diff --git a/crates/format/src/fig/layer_cap_tests.rs b/crates/format/src/fig/layer_cap_tests.rs
index e7bb769c..1b869ea2 100644
--- a/crates/format/src/fig/layer_cap_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/format/src/fig/layer_cap_tests.rs
@@ -136,3 +136,13 @@ fn a_whole_file_past_the_cap_keeps_its_library_links_and_says_so_once() {
     assert!(!warnings.iter().any(|w| w.contains("aren't in the file")), "{warnings:?}");
     assert!(linked_to(&doc, "Library main") >= 190, "{warnings:?}");
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn a_library_main_larger_than_the_cap_leaves_the_pages_room() {
+    // A main of 300 layers with room for 100: mapped first, it took the whole budget and the page
+    // came out empty.
+    let (doc, warnings) = import_at(&library_message(5, 300), 100);
+    let page = doc.nodes().find(|n| n.name == "Screens").expect("the page");
+    let top = page.children.len();
+    assert!(top >= 1, "the page kept {top} layers: {warnings:?}");
+}
diff --git a/crates/format/src/fig/map.rs b/crates/format/src/fig/map.rs
index 36348ded..ca491e0b 100644
--- a/crates/format/src/fig/map.rs
+++ b/crates/format/src/fig/map.rs
@@ -404,6 +404,9 @@ struct Mapper<'a> {
     /// Most layers produced or scanned, instance expansion included; the one place the cap comes
     /// from (see [`super::layer_budget`]).
     max_nodes: usize,
+    /// Layers kept back for the visible pages' top level while library copies are mapped, so the
+    /// copies can't take the whole budget and leave the pages empty.
+    reserved: usize,
     /// Vector networks, each built once: the layers that show one (every instance of a main
     /// holding it) name it by `vectorNetworkRef`. Kept out of the JSON, where a large file's
     /// networks took gigabytes.
@@ -481,6 +484,7 @@ impl<'a> Mapper<'a> {
             referenced_mains: BTreeSet::new(),
             mapped_mains: BTreeSet::new(),
             max_nodes,
+            reserved: 0,
             networks: Vec::new(),
             network_ids: HashMap::new(),
         }
@@ -563,6 +567,11 @@ impl<'a> Mapper<'a> {
         scope
     }
 
+    /// How many layers may be produced now: the cap, less what is kept for the visible pages.
+    fn budget(&self) -> usize {
+        self.max_nodes.saturating_sub(self.reserved)
+    }
+
     /// The DOCUMENT with its pages.
     fn document(&mut self) -> Value {
         let doc_id = self.nodes.iter().find(|(_, n)| n.get("type").and_then(Kv::str) == Some("DOCUMENT")).map(|(id, _)| id.clone());
@@ -589,11 +598,15 @@ impl<'a> Mapper<'a> {
         // last layers are skipped rather than the mains every instance of them needs (#981).
         let visible_pages: Vec<String> = visible.iter().map(|(p, _)| p.clone()).collect();
         let required_mains = self.referenced_component_mains(&visible_pages);
+        // The pages and their top-level layers, up to half the cap, stay for the pages.
+        let top: usize = visible_pages.iter().map(|p| 1 + self.children(p).len()).sum();
+        self.reserved = top.min(self.max_nodes / 2);
         for (id, canvas) in internal {
             if let Some(context) = self.library_context(&id, canvas, &required_mains) {
                 self.library_contexts.push(context);
             }
         }
+        self.reserved = 0;
         let out: Vec<Value> = visible.into_iter().map(|(p, n)| self.page(&p, n)).collect();
         if out.is_empty() {
             self.warn("the file has no pages");
@@ -838,7 +851,7 @@ impl<'a> Mapper<'a> {
             self.warn(format!("layers nested deeper than {MAX_DEPTH} levels were skipped"));
             return None;
         }
-        if self.count >= self.max_nodes {
+        if self.count >= self.budget() {
             let max = self.max_nodes;
             self.warn(format!("the file has more than {max} layers; the rest were skipped"));
             return None;
@@ -875,7 +888,7 @@ impl<'a> Mapper<'a> {
         let connector_snapshot = own == "CONNECTOR" && self.connector_snapshot_supported(&view);
         // Only a connector with a saved label needs the frame wrapper; an unlabelled one stays a single vector.
         let connector_terminal =
-            connector_snapshot && (!connector_has_saved_label(&view) || depth >= MAX_DEPTH || self.count.saturating_add(1) >= self.max_nodes);
+            connector_snapshot && (!connector_has_saved_label(&view) || depth >= MAX_DEPTH || self.count.saturating_add(1) >= self.budget());
         // A supported connector snapshot has its own note below instead of the generic stand-in one.
         let stand = stand_in(own).filter(|_| !connector_snapshot);
         let ty = match own {
@@ -1023,7 +1036,7 @@ impl<'a> Mapper<'a> {
     fn shape_with_text(&mut self, o: &mut Obj, v: &View<'a>, own: &str, rest_id: &str) -> Option<Value> {
         let shape = v.str("shapeWithTextType").unwrap_or("SQUARE");
         let outlined = !v.list("fillGeometry").is_empty() || !v.list("strokeGeometry").is_empty();
-        if own != "SHAPE_WITH_TEXT" || matches!(shape, "SQUARE" | "ROUNDED_RECTANGLE") || !outlined || self.count >= self.max_nodes {
+        if own != "SHAPE_WITH_TEXT" || matches!(shape, "SQUARE" | "ROUNDED_RECTANGLE") || !outlined || self.count >= self.budget() {
             return None;
         }
         let mut s = Obj::new();
@@ -1055,7 +1068,7 @@ impl<'a> Mapper<'a> {
     /// layer filling it, inset a little; centred unless it's a note.
     fn inner_text(&mut self, o: &Obj, v: &View<'a>, rest_id: &str, note: bool) -> Option<Value> {
         let chars = own_text(v)?;
-        if self.count >= self.max_nodes {
+        if self.count >= self.budget() {
             return None;
         }
         self.count += 1;
@@ -1190,7 +1203,7 @@ impl<'a> Mapper<'a> {
             out.insert("opacity".into(), json!(root_opacity * line_opacity));
         }
         if connector_has_saved_label(v) {
-            let reason = if self.count >= self.max_nodes { "node budget" } else { "depth limit" };
+            let reason = if self.count >= self.budget() { "node budget" } else { "depth limit" };
             self.warn(format!("connector label was skipped: {reason} prevents nested snapshot children"));
         }
     }
@@ -1220,7 +1233,7 @@ impl<'a> Mapper<'a> {
 
     /// Snapshot the straight, manual connector contract carried by its generated children.
     fn connector_snapshot_children(&mut self, v: &View<'a>, rest_id: &str) -> Vec<Value> {
-        if self.count >= self.max_nodes {
+        if self.count >= self.budget() {
             self.warn(format!("the file has more than {} layers; connector snapshot children were skipped", self.max_nodes));
             return Vec::new();
         }
@@ -1283,7 +1296,7 @@ impl<'a> Mapper<'a> {
         };
         let background_view = View::of(background).with([background_style]);
         if !background_view.list("fillPaints").is_empty() {
-            if self.count >= self.max_nodes {
+            if self.count >= self.budget() {
                 self.warn(format!("the file has more than {} layers; connector label background was skipped", self.max_nodes));
             } else {
                 let mut rect = Obj::new();
@@ -1311,7 +1324,7 @@ impl<'a> Mapper<'a> {
         transform: Affine,
         view: &View<'a>,
     ) {
-        if self.count >= self.max_nodes {
+        if self.count >= self.budget() {
             self.warn(format!("the file has more than {} layers; connector label was skipped", self.max_nodes));
             return;
         }