diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 8f92bafb8..53e88bdf8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -46,15 +46,13 @@ jobs:
         make html SPHINXOPTS="-W --keep-going"
 
   test-build-full:
-    name: Test examples, env with notebook and glfw
+    name: Test Linux, notebook + glfw
     runs-on: bigmem
     if: ${{ !github.event.pull_request.draft }}
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         include:
-          - name: Test py39
-            pyversion: '3.9'
           - name: Test py310
             pyversion: '3.10'
           - name: Test py311
@@ -103,15 +101,13 @@ jobs:
           examples/notebooks/diffs
 
   test-build-desktop:
-    name: Test examples, env with only glfw
+    name: Test Linux, only glfw
     runs-on: bigmem
     if: ${{ !github.event.pull_request.draft }}
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         include:
-          - name: Test py39
-            pyversion: '3.9'
           - name: Test py310
             pyversion: '3.10'
           - name: Test py311
@@ -156,3 +152,87 @@ jobs:
         name: screenshot-diffs
         path: |
           examples/desktop/diffs
+
+#  test-build-full-mac:
+#    name: Test Mac, notebook + glfw
+#    runs-on: macos-14
+#    if: ${{ !github.event.pull_request.draft }}
+#    strategy:
+#      fail-fast: false
+#      matrix:
+#        include:
+#          - name: Test py310
+#            pyversion: '3.10'
+#          - name: Test py311
+#            pyversion: '3.11'
+#          - name: Test py312
+#            pyversion: '3.12'
+#    steps:
+#    - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+#      with:
+#        lfs: true
+#    - name: Set up Python
+#      uses: actions/setup-python@v3
+#      with:
+#        python-version: ${{ matrix.pyversion }}
+#    - name: Install dev dependencies
+#      run: |
+#        python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools
+#        # remove pygfx from install_requires, we install using pygfx@main
+#        pip install -e ".["tests"]"
+#        pip install git+https://github.com/pygfx/pygfx.git@main
+#    - name: Show wgpu backend
+#      run:
+#        python -c "from examples.tests.testutils import wgpu_backend; print(wgpu_backend)"
+#    - name: Test examples
+#      run: |
+#        pytest -v examples
+#        pytest --nbmake examples/notebooks/
+#    - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
+#      if: ${{ failure() }}
+#      with:
+#        name: screenshot-diffs
+#        path: |
+#          examples/desktop/diffs
+#          examples/notebooks/diffs
+#
+#  test-build-glfw-mac:
+#    name: Test Mac, glfw
+#    runs-on: macos-14
+#    if: ${{ !github.event.pull_request.draft }}
+#    strategy:
+#      fail-fast: false
+#      matrix:
+#        include:
+#          - name: Test py310
+#            pyversion: '3.10'
+#          - name: Test py311
+#            pyversion: '3.11'
+#          - name: Test py312
+#            pyversion: '3.12'
+#    steps:
+#    - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+#      with:
+#        lfs: true
+#    - name: Set up Python
+#      uses: actions/setup-python@v3
+#      with:
+#        python-version: ${{ matrix.pyversion }}
+#    - name: Install dev dependencies
+#      run: |
+#        python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools
+#        # remove pygfx from install_requires, we install using pygfx@main
+#        pip install -e ".["tests-desktop"]"
+#        pip install git+https://github.com/pygfx/pygfx.git@main
+#    - name: Show wgpu backend
+#      run:
+#        python -c "from examples.tests.testutils import wgpu_backend; print(wgpu_backend)"
+#    - name: Test examples
+#      run: |
+#        pytest -v examples
+#    - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
+#      if: ${{ failure() }}
+#      with:
+#        name: screenshot-diffs
+#        path: |
+#          examples/desktop/diffs
diff --git a/.github/workflows/screenshots.yml b/.github/workflows/screenshots.yml
index d3cdb919b..baad8b655 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/screenshots.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/screenshots.yml
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           # regenerate screenshots
           REGENERATE_SCREENSHOTS=1 pytest -v examples
-          REGENERATE_SCREENSHOTS=1 pytest --nbmake examples/notebooks/
+          FASTPLOTLIB_NB_TESTS=1 REGENERATE_SCREENSHOTS=1 pytest --nbmake examples/notebooks/
       - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
         if: always()
         with:
diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/gridplot.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/gridplot.png
index bc35ccf8c..ebf2d3a97 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/gridplot.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/gridplot.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
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-size 307384
+oid sha256:f972f67b8830657ab14899f749fb385a080280304377d8868e6cd39c766a0afd
+size 267084
diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/gridplot_non_square.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/gridplot_non_square.png
index 82b2b0eb4..bc642b729 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/gridplot_non_square.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/gridplot_non_square.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
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-size 203434
+oid sha256:352bf94c68444a330b000d7b6b3ec51b5b694ff3a0ce810299b325315923d9af
+size 175938
diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/heatmap.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/heatmap.png
index a0655cf3a..a8c8b73fe 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/heatmap.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/heatmap.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
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-size 111825
+oid sha256:5620e4dcb964dbf3318ac77e566af395a35b9762e0687dec2e1a2864eb291fd3
+size 102994
diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/heatmap_cmap.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/heatmap_cmap.png
index 2eb769c14..cee81dd30 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/heatmap_cmap.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/heatmap_cmap.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
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-size 106671
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+size 97996
diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/heatmap_data.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/heatmap_data.png
index 50a8ae79e..316a73753 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/heatmap_data.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/heatmap_data.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
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-size 18051
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+size 19084
diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/heatmap_vmin_vmax.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/heatmap_vmin_vmax.png
index f10382e87..357683d82 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/heatmap_vmin_vmax.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/heatmap_vmin_vmax.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
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-size 124403
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+size 114957
diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/image_cmap.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/image_cmap.png
index bed07a41a..bbf51ab18 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/image_cmap.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/image_cmap.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
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-size 216210
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+size 189654
diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/image_rgb.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/image_rgb.png
index a21c0658b..9a5082b12 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/image_rgb.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/image_rgb.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
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+size 218089
diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/image_rgbvminvmax.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/image_rgbvminvmax.png
index 88acfadc5..00bbdc0c5 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/image_rgbvminvmax.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/image_rgbvminvmax.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
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-size 39604
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+size 34894
diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/image_simple.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/image_simple.png
index 098d5a055..94fcd3061 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/image_simple.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/image_simple.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
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-size 213075
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diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/image_vminvmax.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/image_vminvmax.png
index 88acfadc5..00bbdc0c5 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/image_vminvmax.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/image_vminvmax.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
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-size 39604
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+size 34894
diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/line.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/line.png
index 8e3e6ae64..74cbae39a 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/line.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/line.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
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-size 44312
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+size 29121
diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_cmap.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_cmap.png
index b96c9a1dd..9cd93f05d 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_cmap.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_cmap.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
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-size 43730
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+size 31050
diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_collection.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_collection.png
index 89d613c2c..bcfe85309 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_collection.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_collection.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
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-size 147244
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+size 95146
diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_collection_cmap_values.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_collection_cmap_values.png
index 38d9adc6e..b7fcdbcae 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_collection_cmap_values.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_collection_cmap_values.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
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-size 93839
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+size 61032
diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_collection_cmap_values_qualitative.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_collection_cmap_values_qualitative.png
index 4f14e49b9..9f89a24cc 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_collection_cmap_values_qualitative.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_collection_cmap_values_qualitative.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
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+size 64149
diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_collection_colors.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_collection_colors.png
index c71c623c6..7bb4152fd 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_collection_colors.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_collection_colors.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
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-size 82806
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diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_colorslice.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_colorslice.png
index 7775c1918..3d04c473f 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_colorslice.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_colorslice.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
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diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_dataslice.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_dataslice.png
index 2907dd64a..0863751bf 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_dataslice.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_dataslice.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
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diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_present_scaling.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_present_scaling.png
index b4b883855..ba7142106 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_present_scaling.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_present_scaling.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
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index 47e59ba8c..c13f05f04 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_stack.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/line_stack.png
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diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter.png
index d01d36707..94fb858e1 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter.png
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diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter_cmap.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter_cmap.png
index 7f0bba38a..87a6e0ded 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter_cmap.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter_cmap.png
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diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter_colorslice.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter_colorslice.png
index 27249e63e..cede76dfd 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter_colorslice.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter_colorslice.png
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diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter_dataslice.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter_dataslice.png
index 155510885..7a1429663 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter_dataslice.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter_dataslice.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
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diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter_present.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter_present.png
index 87685fe90..08bc610b3 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter_present.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter_present.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
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diff --git a/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter_size.png b/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter_size.png
index afe8a0b35..056d2a531 100644
--- a/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter_size.png
+++ b/examples/desktop/screenshots/scatter_size.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
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-size 67710
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diff --git a/examples/notebooks/image_widget_test.ipynb b/examples/notebooks/image_widget_test.ipynb
index 90747757c..c236ce9b7 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/image_widget_test.ipynb
+++ b/examples/notebooks/image_widget_test.ipynb
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@
    "metadata": {},
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
-    "from nb_test_utils import plot_test, notebook_finished        "
+    "from nb_test_utils import plot_test, notebook_finished\n",
+    "import nb_test_utils\n",
+    "nb_test_utils.TOLERANCE = 0.035"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -57,7 +59,8 @@
    "source": [
     "iw = ImageWidget(\n",
     "    data=a,\n",
-    "    cmap=\"viridis\"\n",
+    "    cmap=\"viridis\",\n",
+    "    grid_plot_kwargs={\"size\": (900, 600)},\n",
     ")"
    ]
   },
@@ -128,7 +131,8 @@
     "iw_movie = ImageWidget(\n",
     "    data=gray_movie, \n",
     "    slider_dims=[\"t\"],\n",
-    "    cmap=\"gray\"\n",
+    "    cmap=\"gray\",\n",
+    "    grid_plot_kwargs={\"size\": (900, 600)},\n",
     ")"
    ]
   },
@@ -271,6 +275,9 @@
    "execution_count": null,
    "id": "76535d56-e514-4c16-aa48-a6359f8019d5",
    "metadata": {
+    "jupyter": {
+     "source_hidden": true
+    },
     "tags": []
    },
    "outputs": [],
@@ -280,6 +287,7 @@
     "    window_funcs={\"t\": (np.mean, 5)},\n",
     "    names=[f\"plane-{i}\" for i in range(n_planes)],\n",
     "    cmap=\"gnuplot2\", \n",
+    "    grid_plot_kwargs={\"size\": (900, 600)},\n",
     ")"
    ]
   },
@@ -379,6 +387,7 @@
     "    data=zfish_data, # you can also provide a list of tzxy arrays\n",
     "    window_funcs={\"t\": (np.mean, 5)},\n",
     "    cmap=\"gnuplot2\", \n",
+    "    grid_plot_kwargs={\"size\": (900, 600)},\n",
     ")"
    ]
   },
@@ -444,6 +453,14 @@
    "source": [
     "notebook_finished()"
    ]
+  },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": null,
+   "id": "b8fff1a6-119e-4f03-ba3a-4c7b9e8c212b",
+   "metadata": {},
+   "outputs": [],
+   "source": []
   }
  ],
  "metadata": {
@@ -462,7 +479,7 @@
    "name": "python",
    "nbconvert_exporter": "python",
    "pygments_lexer": "ipython3",
-   "version": "3.11.2"
+   "version": "3.11.3"
   }
  },
  "nbformat": 4,
diff --git a/examples/notebooks/nb_test_utils.py b/examples/notebooks/nb_test_utils.py
index 71d2d5114..90b7158ad 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/nb_test_utils.py
+++ b/examples/notebooks/nb_test_utils.py
@@ -16,11 +16,73 @@
 os.makedirs(SCREENSHOTS_DIR, exist_ok=True)
 os.makedirs(DIFFS_DIR, exist_ok=True)
 
+TOLERANCE = 0.025
 
 # store all the failures to allow the nb to proceed to test other examples
 FAILURES = list()
 
 
+# TODO: consolidate testing functions into one module so we don't have this separate one for notebooks
+
+def rgba_to_rgb(img: np.ndarray) -> np.ndarray:
+    black = np.zeros(img.shape).astype(np.uint8)
+    black[:, :, -1] = 255
+
+    img_alpha = img[..., -1] / 255
+
+    rgb = img[..., :-1] * img_alpha[..., None] + black[..., :-1] * np.ones(
+        img_alpha.shape
+    )[..., None] * (1 - img_alpha[..., None])
+
+    return rgb.round().astype(np.uint8)
+
+
+# image comparison functions from: https://github.com/pygfx/image-comparison
+def image_similarity(src, target, threshold=0.2):
+    """Compute normalized RMSE 0..1 and decide if similar based on threshold.
+
+    For every pixel, the euclidian distance between RGB values is computed,
+    and normalized by the maximum possible distance (between black and white).
+    The RMSE is then computed from those errors.
+
+    The normalized RMSE is used to compute the
+    similarity metric, so larger errors (euclidian distance
+    between two RGB colors) will have a disproportionately
+    larger effect on the score than smaller errors.
+
+    In other words, lots of small errors will lead to a good score
+    (closer to 0) whereas a few large errors will lead to a bad score
+    (closer to 1).
+    """
+    float_type = np.float64
+    src = np.asarray(src, dtype=float_type)
+    target = np.asarray(target, dtype=float_type)
+    denom = np.sqrt(np.mean(src * src))
+    mse = np.mean((src - target) ** 2)
+    rmse = np.sqrt(mse) / denom
+
+    similar = bool(rmse < threshold)
+    return similar, rmse
+
+
+def normalize_image(img):
+    """Discard the alpha channel and convert from 0..255 uint8 to 0..1 float."""
+    assert len(img.shape) == 3
+
+    # normalize to 0..1 range
+    if img.dtype == "u1" or np.max(img) > 1:
+        img = img / 255
+        assert np.min(img) >= 0 and np.max(img) <= 1
+
+    # discard alpha channel
+    # unsupported if it's not fully opaque
+    if img.shape[-1] == 4:
+        assert np.max(img[..., 3]) == 1
+        img = img[..., :-1]
+
+    return img
+
+
 def _run_tests():
     if "FASTPLOTLIB_NB_TESTS" not in os.environ.keys():
         return False
@@ -34,16 +96,15 @@ def _run_tests():
 def plot_test(name, plot: Union[Plot, GridPlot]):
     if not _run_tests():
         return
+
     snapshot = plot.canvas.snapshot()
+    rgb_img = rgba_to_rgb(snapshot.data)
 
     if "REGENERATE_SCREENSHOTS" in os.environ.keys():
         if os.environ["REGENERATE_SCREENSHOTS"] == "1":
-            regenerate_screenshot(name, snapshot.data)
+            regenerate_screenshot(name, rgb_img)
 
-    try:
-        assert_screenshot_equal(name, snapshot.data)
-    except AssertionError:
-        FAILURES.append(name)
+    assert_screenshot_equal(name, rgb_img)
 
 
 def regenerate_screenshot(name, data):
@@ -53,13 +114,17 @@ def regenerate_screenshot(name, data):
 def assert_screenshot_equal(name, data):
     ground_truth = iio.imread(SCREENSHOTS_DIR.joinpath(f"nb-{name}.png"))
 
-    is_similar = np.allclose(data, ground_truth)
+    img = normalize_image(data)
+    ref_img = normalize_image(ground_truth)
 
-    update_diffs(name, is_similar, data, ground_truth)
+    similar, rmse = image_similarity(img, ref_img, threshold=TOLERANCE)
 
-    assert is_similar, (
-        f"notebook snapshot for {name} has changed"
-    )
+    update_diffs(name, similar, data, ground_truth)
+
+    if not similar:
+        FAILURES.append(
+            (name, rmse)
+        )
 
 
 def update_diffs(name, is_similar, img, ground_truth):
@@ -81,7 +146,6 @@ def get_diffs_rgba(slicer):
     # split into an rgb and an alpha diff
     diffs = {
         DIFFS_DIR.joinpath(f"nb-diff-{name}-rgb.png"): slice(0, 3),
-        DIFFS_DIR.joinpath(f"nb-diff-{name}-alpha.png"): 3,
     }
 
     for path, slicer in diffs.items():
diff --git a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-astronaut.png b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-astronaut.png
index 2faf79def..378260288 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-astronaut.png
+++ b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-astronaut.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
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+size 112104
diff --git a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-astronaut_RGB.png b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-astronaut_RGB.png
index 22b2627cb..bf11bf667 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-astronaut_RGB.png
+++ b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-astronaut_RGB.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
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+size 110408
diff --git a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-camera.png b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-camera.png
index 32e83f3ba..9db4005bc 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-camera.png
+++ b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-camera.png
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+size 77965
diff --git a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-movie-set_data.png b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-movie-set_data.png
index a728df223..5be8f55a3 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-movie-set_data.png
+++ b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-movie-set_data.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
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diff --git a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-movie-single-0-reset.png b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-movie-single-0-reset.png
index 8e624128e..8572f6472 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-movie-single-0-reset.png
+++ b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-movie-single-0-reset.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
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index 8e624128e..8572f6472 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-movie-single-0.png
+++ b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-movie-single-0.png
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index d27e49568..e241ce5a6 100644
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+++ b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-movie-single-279.png
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index 12dce091c..b827fc536 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-movie-single-50-window-max-33.png
+++ b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-movie-single-50-window-max-33.png
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index 44ccb8020..d37f44a3a 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-movie-single-50-window-mean-13.png
+++ b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-movie-single-50-window-mean-13.png
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index f0354cbb2..46d3fa9b3 100644
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+++ b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-movie-single-50-window-mean-33.png
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index 25b65bd48..6146a7985 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-movie-single-50-window-reset.png
+++ b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-movie-single-50-window-reset.png
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index 25b65bd48..6146a7985 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-movie-single-50.png
+++ b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-movie-single-50.png
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index 75fa3ef5a..b8bf7adeb 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-single-gnuplot2.png
+++ b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-single-gnuplot2.png
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index 1321d01bb..86119e247 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-single.png
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diff --git a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-zfish-frame-50-frame-apply-gaussian.png b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-zfish-frame-50-frame-apply-gaussian.png
index 2543f9a5d..82cee281f 100644
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+++ b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-image-widget-zfish-frame-50-frame-apply-gaussian.png
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diff --git a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-imagewidget.png b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-imagewidget.png
new file mode 100644
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-imagewidget.png
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diff --git a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-lines-cmap-jet-values-cosine.png b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-lines-cmap-jet-values-cosine.png
index 0c875da24..0d9ff5729 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-lines-cmap-jet-values-cosine.png
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index e193c85b3..dbcbf1e7f 100644
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index acc52de78..6a3ae0c1c 100644
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index d18cadb51..9bb368e0e 100644
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diff --git a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-lines-cmap-viridis-values.png b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-lines-cmap-viridis-values.png
index ecdbb0db7..23137bdf3 100644
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index a78bd9d54..2fcd4749c 100644
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index c61050a7d..397b5fc94 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-lines-cmap-white.png
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diff --git a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-lines-colors.png b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-lines-colors.png
index 33a751e98..149321e52 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-lines-colors.png
+++ b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-lines-colors.png
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diff --git a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-lines-data.png b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-lines-data.png
index 7447b5b86..9ed38b1f5 100644
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--- a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-lines-underlay.png
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diff --git a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-lines.png b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-lines.png
index b89e9f47c..603f4a8fc 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-lines.png
+++ b/examples/notebooks/screenshots/nb-lines.png
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
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diff --git a/examples/tests/test_examples.py b/examples/tests/test_examples.py
index 876533fa6..a570b4f36 100644
--- a/examples/tests/test_examples.py
+++ b/examples/tests/test_examples.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """
 Test that examples run without error.
 """
+
 import importlib
 import runpy
 import pytest
@@ -8,6 +9,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 import imageio.v3 as iio
 
+
 from .testutils import (
     ROOT,
     examples_dir,
@@ -15,7 +17,11 @@
     find_examples,
     wgpu_backend,
     is_lavapipe,
-    diffs_dir
+    diffs_dir,
+    generate_diff,
+    image_similarity,
+    normalize_image,
+    prep_for_write,
 )
 
 # run all tests unless they opt-out
@@ -52,7 +58,12 @@ def test_that_we_are_on_lavapipe():
 def test_example_screenshots(module, force_offscreen):
     """Make sure that every example marked outputs the expected."""
     # (relative) module name from project root
-    module_name = module.relative_to(ROOT/"examples").with_suffix("").as_posix().replace("/", ".")
+    module_name = (
+        module.relative_to(ROOT / "examples")
+        .with_suffix("")
+        .as_posix()
+        .replace("/", ".")
+    )
 
     # import the example module
     example = importlib.import_module(module_name)
@@ -69,20 +80,35 @@ def test_example_screenshots(module, force_offscreen):
 
     screenshot_path = screenshots_dir / f"{module.stem}.png"
 
+    black = np.zeros(img.shape).astype(np.uint8)
+    black[:, :, -1] = 255
+
+    img_alpha = img[..., -1] / 255
+
+    rgb = img[..., :-1] * img_alpha[..., None] + black[..., :-1] * np.ones(
+        img_alpha.shape
+    )[..., None] * (1 - img_alpha[..., None])
+
+    rgb = rgb.round().astype(np.uint8)
+
     if "REGENERATE_SCREENSHOTS" in os.environ.keys():
         if os.environ["REGENERATE_SCREENSHOTS"] == "1":
-            iio.imwrite(screenshot_path, img)
-            #np.save(screenshot_path, img)
+            iio.imwrite(screenshot_path, rgb)
 
     assert (
         screenshot_path.exists()
     ), "found # test_example = true but no reference screenshot available"
-    #stored_img = np.load(screenshot_path)
-    stored_img = iio.imread(screenshot_path)
-    is_similar = np.allclose(img, stored_img, atol=1)
-    update_diffs(module.stem, is_similar, img, stored_img)
-    assert is_similar, (
-        f"rendered image for example {module.stem} changed, see "
+
+    ref_img = iio.imread(screenshot_path)
+
+    rgb = normalize_image(rgb)
+    ref_img = normalize_image(ref_img)
+
+    similar, rmse = image_similarity(rgb, ref_img, threshold=0.025)
+
+    update_diffs(module.stem, similar, rgb, ref_img)
+    assert similar, (
+        f"diff {rmse} above threshold for {module.stem}, see "
         f"the {diffs_dir.relative_to(ROOT).as_posix()} folder"
         " for visual diffs (you can download this folder from"
         " CI build artifacts as well)"
@@ -110,7 +136,6 @@ def get_diffs_rgba(slicer):
     # split into an rgb and an alpha diff
     diffs = {
         diffs_dir / f"diff-{module}-rgb.png": slice(0, 3),
-        diffs_dir / f"diff-{module}-alpha.png": 3,
     }
 
     for path, slicer in diffs.items():
diff --git a/examples/tests/testutils.py b/examples/tests/testutils.py
index 5f6772fb7..f62ae7602 100644
--- a/examples/tests/testutils.py
+++ b/examples/tests/testutils.py
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 import sys
 from itertools import chain
 
+import numpy as np
+
 
 ROOT = Path(__file__).parents[2]  # repo root
 examples_dir = ROOT / "examples" / "desktop"
@@ -65,3 +67,189 @@ def find_examples(query=None, negative_query=None, return_stems=False):
         result = [r.stem for r in result]
     return result
 
+
+# image comparison functions from: https://github.com/pygfx/image-comparison
+def image_similarity(src, target, threshold=0.2):
+    """Compute normalized RMSE 0..1 and decide if similar based on threshold.
+
+    For every pixel, the euclidian distance between RGB values is computed,
+    and normalized by the maximum possible distance (between black and white).
+    The RMSE is then computed from those errors.
+
+    The normalized RMSE is used to compute the
+    similarity metric, so larger errors (euclidian distance
+    between two RGB colors) will have a disproportionately
+    larger effect on the score than smaller errors.
+
+    In other words, lots of small errors will lead to a good score
+    (closer to 0) whereas a few large errors will lead to a bad score
+    (closer to 1).
+    """
+    float_type = np.float64
+    src = np.asarray(src, dtype=float_type)
+    target = np.asarray(target, dtype=float_type)
+    denom = np.sqrt(np.mean(src * src))
+    mse = np.mean((src - target) ** 2)
+    rmse = np.sqrt(mse) / denom
+
+    similar = bool(rmse < threshold)
+    return similar, rmse
+
+
+def normalize_image(img):
+    """Discard the alpha channel and convert from 0..255 uint8 to 0..1 float."""
+    assert len(img.shape) == 3
+
+    # normalize to 0..1 range
+    if img.dtype == "u1" or np.max(img) > 1:
+        img = img / 255
+        assert np.min(img) >= 0 and np.max(img) <= 1
+
+    # discard alpha channel
+    # unsupported if it's not fully opaque
+    if img.shape[-1] == 4:
+        assert np.max(img[..., 3]) == 1
+        img = img[..., :-1]
+
+    return img
+
+
+def prep_for_write(img):
+    """Convert 0..1 float back to 0..255 uint8."""
+    assert len(img.shape) == 3
+    assert np.min(img) >= 0 and np.max(img) <= 1
+    if img.dtype != "u1":
+        img = np.round(img * 255).astype("u1")
+    return img
+
+
+def rescale_arr(arr, min, max):
+    """
+    histogram rescale utility function
+    e.g. if the values are 0.3..0.7
+    they are rescaled to min..max
+    """
+    return np.interp(arr, (arr.min(), arr.max()), (min, max))
+
+
+def rgb_to_hls(rgb):
+    """
+    convert rgb to hls
+    assumes input ranges are 0..1
+    returns values in range 0..1
+
+    vectorized version of colorsys.rgb_to_hls
+    """
+    maxc = np.max(rgb, axis=-1)
+    minc = np.min(rgb, axis=-1)
+    hls = np.empty_like(rgb)
+    l = (minc + maxc) / 2.0  # noqa: E741
+
+    with np.errstate(invalid="ignore"):
+        mask = l <= 0.5
+        idx = np.where(mask)
+        hls[(*idx, 2)] = (maxc[idx] - minc[idx]) / (maxc[idx] + minc[idx])
+
+        idx = np.where(~mask)
+        hls[(*idx, 2)] = (maxc[idx] - minc[idx]) / (2.0 - maxc[idx] - minc[idx])
+
+        maxc_minc = maxc - minc
+        rc = (maxc - rgb[..., 0]) / maxc_minc
+        gc = (maxc - rgb[..., 1]) / maxc_minc
+        bc = (maxc - rgb[..., 2]) / maxc_minc
+
+    mask1 = rgb[..., 0] == maxc
+    idx = np.where(mask1)
+    hls[(*idx, 0)] = bc[idx] - gc[idx]
+
+    mask2 = rgb[..., 1] == maxc
+    idx = np.where(~mask1 & mask2)
+    hls[(*idx, 0)] = 2.0 + rc[idx] - bc[idx]
+
+    idx = np.where(~mask1 & ~mask2)
+    hls[(*idx, 0)] = 4.0 + gc[idx] - rc[idx]
+
+    hls[..., 0] = (hls[..., 0] / 6.0) % 1.0
+
+    idx = np.where(minc == maxc)
+    hls[idx] = 0.0
+    hls[..., 1] = l
+
+    return hls
+
+
+def hls_to_rgb(hls):
+    """
+    convert hls to rgb
+    assumes input ranges are 0..1
+    returns values in range 0..1
+
+    vectorized version of colorsys.hls_to_rgb
+    """
+    rgb = np.empty_like(hls)
+
+    m2 = np.empty_like(hls[..., 1])
+    mask = hls[..., 1] <= 0.5
+    idx = np.where(mask)
+    m2[idx] = hls[(*idx, 1)] * (1.0 + hls[(*idx, 2)])
+    idx = np.where(~mask)
+    m2[idx] = hls[(*idx, 1)] + hls[(*idx, 2)] - (hls[(*idx, 1)] * hls[(*idx, 2)])
+    m1 = 2.0 * hls[..., 1] - m2
+
+    h1 = (hls[..., 0] + 1 / 3) % 1.0
+    h2 = hls[..., 0] % 1.0
+    h3 = (hls[..., 0] - 1 / 3) % 1.0
+
+    for i, h in enumerate([h1, h2, h3]):
+        mask1 = h < 1 / 6
+        idx = np.where(mask1)
+        rgb[(*idx, i)] = m1[idx] + (m2[idx] - m1[idx]) * h[idx] * 6.0
+
+        mask2 = h < 0.5
+        idx = np.where(~mask1 & mask2)
+        rgb[(*idx, i)] = m2[idx]
+
+        mask3 = h < 2 / 3
+        idx = np.where(~mask1 & ~mask2 & mask3)
+        rgb[(*idx, i)] = m1[idx] + (m2[idx] - m1[idx]) * ((2 / 3) - h[idx]) * 6.0
+
+        idx = np.where(~mask1 & ~mask2 & ~mask3)
+        rgb[(*idx, i)] = m1[idx]
+
+    return rgb
+
+
+def generate_diff(src, target, fuzz=0.05):
+    """
+    Generate an image that
+    highlights the differences between src and target image
+    any pixels with a euclidian color distance < fuzz will be ignored
+    fuzz is expressed as a percentage of the maximum possible distance
+    which is the distance between (0,0,0) and (1,1,1) = sqrt(3).
+    """
+    # compute euclidian distance between pixels
+    # and normalize to 0..1
+    max_dist = np.linalg.norm([1, 1, 1], axis=-1)
+    error = np.linalg.norm(np.abs(target - src), axis=-1) / max_dist
+    # apply fuzz
+    error_idx = np.where(error > fuzz)
+
+    diff_img_hls = rgb_to_hls(target)
+    # lighten the whole image
+    diff_img_hls[..., 1] = rescale_arr(diff_img_hls[..., 1], 0.25, 1.0)
+    diff_img_hls[..., 1] **= 0.2
+    # reduce the color saturation
+    diff_img_hls[..., 2] = rescale_arr(diff_img_hls[..., 2], 0.0, 0.75)
+    diff_img_hls[..., 2] **= 2
+
+    # make the diff pixels red
+    diff_img_hls[(*error_idx, 0)] = 0
+    # give them the same lighting level
+    diff_img_hls[(*error_idx, 1)] = 0.5
+    # saturate based on the error
+    diff_img_hls[(*error_idx, 2)] = 0.5 + error[error_idx] * 0.5
+
+    # convert back to rgb
+    diff_img = hls_to_rgb(diff_img_hls)
+
+    return diff_img