diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 20f6e5a2..fc499ddf 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -4,8 +4,11 @@
 - break im_wbuffer() out to a separate API
 - use im_wbuffer() to make im_vips2jpeg() compress in the background
 - also im_vips2png(), im_vips2tiff(), im_vips2ppm()
-- new system for propogating progress settings down pipelines unbreaks save
-  feedback in nip2
+- revised evaluation progress system
+- new evalstart/evalend/preclose callbacks fix over/underflow reporting
+- but the meaning of evalend has changed in a non-backwards-compatible way :(
+  use preclose instead ito get the old behaviour
+- added "--vips-progress" flag to turn on a simple eval progress tracker
 
 28/9/07 started 7.13.1
 - vips2dj can print RGB images
diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index 807b611a..d74bb929 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
-- test ppm writer
+- update docs, add pages for new cbs
 
 - talk about new progress system in im_add_eval_callback()?
 
+- test ppm writer
+
 - missing libstdc++ in link? what if we configure with no openexr?
 
   added -lstdc++ to VIPS_LIBS, but will this work on solaris etc.? maybe have
diff --git a/include/vips/internal.h b/include/vips/internal.h
index 0db0c601..9d9583b4 100644
--- a/include/vips/internal.h
+++ b/include/vips/internal.h
@@ -37,6 +37,21 @@
 extern "C" {
 #endif /*__cplusplus*/
 
+/* Default tile geometry.
+ */
+extern int im__tile_width;
+extern int im__tile_height;
+extern int im__fatstrip_height;
+extern int im__thinstrip_height;
+
+/* Default n threads.
+ */
+extern int im__concurrency;
+
+/* Give progress feedback.
+ */
+extern int im__progress;
+
 typedef int (*im__fftproc_fn)( IMAGE *, IMAGE *, IMAGE * );
 
 /* iofuncs
@@ -53,7 +68,9 @@ void *im__read_extension_block( IMAGE *im, int *size );
 int im__readhist( IMAGE *image );
 int im__write_extension_block( IMAGE *im, void *buf, int size );
 int im__writehist( IMAGE *image );
+int im__start_eval( IMAGE *im );
 int im__handle_eval( IMAGE *im, int w, int h );
+int im__end_eval( IMAGE *im );
 int im__time_destroy( IMAGE *im );
 
 extern int im__read_test;
diff --git a/include/vips/proto.h b/include/vips/proto.h
index 2c86bd46..6d11060c 100644
--- a/include/vips/proto.h
+++ b/include/vips/proto.h
@@ -74,6 +74,10 @@ typedef void *(*im_header_map_fn)( IMAGE *, const char *, GValue *, void * );
 int im_init_world( const char *argv0 );
 GOptionGroup *im_get_option_group( void );
 
+/* Turn progress feedback on and off.
+ */
+void im_progress_set( int progress );
+
 const char *im_error_buffer( void );
 int im_debugim( IMAGE * );
 int im_printlines( IMAGE * );
@@ -149,6 +153,8 @@ int im_ismagick( const char * );
 int im_isanalyze( const char *filename );
 
 int im_add_close_callback( IMAGE *, im_callback_fn, void *, void * );
+int im_add_preclose_callback( IMAGE *, im_callback_fn, void *, void * );
+int im_add_evalstart_callback( IMAGE *, im_callback_fn, void *, void * );
 int im_add_eval_callback( IMAGE *, im_callback_fn, void *, void * );
 int im_add_evalend_callback( IMAGE *, im_callback_fn, void *, void * );
 
diff --git a/include/vips/threadgroup.h b/include/vips/threadgroup.h
index 9c6359b8..e27b59b1 100644
--- a/include/vips/threadgroup.h
+++ b/include/vips/threadgroup.h
@@ -47,17 +47,6 @@ extern "C" {
  */
 #define IM__DEFAULT_STACK_SIZE (2 * 1024 * 1024)
 
-/* Default tile geometry.
- */
-extern int im__tile_width;
-extern int im__tile_height;
-extern int im__fatstrip_height;
-extern int im__thinstrip_height;
-
-/* Default n threads.
- */
-extern int im__concurrency;
-
 /* A work function.
  */
 typedef int (*im__work_fn)( REGION *, void *, void *, void * );
diff --git a/include/vips/vips.h b/include/vips/vips.h
index dbf36932..0ca40009 100644
--- a/include/vips/vips.h
+++ b/include/vips/vips.h
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@
  * 	- added RGB16, GREY16
  * 30/10/06
  * 	- added im_window_t
+ * 7/11/07
+ * 	- added preclose and evalstart callbacks
+ * 	- brought time struct in here
  */
 
 /*
@@ -236,12 +239,13 @@ typedef struct {
  */
 typedef struct {
 	struct im__IMAGE *im;	/* Image we are part of */
-	GTimer *start;		/* Start time */
+	time_t unused;		/* FIXME ... for compatibility */
 	int run;		/* Time we have been running */
 	int eta;		/* Estimated seconds of computation left */
 	gint64 tpels;		/* Number of pels we expect to calculate */
 	gint64 npels;		/* Number of pels calculated so far */
 	int percent;		/* Percent complete */
+	GTimer *start;		/* Start time */
 } im_time_t;
 
 /* Image descriptor for subroutine i/o args 
@@ -303,7 +307,7 @@ typedef struct im__IMAGE {
 	GSList *Meta_traverse;	/* Traverse order for Meta */
 
 	/* Part of mmap() read ... the sizeof() the header we skip from the
-	 * file start. Usually IM_SIZEOF_HEADER, but can be soomething else
+	 * file start. Usually IM_SIZEOF_HEADER, but can be something else
 	 * for binary file read.
 	 */
 	int sizeof_header;
@@ -330,6 +334,11 @@ typedef struct im__IMAGE {
 	/* The IMAGE (if any) we should signal eval progress on.
 	 */
 	struct im__IMAGE *progress;
+
+	/* Some more callbacks. Appended to IMAGE for binary compatibility.
+	 */
+	GSList *evalstartfns; 	/* list of start eval callbacks */
+	GSList *preclosefns; 	/* list of pre-close callbacks */
 } IMAGE;
 
 /* Only define if IM_ENABLE_DEPRECATED is set.
diff --git a/libsrc/conversion/im_clip.c b/libsrc/conversion/im_clip.c
index 16ff029b..28f93700 100644
--- a/libsrc/conversion/im_clip.c
+++ b/libsrc/conversion/im_clip.c
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@
  * 21/4/04 JC
  *	- now does floor(), not rint() ... you'll need to round yourself
  *	  before calling this if you want round-to-nearest
+ * 7/11/07
+ * 	- use new evalstart/evalend system
  */
 
 /*
@@ -100,7 +102,18 @@ typedef struct {
 } Clip;
 
 static int
-clip_destroy( Clip *clip )
+clip_evalstart( Clip *clip )
+{
+	/* Reset counts.
+	 */
+	clip->overflow = 0;
+	clip->underflow = 0;
+
+	return( 0 );
+}
+
+static int
+clip_evalend( Clip *clip )
 {
 	/* Print warnings, if necessary. 
 	 */
@@ -128,8 +141,10 @@ clip_new( IMAGE *in, IMAGE *out, int ofmt )
 	clip->underflow = 0;
 	clip->overflow = 0;
 
-	if( im_add_close_callback( out, 
-		(im_callback_fn) clip_destroy, clip, NULL ) )
+	if( im_add_evalstart_callback( out, 
+		(im_callback_fn) clip_evalstart, clip, NULL ) ||
+		im_add_evalend_callback( out, 
+			(im_callback_fn) clip_evalend, clip, NULL ) )
 		return( NULL );
 
 	return( clip );
diff --git a/libsrc/conversion/im_copy.c b/libsrc/conversion/im_copy.c
index d712f8a6..acaf6a77 100644
--- a/libsrc/conversion/im_copy.c
+++ b/libsrc/conversion/im_copy.c
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ im__convert_saveable( IMAGE *in, gboolean allow_alpha )
 {
 	IMAGE *out;
 
-	if( !(out = im_open( "im__convert_saveable", "p" )) )
+	if( !(out = im_open( "convert-for-save", "p" )) )
 		return( NULL );
 
 	/* If this is a IM_CODING_LABQ, we can go straight to RGB.
diff --git a/libsrc/convolution/im_conv.c b/libsrc/convolution/im_conv.c
index 02b232da..7e5040c6 100644
--- a/libsrc/convolution/im_conv.c
+++ b/libsrc/convolution/im_conv.c
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@
  *	- sets Xoffset / Yoffset
  * 11/11/05
  * 	- simpler inner loop avoids gcc4 bug 
+ * 7/11/07
+ * 	- new evalstart/end callbacks
  */
 
 /*
@@ -119,19 +121,34 @@ typedef struct {
 } Conv;
 
 static int
-conv_destroy( Conv *conv )
+conv_close( Conv *conv )
+{
+	IM_FREEF( im_free_imask, conv->mask );
+
+        return( 0 );
+}
+
+static int
+conv_evalstart( Conv *conv )
+{
+	/* Reset underflow/overflow count.
+	 */
+	conv->overflow = 0;
+	conv->underflow = 0;
+
+        return( 0 );
+}
+
+static int
+conv_evalend( Conv *conv )
 {
 	/* Print underflow/overflow count.
 	 */
 	if( conv->overflow || conv->underflow )
-		im_warning( "im_conv: %d overflows and %d underflows detected",
+		im_warn( "im_conv", 
+			_( "%d overflows and %d underflows detected" ),
 			conv->overflow, conv->underflow );
 
-	if( conv->mask ) {
-		(void) im_free_imask( conv->mask );
-		conv->mask = NULL;
-	}
-
         return( 0 );
 }
 
@@ -154,7 +171,11 @@ conv_new( IMAGE *in, IMAGE *out, INTMASK *mask )
         conv->overflow = 0;
 
         if( im_add_close_callback( out, 
-		(im_callback_fn) conv_destroy, conv, NULL ) ||
+		(im_callback_fn) conv_close, conv, NULL ) ||
+		im_add_close_callback( out, 
+			(im_callback_fn) conv_evalstart, conv, NULL ) ||
+		im_add_close_callback( out, 
+			(im_callback_fn) conv_evalend, conv, NULL ) ||
         	!(conv->coeff = IM_ARRAY( out, ne, int )) ||
         	!(conv->mask = im_dup_imask( mask, "conv_mask" )) )
                 return( NULL );
diff --git a/libsrc/convolution/im_convf.c b/libsrc/convolution/im_convf.c
index 3c74bf5b..aa61b269 100644
--- a/libsrc/convolution/im_convf.c
+++ b/libsrc/convolution/im_convf.c
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ typedef struct {
 } Conv;
 
 static int
-conv_destroy( Conv *conv )
+conv_close( Conv *conv )
 {
 	if( conv->mask ) {
 		(void) im_free_dmask( conv->mask );
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ conv_new( IMAGE *in, IMAGE *out, DOUBLEMASK *mask )
         conv->coeff = NULL;
 
         if( im_add_close_callback( out, 
-		(im_callback_fn) conv_destroy, conv, NULL ) ||
+		(im_callback_fn) conv_close, conv, NULL ) ||
         	!(conv->coeff = IM_ARRAY( out, ne, double )) ||
         	!(conv->mask = im_dup_dmask( mask, "conv_mask" )) )
                 return( NULL );
@@ -285,13 +285,14 @@ im_convf_raw( IMAGE *in, IMAGE *out, DOUBLEMASK *mask )
 	/* Check parameters.
 	 */
 	if( !in || in->Coding != IM_CODING_NONE || im_iscomplex( in ) ) {
-		im_errormsg( "im_convf: input non-complex uncoded please!");
+		im_error( "im_convf", 
+			_( "non-complex uncoded only" ) );
 		return( -1 );
 	}
 	if( !mask || mask->xsize > 1000 || mask->ysize > 1000 || 
 		mask->xsize <= 0 || mask->ysize <= 0 || !mask->coeff ||
 		mask->scale == 0 ) {
-		im_errormsg( "im_convf: nonsense mask parameters" );
+		im_error( "im_convf", _( "nonsense mask parameters" ) );
 		return( -1 );
 	}
 	if( im_piocheck( in, out ) )
@@ -311,7 +312,7 @@ im_convf_raw( IMAGE *in, IMAGE *out, DOUBLEMASK *mask )
 	out->Xsize -= mask->xsize - 1;
 	out->Ysize -= mask->ysize - 1;
 	if( out->Xsize <= 0 || out->Ysize <= 0 ) {
-		im_errormsg( "im_convf: image too small for mask" );
+		im_error( "im_convf", _( "image too small for mask" ) );
 		return( -1 );
 	}
 
diff --git a/libsrc/histograms_lut/im_maplut.c b/libsrc/histograms_lut/im_maplut.c
index b9ce291a..2430d0cf 100644
--- a/libsrc/histograms_lut/im_maplut.c
+++ b/libsrc/histograms_lut/im_maplut.c
@@ -47,7 +47,9 @@
  *	- small speed ups
  * 30/6/04
  *	- heh, 1 band image + 3 band lut + >8bit output has been broken for 9
- *	years :-)
+ *	  years :-)
+ * 7/11/07
+ * 	- new eval start/end system
  */
 
 /*
@@ -103,16 +105,22 @@ typedef struct {
 	int overflow;		/* Number of overflows for non-uchar lut */
 } LutInfo;
 
+static int
+lut_start( LutInfo *st )
+{
+	st->overflow = 0;
+
+	return( 0 );
+}
+
 /* Print overflows, if any.
  */
 static int
-end_lut( LutInfo *st )
+lut_end( LutInfo *st )
 {
-	if( st->overflow ) {
+	if( st->overflow ) 
 		im_warn( "im_maplut", _( "%d overflows detected" ), 
 			st->overflow );
-		st->overflow = 0;
-	}
 
 	return( 0 );
 }
@@ -139,8 +147,10 @@ build_luts( IMAGE *out, IMAGE *lut )
 	st->clp = st->sz - 1;
 	st->overflow = 0;
 	st->table = NULL;
-	if( im_add_evalend_callback( out, 
-		(im_callback_fn) end_lut, st, NULL ) ) 
+	if( im_add_evalstart_callback( out, 
+		(im_callback_fn) lut_start, st, NULL ) || 
+		im_add_evalend_callback( out, 
+			(im_callback_fn) lut_end, st, NULL ) ) 
 		return( NULL );
 
 	/* Attach tables.
diff --git a/libsrc/iofuncs/callback.c b/libsrc/iofuncs/callback.c
index eec3f88b..2c5a73c7 100644
--- a/libsrc/iofuncs/callback.c
+++ b/libsrc/iofuncs/callback.c
@@ -80,16 +80,20 @@ add_callback( IMAGE *im, GSList **cblist, int (*fn)(), void *a, void *b )
 	return( 0 );
 }
 
-/* Add a close callback to an IMAGE.
- */
 int
 im_add_close_callback( IMAGE *im, int (*fn)(), void *a, void *b )
 {	
 	return( add_callback( im, &im->closefns, fn, a, b ) );
 }
 
+int
+im_add_preclose_callback( IMAGE *im, int (*fn)(), void *a, void *b )
+{	
+	return( add_callback( im, &im->preclosefns, fn, a, b ) );
+}
+
 /* Add an eval callback to an IMAGE. You must call this after opening the
- * image, but before using it as an argument to an operation.
+ * image but before using it as an argument to an operation.
  */
 int
 im_add_eval_callback( IMAGE *im, int (*fn)(), void *a, void *b )
@@ -103,14 +107,18 @@ im_add_eval_callback( IMAGE *im, int (*fn)(), void *a, void *b )
 	return( add_callback( im, &im->evalfns, fn, a, b ) );
 }
 
-/* Add an eval end callback to an IMAGE.
- */
 int
 im_add_evalend_callback( IMAGE *im, int (*fn)(), void *a, void *b )
 {	
 	return( add_callback( im, &im->evalendfns, fn, a, b ) );
 }
 
+int
+im_add_evalstart_callback( IMAGE *im, int (*fn)(), void *a, void *b )
+{	
+	return( add_callback( im, &im->evalstartfns, fn, a, b ) );
+}
+
 /* Perform a user callback. 
  */
 static void *
diff --git a/libsrc/iofuncs/im_close.c b/libsrc/iofuncs/im_close.c
index 9b74834c..8983d36a 100644
--- a/libsrc/iofuncs/im_close.c
+++ b/libsrc/iofuncs/im_close.c
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@
  *	- call im__writehist() to send history to XML after image data
  * 3/1/07
  * 	- free history_list 
+ * 7/11/07
+ * 	- added preclose, removed evalend triggers
  */
 
 /*
@@ -122,7 +124,9 @@
 int 
 im__close( IMAGE *im )
 {
-	int result = 0;
+	int result;
+
+	result = 0;
 
 	/* No action for NULL image.
 	 */
@@ -133,6 +137,11 @@ im__close( IMAGE *im )
 	printf( "im__close: starting for %s ..\n", im->filename );
 #endif /*DEBUG_IO*/
 
+	/* Trigger all pre-close fns.
+	 */
+	result |= im__trigger_callbacks( im->preclosefns );
+	IM_FREEF( im_slist_free_all, im->preclosefns );
+
 	/* Free any regions defined on this image. This will, in turn, call
 	 * all stop functions still running, freeing all regions we have on 
 	 * other images, etc.
@@ -157,9 +166,9 @@ im__close( IMAGE *im )
 	/* Make sure all evalend functions have been called, perform all close
 	 * callbacks, and free eval callbacks.
 	 */
-	result |= im__trigger_callbacks( im->evalendfns );
-	IM_FREEF( im_slist_free_all, im->evalendfns );
+	IM_FREEF( im_slist_free_all, im->evalstartfns );
 	IM_FREEF( im_slist_free_all, im->evalfns );
+	IM_FREEF( im_slist_free_all, im->evalendfns );
 	result |= im__trigger_callbacks( im->closefns );
 	IM_FREEF( im_slist_free_all, im->closefns );
 
diff --git a/libsrc/iofuncs/im_generate.c b/libsrc/iofuncs/im_generate.c
index e322d1f9..1148c92a 100644
--- a/libsrc/iofuncs/im_generate.c
+++ b/libsrc/iofuncs/im_generate.c
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@
  *	- better how-many-pixels-calculated
  * 27/11/06
  * 	- merge background write stuff
+ * 7/11/07
+ * 	- new start/end eval callbacks
  */
 
 /*
@@ -284,12 +286,20 @@ eval_to_memory( im_threadgroup_t *tg, REGION *or )
 {
 	int y, chunk;
 	IMAGE *im = or->im;
+	int result;
+
+	result = 0;
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_IO
 	int ntiles = 0;
         printf( "eval_to_memory: partial image output to memory area\n" );
 #endif /*DEBUG_IO*/
 
+	/* Signal start of eval.
+	 */
+	if( im__start_eval( im ) )
+		return( -1 );
+
 	/* Choose a chunk size ... 1/100th of the height of the image, about.
 	 * This sets the granularity of user feedback on eval progress, but
 	 * does not affect mem requirements etc.
@@ -307,24 +317,28 @@ eval_to_memory( im_threadgroup_t *tg, REGION *or )
 		pos.top = y;
 		pos.width = im->Xsize;
 		pos.height = chunk;
-		if( im_region_image( or, &pos ) ) 
-			return( -1 );
+		if( (result = im_region_image( or, &pos )) ) 
+			break;
 
 		/* Ask for evaluation of this area.
 		 */
-		if( eval_to_region( or, tg ) ) 
-			return( -1 );
+		if( (result = eval_to_region( or, tg )) ) 
+			break;
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_IO
 		ntiles++;
 #endif /*DEBUG_IO*/
 	}
 
+	/* Signal end of eval.
+	 */
+	result |= im__end_eval( im );
+
 #ifdef DEBUG_IO
-	printf( "eval_to_memory: success! %d patches written\n", ntiles );
+	printf( "eval_to_memory: %d patches written\n", ntiles );
 #endif /*DEBUG_IO*/
 
-	return( 0 );
+	return( result );
 }
 
 /* A write function for VIPS images. Just write() the pixel data.
@@ -413,7 +427,7 @@ im_generate( IMAGE *im,
                 im->stop = stop;
                 im->client1 = a;
                 im->client2 = b;
- 
+
                 /* Evaluate. Two output styles: to memory area (im_setbuf()
                  * or im_mmapinrw()) or to file (im_openout()).
                  */
@@ -433,13 +447,6 @@ im_generate( IMAGE *im,
 		im_threadgroup_free( tg );
 		im_region_free( or );
 
-		/* Evaluation is now complete, with all sequences finished.
-		 * Trigger evalend callbacks, then free them to make sure we
-		 * don't trigger twice.
-		 */
-		res |= im__trigger_callbacks( im->evalendfns );
-		IM_FREEF( im_slist_free_all, im->evalendfns );
- 
                 /* Error?
                  */
                 if( res )
diff --git a/libsrc/iofuncs/im_init.c b/libsrc/iofuncs/im_init.c
index 384acbb3..a917a098 100644
--- a/libsrc/iofuncs/im_init.c
+++ b/libsrc/iofuncs/im_init.c
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@
  * 2/1/07
  * 	- init magic
  * 	- init history_list
+ * 7/11/07
+ * 	- added preclose and evalstart
  */
 
 /*
@@ -159,6 +161,9 @@ im_init( const char *filename )
 
 	im->progress = NULL;
 
+	im->evalstartfns = NULL;
+	im->preclosefns = NULL;
+
 	if( !(im->filename = im_strdup( NULL, filename )) ) {
 		im_close( im );
 		return( NULL );
diff --git a/libsrc/iofuncs/im_init_world.c b/libsrc/iofuncs/im_init_world.c
index dbe4fd3c..fc2a8401 100644
--- a/libsrc/iofuncs/im_init_world.c
+++ b/libsrc/iofuncs/im_init_world.c
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
  * 8/6/07
  * 	- just warn if plugins fail to load correctly: too annoying to have
  * 	  VIPS refuse to start because of a dodgy plugin
+ * 7/11/07
+ * 	- progress feedback option
  */
 
 /*
@@ -190,16 +192,18 @@ im__ngettext( const char *msgid, const char *plural, unsigned long int n )
 static GOptionEntry option_entries[] = {
 	{ "vips-concurrency", 'c', 0, G_OPTION_ARG_INT, &im__concurrency, 
 		N_( "evaluate with N concurrent threads" ), "N" },
-	{ "vips-tile-width", 'c', 0, G_OPTION_ARG_INT, &im__tile_width, 
+	{ "vips-tile-width", 'w', 0, G_OPTION_ARG_INT, &im__tile_width, 
 		N_( "set tile width to N (DEBUG)" ), "N" },
-	{ "vips-tile-height", 'c', 0, G_OPTION_ARG_INT, &im__tile_height, 
+	{ "vips-tile-height", 'h', 0, G_OPTION_ARG_INT, &im__tile_height, 
 		N_( "set tile height to N (DEBUG)" ), "N" },
-	{ "vips-thinstrip-height", 'c', 0, 
+	{ "vips-thinstrip-height", 't', 0, 
 		G_OPTION_ARG_INT, &im__thinstrip_height, 
 		N_( "set thinstrip height to N (DEBUG)" ), "N" },
-	{ "vips-fatstrip-height", 'c', 0, 
+	{ "vips-fatstrip-height", 'f', 0, 
 		G_OPTION_ARG_INT, &im__fatstrip_height, 
 		N_( "set fatstrip height to N (DEBUG)" ), "N" },
+	{ "vips-progress", 'p', 0, G_OPTION_ARG_NONE, &im__progress, 
+		N_( "show progress feedback" ), NULL },
 	{ NULL }
 };
 
diff --git a/libsrc/iofuncs/im_iterate.c b/libsrc/iofuncs/im_iterate.c
index 2c357d1e..968f2912 100644
--- a/libsrc/iofuncs/im_iterate.c
+++ b/libsrc/iofuncs/im_iterate.c
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@
  *	- read via a buffer image so we work with mmap window images
  * 27/11/06
  * 	- merge threadgroup stuff
+ * 7/11/07
+ * 	- new eval start/progress/end system
  */
 
 /*
@@ -199,12 +201,12 @@ im_iterate( IMAGE *im,
 {
 	IMAGE *t;
 	im_threadgroup_t *tg;
-	int res;
+	int result;
 
 	if( im_image_sanity( im ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
-	if( !(t = im_open( "im_iterate_buffer", "p" )) )
+	if( !(t = im_open( "iterate", "p" )) )
 		return( -1 );
 	if( im_copy( im, t ) ) {
 		im_close( t );
@@ -223,10 +225,19 @@ im_iterate( IMAGE *im,
 		im_diagnostics( "im_iterate: using %d threads", tg->nthr );
 #endif /*DEBUG_IO*/
 
-	res = iterate( tg, t, start, generate, stop, b, c );
+	/* Signal start of eval.
+	 */
+	if( im__start_eval( t ) )
+		return( -1 );
+
+	result = iterate( tg, t, start, generate, stop, b, c );
+
+	/* Signal end of eval.
+	 */
+	result |= im__end_eval( t );
 
 	im_threadgroup_free( tg );
 	im_close( t );
 
-	return( res );
+	return( result );
 }
diff --git a/libsrc/iofuncs/im_open.c b/libsrc/iofuncs/im_open.c
index 9b9a672e..44cf4c00 100644
--- a/libsrc/iofuncs/im_open.c
+++ b/libsrc/iofuncs/im_open.c
@@ -87,6 +87,9 @@ Modified:
  * 20/9/06
  * 	- test for NULL filename/mode, common if you forget to check argc
  * 	  (thanks bruno)
+ * 7/11/07
+ * 	- use preclose, not evalend, for delayed save
+ * 	- add simple cmd-line progress feedback
  */
 
 /*
@@ -163,6 +166,16 @@ static const char *im_suffix_csv[] = {
 	NULL
 };
 
+/* Progress feedback. Only really useful for testing, tbh.
+ */
+int im__progress = 0;
+
+void
+im_progress_set( int progress )
+{
+	im__progress = progress;
+}
+
 /* Open a VIPS image and byte-swap the image data if necessary.
  */
 static IMAGE *
@@ -213,7 +226,7 @@ read_vips( const char *filename )
 }
 
 /* Delayed save: if we write to TIFF or to JPEG format, actually do the write
- * to a "p" and on evalend do im_vips2tiff() or whatever. Track save
+ * to a "p" and on preclose do im_vips2tiff() or whatever. Track save
  * parameters here.
  */
 typedef struct {
@@ -222,7 +235,7 @@ typedef struct {
 	char *filename;		/* Save args */
 } SaveBlock;
 
-/* From evalend callback: invoke a delayed save.
+/* From preclose callback: invoke a delayed save.
  */
 static int
 invoke_sb( SaveBlock *sb )
@@ -246,7 +259,7 @@ attach_sb( IMAGE *out, int (*save_fn)(), const char *filename )
 	sb->save_fn = save_fn;
 	sb->filename = im_strdup( out, filename );
 
-	if( im_add_evalend_callback( out, 
+	if( im_add_preclose_callback( out, 
 		(im_callback_fn) invoke_sb, (void *) sb, NULL ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
@@ -277,7 +290,7 @@ open_lazy_start( IMAGE *out, void *a, void *dummy )
 	OpenLazy *lazy = (OpenLazy *) a;
 
 	if( !lazy->lazy_im ) {
-		if( !(lazy->lazy_im = im_open_local( out, "olstart", "p" )) || 
+		if( !(lazy->lazy_im = im_open_local( out, "read", "p" )) || 
 			lazy->read_pixels( lazy->filename, lazy->lazy_im ) ) {
 			IM_FREEF( im_close, lazy->lazy_im );
 			return( NULL );
@@ -349,6 +362,49 @@ open_sub( OpenLazyFn read_header, OpenLazyFn read_pixels, const char *filename )
 	return( im );
 }
 
+/* Progress feedback. 
+ */
+
+/* What we track during an eval.
+ */
+typedef struct {
+	IMAGE *im;
+
+	int last_percent;	/* The last %complete we displayed */
+} Progress;
+
+int
+evalstart_cb( Progress *progress )
+{
+	progress->last_percent = 0;
+
+	return( 0 );
+}
+
+int
+eval_cb( Progress *progress )
+{
+	IMAGE *im = progress->im;
+
+	if( im->time->percent != progress->last_percent ) {
+		printf( "%s: %d%% complete\r", 
+			im->filename, im->time->percent );
+		fflush( stdout );
+
+		progress->last_percent = im->time->percent;
+	}
+
+	return( 0 );
+}
+
+int
+evalend_cb( Progress *progress )
+{
+	printf( "\n" );
+
+	return( 0 );
+}
+
 IMAGE *
 im_open( const char *filename, const char *mode )
 {
@@ -478,7 +534,7 @@ im_open( const char *filename, const char *mode )
 			im = im_openout( filename );
 		else if( im_filename_suffix_match( filename, 
 			im_suffix_tiff ) ) {
-			/* TIFF write. Save to a partial, and on evalend
+			/* TIFF write. Save to a partial, and on preclose
 			 * im_vips2tiff from that.
 			 */
 			if( !(im = im_open( "im_open:vips2tiff:1", "p" )) )
@@ -550,6 +606,20 @@ im_open( const char *filename, const char *mode )
 		return( NULL );
         }
 
+	/* Attach progress feedback, if required.
+	 */
+	if( im__progress ) {
+		Progress *progress = IM_NEW( im, Progress );
+
+		progress->im = im;
+		im_add_evalstart_callback( im, 
+			(im_callback_fn) evalstart_cb, progress, NULL );
+		im_add_eval_callback( im, 
+			(im_callback_fn) eval_cb, progress, NULL );
+		im_add_evalend_callback( im, 
+			(im_callback_fn) evalend_cb, progress, NULL );
+	}
+
 #ifdef DEBUG_IO
 	printf( "im_open: success for %s (%p)\n", im->filename, im );
 #endif /*DEBUG_IO*/
diff --git a/libsrc/iofuncs/im_printdesc.c b/libsrc/iofuncs/im_printdesc.c
index d865113b..bb9e9828 100644
--- a/libsrc/iofuncs/im_printdesc.c
+++ b/libsrc/iofuncs/im_printdesc.c
@@ -324,6 +324,10 @@ im_printdesc( IMAGE *image )
 		printf( "user eval callbacks attached\n" );
 	if( image->evalendfns )
 		printf( "user evalend callbacks attached\n" );
+	if( image->evalstartfns )
+		printf( "user evalstart callbacks attached\n" );
+	if( image->preclosefns )
+		printf( "user preclose callbacks attached\n" );
 	if( image->regions ) {
 		printf( "%d regions present\n", 
 			g_slist_length( image->regions ) );
diff --git a/libsrc/iofuncs/im_setupout.c b/libsrc/iofuncs/im_setupout.c
index a930b498..02c5737b 100644
--- a/libsrc/iofuncs/im_setupout.c
+++ b/libsrc/iofuncs/im_setupout.c
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ im_setupout( IMAGE *im )
 		printf( "im_setupout: old-style output for %s\n",
 			im->filename );
 #endif /*DEBUG_IO*/
+
 		im->dtype = IM_SETBUF;
 	}
 
diff --git a/libsrc/iofuncs/im_wbuffer.c b/libsrc/iofuncs/im_wbuffer.c
index f0857f7f..b4bc51c0 100644
--- a/libsrc/iofuncs/im_wbuffer.c
+++ b/libsrc/iofuncs/im_wbuffer.c
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
  * 
  * 2/11/07
  * 	- cut from im_generate
+ * 7/11/07
+ * 	- trigger start/end eval callbacks
  */
 
 /*
@@ -407,19 +409,22 @@ im_wbuffer( im_threadgroup_t *tg,
 	im_wbuffer_fn write_fn, void *a, void *b )
 {
 	WriteBuffer *b1, *b2;
+	int result;
+
+	if( im__start_eval( tg->im ) )
+		return( -1 );
+
+	result = 0;
 
 	b1 = wbuffer_new( tg, write_fn, a, b );
 	b2 = wbuffer_new( tg, write_fn, a, b );
 
-	if( !b1 || !b2 || wbuffer_eval_to_file( b1, b2 ) ) {
-		IM_FREEF( wbuffer_free, b1 );
-		IM_FREEF( wbuffer_free, b2 );
-
-		return( -1 );
-	}
+	if( !b1 || !b2 || wbuffer_eval_to_file( b1, b2 ) )  
+		result = -1;
 
+	im__end_eval( tg->im );
 	wbuffer_free( b1 );
 	wbuffer_free( b2 );
 
-	return( 0 );
+	return( result );
 }
diff --git a/libsrc/iofuncs/im_writeline.c b/libsrc/iofuncs/im_writeline.c
index 37325acd..6212dbf2 100644
--- a/libsrc/iofuncs/im_writeline.c
+++ b/libsrc/iofuncs/im_writeline.c
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
  *	- better error messages
  * 31/10/03 JC
  *	- stop early on kill
+ * 7/11/07
+ * 	- add eval start/stop
  */
 
 /*
@@ -75,39 +77,52 @@
 #endif /*WITH_DMALLOC*/
 
 int
-im_writeline( int ypos, IMAGE *image, PEL *linebuffer )
+im_writeline( int ypos, IMAGE *im, PEL *linebuffer )
 {	
-	int linesize = IM_IMAGE_SIZEOF_LINE( image );
+	int linesize = IM_IMAGE_SIZEOF_LINE( im );
 	char *tmp;
 
+	/* Is this the start of eval?
+	 */
+	if( ypos == 0 )
+		im__start_eval( im );
+
 	/* Possible cases for output: FILE or SETBUF.
 	 */
-	switch( image->dtype ) {
+	switch( im->dtype ) {
 	case IM_SETBUF:
 	case IM_SETBUF_FOREIGN:
-		tmp = image->data + ypos * linesize;
+		tmp = im->data + ypos * linesize;
 		memcpy( tmp, linebuffer, linesize );
 
 		break;
 
 	case IM_OPENOUT:
-		if( im__write( image->fd, linebuffer, linesize ) )
+		/* Don't use ypos for this.
+		 */
+		if( im__write( im->fd, linebuffer, linesize ) )
 			return( -1 );
 
 		break;
 
 	default:
-		im_errormsg( "im_writeline: unable to output to a %s image",
-			im_dtype2char( image->dtype ) );
+		im_error( "im_writeline", 
+			_( "unable to output to a %s image" ),
+			im_dtype2char( im->dtype ) );
 		return( -1 );
 	}
 
 	/* Trigger evaluation callbacks for this image.
 	 */
-	if( im__handle_eval( image, image->Xsize, 1 ) )
+	if( im__handle_eval( im, im->Xsize, 1 ) )
 		return( -1 );
-	if( im__test_kill( image ) )
+	if( im__test_kill( im ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
+	/* Is this the end of eval?
+	 */
+	if( ypos == im->Ysize - 1 )
+		im__end_eval( im );
+
 	return( 0 );
 }
diff --git a/libsrc/iofuncs/time.c b/libsrc/iofuncs/time.c
index bae9f1ab..f698740b 100644
--- a/libsrc/iofuncs/time.c
+++ b/libsrc/iofuncs/time.c
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@
 
  */
 
+/*
+#define DEBUG
+ */
+
 #ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
 #include <config.h>
 #endif /*HAVE_CONFIG_H*/
@@ -50,6 +54,10 @@ int
 im__time_destroy( IMAGE *im )
 {
 	if( im->time ) {
+#ifdef DEBUG
+		printf( "im__time_destroy: %s\n", im->filename );
+#endif /*DEBUG*/
+
 		g_timer_destroy( im->time->start );
 		im_free( im->time );
 		im->time = NULL;
@@ -69,6 +77,10 @@ time_add( IMAGE *im )
 		!(time = IM_NEW( NULL, im_time_t )) )
 		return( -1 );
 
+#ifdef DEBUG
+	printf( "time_add: %s\n", im->filename );
+#endif /*DEBUG*/
+
 	time->im = im;
 	time->start = g_timer_new();
 	time->run = 0;
@@ -98,6 +110,28 @@ update_time( im_time_t *time, int w, int h )
 	return( 0 );
 }
 
+int
+im__start_eval( IMAGE *im )
+{
+	im_image_sanity( im );
+
+	if( im->progress ) {
+#ifdef DEBUG
+		printf( "im__start_eval: %s\n", im->filename );
+#endif /*DEBUG*/
+
+		im_image_sanity( im->progress );
+
+		if( time_add( im->progress ) )
+			return( -1 );
+
+		if( im__trigger_callbacks( im->progress->evalstartfns ) )
+			return( -1 );
+	}
+
+	return( 0 );
+}
+
 /* Handle eval callbacks. w and h are the size of the tile we made this time.
  * We signal progress on the ->progress IMAGE, see im_add_eval_callback(). We
  * assume there's no geometry change between adding the feedback request and
@@ -107,14 +141,6 @@ int
 im__handle_eval( IMAGE *im, int w, int h )
 {
 	if( im->progress ) {
-		if( !im->progress->time ) {
-			/* So we just check sanity first time around.
-			 */
-			im_image_sanity( im->progress );
-
-			if( time_add( im->progress ) )
-				return( -1 );
-		}
 		if( update_time( im->progress->time, w, h ) )
 			return( -1 );
 		
@@ -124,3 +150,24 @@ im__handle_eval( IMAGE *im, int w, int h )
 
 	return( 0 );
 }
+
+int
+im__end_eval( IMAGE *im )
+{
+	im_image_sanity( im );
+
+	if( im->progress ) {
+#ifdef DEBUG
+		printf( "im__end_eval: %s\n", im->filename );
+#endif /*DEBUG*/
+
+		im_image_sanity( im->progress );
+
+		if( im__trigger_callbacks( im->progress->evalendfns ) )
+			return( -1 );
+
+		im__time_destroy( im->progress );
+	}
+
+	return( 0 );
+}
diff --git a/libsrc/mosaicing/global_balance.c b/libsrc/mosaicing/global_balance.c
index ba7db608..25915f04 100644
--- a/libsrc/mosaicing/global_balance.c
+++ b/libsrc/mosaicing/global_balance.c
@@ -974,7 +974,7 @@ local_mask( IMAGE *out, DOUBLEMASK *mask )
 	if( !mask )
 		return( NULL );
 
-	if( im_add_evalend_callback( out, 
+	if( im_add_close_callback( out, 
 		(im_callback_fn) im_free_dmask, mask, NULL ) ) {
 		im_free_dmask( mask );
 		return( NULL );