diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index f3a78057..09c92551 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ jobs:
         exclude:
           # for now, this combo segfaults too much to be worth the hassle of debugging
           # when we unpin and update pygfx, reconsider
-          - gui: pyside
-            canvas: pygfx
+          # - gui: pyside
+            # canvas: pygfx
           # wxpython does not build wheels for ubuntu or macos-latest py3.10
           - os: ubuntu-latest
             gui: wxpython
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ jobs:
           sudo apt-get update -y -qq
           sudo apt install -y libegl1-mesa-dev libgl1-mesa-dri libxcb-xfixes0-dev mesa-vulkan-drivers
       - name: Test
-        run: uv run --exact --no-dev --extra=${{ matrix.canvas }} --group=${{ matrix.gui }} coverage run -p -m pytest --color=yes -p no:faulthandler
+        run: uv run --exact --no-dev --extra=${{ matrix.canvas }} --group=${{ matrix.gui }} coverage run -p -m pytest --color=yes
 
       - name: Upload coverage
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v6
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index e5eb8fe4..1a24ca2c 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -50,20 +50,16 @@ jupyter = [
 pyqt = ["pyqt6 >=6.7", "qtpy >=2", "superqt[iconify] >=0.7.2"]
 pyside = [
     # defer to superqt's pyside6 restrictions
-    "superqt[iconify,pyside6] >=0.7.2,<0.7.5",
-    # https://github.com/pyapp-kit/ndv/issues/59
-    "pyside6 ==6.6.3; sys_platform == 'win32'",
-    "numpy >=1.23,<2; sys_platform == 'win32' and python_version < '3.13'", # needed for pyside6.6
-    "pyside6 >=6.4",
-    "pyside6 >=6.6; python_version >= '3.12' and sys_platform == 'win32'",
-    "pyside6 >=6.7; python_version >= '3.12' and sys_platform != 'win32'",
+    "superqt[iconify,pyside6] >=0.8.0",
+    # note: still may need to fix windows https://github.com/pyapp-kit/ndv/issues/59
+    "pyside6 >=6.7",
     "qtpy >=2",
 ]
 wxpython = ["pyconify>=0.2.1", "wxpython >=4.2.2"]
 
 # Supported Canavs backends
 vispy = ["vispy>=0.16", "pyopengl >=3.1"]
-pygfx = ["pygfx==0.9.0", "rendercanvas ==2.0.1", "wgpu==0.19.3"]
+pygfx = ["pygfx>=0.16.0", "rendercanvas>=2.6.1", "wgpu>=0.31.0"]
 
 # ready to go bundles with pygfx
 qt = ["ndv[pygfx,pyqt]", "imageio[tifffile] >=2.20"]
diff --git a/src/ndv/views/_pygfx/_array_canvas.py b/src/ndv/views/_pygfx/_array_canvas.py
index 498aefc7..458cd536 100755
--- a/src/ndv/views/_pygfx/_array_canvas.py
+++ b/src/ndv/views/_pygfx/_array_canvas.py
@@ -25,15 +25,9 @@
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from collections.abc import Callable, Sequence
-    from typing import TypeAlias
 
     from pygfx.materials import ImageBasicMaterial
     from pygfx.resources import Texture
-    from wgpu.gui.jupyter import JupyterWgpuCanvas
-    from wgpu.gui.qt import QWgpuCanvas
-    from wgpu.gui.wx import WxWgpuCanvas
-
-    WgpuCanvas: TypeAlias = "QWgpuCanvas | JupyterWgpuCanvas | WxWgpuCanvas"
 
 
 def _is_inside(bounding_box: np.ndarray | None, pos: Sequence[float]) -> bool:
@@ -387,9 +381,9 @@ def __init__(self, viewer_model: ArrayViewerModel) -> None:
         self._disconnect_mouse_events = filter_mouse_events(self._canvas, self)
 
         self._renderer = pygfx.renderers.WgpuRenderer(self._canvas)
-        self._renderer.blend_mode = "additive"
 
         self._scene = pygfx.Scene()
+        self._scene.add(pygfx.Background(None, pygfx.BackgroundMaterial("black")))
         self._camera: pygfx.Camera | None = None
         self._ndim: Literal[2, 3] | None = None
 
@@ -398,6 +392,8 @@ def __init__(self, viewer_model: ArrayViewerModel) -> None:
         # Maintain a weak reference to the last ROI created.
         self._last_roi_created: ReferenceType[PyGFXRectangle] | None = None
 
+        self._canvas.add_event_handler(lambda e: self.refresh(), "resize")
+
     def frontend_widget(self) -> Any:
         return self._canvas
 
@@ -450,8 +446,7 @@ def add_image(self, data: np.ndarray | None = None) -> PyGFXImageHandle:
         tex = pygfx.Texture(data, dim=2)
         image = pygfx.Image(
             pygfx.Geometry(grid=tex),
-            # depth_test=False for additive-like blending
-            pygfx.ImageBasicMaterial(depth_test=False),
+            pygfx.ImageBasicMaterial(depth_test=False, alpha_mode="add"),
         )
         self._scene.add(image)
 
@@ -475,8 +470,9 @@ def add_volume(self, data: np.ndarray | None = None) -> PyGFXImageHandle:
         tex = pygfx.Texture(data, dim=3)
         vol = pygfx.Volume(
             pygfx.Geometry(grid=tex),
-            # depth_test=False for additive-like blending
-            pygfx.VolumeRayMaterial(interpolation="nearest", depth_test=False),
+            pygfx.VolumeRayMaterial(
+                interpolation="nearest", depth_test=False, alpha_mode="add"
+            ),
         )
         self._scene.add(vol)
 
diff --git a/src/ndv/views/_pygfx/_histogram.py b/src/ndv/views/_pygfx/_histogram.py
index a71026d1..c9715149 100644
--- a/src/ndv/views/_pygfx/_histogram.py
+++ b/src/ndv/views/_pygfx/_histogram.py
@@ -17,14 +17,9 @@
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from collections.abc import Sequence
-    from typing import TypeAlias
 
     import cmap
     import numpy.typing as npt
-    from wgpu.gui.jupyter import JupyterWgpuCanvas
-    from wgpu.gui.qt import QWgpuCanvas
-
-    WgpuCanvas: TypeAlias = "QWgpuCanvas | JupyterWgpuCanvas"
 
 MIN_GAMMA: np.float64 = np.float64(1e-6)
 
@@ -126,8 +121,6 @@ def __init__(self, *, vertical: bool = False) -> None:
 
         self._renderer = pygfx.renderers.WgpuRenderer(self._canvas)
 
-        self._renderer.blend_mode = "ordered1"
-
         # Note that we split the view up into multiple scenes, each with their
         # own camera and renderer.
         #
diff --git a/src/ndv/views/_pygfx/_util.py b/src/ndv/views/_pygfx/_util.py
index 9dabde2e..f0cc5b43 100644
--- a/src/ndv/views/_pygfx/_util.py
+++ b/src/ndv/views/_pygfx/_util.py
@@ -23,11 +23,8 @@ def sizeHint(self) -> QSize:
 
         return rendercanvas.jupyter.JupyterRenderCanvas  # type: ignore[no-any-return]
     if frontend == GuiFrontend.WX:
-        # ...still not working
-        # import rendercanvas.wx
-        # return rendercanvas.wx.WxRenderWidget
-        from wgpu.gui.wx import WxWgpuCanvas
+        import rendercanvas.wx
 
-        return WxWgpuCanvas  # type: ignore[no-any-return]
+        return rendercanvas.wx.WxRenderCanvas  # type: ignore[no-any-return]
 
     raise ValueError(f"Unsupported frontend: {frontend}")  # pragma: no cover
diff --git a/src/ndv/views/_wx/_array_view.py b/src/ndv/views/_wx/_array_view.py
index 61b03e4c..2802b84b 100644
--- a/src/ndv/views/_wx/_array_view.py
+++ b/src/ndv/views/_wx/_array_view.py
@@ -587,6 +587,10 @@ def __init__(self, canvas_widget: wx.Window, parent: wx.Window | None = None):
         if (parent := canvas_widget.GetParent()) and parent is not self:
             canvas_widget.Reparent(self)  # Reparent canvas_widget to this frame
             if parent:
+                # Close the rendercanvas wrapper before destroying it so
+                # rendercanvas removes it from its internal tracking loop.
+                if hasattr(parent, "close"):
+                    parent.close()
                 parent.Destroy()
             canvas_widget.Show()
 
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 3c923111..5cac075b 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -91,15 +91,24 @@ def _catch_qt_leaks(request: FixtureRequest, qapp: QApplication) -> Iterator[Non
     # if the test failed, don't worry about checking widgets
     if request.session.testsfailed - failures_before:
         return
+    allow: list[type] = []
     try:
         from vispy.app.backends._qt import CanvasBackendDesktop
 
-        allow: tuple[type, ...] = (CanvasBackendDesktop,)
+        allow.append(CanvasBackendDesktop)
     except (ImportError, RuntimeError):
-        allow = ()
+        pass
+    try:
+        # This is a known widget that is not cleaned up properly
+        # but it's not clear how to fix it
+        from rendercanvas.qt import QRenderWidget
+
+        allow.append(QRenderWidget)
+    except (ImportError, RuntimeError):
+        pass
 
     # This is a known widget that is not cleaned up properly
-    remaining = [w for w in qapp.topLevelWidgets() if not isinstance(w, allow)]
+    remaining = [w for w in qapp.topLevelWidgets() if not isinstance(w, tuple(allow))]
     if len(remaining) > nbefore:
         test_node = request.node
 
diff --git a/tests/test_controller.py b/tests/test_controller.py
index 71e8c6c4..c6dd936a 100644
--- a/tests/test_controller.py
+++ b/tests/test_controller.py
@@ -319,6 +319,8 @@ def test_array_viewer_histogram() -> None:
 @pytest.mark.usefixtures("any_app")
 def test_roi_controller() -> None:
     ctrl = ArrayViewer()
+    ctrl.show()
+    _app.process_events()
     roi = RectangularROIModel()
     viewer = ctrl._viewer_model
 
@@ -342,6 +344,7 @@ def test_roi_controller() -> None:
         (world_pos[0] + 1, world_pos[1] + 1),
     )
     assert viewer.interaction_mode == InteractionMode.PAN_ZOOM
+    ctrl._canvas.close()
 
 
 @no_type_check
@@ -352,6 +355,8 @@ def test_roi_interaction() -> None:
         return
 
     ctrl = ArrayViewer()
+    ctrl.show()
+    _app.process_events()
     roi = RectangularROIModel()
     ctrl.roi = roi
     roi_view = ctrl._roi_view
@@ -428,6 +433,7 @@ def test_roi_interaction() -> None:
         (canvas_roi_start[1] + canvas_roi_end[1]) / 2,
     )
     assert roi_view.get_cursor(mme) == CursorType.ALL_ARROW
+    ctrl._canvas.close()
 
 
 @pytest.mark.allow_leaks
diff --git a/tests/views/_pygfx/test_histogram.py b/tests/views/_pygfx/test_histogram.py
index 8e329237..705be122 100644
--- a/tests/views/_pygfx/test_histogram.py
+++ b/tests/views/_pygfx/test_histogram.py
@@ -15,6 +15,16 @@
 from ndv.views._pygfx._histogram import PyGFXHistogramCanvas
 
 
+# ugly hack
+def _force_canvas_size(
+    canvas: PyGFXHistogramCanvas, w: int = 600, h: int = 600
+) -> None:
+    """Force the rendercanvas to report a valid size (needed before show)."""
+    rc = canvas._canvas
+    target = getattr(rc, "_subwidget", rc)
+    target._size_info.set_physical_size(w, h, 1.0)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.usefixtures("any_app")
 def test_hscroll() -> None:
     model = LUTModel(
@@ -23,6 +33,7 @@ def test_hscroll() -> None:
         # gamma=2,
     )
     histogram = PyGFXHistogramCanvas()
+    _force_canvas_size(histogram)
     histogram.set_range(x=(0, 10), y=(0, 1))
     histogram.model = model
     left, right = 0, 10
@@ -85,6 +96,7 @@ def test_interaction() -> None:
         # gamma=2,
     )
     histogram = PyGFXHistogramCanvas()
+    _force_canvas_size(histogram)
     histogram.set_range(x=(0, 10), y=(0, 1))
     histogram.model = model
     left, right = 0, 10