diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 1509d171..70fa5a61 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1167,7 +1167,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "cpal",
  "effectcraft-engine",
@@ -1192,7 +1192,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-automation"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "effectcraft-engine",
  "effectcraft-host",
@@ -1204,14 +1204,14 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-av1enc"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "filmcraft-av1",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-cli"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "cpu-time",
  "effectcraft-automation",
@@ -1227,7 +1227,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-color"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "proptest",
  "serde",
@@ -1235,7 +1235,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-effects"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "chrono",
  "effectcraft-color",
@@ -1253,7 +1253,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-engine"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "chrono",
  "craft-docpath",
@@ -1288,7 +1288,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-export"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "effectcraft-av1enc",
  "effectcraft-color",
@@ -1318,7 +1318,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-expr"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "boa_engine",
  "effectcraft-color",
@@ -1335,7 +1335,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-geom"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "proptest",
  "serde",
@@ -1343,7 +1343,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-gpu"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "bytemuck",
  "effectcraft-color",
@@ -1365,14 +1365,14 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-hevcenc"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "filmcraft-hevc",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-host"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "effectcraft-engine",
  "effectcraft-export",
@@ -1397,7 +1397,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-interchange"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "effectcraft-color",
  "effectcraft-keyframe",
@@ -1416,7 +1416,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-keyframe"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "effectcraft-color",
  "effectcraft-geom",
@@ -1428,7 +1428,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-lottie"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "craft-docpath",
  "effectcraft-color",
@@ -1446,7 +1446,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-media"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "craft-docpath",
  "effectcraft-model",
@@ -1475,7 +1475,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-model"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "effectcraft-geom",
  "image",
@@ -1487,14 +1487,14 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-opusenc"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "filmcraft-opus",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-path"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "effectcraft-geom",
  "effectcraft-keyframe",
@@ -1506,7 +1506,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-pdf"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "craft-pdf",
  "effectcraft-raster",
@@ -1522,7 +1522,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-plugin"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "effectcraft-effects",
  "effectcraft-keyframe",
@@ -1534,7 +1534,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-project"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "effectcraft-color",
  "effectcraft-geom",
@@ -1547,14 +1547,14 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-psd"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "miniz_oxide 0.8.9",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-raster"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "effectcraft-color",
  "effectcraft-geom",
@@ -1563,7 +1563,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-render"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "effectcraft-color",
  "effectcraft-effects",
@@ -1585,7 +1585,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-script"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "boa_engine",
  "effectcraft-engine",
@@ -1603,7 +1603,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-segment"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "miniz_oxide 0.8.9",
  "ndarray",
@@ -1612,7 +1612,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-svg"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "effectcraft-geom",
  "effectcraft-path",
@@ -1624,7 +1624,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-text"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "effectcraft-keyframe",
  "harfrust",
@@ -1636,7 +1636,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-time"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "proptest",
  "serde",
@@ -1644,7 +1644,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-track"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "effectcraft-raster",
  "effectcraft-segment",
@@ -1656,7 +1656,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-ui-egui"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "chrono",
  "craft-ui",
@@ -1689,11 +1689,11 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-vp9enc"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "effectcraft-web"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "effectcraft-engine",
  "effectcraft-export",
@@ -6663,7 +6663,7 @@ checksum = "e450f9b2ed1dff33c94c12589a87338689467b9c4f5d8a5710bd09a847d2c8a7"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "xtask"
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "chrono",
  "serde_json",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 2f404968..598a156a 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ members = ["crates/*", "apps/*", "xtask"]
 default-members = ["crates/*", "apps/*"]
 
 [workspace.package]
-version = "0.16.0"
+version = "0.17.0"
 edition = "2024"
 license = "MIT OR Apache-2.0"
 rust-version = "1.95"
diff --git a/apps/effectcraft/src/main.rs b/apps/effectcraft/src/main.rs
index ead52c09..ccd46951 100644
--- a/apps/effectcraft/src/main.rs
+++ b/apps/effectcraft/src/main.rs
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@ fn install_file_dialogs(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context) {
     let _ = (app, ctx);
 }
 
-/// Run the desktop app: parse arguments (`--version` exits before any file is written), install logging and the panic
-/// hook, attach the session log, scan fonts, honor the launch guard's backend choice and open the eframe window.
+/// Run a normal desktop launch: install logging and the panic hook, parse arguments (`--version` exits before the
+/// session log is attached), scan fonts, honor the launch guard's backend choice and open the eframe window.
 /// Builds the session, loads settings, plugins, the requested project/media and the optional control server, then
 /// reports startup failure through `startup_failed`. Returns the event loop's result.
 fn main() -> eframe::Result {