I still get some difficulties with build_parshape, \getshapetex and sectionning. I though I find a solution by removing \blank with \setuphead [subsection] [before=, after=, style=, command=\MySubSectionCommand, alternative=text ] But actually it's not enough : when I add text before the first section, new issues appear. I tried to build a MVE by refactoring and tidying as much as I could. It build 3 comparative pages (i) basic issue, (ii) solution, (iii) remaining issue. Your guidance are most welcome :-) \setupbodyfont[11pt] %------------------------------------------------------------------------------ \usecolors[svg] \definemeasure [mywidth] [7cm] \definemeasure [mywidtha] [5cm] \definemeasure [myheight] [{\the\dimexpr\baselineskip*37+\lineskip\relax}] \definemeasure [myheighta] [{\the\dimexpr\baselineskip*18+\lineskip*1\relax}] \definemeasure [myheightb] [{\the\dimexpr\baselineskip*25-\lineskip*1\relax}] \startuseMPgraphic{mymetafunpath} path p ; numeric mywidth ; mywidth := \measure{mywidth}; numeric mywidtha ; mywidtha := \measure{mywidtha}; numeric myheight ; myheight := \measure{myheight}; numeric myheighta ; myheighta := \measure{myheighta}; numeric myheightb ; myheightb := \measure{myheightb}; p := (0,0) -- (mywidth,0) -- (mywidth,myheighta) -- (mywidtha,myheighta) -- (mywidtha,myheightb) -- (mywidth,myheightb) -- (mywidth,myheight) -- (0cm,myheight) -- cycle; build_parshape(p,0,0,0,\baselinedistance,\strutheight,\strutdepth,\topskip) ; fill p withcolor \MPcolor{tan}; \stopuseMPgraphic \defineoverlay[myoverlay][\useMPgraphic{mymetafunpath}] %------------------------------------------------------------------------------ \define[2]\MySubSectionCommand{\leftaligned{#2}} %------------------------------------------------------------------------------ \define[2]\MyPageBuilder{% \page \setupbackgrounds[page][background=testA] \definelayer[testA] [x=0mm, y=0mm,width=\paperwidth, height=\paperheight] ~ \startshapetext[mymetafunpath, mymetafunpath] % <=== WITHOUT \startsubsection #2 %\startsubsection[title={Title for section #1}] \MySubSectionCommand{1}{Title for section #1} \input knuth \endgraf \input ward %\stopsubsection \stopshapetext \setlayer [testA] [hoffset={\the\dimexpr\backspace\relax}, voffset={\the\dimexpr\topspace+\headerheight+\headerdistance\relax},] {\framed[background=myoverlay,frame=off]{\strut\getshapetext}} \startshapetext[mymetafunpath, mymetafunpath] % <===== WITH \startsubsection #2 \startsubsection[title={Title for section #1}] %\MySubSectionCommand{1}{Title for section #1} \input knuth \endgraf \input ward \stopsubsection \stopshapetext \setlayer [testA] [hoffset={\the\dimexpr\backspace+\measure{mywidth}+5mm\relax}, voffset={\the\dimexpr\topspace+\headerheight+\headerdistance\relax},] {\framed[background=myoverlay,frame=off]{\strut\getshapetext}} } %============================================================================== %\showboxes \starttext \MyPageBuilder{A}{} \setuphead [subsection] [ before=, after=, style=, command=\MySubSectionCommand, alternative=text, ] \MyPageBuilder{B}{} \MyPageBuilder{C}{\strut Hi from here. \endgraf} \stoptext