Aggressive PRUNE_ALPHA under visual_guard (still JPEG Alpha unlink)

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,3 +1,37 @@
+## [Unreleased] — 0.3.6-dev
+
+### Aggressive PRUNE_ALPHA (JPEG / opaque-constant Alpha unlink)
+- Aggressive stills Make it Fast now plans, applies, and journals already-coded
+  `DEAD_CLOSURE_PRUNE` for **PRUNE_ALPHA only** (JPEG / no-alpha / IGNORE /
+  Value=1.0 Alpha unlink). No new Cycles RNA. `time_factor` stays 1.0.
+- Preserve Look default, Balanced, and Video withhold it. Other PRUNE_*
+  (VOLUME / MIX / SSS / EMISSION / TRANSMISSION / BUMP / BEVEL / DISPLACE)
+  stay Manual-later at tier 2.
+- Apply registers `_HANDLERS["DEAD_CLOSURE_PRUNE"]`; revert is existing
+  `NODE_UNLINK`. 0.3.5 `visual_guard` isolates the kind in its own group and
+  fail-closes (mean/p95 stills 0.003 / 0.012).
+- Prior inventory, not a measured cut: loft DNA FIRED=7 JPEG, Classroom
+  FIRED=0. Manifest stays 0.3.5. Store plates stay Classroom 41% / loft 52%.
+
+### Aggressive CAMERA_CULL + distance cull (independent object sets)
+- Aggressive `CAMERA_CULL` enables scene `use_camera_cull` and
+  `use_distance_cull` when the distance RNA exists, but uses **two disjoint
+  object sets** (kind name stays `CAMERA_CULL`). Cycles `object_cull.cpp`
+  ANDs when both object flags are on the same name; dual flags on the
+  CAMERA_CULL scatter list would keep nearby off-frustum chairs and regress
+  the Classroom cull slice of the 41% plate.
+- `payload["objects"]`: camera-cull only (`use_camera_cull=True`).
+  `payload["distance_objects"]`: distance-cull only (`use_distance_cull=True`)
+  for tiny/scatter with `min_camera_distance` ≥ the margin that will be
+  written. Never both flags on the same object.
+- Sets `distance_cull_margin` only when missing/None/0 to
+  `max(50.0, camera clip_end)` (else 50.0); never lowers a positive user
+  margin. Missing distance RNA still applies camera cull alone and ignores
+  `distance_objects`. Scene distance cull is enabled whenever RNA exists.
+- Protects lights/volumes/cameras/heroes/emitters/shadow-catchers; linked
+  scatter remains eligible. No measured %; store plates stay Classroom 41% /
+  loft 52%.
+
 ## [0.3.5] — 2026-08-30
 
 ### Automatic visual rollback and Preserve Look benchmark lane

docs/research/NEXT-LEVER.md

@@ -1,3 +1,50 @@
+# Next lever (2026-08-30 2pm ET PlugWalk)
+
+## 2pm — Aggressive CAMERA_CULL + distance cull (independent object sets)
+
+Build-order #1 locally: enable Cycles **distance cull** alongside camera cull
+under the existing Aggressive `CAMERA_CULL` kind (no new kind name).
+
+**Cycles semantics (`intern/cycles/blender/object_cull.cpp`):** scene flags are
+independent, but **both object flags on the same name → AND** (keep nearby
+off-frustum objects for reflections). Camera-only and distance-only object
+flags give independent cull. OR-on-same-object is wrong and would regress the
+Classroom cull slice of the 41% plate.
+
+```
+return (camera_culled && distance_culled)           // both object flags → AND
+    || (camera_culled && !use_distance_cull_)       // camera-only object
+    || (distance_culled && !use_camera_cull_);      // distance-only object
+```
+
+**Writes (journaled, speed tag):**
+- Scene: `render.use_simplify`, `cycles.use_camera_cull`, and
+  `cycles.use_distance_cull` whenever distance RNA exists;
+  `cycles.distance_cull_margin` only when missing/None/0 →
+  `max(50.0, camera.data.clip_end)` when camera+clip_end finite, else `50.0`.
+  Never lower a positive user margin. Existing camera margin + simplify high
+  caps unchanged.
+- `payload["objects"]` (camera-only set): `object.cycles.use_camera_cull=True`
+  only. Never `use_distance_cull` on these names.
+- `payload["distance_objects"]` (distance-only set): tiny/scatter with
+  `min_camera_distance` ≥ the margin that will be written; same protections;
+  **disjoint** from the camera set; `object.cycles.use_distance_cull=True`
+  only.
+- If distance RNA is missing, camera cull alone still succeeds and
+  `distance_objects` is ignored.
+
+**Protections unchanged:** lights / volumes / cameras / heroes / emitters /
+shadow-catchers stay out; linked scatter is allowed. Preserve Look and
+Balanced still withhold `CAMERA_CULL`.
+
+Authoritative report: `docs/research/PLUGWALK-2026-08-30-14.md` §1.
+
+No store claim change (Classroom **41%** / loft **52%**). No zip. No
+`blender_manifest.toml` bump (stays **0.3.5**). Branch
+`plugwalk/distance-cull-aggressive`.
+
+---
+
 # Next lever (2026-08-26 7pm ET PlugWalk)
 
 ## 7pm — clean demo bill (docs only; no 5th leftover lever)