diff --git a/src/backend/udev.rs b/src/backend/udev.rs
index 29eb021..4ce4225 100644
--- a/src/backend/udev.rs
+++ b/src/backend/udev.rs
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ const SUPPORTED_FORMATS: &[Fourcc] = &[
 const SUPPORTED_FORMATS_8BIT_ONLY: &[Fourcc] = &[Fourcc::Abgr8888, Fourcc::Argb8888];
 
 /// A [`MultiRenderer`] that uses the [`GbmGlesBackend`].
-type UdevRenderer<'a> = MultiRenderer<
+pub type UdevRenderer<'a> = MultiRenderer<
     'a,
     'a,
     GbmGlesBackend<GlesRenderer, DrmDeviceFd>,
@@ -866,6 +866,12 @@ fn render_frame<'a>(
 }
 
 impl Udev {
+    pub fn renderer(&mut self) -> UdevRenderer<'_> {
+        self.gpu_manager
+            .single_renderer(&self.primary_gpu)
+            .expect("failed to create multirenderer")
+    }
+
     /// A GPU was plugged in.
     fn device_added(
         &mut self,
diff --git a/src/layout.rs b/src/layout.rs
index 2815ae8..9c39c67 100644
--- a/src/layout.rs
+++ b/src/layout.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
 
+pub mod transaction;
+
 use std::{collections::HashMap, time::Duration};
 
 use pinnacle_api_defs::pinnacle::layout::v0alpha1::{layout_request::Geometries, LayoutResponse};
diff --git a/src/layout/transaction.rs b/src/layout/transaction.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db85db8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/layout/transaction.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+
+use smithay::{
+    backend::renderer::gles::GlesTexture,
+    utils::{Logical, Point, Serial},
+};
+
+use crate::window::WindowElement;
+
+pub struct LayoutTransaction {
+    from: Vec<(GlesTexture)>,
+    to: HashMap<WindowElement, PendingLayoutState>,
+}
+
+pub struct PendingLayoutState {
+    serial: Serial,
+    loc: Point<i32, Logical>,
+}
diff --git a/src/render.rs b/src/render.rs
index 08a0e60..49ad920 100644
--- a/src/render.rs
+++ b/src/render.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,10 @@ use std::{ops::Deref, sync::Mutex};
 
 use smithay::{
     backend::renderer::{
-        element::{surface::WaylandSurfaceRenderElement, AsRenderElements, RenderElementStates},
+        element::{
+            surface::WaylandSurfaceRenderElement, AsRenderElements, Element, RenderElementStates,
+        },
+        gles::{GlesRenderer, GlesTexture},
         ImportAll, ImportMem, Renderer, Texture,
     },
     desktop::{
@@ -26,21 +29,35 @@ use smithay::{
 
 use crate::{
     backend::Backend,
+    pinnacle_render_elements,
     state::{State, WithState},
     window::WindowElement,
 };
 
-use self::pointer::{PointerElement, PointerRenderElement};
+use self::{
+    pointer::{PointerElement, PointerRenderElement},
+    texture::CommonTextureRenderElement,
+};
 
 pub mod pointer;
+pub mod render_elements;
+pub mod texture;
 
 pub const CLEAR_COLOR: [f32; 4] = [0.6, 0.6, 0.6, 1.0];
 pub const CLEAR_COLOR_LOCKED: [f32; 4] = [0.2, 0.0, 0.3, 1.0];
 
-render_elements! {
-    pub OutputRenderElement<R> where R: ImportAll + ImportMem;
-    Surface = WaylandSurfaceRenderElement<R>,
-    Pointer = PointerRenderElement<R>,
+// render_elements! {
+//     pub OutputRenderElement<R> where R: ImportAll + ImportMem;
+//     Surface = WaylandSurfaceRenderElement<R>,
+//     Pointer = PointerRenderElement<R>,
+// }
+
+pinnacle_render_elements! {
+    #[derive(Debug)]
+    pub enum OutputRenderElement<R> {
+        Surface = WaylandSurfaceRenderElement<R>,
+        Pointer = PointerRenderElement<R>,
+    }
 }
 
 impl<R> AsRenderElements<R> for WindowElement
@@ -173,7 +190,7 @@ pub fn pointer_render_elements<R>(
     pointer_element: &PointerElement<<R as Renderer>::TextureId>,
 ) -> Vec<OutputRenderElement<R>>
 where
-    R: Renderer + ImportAll,
+    R: Renderer + ImportAll + ImportMem,
     <R as Renderer>::TextureId: Clone + 'static,
 {
     let mut output_render_elements = Vec::new();
@@ -349,3 +366,32 @@ impl State {
         }
     }
 }
+
+impl Backend {
+    pub fn render_to_texture(
+        &mut self,
+        window: &WindowElement,
+        scale: f64,
+    ) -> Vec<(GlesTexture, Point<i32, Physical>)> {
+        let render_to_texture = |renderer: &mut GlesRenderer, window: &WindowElement| {
+            let elements = window.render_elements::<WaylandSurfaceRenderElement<GlesRenderer>>(
+                renderer,
+                (0, 0).into(),
+                scale.into(),
+                1.0,
+            );
+
+            elements
+                .into_iter()
+                .map(|elem| (elem.texture().clone(), elem.location(scale.into())))
+                .collect()
+        };
+
+        match self {
+            Backend::Winit(winit) => render_to_texture(winit.backend.renderer(), window),
+            Backend::Udev(udev) => render_to_texture(udev.renderer().as_mut(), window),
+            #[cfg(feature = "testing")]
+            Backend::Dummy(_) => Vec::new(),
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/render/pointer.rs b/src/render/pointer.rs
index 79dce35..ddf4127 100644
--- a/src/render/pointer.rs
+++ b/src/render/pointer.rs
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ impl<T: Texture> PointerElement<T> {
 }
 
 render_elements! {
+    #[derive(Debug)]
     pub PointerRenderElement<R> where R: ImportAll;
     Surface=WaylandSurfaceRenderElement<R>,
     Texture=TextureRenderElement<<R as Renderer>::TextureId>,
diff --git a/src/render/render_elements.rs b/src/render/render_elements.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7f8ae6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/render/render_elements.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,229 @@
+/// A custom implementation of [`smithay::render_elements`] that is not generic but rather
+/// implements over the three used renderers.
+///
+/// This is needed to allow GlesTextures to be easily rendered on winit and udev.
+///
+/// Also idea from Niri. Ya know this whole compositor is slowly inching towards
+/// being a Niri clone lol
+#[macro_export]
+macro_rules! pinnacle_render_elements {
+    (
+        $(#[$attr:meta])*
+        $vis:vis enum $name:ident {
+            $($variant:ident = $type:ty),+ $(,)?
+        }
+    ) => {
+        $(#[$attr])*
+        $vis enum $name {
+            $($variant($type)),+
+        }
+
+        $(impl From<$type> for $name {
+            fn from(x: $type) -> Self {
+                Self::$variant(x)
+            }
+        })+
+
+        $crate::pinnacle_render_elements! {
+            @impl $name ($name) () => { $($variant = $type),+ }
+        }
+    };
+
+    (
+        $(#[$attr:meta])*
+        $vis:vis enum $name:ident<$generic_name:ident> {
+            $($variant:ident = $type:ty),+ $(,)?
+        }
+    ) => {
+        $(#[$attr])*
+        $vis enum $name<$generic_name>
+        where
+            $generic_name: ::smithay::backend::renderer::Renderer + ::smithay::backend::renderer::ImportAll + ::smithay::backend::renderer::ImportMem,
+            $generic_name::TextureId: 'static,
+        {
+            $($variant($type)),+
+        }
+
+        $(impl<$generic_name> From<$type> for $name<$generic_name>
+        where
+            $generic_name: ::smithay::backend::renderer::Renderer + ::smithay::backend::renderer::ImportAll + ::smithay::backend::renderer::ImportMem,
+            $generic_name::TextureId: 'static,
+        {
+            fn from(x: $type) -> Self {
+                Self::$variant(x)
+            }
+        })+
+
+        $crate::pinnacle_render_elements! {
+            @impl $name () ($name<$generic_name>) => { $($variant = $type),+ }
+        }
+    };
+
+    (@impl $name:ident ($($name_no_generic:ident)?) ($($name_generic:ident<$generic:ident>)?) => {
+        $($variant:ident = $type:ty),+
+    }) => {
+        impl$(<$generic>)? ::smithay::backend::renderer::element::Element for $name$(<$generic>)?
+        $(where
+            $generic: ::smithay::backend::renderer::Renderer + ::smithay::backend::renderer::ImportAll + ::smithay::backend::renderer::ImportMem,
+            $generic::TextureId: 'static,)?
+        {
+            fn id(&self) -> &::smithay::backend::renderer::element::Id {
+                match self {
+                    $($name::$variant(elem) => elem.id()),+
+                }
+            }
+
+            fn current_commit(&self) -> ::smithay::backend::renderer::utils::CommitCounter {
+                match self {
+                    $($name::$variant(elem) => elem.current_commit()),+
+                }
+            }
+
+            fn geometry(
+                &self,
+                scale: ::smithay::utils::Scale<f64>
+            ) -> ::smithay::utils::Rectangle<i32, smithay::utils::Physical> {
+                match self {
+                    $($name::$variant(elem) => elem.geometry(scale)),+
+                }
+            }
+
+            fn transform(&self) -> ::smithay::utils::Transform {
+                match self {
+                    $($name::$variant(elem) => elem.transform()),+
+                }
+            }
+
+            fn src(&self) -> ::smithay::utils::Rectangle<f64, ::smithay::utils::Buffer> {
+                match self {
+                    $($name::$variant(elem) => elem.src()),+
+                }
+            }
+
+            fn damage_since(
+                &self,
+                scale: ::smithay::utils::Scale<f64>,
+                commit: ::std::option::Option<::smithay::backend::renderer::utils::CommitCounter>,
+            ) -> ::smithay::backend::renderer::utils::DamageSet<i32, ::smithay::utils::Physical> {
+                match self {
+                    $($name::$variant(elem) => elem.damage_since(scale, commit)),+
+                }
+            }
+
+            fn opaque_regions(
+                &self,
+                scale: ::smithay::utils::Scale<f64>,
+            ) -> ::smithay::backend::renderer::utils::OpaqueRegions<i32, ::smithay::utils::Physical> {
+                match self {
+                    $($name::$variant(elem) => elem.opaque_regions(scale)),+
+                }
+            }
+
+            fn alpha(&self) -> f32 {
+                match self {
+                    $($name::$variant(elem) => elem.alpha()),+
+                }
+            }
+
+            fn kind(&self) -> ::smithay::backend::renderer::element::Kind {
+                match self {
+                    $($name::$variant(elem) => elem.kind()),+
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        impl ::smithay::backend::renderer::element::RenderElement<::smithay::backend::renderer::gles::GlesRenderer>
+            for $($name_generic<::smithay::backend::renderer::gles::GlesRenderer>)? $($name_no_generic)?
+        {
+            fn draw(
+                &self,
+                frame: &mut ::smithay::backend::renderer::gles::GlesFrame<'_>,
+                src: ::smithay::utils::Rectangle<f64, ::smithay::utils::Buffer>,
+                dst: ::smithay::utils::Rectangle<i32, ::smithay::utils::Physical>,
+                damage: &[::smithay::utils::Rectangle<i32, ::smithay::utils::Physical>],
+            ) -> ::std::result::Result<(), ::smithay::backend::renderer::gles::GlesError> {
+                match self {
+                    $($name::$variant(elem) => {
+                        ::smithay::backend::renderer::element::RenderElement::<
+                            ::smithay::backend::renderer::gles::GlesRenderer
+                        >::draw(elem, frame, src, dst, damage)
+                    })+
+                }
+            }
+
+            fn underlying_storage(
+                &self,
+                renderer: &mut ::smithay::backend::renderer::gles::GlesRenderer
+            ) -> ::std::option::Option<::smithay::backend::renderer::element::UnderlyingStorage> {
+                match self {
+                    $($name::$variant(elem) => elem.underlying_storage(renderer)),+
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        impl<'a> ::smithay::backend::renderer::element::RenderElement<$crate::backend::udev::UdevRenderer<'a>>
+            for $($name_generic<$crate::backend::udev::UdevRenderer<'a>>)? $($name_no_generic)?
+        {
+            fn draw(
+                &self,
+                frame: &mut <$crate::backend::udev::UdevRenderer<'a> as ::smithay::backend::renderer::Renderer>::Frame<'_>,
+                src: ::smithay::utils::Rectangle<f64, ::smithay::utils::Buffer>,
+                dst: ::smithay::utils::Rectangle<i32, ::smithay::utils::Physical>,
+                damage: &[::smithay::utils::Rectangle<i32, ::smithay::utils::Physical>],
+            ) -> ::std::result::Result<
+                (),
+                <$crate::backend::udev::UdevRenderer as ::smithay::backend::renderer::Renderer>::Error,
+            > {
+                match self {
+                    $($name::$variant(elem) => {
+                        ::smithay::backend::renderer::element::RenderElement::<
+                            $crate::backend::udev::UdevRenderer
+                        >::draw(elem, frame, src, dst, damage)
+                    })+
+                }
+            }
+
+            fn underlying_storage(
+                &self,
+                renderer: &mut $crate::backend::udev::UdevRenderer<'a>,
+            ) -> ::std::option::Option<::smithay::backend::renderer::element::UnderlyingStorage> {
+                match self {
+                    $($name::$variant(elem) => elem.underlying_storage(renderer)),+
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        #[cfg(feature = "testing")]
+        impl ::smithay::backend::renderer::element::RenderElement<::smithay::backend::renderer::test::DummyRenderer>
+            for $($name_generic<::smithay::backend::renderer::test::DummyRenderer>)? $($name_no_generic)?
+        {
+            fn draw(
+                &self,
+                frame: &mut <::smithay::backend::renderer::test::DummyRenderer as ::smithay::backend::renderer::Renderer>::Frame<'_>,
+                src: ::smithay::utils::Rectangle<f64, ::smithay::utils::Buffer>,
+                dst: ::smithay::utils::Rectangle<i32, ::smithay::utils::Physical>,
+                damage: &[::smithay::utils::Rectangle<i32, ::smithay::utils::Physical>],
+            ) -> ::std::result::Result<
+                (),
+                <::smithay::backend::renderer::test::DummyRenderer as ::smithay::backend::renderer::Renderer>::Error,
+            > {
+                match self {
+                    $($name::$variant(elem) => {
+                        ::smithay::backend::renderer::element::RenderElement::<
+                            ::smithay::backend::renderer::test::DummyRenderer
+                        >::draw(elem, frame, src, dst, damage)
+                    })+
+                }
+            }
+
+            fn underlying_storage(
+                &self,
+                renderer: &mut ::smithay::backend::renderer::test::DummyRenderer,
+            ) -> ::std::option::Option<::smithay::backend::renderer::element::UnderlyingStorage> {
+                match self {
+                    $($name::$variant(elem) => elem.underlying_storage(renderer)),+
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/render/texture.rs b/src/render/texture.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..81b65eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/render/texture.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+use smithay::{
+    backend::renderer::{
+        element::{self, texture::TextureRenderElement, Element, RenderElement},
+        gles::{GlesRenderer, GlesTexture},
+        utils::{CommitCounter, DamageSet, OpaqueRegions},
+        Renderer,
+    },
+    utils::{Buffer, Physical, Rectangle, Scale},
+};
+
+use crate::backend::udev::UdevRenderer;
+
+/// TODO: docs
+pub struct CommonTextureRenderElement(TextureRenderElement<GlesTexture>);
+
+impl Element for CommonTextureRenderElement {
+    fn id(&self) -> &element::Id {
+        self.0.id()
+    }
+
+    fn current_commit(&self) -> CommitCounter {
+        self.0.current_commit()
+    }
+
+    fn src(&self) -> Rectangle<f64, Buffer> {
+        self.0.src()
+    }
+
+    fn geometry(&self, scale: Scale<f64>) -> Rectangle<i32, Physical> {
+        self.0.geometry(scale)
+    }
+
+    fn location(&self, scale: Scale<f64>) -> smithay::utils::Point<i32, Physical> {
+        self.0.location(scale)
+    }
+
+    fn transform(&self) -> smithay::utils::Transform {
+        self.0.transform()
+    }
+
+    fn damage_since(
+        &self,
+        scale: Scale<f64>,
+        commit: Option<CommitCounter>,
+    ) -> DamageSet<i32, Physical> {
+        self.0.damage_since(scale, commit)
+    }
+
+    fn opaque_regions(&self, scale: Scale<f64>) -> OpaqueRegions<i32, Physical> {
+        self.0.opaque_regions(scale)
+    }
+
+    fn alpha(&self) -> f32 {
+        self.0.alpha()
+    }
+
+    fn kind(&self) -> element::Kind {
+        self.0.kind()
+    }
+}
+
+impl RenderElement<GlesRenderer> for CommonTextureRenderElement {
+    fn draw(
+        &self,
+        frame: &mut <GlesRenderer as Renderer>::Frame<'_>,
+        src: Rectangle<f64, Buffer>,
+        dst: Rectangle<i32, Physical>,
+        damage: &[Rectangle<i32, Physical>],
+    ) -> Result<(), <GlesRenderer as Renderer>::Error> {
+        RenderElement::<GlesRenderer>::draw(&self.0, frame, src, dst, damage)
+    }
+
+    fn underlying_storage(
+        &self,
+        renderer: &mut GlesRenderer,
+    ) -> Option<element::UnderlyingStorage<'_>> {
+        let _ = renderer;
+        None
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a> RenderElement<UdevRenderer<'a>> for CommonTextureRenderElement {
+    fn draw(
+        &self,
+        frame: &mut <UdevRenderer<'a> as Renderer>::Frame<'_>,
+        src: Rectangle<f64, Buffer>,
+        dst: Rectangle<i32, Physical>,
+        damage: &[Rectangle<i32, Physical>],
+    ) -> Result<(), <UdevRenderer<'a> as Renderer>::Error> {
+        RenderElement::<GlesRenderer>::draw(&self.0, frame.as_mut(), src, dst, damage)?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn underlying_storage(
+        &self,
+        renderer: &mut UdevRenderer<'a>,
+    ) -> Option<element::UnderlyingStorage<'_>> {
+        let _ = renderer;
+        None
+    }
+}