diff --git a/server/test/pip-overlay.test.js b/server/test/pip-overlay.test.js
index 0b78626..b64a349 100644
--- a/server/test/pip-overlay.test.js
+++ b/server/test/pip-overlay.test.js
@@ -25,6 +25,13 @@ function makeEl() {
   };
   Object.defineProperty(el, 'innerHTML', { get() { return this._html; }, set(v) { this._html = v; if (v === '') this.children = []; } });
   Object.defineProperty(el, 'src', { get() { return this._src; }, set(v) { this._src = v; } });
+  // #187: renderImage is now decode-gated (swap-after-decode, never clear-then-load). This shim has
+  // no HTMLImageElement.decode() and doesn't fire onload, so mark a src'd <img> already-decoded
+  // (complete + naturalWidth>0) — renderImage then takes its synchronous complete-fallback branch and
+  // mounts, exactly as the old clear-then-load path did. The decode()/onload timing itself is proven
+  // in tizen-image-blackflash.test.js; here we only need the image to land in #stage.
+  Object.defineProperty(el, 'complete', { get() { return !!this._src; } });
+  Object.defineProperty(el, 'naturalWidth', { get() { return this._src ? 1 : 0; } });
   Object.defineProperty(el, 'textContent', { get() { return this._text; }, set(v) { this._text = v; } });
   return el;
 }
diff --git a/server/test/tizen-image-blackflash.test.js b/server/test/tizen-image-blackflash.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..188f9aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/test/tizen-image-blackflash.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,288 @@
+'use strict';
+
+// #187 Tizen image black-flash verification test. Loads the REAL tizen/js/player.js into a
+// node:vm context with a minimal hand-rolled DOM element shim (modeled on pip-overlay.test.js —
+// the repo has NO jsdom; CI is plain `node --test --test-concurrency=2`).
+//
+// THE BUG (#187): the Tizen player black-flashed between IMAGE items because playCurrent() called
+// clearStage() (stage.innerHTML='') BEFORE renderImage() set img.src, so #stage was empty (black)
+// for the entire decode duration of the incoming image.
+//
+// THE FIX (already applied to tizen/js/player.js — this test only VERIFIES it): images now get a
+// decode-gated one-ahead double buffer (mirrors the video preloader). renderImage takes a
+// pre-decoded <img> (preloadImage/_takePreloadImage) or decodes a fresh detached <img>, and ONLY
+// THEN clearStage()+appendChild — a SWAP, never clear-then-load. HTMLImageElement.decode() is
+// feature-detected with an onload/complete fallback (Tizen 5.0 / SSSP6 may lack decode()). An
+// onerror / decode-reject routes to skipSoon().
+//
+// THE INVARIANT PROVEN HERE: across an image->image transition, #stage is NEVER without a mounted
+// <img> — the OLD <img> stays mounted until the NEW image's decode()/onload resolves, then it's
+// swapped. A real black flash is a GPU/timing artifact that will not render headlessly, so we assert
+// this DOM ordering invariant instead — it is the exact condition whose absence caused the flash.
+//
+// HOW THE TEST HAS TEETH (distinguishes swap-after-decode from the old clear-then-load): we wrap
+// player.clearStage() and record the #stage <img> count at the instant it is called. Under the FIX,
+// clearStage() is NOT called at all between "advance issued" and "new image decoded"; it fires
+// exactly once, at swap time, with the OLD image (count 1) still mounted. Under the OLD ordering
+// clearStage() fired in playCurrent() BEFORE the decode, so (a) clearLog would grow at advance time,
+// and (b) the mounted element right after advance would be the undecoded NEW image (or empty), not
+// the old one — both of which these assertions reject. (Proven to fail against a reverted copy in a
+// /tmp scratch run during development; see the report.)
+//
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// MANUAL ON-PANEL SIGN-OFF (Samsung OM55B / SSSP — headless proves the DOM invariant, but real
+// decode-HW timing needs the panel):
+//   1. Build + sideload the new .wgt onto the OM55B (Tizen CLI 6.1, ScreenTinker signing profile).
+//   2. Assign a playlist of SEVERAL LARGE PNG stills (e.g. 4-6 full-res 1080p+ PNGs, short dwell
+//      ~5-8s each so transitions come often).
+//   3. Watch 10+ consecutive image->image transitions closely for ANY black/blank frame between
+//      stills. Expected: each new still replaces the previous with no intervening black.
+//   4. Confirm the OTHER item types still transition normally: add a video, a YouTube item, and a
+//      widget/remote_url item to the playlist and watch image->video, video->image, image->widget,
+//      widget->image handoffs — none should regress (only the image path changed; every other type
+//      keeps the pre-dispatch clearStage()).
+//   5. Optional: reboot the panel and re-watch to catch cold-decode timing.
+//   Note: headless proves "old <img> stays mounted until the new one is decode-ready"; it CANNOT
+//   prove the GPU actually paints the new frame before the swap — that is what the panel confirms.
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+const { test } = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const path = require('node:path');
+const vm = require('node:vm');
+
+// Drain the host microtask queue (decode() promises resolve on the real microtask queue, independent
+// of the sandbox's captured setTimeout). setImmediate fires after all pending microtasks.
+const flush = () => new Promise((res) => setImmediate(res));
+
+// --- minimal DOM element shim: extends pip-overlay's shim with what the fixed renderImage/preloadImage
+// use on an <img>: settable src, onload/onerror handler props, complete + naturalWidth, and a
+// test-controllable decode() Promise. Tracks parent/child links so appendChild/removeChild/parentNode/
+// querySelector and innerHTML='' clearing all behave. ---
+function makeEl() {
+  const el = {
+    tag: '', style: { cssText: '' }, className: '', attrs: {}, children: [], parentNode: null,
+    _html: '', _src: '', _text: '',
+    onload: null, onerror: null, complete: false, naturalWidth: 0,
+    _decodeDeferreds: [],   // pending decode() controllers (test resolves/rejects them on demand)
+    appendChild(c) { c.parentNode = this; this.children.push(c); this._html = '<children>'; return c; },
+    removeChild(c) { const i = this.children.indexOf(c); if (i >= 0) { this.children.splice(i, 1); c.parentNode = null; } return c; },
+    querySelector(sel) { return this.children.find(c => c.tag === sel) || null; },
+    setAttribute(k, v) { this.attrs[k] = v; },
+    removeAttribute(k) { delete this.attrs[k]; },
+    addEventListener() {}, removeEventListener() {},
+    classList: { add() {}, remove() {}, contains() { return false; } },
+    load() {}, pause() {}, play() { return { catch() {} }; },
+  };
+  Object.defineProperty(el, 'innerHTML', {
+    get() { return this._html; },
+    set(v) { this._html = v; if (v === '') { this.children.forEach(c => { c.parentNode = null; }); this.children = []; } },
+  });
+  Object.defineProperty(el, 'src', { get() { return this._src; }, set(v) { this._src = v; } });
+  Object.defineProperty(el, 'textContent', { get() { return this._text; }, set(v) { this._text = v; } });
+  return el;
+}
+
+// Give an <img> element a test-controllable decode() (only when decode() is "supported" for the run).
+function attachDecode(el) {
+  el.decode = function () {
+    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => { el._decodeDeferreds.push({ resolve, reject }); });
+  };
+}
+
+// Settle EVERY pending decode() call recorded on an element (preloadImage and renderImage each call
+// decode() on the same warmed element, so there can be more than one). ok=false -> reject.
+function settleDecode(el, ok) {
+  const ds = el._decodeDeferreds.splice(0);
+  ds.forEach(d => (ok ? d.resolve() : d.reject(new Error('decode failed'))));
+}
+
+// Fire an element's onload/onerror handler (the decode()-unsupported fallback path).
+function fireLoad(el) { if (typeof el.onload === 'function') el.onload(); }
+function fireError(el) { if (typeof el.onerror === 'function') el.onerror(); }
+
+function loadPlayerContext(opts) {
+  opts = opts || {};
+  const decodeSupported = opts.decodeSupported !== false; // default: decode() available
+  const created = [];                                     // every element the player creates
+  const timers = {};
+  let seq = 0;
+  const sandbox = {
+    console, Date,
+    setTimeout: (fn) => { const id = ++seq; timers[id] = fn; return id; },
+    clearTimeout: (id) => { delete timers[id]; },
+    setInterval: () => 0, clearInterval: () => {},
+    localStorage: { getItem: () => null, setItem() {}, removeItem() {} },
+    navigator: { language: 'en' },
+  };
+  sandbox.document = {
+    createElement: (tag) => {
+      const e = makeEl(); e.tag = tag;
+      if (tag === 'img' && decodeSupported) attachDecode(e);
+      created.push(e);
+      return e;
+    },
+    getElementById: () => null,
+  };
+  sandbox.window = sandbox;
+  vm.createContext(sandbox);
+  const read = (p) => fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '..', '..', 'tizen', 'js', p), 'utf8');
+  vm.runInContext(read('player.js'), sandbox, { filename: 'player.js' });
+  return { sandbox, timers, created };
+}
+
+// Test helpers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+function imgItem(id, order) { return { content_id: id, mime_type: 'image/png', sort_order: order, duration_sec: 10 }; }
+
+// Build a player over a fresh stage, instrument clearStage to log the #stage <img> count at call time,
+// and return the handles the cases need.
+function newPlayer(ctx) {
+  const stage = makeEl(); stage.tag = 'div';
+  const player = new ctx.sandbox.PlaylistPlayer(stage, () => 'http://server');
+  const clearLog = [];                 // #stage <img> count captured at each clearStage() call
+  const stageImgs = () => stage.children.filter(c => c.tag === 'img');
+  const _clear = player.clearStage.bind(player);
+  player.clearStage = function () { clearLog.push(stageImgs().length); return _clear(); };
+  const findImg = (frag) => ctx.created.filter(c => c.tag === 'img').find(c => c.src.indexOf(frag) >= 0);
+  return { stage, player, clearLog, stageImgs, findImg };
+}
+
+// Fire the single pending advance timer (solo playback's duration timer).
+function fireOnlyTimer(timers) {
+  const ids = Object.keys(timers);
+  assert.equal(ids.length, 1, 'exactly one advance timer pending');
+  timers[ids[0]]();
+}
+
+// CASE 1 — decode() SUPPORTED: image A -> image B swaps only AFTER B decodes; #stage never empties.
+test('#187 decode() supported: image->image keeps the old <img> mounted until the new one decodes, then swaps', async () => {
+  const ctx = loadPlayerContext({ decodeSupported: true });
+  const { player, clearLog, stageImgs, findImg } = newPlayer(ctx);
+
+  player.load([imgItem('A', 0), imgItem('B', 1)]);
+  // Initial load: A is decode-gated (pending). This is the FIRST image, so an empty stage here is
+  // expected (there is no previous image to hold) — the invariant is about image->image transitions.
+  const aImg = findImg('A/file');
+  assert.ok(aImg, 'image A element created and decode-gated');
+  assert.equal(stageImgs().length, 0, 'A not mounted until its decode resolves');
+
+  settleDecode(aImg, true);
+  await flush();
+  assert.equal(stageImgs().length, 1, 'A mounted after its decode resolved');
+  assert.equal(stageImgs()[0], aImg, 'the mounted <img> is A');
+
+  // Mounting A warmed the NEXT image (B) via preloadImage. Advancing to B must NOT clear the stage
+  // until B is decode-ready.
+  const clearsBefore = clearLog.length;
+  fireOnlyTimer(ctx.timers);                 // duration timer -> advance() -> playCurrent(B) -> renderImage(B)
+
+  // *** THE INVARIANT ***: after the advance is issued but BEFORE B's decode resolves, #stage still
+  // holds A's <img> — not empty, not B. And clearStage() has NOT been called (no clear-then-load).
+  assert.equal(clearLog.length, clearsBefore, 'clearStage() NOT called before B decodes (no clear-then-load)');
+  assert.equal(stageImgs().length, 1, '#stage still has exactly one <img> mid-transition (never 0)');
+  assert.equal(stageImgs()[0], aImg, 'the still-mounted <img> is A, not empty and not the undecoded B');
+
+  const bImg = findImg('B/file');
+  assert.ok(bImg, 'image B was pre-created (warmed) for the transition');
+  assert.notEqual(bImg, aImg, 'B is a distinct element from A');
+
+  settleDecode(bImg, true);                  // B finished decoding -> swap
+  await flush();
+
+  // Swap happened: clearStage() fired exactly once, and at that instant A (count 1) was still mounted
+  // — proving the stage was never emptied ahead of the decode.
+  assert.equal(clearLog.length, clearsBefore + 1, 'clearStage() called exactly once, at swap time');
+  assert.equal(clearLog[clearsBefore], 1, 'at the swap-clear, A (count 1) was still mounted — stage never emptied early');
+  assert.equal(stageImgs().length, 1, '#stage has exactly one <img> after the swap');
+  assert.equal(stageImgs()[0], bImg, 'B is now the mounted <img>');
+});
+
+// CASE 2 — decode() UNSUPPORTED (Tizen 5.0 / SSSP6 fallback): same never-empty invariant via onload.
+test('#187 decode() unsupported (onload fallback): image->image holds the old <img> until onload, then swaps', async () => {
+  const ctx = loadPlayerContext({ decodeSupported: false });
+  const { player, clearLog, stageImgs, findImg } = newPlayer(ctx);
+
+  // Sanity: the shim really did NOT expose decode() this run, so we exercise the fallback branch.
+  const probe = ctx.sandbox.document.createElement('img');
+  assert.notEqual(typeof probe.decode, 'function', 'decode() is unsupported this run (fallback path exercised)');
+
+  player.load([imgItem('A', 0), imgItem('B', 1)]);
+  const aImg = findImg('A/file');
+  assert.ok(aImg, 'image A element created');
+  assert.equal(stageImgs().length, 0, 'A not mounted until onload fires');
+
+  fireLoad(aImg);                            // onload -> mount A (synchronous in the fallback path)
+  await flush();
+  assert.equal(stageImgs().length, 1, 'A mounted after onload');
+  assert.equal(stageImgs()[0], aImg, 'the mounted <img> is A');
+
+  const clearsBefore = clearLog.length;
+  fireOnlyTimer(ctx.timers);                 // advance -> renderImage(B); B.onload not yet fired
+
+  // Invariant on the fallback path: A stays mounted while B is still loading; no clear-then-load.
+  assert.equal(clearLog.length, clearsBefore, 'clearStage() NOT called before B loads (fallback)');
+  assert.equal(stageImgs().length, 1, '#stage still has exactly one <img> mid-transition (never 0)');
+  assert.equal(stageImgs()[0], aImg, 'the still-mounted <img> is A');
+
+  const bImg = findImg('B/file');
+  assert.ok(bImg, 'image B element created for the transition');
+  fireLoad(bImg);                            // B loaded -> swap
+  await flush();
+
+  assert.equal(clearLog.length, clearsBefore + 1, 'clearStage() called exactly once, at swap time');
+  assert.equal(clearLog[clearsBefore], 1, 'at the swap-clear, A was still mounted — stage never emptied early');
+  assert.equal(stageImgs().length, 1, '#stage has exactly one <img> after the swap');
+  assert.equal(stageImgs()[0], bImg, 'B is now the mounted <img>');
+});
+
+// CASE 3a — a broken incoming image (decode reject) must skipSoon() and must NOT disturb the mounted
+// image (fail() never clears the stage), so a bad image causes no black flash either.
+test('#187 broken image (decode reject) calls skipSoon and leaves the current image mounted', async () => {
+  const ctx = loadPlayerContext({ decodeSupported: true });
+  const { player, stageImgs, findImg } = newPlayer(ctx);
+
+  let skips = 0;
+  const _skip = player.skipSoon.bind(player);
+  player.skipSoon = function () { skips += 1; return _skip(); };
+
+  player.load([imgItem('A', 0), imgItem('B', 1)]);
+  const aImg = findImg('A/file');
+  settleDecode(aImg, true);
+  await flush();
+  assert.equal(stageImgs()[0], aImg, 'A mounted');
+
+  fireOnlyTimer(ctx.timers);                 // advance to B
+  const bImg = findImg('B/file');
+  settleDecode(bImg, false);                 // B's decode REJECTS (broken URL)
+  await flush();
+
+  assert.equal(skips, 1, 'a decode-reject routed to skipSoon()');
+  assert.equal(stageImgs().length, 1, '#stage still holds an <img> (no black) after a broken image');
+  assert.equal(stageImgs()[0], aImg, 'the broken B was NOT mounted; A stays until a good frame is ready');
+});
+
+// CASE 3b — same guard on the fallback path: onerror -> skipSoon(), current image untouched.
+test('#187 broken image (onerror fallback) calls skipSoon and leaves the current image mounted', async () => {
+  const ctx = loadPlayerContext({ decodeSupported: false });
+  const { player, stageImgs, findImg } = newPlayer(ctx);
+
+  let skips = 0;
+  const _skip = player.skipSoon.bind(player);
+  player.skipSoon = function () { skips += 1; return _skip(); };
+
+  player.load([imgItem('A', 0), imgItem('B', 1)]);
+  const aImg = findImg('A/file');
+  fireLoad(aImg);
+  await flush();
+  assert.equal(stageImgs()[0], aImg, 'A mounted');
+
+  fireOnlyTimer(ctx.timers);                 // advance to B
+  const bImg = findImg('B/file');
+  fireError(bImg);                           // B fails to load
+  await flush();
+
+  assert.equal(skips, 1, 'an onerror routed to skipSoon()');
+  assert.equal(stageImgs().length, 1, '#stage still holds an <img> (no black) after a broken image');
+  assert.equal(stageImgs()[0], aImg, 'the broken B was NOT mounted; A stays put');
+});
diff --git a/tizen/js/player.js b/tizen/js/player.js
index 5f5df0e..cc39889 100644
--- a/tizen/js/player.js
+++ b/tizen/js/player.js
@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@ function PlaylistPlayer(stageEl, getBase) {
   this.MIN_DURATION = 3;
   this.preloadEl = null;       // #group-sync double buffer: pre-buffered next <video>
   this.preloadIdx = -1;
+  // #187 image double buffer: pre-DECODED next <img> (detached — decode() warms the bitmap without
+  // the DOM, so clearStage can't wipe it). Mirrors preloadEl/preloadIdx. Swapped in decode-gated so
+  // the image path never clears the stage to black before the new frame is paint-ready.
+  this.preloadImgEl = null;
+  this.preloadImgIdx = -1;
   // #157: schedule-driven (group-sync) mode — set by app.js. Group-sync advances via its own tick,
   // not the solo timer, and Tizen group-sync doesn't use wallFollower, so this gates the deferral.
   this.scheduleDriven = false;
@@ -86,6 +91,43 @@ PlaylistPlayer.prototype._takePreload = function (idx) {
   return null;
 };
 
+// #187 image double buffer (mirrors preloadVideo/_takePreload for the IMAGE path). Only the NEXT
+// item, only when it's an image, ONE-ahead. Builds a DETACHED <img>, sets src, and warms the decoded
+// bitmap via HTMLImageElement.decode() (feature-detected — Tizen 5.0 / SSSP6 may lack it, so the
+// element still loads and the swap path falls back to onload/complete). At the boundary renderImage
+// _takePreloadImage()s it and swaps it in with no black hold.
+PlaylistPlayer.prototype.preloadImage = function (idx) {
+  if (this.preloadImgIdx === idx) return;   // already handled this boundary
+  this._releasePreloadImage();              // index moved off the warmed image -> drop the stale one
+  var item = this.items[idx];
+  if (!item) { this.preloadImgIdx = -1; return; }
+  // One-ahead ONLY, images only. A non-image next: mark this boundary handled, nothing to warm.
+  if ((item.mime_type || '').indexOf('image/') !== 0) { this.preloadImgIdx = idx; return; }
+  try {
+    var img = document.createElement('img');
+    this.fit(img, item);
+    img.src = this.contentUrl(item);
+    // Warm the decoded bitmap. A decode() rejection (broken URL) is swallowed here and re-surfaces at
+    // the swap (renderImage re-runs decode()/onerror -> skipSoon), so a bad image still skips.
+    if (typeof img.decode === 'function') { img.decode().catch(function () {}); }
+    this.preloadImgEl = img; this.preloadImgIdx = idx;
+  } catch (e) { this._releasePreloadImage(); }
+};
+PlaylistPlayer.prototype._takePreloadImage = function (idx) {
+  if (this.preloadImgIdx === idx && this.preloadImgEl) {
+    var el = this.preloadImgEl; this.preloadImgEl = null; this.preloadImgIdx = -1;
+    if (el.parentNode) el.parentNode.removeChild(el);   // detached in practice; defensive parity
+    return el;
+  }
+  return null;
+};
+PlaylistPlayer.prototype._releasePreloadImage = function () {
+  if (this.preloadImgEl) {
+    try { this.preloadImgEl.onload = this.preloadImgEl.onerror = null; this.preloadImgEl.src = ''; } catch (e) {}
+  }
+  this.preloadImgEl = null; this.preloadImgIdx = -1;
+};
+
 PlaylistPlayer.prototype.load = function (assignments) {
   // B3: a malformed device:playlist-update with a non-array `assignments` used to throw
   // (.filter is not a function) out of the socket handler; coerce to [] instead.
@@ -117,6 +159,9 @@ PlaylistPlayer.prototype.load = function (assignments) {
   var curId = this.itemIdentity(oldItems[oldIndex]);
   this.sig = sig;
   this.items = items;
+  // #187: the warmed image is cached BY INDEX; a structural change can repoint that index at a
+  // different item, so drop it (the next dwell re-warms the correct successor).
+  this._releasePreloadImage();
   this._deferredRotation = false;
   this._deferredSuccessorId = null;
 
@@ -153,6 +198,7 @@ PlaylistPlayer.prototype.load = function (assignments) {
 
 PlaylistPlayer.prototype.stop = function () {
   if (this.timer) { clearTimeout(this.timer); this.timer = null; }
+  this._releasePreloadImage();   // #187: drop any warmed next-image bitmap on teardown
   this.clearStage();
 };
 
@@ -305,7 +351,15 @@ PlaylistPlayer.prototype.playCurrent = function () {
   // (looping, no auto-advance) and only switches when wall:sync says the index moved.
   var single = this.wallFollower || (this.items.length === 1 && !this.anyScheduled());
   var mime = item.mime_type || '';
-  this.clearStage();
+  // #187: the IMAGE path decode-gates and SWAPS (it clears the stage only after the new frame is
+  // paint-ready, inside renderImage) so slow Tizen decode HW no longer black-flashes between images.
+  // Every OTHER type keeps the pre-dispatch clearStage() exactly as before — this mirrors the same
+  // branch order used in the dispatch below, so an item routed to renderImage is the only one skipped.
+  var isImage = mime !== 'video/youtube'
+    && !(item.widget_id && !item.content_id)
+    && mime.indexOf('video/') !== 0
+    && mime.indexOf('image/') === 0;
+  if (!isImage) this.clearStage();
 
   try {
     if (mime === 'video/youtube') return this.renderYouTube(item, single);
@@ -342,14 +396,49 @@ PlaylistPlayer.prototype.fit = function (el, item) {
   else el.className = 'cover';
 };
 
+// #187: decode-gated one-ahead double buffer for images (mirrors the video preloader). The stage is
+// NEVER cleared to black before the new image is paint-ready: we take the warmed pre-decoded <img>
+// (or decode a fresh one), and ONLY THEN clearStage()+append — a swap, never clear-then-load.
 PlaylistPlayer.prototype.renderImage = function (item, single) {
   var self = this;
-  var img = document.createElement('img');
-  this.fit(img, item);
-  img.onerror = function () { self.skipSoon(); };
-  img.src = this.contentUrl(item);
-  this.stage.appendChild(img);
-  if (!single) this.schedule(this.durationMs(item));
+  var targetIdx = this.index;
+  var img = this._takePreloadImage(targetIdx);   // pre-decoded from the previous item's dwell?
+  if (!img) {
+    this._releasePreloadImage();                 // any warmed image is for a different index now — drop it
+    img = document.createElement('img');
+    this.fit(img, item);
+    img.src = this.contentUrl(item);
+  }
+  var settled = false;
+  var stale = function () {
+    // A next()/gotoIndex/playlist change mid-decode must not mount a now-stale image over the current
+    // item (mirrors how renderVideo's _takePreload only fires for the still-current index).
+    return self.index !== targetIdx || self.items[targetIdx] !== item;
+  };
+  var mount = function () {
+    if (settled) return; settled = true;
+    if (stale()) { try { img.src = ''; } catch (e) {} return; }
+    self.clearStage();                 // SWAP: clear only now, with the decoded image ready to paint
+    self.stage.appendChild(img);
+    if (!single) {
+      self.schedule(self.durationMs(item));
+      self.preloadImage(self.nextActiveIndex(targetIdx));   // warm the NEXT image while THIS one dwells
+    }
+  };
+  var fail = function () {
+    if (settled) return; settled = true;
+    if (stale()) return;
+    self.skipSoon();                   // broken URL / decode reject -> skip (A1 self-heals a single item)
+  };
+  img.onerror = fail;
+  // Feature-detect decode() (Tizen 5.0 / SSSP6 may lack it) -> onload/complete fallback.
+  if (typeof img.decode === 'function') {
+    img.decode().then(mount).catch(fail);
+  } else if (img.complete) {
+    if (img.naturalWidth > 0) mount(); else fail();   // warmed element already loaded (ok) or errored
+  } else {
+    img.onload = mount;                // onerror set above routes a load error to fail
+  }
 };
 
 PlaylistPlayer.prototype.setOrientation = function (o) { this.orientation = o || 'landscape'; };
@@ -910,7 +999,10 @@ GroupSyncController.prototype.tick = function () {
   if (!this.groupId || !this.player.items.length) return;
   var t = this.target(); if (!t) return;
   // Double buffer: warm the next clip ~6s before the boundary (once per boundary).
-  if (t.nextIndex !== t.index && t.secToBoundary >= 0 && t.secToBoundary <= 6) this.player.preloadVideo(t.nextIndex);
+  if (t.nextIndex !== t.index && t.secToBoundary >= 0 && t.secToBoundary <= 6) {
+    this.player.preloadVideo(t.nextIndex);   // warm next clip (video-only; no-ops otherwise)
+    this.player.preloadImage(t.nextIndex);   // #187: warm next image (image-only; separate buffer)
+  }
   var action = 'hold';
   if (t.index !== this.player.getIndex()) {
     this.player.gotoIndex(t.index); action = 'jump>' + t.index;
@@ -962,5 +1054,6 @@ GroupSyncController.prototype.exit = function () {
   this.player.setWallFollower(false);
   this.player.invalidate();
   this.player._takePreload(this.player.preloadIdx);   // drop any warmed next-clip element
+  this.player._releasePreloadImage();                 // #187: drop any warmed next-image bitmap
   if (this.report) this.report('info', 'group-sync exited');
 };