diff --git a/imgsort/sorter.py b/imgsort/sorter.py
index 284e6d9..05cac5a 100755
--- a/imgsort/sorter.py
+++ b/imgsort/sorter.py
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 #!/bin/python3
 
-import curses as c
-import ueberzug.lib.v0 as uz
 
+from imgsort.ueberzug import UeberzugLayer
 from imgsort.configs import read_config, write_config, select_config, create_config
 
+import curses as c
 from os import path, getcwd, listdir, mkdir, makedirs, rename
-
 from sys import argv
 
 settings = {
@@ -27,7 +26,7 @@ CURSOR_Y = 2
 KEYS_BEGIN = 5
 
 class Sorter:
-    def __init__(self, wdir, canvas, config):
+    def __init__(self, wdir, config):
         self.wd = wdir
 
         self.images = [] # old paths
@@ -56,15 +55,13 @@ class Sorter:
         c.echo()
 
         # ueberzug
-        self.canvas = canvas
 
-        self.placement = self.canvas.create_placement("p1", x=0, y=0, path="")
-        self.placement.visibility = uz.Visibility.VISIBLE
-        self.placement.scaler = uz.ScalerOption.FIT_CONTAIN.value
-        self.placement.x = SIDEBAR_WIDTH + 1
-        self.placement.y = 2
-        self.placement.width = self.win_x - SIDEBAR_WIDTH - 1
-        self.placement.height = self.win_y - FOOTER_HEIGHT - 2
+        self._ueberzug = UeberzugLayer(pid_file="/tmp/ueberzu-imgsort.pid")
+        self._img_x = SIDEBAR_WIDTH + 1
+        self._img_y = 2
+        self._img_width = self.win_x - SIDEBAR_WIDTH - 1
+        self._img_height = self.win_y - FOOTER_HEIGHT - 2
+        self._img_identifier = "imgsort_preview"
 
         # version
         self.version = "Image Sorter 1.1"
@@ -99,11 +96,10 @@ class Sorter:
         self.images.sort()
         self.images_new = self.images.copy()
         # print(self.images)
-            
+
     def display_image(self):
-        with self.canvas.lazy_drawing: # issue ueberzug command AFTER with-statement
-            self.placement.path = self.image
-            self.window.addnstr(0, SIDEBAR_WIDTH + 1, self.placement.path, self.win_x - SIDEBAR_WIDTH - 1)
+        self._ueberzug.display_image(self.image, x=self._img_x, y=self._img_y, max_width=self._img_width, max_height=self._img_height, identifier=self._img_identifier)
+        self.window.addnstr(0, SIDEBAR_WIDTH + 1, self.image, self.win_x - SIDEBAR_WIDTH - 1)
 
     def sort(self):
         """
@@ -147,13 +143,13 @@ class Sorter:
                 self.image_iter += 1
 
         self.quit("All done!")
-        
+
     def print_window(self):
         """
         Draw lines and text
         """
         self.window.erase()
-        
+
         # lines
         self.window.hline(self.win_y - FOOTER_HEIGHT, FOOTER_LEFT, '=', self.win_x)
         self.window.vline(0, SIDEBAR_WIDTH, '|', self.win_y - FOOTER_HEIGHT + 1)
@@ -209,13 +205,13 @@ class Sorter:
             i += 1
 
         self.window.move(CURSOR_Y, CURSOR_X)
-    
+
     def move_file(self, file, dest):
         # if not path.isdir(dest):
         #     makedirs(dest)
         if not path.isfile(file): return False
         if not path.isdir(dest): return False
-        
+
         new_path = path.normpath(dest + '/' + path.split(file)[1])
 
         rename(file, new_path)
@@ -228,7 +224,6 @@ class Sorter:
         print(message)
         print("Quitting " + self.version)
         exit(0)
-    
 
 
 
@@ -256,10 +251,9 @@ Image Sorter
         print("  Config:", config)
         exit(1)
 
-    with uz.Canvas() as canvas:
-        sorter = Sorter(wd, canvas, config)
-        sorter.get_images()
-        sorter.sort()
+    sorter = Sorter(wd, config)
+    sorter.get_images()
+    sorter.sort()
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/imgsort/ueberzug.py b/imgsort/ueberzug.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7e62418
--- /dev/null
+++ b/imgsort/ueberzug.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import subprocess
+from os import path
+
+
+class UeberzugLayer():
+    """Wrapper for Ueberzug++"""
+
+    def __init__(self, pid_file = "/tmp/ueberzug-py.pid", socket="/tmp/ueberzugpp-%pid%.socket", no_opencv=True):
+        self._socket = None
+        self._pid_file = pid_file
+        self._pid = None
+        ret = subprocess.run(["ueberzug", "layer", "--pid-file", pid_file, "--no-stdin", "--no-opencv" if no_opencv else ""], stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL, stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL)
+        if not ret.returncode == 0:
+            raise Exception(f"ueberzug layer exited with {ret.returncode}")
+        if not path.isfile(pid_file):
+            raise Exception(f"Ueberzug pid file not found: {pid_file}")
+        with open(pid_file, "r") as file:
+            try:
+                self._pid = int(file.read())
+            except ValueError as e:
+                raise Exception(f"Invalid content of pid file {pid_file}: {e}")
+        self._socket = socket.replace("%pid%", str(self._pid))
+        # if not path.exists(self._socket):
+        #     raise Exception(f"Ueberzug socket not found: {self._socket}")
+
+    def display_image(self, image, x=0, y=0, max_width=0, max_height=0, identifier="Image"):
+        ret = subprocess.run(["ueberzug", "cmd", "-s", self._socket, "-a", "add", "-i", identifier, "-f", image, "-x", str(x), "-y", str(y), "--max-width", str(max_width), "--max-height", str(max_height)])
+        if not ret.returncode == 0:
+            raise Exception(f"ueberzug cmd exited with {ret.returncode}")
+
+    def remove_image(self, identifier="Image"):
+        ret = subprocess.run(["ueberzug", "cmd", "-s", self._socket, "-a", "remove", "-i", identifier])
+        if not ret.returncode == 0:
+            raise Exception(f"ueberzug cmd exited with {ret.returncode}")
+
+    def __del__(self):
+        from os import remove
+        try:
+            remove(self._pid_file)
+        except:
+            pass
+        import subprocess  # might be unloaded
+        ret = subprocess.run(["ueberzug", "cmd", "-s", self._socket, "-a", "exit"])
+        if not ret.returncode == 0:
+            raise Exception(f"ueberzug cmd exited with {ret.returncode}")