diff --git a/movie_editor/backend/builder.py b/movie_editor/backend/builder.py
index d97aae73..e4162e90 100644
--- a/movie_editor/backend/builder.py
+++ b/movie_editor/backend/builder.py
@@ -537,6 +537,19 @@ def core_graph(object_info: dict, models_config: dict | None = None) -> list[dic
         for o in node_outputs(object_info.get(s.get("node_class")) or {}):
             producers.setdefault(o["type"], []).append((f"out:{sid}:{o['name']}", f"{lbl} · {o['name']}"))
 
+    # Slot inputs that pull from a core output (input_sources "core:<cid>:<idx>") so each
+    # core output can show where it's tapped — e.g. Studio · cond → MyCustomSampler · positive.
+    slot_consumers: dict[tuple[str, int], list[str]] = {}
+    for s in slots:
+        lbl = slot_label.get(s.get("id"), s.get("id"))
+        for inp, src in (s.get("input_sources") or {}).items():
+            if isinstance(src, str) and src.startswith("core:"):
+                try:
+                    _, ccid, cidx = src.split(":", 2)
+                    slot_consumers.setdefault((ccid, int(cidx)), []).append(f"{lbl} · {inp}")
+                except ValueError:
+                    pass
+
     open_by_node: dict[str, dict] = {}
     for (cid, inp, t, req) in OPEN_PORTS:
         open_by_node.setdefault(cid, {})[inp] = (t, req)
@@ -575,7 +588,9 @@ def core_graph(object_info: dict, models_config: dict | None = None) -> list[dic
         outputs = []
         for i, o in enumerate(node_outputs(nd or {})):
             dests = [f"{d} · {di}" for (oi, d, di) in rev.get(cid, []) if oi == i]
-            outputs.append({"name": o["name"], "type": o["type"], "to": dests})
+            dests += slot_consumers.get((cid, i), [])
+            outputs.append({"name": o["name"], "type": o["type"], "to": dests,
+                            "source_id": f"core:{cid}:{i}"})
         nodes.append({"id": cid, "class": cls,
                       "display_name": (nd or {}).get("display_name", cls),
                       "installed": cls in object_info,
diff --git a/movie_editor/backend/nodes.py b/movie_editor/backend/nodes.py
index be0c1d19..a2b8b840 100644
--- a/movie_editor/backend/nodes.py
+++ b/movie_editor/backend/nodes.py
@@ -329,13 +329,35 @@ def pipeline_requirements() -> list[dict]:
     return PIPELINE_REQUIREMENTS
 
 
-def core_producers() -> list[dict]:
-    """Typed outputs from the fixed core that slot nodes can source from."""
-    return [
+def core_producers(object_info: dict | None = None) -> list[dict]:
+    """Typed outputs from the fixed core that slot nodes can source from.
+
+    The project primitives are always available. When ``object_info`` is supplied, every
+    installed core node's outputs are exposed too — so in Full control a custom node (e.g.
+    a replacement sampler) can be fed Studio's model / conditioning / sigmas, or the
+    sampler's latent. The slot picker only offers these in Full control (see allowedSources);
+    build() resolves the chosen ``core:<id>:<idx>`` via _resolve_source."""
+    out = [
         {"id": "core:frames:0", "type": "INT",   "label": "Project frames (primitive)"},
         {"id": "core:fps:0",    "type": "FLOAT",  "label": "Project FPS (primitive)"},
         {"id": "core:f2i:0",    "type": "INT",    "label": "Project FPS as int (primitive)"},
     ]
+    if not object_info:
+        return out
+    from . import builder  # lazy: avoid import cycle at module load
+    seen = {p["id"] for p in out}
+    for cid, cls in builder.CORE.items():
+        nd = object_info.get(cls)
+        if not nd:
+            continue
+        node_label = nd.get("display_name", cls)
+        for i, o in enumerate(node_outputs(nd)):
+            pid = f"core:{cid}:{i}"
+            if pid in seen:
+                continue
+            seen.add(pid)
+            out.append({"id": pid, "type": o["type"], "label": f"{node_label} → {o['name']}"})
+    return out
 
 
 def pipeline_ports(object_info: dict | None = None) -> list[dict]:
diff --git a/movie_editor/frontend/inspector.js b/movie_editor/frontend/inspector.js
index 04e3454e..a5bbc9a9 100644
--- a/movie_editor/frontend/inspector.js
+++ b/movie_editor/frontend/inspector.js
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@
   const body = document.getElementById("inspector-body");
   const title = document.getElementById("inspector-title");
 
+  // t2v ("empty") is intentionally not selectable — scenes are i2v/v2v/carry. An
+  // anchorless scene still falls back to t2v in the engine (effectiveSourceType).
   const SRC = [
-    ["empty", "Empty · text-to-video"],
     ["image", "Image · i2v anchor"],
     ["generated_frame", "From generated frame"],
     ["v2v", "Video · v2v source"],
@@ -130,12 +131,15 @@
 
   function availableSourceOptions(st) {
     if (PC()?.usesChainSampler(st)) return SRC;
-    return SRC.filter(([v]) => v === "empty" || v === "image");
+    return SRC.filter(([v]) => v === "image");
   }
 
   function renderSourceField(st, root, scene) {
     const chain = PC()?.usesChainSampler(st);
-    const stored = root.source?.type || (chain ? "carry" : "empty");
+    // t2v is removed as a mode — surface a legacy/default "empty" scene as the i2v
+    // anchor option (no committed change until the user edits or assigns an anchor).
+    let stored = root.source?.type || (chain ? "carry" : "image");
+    if (stored === "empty") stored = "image";
     const opts = availableSourceOptions(st);
     if (!opts.some(([v]) => v === stored) && PC()?.isChainOnlySource(stored)) {
       const note = el("div", "insp-hint");
@@ -146,7 +150,7 @@
     opts.forEach(([v, label]) => {
       const o = el("option", null, label);
       o.value = v;
-      if (v === stored || (!opts.some(([vv]) => vv === stored) && v === "empty")) o.selected = true;
+      if (v === stored) o.selected = true;
       src.append(o);
     });
     if (stored && !opts.some(([v]) => v === stored)) {
diff --git a/movie_editor/frontend/models.js b/movie_editor/frontend/models.js
index f5e05875..dee2af6d 100644
--- a/movie_editor/frontend/models.js
+++ b/movie_editor/frontend/models.js
@@ -979,7 +979,10 @@
       });
       card.append(box);
     }
-    const outs = (n.outputs || []).filter((o) => (o.to || []).length);
+    // Show every core output. In Full control these are tappable as slot input sources
+    // (pick "<node> → <output>" in a slot's Input sources), so the user can, e.g., feed a
+    // replacement sampler with Studio's conditioning. In guided mode they're informational.
+    const outs = n.outputs || [];
     if (outs.length) {
       const box = el("div", "wire-box");
       box.append(el("div", "wire-title", "Outputs → destinations"));
@@ -987,7 +990,12 @@
         const row = el("div", "wire-row");
         row.append(el("span", "wire-out", `${o.name} (${o.type})`));
         row.append(el("span", "wire-arrow", "→"));
-        row.append(el("span", "wire-dest", o.to.join(", ")));
+        const dest = (o.to || []).length
+          ? o.to.join(", ")
+          : (config.full_control ? "available — pick in a slot's Input sources" : "—");
+        const destEl = el("span", "wire-dest", dest);
+        if (!(o.to || []).length && !config.full_control) destEl.classList.add("wire-muted");
+        row.append(destEl);
         box.append(row);
       });
       card.append(box);
diff --git a/movie_editor/frontend/pipeline_caps.js b/movie_editor/frontend/pipeline_caps.js
index 27e4b7d9..d5a71baf 100644
--- a/movie_editor/frontend/pipeline_caps.js
+++ b/movie_editor/frontend/pipeline_caps.js
@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@
   }
 
   function defaultSceneSourceType(st) {
-    return usesChainSampler(st) ? "carry" : "empty";
+    // t2v ("empty") is no longer a user-facing mode — new scenes default to an i2v
+    // anchor (image). Anchorless scenes still fall back to t2v in the engine.
+    return usesChainSampler(st) ? "carry" : "image";
   }
 
   function sourceLabel(type) {
diff --git a/movie_editor/frontend/player.js b/movie_editor/frontend/player.js
index c0deafd9..4a0dec76 100644
--- a/movie_editor/frontend/player.js
+++ b/movie_editor/frontend/player.js
@@ -737,6 +737,9 @@
 
   // ── transport actions ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   function _seekNow(sec) {
+    // Any transport scrub/seek exits the transient media-bin preview so the program
+    // resumes following the playhead (otherwise it stays frozen on the previewed image).
+    if (S.get().mediaPreviewId) S.clearMediaPreview();
     _phSec = Math.max(0, sec);
     const clip = _clipAt(_phSec);
     if (!clip) {
@@ -808,6 +811,7 @@
   }
 
   function _play() {
+    if (S.get().mediaPreviewId) S.clearMediaPreview();
     // At (or past) the end of the timeline → loop the playhead back to the start.
     if (_phSec >= (_totalSecCur || 0) - 0.05 || !_clipFrom(_phSec)) _phSec = 0;
     const clip = _clipFrom(_phSec);
diff --git a/movie_editor/frontend/store.js b/movie_editor/frontend/store.js
index 0313693b..d07f695f 100644
--- a/movie_editor/frontend/store.js
+++ b/movie_editor/frontend/store.js
@@ -1016,6 +1016,7 @@
     if (!scene(id)) return;
     state.selectedOverlayId = null;
     state.selectedAudioTrackId = null;
+    state.mediaPreviewId = null;  // tapping a clip exits the transient media-bin preview
 
     if (range && _selectionAnchorId && order.includes(_selectionAnchorId)) {
       const a = order.indexOf(_selectionAnchorId);
diff --git a/movie_editor/frontend/styles.css b/movie_editor/frontend/styles.css
index 5fab3758..5400aaa9 100644
--- a/movie_editor/frontend/styles.css
+++ b/movie_editor/frontend/styles.css
@@ -1237,6 +1237,7 @@ label.field.linked input, label.field.linked select { opacity: .6; }
 .wire-out { font-family: var(--font-mono); font-size: 11px; color: var(--muted); flex: 0 0 auto; min-width: 130px; }
 .wire-arrow { color: var(--teal); }
 .wire-dest { font-family: var(--font-mono); font-size: 11px; color: var(--muted); }
+.wire-dest.wire-muted { color: var(--faint); opacity: .7; }
 .wire-select { flex: 1; }
 .wire-multi { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 4px; flex: 1; }
 .wire-multi-row { display: flex; gap: 5px; align-items: center; }
diff --git a/movie_editor/frontend/timeline.js b/movie_editor/frontend/timeline.js
index 4ec9e959..e3f60e9a 100644
--- a/movie_editor/frontend/timeline.js
+++ b/movie_editor/frontend/timeline.js
@@ -601,9 +601,26 @@
       });
     }
 
-    // i2v anchors are set on the PLAN, not here — the timeline is the rendered result.
-    // (Drop an image onto a Plan card to anchor that scene.) Video clips still drop on the
-    // timeline track below.
+    // Drop an image (or video) from the Media bin onto a generative clip to set its i2v
+    // anchor. This used to live on the Plan card; the single-timeline layout moved it here.
+    if (!subclip && S.isGenerativeScene(scene)) {
+      clip.addEventListener("dragover", (e) => {
+        if (!e.dataTransfer.types.includes("application/funpack-media")) return;
+        e.preventDefault(); e.stopPropagation();
+        e.dataTransfer.dropEffect = "copy";
+        clip.classList.add("drop-target");
+      });
+      clip.addEventListener("dragleave", (e) => {
+        if (!clip.contains(e.relatedTarget)) clip.classList.remove("drop-target");
+      });
+      clip.addEventListener("drop", (e) => {
+        clip.classList.remove("drop-target");
+        const id = e.dataTransfer.getData("application/funpack-media");
+        if (!id) return;
+        e.preventDefault(); e.stopPropagation();
+        S.assignMediaToScene(scene.id, id);
+      });
+    }
 
     // i2v anchor thumbnail (image + mixed + generated_frame)
     const mref = anchorMediaRef(scene, p);
diff --git a/movie_editor/server.py b/movie_editor/server.py
index 018b4007..69baf4e3 100644
--- a/movie_editor/server.py
+++ b/movie_editor/server.py
@@ -1789,7 +1789,7 @@ if web is not None and PromptServer is not None:
             oi = None
         return web.json_response({
             "ports": nodes.pipeline_ports(oi),
-            "core_producers": nodes.core_producers(),
+            "core_producers": nodes.core_producers(oi),
             "requirements": nodes.pipeline_requirements(),
             "wiring": pipeline_wiring.wiring_rules_payload(),
         })