diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/package.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/package.rs
index ffc69b39e..316d5dedc 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/package.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/package.rs
@@ -427,12 +427,19 @@ fn package(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
         .iter()
         .map(|f| format!("  {} {}{}\n", f.family, f.style, copy_font(&root, f, &fonts_dir, &mut copied, &mut taken, &mut files)))
         .collect();
+    // The IDML copy links the placed files, so a per-placement PDF layer choice cannot travel in
+    // it (an external-only IDML export rejects one for the same reason). Say so in the report
+    // instead of leaving a silent difference between the package's copies.
+    let mut idml_layer_note = "";
     if p.get("idml").and_then(Value::as_bool).unwrap_or(true) {
         let path = package_output_path(&dir, &title, "idml")?;
         // The images are in Links/ beside it: link them there, without embedded copies.
         let opts = designcraft_idml::ExportOptions { embed_images: false };
         root.write(&path, &designcraft_idml::export_idml_with(&packed, &opts))?;
         files.push(path);
+        if packed.has_pdf_layer_overrides() {
+            idml_layer_note = "\nPlaced PDF layers\nThe IDML copy links the placed PDFs, so it shows their file defaults. The DesignCraft document keeps each placement's Object Layer Options choice.\n";
+        }
     }
     if p.get("pdf").and_then(Value::as_bool).unwrap_or(false) {
         let path = package_output_path(&dir, &title, "pdf")?;
@@ -456,6 +463,7 @@ fn package(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
     for l in links.as_array().into_iter().flatten() {
         r += &format!("  {} ({})\n", l["name"].as_str().unwrap_or(""), l["status"].as_str().unwrap_or(""));
     }
+    r += idml_layer_note;
     if let Some(issues) = pre.get("issues").and_then(Value::as_array) {
         r += &format!("\nPreflight: {} issue(s)\n", issues.len());
         for i in issues {
@@ -510,6 +518,32 @@ mod tests {
         std::fs::remove_dir_all(dir).unwrap();
     }
 
+    /// A per-placement PDF layer choice cannot travel in an IDML copy that links its files, so the
+    /// report says the copies differ instead of leaving it to be discovered.
+    #[test]
+    fn package_report_names_placed_pdf_layer_choices() {
+        let nonce = std::time::SystemTime::now().duration_since(std::time::UNIX_EPOCH).unwrap().as_nanos();
+        let dir = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!("dc-package-pdf-layers-{}-{nonce}", std::process::id()));
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).unwrap();
+        let pdf = super::super::pdflayers::tests::two_layer_pdf();
+        let mut s = Session::new();
+        s.execute("file.new", &json!({"title": "LayeredPackage", "width": 100, "height": 100})).unwrap();
+        let id = s
+            .execute("file.place", &json!({"base64": super::super::base64_encode(&pdf), "name": "art.pdf", "x": 0, "y": 0, "width": 100}))
+            .unwrap()["id"]
+            .clone();
+        s.execute("object.layerOptions", &json!({"ids": [id], "hidden": ["Red"]})).unwrap();
+        let r = s.execute("file.package", &json!({"dir": dir.to_string_lossy(), "idml": true, "pdf": false})).unwrap();
+        let report = r["report"].as_str().unwrap();
+        assert!(report.contains("Placed PDF layers"), "{report}");
+        // The DesignCraft copy keeps the choice; only the linked IDML copy shows file defaults.
+        let packed = super::super::from_bytes(&std::fs::read(dir.join("LayeredPackage.designcraft")).unwrap()).unwrap();
+        let item = packed.item(designcraft_doc::ItemId(id.as_u64().unwrap())).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(item.pdf_hidden_layers, vec!["Red".to_string()]);
+        assert!(item.has_pdf_layer_override());
+        std::fs::remove_dir_all(dir).unwrap();
+    }
+
     /// The package's IDML links its images to the files in the package's Links folder and embeds
     /// no copies of them.
     #[test]