diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index f34ce2764..74d946f01 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -7,6 +7,22 @@ work apply to everyone, people and AI agents alike, and they are not negotiable.
 
 You need [Rust](https://rustup.rs/) 1.95 or newer.
 
+On Linux the desktop app plays preview sound through `cpal`, so the build needs a usable ALSA
+pkg-config package: an `alsa.pc` that pkg-config can find, naming the linkable ALSA runtime
+library (usually `libasound.so.2`). `alsa-sys` runs pkg-config at build time; it does not compile
+ALSA's headers. Without a usable package the build fails at link time with an unrelated-looking
+error; `cargo xtask ci` probes pkg-config up front and names the package:
+
+```sh
+sudo dnf install alsa-lib-devel        # Fedora
+sudo apt install libasound2-dev        # Debian / Ubuntu
+sudo pacman -S alsa-lib                # Arch
+```
+
+If you cannot install the package, point `PKG_CONFIG_PATH` at a directory holding an `alsa.pc`
+whose `Libs` line names your system's `libasound` (usually `libasound.so.2`); every CI run needs
+that variable set.
+
 ```sh
 cargo run -p effectcraft -- --demo       # the desktop app, with the demo project
 cargo test --workspace
diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 627da7cf4..79ceb885c 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -7246,6 +7246,7 @@ name = "xtask"
 version = "0.18.0"
 dependencies = [
  "chrono",
+ "pkg-config",
  "serde_json",
  "tempfile",
 ]
diff --git a/apps/effectcraft-web/Cargo.toml b/apps/effectcraft-web/Cargo.toml
index 28ea2f369..7743347af 100644
--- a/apps/effectcraft-web/Cargo.toml
+++ b/apps/effectcraft-web/Cargo.toml
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ js-sys = "0.3"
 web-sys = { version = "0.3", features = [
     "Blob",
     "BlobPropertyBag",
+    "AbortController",
+    "AbortSignal",
     "CssStyleDeclaration",
     "Document",
     "Element",
@@ -51,6 +53,12 @@ web-sys = { version = "0.3", features = [
     "HtmlInputElement",
     "Location",
     "Navigator",
+    "ReadableStream",
+    "ReadableStreamDefaultReader",
+    "Request",
+    "RequestCache",
+    "RequestInit",
+    "Response",
     "Url",
     "UrlSearchParams",
     "Window",
diff --git a/apps/effectcraft-web/src/app.rs b/apps/effectcraft-web/src/app.rs
index 1dcaf1334..60ff2f8d3 100644
--- a/apps/effectcraft-web/src/app.rs
+++ b/apps/effectcraft-web/src/app.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
 
 use effectcraft_engine::Session;
 
-use crate::{api, audio, browse, diskcache, files, frames, persist, storage, worker};
+use crate::startup::Startup;
+use crate::{api, audio, browse, config_file, diskcache, files, frames, persist, storage, worker};
 use effectcraft_ui_egui::EffectcraftApp;
 use serde_json::json;
 use wasm_bindgen::prelude::*;
@@ -83,8 +84,12 @@ pub(crate) fn open_or_import(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, paths: Vec<String>) {
 /// The eframe app: the shared EffectCraft UI plus the browser host's per-frame duties.
 pub struct WebApp {
     pub app: EffectcraftApp,
-    /// Keep the session snapshot (off with `?empty`).
+    /// Keep the session snapshot (off with `?empty`; off with an explicit `"demo"` startup until
+    /// the user's own work begins, see `demo_start`).
     pub persist: bool,
+    /// Started on the demo by the config: the snapshot stays off, so the demo never replaces the
+    /// last visit's project, until the user opens a project from a file or edits the demo.
+    pub demo_start: bool,
 }
 
 impl eframe::App for WebApp {
@@ -117,6 +122,11 @@ impl eframe::App for WebApp {
         api::poll_replies();
         // Render Queue outputs written this frame (here or by a worker) → downloads.
         files::flush_downloads();
+        // The user's own work after a demo start is worth keeping too: turn the snapshot on.
+        if self.demo_start && (self.app.session.path.is_some() || self.app.session.is_dirty()) {
+            self.demo_start = false;
+            self.persist = true;
+        }
         // What a reload comes back to.
         if self.persist {
             // The app's monotonic clock: `ctx.input(|i| i.time)` is stale in a logic-only tick.
@@ -223,6 +233,11 @@ pub async fn start(canvas_id: String) -> Result<(), JsValue> {
     };
     api::set_info("storage", json!({"backend": persist::backend(), "entries": stored, "loadMs": t0.elapsed().as_secs_f64() * 1000.0}));
     audio::install_unlock();
+    // `./effectcraft-config.json`: what to open on load.
+    // `?empty` and `?demo` decide by themselves, so they skip the request.
+    let startup = if empty || query_flag("demo") { Startup::default() } else { config_file::startup().await };
+    // An explicit `"demo"` start leaves the saved session alone until the user opens or edits something.
+    let keep_session = !empty && startup.keeps_session();
     browse::restore();
     diskcache::init();
     storage::refresh();
@@ -248,7 +263,7 @@ pub async fn start(canvas_id: String) -> Result<(), JsValue> {
                     // The canvas can't present any more (#225): the page says so over it and
                     // offers a reload, which brings the session back when browser storage keeps it.
                     let lost = gpu_failures.clone();
-                    let kept = !empty && persist::backend() != "memory";
+                    let kept = keep_session && persist::backend() != "memory";
                     rs.device.set_device_lost_callback(move |reason, message| {
                         let message = format!("GPU device lost ({reason:?}): {message}");
                         lost.report(&message, true);
@@ -258,10 +273,11 @@ pub async fn start(canvas_id: String) -> Result<(), JsValue> {
                 let mut session = session();
                 session.load_settings();
                 let recovery = session.begin_recovery();
-                // `?empty`: a blank project; `?demo`: the demo project; otherwise the last visit's
-                // project (the demo on a first visit).
-                let restored = !empty && !query_flag("demo") && persist::restore(&mut session);
-                if !restored && !empty {
+                // `?empty`: a blank project; `?demo`: the demo project; otherwise what the config's
+                // `startup` says (default: the last visit's project, the demo on a first visit).
+                let demo = query_flag("demo");
+                let restored = !empty && !demo && startup.restores() && persist::restore(&mut session);
+                if !restored && !empty && (demo || startup.demo_when_nothing_restored()) {
                     let _ = session.execute("file.openDemoProject", json!({}));
                 }
                 api::set_info("restored", json!(restored));
@@ -287,7 +303,7 @@ pub async fn start(canvas_id: String) -> Result<(), JsValue> {
                 app = app.with_control(rx);
                 let backend = cc.wgpu_render_state.as_ref().map(|rs| format!("{:?}", rs.adapter.get_info().backend));
                 api::set_info("backend", json!(backend));
-                Ok(Box::new(WebApp { app, persist: !empty }))
+                Ok(Box::new(WebApp { app, persist: keep_session, demo_start: !empty && !keep_session }))
             }),
         )
         .await?;
diff --git a/apps/effectcraft-web/src/config_file.rs b/apps/effectcraft-web/src/config_file.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..614d7d4cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/effectcraft-web/src/config_file.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+//! `./effectcraft-config.json`, fetched once per page load and shared by whoever reads a key.
+
+use std::cell::RefCell;
+
+use wasm_bindgen::{JsCast, closure::Closure};
+use wasm_bindgen_futures::JsFuture;
+
+use crate::startup::{self, Startup};
+
+/// Longest the request and the body read may take (ms); a stalled server must not hold up start-up.
+const TIMEOUT_MS: i32 = 5_000;
+
+thread_local! {
+    /// `None`: not fetched yet; `Some(None)`: no usable file.
+    static FILE: RefCell<Option<Option<Vec<u8>>>> = const { RefCell::new(None) };
+}
+
+/// The config file's bytes, or `None` when it is missing, too large, unreadable or the request
+/// takes longer than [`TIMEOUT_MS`] (the timer aborts the request and covers the body read).
+async fn fetch() -> Option<Vec<u8>> {
+    let win = web_sys::window()?;
+    let ctl = web_sys::AbortController::new().ok()?;
+    let init = web_sys::RequestInit::new();
+    // Always ask the server: the file is the operator's switch, never a cached copy.
+    init.set_cache(web_sys::RequestCache::NoCache);
+    init.set_signal(Some(&ctl.signal()));
+    let on_timeout = Closure::once(move || ctl.abort());
+    let timer = win.set_timeout_with_callback_and_timeout_and_arguments_0(on_timeout.as_ref().unchecked_ref(), TIMEOUT_MS).ok()?;
+    let out = read(&win, &init).await;
+    win.clear_timeout_with_handle(timer);
+    out
+}
+
+/// Fetch the file and read its body chunk by chunk, giving up as soon as it passes `CONFIG_MAX`.
+async fn read(win: &web_sys::Window, init: &web_sys::RequestInit) -> Option<Vec<u8>> {
+    let req = web_sys::Request::new_with_str_and_init("effectcraft-config.json", init).ok()?;
+    let resp: web_sys::Response = JsFuture::from(win.fetch_with_request(&req)).await.ok()?.dyn_into().ok()?;
+    if resp.status() != 200 {
+        return None;
+    }
+    let reader: web_sys::ReadableStreamDefaultReader = resp.body()?.get_reader().unchecked_into();
+    let mut out = Vec::new();
+    loop {
+        let chunk = JsFuture::from(reader.read()).await.ok()?;
+        if js_sys::Reflect::get(&chunk, &"done".into()).ok()?.as_bool() == Some(true) {
+            return Some(out);
+        }
+        let bytes: js_sys::Uint8Array = js_sys::Reflect::get(&chunk, &"value".into()).ok()?.dyn_into().ok()?;
+        if out.len().saturating_add(bytes.length() as usize) > startup::CONFIG_MAX {
+            // Stop the download: the limit is enforced while reading, not after the whole body arrived.
+            let _ = reader.cancel();
+            return None;
+        }
+        out.extend_from_slice(&bytes.to_vec());
+    }
+}
+
+/// The config file's bytes (`None` when there is none), fetched on the first call.
+pub async fn bytes() -> Option<Vec<u8>> {
+    if let Some(done) = FILE.with(|f| f.borrow().clone()) {
+        return done;
+    }
+    let got = fetch().await;
+    FILE.with(|f| *f.borrow_mut() = Some(got.clone()));
+    got
+}
+
+/// The configured startup behaviour.
+pub async fn startup() -> Startup {
+    let s = bytes().await.map(|b| startup::parse(&b)).unwrap_or_default();
+    log::info!("startup: {s:?}");
+    s
+}
diff --git a/apps/effectcraft-web/src/lib.rs b/apps/effectcraft-web/src/lib.rs
index 97d2e887f..e1bf85894 100644
--- a/apps/effectcraft-web/src/lib.rs
+++ b/apps/effectcraft-web/src/lib.rs
@@ -18,10 +18,11 @@
 //! | cpal audio output | Web Audio: an AudioWorklet fed from the preview mixdown (`audio`) |
 //! | TCP control channel / MCP | `window.effectcraft` JavaScript API (`api`) |
 //!
-//! [`store`] is portable (unit-tested natively); everything else is `wasm32`-only.
+//! [`store`] and [`startup`] are portable (unit-tested natively); everything else is `wasm32`-only.
 
 #![deny(clippy::unwrap_used, clippy::expect_used, clippy::panic, clippy::unimplemented, clippy::todo, clippy::unreachable)]
 
+pub mod startup;
 pub mod store;
 
 #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
@@ -33,6 +34,8 @@ pub mod audio;
 #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
 pub mod browse;
 #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
+pub mod config_file;
+#[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
 pub mod diskcache;
 #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
 pub mod files;
diff --git a/apps/effectcraft-web/src/startup.rs b/apps/effectcraft-web/src/startup.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4759096f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/effectcraft-web/src/startup.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+//! The `startup` key of `./effectcraft-config.json`: which project the page opens on load.
+//!
+//! | Value | On load |
+//! |---|---|
+//! | `"last"` (and absent) | the last visit's project; the demo project on a first visit |
+//! | `"empty"` | the last visit's project; a blank project on a first visit, never the demo |
+//! | `"demo"` | the demo project, whatever the last visit left |
+//!
+//! The `?empty` and `?demo` URL flags still win. Anything else (a missing key, another type, an
+//! unknown value, a config that is not JSON) is the default, `"last"`.
+
+use serde_json::Value;
+
+/// What the page opens on load.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Default, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum Startup {
+    #[default]
+    Last,
+    Empty,
+    Demo,
+}
+
+/// The largest config file read (bytes).
+pub const CONFIG_MAX: usize = 64 * 1024;
+
+/// The `startup` key of a config file's bytes.
+pub fn parse(bytes: &[u8]) -> Startup {
+    if bytes.len() > CONFIG_MAX {
+        return Startup::default();
+    }
+    let Ok(v) = serde_json::from_slice::<Value>(bytes) else { return Startup::default() };
+    match v.get("startup").and_then(Value::as_str) {
+        Some("empty") => Startup::Empty,
+        Some("demo") => Startup::Demo,
+        _ => Startup::Last,
+    }
+}
+
+impl Startup {
+    /// Whether the last visit's project is restored (off for the demo).
+    pub fn restores(self) -> bool {
+        self != Startup::Demo
+    }
+
+    /// Whether the session snapshot keeps being saved (off for the demo, so it never replaces the
+    /// project the last visit left).
+    pub fn keeps_session(self) -> bool {
+        self != Startup::Demo
+    }
+
+    /// Whether the demo project opens when nothing was restored (off for a blank start).
+    pub fn demo_when_nothing_restored(self) -> bool {
+        self != Startup::Empty
+    }
+}
diff --git a/apps/effectcraft-web/tests/it/main.rs b/apps/effectcraft-web/tests/it/main.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a4d242ba5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/effectcraft-web/tests/it/main.rs
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+mod startup_tests;
diff --git a/apps/effectcraft-web/tests/it/startup_tests.rs b/apps/effectcraft-web/tests/it/startup_tests.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3ce90569c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/effectcraft-web/tests/it/startup_tests.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+//! The `startup` key of the config file.
+
+use effectcraft_web::startup::{CONFIG_MAX, Startup, parse};
+
+/// The three accepted values parse.
+#[test]
+fn the_three_values() {
+    assert_eq!(parse(br#"{"startup":"empty"}"#), Startup::Empty);
+    assert_eq!(parse(br#"{"startup":"demo"}"#), Startup::Demo);
+    assert_eq!(parse(br#"{"startup":"last"}"#), Startup::Last);
+}
+
+/// A missing key, a wrong type, an unknown value or a non-object file gives `Last`.
+#[test]
+fn absent_or_invalid_is_the_default() {
+    for bytes in
+        [&b"{}"[..], b"", b"not json", b"[]", b"null", br#"{"startup":1}"#, br#"{"startup":"Empty"}"#, br#"{"startup":null}"#, br#"{"startup":["empty"]}"#]
+    {
+        assert_eq!(parse(bytes), Startup::Last, "{:?}", String::from_utf8_lossy(bytes));
+    }
+}
+
+/// Other keys do not hide `startup`.
+#[test]
+fn a_config_with_other_keys_still_has_its_startup() {
+    assert_eq!(parse(br#"{"remote":{"mounts":[]},"startup":"empty"}"#), Startup::Empty);
+    assert_eq!(parse(br#"{"startup":"demo","unknown":{"a":1}}"#), Startup::Demo);
+}
+
+/// A file over `CONFIG_MAX` is ignored.
+#[test]
+fn an_oversized_file_is_the_default() {
+    let mut big = br#"{"startup":"empty","pad":""#.to_vec();
+    big.extend(std::iter::repeat_n(b'x', CONFIG_MAX));
+    big.extend_from_slice(br#""}"#);
+    assert_eq!(parse(&big), Startup::Last);
+}
+
+/// Which project each value restores or opens.
+#[test]
+fn what_each_value_does_on_load() {
+    assert!(Startup::Last.restores() && Startup::Last.demo_when_nothing_restored());
+    assert!(Startup::Empty.restores() && !Startup::Empty.demo_when_nothing_restored());
+    assert!(!Startup::Demo.restores() && Startup::Demo.demo_when_nothing_restored());
+}
+
+/// Only the explicit demo start stops saving the session.
+#[test]
+fn only_the_demo_start_leaves_the_saved_session_alone() {
+    assert!(Startup::Last.keeps_session() && Startup::Empty.keeps_session());
+    assert!(!Startup::Demo.keeps_session());
+}
diff --git a/apps/effectcraft-web/web/sw.js b/apps/effectcraft-web/web/sw.js
index 4acbeeeeb..8f48a93bc 100644
--- a/apps/effectcraft-web/web/sw.js
+++ b/apps/effectcraft-web/web/sw.js
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 // `cargo xtask web` fills in the build's file list and version. Every file is precached into a
 // cache named after the version, served cache-first (responses keep the server's headers, so
 // the page stays cross-origin isolated: COOP/COEP), and old versions are dropped once the new
-// one activates. Anything else same-origin is fetched from the network and cached for next time.
+// one activates. Anything else same-origin is fetched from the network and cached for next time,
+// except the config file, which must stay live.
 const VERSION = "__EC_VERSION__";
 const FILES = __EC_FILES__;
 const CACHE = `effectcraft-${VERSION}`;
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ self.addEventListener("fetch", (event) => {
   const req = event.request;
   const url = new URL(req.url);
   if (req.method !== "GET" || url.origin !== self.location.origin) return;
+  if (url.pathname.endsWith("/effectcraft-config.json")) return;
   event.respondWith(
     (async () => {
       const cache = await caches.open(CACHE).catch(() => null);
diff --git a/crates/automation/tests/qa/compositing.rs b/crates/automation/tests/qa/compositing.rs
index da78ae116..d5de8f687 100644
--- a/crates/automation/tests/qa/compositing.rs
+++ b/crates/automation/tests/qa/compositing.rs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ fn import_footage(qa: &mut Qa) -> (Value, Value) {
     // Footage: the sequence, and a layered PSD written by the app itself (Save Frame As ▸
     // Photoshop Layers) from a small comp.
     let seq = write_sequence(qa);
-    let imp = qa.exec("file.import", json!({"paths": [seq]}));
+    let imp = qa.exec("file.import", json!({"paths": [seq], "sequence": true}));
     let seq_item = imp["items"][0].clone();
     let project = qa.tool("get_project", json!({}));
     let it = project["items"].as_array().unwrap().iter().find(|i| i["id"] == seq_item).unwrap().clone();
diff --git a/crates/automation/tests/qa/tracking.rs b/crates/automation/tests/qa/tracking.rs
index 837872658..ee6bbb2e9 100644
--- a/crates/automation/tests/qa/tracking.rs
+++ b/crates/automation/tests/qa/tracking.rs
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ fn shake_offset(f: u32) -> (i64, i64) {
 
 /// Import a sequence at 12 fps and make a comp of it; returns (comp, layer).
 fn plate_comp(qa: &mut Qa, first: &str, name: &str) -> (Value, Value) {
-    let item = qa.exec("file.import", json!({"paths": [first]}))["items"][0].clone();
+    let item = qa.exec("file.import", json!({"paths": [first], "sequence": true}))["items"][0].clone();
     qa.exec("file.interpretFootage", json!({"items": [item.clone()], "frameRate": 12}));
     let comp = qa.exec("comp.new", json!({"name": name, "width": 160, "height": 90, "frameRate": 12, "duration": 1}))["comp"].clone();
     let layer = qa.exec("layer.addItem", json!({"item": item}))["layer"].clone();
diff --git a/crates/engine/presets/text_animators.json b/crates/engine/presets/text_animators.json
index 20e142268..e82707a52 100644
--- a/crates/engine/presets/text_animators.json
+++ b/crates/engine/presets/text_animators.json
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
           "name": "Tracking In",
           "properties": { "tracking": 0, "opacity": 100 },
           "keys": {
-            "tracking": [[0, 400], [1.6, 0]],
+            "tracking": [[0, 40], [1.6, 0]],
             "opacity": [[0, 0], [0.8, 100]]
           },
           "ease": true,
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/app_more.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/app_more.rs
index f607c8288..5bd897ba9 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/app_more.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/app_more.rs
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ fn clear_recent_presets(s: &mut Session, _: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
 
 fn save_copy_xml(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
     let path = str_p(p, "path").ok_or_else(|| bad("file.saveCopyAsXml", "missing `path` (.ecprojx)"))?;
-    let xml = crate::xml_project::to_xml(&s.project.to_file_json_with_view(&s.saved_view())?).map_err(EngineError::Other)?;
+    let xml = crate::xml_project::to_xml(&s.project.to_file_json_with_view(&s.saved_view(), false)?).map_err(EngineError::Other)?;
     s.services.write_file(path, xml.as_bytes()).map_err(|e| EngineError::Other(format!("cannot write {path}: {e}")))?;
     s.toast(format!("Saved an XML copy to {path}"));
     Ok(json!({"path": path, "bytes": xml.len()}))
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/edit.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/edit.rs
index bfc05933e..ab847ab87 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/edit.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/edit.rs
@@ -74,9 +74,9 @@ fn select_all(s: &mut Session, _: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
     Ok(json!(s.state.selected_layers.len()))
 }
 fn deselect_all(s: &mut Session, _: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
-    // A deselected layer never keeps an open text edit: commit the edit first, exactly as
-    // `text.endEdit` (an empty Type-tool layer included), so every route — menu, shortcut,
-    // script, MCP — leaves one final state.
+    // A deselected layer never keeps an open text edit: commit it first, exactly as `text.endEdit`,
+    // so every route — menu, shortcut, script, MCP — leaves one final state. An empty Type-tool
+    // layer survives, as it does in After Effects.
     super::text_edit::end_edit(s, &Value::Null)?;
     s.state.selected_layers.clear();
     s.state.selected_props.clear();
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/file.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/file.rs
index 194845803..beb161a53 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/file.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/file.rs
@@ -87,7 +87,8 @@ pub(crate) fn open(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
 /// project opened from an XML copy saves as XML again). Fails, writing nothing, when the project
 /// wouldn't read back.
 pub(crate) fn file_text(s: &Session, path: &str) -> Result<String> {
-    let json = s.project.to_file_json_with_view(&s.saved_view())?;
+    let compact = s.prefs.project.compact_project_files && !crate::xml_project::is_xml_path(path);
+    let json = s.project.to_file_json_with_view(&s.saved_view(), compact)?;
     if crate::xml_project::is_xml_path(path) { crate::xml_project::to_xml(&json).map_err(EngineError::Other) } else { Ok(json) }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/layer/create.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/layer/create.rs
index 7962c2485..ccc4810a9 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/layer/create.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/layer/create.rs
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ pub(super) fn text_range_p(p: &Value) -> Option<std::ops::Range<usize>> {
 /// It is left justified unless `justify` is given. The layer is named by `name`, else the first 40
 /// characters of the first text line, else "Text". `edit: true` also opens a new editing
 /// session with anchor `0` and the caret after the text, selecting all initial text so the next
-/// insertion replaces it. The session has `created: true`, so leaving it empty removes the layer.
+/// insertion replaces it. The session has `created: true`; leaving it empty keeps the layer, as After Effects does.
 pub(super) fn new_text(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
     let cid = comp_id(s, p)?;
     let comp = s.project.comp(cid).ok_or(EngineError::NoComp)?.clone();
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/text_edit.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/text_edit.rs
index 0d9b25aec..cdb650486 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/text_edit.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/text_edit.rs
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ pub struct TextEdit {
     /// Character panel changes made with only a caret: the style the next typed text takes.
     #[serde(default)]
     pub pending: Option<CharStyle>,
-    /// The layer was made by a Type tool click; leaving it empty deletes it.
+    /// The layer was made by a Type tool click. Kept when left empty, as After Effects does, so this
+    /// only records how the edit began.
     #[serde(default)]
     pub created: bool,
     /// Line position kept by repeated up / down moves (layout space).
@@ -372,18 +373,14 @@ fn edit(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
     Ok(state_json(s))
 }
 
-/// `text.endEdit`: stop editing (a Type-tool layer left empty is deleted).
+/// `text.endEdit`: stop editing.
+///
+/// A Type-tool layer the user clicked away from without typing is **kept**: After Effects leaves it in
+/// the timeline as `<空白のテキストレイヤー>`, and the layer came from the user's click rather than from a
+/// mistake to clean up. Deleting it took away something they could still type into.
 pub(crate) fn end_edit(s: &mut Session, _: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
-    let Some(e) = s.state.text_edit.take() else { return Ok(Value::Null) };
-    if e.created && layer_doc(s, e.layer).is_some_and(|d| d.text.is_empty()) {
-        let cid = s.active_comp_id().ok_or(EngineError::NoComp)?;
-        s.edit("Delete Empty Text Layer", None, |proj, st| {
-            if let Some(c) = proj.comp_mut(cid) {
-                c.layers.retain(|l| l.id != e.layer);
-            }
-            st.selected_layers.retain(|l| *l != e.layer);
-            Ok(())
-        })?;
+    if s.state.text_edit.take().is_none() {
+        return Ok(Value::Null);
     }
     s.bump();
     Ok(Value::Null)
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/settings/prefs/dialog.rs b/crates/engine/src/settings/prefs/dialog.rs
index e3f2006d8..d330ce190 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/settings/prefs/dialog.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/settings/prefs/dialog.rs
@@ -122,6 +122,11 @@ pub fn pages() -> Vec<Page> {
                 Section("New Project"),
                 s("project.useTemplate", "New Project Loads Template", B, true),
                 s("project.templatePath", "Template Project", Kind::Path, true),
+                Section("Project Files"),
+                s("project.compactProjectFiles", "Save Compact Project Files", B, true),
+                Note(
+                    "Saves .ecproj files as compact JSON on one line: smaller and faster to save and open, but hard to read or diff in version control. Off, they are indented, one value per line.",
+                ),
                 Section("Auto-Save"),
                 s("autoSave.enabled", "Automatically Save Projects", B, true),
                 s("autoSave.intervalMinutes", "Save Every", Kind::Int(1, 240, "Minutes"), true),
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/settings/prefs/sections.rs b/crates/engine/src/settings/prefs/sections.rs
index e0bea8b85..aa683e2b8 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/settings/prefs/sections.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/settings/prefs/sections.rs
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ page!(ProjectPrefs {
     /// Open a template project for File ▸ New ▸ New Project.
     use_template: bool = false,
     template_path: String = String::new(),
+    /// Write `.ecproj` files as compact JSON on one line (smaller, faster to save and open). Off:
+    /// indented, one value per line, so they read and diff cleanly in version control.
+    compact_project_files: bool = false,
 });
 
 page!(AutoSave {
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests/settings.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests/settings.rs
index 81bed3c43..03003a77b 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests/settings.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests/settings.rs
@@ -389,6 +389,23 @@ fn new_project_template_and_default_renderer() {
     let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(d);
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn project_files_are_indented_unless_compact_is_on() {
+    let d = tmp("compact-project-files");
+    let path = d.join("p.ecproj");
+    let mut s = session_with_comp();
+    s.execute("file.saveAs", json!({"path": path.to_string_lossy()})).unwrap();
+    let pretty = std::fs::read_to_string(&path).unwrap();
+    assert!(pretty.starts_with("{\n  \"savedBy\""), "indented by default");
+    s.execute("prefs.set", json!({"key": "project.compactProjectFiles", "value": true})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("file.saveAs", json!({"path": path.to_string_lossy()})).unwrap();
+    let compact = std::fs::read_to_string(&path).unwrap();
+    assert!(!compact.contains('\n'), "one line when Save Compact Project Files is on");
+    let open = |text: &str| effectcraft_project::Project::from_json(text).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(open(&compact), open(&pretty), "both read back as the same project");
+    let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(d);
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------- shortcuts
 
 #[test]
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests/text_edit.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests/text_edit.rs
index 17d0345d8..c48cff7e3 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests/text_edit.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests/text_edit.rs
@@ -260,25 +260,25 @@ fn clipboard_and_paste_formatting() {
 }
 
 #[test]
-fn type_tool_layers_point_box_and_empty_cleanup() {
+fn type_tool_layers_point_box_and_empty_layer_is_kept() {
     let mut s = Session::default();
     s.execute("comp.new", json!({"name": "C", "width": 640, "height": 360, "duration": 4})).unwrap();
     let t = s.execute("layer.newText", json!({"text": "", "position": [100, 200], "justify": "left", "edit": true})).unwrap()["layer"].as_u64().unwrap();
     assert_eq!(s.state.text_edit.as_ref().map(|e| e.layer.0), Some(t));
-    // Leaving an untouched Type-tool layer deletes it.
+    // Leaving an untouched Type-tool layer keeps it, as After Effects does.
     s.execute("text.endEdit", json!({})).unwrap();
-    assert!(s.active_comp().unwrap().layers.is_empty());
+    assert_eq!(s.active_comp().unwrap().layers.len(), 1, "an empty Type-tool layer is kept, as in AE");
     let b = s.execute("layer.newText", json!({"text": "", "box": [40, 50, 300, 120], "edit": true})).unwrap()["layer"].as_u64().unwrap();
     s.execute("text.insert", json!({"text": "Boxed"})).unwrap();
     let d = doc(&s, b);
     assert_eq!(d.box_size, Some([300.0, 120.0]));
     assert_eq!(d.box_pos, [-150.0, -60.0]);
-    let l = s.active_comp().unwrap().layers[0].clone();
+    let l = s.active_comp().unwrap().layers.iter().find(|l| l.id.0 == b).expect("the boxed layer").clone();
     assert_eq!(l.name, "Boxed", "named after its text");
     let pos = l.props.prop("transform/position").unwrap().value.as_vec3();
     assert_eq!([pos[0], pos[1]], [190.0, 110.0]);
     s.execute("text.endEdit", json!({})).unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(s.active_comp().unwrap().layers.len(), 1);
+    assert_eq!(s.active_comp().unwrap().layers.len(), 2, "both text layers stay, the empty one included");
     // Resizing the box (layer space) is an attribute too.
     s.execute("layer.setText", json!({"layer": b, "box": [-100, -60, 200, 120]})).unwrap();
     assert_eq!(doc(&s, b).box_size, Some([200.0, 120.0]));
@@ -1202,7 +1202,7 @@ fn deselect_all_ends_the_open_edit() {
 }
 
 #[test]
-fn deselect_all_discards_an_empty_type_tool_layer() {
+fn deselect_all_keeps_an_empty_type_tool_layer() {
     let (mut s, _keep) = session("Hello");
     let new = s.execute("layer.newText", json!({"text": "", "position": [80.0, 80.0], "edit": true})).unwrap()["layer"].as_u64().unwrap();
     assert!(
@@ -1214,7 +1214,5 @@ fn deselect_all_discards_an_empty_type_tool_layer() {
     s.execute("edit.deselectAll", json!({})).unwrap();
     assert!(s.state.text_edit.is_none());
     assert!(s.state.selected_layers.is_empty());
-    assert_eq!(count(&s), before - 1, "a Type-tool layer left empty is removed, as text.endEdit does");
-    s.execute("edit.undo", json!({})).unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(count(&s), before, "that removal is one undo step of its own, as on text.endEdit");
+    assert_eq!(count(&s), before, "an empty Type-tool layer is kept, as in After Effects");
 }
diff --git a/crates/project/src/item.rs b/crates/project/src/item.rs
index 22759e27d..b2b64ed2c 100644
--- a/crates/project/src/item.rs
+++ b/crates/project/src/item.rs
@@ -267,10 +267,11 @@ impl Project {
     /// (NaN or infinity, written as `null`, and nesting too deep to parse) are refused on every
     /// save; debug builds also read the text back.
     pub fn to_file_json(&self) -> Result<String, ProjectError> {
-        self.to_file_json_with_view(&SavedView::default())
+        self.to_file_json_with_view(&SavedView::default(), false)
     }
-    /// [`Project::to_file_json`] that also records the open compositions ([`SavedView`]).
-    pub fn to_file_json_with_view(&self, view: &SavedView) -> Result<String, ProjectError> {
+    /// [`Project::to_file_json`] that also records the open compositions ([`SavedView`]), on one
+    /// line when `compact` (Settings ▸ Project ▸ Save Compact Project Files).
+    pub fn to_file_json_with_view(&self, view: &SavedView, compact: bool) -> Result<String, ProjectError> {
         if self.schema > SCHEMA_VERSION {
             return Err(ProjectError::Invalid(format!(
                 "the project can't be saved: it holds a value a project file can't store (project schema {} is newer than this version supports ({SCHEMA_VERSION}))",
@@ -289,7 +290,8 @@ impl Project {
         let file = File { saved_by: APP_VERSION, view, project: self };
         file_check::check(&file)
             .map_err(|e| ProjectError::Invalid(format!("the project can't be saved: it holds a value a project file can't store ({e})")))?;
-        let text = serde_json::to_string_pretty(&file).map_err(|e| ProjectError::Invalid(format!("the project can't be saved: {e}")))?;
+        let text = if compact { serde_json::to_string(&file) } else { serde_json::to_string_pretty(&file) }
+            .map_err(|e| ProjectError::Invalid(format!("the project can't be saved: {e}")))?;
         #[cfg(debug_assertions)]
         Project::from_json(&text)
             .map_err(|e| ProjectError::Invalid(format!("the project can't be saved: it holds a value a project file can't store ({e})")))?;
diff --git a/crates/project/src/tests.rs b/crates/project/src/tests.rs
index f9ee16167..c0bdb012f 100644
--- a/crates/project/src/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/project/src/tests.rs
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ fn project_files_refuse_newer_schemas() {
         crate::SCHEMA_VERSION
     );
     assert_eq!(p.to_file_json().unwrap_err().to_string(), expected);
-    assert_eq!(p.to_file_json_with_view(&crate::SavedView::default()).unwrap_err().to_string(), expected);
+    assert_eq!(p.to_file_json_with_view(&crate::SavedView::default(), false).unwrap_err().to_string(), expected);
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ fn saved_files_reopen_in_pretty_and_compact_form() {
 fn project_files_remember_the_open_comps() {
     let (p, cid) = project_with_layer();
     let view = crate::SavedView { active_comp: Some(cid), open_comps: vec![cid], comp_times: [(cid, effectcraft_time::Tick(4_237_833_600))].into() };
-    let text = p.to_file_json_with_view(&view).unwrap();
+    let text = p.to_file_json_with_view(&view, false).unwrap();
     assert_eq!(crate::saved_view(&text), view);
     assert_eq!(Project::from_json(&text).unwrap(), p, "the view is not part of the project");
     // Files from before #748 have no view; a garbled one is ignored, not an error.
diff --git a/crates/render/src/text.rs b/crates/render/src/text.rs
index 132da9bf6..c25b1da8d 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/text.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/text.rs
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ pub struct CharXf {
     pub stroke_hsb: [f64; 3],
     pub stroke_opacity: f64,
     pub stroke_width: f64,
-    /// Tracking (pixels) added before / after the character.
+    /// Tracking (pixels: an animator's Tracking Amount, as After Effects) added before / after
+    /// the character.
     pub track_before: f64,
     pub track_after: f64,
     /// Line Anchor (percent) and the selection weight it was set with.
@@ -694,6 +695,9 @@ pub fn text_geom(ctx: &EvalCtx, layer: &Layer) -> Option<TextGeom> {
         let (mut la, mut la_k) = (50.0 * f64::from(align_index(justify)), 0.0);
         for gi in li_start..li_end {
             let x = &xfs[gi];
+            // An animator's Tracking Amount is in pixels, whatever the font size (After Effects
+            // 2026: Amount 30 adds 30 px between selected characters at 80 px and at 40 px), unlike
+            // the Character panel's tracking in 1/1000 em.
             pen += x.track_before;
             shift[gi] = pen;
             pen += x.track_after + vadv[gi];
@@ -804,9 +808,12 @@ pub fn text_geom(ctx: &EvalCtx, layer: &Layer) -> Option<TextGeom> {
         };
         // Outline relative to the pivot.
         let local = kurbo::Affine::translate((o[0] - pivot[0], o[1] - pivot[1])) * outline;
-        let char_m = Mat4::rotate_z(x.rotation)
+        // Rx · Ry · Rz (Z turns first): the order After Effects gives a 3D layer's X / Y / Z
+        // Rotation too. #1876 moves layers to it with a helper, `Mat4::rotation_xyz`; once both
+        // land, this should call that helper (one convention, one place).
+        let char_m = Mat4::rotate_x(x.rotation_x)
             * Mat4::rotate_y(x.rotation_y)
-            * Mat4::rotate_x(x.rotation_x)
+            * Mat4::rotate_z(x.rotation)
             * Mat4::from_mat3_affine(&Mat3::skew_deg(-x.skew, x.skew_axis))
             * Mat4::scale(Vec3::from(x.scale) / 100.0)
             * Mat4::translate(-Vec3::from(x.anchor));
diff --git a/crates/render/src/text/tests.rs b/crates/render/src/text/tests.rs
index 43f53dce9..4bf459142 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/text/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/text/tests.rs
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ fn tracking_line_anchor_and_character_offset() {
     let w0 = bounds_of(&glyph_paths(&ctx(&p, cid, 0.0), &p.comp(cid).unwrap().layers[0]));
     set(&mut p.comp_mut(cid).unwrap().layers[0], "text/animators/#1/properties/tracking", Value::Scalar(20.0));
     let w1 = bounds_of(&glyph_paths(&ctx(&p, cid, 0.0), &p.comp(cid).unwrap().layers[0]));
-    // 4 chars with 20 px tracking: the last glyph moves ~ 3.5 × 20 px further (before & after).
+    // Tracking Amount 20 (pixels, as After Effects): the last glyph moves ~ 3.5 × 20 px further (before & after).
     assert!((w1.width() - w0.width() - 3.0 * 20.0).abs() < 1.5, "{} {}", w0.width(), w1.width());
     assert!((w1.x0 - w0.x0 - 10.0).abs() < 1.0, "first char shifts by half its tracking: {} {}", w0.x0, w1.x0);
     // Line Anchor 100%: tracking grows to the left.
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ fn tracking_grows_from_each_paragraphs_alignment() {
         p.comp_mut(cid).unwrap().layers.push(l);
         glyph_paths(&ctx(&p, cid, 0.0), &p.comp(cid).unwrap().layers[0])
     };
-    // 4 chars with 20 px of tracking each, half before and half after.
+    // Tracking Amount 20 (pixels): 20 px of tracking each, half before and half after.
     for (justify, x0, centre, x1) in [(Justify::Left, 10.0, 40.0, 70.0), (Justify::Center, -30.0, 0.0, 30.0), (Justify::Right, -70.0, -40.0, -10.0)] {
         let d = TextDoc { justify, ..doc("ABCD", 40.0) };
         let (w0, w1) = (bounds_of(&tracked(d.clone(), 0.0)), bounds_of(&tracked(d, 20.0)));
@@ -504,6 +504,37 @@ fn per_character_3d_projects_characters() {
     assert!(b[2] - b[0] < flat[2] - flat[0] && b[2] > b[0] + 10, "{b:?} {flat:?}");
 }
 
+/// After Effects 2026 (case 931: "H", 400 px, per-character 3D, X / Y / Z Rotation 40 / 30 /
+/// 20): a character turns like a 3D layer, Rx · Ry · Rz (Z first), so its matrix is the same
+/// product as a layer's X / Y / Z Rotation. The render then matches AE (3 of 5184 grid points
+/// off at edges; with Rz · Ry · Rx 23).
+#[test]
+fn per_character_rotation_turns_z_first_as_a_3d_layer() {
+    let (mut p, cid, comp) = setup(400, 300);
+    let mut l = text_layer(&mut p, &comp, doc("H", 80.0));
+    l.switches.three_d = true;
+    animator(&mut p, &mut l, &["rotation"], &["range"]);
+    let mut next = p.next_id;
+    let mut extra = build::text_anim_props(&mut Ids(&mut next), "rotation", true);
+    p.next_id = next;
+    let props: &mut PropGroup = l.props.group_mut("text/animators/#1/properties").unwrap();
+    props.children.retain(|c| c.match_id() != "rotation");
+    props.children.extend(extra.drain(..).map(Into::into));
+    for (id, v) in [("rotationX", 40.0), ("rotationY", 30.0), ("rotation", 20.0)] {
+        props.get_mut(id).unwrap().value = Value::Scalar(v);
+    }
+    l.props.sub_mut("text").unwrap().get_mut("perChar3d").unwrap().value = Value::Bool(true);
+    p.comp_mut(cid).unwrap().layers.push(l);
+    let geom = text_geom(&ctx(&p, cid, 0.0), &p.comp(cid).unwrap().layers[0]).unwrap();
+    let g = &geom.glyphs[0];
+    let want = Mat4::rotate_x(40.0) * Mat4::rotate_y(30.0) * Mat4::rotate_z(20.0);
+    for r in 0..3 {
+        for c in 0..3 {
+            assert!((g.m.0[r][c] - want.0[r][c]).abs() < 1e-9, "row {r} col {c}: {:?} vs {:?}", g.m.0, want.0);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn keyframed_selector_animates() {
     let (mut p, cid, comp) = setup(400, 200);
diff --git a/crates/script/src/tests/ease_presets.rs b/crates/script/src/tests/ease_presets.rs
index 009cc59c6..f075250b2 100644
--- a/crates/script/src/tests/ease_presets.rs
+++ b/crates/script/src/tests/ease_presets.rs
@@ -608,3 +608,37 @@ fn presets_saved_by_the_old_core_panel_carry_over() {
     let win = open_panel(&mut s);
     assert_eq!(control(&mut s, win, "presets")["items"].as_array().unwrap().len(), 12);
 }
+
+/// #2465: the Linear preset sets Linear interpolation on every side it applies to, including the
+/// unused first-in and last-out sides; editing its speeds makes a Bezier curve.
+#[test]
+fn the_linear_preset_sets_linear_interpolation_and_edited_speeds_give_bezier() {
+    let store = Arc::new(MemoryConfig::default());
+    let mut s = session(&store);
+    let l = setup(&mut s);
+    animate(&mut s, l, "transform/opacity", &[(0.0, json!(0)), (1.0, json!(100)), (3.0, json!(20))]);
+    s.execute("prop.select", json!({"layer": l, "path": "transform/opacity"})).unwrap();
+    let win = open_panel(&mut s);
+    // Start from Bezier keys so Linear has something to restore.
+    ok(
+        &mut s,
+        r#"var p = app.project.activeItem.layer(1).transform.opacity, K = KeyframeInterpolationType;
+        for (var i = 1; i <= p.numKeys; i++) p.setInterpolationTypeAtKey(i, K.BEZIER, K.BEZIER);"#,
+    );
+    let op = prop(&s, l, "transform/opacity");
+    for (i, k) in op.keys.iter().enumerate() {
+        assert_eq!((k.in_interp, k.out_interp), (Interp::Bezier, Interp::Bezier), "initial key {i}");
+    }
+    let steps = s.history.undo.len();
+    set(&mut s, win, "presets", json!("Linear"));
+    assert_eq!(s.history.undo.len(), steps + 1, "one undo step");
+    let op = prop(&s, l, "transform/opacity");
+    for (i, k) in op.keys.iter().enumerate() {
+        assert_eq!((k.in_interp, k.out_interp), (Interp::Linear, Interp::Linear), "key {i}");
+    }
+    // Edited speeds make a custom Bezier curve even though Linear is still the selected preset.
+    select_keys(&mut s, l, &[("transform/opacity", 1.0)]);
+    apply_typed(&mut s, win, "In-Out", [33.0, 2.0, 33.0, 2.0]);
+    let k = &prop(&s, l, "transform/opacity").keys[1];
+    assert_eq!((k.in_interp, k.out_interp), (Interp::Bezier, Interp::Bezier));
+}
diff --git a/crates/text/src/layout.rs b/crates/text/src/layout.rs
index 179478517..4c0b5a436 100644
--- a/crates/text/src/layout.rs
+++ b/crates/text/src/layout.rs
@@ -565,6 +565,34 @@ fn space_item(glyphs: &mut [ShapedGlyph], style: &TextStyle, text: &str, para_st
     }
 }
 
+/// After Effects' first-baseline offset of paragraph (box) text for a face at nominal size
+/// `px`: the height of its lowercase `d`, in whole thousandths of an em. Measured in After
+/// Effects 2026 (case 818): the first baseline sits 69.50 px below the box top for Times New
+/// Roman at 100 px (its `d` is 1422/2048 em, 694.3 thousandths, rounded 695) and 71.60 px for
+/// Arial (1466/2048, 715.8, rounded 716), at 50 px half of that; superscript text keeps the
+/// line where normal text puts it and only raises its glyphs. `None` without a `d` outline.
+fn first_ascent(face: FaceId, px: f32) -> Option<f32> {
+    let f = fonts::face(face);
+    let gid = f.glyph('d')?;
+    let units = crate::outline_units(face, gid)?;
+    let top = kurbo::Shape::bounding_box(&*units).y1 as f32;
+    let em = (top / f.units_per_em() * 1000.0).round() / 1000.0;
+    plausible_first(em, px, f.metrics(px).ascent)
+}
+
+/// A `d` at least this fraction of the font ascent is a Latin lowercase ascender; a shorter one
+/// (a symbol or icon font's `d`) would put the first baseline almost at the box top, so the font
+/// ascent is used instead (the rule before the `d` height).
+const MIN_D_OF_ASCENT: f32 = 0.3;
+
+/// The first baseline `em * px` below the box top, if `em` (the `d` height in em) is plausible:
+/// finite, positive, under 4 em and at least [`MIN_D_OF_ASCENT`] of the font `ascent` (px).
+fn plausible_first(em: f32, px: f32, ascent: f32) -> Option<f32> {
+    let h = em * px;
+    let tall_enough = !(ascent.is_finite() && ascent > 0.0) || h >= MIN_D_OF_ASCENT * ascent;
+    (h.is_finite() && h > 0.0 && em < 4.0 && tall_enough).then_some(h)
+}
+
 struct ParaLine {
     range: Range<usize>,
     glyphs: Vec<Glyph>,
@@ -575,6 +603,9 @@ struct ParaLine {
     hang: (f32, f32),
     ascent: f32,
     descent: f32,
+    /// Where a box's first line puts its baseline below the box top ([`first_ascent`] of the
+    /// line's styles at their nominal size; the font ascent where a face has no `d`).
+    first: f32,
     /// Line advance (largest leading on the line).
     advance: f32,
     align: Align,
@@ -598,20 +629,25 @@ fn run_at(runs: &[(Range<usize>, TextStyle)], b: usize) -> usize {
 
 /// Lay out one paragraph (no newlines) whose text starts at byte `base` of the whole string.
 /// Margins (left, right) of a paragraph's first or later lines.
-fn margins_for(para: &ParagraphStyle, first: bool) -> (f32, f32) {
+/// `rtl` is the resolved paragraph direction (an unset direction follows the text).
+fn margins_for(para: &ParagraphStyle, rtl: bool, first: bool) -> (f32, f32) {
     let fi = if first { para.indent_first } else { 0.0 };
-    if para.rtl == Some(true) { (para.indent_end, para.indent_start + fi) } else { (para.indent_start + fi, para.indent_end) }
+    if rtl { (para.indent_end, para.indent_start + fi) } else { (para.indent_start + fi, para.indent_end) }
 }
 
 /// The width a line may fill (`None` for point text).
-fn avail_for(para: &ParagraphStyle, width: Option<f32>, first: bool) -> Option<f32> {
-    let (l, r) = margins_for(para, first);
+fn avail_for(para: &ParagraphStyle, rtl: bool, width: Option<f32>, first: bool) -> Option<f32> {
+    let (l, r) = margins_for(para, rtl, first);
     width.map(|w| (w - l - r).max(1.0))
 }
 
 /// The alignment of a line, justified lines that cannot stretch falling back to `justify_last`.
-fn align_for(para: &ParagraphStyle, width: Option<f32>, last: bool) -> Align {
-    if (last || width.is_none()) && para.align == Align::Justify {
+fn align_for(para: &ParagraphStyle, rtl: bool, width: Option<f32>, last: bool) -> Align {
+    if rtl && width.is_none() && para.align == Align::Justify {
+        // Right-to-left point text with a justified paragraph sits flush at its start, the
+        // right (After Effects 2026, every justify code; left-to-right not measured).
+        Align::Right
+    } else if (last || width.is_none()) && para.align == Align::Justify {
         if width.is_none() && para.justify_last == Align::Justify { Align::Left } else { para.justify_last }
     } else {
         para.align
@@ -622,6 +658,12 @@ fn style_metrics(primaries: &[Resolved], runs: &[(Range<usize>, TextStyle)], si:
     fonts::face(primaries[si].face).metrics(runs[si].1.glyph_size())
 }
 
+/// The baseline of a box's first line for style run `si`: the `d` height, else the font ascent.
+fn style_first(primaries: &[Resolved], runs: &[(Range<usize>, TextStyle)], si: usize) -> f32 {
+    let st = &runs[si].1;
+    first_ascent(primaries[si].face, st.size).unwrap_or_else(|| fonts::face(primaries[si].face).metrics(st.size).ascent)
+}
+
 /// A char's shaping inputs: (byte, char, shaped char, face, rtl, form, run).
 type CharInfo = (usize, char, char, FaceId, bool, Form, usize);
 
@@ -719,7 +761,7 @@ impl<'a> Para<'a> {
     }
 
     fn line_avail(&self, line: usize) -> f32 {
-        avail_for(self.para, self.width, line == 0).unwrap_or(f32::MAX)
+        avail_for(self.para, self.base_rtl, self.width, line == 0).unwrap_or(f32::MAX)
     }
 
     /// The byte ranges of the lines, for the wrap width.
@@ -736,8 +778,11 @@ impl<'a> Para<'a> {
         ranges
     }
 
-    /// Minimises the summed squared slack of every line but the last.
+    /// Minimises the summed squared slack of every line but the last; with Justify All the last
+    /// line is stretched too, so its slack counts (After Effects then balances the lines: 4 / 4 / 4
+    /// words where the other modes break 6 / 6 / 1).
     fn optimal_breaks(&self, opps: &[usize]) -> Vec<Range<usize>> {
+        let last_counts = self.para.align == Align::Justify && self.para.justify_last == Align::Justify;
         let nodes: Vec<usize> = std::iter::once(0).chain(opps.iter().copied()).collect();
         let m = nodes.len();
         let mut best = vec![(f32::INFINITY, 0usize); m];
@@ -757,7 +802,7 @@ impl<'a> Para<'a> {
                 let slack = maxw - w;
                 let cost = if over {
                     1e12 + w
-                } else if j == m - 1 {
+                } else if j == m - 1 && !last_counts {
                     0.0
                 } else {
                     slack * slack
@@ -802,8 +847,8 @@ impl<'a> Para<'a> {
 
     /// The line over byte range `r`: the `li`-th of the paragraph, `last` if it is the final one.
     fn place_line(&self, li: usize, r: Range<usize>, last: bool) -> ParaLine {
-        let align = align_for(self.para, self.width, last);
-        let avail = avail_for(self.para, self.width, li == 0);
+        let align = align_for(self.para, self.base_rtl, self.width, last);
+        let avail = avail_for(self.para, self.base_rtl, self.width, li == 0);
         let (ce, tw) = self.trailing_ws(&r);
         let hang = self.hang_of(&r, ce);
         let content = self.range_w(r.start..ce);
@@ -819,7 +864,7 @@ impl<'a> Para<'a> {
         }
         let placed = self.place_glyphs(&r, space_extra, ce);
         let carets = self.carets(&r, &placed.extents, placed.pen);
-        let (asc, desc, adv) = self.line_metrics(&r, &placed.glyphs);
+        let (asc, desc, adv, first) = self.line_metrics(&r, &placed.glyphs);
         let content_w = if space_extra > 0.0 { avail.map_or(content, |a| a + hang.0 + hang.1) } else { content };
         ParaLine {
             range: self.base + r.start..self.base + r.end,
@@ -830,10 +875,11 @@ impl<'a> Para<'a> {
             hang,
             ascent: asc,
             descent: desc,
+            first,
             advance: adv,
             align,
             avail,
-            margins: margins_for(self.para, li == 0),
+            margins: margins_for(self.para, self.base_rtl, li == 0),
             underline: placed.underline,
         }
     }
@@ -938,8 +984,8 @@ impl<'a> Para<'a> {
     }
 
     /// Ascent, descent and advance of the line: the tallest face and the largest leading on it.
-    fn line_metrics(&self, r: &Range<usize>, glyphs: &[Glyph]) -> (f32, f32, f32) {
-        let (mut asc, mut desc, mut adv) = (0.0f32, 0.0f32, 0.0f32);
+    fn line_metrics(&self, r: &Range<usize>, glyphs: &[Glyph]) -> (f32, f32, f32, f32) {
+        let (mut asc, mut desc, mut adv, mut first) = (0.0f32, 0.0f32, 0.0f32, 0.0f32);
         let char_start = self.chars.partition_point(|c| c.0 < r.start);
         let char_end = self.chars.partition_point(|c| c.0 < r.end);
         let mut seen: Vec<usize> = self.chars[char_start..char_end].iter().map(|c| c.6).collect();
@@ -954,6 +1000,7 @@ impl<'a> Para<'a> {
             asc = asc.max(m.ascent + rise.max(0.0));
             desc = desc.max(m.descent - rise.min(0.0));
             adv = adv.max(self.runs[si].1.line_advance());
+            first = first.max(style_first(self.primaries, self.runs, si));
         }
         for g in glyphs {
             if g.face != self.primaries[g.run].face {
@@ -962,7 +1009,7 @@ impl<'a> Para<'a> {
                 desc = desc.max(m.descent);
             }
         }
-        (asc, desc, adv)
+        (asc, desc, adv, first)
     }
 }
 
@@ -1037,6 +1084,8 @@ fn paragraph(
     if text.is_empty() {
         let si = run_at(runs, base);
         let pm = style_metrics(primaries, runs, si);
+        // No text to resolve a direction from: the explicit one.
+        let rtl = para.rtl == Some(true);
         return vec![ParaLine {
             range: base..base,
             glyphs: vec![],
@@ -1047,9 +1096,10 @@ fn paragraph(
             ascent: pm.ascent,
             descent: pm.descent,
             advance: runs[si].1.line_advance(),
-            align: align_for(para, width, true),
-            avail: avail_for(para, width, true),
-            margins: margins_for(para, true),
+            first: style_first(primaries, runs, si),
+            align: align_for(para, rtl, width, true),
+            avail: avail_for(para, rtl, width, true),
+            margins: margins_for(para, rtl, true),
             underline: None,
         }];
     }
@@ -1120,7 +1170,10 @@ pub fn layout_rich_uncached(text: &str, runs: &[(Range<usize>, TextStyle)], para
     for (i, (pi, pl)) in plines.into_iter().enumerate() {
         let para = para_at(pi);
         if i == 0 {
-            baseline = if width.is_some() { pl.ascent } else { 0.0 };
+            // Vertical type keeps its first column at the font ascent (not measured in AE).
+            let vertical = runs.get(run_at(runs, pl.range.start)).is_some_and(|r| r.1.vertical)
+                || runs.iter().any(|r| r.1.vertical && r.0.start < pl.range.end && r.0.end > pl.range.start);
+            baseline = if width.is_some() { if vertical { pl.ascent } else { pl.first } } else { 0.0 };
         } else {
             let prev_para = lay.lines.last().map_or(pi, |l| l.para);
             let mut adv = pl.advance + para.leading;
diff --git a/crates/text/src/layout/tests.rs b/crates/text/src/layout/tests.rs
index 9079a1225..5792c1c16 100644
--- a/crates/text/src/layout/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/text/src/layout/tests.rs
@@ -357,3 +357,140 @@ fn named_instance_sets_the_base_variations() {
     let inter = layout_uncached("Hi", &TextStyle::default(), &ParagraphStyle::default());
     assert!(inter.glyphs.iter().all(|g| g.variations == 0));
 }
+
+/// After Effects 2026 (case 818): box text's first baseline is the `d` height (in whole
+/// thousandths of an em) below the box top, at the nominal size also for superscript, whose
+/// glyphs are then raised. EffectCraft used the font ascent of the drawn size (plus the
+/// superscript rise): 89.1 px instead of 69.5 for Times New Roman at 100 px, and the
+/// superscript glyphs 15.8 px low.
+#[test]
+fn box_text_first_baseline_is_the_d_height_as_after_effects() {
+    let boxed = ParagraphStyle { width: Some(600.0), ..Default::default() };
+    // The rule on a bundled face (works everywhere).
+    for (family, size) in [("Inter", 100.0f32), ("Noto Serif", 50.0)] {
+        let s = TextStyle { family: family.into(), ..st(size) };
+        let r = fonts::resolve(family, "Regular");
+        let f = fonts::face(r.face);
+        let d = crate::outline_units(r.face, f.glyph('d').unwrap()).unwrap();
+        let em = (kurbo::Shape::bounding_box(&*d).y1 as f32 / f.units_per_em() * 1000.0).round() / 1000.0;
+        let l = layout("Hxg", &s, &boxed);
+        assert!((l.lines[0].baseline - em * size).abs() < 1e-3, "{family}: {} vs {}", l.lines[0].baseline, em * size);
+        assert!(l.lines[0].baseline < l.lines[0].ascent, "{family}: below the full ascent");
+    }
+    // After Effects' numbers, where the real fonts are installed.
+    for (family, ae_normal) in [("Times New Roman", 69.5008f32), ("Arial", 71.5988)] {
+        let r = fonts::resolve(family, "Regular");
+        if fonts::face(r.face).info.family != family {
+            continue;
+        }
+        for (size, script, glyph_baseline) in
+            [(100.0, Script::Normal, ae_normal), (50.0, Script::Normal, ae_normal / 2.0), (100.0, Script::Super, ae_normal - 100.0 * SCRIPT_OFFSET)]
+        {
+            let s = TextStyle { family: family.into(), script, ..st(size) };
+            let l = layout("Hxg", &s, &boxed);
+            let drawn = l.glyphs[0].y;
+            assert!((drawn - glyph_baseline).abs() < 0.15, "{family} {size} {script:?}: {drawn} vs AE {glyph_baseline}");
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// CodeRabbit on #1875: a face whose `d` is very short (a symbol or icon font) would put the
+/// first baseline almost at the box top; below 0.3 of the ascent the font ascent is used.
+#[test]
+fn a_short_d_falls_back_to_the_font_ascent() {
+    // Latin faces: the `d` is about 0.7 em, the ascent about 0.9 em.
+    let near = |v: Option<f32>, want: f32| v.is_some_and(|v| (v - want).abs() < 1e-3);
+    assert!(near(plausible_first(0.7, 100.0, 90.0), 70.0));
+    // A `d` a tenth of the ascent: not a lowercase ascender.
+    assert_eq!(plausible_first(0.09, 100.0, 90.0), None);
+    assert_eq!(plausible_first(0.26, 100.0, 90.0), None);
+    assert!(near(plausible_first(0.28, 100.0, 90.0), 28.0));
+    // Broken values stay rejected; an unusable ascent does not reject a sane `d`.
+    for (em, px) in [(0.0, 100.0), (-0.5, 100.0), (f32::NAN, 100.0), (5.0, 100.0), (0.7, f32::INFINITY)] {
+        assert_eq!(plausible_first(em, px, 90.0), None, "{em} {px}");
+    }
+    assert!(near(plausible_first(0.7, 100.0, f32::NAN), 70.0));
+    // The bundled faces keep the `d` rule.
+    for family in ["Inter", "Noto Serif"] {
+        let r = fonts::resolve(family, "Regular");
+        assert!(first_ascent(r.face, 100.0).is_some(), "{family}");
+    }
+}
+
+/// After Effects 2026 (EXPORTER t6): with Justify All and the every-line composer, a box that
+/// the other justifications break into lines of 6, 6 and 1 words breaks 4 / 4 / 4, so the
+/// stretched last line is not a lone word; word positions then match AE to 1 px.
+#[test]
+fn justify_all_balances_the_lines_with_the_every_line_composer() {
+    let text = "one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve";
+    let s = st(30.0);
+    let words = |l: &Layout| -> Vec<usize> { l.lines.iter().map(|ln| text[ln.range.clone()].split_whitespace().count()).collect() };
+    let p = |last: Align| ParagraphStyle { width: Some(450.0), align: Align::Justify, justify_last: last, every_line: true, ..Default::default() };
+    let left = layout_rich_uncached(text, &[(0..text.len(), s.clone())], &[p(Align::Left)]);
+    let all = layout_rich_uncached(text, &[(0..text.len(), s)], &[p(Align::Justify)]);
+    let (wl, wa) = (words(&left), words(&all));
+    assert!(wl.last().copied().unwrap_or(0) < *wl.first().unwrap_or(&0), "{wl:?}");
+    let (lo, hi) = (wa.iter().min().copied().unwrap_or(0), wa.iter().max().copied().unwrap_or(0));
+    assert!(hi - lo <= 1, "Justify All balances the lines: {wa:?} (left-justified: {wl:?})");
+}
+
+/// After Effects 2026 (EXPORTER read-back t7): right-to-left point text with any justified
+/// code (justify last left / centre / right, justify all) sits flush right at its anchor, as
+/// right-aligned text does.
+#[test]
+fn rtl_point_text_with_a_justified_paragraph_is_flush_at_its_start() {
+    let text = "Right to left";
+    let s = st(30.0);
+    let at = |align: Align, last: Align| {
+        let p = ParagraphStyle { align, justify_last: last, rtl: Some(true), ..Default::default() };
+        let l = layout_rich_uncached(text, &[(0..text.len(), s.clone())], &[p]);
+        (l.lines[0].x, l.lines[0].x + l.lines[0].width)
+    };
+    let right = at(Align::Right, Align::Left);
+    for last in [Align::Left, Align::Center, Align::Right, Align::Justify] {
+        let got = at(Align::Justify, last);
+        assert!((got.0 - right.0).abs() < 1e-3 && (got.1 - right.1).abs() < 1e-3, "{last:?}: {got:?} vs right-aligned {right:?}");
+    }
+}
+
+/// The same holds when the direction is unset and the text itself resolves right to left.
+#[test]
+fn detected_rtl_point_text_with_a_justified_paragraph_is_flush_at_its_start() {
+    let text = "\u{5d0}\u{5d1}\u{5d2} \u{5d3}\u{5d4}";
+    let s = st(30.0);
+    let at = |align: Align| {
+        let p = ParagraphStyle { align, justify_last: Align::Left, rtl: None, ..Default::default() };
+        let l = layout_rich_uncached(text, &[(0..text.len(), s.clone())], &[p]);
+        (l.lines[0].x, l.lines[0].x + l.lines[0].width)
+    };
+    let (right, got) = (at(Align::Right), at(Align::Justify));
+    assert!((got.0 - right.0).abs() < 1e-3 && (got.1 - right.1).abs() < 1e-3, "{got:?} vs right-aligned {right:?}");
+}
+
+/// Indents follow the resolved direction too: detected right-to-left text puts its start
+/// indent on the right, as an explicit right-to-left paragraph does.
+#[test]
+fn detected_rtl_text_takes_its_indents_on_the_rtl_sides() {
+    let text = "\u{5d0}\u{5d1}\u{5d2} \u{5d3}\u{5d4}";
+    let s = st(30.0);
+    let at = |rtl: Option<bool>| {
+        let p = ParagraphStyle { align: Align::Justify, justify_last: Align::Left, indent_start: 20.0, rtl, ..Default::default() };
+        let l = layout_rich_uncached(text, &[(0..text.len(), s.clone())], &[p]);
+        (l.lines[0].x, l.lines[0].x + l.lines[0].width)
+    };
+    let (explicit, detected) = (at(Some(true)), at(None));
+    assert!((detected.0 - explicit.0).abs() < 1e-3 && (detected.1 - explicit.1).abs() < 1e-3, "{detected:?} vs {explicit:?}");
+}
+
+/// Only the first line's own runs decide whether box text starts at the font ascent: a
+/// vertical run further down leaves a horizontal first line on its `d`-height baseline.
+#[test]
+fn a_later_vertical_run_keeps_the_first_line_baseline() {
+    let text = "Top\nside";
+    let horiz = st(40.0);
+    let vert = TextStyle { vertical: true, ..horiz.clone() };
+    let p = ParagraphStyle { width: Some(400.0), ..Default::default() };
+    let plain = layout_rich_uncached(text, &[(0..text.len(), horiz.clone())], std::slice::from_ref(&p));
+    let mixed = layout_rich_uncached(text, &[(0..4, horiz), (4..text.len(), vert)], &[p]);
+    assert!((mixed.lines[0].baseline - plain.lines[0].baseline).abs() < 1e-3, "{} vs {}", mixed.lines[0].baseline, plain.lines[0].baseline);
+}
diff --git a/crates/text/src/lib.rs b/crates/text/src/lib.rs
index 35e7ecc06..8cc8e3264 100644
--- a/crates/text/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/text/src/lib.rs
@@ -659,7 +659,9 @@ mod tests {
         let doc = TextDoc { text: "ab cd".into(), size: 20.0, box_size: Some([200.0, 100.0]), box_pos: [-100.0, -50.0], ..Default::default() };
         let l = layout_doc(&doc);
         let (a, _) = l.caret(0);
-        assert!((a.x + 100.0).abs() < 1e-6 && (a.y + 50.0).abs() < 1.0, "{a:?}");
+        // The first baseline sits the `d` height below the box top (After Effects), so the
+        // caret, which spans the font's full ascent, starts a little above the box.
+        assert!((a.x + 100.0).abs() < 1e-6 && a.y + 50.0 < 0.0 && a.y + 50.0 > -0.35 * 20.0, "{a:?}");
         // Vertical: characters run down a column, carets are horizontal.
         let v = layout_doc(&TextDoc { text: "abc\nde".into(), size: 20.0, vertical: true, ..Default::default() });
         let ys: Vec<f64> = v.glyphs.iter().filter(|g| g.line_index == 0).map(|g| g.origin.y).collect();
diff --git a/crates/text/src/selectors.rs b/crates/text/src/selectors.rs
index e3a422460..fcecfd814 100644
--- a/crates/text/src/selectors.rs
+++ b/crates/text/src/selectors.rs
@@ -71,6 +71,15 @@ impl Mode {
     pub fn combine(self, acc: f64, v: f64) -> f64 {
         let r = match self {
             Mode::Add => acc + v,
+            // Subtracting more than is selected leaves nothing, not a negative selection (After
+            // Effects 2026: a Subtract selector over unselected characters leaves their
+            // Tracking at 0, EXPORTER read-back t8).
+            // Intended for every animator property, not only Tracking: selectors combine into one
+            // selection per character for the whole animator (`render::text::animator_selection`),
+            // which then scales each of its properties, as in After Effects, where selectors
+            // belong to the animator. The read-back observed that selection through Tracking;
+            // Opacity, Position and the rest were not measured separately.
+            Mode::Subtract if acc >= 0.0 => (acc - v).max(0.0),
             Mode::Subtract => acc - v,
             Mode::Intersect => acc * v,
             Mode::Min => acc.min(v),
@@ -352,6 +361,9 @@ mod tests {
         // A lone Subtract inverts.
         assert_eq!(Mode::Subtract.combine(Mode::Subtract.initial(), 1.0), 0.0);
         assert_eq!(Mode::Subtract.combine(Mode::Subtract.initial(), 0.0), 1.0);
+        // Subtracting from what is not selected leaves 0, not a negative selection (AE t8).
+        assert_eq!(Mode::Subtract.combine(0.0, 1.0), 0.0);
+        assert_eq!(Mode::Subtract.combine(0.25, 1.0), 0.0);
         assert_eq!(Mode::from_index(5), Mode::Difference);
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/track/src/camtrack/bundle.rs b/crates/track/src/camtrack/bundle.rs
index b8421f144..a4412dbce 100644
--- a/crates/track/src/camtrack/bundle.rs
+++ b/crates/track/src/camtrack/bundle.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 use rayon::prelude::*;
 
 use super::geometry::Pose;
-use super::linalg::{M3, V3, add, cholesky_solve, dot, inv3, mm, mtv, mv, rodrigues, scale, skew, sub};
+use super::linalg::{M3, V3, add, cholesky_solve, conjugate_gradient, dot, inv3, mm, mtv, mv, rodrigues, scale, skew, sub};
 use super::{Distortion, SolveError};
 
 /// A camera in the adjustment.
@@ -287,6 +287,101 @@ fn cam_jac(l: &Layout, ci: usize, c: &BaCam, xc: V3, a: &[[f64; 3]; 2], p: [f64;
     }
 }
 
+struct PtSys {
+    v: M3,
+    bp: V3,
+    w: Vec<(usize, V3)>,
+}
+
+struct PreconditionerBlock {
+    start: usize,
+    dim: usize,
+    inverse: Vec<f64>,
+}
+
+fn camera_preconditioner(u: &[f64], l: &Layout) -> Option<Vec<PreconditionerBlock>> {
+    let mut ranges = Vec::new();
+    let pose_dim = if l.rot_only { 3 } else { 6 };
+    for (&pose, &focal) in l.start.iter().zip(&l.fidx) {
+        if pose != usize::MAX {
+            ranges.push((pose, pose_dim + usize::from(focal != usize::MAX)));
+        } else if focal != usize::MAX {
+            ranges.push((focal, 1));
+        }
+    }
+    if let Some(start) = l.shared.or(l.dist) {
+        ranges.push((start, l.n - start));
+    }
+    ranges
+        .into_iter()
+        .map(|(start, dim)| {
+            let mut matrix = Vec::with_capacity(dim * dim);
+            for i in 0..dim {
+                for j in 0..dim {
+                    matrix.push(*u.get((start + i) * l.n + start + j)?);
+                }
+            }
+            let mut inverse = vec![0.0; dim * dim];
+            for col in 0..dim {
+                let mut a = matrix.clone();
+                let mut b = vec![0.0; dim];
+                *b.get_mut(col)? = 1.0;
+                if !cholesky_solve(&mut a, dim, &mut b) {
+                    return None;
+                }
+                for (row, value) in b.into_iter().enumerate() {
+                    inverse[row * dim + col] = value;
+                }
+            }
+            Some(PreconditionerBlock { start, dim, inverse })
+        })
+        .collect()
+}
+
+/// Apply the point-eliminated system without materialising W V^-1 W^T.
+fn iterative_schur(u: &[f64], rhs: &[f64], systems: &[PtSys], vinv: &[Option<M3>], l: &Layout) -> Option<Vec<f64>> {
+    if l.n == 0 || l.n.checked_mul(l.n) != Some(u.len()) || rhs.len() != l.n || systems.len() != vinv.len() {
+        return None;
+    }
+    let blocks = camera_preconditioner(u, l)?;
+    // U contains camera blocks, global parameters and the focal prior. Store its nonzeros
+    // once; all subsequent products are linear in these and the point-camera connections.
+    let rows: Vec<Vec<(usize, f64)>> =
+        u.chunks_exact(l.n).map(|row| row.iter().enumerate().filter(|(_, v)| **v != 0.0).map(|(i, v)| (i, *v)).collect()).collect();
+    let mut reduced_rhs = rhs.to_vec();
+    for (ps, vi) in systems.iter().zip(vinv) {
+        let Some(vi) = vi else { continue };
+        let vb = mv(vi, ps.bp);
+        for (i, w) in &ps.w {
+            *reduced_rhs.get_mut(*i)? -= dot(*w, vb);
+        }
+    }
+    conjugate_gradient(
+        &reduced_rhs,
+        |x, y| {
+            for (i, row) in rows.iter().enumerate() {
+                y[i] = row.iter().map(|(j, v)| v * x[*j]).sum();
+            }
+            for (ps, vi) in systems.iter().zip(vinv) {
+                let Some(vi) = vi else { continue };
+                let q = ps.w.iter().fold([0.0; 3], |q, (i, w)| add(q, scale(*w, x[*i])));
+                let q = mv(vi, q);
+                for (i, w) in &ps.w {
+                    y[*i] -= dot(*w, q);
+                }
+            }
+        },
+        |r, z| {
+            z.fill(0.0);
+            for block in &blocks {
+                for i in 0..block.dim {
+                    z[block.start + i] = (0..block.dim).map(|j| block.inverse[i * block.dim + j] * r[block.start + j]).sum();
+                }
+            }
+        },
+    )
+}
+
 /// Smooth per-camera log focal lengths in the normal equations.
 fn add_focal_prior(cams: &[BaCam], o: &BaOpts, l: &Layout, s_mat: &mut [f64], bc: &mut [f64]) {
     let n = l.n;
@@ -310,10 +405,56 @@ fn add_focal_prior(cams: &[BaCam], o: &BaOpts, l: &Layout, s_mat: &mut [f64], bc
     }
 }
 
+/// Eliminate the points into the camera system explicitly (`S -= W V^-1 W^T`, `rhs -= W V^-1 bp`).
+fn reduce_points(systems: &[PtSys], vinv: &[Option<M3>], n: usize, s: &mut [f64], rhs: &mut [f64]) {
+    let npts = systems.len();
+    let reduce = |range: std::ops::Range<usize>, s: &mut [f64], rhs: &mut [f64]| {
+        for j in range {
+            let (Some(vi), ps) = (&vinv[j], &systems[j]) else { continue };
+            let vb = mv(vi, ps.bp);
+            let wv: Vec<V3> = ps.w.iter().map(|(_, w)| mv(vi, *w)).collect();
+            for (a, (ia, wa)) in ps.w.iter().enumerate() {
+                rhs[*ia] -= dot(*wa, vb);
+                for (ib, wb) in &ps.w[a..] {
+                    let d = dot(wv[a], *wb);
+                    s[ia * n + ib] -= d;
+                    if ia != ib {
+                        s[ib * n + ia] -= d;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    };
+    let chunks = rayon::current_num_threads().clamp(1, 8);
+    if n <= 1200 && npts >= 64 && chunks > 1 {
+        let per = npts.div_ceil(chunks);
+        let parts: Vec<(Vec<f64>, Vec<f64>)> = (0..chunks)
+            .into_par_iter()
+            .map(|t| {
+                let (mut ds, mut dr) = (vec![0.0; n * n], vec![0.0; n]);
+                reduce(t * per..((t + 1) * per).min(npts), &mut ds, &mut dr);
+                (ds, dr)
+            })
+            .collect();
+        for (ds, dr) in parts {
+            s.par_iter_mut().zip(ds.par_iter()).for_each(|(x, y)| *x += y);
+            for (x, y) in rhs.iter_mut().zip(dr) {
+                *x += y;
+            }
+        }
+    } else {
+        reduce(0..npts, s, rhs);
+    }
+}
+
 /// Run Levenberg–Marquardt. `cams` and `pts` are updated in place.
 /// Invalid inputs or workspaces exceeding 256 MiB return an error before mutation.
 pub fn adjust(cams: &mut [BaCam], pts: &mut [V3], obs: &[BaObs], o: &BaOpts) -> Result<BaReport, SolveError> {
     validate(cams, pts, obs, o)?;
+    adjust_impl(cams, pts, obs, o, true)
+}
+
+fn adjust_impl(cams: &mut [BaCam], pts: &mut [V3], obs: &[BaObs], o: &BaOpts, allow_iterative: bool) -> Result<BaReport, SolveError> {
     let l = layout(cams.len(), o);
     let matrix_len = matrix_len(l.n, pts.len(), obs.len())?;
     let npts = pts.len();
@@ -341,11 +482,6 @@ pub fn adjust(cams: &mut [BaCam], pts: &mut [V3], obs: &[BaObs], o: &BaOpts) ->
         iters += 1;
         // ---- Normal equations (Gauss–Newton with IRLS weights).
         // Per point: V (3×3), bp (3), W entries (cam-side index → 3).
-        struct PtSys {
-            v: [[f64; 3]; 3],
-            bp: V3,
-            w: Vec<(usize, V3)>,
-        }
         let build_point = |j: usize, s_acc: &mut Vec<f64>, bc: &mut Vec<f64>| -> PtSys {
             let mut ps = PtSys { v: [[0.0; 3]; 3], bp: [0.0; 3], w: vec![] };
             let mut jc = CameraJacobian::new();
@@ -445,6 +581,10 @@ pub fn adjust(cams: &mut [BaCam], pts: &mut [V3], obs: &[BaObs], o: &BaOpts) ->
         let base_s = s_mat.clone();
         let base_bc = bc.clone();
         let mean_diag = ((0..n).map(|i| base_s[i * n + i]).sum::<f64>() / n.max(1) as f64).max(1e-12);
+        let schur_pairs = systems.iter().fold(0usize, |sum, ps| sum.saturating_add(ps.w.len().saturating_mul(ps.w.len().saturating_add(1)) / 2));
+        // Reserve the iterative solve for expensive long-track reductions; small systems
+        // retain the direct path and its rounding. Failed solves use the direct path too.
+        let mut use_iterative = allow_iterative && !o.fix_points && n >= 120 && schur_pairs > 4_000_000;
         // ---- Try steps with increasing damping.
         let mut accepted = false;
         for _try in 0..12 {
@@ -472,50 +612,26 @@ pub fn adjust(cams: &mut [BaCam], pts: &mut [V3], obs: &[BaObs], o: &BaOpts) ->
                     })
                     .collect()
             };
-            if !o.fix_points {
-                let reduce = |range: std::ops::Range<usize>, s: &mut [f64], rhs: &mut [f64]| {
-                    for j in range {
-                        let (Some(vi), ps) = (&vinv[j], &systems[j]) else { continue };
-                        let vb = mv(vi, ps.bp);
-                        let wv: Vec<V3> = ps.w.iter().map(|(_, w)| mv(vi, *w)).collect();
-                        for (a, (ia, wa)) in ps.w.iter().enumerate() {
-                            rhs[*ia] -= dot(*wa, vb);
-                            for (ib, wb) in &ps.w[a..] {
-                                let d = dot(wv[a], *wb);
-                                s[ia * n + ib] -= d;
-                                if ia != ib {
-                                    s[ib * n + ia] -= d;
-                                }
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
-                };
-                let chunks = rayon::current_num_threads().clamp(1, 8);
-                if n <= 1200 && npts >= 64 && chunks > 1 {
-                    let per = npts.div_ceil(chunks);
-                    let parts: Vec<(Vec<f64>, Vec<f64>)> = (0..chunks)
-                        .into_par_iter()
-                        .map(|t| {
-                            let (mut ds, mut dr) = (vec![0.0; matrix_len], vec![0.0; n]);
-                            reduce(t * per..((t + 1) * per).min(npts), &mut ds, &mut dr);
-                            (ds, dr)
-                        })
-                        .collect();
-                    for (ds, dr) in parts {
-                        s.par_iter_mut().zip(ds.par_iter()).for_each(|(x, y)| *x += y);
-                        for (x, y) in rhs.iter_mut().zip(dr) {
-                            *x += y;
-                        }
-                    }
-                } else {
-                    reduce(0..npts, &mut s, &mut rhs);
+            let iterative_step = if use_iterative { iterative_schur(&s, &rhs, &systems, &vinv, &l) } else { None };
+            if dbg && use_iterative {
+                eprintln!("ba iterative n={n} pairs={schur_pairs} solved={}", iterative_step.is_some());
+            }
+            if use_iterative && iterative_step.is_none() {
+                use_iterative = false;
+            }
+            let dc = if let Some(dc) = iterative_step {
+                dc
+            } else {
+                if !o.fix_points {
+                    reduce_points(&systems, &vinv, n, &mut s, &mut rhs);
                 }
-            }
-            let mut dc = rhs;
-            if n > 0 && !cholesky_solve(&mut s, n, &mut dc) {
-                lambda *= 10.0;
-                continue;
-            }
+                let mut dc = rhs;
+                if n > 0 && !cholesky_solve(&mut s, n, &mut dc) {
+                    lambda *= 10.0;
+                    continue;
+                }
+                dc
+            };
             // Apply.
             let mut nc: Vec<BaCam> = cams.to_vec();
             for (i, c) in nc.iter_mut().enumerate() {
@@ -593,6 +709,112 @@ pub fn adjust(cams: &mut [BaCam], pts: &mut [V3], obs: &[BaObs], o: &BaOpts) ->
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use crate::camtrack::geometry::Rng;
+    use crate::camtrack::linalg::{I3, log_rot, mt, norm};
+
+    #[test]
+    fn long_track_adjustment_matches_direct_reprojections_and_outliers() {
+        rayon::ThreadPoolBuilder::new().num_threads(1).build().unwrap().install(|| {
+            for (focal, fix_centers, distortion) in
+                [(FocalMode::Fixed, false, false), (FocalMode::Shared, false, true), (FocalMode::PerCamera(30.0), false, true), (FocalMode::Shared, true, true)]
+            {
+                let mut rng = Rng(71);
+                let mut noise = || (rng.next_u64() % 100_000) as f64 / 100_000.0 - 0.5;
+                let truth: Vec<V3> = (0..320).map(|_| [noise() * 8.0, noise() * 5.0, 10.0 + noise() * 5.0]).collect();
+                let true_cams: Vec<_> = (0..60)
+                    .map(|i| BaCam {
+                        pose: Pose {
+                            r: rodrigues([0.001 * i as f64, -0.003 * i as f64, 0.0]),
+                            c: if fix_centers { [0.0; 3] } else { [0.03 * i as f64, 0.01 * (i as f64).sin(), 0.0] },
+                        },
+                        f: if matches!(focal, FocalMode::PerCamera(_)) { 900.0 * (1.0 + 0.05 * (i as f64 * 0.07).sin()) } else { 900.0 },
+                        dist: if distortion { Distortion { k1: 0.015, k2: -0.005, radius: 1100.0 } } else { Distortion::NONE },
+                    })
+                    .collect();
+                let mut obs = Vec::new();
+                for (ci, c) in true_cams.iter().enumerate() {
+                    for (pi, p) in truth.iter().enumerate() {
+                        let mut uv = residual(c, *p, [0.0; 2]).unwrap();
+                        uv[0] += noise() * 0.05;
+                        uv[1] += noise() * 0.05;
+                        if (ci * truth.len() + pi).is_multiple_of(37) {
+                            uv[0] += 25.0;
+                            uv[1] -= 30.0;
+                        }
+                        obs.push(BaObs { cam: ci as u32, pt: pi as u32, uv });
+                    }
+                }
+                let mut cams = true_cams.clone();
+                for c in cams.iter_mut().skip(2) {
+                    c.pose.r = mm(&rodrigues([0.001, -0.001, 0.0005]), &c.pose.r);
+                    if !fix_centers {
+                        c.pose.c = add(c.pose.c, [0.002, -0.003, 0.001]);
+                    }
+                }
+                let mut pts: Vec<_> = truth.iter().map(|p| add(*p, [0.01, -0.01, 0.005])).collect();
+                let (mut direct_cams, mut direct_pts) = (cams.clone(), pts.clone());
+                let opts = BaOpts { focal, fix_centers, distortion, fixed: (0..60).map(|i| i < 2).collect(), max_iter: 10, ..Default::default() };
+                let report = adjust(&mut cams, &mut pts, &obs, &opts).unwrap();
+                let direct = adjust_impl(&mut direct_cams, &mut direct_pts, &obs, &opts, false).unwrap();
+                assert!((report.cost - direct.cost).abs() < 1e-5 * direct.cost.max(1.0));
+                for ob in &obs {
+                    let a = residual(&cams[ob.cam as usize], pts[ob.pt as usize], ob.uv).unwrap();
+                    let b = residual(&direct_cams[ob.cam as usize], direct_pts[ob.pt as usize], ob.uv).unwrap();
+                    assert!((a[0] - b[0]).hypot(a[1] - b[1]) < 0.001);
+                    assert_eq!(a[0].hypot(a[1]) <= 4.0, b[0].hypot(b[1]) <= 4.0);
+                }
+                for (a, b) in cams.iter().zip(direct_cams) {
+                    assert!(norm(sub(a.pose.c, b.pose.c)) < 0.001);
+                    assert!(norm(log_rot(&mm(&a.pose.r, &mt(&b.pose.r)))) < 1e-4);
+                    assert!((a.f - b.f).abs() < 1e-4 * b.f);
+                    assert!((a.dist.k1 - b.dist.k1).abs() < 1e-4 && (a.dist.k2 - b.dist.k2).abs() < 1e-4);
+                }
+            }
+        });
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn matrix_free_schur_matches_explicit_system_and_rejects_bad_preconditioner() {
+        let l = layout(20, &BaOpts::default());
+        let n = l.n;
+        let mut u = vec![0.0; n * n];
+        for i in 0..n {
+            u[i * n + i] = 10.0;
+        }
+        let systems: Vec<_> = (0..80)
+            .map(|j| PtSys {
+                v: I3,
+                bp: [0.01, -0.02, 0.03],
+                w: (0..n).map(|i| (i, [((j * 13 + i * 7) % 19) as f64 * 0.001 - 0.009, (i % 7) as f64 * 0.001, (j % 11) as f64 * 0.001])).collect(),
+            })
+            .collect();
+        let vinv = vec![Some(I3); systems.len()];
+        let rhs: Vec<_> = (0..n).map(|i| (i % 7) as f64 - 3.0).collect();
+        let x = iterative_schur(&u, &rhs, &systems, &vinv, &l).unwrap();
+        let mut explicit = u.clone();
+        let mut reduced_rhs = rhs.clone();
+        for ps in &systems {
+            for (i, a) in &ps.w {
+                reduced_rhs[*i] -= dot(*a, ps.bp);
+                for (j, b) in &ps.w {
+                    explicit[i * n + j] -= dot(*a, *b);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        let mut direct = reduced_rhs.clone();
+        let mut factor = explicit.clone();
+        assert!(cholesky_solve(&mut factor, n, &mut direct));
+        for (a, b) in x.iter().zip(direct) {
+            assert!((a - b).abs() < 1e-9);
+        }
+        let mut error2 = 0.0;
+        for (i, row) in explicit.chunks_exact(n).enumerate() {
+            let ax: f64 = row.iter().zip(&x).map(|(a, x)| a * x).sum();
+            error2 += (ax - reduced_rhs[i]).powi(2);
+        }
+        assert!(error2 < 1e-18 * reduced_rhs.iter().map(|v| v * v).sum::<f64>());
+        u[0] = -1.0;
+        assert!(iterative_schur(&u, &rhs, &systems, &vinv, &l).is_none());
+    }
 
     fn test_camera() -> BaCam {
         BaCam { pose: Pose::IDENTITY, f: 900.0, dist: Distortion::NONE }
diff --git a/crates/track/src/camtrack/linalg.rs b/crates/track/src/camtrack/linalg.rs
index 692eef34e..71e88e109 100644
--- a/crates/track/src/camtrack/linalg.rs
+++ b/crates/track/src/camtrack/linalg.rs
@@ -398,6 +398,60 @@ pub fn cholesky_solve(a: &mut [f64], n: usize, b: &mut [f64]) -> bool {
     b.iter().all(|v| v.is_finite())
 }
 
+/// Preconditioned conjugate gradients with an independently recomputed residual check.
+/// Failure to converge (or non-finite/non-positive curvature) requests the direct fallback.
+pub(crate) fn conjugate_gradient(rhs: &[f64], apply: impl Fn(&[f64], &mut [f64]), precondition: impl Fn(&[f64], &mut [f64])) -> Option<Vec<f64>> {
+    let n = rhs.len();
+    let norm2 = dot_n(rhs, rhs);
+    if !norm2.is_finite() {
+        return None;
+    }
+    if rhs.iter().all(|v| *v == 0.0) {
+        return Some(vec![0.0; n]);
+    }
+    let tolerance2 = norm2 * 1e-22;
+    if tolerance2 == 0.0 {
+        return None;
+    }
+    let mut x = vec![0.0; n];
+    let mut r = rhs.to_vec();
+    let mut z = vec![0.0; n];
+    let mut ap = vec![0.0; n];
+    precondition(&r, &mut z);
+    let mut p = z.clone();
+    let mut rz = dot_n(&r, &z);
+    for _ in 0..n.saturating_mul(2).min(512) {
+        if !rz.is_finite() || rz <= 0.0 {
+            return None;
+        }
+        apply(&p, &mut ap);
+        let curvature = dot_n(&p, &ap);
+        if !curvature.is_finite() || curvature <= 0.0 {
+            return None;
+        }
+        let alpha = rz / curvature;
+        for i in 0..n {
+            x[i] += alpha * p[i];
+            r[i] -= alpha * ap[i];
+        }
+        if dot_n(&r, &r) <= tolerance2 {
+            apply(&x, &mut ap);
+            for i in 0..n {
+                ap[i] = rhs[i] - ap[i];
+            }
+            return (x.iter().all(|v| v.is_finite()) && dot_n(&ap, &ap) <= 100.0 * tolerance2).then_some(x);
+        }
+        precondition(&r, &mut z);
+        let next_rz = dot_n(&r, &z);
+        let beta = next_rz / rz;
+        for i in 0..n {
+            p[i] = z[i] + beta * p[i];
+        }
+        rz = next_rz;
+    }
+    None
+}
+
 /// A similarity transform `x ↦ s R x + t`.
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize)]
 pub struct Similarity {
@@ -586,6 +640,30 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(cholesky_solve(&mut [], 0, &mut []));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn conjugate_gradient_checks_residual_and_bad_curvature() {
+        let n = 64;
+        let rhs: Vec<f64> = (0..n).map(|i| (i % 11) as f64 - 5.0).collect();
+        let apply = |x: &[f64], y: &mut [f64]| {
+            for i in 0..n {
+                y[i] = 4.0 * x[i] + if i > 0 { x[i - 1] } else { 0.0 } + if i + 1 < n { x[i + 1] } else { 0.0 };
+            }
+        };
+        let x = conjugate_gradient(&rhs, apply, |r, z| {
+            for (r, z) in r.iter().zip(z) {
+                *z = *r / 4.0;
+            }
+        })
+        .unwrap();
+        let mut product = vec![0.0; n];
+        apply(&x, &mut product);
+        let residual: f64 = rhs.iter().zip(product).map(|(b, ax)| (b - ax).powi(2)).sum();
+        assert!(residual < 1e-18 * dot_n(&rhs, &rhs));
+        assert!(conjugate_gradient(&[1.0], |x, y| y[0] = -x[0], |r, z| z.copy_from_slice(r)).is_none());
+        assert!(conjugate_gradient(&[f64::NAN], |_, _| {}, |_, _| {}).is_none());
+        assert_eq!(conjugate_gradient(&[0.0], |_, _| {}, |_, _| {}).unwrap(), vec![0.0]);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn svd_reconstructs() {
         let a = [3.0, 1.0, 2.0, -1.0, 4.0, 0.5, 2.0, 2.0, 7.0, 0.1, -3.0, 1.0];
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/effects.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/effects.rs
index 3a98ac40f..52c600711 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/effects.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/effects.rs
@@ -772,12 +772,13 @@ const JAPANESE_CATEGORIES: &[(&str, &str)] = &[
     ("Color Correction", "カラー補正"),
     ("Distort", "ディストーション"),
     ("Expression Controls", "式制御"),
+    ("Generate", "描画"),
     ("Immersive Video", "イマーシブビデオ"),
     ("Keying", "キーイング"),
     ("Matte", "マット"),
     ("Noise & Grain", "ノイズ＆グレイン"),
     ("Obsolete", "旧バージョン"),
-    ("Paint", "描画"),
+    ("Paint", "ペイント"),
     ("Perspective", "遠近"),
     ("Simulation", "シミュレーション"),
     ("Stylize", "スタイライズ"),
@@ -1283,3 +1284,21 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(!matches("ec.blur.gaussian", "Gaussian Blur", "高斯"));
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod japanese_category_tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use std::collections::HashMap;
+
+    /// Two categories drawing the same Japanese name would make the Effect menu show one name twice and
+    /// leave the user unable to tell them apart. `描画` was both `Generate` and `Paint` before #2583.
+    #[test]
+    fn no_two_categories_share_a_japanese_name() {
+        let mut seen: HashMap<&str, &str> = HashMap::new();
+        for (english, japanese) in JAPANESE_CATEGORIES {
+            if let Some(other) = seen.insert(japanese, english) {
+                panic!("`{english}` and `{other}` both draw as `{japanese}`");
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/ui_text_edit.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/ui_text_edit.rs
index 84a218466..9f298ec19 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/ui_text_edit.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/ui_text_edit.rs
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ fn type_tool_click_type_edit_and_commit() {
 /// #831: clicking another panel (a solid's row in the Timeline) ends text editing and gives the
 /// keyboard back, whether the edit began with the Type tool (which stays selected) or by command:
 /// typed characters change no text and Space plays. The Character panel keeps the edit, and a
-/// text layer clicked into being and left empty goes away.
+/// text layer clicked into being and left empty stays, as it does in After Effects.
 #[test]
 fn clicking_another_panel_stops_typing_into_text() {
     for type_tool in [false, true] {
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ fn clicking_another_panel_stops_typing_into_text() {
             assert_eq!(layers(&h), 3, "the Type tool started a text layer");
             let at_row = row(&h);
             click(&mut h, at_row, Modifiers::NONE);
-            assert_eq!(layers(&h), 2, "left empty, it is removed");
+            assert_eq!(layers(&h), 3, "left empty, it stays, as in After Effects");
             click(&mut h, at, Modifiers::NONE);
         } else {
             h.state_mut().session.execute("text.edit", json!({"layer": title})).unwrap();
diff --git a/docs/agents.md b/docs/agents.md
index 581727385..172e5c4c6 100644
--- a/docs/agents.md
+++ b/docs/agents.md
@@ -272,10 +272,10 @@ build real projects through these interfaces; they are worked examples of everyt
   then `keys.velocity {"outSpeed":0,"outInfluence":33.33}`.
 * **Gradients**: `set_property {"path":"contents/gfill/colors","value":["#0080ff","#ffff00"]}` or
   `{"colors":[[0,"#0080ff"],[1,[1,1,0]]],"opacities":[[0,1],[1,0.5]]}`.
-* **Image sequences**: `file.import {"paths":["/r/shot_0001.png"]}` imports the file's whole
-  numbered run as one item (several picked frames: that range; a folder: each run in it;
-  `"sequence": false`: one still; dropped files, `"drag": true`, import as stills unless
-  `"sequence": true`, as in After Effects; `"alphabetical": true`: Force Alphabetical Order, the files
+* **Image sequences**: `file.import {"paths":["/r/shot_0001.png"], "sequence": true}` imports the
+  file's whole numbered run as one item (several picked frames: that range; a folder: each run in
+  it, also without `sequence`). Without `"sequence": true` a picked or dropped numbered file imports
+  as one still, as in After Effects; `"alphabetical": true`: Force Alphabetical Order, the files
   play one after another) at `frameRate` or 30 fps (Settings ▸ Import). Missing frames show
   colour bars, as in After Effects. `file.interpretFootage {"items":[id], "frameRate":12,
   "startTimecode":1001}` conforms them and sets Override Start (the item and layers that ran to its end get the new
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ indices): character attributes
 3. `layer.setText {"range":[6,11], "size":40, "fill":"#ff5500"}` styles the selection (the
    Character panel does the same); with an empty range it sets the style the next typed text takes.
 4. `edit.copy`, `edit.paste`, `edit.pasteTextMatchFormatting` and `edit.pasteTextFormattingOnly`
-   work on the selected text; `text.endEdit` commits (an empty Type-tool layer is removed).
+   work on the selected text; `text.endEdit` commits (an empty Type-tool layer is kept, as After Effects does).
 
 Fonts: `text.fonts` (MCP `list_fonts`) lists every family a text layer can use, bundled and installed, with its
 styles, origin (`bundled`, `system`, `user`), `variable` (it has variation axes) and own-language name
diff --git a/docs/fidelity/README.md b/docs/fidelity/README.md
index fc780016b..0398118c5 100644
--- a/docs/fidelity/README.md
+++ b/docs/fidelity/README.md
@@ -71,6 +71,45 @@ After the fix, all ten tangents equal AE's to the printed 0.001 px, and the two
 test `spatial_auto_bezier_tangents_follow_after_effects` checks the rule on other original keys,
 including a timing change. AE's output stays local; only the script and these scores are tracked.
 
+## Justify All with the every-line composer
+
+Measured on 19 October 2026 with After Effects 2026 (26.2) on box text (EXPORTER read-back t6):
+with Justify All, AE stretches the paragraph's last line too and breaks the lines so that it is not
+a lone word (4 / 4 / 4 words where the other justifications break 6 / 6 / 1). EffectCraft's
+every-line composer ignored the last line's slack and left "twelve" alone on a stretched line; it now
+counts that slack for Justify All, and every word starts within 1 px of AE's. Regression test:
+`justify_all_balances_the_lines_with_the_every_line_composer`.
+
+## Right-to-left point text with a justified paragraph
+
+Measured on 19 October 2026 with After Effects 2026 (26.2) (EXPORTER read-back t7): right-to-left
+point text whose paragraph has a justified code (justify last left / centre / right, justify all)
+sits flush right at its anchor, like right-aligned text. EffectCraft placed it by the last-line
+side (left / centre / left). Now flush right; left-to-right point text is unchanged (not measured).
+Regression test: `rtl_point_text_with_a_justified_paragraph_is_flush_at_its_start`. Still open:
+AE wraps right-to-left box text slightly wider (its word gaps are 1–2 px narrower than in
+left-to-right text with the same font), so a 300 px box fits a word more per line.
+
+## Text animator tracking
+
+Measured on 19 October 2026 with After Effects 2026 (26.2): a text animator's Tracking Amount is in
+pixels, not 1/1000 em like the Character panel's tracking (Amount 30 adds 30 px between neighbouring
+characters at 80 px and at 40 px, half before and half after each), and a Subtract range selector
+over characters the first selector leaves out keeps them at 0 instead of tracking them negatively.
+With both, the EXPORTER's t8 layer D (Tracking 30 on characters 2–4 by index, a Subtract selector
+over the last 20 %) puts every glyph where AE does (it ended 88 px short). The "Tracking In" text
+preset now animates 40 → 0 px (was 400 → 0 thousandths of an em). Lottie export is unchanged (not
+checked against a player). Regression tests: `animator_tracking_is_in_pixels_as_in_after_effects`,
+`modes_combine`.
+
+## Per-character 3D rotation order
+
+Measured on 19 October 2026 with After Effects 2026 (26.2) (case 931: "H" at 400 px, per-character
+3D, animator X / Y / Z Rotation 40 / 30 / 20): a character turns as a 3D layer does, Rx · Ry · Rz
+(Z first). EffectCraft composed Rz · Ry · Rx, so the glyph faced another way (23 of 5184 grid points
+off, max 255); now 3 at the anti-aliased edge (mean 0.015). Regression test:
+`per_character_rotation_turns_z_first_as_a_3d_layer`.
+
 ## Rectangle path start point
 
 Measured on 19 October 2026 with After Effects 2026 (26.2) on 400 × 300 shape rectangles with Trim
diff --git a/docs/preferences.md b/docs/preferences.md
index ce96da0bf..2402b9a32 100644
--- a/docs/preferences.md
+++ b/docs/preferences.md
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ Commands (CLI, MCP, control channel):
 - `startup.windowGraphics`: Window Graphics (`auto` / `gl`), what the desktop window draws with from the next launch. `auto` lets the platform pick (DirectX 12, Vulkan or Metal); `gl` uses OpenGL, with CPU compositing, for graphics drivers that crash with the others. A launch leaves a `launch-pending` marker in the settings folder until its window has been drawing for a few seconds (or the app quits normally before that); a launch that stops earlier (a graphics driver crashing as the window opens or as its surface is re-created) leaves the marker behind, and the next launch switches to `gl` and says so (not on macOS, which has no OpenGL backend). `WGPU_BACKEND` overrides both.
 - `project.useTemplate`: New Project Loads Template
 - `project.templatePath`: Template Project
+- `project.compactProjectFiles`: Save Compact Project Files (default off). Off: File ▸ Save writes `.ecproj` files as indented JSON, one value per line, easy to read and diff in version control. On: compact JSON on one line, smaller and faster to save and open. Either opens the same; auto-saves, XML copies and template packages are not affected.
 - `autoSave.enabled`: Automatically Save Projects
 - `autoSave.intervalMinutes`: Save Every
 - `autoSave.maxVersions`: Maximum Project Versions
diff --git a/docs/web.md b/docs/web.md
index c18f7e869..1cdecab00 100644
--- a/docs/web.md
+++ b/docs/web.md
@@ -242,6 +242,25 @@ Window ▸ Media Browser browses a virtual tree (`src/browse.rs`):
 
 `mediaBrowser.list` reports the places and these actions; `mediaBrowser.action {action}` runs one.
 
+### Startup project
+
+By default the page opens the last visit's project, and the demo project on a first visit. A
+`startup` key in `effectcraft-config.json` (next to `index.html`) changes that:
+
+```json
+{"startup":"empty"}
+```
+
+| Value | On load |
+|---|---|
+| `"last"` (or no key) | the last visit's project; the demo project on a first visit |
+| `"empty"` | the last visit's project; a blank project on a first visit, never the demo |
+| `"demo"` | the demo project, whatever the last visit left; the session is not saved, so the last visit's project stays as it was |
+
+The `?empty` and `?demo` URL flags still win. A missing, invalid or non-JSON file, or an unknown
+value, is the default. The file is fetched once per page load; serve it with
+`Cache-Control: no-cache` (the service worker never caches it).
+
 ### Audio
 
 Audio preview goes through **Web Audio**: an AudioWorklet (`audio-worklet.js`; a
diff --git a/extensions/scriptui-panels/Ease Presets.jsx b/extensions/scriptui-panels/Ease Presets.jsx
index 6f6eadae5..9f4ea2185 100644
--- a/extensions/scriptui-panels/Ease Presets.jsx	
+++ b/extensions/scriptui-panels/Ease Presets.jsx	
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
 // segment on that side. So a selected pair gets the whole curve, and a single key works too.
 // Roving keys are skipped: they pass speed straight through (their sides stay linear), so an ease
 // set on them wouldn't play.
+// The built-in Linear preset uses Linear interpolation, including on unused endpoint sides
+// so a fully linear key has a diamond icon; the other presets use Bezier.
 //
 // User presets are kept with app.settings (section "Ease Presets", key "userPresets") as JSON:
 // {"version": 1, "presets": [{"name": …, "curve": {"outInfluence", "outSpeed", "inInfluence",
@@ -29,6 +31,7 @@
   var MAX_NAME = 64;
   var MIN_INFLUENCE = 0.1;
   var MAX_SPEED = 100;
+  var LINEAR = KeyframeInterpolationType.LINEAR;
   var BEZIER = KeyframeInterpolationType.BEZIER;
   var HOLD = KeyframeInterpolationType.HOLD;
 
@@ -178,16 +181,16 @@
 
   // Ease one side of key `k` with `eases`, leaving its other side as it plays (auto-Bezier and
   // linear sides keep their shape; a continuous key stops being continuous, its sides now differ).
-  function easeSide(p, k, out, eases) {
+  function easeSide(p, k, out, eases, interpolation) {
     var inType = p.keyInInterpolationType(k), outType = p.keyOutInterpolationType(k);
     var inEase = p.keyInTemporalEase(k), outEase = p.keyOutTemporalEase(k);
     if (p.keyTemporalContinuous(k)) p.setTemporalContinuousAtKey(k, false);
     if (out) {
       p.setTemporalEaseAtKey(k, inEase, eases);
-      p.setInterpolationTypeAtKey(k, inType, BEZIER);
+      p.setInterpolationTypeAtKey(k, inType, interpolation);
     } else {
       p.setTemporalEaseAtKey(k, eases, outEase);
-      p.setInterpolationTypeAtKey(k, BEZIER, outType);
+      p.setInterpolationTypeAtKey(k, interpolation, outType);
     }
   }
 
@@ -201,7 +204,7 @@
   // Ease the sides `mode` names ("In", "Out" or "In-Out") of every selected keyframe with `c`, in
   // one undo step: a side with a neighbouring key, scaled to the segment on that side. Returns
   // {eased, roving}: the number of keyframes eased, and of selected roving keyframes skipped.
-  function applyCurve(c, mode) {
+  function applyCurve(c, mode, interpolation) {
     var keyed = selectedKeyed(), sides = [], keys = 0, roving = 0;
     var doIn = mode !== "Out", doOut = mode !== "In";
     // Every side and its eases first: the segments are measured before any key changes.
@@ -214,16 +217,16 @@
           continue;
         }
         var s = doIn && k > 1 ? slopes(p, k - 1) : null;
-        if (s) sides.push({ prop: p, key: k, out: false, eases: eases(s, c.inSpeed, c.inInfluence) });
+        if (s || (doIn && interpolation === LINEAR)) sides.push({ prop: p, key: k, out: false, eases: s ? eases(s, c.inSpeed, c.inInfluence) : p.keyInTemporalEase(k) });
         s = doOut && k < p.numKeys ? slopes(p, k) : null;
-        if (s) sides.push({ prop: p, key: k, out: true, eases: eases(s, c.outSpeed, c.outInfluence) });
+        if (s || (doOut && interpolation === LINEAR)) sides.push({ prop: p, key: k, out: true, eases: s ? eases(s, c.outSpeed, c.outInfluence) : p.keyOutTemporalEase(k) });
         if (sides.length > before) keys++;
       }
     }
     if (!sides.length) return { eased: 0, roving: roving };
     app.beginUndoGroup("Apply Ease Preset");
     try {
-      for (var e = 0; e < sides.length; e++) easeSide(sides[e].prop, sides[e].key, sides[e].out, sides[e].eases);
+      for (var e = 0; e < sides.length; e++) easeSide(sides[e].prop, sides[e].key, sides[e].out, sides[e].eases, interpolation);
     } finally {
       app.endUndoGroup();
     }
@@ -384,7 +387,10 @@
 
   function apply(c, what) {
     var m = mode.selection ? mode.selection.text : "In-Out";
-    var r = applyCurve(c, m), n = r.eased;
+    // Linear is an interpolation type too, so its keys get diamond icons. Edited speeds
+    // make a custom Bezier curve even while Linear remains selected in the list.
+    var interpolation = list.selection && list.selection.text === "Linear" && c.outSpeed === 1 && c.inSpeed === 1 ? LINEAR : BEZIER;
+    var r = applyCurve(c, m, interpolation), n = r.eased;
     var side = m === "In" ? "before it" : m === "Out" ? "after it" : "next to it";
     var skipped = r.roving > 0 ? "skipped " + r.roving + " roving keyframe(s); turn off Roving to ease them" : "";
     if (n > 0) status.text = "Eased " + n + " keyframe(s) (" + m + ") with " + what + (skipped ? "; " + skipped : "");
diff --git a/packaging/web/README.md b/packaging/web/README.md
index 0a1f56fe8..672d9ad67 100644
--- a/packaging/web/README.md
+++ b/packaging/web/README.md
@@ -58,6 +58,19 @@ location /effectcraft/ {
 
 Local test: `python3 -m http.server 8765` inside the folder, then open http://localhost:8765/.
 
+## Startup project (optional)
+
+To choose what the page opens on load, add an `effectcraft-config.json` next to `index.html`:
+
+```json
+{"startup":"empty"}
+```
+
+`"empty"` restores the last visit's project and otherwise starts blank (never the demo); `"demo"`
+always opens the demo project without saving the session (the last visit's project stays); `"last"` (the default) restores the last visit's project and shows
+the demo on a first visit. Serve the file with `Cache-Control: no-cache`. Details:
+[docs/web.md](https://github.com/storytold/effectcraft/blob/main/docs/web.md#startup-project).
+
 ## Embedding in a page (iframe)
 
 ```html
diff --git a/packaging/web/_headers b/packaging/web/_headers
index 013e1cf8a..e59592fb1 100644
--- a/packaging/web/_headers
+++ b/packaging/web/_headers
@@ -12,3 +12,6 @@
 
 /index.html
   Cache-Control: no-cache
+
+/effectcraft-config.json
+  Cache-Control: no-cache
diff --git a/xtask/Cargo.toml b/xtask/Cargo.toml
index afc767de2..0f8072840 100644
--- a/xtask/Cargo.toml
+++ b/xtask/Cargo.toml
@@ -13,3 +13,4 @@ serde_json = { workspace = true }
 
 chrono = { workspace = true }
 tempfile = "3"
+pkg-config = "0.3"
diff --git a/xtask/src/main.rs b/xtask/src/main.rs
index da8026d78..ad03cada7 100644
--- a/xtask/src/main.rs
+++ b/xtask/src/main.rs
@@ -407,6 +407,62 @@ fn serve_dir(dir: &std::path::Path, port: u16) -> Result<(), String> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+/// The guidance printed when the ALSA pkg-config package is missing. Split out so the tests can
+/// check the package names without needing a machine that is actually missing them.
+#[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+fn audio_backend_missing_hint(pkg_config_stderr: Option<&str>) -> String {
+    let mut hint = String::from(
+        "Linux audio needs the ALSA development package, and pkg-config cannot find it.\n\
+         The desktop app plays preview sound through cpal, whose alsa-sys dependency asks\n\
+         pkg-config for `alsa`; without the package the build dies minutes later with an\n\
+         unrelated-looking linker error.\n\
+         \n\
+         Fedora:         sudo dnf install alsa-lib-devel\n\
+         Debian/Ubuntu:  sudo apt install libasound2-dev\n\
+         Arch:           sudo pacman -S alsa-lib\n\
+         \n\
+         Install one of those and run `cargo xtask ci` again. If you cannot install it, point\n\
+         PKG_CONFIG_PATH at a directory holding an `alsa.pc` whose Libs line names your system's\n\
+         libasound (usually `libasound.so.2`); every CI run will need that variable set.",
+    );
+    if let Some(stderr) = pkg_config_stderr {
+        hint.push_str("\n\npkg-config said: ");
+        hint.push_str(stderr);
+    }
+    hint
+}
+
+/// `cargo xtask ci` builds the desktop app on the host, so on Linux it needs a usable ALSA
+/// pkg-config package before the build dies minutes later at link time. The probe goes through
+/// the same `pkg-config` crate alsa-sys's build script uses, so the executable and search-path
+/// lookup match by construction: `PKG_CONFIG` and its target-scoped variants, then `pkg-config`
+/// on `PATH` with a `pkgconf` fallback, plus the scoped `PKG_CONFIG_PATH`/`LIBDIR`/`SYSROOT_DIR`.
+/// A probe that ran and said no is "ALSA missing"; one that could not run is reported separately,
+/// so a machine with only `pkgconf` does not fail a build that would succeed.
+#[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+fn audio_backend() -> Result<(), String> {
+    // cargo_metadata off: xtask is not a build script, so the crate's rerun-if-env lines would
+    // only clutter the ci log.
+    match pkg_config::Config::new().cargo_metadata(false).probe("alsa") {
+        Ok(_) => Ok(()),
+        Err(pkg_config::Error::ProbeFailure { output, .. }) | Err(pkg_config::Error::Failure { output, .. }) => {
+            let stderr = String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stderr);
+            let stderr = stderr.trim();
+            Err(audio_backend_missing_hint((!stderr.is_empty()).then_some(stderr)))
+        }
+        Err(e) => Err(format!(
+            "The pkg-config probe for `alsa` could not be run: {e}. Install pkg-config (or pkgconf), \
+             or point PKG_CONFIG at a working one — it is the same lookup alsa-sys's pkg-config \
+             dependency performs."
+        )),
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(not(target_os = "linux"))]
+fn audio_backend() -> Result<(), String> {
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 /// Lib, bin and integration tests (examples aren't linked; clippy checked them), then doctests,
 /// which nextest doesn't run.
 ///
@@ -438,7 +494,8 @@ type Stage = fn() -> Result<(), String>;
 
 /// Every stage runs even when an earlier one fails, so one run reports all the problems.
 fn ci() -> Result<(), String> {
-    let stages: [(&str, Stage); 7] = [
+    let stages: [(&str, Stage); 8] = [
+        ("audio backend", audio_backend),
         ("fmt", || run(Command::new(env!("CARGO")).args(["fmt", "--check"]))),
         ("clippy", || run(Command::new(env!("CARGO")).args(["clippy", "--workspace", "--all-targets", "--", "-D", "warnings"]))),
         ("tests", tests),
@@ -459,6 +516,7 @@ fn main() -> ExitCode {
         "assets" => assets(),
         "pdf-deps" => pdf_deps::run(&root()),
         "ci" => ci(),
+        "audio-backend" => audio_backend(),
         "web" => web(&std::env::args().skip(2).collect::<Vec<_>>()),
         "bench" => bench::run(&root(), &std::env::args().skip(2).collect::<Vec<_>>()),
         "ico" => {
@@ -469,7 +527,7 @@ fn main() -> ExitCode {
             let rest: Vec<String> = std::env::args().skip(2).collect();
             version::run(&root(), &rest.iter().map(String::as_str).collect::<Vec<_>>())
         }
-        _ => Err("usage: cargo xtask <layers|assets|pdf-deps|wasm|web [--dev] [--serve PORT]|ico OUT.ico IN.png…|version [set X.Y.Z]|ci|bench [--bin CLI] [--quick] [--project F --comp C] [--compare OLD.jsonl] (--help)>".into()),
+        _ => Err("usage: cargo xtask <layers|assets|pdf-deps|wasm|web [--dev] [--serve PORT]|ico OUT.ico IN.png…|version [set X.Y.Z]|ci|audio-backend|bench [--bin CLI] [--quick] [--project F --comp C] [--compare OLD.jsonl] (--help)>".into()),
     };
     match r {
         Ok(()) => ExitCode::SUCCESS,
@@ -484,3 +542,22 @@ fn main() -> ExitCode {
 pub fn root() -> std::path::PathBuf {
     std::path::Path::new(env!("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR")).parent().expect("xtask has a parent dir").to_path_buf()
 }
+
+#[cfg(all(test, target_os = "linux"))]
+mod tests {
+    use super::audio_backend_missing_hint;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn alsa_missing_names_the_package_for_each_distro() {
+        let e = audio_backend_missing_hint(None);
+        for want in ["alsa-lib-devel", "libasound2-dev", "alsa-lib", "pkg-config", "PKG_CONFIG_PATH"] {
+            assert!(e.contains(want), "hint lost `{want}`:\n{e}");
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn alsa_missing_appends_pkg_config_s_own_detail() {
+        let e = audio_backend_missing_hint(Some("Package 'alsa' not found"));
+        assert!(e.contains("pkg-config said: Package 'alsa' not found"), "detail lost:\n{e}");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/xtask/tests/it/audio_probe.rs b/xtask/tests/it/audio_probe.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d984c7637
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xtask/tests/it/audio_probe.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+//! The Linux audio-backend preflight against fake pkg-config tools.
+//!
+//! The probe resolves its executable through the pkg-config crate, which reads the environment,
+//! so the fake-tool scenarios run the real `xtask audio-backend` binary in a child process with a
+//! controlled environment: `Command::env` changes only the child's environment, so the tests need
+//! no global env mutation and stay parallel-safe.
+
+use std::ffi::OsStr;
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::process::{Command, Output};
+
+/// A scratch directory holding the fake tools for one scenario: `dir` is the child's `PATH`,
+/// `off_path` holds executables reachable only by an explicit `*_PKG_CONFIG` override.
+struct FakeTools {
+    dir: PathBuf,
+    off_path: PathBuf,
+}
+
+impl FakeTools {
+    fn new(tag: &str) -> Self {
+        let base = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!("effectcraft-xtask-audio-{tag}-{}", std::process::id()));
+        let dir = base.join("bin");
+        let off_path = base.join("off-path");
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).expect("create PATH dir");
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&off_path).expect("create off-PATH dir");
+        Self { dir, off_path }
+    }
+
+    /// Write a plain (not executable) file.
+    fn file(&self, on_path: bool, name: &str, body: &str) -> PathBuf {
+        let path = if on_path { self.dir.clone() } else { self.off_path.clone() }.join(name);
+        std::fs::write(&path, body).expect("write fake tool");
+        path
+    }
+
+    /// Write an executable shell script.
+    fn script(&self, on_path: bool, name: &str, body: &str) -> PathBuf {
+        use std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt;
+        let path = self.file(on_path, name, body);
+        std::fs::set_permissions(&path, std::fs::Permissions::from_mode(0o755)).expect("chmod fake tool");
+        path
+    }
+
+    /// A fake `pkgconf` that answers as alsa 1.2.11 linking -lasound.
+    fn working_pkgconf(&self, on_path: bool) -> PathBuf {
+        self.script(on_path, "pkgconf", "#!/bin/sh\ncase \" $* \" in\n  *\" --modversion \"*) echo 1.2.11 ;;\n  *) echo -lasound ;;\nesac\n")
+    }
+}
+
+impl Drop for FakeTools {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(&self.dir);
+        let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(&self.off_path);
+    }
+}
+
+/// Run the built `xtask audio-backend` with `dir` as the only `PATH`, the given variables set,
+/// and every variable the probe reads otherwise cleared, so a developer's own environment
+/// cannot leak into the scenario.
+fn run_audio_backend(tools: &FakeTools, set: &[(&str, &OsStr)]) -> Output {
+    Command::new(env!("CARGO_BIN_EXE_xtask"))
+        .arg("audio-backend")
+        .env("PATH", &tools.dir)
+        .env_remove("PKG_CONFIG")
+        .env_remove("PKG_CONFIG_PATH")
+        .env_remove("PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR")
+        .env_remove("PKG_CONFIG_SYSROOT_DIR")
+        .env_remove("PKG_CONFIG_ALLOW_CROSS")
+        .env_remove("ALSA_NO_PKG_CONFIG")
+        .env_remove("HOST_PKG_CONFIG")
+        .env_remove("TARGET_PKG_CONFIG")
+        .env_remove("HOST")
+        .env_remove("TARGET")
+        .envs(set.iter().copied())
+        .output()
+        .expect("run xtask audio-backend")
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn a_host_with_only_pkgconf_still_finds_alsa() {
+    // The reviewed case: PKG_CONFIG unset, no pkg-config on PATH, only pkgconf. The pkg-config
+    // crate alsa-sys uses falls back to pkgconf, so the stage must stay green.
+    let tools = FakeTools::new("pkgconf-only");
+    tools.working_pkgconf(true);
+    let out = run_audio_backend(&tools, &[]);
+    assert!(out.status.success(), "pkgconf-only host must pass:\n{}", String::from_utf8_lossy(&out.stderr));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn a_probe_that_runs_and_says_no_names_the_package() {
+    let tools = FakeTools::new("says-no");
+    tools.script(true, "pkg-config", "#!/bin/sh\necho 'Package alsa was not found' >&2\nexit 1\n");
+    let out = run_audio_backend(&tools, &[]);
+    assert!(!out.status.success());
+    let stderr = String::from_utf8_lossy(&out.stderr);
+    for want in ["alsa-lib-devel", "libasound2-dev", "alsa-lib", "pkg-config"] {
+        assert!(stderr.contains(want), "hint lost `{want}`:\n{stderr}");
+    }
+    assert!(stderr.contains("not found"), "pkg-config's own detail should be appended:\n{stderr}");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn a_probe_that_cannot_run_is_not_alsa_missing() {
+    // PKG_CONFIG names a file that is not an executable; with PKG_CONFIG set the crate does not
+    // fall back to pkgconf, so the lookup fails to launch — reported separately from "missing".
+    let tools = FakeTools::new("cannot-run");
+    let broken = tools.file(true, "not-an-executable", "this is not a program\n");
+    let out = run_audio_backend(&tools, &[("PKG_CONFIG", broken.as_os_str())]);
+    assert!(!out.status.success());
+    let stderr = String::from_utf8_lossy(&out.stderr);
+    assert!(stderr.contains("could not"), "expected the launch-failure error:\n{stderr}");
+    assert!(!stderr.contains("alsa-lib-devel"), "must not read as ALSA missing:\n{stderr}");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn a_host_scoped_override_selects_that_executable() {
+    // With TARGET and HOST set (build-script style), HOST_PKG_CONFIG wins over the PATH lookup,
+    // and here it is the only working tool — so success proves the override was used.
+    let tools = FakeTools::new("scoped");
+    let good = tools.working_pkgconf(false);
+    let out = run_audio_backend(
+        &tools,
+        &[("HOST", OsStr::new("x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu")), ("TARGET", OsStr::new("x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu")), ("HOST_PKG_CONFIG", good.as_os_str())],
+    );
+    assert!(out.status.success(), "HOST_PKG_CONFIG override must be honored:\n{}", String::from_utf8_lossy(&out.stderr));
+}
diff --git a/xtask/tests/it/main.rs b/xtask/tests/it/main.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f2c41c738
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xtask/tests/it/main.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+//! xtask's integration tests: one binary, modules in `tests/it/`.
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+mod audio_probe;