diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/create.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/create.rs
index dedd1e49..84fa419a 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/create.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/create.rs
@@ -167,24 +167,30 @@ pub fn parse_path_data(d: &str) -> Option<figcraft_geom::BezPath> {
 }
 
 /// How much a vector's path is scaled to take the size asked for: with both sides, each scales
-/// independently (as resizing a vector does); with one, the other keeps its proportion.
-fn vector_scale(width: Option<f64>, height: Option<f64>, bw: f64, bh: f64) -> (f64, f64) {
-    let fit = |asked: Option<f64>, have: f64| match asked {
-        Some(a) if have > 1e-9 => a.max(0.0) / have,
-        _ => 1.0,
+/// independently (as resizing a vector does); with one, the other keeps its proportion. A size
+/// asked for on an axis the geometry has none of is an error, not silently ignored.
+fn vector_scale(width: Option<f64>, height: Option<f64>, bw: f64, bh: f64, what: &str) -> std::result::Result<(f64, f64), String> {
+    let fit = |asked: Option<f64>, have: f64, axis: &str| match asked {
+        Some(a) if have > 1e-9 => Ok(a.max(0.0) / have),
+        Some(_) => Err(format!("`{axis}` can't size {what} with no {} extent", if axis == "width" { "horizontal" } else { "vertical" })),
+        None => Ok(1.0),
     };
-    match (width, height) {
-        (Some(_), Some(_)) => (fit(width, bw), fit(height, bh)),
+    let (sx, sy) = match (width, height) {
+        (Some(_), Some(_)) => (fit(width, bw, "width")?, fit(height, bh, "height")?),
         (Some(_), None) => {
-            let s = fit(width, bw);
+            let s = fit(width, bw, "width")?;
             (s, s)
         }
         (None, Some(_)) => {
-            let s = fit(height, bh);
+            let s = fit(height, bh, "height")?;
             (s, s)
         }
         (None, None) => (1.0, 1.0),
+    };
+    if sx <= 0.0 && sy <= 0.0 {
+        return Err(format!("`width` and `height` would make {what} 0×0"));
     }
+    Ok((sx, sy))
 }
 
 pub fn create(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
@@ -225,7 +231,7 @@ pub fn create(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
                 return Err(bad(cmd, "`path` draws nothing: a vector needs a visible line or area"));
             }
             path.apply_affine(figcraft_geom::Affine::translate((-bb.x0, -bb.y0)));
-            let (sx, sy) = vector_scale(asked.0, asked.1, bb.width(), bb.height());
+            let (sx, sy) = vector_scale(asked.0, asked.1, bb.width(), bb.height(), "a path").map_err(|e| bad(cmd, e))?;
             if sx != 1.0 || sy != 1.0 {
                 path.apply_affine(figcraft_geom::Affine::scale_non_uniform(sx, sy));
             }
@@ -248,7 +254,7 @@ pub fn create(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
             if bb.width() <= 1e-9 && bb.height() <= 1e-9 {
                 return Err(bad(cmd, "`points` draws nothing: a vector needs a visible line or area"));
             }
-            let (sx, sy) = vector_scale(asked.0, asked.1, bb.width(), bb.height());
+            let (sx, sy) = vector_scale(asked.0, asked.1, bb.width(), bb.height(), "a point set").map_err(|e| bad(cmd, e))?;
             let local: Vec<Point> = pts.iter().map(|q| Point::new((q.x - bb.x0) * sx, (q.y - bb.y0) * sy)).collect();
             *network = VectorNetwork::from_points(&local, boolean(p, "closed").unwrap_or(false));
             w = bb.width() * sx;
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/vector_behaviour_tests.rs b/crates/engine/src/vector_behaviour_tests.rs
index 042b3321..35d61074 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/vector_behaviour_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/vector_behaviour_tests.rs
@@ -463,4 +463,12 @@ fn vector_paths_take_the_requested_size_and_refuse_empty_geometry() {
     assert!(e.contains("draws nothing"), "{e}");
     let e = s.execute("vector.create", &json!({"points": [[5, 5], [5, 5]]})).unwrap_err().to_string();
     assert!(e.contains("draws nothing"), "{e}");
+    // A size on an axis the geometry has none of is refused, not silently ignored.
+    let e = s.execute("vector.create", &json!({"path": "M0 0 L0 24", "width": 16})).unwrap_err().to_string();
+    assert!(e.contains("horizontal extent"), "{e}");
+    let e = s.execute("vector.create", &json!({"path": "M0 0 L24 0", "height": 16})).unwrap_err().to_string();
+    assert!(e.contains("vertical extent"), "{e}");
+    // A size that would collapse both axes is refused too.
+    let e = s.execute("vector.create", &json!({"path": path, "width": 0})).unwrap_err().to_string();
+    assert!(e.contains("0×0"), "{e}");
 }
diff --git a/crates/format/src/large_tests.rs b/crates/format/src/large_tests.rs
index 45eaf27c..143dc82a 100644
--- a/crates/format/src/large_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/format/src/large_tests.rs
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ fn files_with_every_field_spelled_out_still_open() {
 }
 
 #[test]
-fn a_component_sets_old_editor_outline_is_dropped_on_open() {
+fn a_component_sets_old_editor_outline_is_dropped_only_without_the_marker() {
     let mut d = Document::new("Sets");
     let page = d.first_page().unwrap();
     let old = d.create(page, NodeKind::ComponentSet { description: String::new() }, "Button", 0.0, 0.0, 100.0, 40.0).unwrap();
@@ -200,8 +200,15 @@ fn a_component_sets_old_editor_outline_is_dropped_on_open() {
     let n = d.get_mut(custom).unwrap();
     n.strokes = vec![Paint::solid(Color::from_rgb8_const(0x11, 0x22, 0x33))];
     n.stroke.dashes = vec![1.0, 2.0];
+    // A file this version writes carries the marker: the same stroke is a choice, not decoration.
     let text = serde_json::to_string(&to_json(&d).unwrap()).unwrap();
-    let (back, _) = from_json(&text).unwrap();
+    let (current, _) = from_json(&text).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(current.node(old).unwrap().strokes.len(), 1, "a marked file keeps a stroke someone chose");
+    assert_eq!(current.node(custom).unwrap().strokes.len(), 1);
+    // A file without the marker is from a version that stored the decoration; drop exactly that.
+    let mut legacy = to_json(&d).unwrap();
+    legacy.as_object_mut().unwrap().remove("editorOutlines");
+    let (back, _) = from_json(&serde_json::to_string(&legacy).unwrap()).unwrap();
     let old = back.node(old).unwrap();
     assert!(old.strokes.is_empty() && old.stroke.dashes.is_empty(), "the decoration is canvas chrome, not a document stroke");
     let custom = back.node(custom).unwrap();
diff --git a/crates/format/src/lib.rs b/crates/format/src/lib.rs
index 93e67e5b..4ae154e7 100644
--- a/crates/format/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/format/src/lib.rs
@@ -232,13 +232,18 @@ struct DocumentJson<'a> {
     version: u32,
     #[serde(rename = "imageIndex", serialize_with = "image_index")]
     images: &'a BTreeMap<String, ImageData>,
+    /// The editor draws component-set outlines itself instead of storing them as strokes. Files
+    /// without this marker were written by a version that stored the purple dashed outline as a
+    /// real stroke (see [`drop_component_set_decoration`]).
+    #[serde(rename = "editorOutlines")]
+    editor_outlines: bool,
     #[serde(flatten)]
     doc: &'a Document,
 }
 
 impl<'a> DocumentJson<'a> {
     fn new(doc: &'a Document) -> Self {
-        Self { format: FORMAT, version: VERSION, images: &doc.images, doc }
+        Self { format: FORMAT, version: VERSION, images: &doc.images, editor_outlines: true, doc }
     }
 }
 
@@ -277,6 +282,8 @@ type ImageIndex = Option<BTreeSet<String>>;
 struct Header {
     version: Option<u64>,
     images: ImageIndex,
+    /// Whether the writer drew component-set outlines outside the document.
+    editor_outlines: bool,
 }
 
 impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for Header {
@@ -292,6 +299,7 @@ impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for Header {
                 while let Some(key) = map.next_key::<String>()? {
                     match key.as_str() {
                         "version" => h.version = map.next_value::<Value>()?.as_u64(),
+                        "editorOutlines" => h.editor_outlines = map.next_value::<Value>()?.as_bool().unwrap_or(false),
                         "imageIndex" => {
                             h.images = map
                                 .next_value::<Value>()?
@@ -337,7 +345,11 @@ fn parse_json(text: &str) -> Result<(Document, Vec<String>, ImageIndex), FormatE
         return Err(FormatError::Newer(u32::try_from(ver).unwrap_or(u32::MAX)));
     }
     let mut doc: Document = serde_json::from_str(text).map_err(corrupt)?;
-    drop_component_set_decoration(&mut doc);
+    // Only files from before the marker can carry the old stored decoration; a file this version
+    // wrote keeps a stroke someone chose, even one that looks exactly like it.
+    if !header.editor_outlines {
+        drop_component_set_decoration(&mut doc);
+    }
     let issues = doc.validate();
     if !issues.is_empty() {
         doc.repair();
diff --git a/docs/mcp.md b/docs/mcp.md
index caecf372..864bc1f1 100644
--- a/docs/mcp.md
+++ b/docs/mcp.md
@@ -429,7 +429,8 @@ on; `key` resolves keys the way the canvas does. Commands behind keys:
 `vector.create {path | points}` makes the layer's box from the geometry; `width`/`height` scale
 the geometry to the size asked for (with both, each side independently; with one, the other keeps
 its proportion). A path or point set that draws nothing is refused instead of making an invisible
-0×0 layer.
+0×0 layer, as is a size on an axis the geometry has none of and a size that would collapse both
+axes.
 
 Vector edit mode is driven with `run_command` (or `pointer`/`key` for gestures):
 `vector.edit.begin {id? | ids?}` (default the selection; converts shapes to vectors; several layers