
+    // ABI 1 plug-ins keep the time-independent behaviour.
+    let gain = load_wasm(gain_module("org.test.neighbours.v1", "").as_bytes(), "v1.wat").unwrap();
+    assert!(!effectcraft_effects::plugin::reads_other_times("org.test.neighbours.v1"));
+    assert!(!effectcraft_effects::is_time_dependent("org.test.neighbours.v1"));
+    assert!(gain.id.starts_with("org.test."));
+}
diff --git a/crates/plugin/src/wasm.rs b/crates/plugin/src/wasm.rs
index 18a34548f..499d57397 100644
--- a/crates/plugin/src/wasm.rs
+++ b/crates/plugin/src/wasm.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
-//! The wasmi-backed [`EffectPlugin`] (plug-in API v1 ABI, see the crate docs).
+//! The wasmi-backed [`EffectPlugin`] (WebAssembly ABI v1 and v2, see the crate docs).
 
 use std::sync::Mutex;
 
 use wasmi::{Config, Engine, Instance, Linker, Memory, Module, Store, StoreLimits, StoreLimitsBuilder, TypedFunc, WasmParams, WasmResults};
 
-use crate::{EffectPlugin, PluginFrame, PluginManifest, PluginParams, WASM_API_VERSION};
+use crate::{EffectPlugin, MIN_WASM_API_VERSION, PluginFrame, PluginManifest, PluginParams, WASM_API_VERSION};
+use effectcraft_effects::plugin::{PluginHost, PluginImage};
 
 /// Instruction budget per frame: a fixed allowance plus some per pixel. Generous for per-pixel
 /// work, but a runaway loop stops instead of hanging the render.
@@ -15,32 +16,74 @@ const MAX_MEMORY: usize = 1 << 30;
 /// The longest manifest read.
 const MAX_MANIFEST: i32 = 1 << 20;
 
+/// ABI 1: one buffer.
 type RenderFn = TypedFunc<(i32, i32, i32, i32, i32, f64, f64), i32>;
+/// ABI 2: the same call plus the previous and next frame buffers and their layer times.
+type Render2Fn = TypedFunc<(i32, i32, i32, i32, i32, f64, f64, i32, f64, i32, f64, i32), i32>;
+
+enum Renderer {
+    V1(RenderFn),
+    V2(Render2Fn),
+}
 
 /// One instantiated module (renders running on several threads each take their own).
 struct Inst {
+    store: Store<StoreLimits>,
+    memory: Memory,
+    alloc: TypedFunc<i32, i32>,
+    render: Renderer,
+}
+
+/// An instance whose ABI version (and so its render export) is not selected yet.
+struct Pending {
     store: Store<StoreLimits>,
     instance: Instance,
     memory: Memory,
     alloc: TypedFunc<i32, i32>,
-    render: RenderFn,
 }
 
-impl Inst {
+impl Pending {
+    /// A typed export by name, reporting a missing or mistyped export like [`missing`].
     fn func<P: WasmParams, R: WasmResults>(&self, name: &str) -> Result<TypedFunc<P, R>, String> {
         self.instance.get_typed_func::<P, R>(&self.store, name).map_err(|_| missing(name))
     }
+
+    /// Select the render export for `abi`.
+    fn finish(self, abi: u32) -> Result<Inst, String> {
+        let render = match abi {
+            1 => Renderer::V1(self.instance.get_typed_func::<_, i32>(&self.store, "ec_render").map_err(|_| missing("ec_render"))?),
+            2 => Renderer::V2(self.instance.get_typed_func::<_, i32>(&self.store, "ec_render2").map_err(|_| missing("ec_render2"))?),
+            v => return Err(unsupported(v as i32)),
+        };
+        Ok(Inst { store: self.store, memory: self.memory, alloc: self.alloc, render })
+    }
 }
 
+/// The error for a missing or mistyped export.
 fn missing(name: &str) -> String {
     format!("the module exports no `{name}` (or with the wrong signature)")
 }
 
+/// The error for an ABI this build does not implement.
+fn unsupported(v: i32) -> String {
+    format!("the module implements WebAssembly ABI {v}, this build implements ABI {MIN_WASM_API_VERSION} to {WASM_API_VERSION}")
+}
+
+/// The module's `ec_api_version`, when this build implements it.
+fn abi_of(v: i32) -> Result<u32, String> {
+    match u32::try_from(v) {
+        Ok(v) if (MIN_WASM_API_VERSION..=WASM_API_VERSION).contains(&v) => Ok(v),
+        _ => Err(unsupported(v)),
+    }
+}
+
+/// The error for a wasmi or trap failure.
 fn err(e: impl std::fmt::Display) -> String {
     e.to_string()
 }
 
-fn instantiate(engine: &Engine, module: &Module) -> Result<Inst, String> {
+/// Instantiate `module` in a fresh, limited store and read its memory and allocator.
+fn begin(engine: &Engine, module: &Module) -> Result<Pending, String> {
     let mut store = Store::new(engine, StoreLimitsBuilder::new().memory_size(MAX_MEMORY).instances(1).build());
     store.limiter(|l| l);
     store.set_fuel(FUEL_BASE).map_err(err)?;
@@ -48,14 +91,20 @@ fn instantiate(engine: &Engine, module: &Module) -> Result<Inst, String> {
     let instance = linker.instantiate_and_start(&mut store, module).map_err(|e| format!("instantiation failed: {e}"))?;
     let memory = instance.get_memory(&store, "memory").ok_or("the module exports no `memory`")?;
     let alloc = instance.get_typed_func::<i32, i32>(&store, "ec_alloc").map_err(|_| missing("ec_alloc"))?;
-    let render = instance.get_typed_func::<(i32, i32, i32, i32, i32, f64, f64), i32>(&store, "ec_render").map_err(|_| missing("ec_render"))?;
-    Ok(Inst { store, instance, memory, alloc, render })
+    Ok(Pending { store, instance, memory, alloc })
+}
+
+/// Instantiate `module` and select the render export for `abi`.
+fn instantiate(engine: &Engine, module: &Module, abi: u32) -> Result<Inst, String> {
+    begin(engine, module)?.finish(abi)
 }
 
 /// A loaded WebAssembly effect plug-in.
 pub struct WasmPlugin {
     manifest: PluginManifest,
     source: String,
+    /// The WebAssembly ABI the module implements (`ec_api_version`).
+    abi: u32,
     engine: Engine,
     module: Module,
     /// Idle instances.
@@ -63,6 +112,7 @@ pub struct WasmPlugin {
 }
 
 impl WasmPlugin {
+    /// Load `bytes` and its manifest; errors on imports, a bad manifest or a missing export.
     pub fn new(bytes: &[u8], source: &str) -> Result<WasmPlugin, String> {
         let mut config = Config::default();
         config.consume_fuel(true);
@@ -71,51 +121,42 @@ impl WasmPlugin {
         if let Some(i) = module.imports().next() {
             return Err(format!("plug-ins can't import anything (the module imports `{}.{}`)", i.module(), i.name()));
         }
-        let mut inst = instantiate(&engine, &module)?;
-        let version = inst.func::<(), i32>("ec_api_version")?;
-        let v = version.call(&mut inst.store, ()).map_err(err)?;
-        if u32::try_from(v).ok() != Some(WASM_API_VERSION) {
-            return Err(format!("the module implements plug-in API {v}, this build implements API {WASM_API_VERSION} for WebAssembly"));
-        }
-        let ptr = inst.func::<(), i32>("ec_manifest_ptr")?.call(&mut inst.store, ()).map_err(err)?;
-        let len = inst.func::<(), i32>("ec_manifest_len")?.call(&mut inst.store, ()).map_err(err)?;
+        let mut pending = begin(&engine, &module)?;
+        let version = pending.func::<(), i32>("ec_api_version")?;
+        let abi = abi_of(version.call(&mut pending.store, ()).map_err(err)?)?;
+        let ptr = pending.func::<(), i32>("ec_manifest_ptr")?.call(&mut pending.store, ()).map_err(err)?;
+        let len = pending.func::<(), i32>("ec_manifest_len")?.call(&mut pending.store, ()).map_err(err)?;
         if !(0..=MAX_MANIFEST).contains(&len) {
             return Err(format!("bad manifest length {len}"));
         }
         let mut text = vec![0u8; len as usize];
-        inst.memory.read(&inst.store, ptr as u32 as usize, &mut text).map_err(|e| format!("manifest out of bounds: {e}"))?;
+        pending.memory.read(&pending.store, ptr as u32 as usize, &mut text).map_err(|e| format!("manifest out of bounds: {e}"))?;
         let manifest: PluginManifest = serde_json::from_slice(&text).map_err(|e| format!("bad manifest JSON: {e}"))?;
         manifest.validate()?;
         if let Some(p) = manifest.params.iter().find(|p| p.kind.needs_v2()) {
             return Err(format!("parameter `{}`: WebAssembly plug-ins use plug-in API 1 parameter types (no point3, layer, text or hidden)", p.id));
         }
-        Ok(WasmPlugin { manifest, source: source.to_string(), engine, module, pool: Mutex::new(vec![inst]) })
+        let inst = pending.finish(abi)?;
+        Ok(WasmPlugin { manifest, source: source.to_string(), abi, engine, module, pool: Mutex::new(vec![inst]) })
     }
 
+    /// An idle instance, or a fresh one when the pool is empty.
     fn take(&self) -> Result<Inst, String> {
         if let Some(i) = self.pool.lock().ok().and_then(|mut p| p.pop()) {
             return Ok(i);
         }
-        instantiate(&self.engine, &self.module)
+        instantiate(&self.engine, &self.module, self.abi)
     }
 
+    /// Return a working instance to the pool.
     fn give_back(&self, inst: Inst) {
         if let Ok(mut p) = self.pool.lock() {
             p.push(inst);
         }
     }
-}
 
-impl EffectPlugin for WasmPlugin {
-    fn manifest(&self) -> &PluginManifest {
-        &self.manifest
-    }
-
-    fn source(&self) -> String {
-        self.source.clone()
-    }
-
-    fn render(&self, frame: &mut PluginFrame, params: &PluginParams, time: f64) -> Result<(), String> {
+    /// ABI 1: parameters, then the pixels; `ec_render`.
+    fn render_v1(&self, frame: &mut PluginFrame, params: &PluginParams, time: f64) -> Result<(), String> {
         let n = frame.pixels.len();
         let params_bytes = params.flat.len() * 8;
         let total = params_bytes + n * 16;
@@ -130,25 +171,19 @@ impl EffectPlugin for WasmPlugin {
         for v in params.flat {
             buf.extend_from_slice(&v.to_le_bytes());
         }
-        for px in frame.pixels.iter() {
-            for c in px {
-                buf.extend_from_slice(&c.to_le_bytes());
-            }
-        }
+        push_pixels(&mut buf, frame.pixels);
         inst.memory.write(&mut inst.store, base, &buf).map_err(|e| format!("ec_alloc returned a buffer out of bounds: {e}"))?;
         let px_ptr = (base + params_bytes) as i32;
-        let r = inst
-            .render
-            .call(&mut inst.store, (px_ptr, frame.width as i32, frame.height as i32, base as i32, params.flat.len() as i32, time, frame.scale))
-            .map_err(|e| format!("ec_render trapped: {e}"));
+        let r = match &inst.render {
+            Renderer::V1(f) => f
+                .call(&mut inst.store, (px_ptr, frame.width as i32, frame.height as i32, base as i32, params.flat.len() as i32, time, frame.scale))
+                .map_err(|e| format!("ec_render trapped: {e}")),
+            Renderer::V2(_) => return Err("the module implements WebAssembly ABI 1 but exports ec_render2".into()),
+        };
         let r = match r {
             Ok(0) => {
                 inst.memory.read(&inst.store, base + params_bytes, &mut buf[params_bytes..]).map_err(err)?;
-                for (px, b) in frame.pixels.iter_mut().zip(buf[params_bytes..].as_chunks::<16>().0.iter()) {
-                    for (c, v) in px.iter_mut().zip(b.as_chunks::<4>().0.iter()) {
-                        *c = f32::from_le_bytes([v[0], v[1], v[2], v[3]]);
-                    }
-                }
+                read_pixels(&buf[params_bytes..], frame.pixels);
                 Ok(())
             }
             Ok(code) => Err(format!("ec_render returned error {code}")),
@@ -159,4 +194,170 @@ impl EffectPlugin for WasmPlugin {
         }
         r
     }
+
+    /// ABI 2: parameters, the current frame, then the previous and next frames; `ec_render2`.
+    /// The neighbour buffers are always allocated (zeroed when absent), so a module can read
+    /// both without a null check; `flags` says which hold real frames.
+    fn render_v2(
+        &self,
+        frame: &mut PluginFrame,
+        params: &PluginParams,
+        time: f64,
+        prev: Option<(f64, &PluginImage)>,
+        next: Option<(f64, &PluginImage)>,
+    ) -> Result<(), String> {
+        let n = frame.pixels.len();
+        let params_bytes = params.flat.len() * 8;
+        let frame_bytes = n * 16;
+        let total = params_bytes + frame_bytes * 3;
+        if total > i32::MAX as usize {
+            return Err("frame too large for a 32-bit plug-in".into());
+        }
+        let prev_px = prev.map(|(t, img)| (t, img.on_grid(frame.width, frame.height, frame.origin, frame.scale)));
+        let next_px = next.map(|(t, img)| (t, img.on_grid(frame.width, frame.height, frame.origin, frame.scale)));
+        let prev = prev_px.as_ref().filter(|(_, px)| px.len() == n);
+        let next = next_px.as_ref().filter(|(_, px)| px.len() == n);
+        let mut inst = self.take()?;
+        inst.store.set_fuel(FUEL_BASE + FUEL_PER_PIXEL * (n as u64 * 3)).map_err(err)?;
+        let base = inst.alloc.call(&mut inst.store, total as i32).map_err(err)? as u32 as usize;
+        let mut buf: Vec<u8> = Vec::with_capacity(total);
+        for v in params.flat {
+            buf.extend_from_slice(&v.to_le_bytes());
+        }
+        push_pixels(&mut buf, frame.pixels);
+        push_neighbour(&mut buf, prev, frame_bytes);
+        push_neighbour(&mut buf, next, frame_bytes);
+        inst.memory.write(&mut inst.store, base, &buf).map_err(|e| format!("ec_alloc returned a buffer out of bounds: {e}"))?;
+        let px_ptr = (base + params_bytes) as i32;
+        let prev_ptr = (base + params_bytes + frame_bytes) as i32;
+        let next_ptr = (base + params_bytes + frame_bytes * 2) as i32;
+        let flags = i32::from(prev.is_some()) | (i32::from(next.is_some()) << 1);
+        let prev_time = prev.map_or(0.0, |(t, _)| *t);
+        let next_time = next.map_or(0.0, |(t, _)| *t);
+        let r = match &inst.render {
+            Renderer::V2(f) => f
+                .call(
+                    &mut inst.store,
+                    (
+                        px_ptr,
+                        frame.width as i32,
+                        frame.height as i32,
+                        base as i32,
+                        params.flat.len() as i32,
+                        time,
+                        frame.scale,
+                        prev_ptr,
+                        prev_time,
+                        next_ptr,
+                        next_time,
+                        flags,
+                    ),
+                )
+                .map_err(|e| format!("ec_render2 trapped: {e}")),
+            Renderer::V1(_) => return Err("the module implements WebAssembly ABI 2 but exports ec_render".into()),
+        };
+        let r = match r {
+            Ok(0) => {
+                let mut out = vec![0u8; frame_bytes];
+                inst.memory.read(&inst.store, base + params_bytes, &mut out).map_err(err)?;
+                read_pixels(&out, frame.pixels);
+                Ok(())
+            }
+            Ok(code) => Err(format!("ec_render2 returned error {code}")),
+            Err(e) => Err(e),
+        };
+        if r.is_ok() {
+            self.give_back(inst);
+        }
+        r
+    }
+}
+
+/// Append pixels to the little-endian buffer the module reads.
+fn push_pixels(buf: &mut Vec<u8>, px: &[[f32; 4]]) {
+    for p in px {
+        for c in p {
+            buf.extend_from_slice(&c.to_le_bytes());
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// The neighbour's pixels, or `frame_bytes` zeroed bytes when there is no frame.
+fn push_neighbour(buf: &mut Vec<u8>, neighbour: Option<&(f64, Vec<[f32; 4]>)>, frame_bytes: usize) {
+    match neighbour {
+        Some((_, px)) => push_pixels(buf, px),
+        None => buf.resize(buf.len() + frame_bytes, 0),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Read the little-endian pixels the module wrote back.
+fn read_pixels(bytes: &[u8], pixels: &mut [[f32; 4]]) {
+    for (px, b) in pixels.iter_mut().zip(bytes.as_chunks::<16>().0.iter()) {
+        for (c, v) in px.iter_mut().zip(b.as_chunks::<4>().0.iter()) {
+            *c = f32::from_le_bytes([v[0], v[1], v[2], v[3]]);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// The layer times of the frames around `time` on a `fps` grid: the frame before and after it
+/// at a frame boundary, the two frames that bracket it between frames.
+fn neighbour_times(time: f64, fps: f64) -> (f64, f64) {
+    if !fps.is_finite() || fps <= 0.0 {
+        return (time - 1.0 / 30.0, time + 1.0 / 30.0);
+    }
+    let step = 1.0 / fps;
+    let at = time * fps;
+    // Frame times are not exact in floating point: at NTSC rates `time * fps` often lands a few
+    // ulps above or below an integer. Treat a near-integer as a frame boundary, so the current
+    // frame is never handed back as its own neighbour.
+    if (at - at.round()).abs() < 1e-6 { (time - step, time + step) } else { (at.floor() / fps, at.ceil() / fps) }
+}
+
+impl EffectPlugin for WasmPlugin {
+    fn manifest(&self) -> &PluginManifest {
+        &self.manifest
+    }
+
+    fn source(&self) -> String {
+        self.source.clone()
+    }
+
+    fn reads_other_times(&self) -> bool {
+        self.abi >= 2
+    }
+
+    fn render(&self, frame: &mut PluginFrame, params: &PluginParams, time: f64) -> Result<(), String> {
+        if self.abi == 1 { self.render_v1(frame, params, time) } else { self.render_v2(frame, params, time, None, None) }
+    }
+
+    fn render_v2(&self, frame: &mut PluginFrame, params: &PluginParams, time: f64, host: &dyn PluginHost) -> Result<(), String> {
+        if self.abi == 1 {
+            return self.render_v1(frame, params, time);
+        }
+        let (prev_time, next_time) = neighbour_times(time, host.frame_rate());
+        let prev = host.input_at(prev_time);
+        let next = host.input_at(next_time);
+        let prev = prev.as_ref().map(|img| (prev_time, img));
+        let next = next.as_ref().map(|img| (next_time, img));
+        self.render_v2(frame, params, time, prev, next)
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::neighbour_times;
+
+    /// NTSC frame times do not multiply back exactly; every frame boundary must still get the
+    /// frames either side of it, never the frame itself.
+    #[test]
+    fn frame_boundaries_get_their_neighbours_at_ntsc_rates() {
+        let fps = 24000.0 / 1001.0;
+        for n in 0..2400 {
+            // 24000/1001 fps at 254 016 000 000 ticks/s, as `Tick` stores it.
+            let time = (n * 10_594_584_000_i64) as f64 / 254_016_000_000.0;
+            let (prev, next) = neighbour_times(time, fps);
+            assert!((prev - (time - 1.0 / fps)).abs() < 1e-9, "frame {n}: prev {prev}, current {time}");
+            assert!((next - (time + 1.0 / fps)).abs() < 1e-9, "frame {n}: next {next}, current {time}");
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/crates/render/src/cache.rs b/crates/render/src/cache.rs
index 8a3d7b8ae..0756c47f2 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/cache.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/cache.rs
@@ -689,7 +689,9 @@ fn reads_other_times(layer: &Layer, effects: Option<usize>) -> bool {
             fx.groups().take(effects.unwrap_or(usize::MAX)).any(|g| {
                 g.enabled
                     && matches!(&g.kind, effectcraft_project::GroupKind::Effect { effect }
-                        if effect.starts_with("ec.time.") || effectcraft_effects::reads_param_history(effect))
+                        if effect.starts_with("ec.time.")
+                            || effectcraft_effects::reads_param_history(effect)
+                            || (!effect.starts_with("ec.") && effectcraft_effects::plugin::reads_other_times(effect)))
             })
         })
 }
diff --git a/crates/render/src/tests/time.rs b/crates/render/src/tests/time.rs
index 715c37ef0..f959401bb 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/tests/time.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/tests/time.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 //! Time effects through the renderer: neighbouring frames via `EffectHost::self_at`, and the
 //! layer cache staying correct while scrubbing.
 
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
 use effectcraft_color::Label;
+use effectcraft_effects::plugin::{EffectPlugin, PluginFrame, PluginManifest, PluginParams, register_plugin};
 use effectcraft_keyframe::{Keyframe, ShapePath, Value};
 use effectcraft_project::build::{self, Ids};
 use effectcraft_project::{Comp, ItemId, ItemKind, LayerSource, MaskMode, Project, Solid};
@@ -157,3 +160,89 @@ fn input_keys_ignore_later_effects() {
     set(&mut p, "effects/#1/blurriness", 8.0);
     assert_ne!(key(&p).0, one);
 }
+
+/// A plug-in that reads the layer's neighbouring frames (WebAssembly ABI 2) makes its layer's
+/// cache key depend on the layer time, even when the source and every property are static. A
+/// plug-in that does not keeps the old key (#1977: a static layer stays cached across a scrub).
+#[test]
+fn abi2_plugin_layers_key_on_layer_time() {
+    struct NeighbourReader {
+        m: PluginManifest,
+    }
+
+    impl EffectPlugin for NeighbourReader {
+        fn manifest(&self) -> &PluginManifest {
+            &self.m
+        }
+
+        fn render(&self, _frame: &mut PluginFrame, _params: &PluginParams, _time: f64) -> Result<(), String> {
+            Ok(())
+        }
+
+        fn reads_other_times(&self) -> bool {
+            true
+        }
+    }
+
+    struct Plain {
+        m: PluginManifest,
+    }
+
+    impl EffectPlugin for Plain {
+        fn manifest(&self) -> &PluginManifest {
+            &self.m
+        }
+
+        fn render(&self, _frame: &mut PluginFrame, _params: &PluginParams, _time: f64) -> Result<(), String> {
+            Ok(())
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// A static white solid with one plug-in effect, registered by `plugin`.
+    fn plugin_scene(plugin: Arc<dyn EffectPlugin>) -> (Project, ItemId) {
+        let mut p = Project::default();
+        let comp = Comp::new(200, 100, FrameRate::FPS_30, Tick::from_seconds_f64(2.0));
+        let cid = p.add_item("Comp", Label::Sandstone, None, ItemKind::Comp(comp.clone().into()));
+        let sid = p.add_item("Solid", Label::Red, None, ItemKind::Solid(Solid { color: [1.0, 1.0, 1.0], width: 200, height: 100, pixel_aspect: 1.0 }));
+        let mut l = build::layer(&mut p, &comp, "Solid", LayerSource::Solid { item: sid }, (200, 100), None);
+        let spec = register_plugin(plugin).unwrap();
+        let mut next = p.next_id;
+        let g = effectcraft_effects::instantiate(spec, &mut Ids(&mut next), spec.name, [200.0, 100.0]);
+        p.next_id = next;
+        l.props.sub_mut("effects").unwrap().children.push(g.into());
+        p.comp_mut(cid).unwrap().layers.push(l);
+        (p, cid)
+    }
+
+    fn key(p: &Project, cid: ItemId, t: f64) -> Option<u64> {
+        let comp = p.comp(cid).unwrap();
+        let ctx = crate::EvalCtx {
+            project: p,
+            comp_id: cid,
+            comp,
+            time: Tick::from_seconds_f64(t),
+            expr: None,
+            footage: None,
+            property_overrides: &[],
+            media_overrides: &[],
+            reads: None,
+        };
+        crate::cache::layer_key(&ctx, &comp.layers[0], 1.0, false, false)
+    }
+
+    let manifest = |id: &str| PluginManifest {
+        api: 2,
+        id: id.into(),
+        name: "Key".into(),
+        category: "Test Plug-ins".into(),
+        version: "1".into(),
+        author: String::new(),
+        description: String::new(),
+        params: vec![],
+    };
+
+    let (plain, c1) = plugin_scene(Arc::new(Plain { m: manifest("org.test.render.time-key.plain") }));
+    assert_eq!(key(&plain, c1, 0.25), key(&plain, c1, 0.5), "a plain plug-in keeps the old key");
+    let (reader, c2) = plugin_scene(Arc::new(NeighbourReader { m: manifest("org.test.render.time-key.reader") }));
+    assert_ne!(key(&reader, c2, 0.25), key(&reader, c2, 0.5), "an ABI 2 plug-in keys on the layer time");
+}
diff --git a/docs/architecture.md b/docs/architecture.md
index a04907aec..1e91da215 100644
--- a/docs/architecture.md
+++ b/docs/architecture.md
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ cpal or muda. Everything in L0 to L4, the egui UI and the web app also build for
 | L3 | `interchange` | Premiere Pro interop through timeline interchange (FCP7 XML, FCPXML, OTIO, EDL, AAF, OMF via FilmCraft's `filmcraft-interchange`): sequences ↔ compositions (§6a) |
 | L3 | `aep` | After Effects projects in one crate (like `lottie`): `container` reads and writes the `.aep` container (RIFX `Egg!`) as a lossless chunk tree with a byte-identical round trip, bounded for hostile input, reads the `.aepx` XML form into the same tree, and has a typed view of items, layers, properties, effects, masks, shapes, text, markers, footage, cameras, lights and layer styles, from our own observations of generated files ([aep-format.md](aep-format.md)); `import` maps the typed view into a project (items, settings, compositions, every layer kind, Transform, keyframes, expressions, masks, text, shapes, cameras, lights, mattes, markers, time remapping, layer styles, the effects of a shared table, footage) with a report of everything not imported ([aep-import.md](aep-import.md)); `export` builds every chunk in code (prototypes in the layout After Effects writes, cloned and edited only at verified fields) for the same scope, with a report of everything not exported, verified by opening the output in After Effects ([aep-export.md](aep-export.md)) |
 | L3 | `lottie` | Lottie JSON / dotLottie import and export (layers, precomps, eased and spatial keyframes, shapes, masks, mattes) with a warnings list for what Lottie cannot express |
-| L3 | `plugin` | Effect plug-ins: loads sandboxed WebAssembly effect modules (plug-in API v1; the wasmi interpreter behind the `wasm` feature, on for native hosts) into the effect registry ([plugins.md](plugins.md)) |
+| L3 | `plugin` | Effect plug-ins: loads sandboxed WebAssembly effect modules (WebAssembly ABI v1 and v2, the latter with neighbouring frames; the wasmi interpreter behind the `wasm` feature, on for native hosts) into the effect registry ([plugins.md](plugins.md)) |
 | L3 | `helper-host` | External effect helpers: finds helper programs, runs each as a child process and registers its effects (plug-in API 2) over a versioned pipe + shared-file protocol; a crashing helper is an error on the effect, never a crash ([external-helpers.md](external-helpers.md), [ADR 0001](adr/0001-external-effect-helpers.md)). Native only |
 | L4 | `engine` | `Session`: project, branching undo history, editor state, the command registry and menus, the ScriptUI window model (`scriptui`) |
 | L4 | `script` | Scripting: JavaScript (boa) with an After Effects-style object model (`app.project`, comps, layers, properties, render queue) and ScriptUI (dialogs, palettes, dockable panels; script-host threads so dialogs block `show()`), whose edits run engine commands; AE match names |
diff --git a/docs/plugins.md b/docs/plugins.md
index 3fd8cf944..290ed033c 100644
--- a/docs/plugins.md
+++ b/docs/plugins.md
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ Guide):
 
 | After Effects | EffectCraft | |
 |---|---|---|
-| Effect plug-ins (C/C++ SDK, `.aex` / `.plugin`) | [Effect plug-ins](#effect-plug-ins): WebAssembly modules (plug-in API v1) or Rust; the `Plug-ins` folder next to the settings loads at start-up | Different ABI: After Effects SDK plug-ins can't run (G8) |
+| Effect plug-ins (C/C++ SDK, `.aex` / `.plugin`) | [Effect plug-ins](#effect-plug-ins): WebAssembly modules (WebAssembly ABI 1 and 2) or Rust; the `Plug-ins` folder next to the settings loads at start-up | Different ABI: After Effects SDK plug-ins can't run (G8) |
 | Scripts folder: its scripts are listed in File ▸ Scripts | `Scripts/` in the settings folder (File ▸ Scripts ▸ Install Script File… copies a script there), listed in File ▸ Scripts with the bundled samples; a subfolder (one level) is a submenu named after it | Same |
 | File ▸ Scripts ▸ Run Script File… (`.jsx`, `.jsxbin`) | `.jsx` / `.js` | Gap: `.jsxbin` (an undocumented binary encoding) |
 | File ▸ Scripts ▸ Recent Script Files: the 10 most recently run scripts; Cmd+Option+Shift+D (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+D on Windows) reruns one | File ▸ Scripts ▸ Recent Script Files lists the 10 scripts run last (script files and File ▸ Scripts entries, newest first, kept in the settings); Cmd+Alt+Shift+D runs the most recent one again (`file.runScript {"recent": 0}`, a key that can be changed in Edit ▸ Keyboard Shortcuts) | Same |
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ example of a keyframe tool.
 
 ## Effect plug-ins
 
-EffectCraft loads third-party effects through a small, versioned plug-in API (**API version 2**; WebAssembly ABI 1).
+EffectCraft loads third-party effects through a small, versioned plug-in API (**API version 2**; WebAssembly ABI 1 and 2).
 A plug-in effect behaves exactly like a built-in one: it is listed in Effects & Presets (and the
 Effect menu) under its category, applied by id (`effect.apply {"effect": "org.example.posterize"}`)
 or display name, its parameters are ordinary properties (keyframes, expressions, Effect Controls,
@@ -178,7 +178,8 @@ author, source, params}]}`.
 * **Parameters** arrive flattened to `f64`s in the order they are declared: slider, angle,
   checkbox (0 / 1) and popup (0-based index) take one value, point two (already in **buffer
   pixels**), colour four (RGBA 0–1).
-* **Time** is layer time in seconds.
+* **Time** is layer time in seconds. A WebAssembly module written for ABI 2 also gets the
+  layer's neighbouring frames at other times (see [WebAssembly ABI](#webassembly-abi)).
 * Rendering must be **deterministic** and may run on several threads at once (a WebAssembly
   plug-in gets one instance per thread).
 * A failed render (an error code, a trap, running out of fuel) leaves the frame unchanged.
@@ -216,22 +217,36 @@ Every plug-in describes itself with a JSON manifest:
   parameters; a slider needs `min ≤ default ≤ max` (and `sliderMin ≤ sliderMax`); the manifest
   is at most 1 MiB.
 
-### WebAssembly ABI (v1)
+### WebAssembly ABI
 
-A module with **no imports** that exports:
+A module with **no imports** exports:
 
 | export | signature | |
 |---|---|---|
 | `memory` | memory | linear memory shared with the host |
-| `ec_api_version` | `() -> i32` | must return `1` |
+| `ec_api_version` | `() -> i32` | `1` for ABI 1, `2` for ABI 2 (neighbouring frames) |
 | `ec_manifest_ptr`, `ec_manifest_len` | `() -> i32` | the UTF-8 JSON manifest in memory |
 | `ec_alloc` | `(bytes: i32) -> i32` | a buffer of at least `bytes` bytes, 8-byte aligned; it may reuse the previous one |
-| `ec_render` | `(pixels: i32, width: i32, height: i32, params: i32, nparams: i32, time: f64, scale: f64) -> i32` | process the pixels in place; return 0 on success |
+| `ec_render` (ABI 1) | `(pixels: i32, width: i32, height: i32, params: i32, nparams: i32, time: f64, scale: f64) -> i32` | process the pixels in place; return 0 on success |
+| `ec_render2` (ABI 2) | `ec_render`'s arguments, then `prev: i32, prev_time: f64, next: i32, next_time: f64, flags: i32` | the same, with the neighbouring frames; return 0 on success |
 
 For each frame the host calls `ec_alloc` once for a buffer holding the parameters (`nparams`
-little-endian `f64`s) followed by the pixels (`width × height × 4` little-endian `f32`s), fills it,
-calls `ec_render`, and reads the pixels back. Each call gets a fuel budget proportional to the
-frame size; a module that loops forever stops with an error instead of hanging the app.
+little-endian `f64`s) followed by the pixels (`width × height × 4` little-endian `f32`s,
+premultiplied RGBA, row-major), fills it, calls the module's render export, and reads the pixels
+back. An ABI 2 module gets two more pixel buffers after the current frame: the previous and next
+frames, resampled onto the current buffer's grid. At a frame boundary they are the frames before
+and after it (`time ± 1/fps`); between frames they are the two frames that bracket `time`.
+
+The neighbour buffers are always allocated (zeroed when the layer has no pixels there, so a
+module can read both without a null check). `flags` bit 0 is set when `prev` holds a real frame,
+bit 1 when `next` does; `prev_time` / `next_time` are those frames' layer times in seconds (0
+when absent). The ABI version is the module's `ec_api_version` and is independent of the
+manifest's `api` (the native plug-in API): a module can use ABI 2 while its manifest says
+`"api": 1`. Because an ABI 2 module reads other times, its layer is keyed on the layer time in
+the render cache; ABI 1 modules keep the time-independent key.
+
+Each call gets a fuel budget proportional to the frame size; a module that loops forever stops
+with an error instead of hanging the app.
 
 #### Example
 
@@ -324,8 +339,10 @@ register_plugin(Arc::new(Swap(manifest)))?; // before the UI builds its menus
 ## Plug-in API 2 (native plug-ins)
 
 API 2 is for Rust plug-ins and for hosts that bring effects from elsewhere (such as
-[external effect helpers](external-helpers.md)); the WebAssembly ABI stays at 1. Manifests with `"api": 1` or `2` are accepted,
-`effect.plugins.list` reports `api: 2`, and up to 1024 plug-in effects can be registered.
+[external effect helpers](external-helpers.md)); the WebAssembly ABI is versioned separately
+(ABI 2 adds the neighbouring frames, see [WebAssembly ABI](#webassembly-abi)). Manifests with
+`"api": 1` or `2` are accepted, `effect.plugins.list` reports `api: 2`, and up to 1024 plug-in
+effects can be registered.
 
 * **New parameter types**: `point3` (`default` `[x, y, z]`; x, y arrive in buffer pixels, z as is),
   `layer` (another layer of the composition; flattens to its id, -1 for none, read with
@@ -354,9 +371,11 @@ API 2 is for Rust plug-ins and for hosts that bring effects from elsewhere (such
 
 ### Compatibility
 
-The API version is checked when a plug-in loads: a manifest or module for another version is
-refused with a message. Within a version the contract above does not change; additions (new
-parameter types, new optional exports) bump the version.
+The API version is checked when a plug-in loads: this build implements plug-in API 1 and 2 and
+WebAssembly ABI 1 and 2; a manifest or module for another version is refused with a message.
+ABI 1 modules load and render unchanged; ABI 2 modules add `ec_render2` and the neighbouring
+frames. Within a version the contract above does not change; additions (new parameter types,
+new optional exports) bump the version.
 
 ## Plug-in Library
 
diff --git a/examples/plugins/posterize-bands/Cargo.toml b/examples/plugins/posterize-bands/Cargo.toml
index 825d704aa..65bbbaaaf 100644
--- a/examples/plugins/posterize-bands/Cargo.toml
+++ b/examples/plugins/posterize-bands/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "posterize-bands"
-description = "Example EffectCraft effect plug-in (WebAssembly, plug-in API v1): posterizes luminance into tinted bands"
+description = "Example EffectCraft effect plug-in (WebAssembly ABI 1): posterizes luminance into tinted bands"
 version = "1.0.0"
 edition = "2024"
 license = "MIT OR Apache-2.0"
diff --git a/examples/plugins/posterize-bands/src/lib.rs b/examples/plugins/posterize-bands/src/lib.rs
index 9af709433..77026a16f 100644
--- a/examples/plugins/posterize-bands/src/lib.rs
+++ b/examples/plugins/posterize-bands/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-//! Posterize Bands: an example EffectCraft effect plug-in (plug-in API v1, see
+//! Posterize Bands: an example EffectCraft effect plug-in (WebAssembly ABI 1, see
 //! `docs/plugins.md`). It quantizes each pixel's luminance into `levels` bands and mixes a tint
 //! colour in by `mix` percent, optionally only above a `threshold`.
 //!