diff --git a/C/src/ascii.c b/C/src/ascii.c
index d6a1ddf..4b14ab3 100644
--- a/C/src/ascii.c
+++ b/C/src/ascii.c
@@ -388,8 +388,11 @@ static int emit_glyph(char *out, size_t out_size, int out_idx,
 int grayscale_to_ascii(const uint8_t *gray, const uint8_t *rgb, int src_w,
                        int src_h, int dst_w, int dst_h, char *out,
                        size_t out_size, const ascii_opts_t *opts) {
+  render_mode_t render_mode = opts ? opts->render_mode : RENDER_BRAILLE;
+
   int safe_dst_w = dst_w - (dst_w % 2);
-  int safe_dst_h = dst_h - (dst_h % 4);
+  int safe_dst_h = (render_mode == RENDER_HALF_BLOCK) ? dst_h - (dst_h % 2)
+                                                      : dst_h - (dst_h % 4);
 
   int brightness = opts ? opts->brightness : 0;
   int contrast = opts ? opts->contrast : 100;
@@ -398,7 +401,6 @@ int grayscale_to_ascii(const uint8_t *gray, const uint8_t *rgb, int src_w,
   edge_mode_t edge_mode = opts ? opts->edges : EDGE_OFF;
   int do_dither = opts ? opts->dither : 0;
   int thresh_limit = opts ? opts->threshold_val : 35;
-  render_mode_t render_mode = opts ? opts->render_mode : RENDER_BRAILLE;
   const char *ramp = (opts && opts->charset && opts->charset[0])
                          ? opts->charset
                          : ASCII_CHARS_DEFAULT;
diff --git a/C/src/main.c b/C/src/main.c
index 0d96f41..1b68b23 100644
--- a/C/src/main.c
+++ b/C/src/main.c
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
       .dither = 0,
       .threshold_val = 35,
       .charset = NULL,
-      .render_mode = RENDER_BRAILLE,
+      .render_mode = RENDER_DOTS, // RENDER_BRAILLE,
       .depth_pop = 0,
       .depth_invert = 0,
   };
@@ -579,14 +579,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
       break;
     }
 
-    size_t out_size = ascii_out_size_for_mode(subpixel_w, subpixel_h,
-                                              opts.color, opts.render_mode);
-    char *out_buf = malloc(out_size);
-    if (!out_buf) {
-      perror("Failed to allocate text output buffer");
-      break;
-    }
-
     // Process frame mapping using dynamically calculated bounds
     int len = grayscale_to_ascii(gray, rgb, cam.width, cam.height, subpixel_w,
                                  subpixel_h, out_buf, out_size, &opts);
@@ -600,8 +592,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                     selected, opts.color, &opts, &charsets);
     }
 
-    free(out_buf);
-
     if (webcam_requeue_buffer(&cam) < 0) {
       perror("requeue_buffer");
       break;