diff --git a/settings/quickshell.nix b/settings/quickshell.nix
index 51e0cf8..238b64b 100644
--- a/settings/quickshell.nix
+++ b/settings/quickshell.nix
@@ -968,8 +968,20 @@ in
                     // Panels grow rightward out of the bar column, so the
                     // cross-axis is now vertical: the 8px inset that used to
                     // be left/right is top/bottom.
-                    readonly property real panelTop: chrome.y + 8
-                    readonly property real panelBottom: chrome.y + chrome.height - 8
+                    readonly property real rawTop: chrome.y + 8
+                    readonly property real rawBottom: chrome.y + chrome.height - 8
+                    // A surface that comes within snapDist of a frame band is
+                    // extended 4px INTO it, so the SDF fuses the two into one
+                    // swollen shape rather than leaving a visible seam and a
+                    // stranded rounded corner. The launcher has always done
+                    // this via launchBot; this generalises it to every panel.
+                    readonly property real meltTop: Theme.frameWidth - 4
+                    readonly property real meltBot: bar.height - Theme.frameWidth + 4
+                    readonly property real snapDist: Theme.panelGap + 4
+                    readonly property real panelTop: rawTop <= Theme.frameWidth + snapDist
+                        ? meltTop : rawTop
+                    readonly property real panelBottom: rawBottom >= bar.height - Theme.frameWidth - snapDist
+                        ? meltBot : rawBottom
                     // The panel/toast/session centre-x uses (barWidth − 4): the
                     // surface overlaps 4px into the bar so the two melt.
                     readonly property real surfLeftX: Theme.barWidth - 4
@@ -982,13 +994,17 @@ in
                         ? Qt.vector4d(surfLeftX + chrome.width / 2, (panelTop + panelBottom) / 2,
                                       4 + chrome.width / 2, (panelBottom - panelTop) / 2)
                         : Qt.vector4d(0, 0, 0, 0)
+                    // Toast sits under the top frame band and melts up into it.
+                    readonly property real toastBot: toastItem.y + 8 + _toastRect.height
                     property vector4d toast: toastItem.visible && _toastRect.width > 0.5
-                        ? Qt.vector4d(surfLeftX + _toastRect.width / 2, toastItem.y + 8 + _toastRect.height / 2,
-                                      4 + _toastRect.width / 2, _toastRect.height / 2)
+                        ? Qt.vector4d(surfLeftX + _toastRect.width / 2, (meltTop + toastBot) / 2,
+                                      4 + _toastRect.width / 2, (toastBot - meltTop) / 2)
                         : Qt.vector4d(0, 0, 0, 0)
+                    // Session menu sits in the bottom-left corner and melts
+                    // down into the bottom frame band.
                     property vector4d session: sessionMenu.visible
-                        ? Qt.vector4d(surfLeftX + sessionMenu.width / 2, sessionMenu.y + sessionMenu.height / 2,
-                                      4 + sessionMenu.width / 2, sessionMenu.height / 2)
+                        ? Qt.vector4d(surfLeftX + sessionMenu.width / 2, (sessionMenu.y + meltBot) / 2,
+                                      4 + sessionMenu.width / 2, (meltBot - sessionMenu.y) / 2)
                         : Qt.vector4d(0, 0, 0, 0)
                     // The launcher is the one surface that stays put: it still
                     // grows from the bottom frame band at screen centre.
@@ -1051,9 +1067,11 @@ in
                     }
 
                     // Unfolds rightward out of the bar at the bottom-left,
-                    // level with the power button that opens it.
+                    // level with the power button that opens it. Bottom edge
+                    // sits on the frame's inner edge so the shader can melt
+                    // the two together (meltBot) instead of leaving a seam.
                     x: Theme.barWidth
-                    y: Math.round(bar.height - Theme.frameWidth - height - 8)
+                    y: Math.round(bar.height - Theme.frameWidth - height)
                     width: openW
                     height: openH
                     visible: openW > 0.5
@@ -1889,9 +1907,11 @@ in
 
                         SIcon {
                             id: qsIcon
-                            anchors.verticalCenter: parent.verticalCenter
+                            // centerIn, not verticalCenter: the cell used to be
+                            // qsIcon.width so horizontal centring was implicit.
+                            anchors.centerIn: parent
                             text: "nightlight"
-                            font.pixelSize: 16
+                            font.pixelSize: 18
                         }
 
                         function openQsDropdown() {
@@ -2070,12 +2090,12 @@ in
                         open = true;
                     }
 
-                    // Inset by panelGap so a panel that hits the clamp never
-                    // sits flush on the frame band: flush fuses the two in the
-                    // SDF and eats the panel's rounded corner. Outer max wins
-                    // when a panel is taller than the space (yMax < yMin).
-                    readonly property real yMin: Theme.frameWidth + Theme.panelGap
-                    readonly property real yMax: bar.height - Theme.frameWidth - Theme.panelGap - height
+                    // Clamp to the frame's inner edge. A panel that lands here
+                    // is MEANT to fuse with the frame band — the shader melts
+                    // it in (see meltTop/meltBot). Outer max wins when a panel
+                    // is taller than the space (yMax < yMin).
+                    readonly property real yMin: Theme.frameWidth
+                    readonly property real yMax: bar.height - Theme.frameWidth - height
                     x: Theme.barWidth
                     y: Math.round(Math.max(yMin, Math.min(yMax, dropdownY - height / 2)))
                     width: fullWidth + 4