diff --git a/crates/engine/src/files.rs b/crates/engine/src/files.rs
index dc79b8b31..93ea86a59 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/files.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/files.rs
@@ -450,7 +450,8 @@ fn load_bytes_now(
             stages.push(("highlights", t0.elapsed()));
             colour.apply(&mut img);
             stages.push(("colour", t0.elapsed()));
-            let img = fit(&img, max_edge, max_edge, Filter::Box);
+            // a full-size render keeps the picture (fitting it to its own size would copy it, ~390 MB at 33 MP)
+            let img = if img.width.max(img.height) > max_edge { fit(&img, max_edge, max_edge, Filter::Box) } else { img };
             stages.push(("fit", t0.elapsed()));
             let img = img.into_oriented(raw.orientation);
             stages.push(("orient", t0.elapsed()));