diff --git a/crates/catalog/src/rules.rs b/crates/catalog/src/rules.rs
index cb2f1981f..ca6c4795f 100644
--- a/crates/catalog/src/rules.rs
+++ b/crates/catalog/src/rules.rs
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ pub enum Kind {
     Keywords,
     Number,
     Date,
-    /// One of a fixed set (`choices`).
-    Choice(&'static [&'static str]),
+    /// One of a fixed set: (id, label). Rules store the id; people see the label.
+    Choice(&'static [(&'static str, &'static str)]),
     Bool,
 }
 
@@ -57,8 +57,12 @@ pub enum Kind {
 /// each of [`FIELD_GROUPS`]).
 pub const FIELDS: &[(&str, &str, Kind)] = &[
     ("rating", "Rating", Kind::Number),
-    ("flag", "Pick Flag", Kind::Choice(&["pick", "reject", "none"])),
-    ("label", "Color Label", Kind::Choice(&["red", "yellow", "green", "blue", "purple", "none"])),
+    ("flag", "Pick Flag", Kind::Choice(&[("pick", "Picked"), ("reject", "Rejected"), ("none", "Unflagged")])),
+    (
+        "label",
+        "Color Label",
+        Kind::Choice(&[("red", "Red"), ("yellow", "Yellow"), ("green", "Green"), ("blue", "Blue"), ("purple", "Purple"), ("none", "None")]),
+    ),
     ("text", "Any Searchable Text", Kind::Text),
     // Source
     ("album", "Album", Kind::Number),
@@ -69,7 +73,7 @@ pub const FIELDS: &[(&str, &str, Kind)] = &[
     ("fileName", "Filename", Kind::Text),
     ("extension", "File Extension", Kind::Text),
     ("filePath", "File Path", Kind::Text),
-    ("kind", "File Type", Kind::Choice(&["image", "raw", "video"])),
+    ("kind", "File Type", Kind::Choice(&[("image", "Image"), ("raw", "Raw"), ("video", "Video")])),
     ("format", "File Format", Kind::Text),
     ("duration", "Video Duration", Kind::Number),
     // Date
@@ -87,7 +91,11 @@ pub const FIELDS: &[(&str, &str, Kind)] = &[
     ("altText", "Alt Text", Kind::Text),
     ("creator", "Creator", Kind::Text),
     ("copyright", "Copyright", Kind::Text),
-    ("copyrightStatus", "Copyright Status", Kind::Choice(&["copyrighted", "publicDomain", "unknown"])),
+    (
+        "copyrightStatus",
+        "Copyright Status",
+        Kind::Choice(&[("copyrighted", "Copyrighted"), ("publicDomain", "Public Domain"), ("unknown", "Unknown")]),
+    ),
     // Camera Info
     ("camera", "Camera", Kind::Text),
     ("lens", "Lens", Kind::Text),
@@ -104,12 +112,12 @@ pub const FIELDS: &[(&str, &str, Kind)] = &[
     // Size
     ("longEdge", "Long Edge", Kind::Number),
     ("shortEdge", "Short Edge", Kind::Number),
-    ("aspect", "Aspect Ratio", Kind::Choice(&["landscape", "portrait", "square"])),
+    ("aspect", "Aspect Ratio", Kind::Choice(&[("landscape", "Landscape (wide)"), ("portrait", "Portrait (tall)"), ("square", "Square")])),
     ("megapixels", "Megapixels", Kind::Number),
     // Develop
     ("edited", "Has Edits", Kind::Bool),
     ("cropped", "Cropped", Kind::Bool),
-    ("treatment", "Treatment", Kind::Choice(&["color", "monochrome"])),
+    ("treatment", "Treatment", Kind::Choice(&[("color", "Color"), ("monochrome", "Black & White")])),
     // Assisted Culling
     ("sharpness", "Focus (assisted culling)", Kind::Number),
     ("bestOfGroup", "Best of Similar Shots", Kind::Bool),
@@ -138,6 +146,13 @@ pub fn field_group(field: &str) -> Option<&'static str> {
     FIELD_GROUPS.iter().find(|g| g.1.contains(&field)).map(|g| g.0)
 }
 
+/// The display label of choice `id` of `field` ("Public Domain" for `publicDomain`); `None` when
+/// `field` isn't a choice field or has no such choice.
+pub fn choice_label(field: &str, id: &str) -> Option<&'static str> {
+    let Some(Kind::Choice(choices)) = field_kind(field) else { return None };
+    choices.iter().find(|c| c.0 == id).map(|c| c.1)
+}
+
 /// The display label of `field`; `None` for an unknown field.
 pub fn field_label(field: &str) -> Option<&'static str> {
     FIELDS.iter().find(|f| f.0 == field).map(|f| f.1)
@@ -519,7 +534,7 @@ impl RuleSet {
                     let label = field_label(field).unwrap_or(field).to_lowercase();
                     let op = field_kind(field).and_then(|k| ops_for(k).iter().find(|o| o.0 == op)).map_or(op.as_str(), |o| o.1);
                     let v = match value {
-                        Value::String(s) => s.clone(),
+                        Value::String(s) => choice_label(field, s).map_or_else(|| s.clone(), str::to_lowercase),
                         Value::Null => String::new(),
                         Value::Object(o) => format!(
                             "{} {}",
@@ -827,6 +842,32 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Choice values have readable labels: the editor and summaries show "Public Domain" and
+    /// "Black & White", never ids like `publicDomain`; rules still store and accept the ids.
+    #[test]
+    fn choices_have_readable_labels() {
+        assert_eq!(choice_label("copyrightStatus", "publicDomain"), Some("Public Domain"));
+        assert_eq!(choice_label("treatment", "monochrome"), Some("Black & White"));
+        assert_eq!(choice_label("flag", "pick"), Some("Picked"));
+        assert_eq!(choice_label("aspect", "landscape"), Some("Landscape (wide)"));
+        assert_eq!(choice_label("flag", "nope"), None);
+        assert_eq!(choice_label("rating", "pick"), None, "not a choice field");
+        for (field, _, kind) in FIELDS {
+            let Kind::Choice(choices) = kind else { continue };
+            for (id, label) in *choices {
+                assert!(!label.is_empty() && label != id, "{field}: {id} has no label of its own");
+                assert!(label.starts_with(|c: char| c.is_uppercase()), "{field}: {label}");
+            }
+        }
+        let r = rs(
+            json!({"rules": [{"field": "copyrightStatus", "op": "is", "value": "publicDomain"}, {"field": "flag", "op": "isNot", "value": "reject"}]}),
+        );
+        assert_eq!(r.describe(), "copyright status is public domain and pick flag isn't rejected");
+        let mut p = photo(1);
+        p.meta.copyright_status = crate::CopyrightStatus::PublicDomain;
+        assert!(r.matches(&p, &Catalog::new()), "ids still match");
+    }
+
     /// The field menu shows every rule field once: at the top level or in exactly one group,
     /// and [`FIELDS`] lists them in menu order.
     #[test]
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/library.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/library.rs
index 6abb0930b..d20745dde 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/library.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/library.rs
@@ -819,7 +819,7 @@ pub fn specs() -> Vec<CommandSpec> {
                 Ok(json!({"id": id.0, "count": s.catalog.album_count(id)}))
             }
         ),
-        cmd!(query "album.ruleFields", "Smart Album Rule Fields", [], None, "{} → [{field, label, kind, group (field-menu submenu, null at the top level), ops: [{op, label}], choices?}] for ruleSet rules, in menu order", always, |_, _| {
+        cmd!(query "album.ruleFields", "Smart Album Rule Fields", [], None, "{} → [{field, label, kind, group (field-menu submenu, null at the top level), ops: [{op, label}], choices? (ids), choiceLabels? ({id: label})}] for ruleSet rules, in menu order", always, |_, _| {
             use lightcraft_catalog::rules::{FIELDS, Kind, field_group, ops_for};
             Ok(json!(FIELDS
                 .iter()
@@ -834,7 +834,8 @@ pub fn specs() -> Vec<CommandSpec> {
                     };
                     let mut v = json!({"field": id, "label": label, "kind": k, "group": field_group(id), "ops": ops_for(*kind).iter().map(|(o, l)| json!({"op": o, "label": l})).collect::<Vec<_>>()});
                     if let Kind::Choice(c) = kind {
-                        v["choices"] = json!(c);
+                        v["choices"] = json!(c.iter().map(|c| c.0).collect::<Vec<_>>());
+                        v["choiceLabels"] = c.iter().map(|(id, label)| (id.to_string(), json!(label))).collect::<serde_json::Map<_, _>>().into();
                     }
                     v
                 })
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests_library.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests_library.rs
index b4621e975..f3650803d 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests_library.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests_library.rs
@@ -256,6 +256,10 @@ fn smart_album_rule_sets() {
     let group = |id: &str| fields.as_array().unwrap().iter().find(|f| f["field"] == id).map(|f| f["group"].clone());
     assert_eq!(group("filePath"), Some(serde_json::json!("File")));
     assert_eq!(group("rating"), Some(serde_json::Value::Null));
+    // choices stay the ids rules store; choiceLabels maps them to what people read
+    let flag = fields.as_array().unwrap().iter().find(|f| f["field"] == "copyrightStatus").unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(flag["choices"], serde_json::json!(["copyrighted", "publicDomain", "unknown"]));
+    assert_eq!(flag["choiceLabels"]["publicDomain"], "Public Domain");
     let bad = s.execute(
         "album.createSmart",
         &serde_json::json!({"name": "Bad", "rules": {"ruleSet": {"rules": [{"field": "rating", "op": "contains", "value": 1}]}}}),
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/locales/de.json b/crates/ui-egui/locales/de.json
index 64a485ed2..8ae445bdb 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/locales/de.json
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/locales/de.json
@@ -1887,5 +1887,12 @@
   "Pending photo action cancelled": "Pending photo action cancelled",
   "Pending photo action cancelled because its library or photo changed": "Pending photo action cancelled because its library or photo changed",
   "ONNX model": "ONNX model",
-  "commercial use subject to GPL conditions": "commercial use subject to GPL conditions"
+  "commercial use subject to GPL conditions": "commercial use subject to GPL conditions",
+  "Video": "Video",
+  "Copyrighted": "Urheberrechtlich geschützt",
+  "Public Domain": "Gemeinfrei",
+  "Unknown": "Unbekannt",
+  "Landscape (wide)": "Querformat",
+  "Portrait (tall)": "Hochformat",
+  "Square": "Quadratisch"
 }
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/locales/es.json b/crates/ui-egui/locales/es.json
index 461fa2f65..82d8441b1 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/locales/es.json
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/locales/es.json
@@ -1732,5 +1732,12 @@
   "Pending photo action cancelled": "Pending photo action cancelled",
   "Pending photo action cancelled because its library or photo changed": "Pending photo action cancelled because its library or photo changed",
   "ONNX model": "ONNX model",
-  "commercial use subject to GPL conditions": "commercial use subject to GPL conditions"
+  "commercial use subject to GPL conditions": "commercial use subject to GPL conditions",
+  "Video": "Vídeo",
+  "Copyrighted": "Con copyright",
+  "Public Domain": "Dominio público",
+  "Unknown": "Desconocido",
+  "Landscape (wide)": "Horizontal (apaisada)",
+  "Portrait (tall)": "Vertical (retrato)",
+  "Square": "Cuadrada"
 }
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/locales/ja.json b/crates/ui-egui/locales/ja.json
index 49f2ef807..9357aa945 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/locales/ja.json
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/locales/ja.json
@@ -1732,5 +1732,12 @@
   "Pending photo action cancelled": "Pending photo action cancelled",
   "Pending photo action cancelled because its library or photo changed": "Pending photo action cancelled because its library or photo changed",
   "ONNX model": "ONNX model",
-  "commercial use subject to GPL conditions": "commercial use subject to GPL conditions"
+  "commercial use subject to GPL conditions": "commercial use subject to GPL conditions",
+  "Video": "動画",
+  "Copyrighted": "著作権あり",
+  "Public Domain": "パブリックドメイン",
+  "Unknown": "不明",
+  "Landscape (wide)": "横長",
+  "Portrait (tall)": "縦長",
+  "Square": "正方形"
 }
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/locales/pt-br.json b/crates/ui-egui/locales/pt-br.json
index 81e331c5c..bdbc7b576 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/locales/pt-br.json
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/locales/pt-br.json
@@ -1732,5 +1732,12 @@
   "Pending photo action cancelled": "Pending photo action cancelled",
   "Pending photo action cancelled because its library or photo changed": "Pending photo action cancelled because its library or photo changed",
   "ONNX model": "ONNX model",
-  "commercial use subject to GPL conditions": "commercial use subject to GPL conditions"
+  "commercial use subject to GPL conditions": "commercial use subject to GPL conditions",
+  "Video": "Vídeo",
+  "Copyrighted": "Protegido por direitos autorais",
+  "Public Domain": "Domínio público",
+  "Unknown": "Desconhecido",
+  "Landscape (wide)": "Paisagem (horizontal)",
+  "Portrait (tall)": "Retrato (vertical)",
+  "Square": "Quadrada"
 }
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/locales/ru.json b/crates/ui-egui/locales/ru.json
index 382bfc05a..bc5e64ad5 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/locales/ru.json
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/locales/ru.json
@@ -1403,5 +1403,13 @@
   "Pending photo action cancelled": "Pending photo action cancelled",
   "Pending photo action cancelled because its library or photo changed": "Pending photo action cancelled because its library or photo changed",
   "ONNX model": "ONNX model",
-  "commercial use subject to GPL conditions": "commercial use subject to GPL conditions"
+  "commercial use subject to GPL conditions": "commercial use subject to GPL conditions",
+  "Raw": "RAW",
+  "Video": "Видео",
+  "Copyrighted": "Защищено авторским правом",
+  "Public Domain": "Общественное достояние",
+  "Unknown": "Неизвестно",
+  "Landscape (wide)": "Альбомная",
+  "Portrait (tall)": "Книжная",
+  "Square": "Квадратная"
 }
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/locales/zh-hans.json b/crates/ui-egui/locales/zh-hans.json
index 4074dfbda..9a0302a9a 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/locales/zh-hans.json
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/locales/zh-hans.json
@@ -1732,5 +1732,12 @@
   "Pending photo action cancelled": "Pending photo action cancelled",
   "Pending photo action cancelled because its library or photo changed": "Pending photo action cancelled because its library or photo changed",
   "ONNX model": "ONNX model",
-  "commercial use subject to GPL conditions": "commercial use subject to GPL conditions"
+  "commercial use subject to GPL conditions": "commercial use subject to GPL conditions",
+  "Video": "视频",
+  "Copyrighted": "受版权保护",
+  "Public Domain": "公共领域",
+  "Unknown": "未知",
+  "Landscape (wide)": "横向",
+  "Portrait (tall)": "纵向",
+  "Square": "正方形"
 }
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/locales/zh-hant.json b/crates/ui-egui/locales/zh-hant.json
index 96fcbb18b..3e96dc8c3 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/locales/zh-hant.json
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/locales/zh-hant.json
@@ -1732,5 +1732,12 @@
   "Pending photo action cancelled": "Pending photo action cancelled",
   "Pending photo action cancelled because its library or photo changed": "Pending photo action cancelled because its library or photo changed",
   "ONNX model": "ONNX model",
-  "commercial use subject to GPL conditions": "commercial use subject to GPL conditions"
+  "commercial use subject to GPL conditions": "commercial use subject to GPL conditions",
+  "Video": "影片",
+  "Copyrighted": "受著作權保護",
+  "Public Domain": "公有領域",
+  "Unknown": "未知",
+  "Landscape (wide)": "橫向",
+  "Portrait (tall)": "直向",
+  "Square": "正方形"
 }
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n.rs
index 3cdd83b93..d86c81d05 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n.rs
@@ -318,6 +318,16 @@ pub fn filter_label(filter: &lightcraft_catalog::Filter, catalog: &lightcraft_ca
     }
 }
 
+/// What people read for smart-album choice `id` of `field` ("Gemeinfrei" for `publicDomain` in
+/// German); an id the field doesn't know, as written.
+pub fn choice_text<'a>(field: &str, id: &'a str) -> &'a str {
+    choice_text_in(language(), field, id)
+}
+
+fn choice_text_in<'a>(language: Locale, field: &str, id: &'a str) -> &'a str {
+    lightcraft_catalog::rules::choice_label(field, id).map_or(id, |label| tr_in(language, label))
+}
+
 /// A rule summary for display, keeping free-text rule values verbatim.
 pub fn rules_label(rules: &lightcraft_catalog::RuleSet) -> String {
     fn describe(rules: &lightcraft_catalog::RuleSet, depth: usize) -> String {
@@ -337,9 +347,8 @@ pub fn rules_label(rules: &lightcraft_catalog::RuleSet) -> String {
                     let Some((_, label, kind)) = FIELDS.iter().find(|entry| entry.0 == field) else { return field.clone() };
                     let operator = ops_for(*kind).iter().find(|entry| entry.0 == op).map_or(op.as_str(), |entry| entry.1);
                     let text = match kind {
-                        Kind::Choice(_) | Kind::Bool => {
-                            tr(value.as_str().unwrap_or(if value.as_bool() == Some(true) { "true" } else { "false" })).to_string()
-                        }
+                        Kind::Choice(_) => value.as_str().map_or_else(|| value.to_string(), |id| choice_text(field, id).to_string()),
+                        Kind::Bool => tr(if value.as_bool() == Some(true) { "true" } else { "false" }).to_string(),
                         _ if matches!(op.as_str(), "inLast" | "notInLast") => format!(
                             "{} {}",
                             value.get("n").unwrap_or(&serde_json::Value::Null),
@@ -631,6 +640,30 @@ mod tests {
     /// catalog can translate. What a language lacks is reported, not failed (like
     /// `catalogs_agree_on_placeholders_and_report_gaps`): a feature PR doesn't have to ship every
     /// language, and the translations catch up at their own pace.
+    /// Smart-album choice values read as words in every language (English "Public Domain", German
+    /// "Gemeinfrei"), never as rule ids like `publicDomain`; an id the field doesn't know shows as
+    /// written. Unlike other labels these must be translated: an untranslated one would be English
+    /// in the middle of a translated rule.
+    #[test]
+    fn choice_values_read_as_words_in_every_language() {
+        use lightcraft_catalog::rules::{FIELDS, Kind};
+        assert_eq!(choice_text_in(Locale::En, "copyrightStatus", "publicDomain"), "Public Domain");
+        assert_eq!(choice_text_in(Locale::De, "copyrightStatus", "publicDomain"), "Gemeinfrei");
+        assert_eq!(choice_text_in(Locale::De, "copyrightStatus", "someday"), "someday");
+        for language in Locale::ALL {
+            for (field, _, kind) in FIELDS {
+                let Kind::Choice(choices) = kind else { continue };
+                for (id, label) in *choices {
+                    let text = choice_text_in(*language, field, id);
+                    assert_ne!(text, *id, "{}: {field} {id}", language.code());
+                    if *language != Locale::En {
+                        assert!(language.catalog().contains_key(*label), "{} lacks {label:?}", language.code());
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn display_label_gaps_are_reported() {
         let mut labels: Vec<&str> = lightcraft_engine::command_specs().iter().map(|spec| spec.label).collect();
@@ -705,6 +738,15 @@ mod tests {
             rules: vec![lightcraft_catalog::Rule::Field { field: "keywords".into(), op: "contains".into(), value: serde_json::json!("Color") }],
         };
         assert_eq!(rules_label(&rules), "Stichwörter enthält Color");
+        let rules = lightcraft_catalog::RuleSet {
+            mode: lightcraft_catalog::Match::All,
+            rules: vec![lightcraft_catalog::Rule::Field {
+                field: "copyrightStatus".into(),
+                op: "is".into(),
+                value: serde_json::json!("publicDomain"),
+            }],
+        };
+        assert!(rules_label(&rules).ends_with(" Gemeinfrei"), "{}", rules_label(&rules));
         let filter = lightcraft_catalog::Filter {
             labels: vec![lightcraft_catalog::ColorLabel::Red, lightcraft_catalog::ColorLabel::Blue],
             ..Default::default()
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/rules_editor.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/rules_editor.rs
index f3425b181..697f71253 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/rules_editor.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/rules_editor.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ pub fn default_value(field: &str, op: &str) -> Value {
         (Some(Kind::Number), _) if field == "shutterSpeed" => json!("1/250"),
         (Some(Kind::Number), "between") => json!([0, 0]),
         (Some(Kind::Number), _) => json!(if field == "rating" { 3 } else { 0 }),
-        (Some(Kind::Choice(c)), _) => json!(c.first().copied().unwrap_or("")),
+        (Some(Kind::Choice(c)), _) => json!(c.first().map_or("", |c| c.0)),
         (Some(Kind::Bool), _) => json!(true),
         _ => json!(""),
     }
@@ -119,13 +119,16 @@ fn value_editor(ui: &mut egui::Ui, field: &str, op: &str, v: &mut Value, salt: &
         (Some(Kind::Number), _) => number_value(ui, v, field),
         (Some(Kind::Choice(c)), _) => {
             let cur = v.as_str().unwrap_or("").to_string();
-            egui::ComboBox::from_id_salt(format!("{salt}-choice")).width(90.0).selected_text(crate::i18n::tr(&cur)).show_ui(ui, |ui| {
-                for x in c.iter() {
-                    if ui.selectable_label(cur == *x, crate::i18n::tr(x)).clicked() {
-                        *v = json!(x);
+            egui::ComboBox::from_id_salt(format!("{salt}-choice")).width(120.0).selected_text(crate::i18n::choice_text(field, &cur)).show_ui(
+                ui,
+                |ui| {
+                    for (id, _) in c.iter() {
+                        if ui.selectable_label(cur == *id, crate::i18n::choice_text(field, id)).clicked() {
+                            *v = json!(id);
+                        }
                     }
-                }
-            });
+                },
+            );
         }
         (Some(Kind::Bool), _) => {
             let mut b = v.as_bool().unwrap_or(true);
@@ -296,7 +299,7 @@ mod tests {
                 let _ = rs.matches(&p, &cat);
                 let v = default_value(field, op);
                 let one = |v: &Value| match kind {
-                    Kind::Choice(c) => v.as_str().is_some_and(|s| c.contains(&s)),
+                    Kind::Choice(c) => v.as_str().is_some_and(|s| c.iter().any(|c| c.0 == s)),
                     Kind::Number if *field == "shutterSpeed" => v.as_str().and_then(lightcraft_catalog::parse_shutter_seconds).is_some(),
                     Kind::Number => v.is_number(),
                     Kind::Bool => v.is_boolean(),