diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/style.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/style.rs
index 8a520b685..aa1cc4a5f 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/style.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/style.rs
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ pub fn specs() -> Vec<CommandSpec> {
             "New Character Style…",
             [],
             None,
-            "{name, basedOn?: style | \"[None]\", chars?: {…}} — the style sets only `chars` → {name} (made unique)",
+            "{name, basedOn?: style | \"[None]\", chars?: {…}, fromSelection?: bool (default false)} — if true, capture the first selected character's style/local overrides (caret: typing format), then overlay chars (null unsets); only explicit fill names are validated; paragraph formatting stays inherited; no text target: chars only → {name} (made unique)",
             has_doc,
             create_char
         ),
@@ -622,8 +622,27 @@ fn delete_para(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
 
 fn create_char(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
     let base = str_param(p, "name").unwrap_or("Character Style 1").to_string();
-    let chars: CharAttrs = attrs(p.get("chars"), |a: &mut CharAttrs, k, v| a.set_json(k, v))?;
+    let mut chars: CharAttrs = attrs(p.get("chars"), |a: &mut CharAttrs, k, v| a.set_json(k, v))?;
+    // Validate caller-supplied fills; captured formatting may retain a deleted swatch name.
     super::text::validate_char_fill(&s.doc()?.doc, &chars, "style.character.create")?;
+    if p.get("fromSelection").and_then(Value::as_bool).unwrap_or(false)
+        && let Some(target) = super::text::format_targets_pub(s).first()
+    {
+        let st = s.doc()?;
+        let story = st.doc.text_story(target.story, target.cell).ok_or(designcraft_doc::DocError::NoStory(target.story))?;
+        // Match paragraph fromSelection's first-character/caret policy, but keep paragraph
+        // attributes inherited instead of freezing the fully resolved character properties.
+        let format = if target.range.is_empty() { story.char_format_at(target.range.start) } else { story.format_after(target.range.start) };
+        let mut captured = st.doc.styles.char_style_attrs(&format.style);
+        captured.merge(&format.over);
+        // Replay the explicit fields so null clears a captured value rather than looking absent.
+        if let Some(overrides) = p.get("chars").and_then(Value::as_object) {
+            for (key, value) in overrides {
+                captured.set_json(key, value).map_err(|e| bad("style", e))?;
+            }
+        }
+        chars = captured;
+    }
     // Based on [None] is based on nothing.
     let based_on = str_param(p, "basedOn").filter(|b| *b != designcraft_doc::NO_CHAR_STYLE).map(str::to_string);
     s.edit(|d, _| {
diff --git a/crates/engine/tests/character_style_from_selection.rs b/crates/engine/tests/character_style_from_selection.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0c9d80831
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/engine/tests/character_style_from_selection.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,274 @@
+//! Character Styles panel's existing `fromSelection` command contract.
+use designcraft_doc::{CharAttrs, StoryId};
+use designcraft_engine::Session;
+use serde_json::{Value, json};
+
+fn story(text: &str) -> (Session, u64) {
+    let mut s = Session::new();
+    s.execute("file.new", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    let frame = s.execute("frame.create", &json!({"rect": [36, 36, 300, 200], "content": "text", "text": text})).unwrap();
+    (s, frame["story"].as_u64().unwrap())
+}
+
+fn select(s: &mut Session, sid: u64, anchor: usize, focus: usize) {
+    s.execute("text.select", &json!({"story": sid, "anchor": anchor, "focus": focus})).unwrap();
+}
+
+fn chars(s: &Session, name: &str) -> CharAttrs {
+    s.doc().unwrap().doc.styles.char_style(name).unwrap().chars.clone()
+}
+
+fn document(s: &Session) -> Value {
+    serde_json::to_value(s.doc().unwrap().doc.as_ref()).unwrap()
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn character_capture_overlays_style_chain_local_and_explicit_attrs_but_inherits_paragraph() {
+    let (mut s, sid) = story("alpha\nbeta");
+    s.execute("style.paragraph.create", &json!({"name": "Source paragraph", "chars": {"size": 18}})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("style.paragraph.create", &json!({"name": "Destination", "chars": {"size": 30, "underline": true}})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("style.character.create", &json!({"name": "Base", "chars": {"underline": true, "tracking": 10, "strikethrough": true}})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("style.character.create", &json!({"name": "Emphasis", "basedOn": "Base", "chars": {"fontStyle": "Italic"}})).unwrap();
+    select(&mut s, sid, 0, 5);
+    s.execute("style.paragraph.apply", &json!({"name": "Source paragraph"})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("style.character.apply", &json!({"name": "Emphasis"})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("type.char", &json!({"tracking": 20, "underline": false})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("style.character.create", &json!({"name": "Captured", "fromSelection": true, "chars": {"tracking": 7}})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(
+        chars(&s, "Captured"),
+        CharAttrs { font_style: Some("Italic".into()), underline: Some(false), tracking: Some(7.0), strikethrough: Some(true), ..Default::default() }
+    );
+    select(&mut s, sid, 6, 10);
+    s.execute("style.paragraph.apply", &json!({"name": "Destination"})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("style.character.apply", &json!({"name": "Captured"})).unwrap();
+    let resolved = s.execute("type.selectionAttrs", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(resolved["chars"]["fontStyle"], "Italic");
+    assert_eq!(resolved["chars"]["strikethrough"], true);
+    assert_eq!(resolved["chars"]["underline"], false);
+    assert_eq!(resolved["chars"]["tracking"], 7.0);
+    assert_eq!(resolved["chars"]["size"], 30.0);
+    s.execute("style.paragraph.edit", &json!({"name": "Destination", "chars": {"size": 34}})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(s.execute("type.selectionAttrs", &json!({})).unwrap()["chars"]["size"], 34.0);
+    // The captured attributes are a snapshot, independent of future source-style edits.
+    s.execute("style.character.edit", &json!({"name": "Emphasis", "chars": {"fontStyle": "Bold"}})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(s.execute("type.selectionAttrs", &json!({})).unwrap()["chars"]["fontStyle"], "Italic");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn character_capture_reproducer_is_one_undo_step_and_survives_native_reopen() {
+    let (mut s, sid) = story("alpha beta");
+    select(&mut s, sid, 0, 5);
+    s.execute("type.char", &json!({"underline": true})).unwrap();
+    let before = document(&s);
+    let selection = s.doc().unwrap().selection.clone();
+    let undo_len = s.doc().unwrap().history.undo.len();
+    let source = serde_json::to_value(s.doc().unwrap().doc.story(StoryId(sid)).unwrap()).unwrap();
+    s.execute("style.character.create", &json!({"name": "Captured", "fromSelection": true})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(chars(&s, "Captured"), CharAttrs { underline: Some(true), ..Default::default() });
+    assert_eq!(s.doc().unwrap().history.undo.len(), undo_len + 1);
+    assert_eq!(s.doc().unwrap().selection, selection);
+    assert_eq!(serde_json::to_value(s.doc().unwrap().doc.story(StoryId(sid)).unwrap()).unwrap(), source);
+    let after = document(&s);
+    s.execute("edit.undo", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(document(&s), before);
+    assert_eq!(s.doc().unwrap().selection, selection);
+    s.execute("edit.redo", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(document(&s), after);
+    assert_eq!(s.doc().unwrap().selection, selection);
+
+    // Both commands use the native ZIP format, without a filesystem fixture.
+    let saved = s.execute("file.serialize", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    let mut reopened = Session::new();
+    reopened.execute("file.openBytes", &json!({"name": "capture.designcraft", "base64": saved["base64"]})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(chars(&reopened, "Captured"), chars(&s, "Captured"));
+    select(&mut reopened, sid, 6, 10);
+    assert_eq!(reopened.execute("type.selectionAttrs", &json!({})).unwrap()["chars"]["underline"], false);
+    let before_apply = document(&reopened);
+    reopened.execute("style.character.apply", &json!({"name": "Captured"})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(reopened.execute("type.selectionAttrs", &json!({})).unwrap()["chars"]["underline"], true);
+    assert_eq!(reopened.doc().unwrap().doc.story(StoryId(sid)).unwrap().text, "alpha beta");
+    let after_apply = document(&reopened);
+    reopened.execute("edit.undo", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(document(&reopened), before_apply);
+    reopened.execute("edit.redo", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(document(&reopened), after_apply);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn character_capture_matches_paragraph_selection_and_caret_boundary_policy() {
+    let (mut s, sid) = story("éX");
+    select(&mut s, sid, 0, 2);
+    s.execute("type.char", &json!({"underline": true})).unwrap();
+    select(&mut s, sid, 2, 3);
+    s.execute("type.char", &json!({"underline": false})).unwrap();
+    // A selected character takes the run on the right; a caret takes the typing run on the left.
+    // Reversed and mixed selections start at the lowest byte offset, just like paragraph capture.
+    for (anchor, focus, underlined) in [(3, 2, false), (2, 2, true), (3, 0, true)] {
+        select(&mut s, sid, anchor, focus);
+        let p = s.execute("style.paragraph.create", &json!({"name": "Paragraph", "fromSelection": true})).unwrap();
+        let c = s.execute("style.character.create", &json!({"name": "Character", "fromSelection": true})).unwrap();
+        let p = s.doc().unwrap().doc.styles.para(p["name"].as_str().unwrap()).unwrap();
+        let c = chars(&s, c["name"].as_str().unwrap());
+        assert_eq!(c.underline, Some(underlined));
+        assert_eq!(c.underline, p.chars.underline);
+        assert_eq!(c.size, None, "unlike paragraph capture, character capture must not freeze paragraph defaults");
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn character_capture_is_opt_in_and_no_text_uses_only_explicit_chars() {
+    let (mut s, sid) = story("alpha");
+    select(&mut s, sid, 0, 5);
+    s.execute("type.char", &json!({"underline": true})).unwrap();
+    for options in [json!({"name": "Plain"}), json!({"name": "Plain", "fromSelection": false})] {
+        let created = s.execute("style.character.create", &options).unwrap();
+        assert!(chars(&s, created["name"].as_str().unwrap()).is_empty());
+    }
+    assert!(s.doc().unwrap().doc.styles.char_style("Plain 2").is_some());
+    s.execute("selection.set", &json!({"ids": []})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("style.character.create", &json!({"name": "No target", "fromSelection": true, "basedOn": "Plain", "chars": {"underline": false}}))
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(chars(&s, "No target"), CharAttrs { underline: Some(false), ..Default::default() });
+    assert_eq!(s.doc().unwrap().doc.styles.char_style("No target").unwrap().based_on.as_deref(), Some("Plain"));
+    let (mut empty, empty_sid) = story("");
+    select(&mut empty, empty_sid, 0, 0);
+    empty.execute("style.character.create", &json!({"name": "Empty", "fromSelection": true})).unwrap();
+    assert!(chars(&empty, "Empty").is_empty());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn character_capture_retains_deleted_fill_and_reuses_it_after_native_reopen() {
+    for named_source in [false, true] {
+        let (mut s, sid) = story("alpha beta gamma");
+        s.execute("swatch.create", &json!({"name": "Ink", "color": "#ff0000"})).unwrap();
+        select(&mut s, sid, 0, 5);
+        if named_source {
+            s.execute("style.character.create", &json!({"name": "Base", "chars": {"fill": "Ink"}})).unwrap();
+            s.execute("style.character.create", &json!({"name": "Source", "basedOn": "Base"})).unwrap();
+            s.execute("style.character.apply", &json!({"name": "Source"})).unwrap();
+        } else {
+            s.execute("type.char", &json!({"fill": "Ink"})).unwrap();
+        }
+        s.execute("swatch.delete", &json!({"name": "Ink"})).unwrap();
+        s.doc().unwrap().doc.check().unwrap();
+        let before = document(&s);
+        let selection = s.doc().unwrap().selection.clone();
+        let undo_len = s.doc().unwrap().history.undo.len();
+        s.execute("style.character.create", &json!({"name": "Captured", "fromSelection": true})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(chars(&s, "Captured"), CharAttrs { fill: Some("Ink".into()), ..Default::default() });
+        assert_eq!(s.doc().unwrap().history.undo.len(), undo_len + 1);
+        assert_eq!(s.doc().unwrap().selection, selection);
+        let after = document(&s);
+        s.execute("edit.undo", &json!({})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(document(&s), before);
+        s.execute("edit.redo", &json!({})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(document(&s), after);
+        // Non-fill overrides do not turn an existing captured reference into explicit input.
+        s.execute("style.character.create", &json!({"name": "Tweaked", "fromSelection": true, "chars": {"underline": false, "tracking": 0}}))
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(chars(&s, "Tweaked"), CharAttrs { fill: Some("Ink".into()), underline: Some(false), tracking: Some(0.0), ..Default::default() });
+        s.execute("style.character.create", &json!({"name": "Paper", "fromSelection": true, "chars": {"fill": "[Paper]"}})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(chars(&s, "Paper"), CharAttrs { fill: Some("[Paper]".into()), ..Default::default() });
+        s.execute("style.character.create", &json!({"name": "Cleared fill", "fromSelection": true, "chars": {"fill": null}})).unwrap();
+        assert!(chars(&s, "Cleared fill").is_empty());
+        select(&mut s, sid, 6, 10);
+        s.execute("style.character.apply", &json!({"name": "Captured"})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(s.execute("type.selectionAttrs", &json!({})).unwrap()["chars"]["fill"], "Ink");
+        s.doc().unwrap().doc.check().unwrap();
+
+        let saved = s.execute("file.serialize", &json!({})).unwrap();
+        let mut reopened = Session::new();
+        reopened.execute("file.openBytes", &json!({"name": "deleted-fill.designcraft", "base64": saved["base64"]})).unwrap();
+        reopened.doc().unwrap().doc.check().unwrap();
+        for name in ["Captured", "Tweaked", "Paper", "Cleared fill"] {
+            assert_eq!(chars(&reopened, name), chars(&s, name));
+        }
+        select(&mut reopened, sid, 6, 10);
+        assert_eq!(reopened.execute("type.selectionAttrs", &json!({})).unwrap()["chars"]["fill"], "Ink");
+        select(&mut reopened, sid, 11, 16);
+        assert_eq!(reopened.execute("type.selectionAttrs", &json!({})).unwrap()["chars"]["fill"], "[Black]");
+        reopened.execute("style.character.apply", &json!({"name": "Captured"})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(reopened.execute("type.selectionAttrs", &json!({})).unwrap()["chars"]["fill"], "Ink");
+        reopened.execute("style.character.apply", &json!({"name": "Cleared fill"})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(reopened.execute("type.selectionAttrs", &json!({})).unwrap()["chars"]["fill"], "[Black]");
+        assert_eq!(reopened.doc().unwrap().doc.story(StoryId(sid)).unwrap().text, "alpha beta gamma");
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn character_capture_rejects_explicit_missing_fills_without_losing_redo() {
+    let (mut s, sid) = story("alpha");
+    s.execute("swatch.create", &json!({"name": "Ink", "color": "#ff0000"})).unwrap();
+    select(&mut s, sid, 0, 5);
+    s.execute("type.char", &json!({"fill": "Ink"})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("swatch.delete", &json!({"name": "Ink"})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("style.character.create", &json!({"name": "Redo sentinel"})).unwrap();
+    let redo_doc = s.doc().unwrap().doc.clone();
+    let redo_selection = s.doc().unwrap().selection.clone();
+    s.execute("edit.undo", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    let before = s.doc().unwrap().clone();
+    let journal = s.journal.clone();
+    for (capture, fill) in [(true, "Missing"), (true, "Ink"), (false, "Missing")] {
+        let error = s.execute("style.character.create", &json!({"name": "Invalid", "fromSelection": capture, "chars": {"fill": fill}})).unwrap_err();
+        assert!(error.to_string().contains(fill));
+        assert!(std::sync::Arc::ptr_eq(&s.doc().unwrap().doc, &before.doc));
+        assert_eq!(s.doc().unwrap().selection, before.selection);
+        assert_eq!(s.doc().unwrap().revision, before.revision);
+        assert_eq!(format!("{:?}", s.doc().unwrap().history), format!("{:?}", before.history));
+        assert_eq!(s.journal, journal);
+    }
+    s.execute("edit.redo", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    assert!(std::sync::Arc::ptr_eq(&s.doc().unwrap().doc, &redo_doc));
+    assert_eq!(s.doc().unwrap().selection, redo_selection);
+    assert!(s.doc().unwrap().doc.styles.char_style("Redo sentinel").is_some());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn character_capture_explicit_null_restores_live_paragraph_inheritance() {
+    for named_source in [false, true] {
+        let (mut s, sid) = story("alpha\nbeta");
+        select(&mut s, sid, 0, 5);
+        let source = json!({"tracking": 20, "underline": true, "underlineWeight": 1.5, "fontStyle": "Italic"});
+        if named_source {
+            s.execute("style.character.create", &json!({"name": "Base", "chars": source})).unwrap();
+            s.execute("style.character.create", &json!({"name": "Source", "basedOn": "Base"})).unwrap();
+            s.execute("style.character.apply", &json!({"name": "Source"})).unwrap();
+        } else {
+            s.execute("type.char", &source).unwrap();
+        }
+        // Omitting chars still captures values, including a nullable attribute's numeric value.
+        s.execute("style.character.create", &json!({"name": "Unchanged", "fromSelection": true})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(chars(&s, "Unchanged").tracking, Some(20.0));
+        assert_eq!(chars(&s, "Unchanged").underline_weight, Some(Some(1.5)));
+        let before = document(&s);
+        let undo_len = s.doc().unwrap().history.undo.len();
+        s.execute(
+            "style.character.create",
+            &json!({"name": "Cleared", "fromSelection": true,
+                "chars": {"tracking": null, "underlineWeight": null, "underline": false, "baselineShift": 0}}),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            chars(&s, "Cleared"),
+            CharAttrs { font_style: Some("Italic".into()), underline: Some(false), baseline_shift: Some(0.0), ..Default::default() }
+        );
+        assert_eq!(s.doc().unwrap().history.undo.len(), undo_len + 1);
+        let after = document(&s);
+        s.execute("edit.undo", &json!({})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(document(&s), before);
+        s.execute("edit.redo", &json!({})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(document(&s), after);
+        s.execute("style.paragraph.create", &json!({"name": "Destination", "chars": {"tracking": 30, "underlineWeight": 2}})).unwrap();
+        select(&mut s, sid, 6, 10);
+        s.execute("style.paragraph.apply", &json!({"name": "Destination"})).unwrap();
+        s.execute("style.character.apply", &json!({"name": "Cleared"})).unwrap();
+        let effective = s.execute("type.selectionAttrs", &json!({})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(effective["chars"]["tracking"], 30.0);
+        assert_eq!(effective["chars"]["underlineWeight"], 2.0);
+        assert_eq!(effective["chars"]["underline"], false);
+        s.execute("style.paragraph.edit", &json!({"name": "Destination", "chars": {"tracking": 40, "underlineWeight": 3}})).unwrap();
+        let effective = s.execute("type.selectionAttrs", &json!({})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(effective["chars"]["tracking"], 40.0);
+        assert_eq!(effective["chars"]["underlineWeight"], 3.0);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/styles.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/styles.rs
index 25a596644..d64cc1bd5 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/styles.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/styles.rs
@@ -150,3 +150,44 @@ fn style_row(app: &mut DesignApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, para: bool, n: &str, curren
         }
     });
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use egui_kittest::{Harness, kittest::Queryable};
+
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn character_style_plus_captures_selection_for_reuse() {
+        let mut app = DesignApp::new(designcraft_engine::Session::new(), crate::Services::default());
+        app.run("file.new", json!({})).unwrap();
+        let frame = app.run("frame.create", json!({"rect": [36, 36, 300, 200], "content": "text", "text": "alpha beta"})).unwrap();
+        app.run("text.select", json!({"story": frame["story"], "anchor": 0, "focus": 5})).unwrap();
+        app.run("type.char", json!({"underline": true})).unwrap();
+        let selection = app.session.doc().unwrap().selection.clone();
+        let undo_len = app.session.doc().unwrap().history.undo.len();
+        let mut h = Harness::builder().with_size(vec2(360.0, 240.0)).build_ui_state(
+            |ui, app: &mut DesignApp| {
+                let id = egui::Id::new("test_fonts");
+                if ui.data(|d| d.get_temp::<bool>(id)).is_none() {
+                    crate::theme::install_fonts(ui.ctx(), "");
+                    ui.data_mut(|d| d.insert_temp(id, true));
+                    return;
+                }
+                character(app, ui);
+            },
+            app,
+        );
+        h.run_steps(3);
+        h.get_by_label("Create New Style from Selection").click();
+        h.run_steps(3);
+        let app = h.state_mut();
+        let style = app.session.doc().unwrap().doc.styles.char_style("Character Style 1").unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(style.chars, designcraft_doc::CharAttrs { underline: Some(true), ..Default::default() });
+        assert_eq!(app.session.doc().unwrap().selection, selection);
+        assert_eq!(app.session.doc().unwrap().history.undo.len(), undo_len + 1);
+        app.run("text.select", json!({"story": frame["story"], "anchor": 6, "focus": 10})).unwrap();
+        app.run("style.character.apply", json!({"name": "Character Style 1"})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(app.run("type.selectionAttrs", json!({})).unwrap()["chars"]["underline"], true);
+    }
+}