diff --git a/classes.cpp b/classes.cpp
index ae1d0124..a6f38a76 100644
--- a/classes.cpp
+++ b/classes.cpp
@@ -960,7 +960,7 @@ EX vector<geometryinfo> ginf = {
 #if HDR
 namespace mf {
   static const flagtype azimuthal = 1;
-  static const flagtype cylindrical = 2;
+  static const flagtype cylindrical = 2; /* usually you want 'band' */
   static const flagtype equiarea = 4;
   static const flagtype equidistant = 8;
   static const flagtype conformal = 16;
@@ -968,15 +968,22 @@ namespace mf {
   static const flagtype space = 64;
   static const flagtype hyper_only = 128;
   static const flagtype hyper_or_torus = 256;
-  static const flagtype pseudocylindrical = 512; /* includes cylindrical */
+  static const flagtype pseudocylindrical = 512; /* includes cylindrical; usually you want 'band' or 'pseudoband' */
   static const flagtype equivolume = 1024;
   static const flagtype twopoint = 2048;
   static const flagtype uses_bandshift = 4096;
   static const flagtype broken = 8192; /* in spherical case, these are broken along the meridian 180 deg */
   static const flagtype technical = 16384; /* don't display in the list */
+  static const flagtype product_special = (1<<15);
+  static const flagtype axial = (1<<16);
+  static const flagtype perspective = (1<<17);
+  static const flagtype orientation = (1<<18);
+  static const flagtype transition = (1<<19);
+  static const flagtype werner = (1<<20);
+  static const flagtype horocyclic = (1<<21);
   
-  static const flagtype band = (cylindrical | pseudocylindrical | uses_bandshift);
-  static const flagtype pseudoband = (pseudocylindrical | uses_bandshift);
+  static const flagtype band = (cylindrical | pseudocylindrical | uses_bandshift | orientation);
+  static const flagtype pseudoband = (pseudocylindrical | uses_bandshift | orientation);
   }
   
 struct modelinfo {
@@ -986,11 +993,6 @@ struct modelinfo {
   
   flagtype flags;
 
-  int is_azimuthal;
-  int is_band;
-  int is_equiarea;
-  int is_equidistant;
-  int is_conformal;
   const char* name;
   };
 
@@ -1025,16 +1027,16 @@ enum eModel : int {
 // (other bits are used for other information)
 
 #define X3(x) x, x, x
-#define DEFAULTS 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, nullptr
+#define DEFAULTS nullptr
 
 /** list of available models (i.e., projections) */
 EX vector<modelinfo> mdinf = {
   {"disk/Gans", "general perspective", "general perspective", mf::azimuthal | mf::conformal, DEFAULTS},
-  {"half-plane", "inversion", "stereographic projection [VR]", mf::conformal, DEFAULTS},
-  {"band", "band", "Mercator", mf::band | mf::conformal, DEFAULTS},
-  {X3("polygonal"), mf::conformal, DEFAULTS},
+  {"half-plane", "inversion", "stereographic projection [VR]", mf::conformal | mf::orientation | mf::horocyclic, DEFAULTS},
+  {"band", "band", "Mercator", mf::band | mf::conformal | mf::transition, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("polygonal"), mf::conformal | mf::orientation, DEFAULTS},
   {X3("formula"), 0, DEFAULTS},
-  {X3("azimuthal equidistant"), mf::azimuthal | mf::equidistant | mf::euc_boring, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("azimuthal equidistant"), mf::azimuthal | mf::equidistant | mf::euc_boring | mf::product_special, DEFAULTS},
   {X3("azimuthal equi-area"), mf::azimuthal | mf::equiarea | mf::euc_boring, DEFAULTS},
   {X3("ball model"), mf::conformal | mf::azimuthal | mf::space, DEFAULTS},
   {"Minkowski hyperboloid", "plane", "sphere", mf::conformal | mf::space | mf::euc_boring, DEFAULTS},
@@ -1042,47 +1044,47 @@ EX vector<modelinfo> mdinf = {
   {X3("band equidistant"), mf::band | mf::equidistant | mf::euc_boring, DEFAULTS},
   {X3("band equi-area"), mf::band | mf::equiarea | mf::euc_boring, DEFAULTS},
   {X3("sinusoidal"), mf::pseudoband | mf::equiarea | mf::euc_boring, DEFAULTS},
-  {X3("two-point equidistant"), mf::equidistant | mf::euc_boring | mf::twopoint, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("two-point equidistant"), mf::equidistant | mf::euc_boring | mf::twopoint | mf::orientation, DEFAULTS},
   {X3("fisheye"), 0, DEFAULTS},
-  {X3("Joukowsky transform"), mf::hyper_only | mf::conformal, DEFAULTS},
-  {X3("Joukowsky+inversion"), mf::hyper_only | mf::conformal, DEFAULTS},
-  {X3("rotated hyperboles"), mf::hyper_only, DEFAULTS},
-  {X3("spiral/ring"), mf::hyper_or_torus | mf::uses_bandshift, DEFAULTS},
-  {X3("native perspective"), 0, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("Joukowsky transform"), mf::hyper_only | mf::conformal | mf::transition | mf::orientation, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("Joukowsky+inversion"), mf::hyper_only | mf::conformal | mf::transition | mf::orientation, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("rotated hyperboles"), mf::hyper_only | mf::orientation, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("spiral/ring"), mf::hyper_or_torus | mf::uses_bandshift | mf::orientation, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("native perspective"), mf::perspective | mf::product_special, DEFAULTS},
   {X3("azimuthal equi-volume"), mf::azimuthal | mf::equivolume | mf::euc_boring, DEFAULTS},
   {X3("central inversion"), mf::azimuthal | mf::conformal, DEFAULTS},
-  {X3("two-point azimuthal"), mf::euc_boring | mf::twopoint, DEFAULTS},
-  {X3("two-point hybrid"), mf::euc_boring | mf::twopoint, DEFAULTS},
-  {X3("geodesic"), 0, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("two-point azimuthal"), mf::euc_boring | mf::azimuthal | mf::twopoint | mf::orientation, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("two-point hybrid"), mf::euc_boring | mf::azimuthal | mf::equidistant | mf::twopoint | mf::orientation, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("geodesic"), mf::perspective | mf::product_special, DEFAULTS},
   {X3("Mollweide"), mf::euc_boring | mf::pseudoband | mf::equiarea, DEFAULTS},
   {X3("central cylindrical"), mf::euc_boring | mf::band, DEFAULTS},
   {X3("Collignon"), mf::pseudoband | mf::equiarea, DEFAULTS},
-  {X3("horocyclic coordinates"), mf::euc_boring, DEFAULTS},
-  {X3("quadrant coordinates"), mf::euc_boring, DEFAULTS},
-  {X3("axial coordinates"), mf::euc_boring, DEFAULTS},
-  {X3("anti-axial coordinates"), mf::euc_boring, DEFAULTS},
-  {X3("Werner projection"), mf::euc_boring | mf::broken, DEFAULTS}, // keep distances from pole, and distances along parallels
-  {X3("Aitoff projection"), mf::euc_boring | mf::broken, DEFAULTS}, // halve longitudes, do azequid, double x
-  {X3("Hammer projection"), mf::euc_boring | mf::broken, DEFAULTS}, // halve longitudes, do azequia, double x
-  {X3("loximuthal projection"), mf::euc_boring | mf::broken, DEFAULTS}, // map loxodromes azimuthally and equidistantly
+  {X3("horocyclic coordinates"), mf::euc_boring | mf::orientation | mf::horocyclic, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("quadrant coordinates"), mf::euc_boring | mf::orientation, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("axial coordinates"), mf::euc_boring | mf::transition | mf::orientation, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("anti-axial coordinates"), mf::euc_boring | mf::orientation, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("Werner projection"), mf::euc_boring | mf::broken | mf::werner | mf::orientation, DEFAULTS}, // keep distances from pole, and distances along parallels
+  {X3("Aitoff projection"), mf::euc_boring | mf::broken | mf::orientation, DEFAULTS}, // halve longitudes, do azequid, double x
+  {X3("Hammer projection"), mf::euc_boring | mf::broken | mf::orientation, DEFAULTS}, // halve longitudes, do azequia, double x
+  {X3("loximuthal projection"), mf::euc_boring | mf::broken | mf::orientation, DEFAULTS}, // map loxodromes azimuthally and equidistantly
   {X3("Miller projection"), mf::euc_boring | mf::band, DEFAULTS}, // scale latitude 4/5 -> Mercator -> 5/4
   {X3("Gall stereographic"), mf::euc_boring | mf::band, DEFAULTS}, // like central cylindrical but stereographic
-  {X3("Winkel tripel"), mf::euc_boring | mf::broken, DEFAULTS}, // mean of equirec and Aitoff
-  {X3("Poor man's square"), mf::euc_boring, DEFAULTS}, // 
-  {X3("Panini projection"), mf::euc_boring, DEFAULTS}, // 
-  {X3("Craig retroazimuthal"), mf::euc_boring | mf::broken, DEFAULTS}, // retroazimuthal cylindrical
-  {X3("Littrow retroazimuthal"), mf::euc_boring | mf::broken, DEFAULTS}, // retroazimuthal conformal
-  {X3("Hammer retroazimuthal"), mf::euc_boring, DEFAULTS}, // retroazimuthal equidistant
-  {X3("three-point equidistant"), mf::euc_boring, DEFAULTS},
-  {X3("Lie perspective"), mf::euc_boring, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("Winkel tripel"), mf::euc_boring | mf::broken | mf::orientation, DEFAULTS}, // mean of equirec and Aitoff
+  {X3("Poor man's square"), mf::euc_boring | mf::orientation, DEFAULTS}, // https://archive.bridgesmathart.org/2018/bridges2018-59.html
+  {X3("Panini projection"), mf::euc_boring | mf::orientation, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("Craig retroazimuthal"), mf::euc_boring | mf::broken | mf::pseudoband, DEFAULTS}, // retroazimuthal cylindrical
+  {X3("Littrow retroazimuthal"), mf::euc_boring | mf::broken | mf::pseudoband, DEFAULTS}, // retroazimuthal conformal
+  {X3("Hammer retroazimuthal"), mf::euc_boring | mf::pseudoband, DEFAULTS}, // retroazimuthal equidistant
+  {X3("three-point equidistant"), mf::euc_boring | mf::equidistant | mf::orientation | mf::product_special | mf::twopoint, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("Lie perspective"), mf::euc_boring | mf::perspective, DEFAULTS},
   {X3("Lie orthogonal"), mf::euc_boring, DEFAULTS},
-  {X3("relativistic perspective"), mf::euc_boring, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("relativistic perspective"), mf::euc_boring | mf::perspective, DEFAULTS},
   {X3("relativistic orthogonal"), mf::euc_boring, DEFAULTS},
-  {X3("horocyclic equal-area"), mf::euc_boring, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("horocyclic equal-area"), mf::euc_boring | mf::equiarea | mf::orientation | mf::horocyclic, DEFAULTS},
   {X3("guard"), mf::technical, DEFAULTS},
   {X3("pixel"), mf::technical, DEFAULTS},
   {X3("hypflat"), mf::technical, DEFAULTS},
-  {X3("polynomial"), mf::technical | mf::conformal, DEFAULTS},
+  {X3("polynomial"), mf::technical | mf::conformal | mf::orientation, DEFAULTS},
   {X3("manual"), mf::technical, DEFAULTS},
   };
 
diff --git a/models.cpp b/models.cpp
index 23bf03b3..f91a37d0 100644
--- a/models.cpp
+++ b/models.cpp
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ EX namespace polygonal {
   EX }
 
 #if HDR
-inline bool mdAzimuthalEqui() { return among(pmodel, mdEquidistant, mdEquiarea, mdEquivolume); }
+inline bool mdAzimuthalEqui() { return (mdinf[pmodel].flags & mf::azimuthal) && (mdinf[pmodel].flags & (mf::equidistant | mf::equiarea | mf::equivolume) && !(mdinf[pmodel].flags & mf::twopoint)); }
 inline bool mdBandAny() { return mdinf[pmodel].flags & mf::pseudoband; }
 inline bool mdPseudocylindrical() { return mdBandAny() && !(mdinf[pmodel].flags & mf::cylindrical); }
 #endif
@@ -198,8 +198,8 @@ EX namespace models {
     if(hyperbolic && desitter_projections && among(pm, mdRelPerspective, mdRelOrthogonal)) return true;
     if(sl2) return among(pm, mdGeodesic, mdEquidistant, mdRelPerspective, mdRelOrthogonal, mdHorocyclic, mdPerspective);
     if(nonisotropic) return among(pm, mdDisk, mdPerspective, mdHorocyclic, mdGeodesic, mdEquidistant, mdFisheye, mdLiePerspective, mdLieOrthogonal);
-    if(sphere && (pm == mdHalfplane || pm == mdBall))
-      return false;
+    if(sphere && pm == pmBall) return false;
+    if(sphere && (mdinf[pm].flags & mf::horocyclic)) return false;
     if(GDIM == 2 && is_perspective(pm)) return false;
     if(pm == mdGeodesic && !nonisotropic) return false;
     if(pm == mdLiePerspective && sphere) return false;
@@ -214,17 +214,14 @@ EX namespace models {
     }    
   
   EX bool has_orientation(eModel m) {
-    if(among(m, mdHorocyclic, mdHorocyclicEqa, mdLieOrthogonal, mdLiePerspective))
-      return hyperbolic || in_h2xe();
     if(is_perspective(m) && panini_alpha) return true;
-    return
-      among(m, mdHalfplane, mdPolynomial, mdPolygonal, mdTwoPoint, mdJoukowsky, mdJoukowskyInverted, mdSpiral, mdSimulatedPerspective, mdTwoHybrid, mdHorocyclic, mdHorocyclicEqa, mdAxial, mdAntiAxial, mdQuadrant,
-        mdWerner, mdAitoff, mdHammer, mdLoximuthal, mdWinkelTripel, mdThreePoint) || mdBandAny();
+    if(nonisotropic) return false;    
+    return (mdinf[m].flags & mf::orientation);
     }
 
   /** @brief returns the broken coordinate, or zero */
   EX int get_broken_coord(eModel m) {
-    if(m == mdWerner) return 1;
+    if(mdinf[m].flags & mf::werner) return 1;
     if(sphere) return (mdinf[m].flags & mf::broken) ? 2 : 0;
     return 0;
     }
@@ -234,7 +231,7 @@ EX namespace models {
     }
   
   EX bool is_perspective(eModel m) {
-    return among(m, mdPerspective, mdGeodesic, mdLiePerspective, mdRelPerspective);
+    return mdinf[m].flags & mf::perspective;
     }
 
   EX bool is_3d(const projection_configuration& p) {
@@ -243,12 +240,12 @@ EX namespace models {
     }
   
   EX bool has_transition(eModel m) {
-    return among(m, mdJoukowsky, mdJoukowskyInverted, mdBand, mdAxial) && GDIM == 2;
+    return (mdinf[m].flags & mf::transition) && GDIM == 2;
     }
   
   EX bool product_model(eModel m) {
     if(!gproduct) return false;
-    if(among(m, mdPerspective, mdHyperboloid, mdEquidistant, mdThreePoint)) return false;
+    if(mdinf[m].flags & mf::product_special) return false;
     return true;
     }
   
@@ -270,7 +267,7 @@ EX namespace models {
       return XLAT(mdinf[m].name_spherical);
     if(euclid) 
       return XLAT(mdinf[m].name_euclidean);
-    if(hyperbolic) 
+    if(hyperbolic)
       return XLAT(mdinf[m].name_hyperbolic);
     return "?";
     }
@@ -624,10 +621,10 @@ EX namespace models {
     if(vpmodel == mdJoukowskyInverted)
       add_edit(vpconf.dualfocus_autoscale);
     
-    if(vpmodel == mdHemisphere && euclid) 
+    if(vpmodel == mdHemisphere && euclid)
       add_edit(vpconf.euclid_to_sphere);
       
-    if(among(vpmodel, mdTwoPoint, mdSimulatedPerspective, mdTwoHybrid, mdThreePoint)) 
+    if(mdinf[vpmodel].flags & mf::twopoint)
       add_edit(vpconf.twopoint_param);
     
     if(vpmodel == mdFisheye)