diff --git a/apps/lightcraft-cli/src/alloc_release.rs b/apps/lightcraft-cli/src/alloc_release.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0d0775bad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/lightcraft-cli/src/alloc_release.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+//! Give memory the system allocator keeps after frees back to the system
+//! ([`lightcraft_engine::memory::set_release_hook`]).
+//!
+//! macOS's allocator keeps freed large blocks mapped as "reusable": they no longer count in the
+//! process's memory footprint but stay in its resident size until the system runs short. After a
+//! raw decode (hundreds of MB of temporaries) that made the resident size climb towards the sum of
+//! everything ever decoded. `malloc_zone_pressure_relief` (libSystem) returns those pages now.
+//! Elsewhere (glibc, Windows) blocks this large are unmapped when freed: nothing to do.
+
+/// Install the hook for this platform.
+pub fn install() {
+    #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+    lightcraft_engine::memory::set_release_hook(macos::release);
+}
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+#[allow(unsafe_code)]
+mod macos {
+    unsafe extern "C" {
+        /// libSystem malloc: release free memory of `zone` (all zones when null) back to the
+        /// system, up to `goal` bytes (0 = as much as possible). Returns the bytes released.
+        fn malloc_zone_pressure_relief(zone: *mut std::ffi::c_void, goal: usize) -> usize;
+    }
+
+    pub fn release() {
+        // SAFETY: a documented libSystem function taking a null zone (= every zone) and a size;
+        // it only returns free pages to the system and touches no memory we own.
+        unsafe {
+            malloc_zone_pressure_relief(std::ptr::null_mut(), 0);
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/apps/lightcraft-cli/src/main.rs b/apps/lightcraft-cli/src/main.rs
index 246fd96c7..2988c3278 100644
--- a/apps/lightcraft-cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/apps/lightcraft-cli/src/main.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 //! lightcraft-cli controls [--json]
 //! ```
 
+mod alloc_release;
+
 use std::io::{BufReader, Write};
 use std::path::Path;
 use std::process::ExitCode;
@@ -67,6 +69,7 @@ fn main() -> ExitCode {
         });
         dhat::Profiler::builder().file_name(file).build()
     };
+    alloc_release::install();
     let args: Vec<String> = std::env::args().skip(1).collect();
     let r = match args.first().map(String::as_str) {
         Some("mcp") => mcp(&args[1..]),
@@ -337,6 +340,9 @@ fn snapshot(args: &[String]) -> Result<(), String> {
             };
             if let Some(o) = reply.as_object_mut() {
                 o.insert("id".into(), id);
+                // wall time of the request (incl. the frames it ran), and since the start
+                o.insert("ms".into(), json!((ts.elapsed().as_secs_f64() * 1e4).round() / 10.0));
+                o.insert("t".into(), json!((t0.elapsed().as_secs_f64() * 1e4).round() / 10.0));
             }
             writeln!(out, "{reply}").map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
             if method == "ui.screenshot" {
diff --git a/apps/lightcraft/src/alloc_release.rs b/apps/lightcraft/src/alloc_release.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0d0775bad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/lightcraft/src/alloc_release.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+//! Give memory the system allocator keeps after frees back to the system
+//! ([`lightcraft_engine::memory::set_release_hook`]).
+//!
+//! macOS's allocator keeps freed large blocks mapped as "reusable": they no longer count in the
+//! process's memory footprint but stay in its resident size until the system runs short. After a
+//! raw decode (hundreds of MB of temporaries) that made the resident size climb towards the sum of
+//! everything ever decoded. `malloc_zone_pressure_relief` (libSystem) returns those pages now.
+//! Elsewhere (glibc, Windows) blocks this large are unmapped when freed: nothing to do.
+
+/// Install the hook for this platform.
+pub fn install() {
+    #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+    lightcraft_engine::memory::set_release_hook(macos::release);
+}
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+#[allow(unsafe_code)]
+mod macos {
+    unsafe extern "C" {
+        /// libSystem malloc: release free memory of `zone` (all zones when null) back to the
+        /// system, up to `goal` bytes (0 = as much as possible). Returns the bytes released.
+        fn malloc_zone_pressure_relief(zone: *mut std::ffi::c_void, goal: usize) -> usize;
+    }
+
+    pub fn release() {
+        // SAFETY: a documented libSystem function taking a null zone (= every zone) and a size;
+        // it only returns free pages to the system and touches no memory we own.
+        unsafe {
+            malloc_zone_pressure_relief(std::ptr::null_mut(), 0);
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/apps/lightcraft/src/main.rs b/apps/lightcraft/src/main.rs
index baac940f1..f6ea375f6 100644
--- a/apps/lightcraft/src/main.rs
+++ b/apps/lightcraft/src/main.rs
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 //! `{"id":1,"method":"ui.inspect","params":{}}` → `{"id":1,"ok":true,"result":…}`.
 //! See `lightcraft_ui_egui::control` for the methods.
 
+mod alloc_release;
 mod control_server;
 
 use lightcraft_engine::Session;
@@ -167,6 +168,7 @@ OPTIONS:
 ";
 
 fn main() -> eframe::Result {
+    alloc_release::install();
     let mut control_port: Option<u16> = std::env::var("LIGHTCRAFT_CONTROL_PORT").ok().and_then(|p| p.parse().ok());
     let mut files = Vec::new();
     let mut seed_demo = true;
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/query.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/query.rs
index 1d0bb6c0f..964a0d8d0 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/query.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/query.rs
@@ -138,6 +138,15 @@ pub fn specs() -> Vec<CommandSpec> {
         cmd!(query "library.memory", "Memory Usage", [], None, "{} — bytes held by each cache (decoded sources, rendered previews, GPU buffers; heap when instrumented)", always, |s, _| {
             Ok(serde_json::to_value(s.memory_report()).unwrap_or_default())
         }),
+        cmd!(query "app.memoryBudget", "Memory Budget", [], None, "{mb?: number} — set the memory budget shared by the caches (default: a quarter of RAM, at most 1536 MB); returns the report", always, |s, p| {
+            if let Some(mb) = p.get("mb").and_then(Value::as_f64) {
+                if !(64.0..=1_048_576.0).contains(&mb) {
+                    return Err(bad("app.memoryBudget", "mb must be 64..1048576"));
+                }
+                s.set_memory_budget((mb * 1048576.0) as usize);
+            }
+            Ok(serde_json::to_value(s.memory_report()).unwrap_or_default())
+        }),
         cmd!(query "journal.list", "Command Journal", [], None, "{limit?}", always, |s, p| {
             let lim = p.get("limit").and_then(Value::as_u64).unwrap_or(100) as usize;
             let start = s.journal.len().saturating_sub(lim);
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/files.rs b/crates/engine/src/files.rs
index 153922c9a..a857f6cb1 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/files.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/files.rs
@@ -191,19 +191,26 @@ pub fn bin_factor(raw: &lightcraft_raw::RawImage, max_edge: usize) -> Option<usi
 /// instead of each one waking the pool from outside and waiting for it (which costs more than the
 /// loops themselves when the machine is busy).
 pub fn load_bytes(bytes: &[u8], max_edge: usize) -> Result<(Rgb32f, SourceInfo), String> {
-    rayon::scope(|_| load_bytes_now(bytes, max_edge))
+    rayon::scope(|_| load_bytes_now(std::borrow::Cow::Borrowed(bytes), max_edge))
 }
 
-fn load_bytes_now(bytes: &[u8], max_edge: usize) -> Result<(Rgb32f, SourceInfo), String> {
-    if lightcraft_raw::probe(bytes).is_some() {
-        let mut raw = match lightcraft_raw::decode(bytes) {
+/// [`load_bytes`] taking the file's bytes: a raw file's bytes are freed as soon as it is decoded
+/// (less memory held while it is developed).
+pub fn load_vec(bytes: Vec<u8>, max_edge: usize) -> Result<(Rgb32f, SourceInfo), String> {
+    rayon::scope(move |_| load_bytes_now(std::borrow::Cow::Owned(bytes), max_edge))
+}
+
+fn load_bytes_now(bytes: std::borrow::Cow<'_, [u8]>, max_edge: usize) -> Result<(Rgb32f, SourceInfo), String> {
+    if lightcraft_raw::probe(&bytes).is_some() {
+        let mut raw = match lightcraft_raw::decode(&bytes) {
             Ok(r) => r,
             Err(lightcraft_raw::RawError::Unsupported(why)) => {
                 // show the camera's embedded JPEG (rendered, not raw) until the variant is supported
-                return load_embedded_preview(bytes, max_edge).ok_or(format!("unsupported raw ({why}) without an embedded preview"));
+                return load_embedded_preview(&bytes, max_edge).ok_or(format!("unsupported raw ({why}) without an embedded preview"));
             }
             Err(e) => return Err(e.to_string()),
         };
+        drop(bytes);
         // Embedded lens corrections are applied by the pipeline ("Enable Profile Corrections"), not baked in.
         let lens = embedded_lens(&raw.info());
         raw.opcodes.list3.retain(|op| !is_lens_opcode(op));
@@ -221,6 +228,8 @@ fn load_bytes_now(bytes: &[u8], max_edge: usize) -> Result<(Rgb32f, SourceInfo),
                 raw.develop(method).map_err(|e| e.to_string())?
             }
         };
+        // the samples aren't needed any more (the colour model below reads only the tags)
+        raw.data = lightcraft_raw::RawData::U16(Vec::new());
         let mut stages = vec![("develop", t0.elapsed())];
         let xy = lightcraft_raw::color::as_shot_white_xy(&raw);
         let t = lightcraft_raw::color::camera_transform(&raw, xy);
@@ -230,7 +239,7 @@ fn load_bytes_now(bytes: &[u8], max_edge: usize) -> Result<(Rgb32f, SourceInfo),
         let m = t.matrix.to_f32();
         let gain = 2f32.powf(t.baseline_exposure as f32);
         let wb = t.wb;
-        let img = img.map(|p| {
+        img.map_in_place(|p| {
             let c = [p[0] * wb[0], p[1] * wb[1], p[2] * wb[2]];
             [
                 ((m[0][0] * c[0] + m[0][1] * c[1] + m[0][2] * c[2]) * gain).max(0.0),
@@ -241,7 +250,7 @@ fn load_bytes_now(bytes: &[u8], max_edge: usize) -> Result<(Rgb32f, SourceInfo),
         stages.push(("colour", t0.elapsed()));
         let img = fit(&img, max_edge, max_edge, Filter::Box);
         stages.push(("fit", t0.elapsed()));
-        let img = img.oriented(raw.orientation);
+        let img = img.into_oriented(raw.orientation);
         stages.push(("orient", t0.elapsed()));
         if lightcraft_pipeline::profiling() {
             let mut prev = std::time::Duration::ZERO;
@@ -258,10 +267,11 @@ fn load_bytes_now(bytes: &[u8], max_edge: usize) -> Result<(Rgb32f, SourceInfo),
         let (temp, tint) = xy_to_temp_tint(xy);
         return Ok((img, SourceInfo { raw: true, as_shot_temp: temp.round(), as_shot_tint: tint.round(), lens }));
     }
-    let d = lightcraft_codecs::decode(bytes, lightcraft_codecs::DecodeOptions::fit(max_edge as u32, max_edge as u32)).map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+    let d = lightcraft_codecs::decode(&bytes, lightcraft_codecs::DecodeOptions::fit(max_edge as u32, max_edge as u32)).map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+    drop(bytes);
     let img = d.to_working();
     let img = if img.width.max(img.height) > max_edge { fit(&img, max_edge, max_edge, Filter::Mitchell) } else { img };
-    Ok((img.oriented(Orientation::from_exif(d.orientation)), SourceInfo::default()))
+    Ok((img.into_oriented(Orientation::from_exif(d.orientation)), SourceInfo::default()))
 }
 
 /// Orientation for an embedded preview: its own EXIF orientation when it has one, else the raw file's.
@@ -311,12 +321,27 @@ pub fn fs_preview_loader() -> PreviewLoader {
 }
 
 /// Filesystem-backed hooks (native). On the web the host installs bytes-based hooks instead.
+///
+/// Their working memory is bounded by [`crate::memory::work_gate`]: background loads (grid
+/// thumbnails, neighbour prefetch: [`crate::memory::in_background`]) and import probes wait while
+/// too much is in flight, each counting its file's size times the expansion of decoding it;
+/// interactive loads (the loupe, exports) never wait — they are counted, so background work
+/// yields to them.
 pub fn fs_hooks() -> (FileLoader, FileProbe) {
     let loader: FileLoader = Arc::new(|path: &str, max_edge: usize| {
+        let len = std::fs::metadata(path).map(|m| m.len() as usize).unwrap_or(0);
+        let weight = len * if max_edge <= crate::media::SourceLevel::Thumb.max_edge() { 3 } else { 6 };
+        let gate = crate::memory::work_gate();
+        let _permit = if crate::memory::is_background() { gate.acquire(weight) } else { gate.acquire_urgent(weight) };
         let bytes = std::fs::read(path).map_err(|e| format!("{path}: {e}"))?;
-        load_bytes(&bytes, max_edge)
+        let r = load_vec(bytes, max_edge);
+        // the file, the samples and the intermediate images are gone: give their pages back
+        crate::memory::release();
+        r
     });
     let probe: FileProbe = Arc::new(|path: &str| {
+        let len = std::fs::metadata(path).map(|m| m.len() as usize).unwrap_or(0);
+        let _permit = crate::memory::work_gate().acquire(len);
         let bytes = std::fs::read(path).map_err(|e| format!("{path}: {e}"))?;
         probe_bytes(path, &bytes)
     });
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/import.rs b/crates/engine/src/import.rs
index e07199d68..2be62172b 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/import.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/import.rs
@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@ pub fn import(s: &mut Session, paths: &[String], mode: ImportMode) -> crate::Res
     }
 
     let probed = probe_all(s, &todo);
+    crate::memory::release();
     let now = (s.clock)();
     let mut ops = Vec::new();
     for (path, info) in todo.into_iter().zip(probed) {
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/media.rs b/crates/engine/src/media.rs
index f851b0321..49d7a6db2 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/media.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/media.rs
@@ -94,11 +94,15 @@ impl SourceRef {
 pub struct MediaCache {
     /// Decoded thumbnail-level sources (LRU by bytes).
     thumbs: Lru<PhotoId, Arc<Rgb32f>>,
-    previews: Vec<(PhotoId, Arc<Rgb32f>)>,
+    /// Decoded preview-level sources with their last use ([`lightcraft_preview::next_tick`]).
+    previews: Vec<(PhotoId, Arc<Rgb32f>, u64)>,
     /// The last full-resolution original (exports; one at a time: ~300 MB at 24 MP).
-    full: Option<(PhotoId, Arc<Rgb32f>)>,
+    full: Option<(PhotoId, Arc<Rgb32f>, u64)>,
     /// How many previews to keep (LRU).
     pub preview_capacity: usize,
+    /// Bytes all decoded sources and rendered previews in memory may take together (the cache
+    /// share of [`crate::memory::budget`]); the least recently used entry of any of them goes first.
+    budget: usize,
     pub file_loader: Option<FileLoader>,
     pub file_probe: Option<FileProbe>,
     pub preview_loader: Option<PreviewLoader>,
@@ -109,57 +113,123 @@ pub struct MediaCache {
 
 impl Default for MediaCache {
     fn default() -> Self {
+        let budget = crate::memory::cache_share(crate::memory::budget());
         MediaCache {
-            thumbs: Lru::new(THUMB_SOURCE_BYTES),
+            thumbs: Lru::new(THUMB_SOURCE_BYTES.min(budget)),
             previews: Vec::new(),
             full: None,
             preview_capacity: 0,
+            budget,
             file_loader: None,
             file_probe: None,
             preview_loader: None,
             scenes: Vec::new(),
-            rendered: Arc::new(PreviewCache::memory(RENDERED_MEM_BYTES)),
+            rendered: Arc::new(PreviewCache::memory(rendered_budget(budget))),
         }
     }
 }
 
+/// Memory for rendered previews out of the cache share.
+fn rendered_budget(share: usize) -> usize {
+    RENDERED_MEM_BYTES.min(share / 4)
+}
+
+fn source_bytes(img: &Rgb32f) -> usize {
+    img.data.len() * 12 + 64
+}
+
 impl MediaCache {
     /// Keep rendered thumbnails on disk in `dir` as well.
     pub fn attach_disk_cache(&mut self, dir: &std::path::Path) {
-        self.rendered = Arc::new(PreviewCache::with_disk(RENDERED_MEM_BYTES, dir, DISK_CACHE_BYTES));
+        self.rendered = Arc::new(PreviewCache::with_disk(rendered_budget(self.budget), dir, DISK_CACHE_BYTES));
+    }
+
+    /// Bytes the caches may hold together.
+    pub fn budget(&self) -> usize {
+        self.budget
+    }
+
+    /// Change the bytes the caches may hold together, evicting at once if needed.
+    pub fn set_budget(&mut self, bytes: usize) {
+        self.budget = bytes;
+        self.thumbs.set_budget(THUMB_SOURCE_BYTES.min(bytes));
+        self.rendered.set_mem_budget(rendered_budget(bytes));
+        self.enforce_budget();
+    }
+
+    /// Bytes held by decoded sources and rendered previews in memory.
+    pub fn held(&self) -> usize {
+        let (t, p, f) = self.usage();
+        t.bytes + p.bytes + f.bytes + self.rendered.mem_usage().1
+    }
+
+    /// Evict least recently used entries across the source caches and the rendered previews
+    /// until they fit the budget. The newest preview-level source (the photo on screen, or the
+    /// one just decoded) is never evicted here.
+    pub fn enforce_budget(&mut self) {
+        let mut held = self.held();
+        while held > self.budget {
+            let newest_preview = self.previews.iter().map(|e| e.2).max();
+            let candidates = [
+                self.thumbs.oldest_tick().map(|t| (t, 0)),
+                self.previews.iter().filter(|e| Some(e.2) != newest_preview).map(|e| e.2).min().map(|t| (t, 1)),
+                self.full.as_ref().map(|e| (e.2, 2)),
+                self.rendered.oldest_tick().map(|t| (t, 3)),
+            ];
+            let Some((tick, which)) = candidates.into_iter().flatten().min() else { break };
+            let freed = match which {
+                0 => self.thumbs.pop_oldest(),
+                1 => self.previews.iter().position(|e| e.2 == tick).map(|i| source_bytes(&self.previews.remove(i).1)),
+                2 => self.full.take().map(|e| source_bytes(&e.1)),
+                _ => self.rendered.evict_oldest(),
+            };
+            match freed {
+                Some(b) if b > 0 => held = held.saturating_sub(b),
+                _ => break,
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     pub fn get(&mut self, id: PhotoId, level: SourceLevel) -> Option<Arc<Rgb32f>> {
         match level {
             SourceLevel::Thumb => self.thumbs.get(&id).cloned(),
-            SourceLevel::Preview => self.previews.iter().find(|(p, _)| *p == id).map(|(_, a)| a.clone()),
-            SourceLevel::Full => self.full.as_ref().filter(|(p, _)| *p == id).map(|(_, a)| a.clone()),
+            SourceLevel::Preview => self.previews.iter_mut().find(|e| e.0 == id).map(|e| {
+                e.2 = lightcraft_preview::next_tick();
+                e.1.clone()
+            }),
+            SourceLevel::Full => self.full.as_mut().filter(|e| e.0 == id).map(|e| {
+                e.2 = lightcraft_preview::next_tick();
+                e.1.clone()
+            }),
         }
     }
 
     pub fn insert(&mut self, id: PhotoId, level: SourceLevel, img: Arc<Rgb32f>) {
+        let tick = lightcraft_preview::next_tick();
         match level {
             SourceLevel::Thumb => {
-                let cost = img.width * img.height * 12 + 64;
+                let cost = source_bytes(&img);
                 self.thumbs.insert(id, img, cost);
             }
             SourceLevel::Preview => {
-                self.previews.retain(|(p, _)| *p != id);
-                self.previews.push((id, img));
+                self.previews.retain(|e| e.0 != id);
+                self.previews.push((id, img, tick));
                 let cap = if self.preview_capacity == 0 { 4 } else { self.preview_capacity };
                 while self.previews.len() > cap {
-                    self.previews.remove(0);
+                    let oldest = self.previews.iter().enumerate().min_by_key(|(_, e)| e.2).map(|(i, _)| i).unwrap_or(0);
+                    self.previews.remove(oldest);
                 }
             }
-            SourceLevel::Full => self.full = Some((id, img)),
+            SourceLevel::Full => self.full = Some((id, img, tick)),
         }
+        self.enforce_budget();
     }
 
     /// Forget a photo's decoded sources (e.g. after its file changed).
     pub fn forget(&mut self, id: PhotoId) {
         self.thumbs.remove(&id);
-        self.previews.retain(|(p, _)| *p != id);
-        if self.full.as_ref().is_some_and(|(p, _)| *p == id) {
+        self.previews.retain(|e| e.0 != id);
+        if self.full.as_ref().is_some_and(|e| e.0 == id) {
             self.full = None;
         }
     }
@@ -172,9 +242,8 @@ impl MediaCache {
     /// Decoded sources held: (thumbnail level, preview level, full size).
     pub fn usage(&self) -> (crate::memory::Usage, crate::memory::Usage, crate::memory::Usage) {
         use crate::memory::Usage;
-        let bytes = |i: &Rgb32f| i.data.len() * 12;
-        let previews = Usage::new(self.previews.len(), self.previews.iter().map(|(_, a)| bytes(a)).sum());
-        let full = self.full.as_ref().map(|(_, a)| Usage::new(1, bytes(a))).unwrap_or_default();
+        let previews = Usage::new(self.previews.len(), self.previews.iter().map(|e| source_bytes(&e.1)).sum());
+        let full = self.full.as_ref().map(|e| Usage::new(1, source_bytes(&e.1))).unwrap_or_default();
         (Usage::new(self.thumbs.len(), self.thumbs.cost()), previews, full)
     }
 
@@ -536,6 +605,54 @@ pub type FileProbe = Arc<dyn Fn(&str) -> Result<ProbeInfo, String> + Send + Sync
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
 
+    #[test]
+    fn budget_evicts_least_recently_used_across_caches() {
+        let img = |w: usize| Arc::new(Rgb32f::new(w, w));
+        let mut m = MediaCache::default();
+        let mb = 1 << 20;
+        m.set_budget(30 * mb);
+        // 3 previews of 12 MB (1000² × 12 B) don't fit 30 MB: the least recently used goes
+        m.insert(PhotoId(1), SourceLevel::Preview, img(1000));
+        m.insert(PhotoId(2), SourceLevel::Preview, img(1000));
+        assert!(m.get(PhotoId(1), SourceLevel::Preview).is_some()); // 1 is now more recent than 2
+        m.insert(PhotoId(3), SourceLevel::Preview, img(1000));
+        assert!(m.get(PhotoId(2), SourceLevel::Preview).is_none());
+        assert!(m.get(PhotoId(1), SourceLevel::Preview).is_some() && m.get(PhotoId(3), SourceLevel::Preview).is_some());
+        // a thumbnail source and a rendered preview compete in the same budget
+        m.insert(PhotoId(4), SourceLevel::Thumb, img(500));
+        m.rendered.put(Hash128(7), Arc::new(lightcraft_raster::Rgba8::new(1000, 1000)));
+        assert!(m.held() <= 30 * mb, "{}", m.held());
+        // the newest preview (the one on screen) is never evicted, even alone over budget
+        m.set_budget(mb);
+        assert!(m.get(PhotoId(3), SourceLevel::Preview).is_some());
+        assert_eq!(m.usage().1.count, 1);
+        assert_eq!(m.usage().0.count, 0);
+        assert_eq!(m.rendered.mem_usage().0, 0);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn work_gate_waits_for_room() {
+        use crate::memory::WorkGate;
+        let g = Arc::new(WorkGate::new(100));
+        let a = g.acquire(80);
+        // more than fits waits until `a` is released; urgent work never waits
+        let urgent = g.acquire_urgent(500);
+        assert_eq!(g.usage().0, 580);
+        drop(urgent);
+        let g2 = g.clone();
+        let t = std::thread::spawn(move || {
+            let _b = g2.acquire(50);
+            g2.usage().0
+        });
+        std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(50));
+        assert_eq!(g.usage().0, 80, "the second holder is still waiting");
+        drop(a);
+        assert_eq!(t.join().unwrap(), 50);
+        assert_eq!(g.usage().0, 0);
+        // a single holder may exceed the limit
+        drop(g.acquire(1000));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn levels_cover_sizes_and_large_exports_use_the_original() {
         assert_eq!(SourceLevel::for_size(256), SourceLevel::Thumb);
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/memory.rs b/crates/engine/src/memory.rs
index 2a9ba9e12..fa7cb878b 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/memory.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/memory.rs
@@ -6,10 +6,169 @@
 //! report more. A binary built with a heap profiler installs [`set_heap_stats`] (e.g.
 //! `lightcraft-cli` with `--features dhat-heap`) to add live/peak heap bytes.
 
-use std::sync::OnceLock;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering};
+use std::sync::{Condvar, Mutex, OnceLock};
 
 use serde::Serialize;
 
+/// The memory budget: one number from which every cache's share is derived.
+///
+/// - half for the engine's caches (decoded sources and rendered previews), evicted least recently
+///   used *across* them ([`crate::media::MediaCache`]);
+/// - a quarter for the working memory of decodes in flight ([`work_gate`]);
+/// - an eighth for the GPU renderer's pool of recycled buffers (trimmed when the app is idle).
+///
+/// The rest is headroom for what isn't cached (renders in progress, textures, the UI). Default:
+/// a quarter of the machine's RAM, at most 1.5 GiB (`LIGHTCRAFT_MEMORY_MB` overrides it).
+pub fn default_budget() -> usize {
+    if let Some(mb) = std::env::var("LIGHTCRAFT_MEMORY_MB").ok().and_then(|v| v.trim().parse::<usize>().ok()).filter(|m| *m >= 64) {
+        return mb << 20;
+    }
+    let cap = 3usize << 29; // 1.5 GiB
+    match total_ram() {
+        Some(ram) => (ram / 4).clamp(256 << 20, cap),
+        None => cap,
+    }
+}
+
+/// Physical memory (bytes), when the platform tells us without native calls.
+fn total_ram() -> Option<usize> {
+    #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+    {
+        let s = std::fs::read_to_string("/proc/meminfo").ok()?;
+        let kb: usize = s.lines().find(|l| l.starts_with("MemTotal:"))?.split_whitespace().nth(1)?.parse().ok()?;
+        Some(kb * 1024)
+    }
+    #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+    {
+        let out = std::process::Command::new("/usr/sbin/sysctl").args(["-n", "hw.memsize"]).output().ok()?;
+        String::from_utf8_lossy(&out.stdout).trim().parse().ok()
+    }
+    #[cfg(not(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "macos")))]
+    {
+        None
+    }
+}
+
+static BUDGET: AtomicUsize = AtomicUsize::new(0);
+
+/// The current budget (bytes).
+pub fn budget() -> usize {
+    match BUDGET.load(Ordering::Relaxed) {
+        0 => {
+            let b = default_budget();
+            BUDGET.store(b, Ordering::Relaxed);
+            apply(b);
+            b
+        }
+        b => b,
+    }
+}
+
+/// Change the budget (bytes, at least 64 MiB) for the process: the decode gate and the GPU pool
+/// follow at once; sessions apply their cache share with [`crate::Session::set_memory_budget`].
+pub fn set_budget(bytes: usize) -> usize {
+    let b = bytes.max(64 << 20);
+    BUDGET.store(b, Ordering::Relaxed);
+    apply(b);
+    b
+}
+
+fn apply(b: usize) {
+    if let Some(g) = GATE.get() {
+        g.set_limit(b / 4);
+    }
+    lightcraft_gpu::set_pool_limit((b / 8) as u64);
+}
+
+/// Share of the budget for the engine's caches.
+pub fn cache_share(budget: usize) -> usize {
+    budget / 2
+}
+
+/// A weighted semaphore over bytes of working memory: [`WorkGate::acquire`] waits while other
+/// holders already use the limit (one holder may always proceed, whatever its size).
+pub struct WorkGate {
+    state: Mutex<(usize, usize)>,
+    cv: Condvar,
+}
+
+/// Bytes held from a [`WorkGate`] until dropped.
+pub struct Permit<'a> {
+    gate: &'a WorkGate,
+    bytes: usize,
+}
+
+impl WorkGate {
+    pub fn new(limit: usize) -> WorkGate {
+        WorkGate { state: Mutex::new((0, limit)), cv: Condvar::new() }
+    }
+
+    fn lock(&self) -> std::sync::MutexGuard<'_, (usize, usize)> {
+        self.state.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner())
+    }
+
+    pub fn set_limit(&self, limit: usize) {
+        self.lock().1 = limit;
+        self.cv.notify_all();
+    }
+
+    /// Bytes held now and the limit.
+    pub fn usage(&self) -> (usize, usize) {
+        *self.lock()
+    }
+
+    /// Hold `bytes`, waiting until they fit (or nothing else is held).
+    pub fn acquire(&self, bytes: usize) -> Permit<'_> {
+        let mut g = self.lock();
+        while g.0 > 0 && g.0 + bytes > g.1 {
+            g = self.cv.wait(g).unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner());
+        }
+        g.0 += bytes;
+        Permit { gate: self, bytes }
+    }
+
+    /// Hold `bytes` without waiting (interactive work): counted, so background work waits for it.
+    pub fn acquire_urgent(&self, bytes: usize) -> Permit<'_> {
+        self.lock().0 += bytes;
+        Permit { gate: self, bytes }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Drop for Permit<'_> {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        let mut g = self.gate.lock();
+        g.0 = g.0.saturating_sub(self.bytes);
+        drop(g);
+        self.gate.cv.notify_all();
+    }
+}
+
+thread_local! {
+    static BACKGROUND: std::cell::Cell<bool> = const { std::cell::Cell::new(false) };
+}
+
+/// Run `f` as background work (grid thumbnails, neighbour prefetch): its decodes wait at the
+/// [`work_gate`] while interactive work holds the memory.
+pub fn in_background<R>(f: impl FnOnce() -> R) -> R {
+    let was = BACKGROUND.with(|b| b.replace(true));
+    let r = f();
+    BACKGROUND.with(|b| b.set(was));
+    r
+}
+
+/// Is this thread running background work ([`in_background`])?
+pub fn is_background() -> bool {
+    BACKGROUND.with(|b| b.get())
+}
+
+/// The process-wide gate for decodes and import probes (limit: a quarter of the budget).
+pub fn work_gate() -> &'static WorkGate {
+    GATE.get_or_init(|| WorkGate::new(budget() / 4))
+}
+
+static GATE: OnceLock<WorkGate> = OnceLock::new();
+
 /// Entries and bytes held by one cache.
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Default, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize)]
 pub struct Usage {
@@ -60,12 +219,35 @@ pub struct MemoryReport {
     /// Sum of the above.
     pub engine_bytes: usize,
     pub gpu: GpuUsage,
+    /// The memory budget (see [`budget`]) and the engine caches' share of it.
+    pub budget: usize,
+    pub cache_budget: usize,
+    /// Working memory of decodes / probes in flight and its limit ([`work_gate`]).
+    pub work_bytes: usize,
+    pub work_limit: usize,
     /// Live/peak heap when the binary counts allocations.
     #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
     pub heap: Option<HeapUsage>,
 }
 
 static HEAP: OnceLock<fn() -> HeapUsage> = OnceLock::new();
+static RELEASE: OnceLock<fn()> = OnceLock::new();
+
+/// Install a hook that hands memory the allocator keeps after frees back to the system (first
+/// call wins). The macOS allocator keeps freed large blocks resident (reusable, but counted in
+/// the resident size) until the system runs short; the apps install
+/// `malloc_zone_pressure_relief` so the resident size follows what is actually held.
+pub fn set_release_hook(f: fn()) {
+    let _ = RELEASE.set(f);
+}
+
+/// Return freed memory to the system now (after large temporaries were dropped: a decode, an
+/// import). No-op without a hook.
+pub fn release() {
+    if let Some(f) = RELEASE.get() {
+        f();
+    }
+}
 
 /// Install the heap counter of an instrumented binary (first call wins).
 pub fn set_heap_stats(f: fn() -> HeapUsage) {
@@ -96,7 +278,18 @@ impl crate::Session {
             rendered,
             engine_bytes: thumb_sources.bytes + preview_sources.bytes + full_source.bytes + rendered.bytes,
             gpu: gpu_usage(),
+            budget: budget(),
+            cache_budget: self.media.budget(),
+            work_bytes: work_gate().usage().0,
+            work_limit: work_gate().usage().1,
             heap: heap_stats(),
         }
     }
+
+    /// Set the memory budget (bytes; process-wide) and apply this session's cache share.
+    pub fn set_memory_budget(&mut self, bytes: usize) -> usize {
+        let b = set_budget(bytes);
+        self.media.set_budget(cache_share(b));
+        b
+    }
 }
diff --git a/crates/gpu/src/ctx.rs b/crates/gpu/src/ctx.rs
index 25d6ef4d9..e02a2818b 100644
--- a/crates/gpu/src/ctx.rs
+++ b/crates/gpu/src/ctx.rs
@@ -77,9 +77,47 @@ impl Buf {
 
 impl Drop for Buf {
     fn drop(&mut self) {
-        if let Some(b) = self.buf.take() {
-            RETIRED_BYTES.fetch_add(b.0.size(), Ordering::Relaxed);
-            RETIRED.with(|r| r.borrow_mut().push(b));
+        let Some(b) = self.buf.take() else { return };
+        // Outside a render this thread has no commands recorded (only renders record), so the
+        // buffer is reusable at once; without this, buffers dropped on threads that rarely
+        // submit (the UI thread clearing a view's stages) would wait indefinitely.
+        if !IN_RENDER.with(|c| c.get() > 0)
+            && let Some(g) = crate::existing_device()
+        {
+            g.pool([b]);
+            return;
+        }
+        RETIRED_BYTES.fetch_add(b.0.size(), Ordering::Relaxed);
+        RETIRED.with(|r| r.borrow_mut().push(b));
+    }
+}
+
+thread_local! {
+    /// Renders running on this thread (they may hold recorded, unsubmitted commands).
+    static IN_RENDER: std::cell::Cell<u32> = const { std::cell::Cell::new(0) };
+}
+
+/// Marks a render on this thread; when it ends, the buffers it released join the pool (everything
+/// it recorded has been submitted by then).
+pub(crate) struct RenderScope<'a>(&'a Gpu);
+
+impl<'a> RenderScope<'a> {
+    pub fn new(g: &'a Gpu) -> RenderScope<'a> {
+        IN_RENDER.with(|c| c.set(c.get() + 1));
+        RenderScope(g)
+    }
+}
+
+impl Drop for RenderScope<'_> {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        let outer = IN_RENDER.with(|c| {
+            c.set(c.get().saturating_sub(1));
+            c.get() == 0
+        });
+        if outer {
+            let retired = RETIRED.with(|r| std::mem::take(&mut *r.borrow_mut()));
+            RETIRED_BYTES.fetch_sub(retired.iter().map(|b| b.0.size()).sum(), Ordering::Relaxed);
+            self.0.pool(retired);
         }
     }
 }
@@ -114,8 +152,8 @@ static POOLED: AtomicU64 = AtomicU64::new(0);
 /// Most bytes kept in the free pool (see [`crate::set_pool_limit`]).
 pub(crate) static POOL_LIMIT: AtomicU64 = AtomicU64::new(DEFAULT_POOL_BYTES);
 
-/// Default for the most bytes kept in the free pool.
-pub(crate) const DEFAULT_POOL_BYTES: u64 = 2 << 30;
+/// Default for the most bytes kept in the free pool (apps derive it from their memory budget).
+pub(crate) const DEFAULT_POOL_BYTES: u64 = 256 << 20;
 
 /// Device buffers held by the renderer (bytes).
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Default, PartialEq, Eq)]
@@ -259,9 +297,17 @@ impl Gpu {
         let size = (len.max(1) * 4) as u64;
         let recycled = {
             let mut f = self.free.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner());
-            let b = f.iter().position(|b| b.0.size() == size).map(|i| f.swap_remove(i));
-            if b.is_some() {
-                POOLED.fetch_sub(size, Ordering::Relaxed);
+            // the smallest pooled buffer that holds `size` with at most 25 % to spare: photos of
+            // slightly different sizes reuse each other's buffers instead of piling up new ones
+            let b = f
+                .iter()
+                .enumerate()
+                .filter(|(_, b)| b.0.size() >= size && b.0.size() <= size + size / 4)
+                .min_by_key(|(_, b)| b.0.size())
+                .map(|(i, _)| i)
+                .map(|i| f.swap_remove(i));
+            if let Some(b) = &b {
+                POOLED.fetch_sub(b.0.size(), Ordering::Relaxed);
             }
             b
         };
@@ -280,11 +326,24 @@ impl Gpu {
     pub fn submit(&self, cmds: impl IntoIterator<Item = wgpu::CommandBuffer>) {
         self.queue.submit(cmds);
         let retired = RETIRED.with(|r| std::mem::take(&mut *r.borrow_mut()));
-        let bytes: u64 = retired.iter().map(|b| b.0.size()).sum();
-        RETIRED_BYTES.fetch_sub(bytes, Ordering::Relaxed);
-        POOLED.fetch_add(bytes, Ordering::Relaxed);
-        self.free.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner()).extend(retired);
-        self.trim(POOL_LIMIT.load(Ordering::Relaxed));
+        RETIRED_BYTES.fetch_sub(retired.iter().map(|b| b.0.size()).sum(), Ordering::Relaxed);
+        self.pool(retired);
+    }
+
+    /// Put reusable buffers into the free pool (trimmed to its limit).
+    fn pool(&self, bufs: impl IntoIterator<Item = Tracked>) {
+        let mut added = false;
+        {
+            let mut f = self.free.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner());
+            for b in bufs {
+                POOLED.fetch_add(b.0.size(), Ordering::Relaxed);
+                f.push(b);
+                added = true;
+            }
+        }
+        if added {
+            self.trim(POOL_LIMIT.load(Ordering::Relaxed));
+        }
     }
 
     /// Free pooled buffers (oldest first) until at most `keep` bytes stay pooled.
diff --git a/crates/gpu/src/lib.rs b/crates/gpu/src/lib.rs
index c767a7d21..850d23fd9 100644
--- a/crates/gpu/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/gpu/src/lib.rs
@@ -66,6 +66,12 @@ pub(crate) fn device() -> Option<&'static ctx::Gpu> {
     GPU.get_or_init(|| std::panic::catch_unwind(ctx::Gpu::new).ok().flatten()).as_ref()
 }
 
+/// The device if it has been created (never creates it).
+#[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
+pub(crate) fn existing_device() -> Option<&'static ctx::Gpu> {
+    GPU.get().and_then(|g| g.as_ref())
+}
+
 /// Create the device and compile the kernels on a background thread now (app start), so the
 /// first render doesn't wait ~0.3–0.4 s for it and the UI thread never does.
 pub fn warm_up() {
@@ -183,7 +189,10 @@ pub fn render(src: &Arc<Rgb32f>, info: &SourceInfo, s: &DevelopSettings, req: &R
         }
         let gpu = device()?;
         let ext = stages.map(|c| c.extension::<GpuStages>());
-        let r = std::panic::catch_unwind(std::panic::AssertUnwindSafe(|| render::render(gpu, src, info, s, req, ext.as_deref())));
+        let r = {
+            let _scope = ctx::RenderScope::new(gpu);
+            std::panic::catch_unwind(std::panic::AssertUnwindSafe(|| render::render(gpu, src, info, s, req, ext.as_deref())))
+        };
         match r {
             // a device error during the render: its result is not trustworthy
             Ok(_) if BROKEN.load(Ordering::Relaxed) => None,
diff --git a/crates/gpu/src/render.rs b/crates/gpu/src/render.rs
index b0dc21209..d229cdbae 100644
--- a/crates/gpu/src/render.rs
+++ b/crates/gpu/src/render.rs
@@ -765,6 +765,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[ignore]
     fn bench_kernels() {
         let Some(gpu) = crate::device() else { return };
+        let _scope = crate::ctx::RenderScope::new(gpu);
         let (w, h) = (6000, 4000);
         let src = gpu.upload(&vec![0.5f32; w * h * 3]);
         let time = |name: &str, f: &mut dyn FnMut(&mut Cx<'_>)| {
diff --git a/crates/gpu/tests/memory.rs b/crates/gpu/tests/memory.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2ef958cb1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/gpu/tests/memory.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+//! Device-memory bookkeeping: a view's stages are counted, released buffers are pooled within
+//! the pool limit, and trimming frees them. Skips when no GPU adapter exists.
+
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use lightcraft_develop::DevelopSettings;
+use lightcraft_pipeline::{RenderRequest, SourceInfo, StageCache};
+
+#[test]
+fn stages_are_counted_and_the_pool_is_bounded_and_trimmed() {
+    if !lightcraft_gpu::available() {
+        eprintln!("skipped: no GPU adapter");
+        return;
+    }
+    let limit = 64u64 << 20;
+    lightcraft_gpu::set_pool_limit(limit);
+    let info = SourceInfo { raw: true, ..Default::default() };
+    let mut s = DevelopSettings::default();
+    s.effects.clarity = 30.0;
+    let stages = StageCache::default();
+    // photos of slightly different sizes, like stepping through a library
+    for (i, (w, h)) in [(1200usize, 800usize), (1190, 810), (1210, 790), (800, 1200)].into_iter().enumerate() {
+        let src = Arc::new(lightcraft_scenes::demo_library()[i].render(w, h));
+        let r = lightcraft_gpu::render(&src, &info, &s, &RenderRequest::fit(w, h), Some(&stages)).expect("gpu render");
+        assert_eq!((r.image.width, r.image.height), (w, h));
+        let m = lightcraft_gpu::memory();
+        assert!(m.pooled <= limit, "pool {} over its limit", m.pooled);
+        assert_eq!(m.retired, 0, "a finished render leaves nothing retired");
+    }
+    let held = lightcraft_gpu::stage_bytes(&stages);
+    assert!(held >= 1200 * 800 * 3 * 4, "the view's stages hold at least its resampled source: {held}");
+    let before = lightcraft_gpu::memory().allocated;
+    stages.clear();
+    let m = lightcraft_gpu::memory();
+    assert_eq!(lightcraft_gpu::stage_bytes(&stages), 0);
+    assert!(m.pooled <= limit && m.allocated <= before);
+    lightcraft_gpu::trim_pool(0);
+    let m = lightcraft_gpu::memory();
+    assert_eq!(m.pooled, 0);
+    assert!(m.allocated < before, "trimming frees the pooled buffers: {} → {}", before, m.allocated);
+}
diff --git a/crates/preview/src/lib.rs b/crates/preview/src/lib.rs
index 5490194e4..e36f1b414 100644
--- a/crates/preview/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/preview/src/lib.rs
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 pub use disk::{DiskCache, decode_jpeg, encode_jpeg};
 pub use hash::{Hash128, Hasher128, hash_bytes};
 use lightcraft_raster::Rgba8;
-pub use lru::Lru;
+pub use lru::{Lru, next_tick};
 pub use pool::JobPool;
 
 /// Rendered-thumbnail cache: memory LRU over an optional disk cache.
@@ -93,6 +93,25 @@ impl PreviewCache {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Use tick ([`next_tick`]) of the least recently used image in memory.
+    pub fn oldest_tick(&self) -> Option<u64> {
+        self.mem.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner()).oldest_tick()
+    }
+
+    /// Drop the least recently used image from memory (it stays on disk); returns its bytes.
+    pub fn evict_oldest(&self) -> Option<usize> {
+        self.mem.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner()).pop_oldest()
+    }
+
+    /// Change the memory budget (bytes), evicting at once if needed.
+    pub fn set_mem_budget(&self, bytes: usize) {
+        let mut m = self.mem.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner());
+        m.set_budget(bytes);
+        while m.cost() > bytes && m.len() > 1 {
+            m.pop_oldest();
+        }
+    }
+
     /// (entries, bytes) held in memory.
     pub fn mem_usage(&self) -> (usize, usize) {
         let m = self.mem.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner());
diff --git a/crates/preview/src/lru.rs b/crates/preview/src/lru.rs
index 1be8bca4d..a15d4eecb 100644
--- a/crates/preview/src/lru.rs
+++ b/crates/preview/src/lru.rs
@@ -2,12 +2,20 @@
 
 use std::collections::{BTreeMap, HashMap};
 use std::hash::Hash;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicU64, Ordering};
+
+static TICK: AtomicU64 = AtomicU64::new(1);
+
+/// A process-wide use counter: entries of different caches (LRUs or not) compare by recency, so
+/// a memory budget can evict the least recently used entry across all of them.
+pub fn next_tick() -> u64 {
+    TICK.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed)
+}
 
 pub struct Lru<K, V> {
     map: HashMap<K, (V, usize, u64)>,
-    /// Use tick → key, oldest first.
+    /// Use tick ([`next_tick`], shared by every LRU) → key, oldest first.
     order: BTreeMap<u64, K>,
-    tick: u64,
     cost: usize,
     budget: usize,
 }
@@ -16,12 +24,11 @@ impl<K: Eq + Hash + Clone, V> Lru<K, V> {
     /// An LRU holding at most `budget` cost units (e.g. bytes). The most recent entry is always
     /// kept, even if it alone exceeds the budget.
     pub fn new(budget: usize) -> Self {
-        Lru { map: HashMap::new(), order: BTreeMap::new(), tick: 0, cost: 0, budget }
+        Lru { map: HashMap::new(), order: BTreeMap::new(), cost: 0, budget }
     }
 
     fn touch(&mut self, k: &K) {
-        self.tick += 1;
-        let t = self.tick;
+        let t = next_tick();
         if let Some(e) = self.map.get_mut(k) {
             self.order.remove(&e.2);
             e.2 = t;
@@ -41,15 +48,28 @@ impl<K: Eq + Hash + Clone, V> Lru<K, V> {
         self.map.get(k).map(|e| &e.0)
     }
 
+    /// Use tick of the least recently used entry.
+    pub fn oldest_tick(&self) -> Option<u64> {
+        self.order.first_key_value().map(|(t, _)| *t)
+    }
+
+    /// Remove the least recently used entry; returns its cost.
+    pub fn pop_oldest(&mut self) -> Option<usize> {
+        let (_, k) = self.order.pop_first()?;
+        let (_, c, _) = self.map.remove(&k)?;
+        self.cost -= c;
+        Some(c)
+    }
+
     pub fn contains(&self, k: &K) -> bool {
         self.map.contains_key(k)
     }
 
     pub fn insert(&mut self, k: K, v: V, cost: usize) {
         self.remove(&k);
-        self.tick += 1;
-        self.order.insert(self.tick, k.clone());
-        self.map.insert(k, (v, cost, self.tick));
+        let t = next_tick();
+        self.order.insert(t, k.clone());
+        self.map.insert(k, (v, cost, t));
         self.cost += cost;
         while self.cost > self.budget && self.map.len() > 1 {
             let Some((_, old)) = self.order.pop_first() else { break };
diff --git a/crates/raster/src/lib.rs b/crates/raster/src/lib.rs
index 15f3e940c..50593f29b 100644
--- a/crates/raster/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/raster/src/lib.rs
@@ -97,6 +97,19 @@ impl<T: Copy + Default> Image<T> {
     pub fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
         self.data.is_empty()
     }
+    /// [`Self::map`] into the same buffer (no second image in memory).
+    pub fn map_in_place(&mut self, f: impl Fn(T) -> T + Sync + Send)
+    where
+        T: Send,
+    {
+        let w = self.width;
+        par_rows(&mut self.data, w, |_, row| {
+            for p in row.iter_mut() {
+                *p = f(*p);
+            }
+        });
+    }
+
     pub fn map<U: Copy + Default + Send>(&self, f: impl Fn(T) -> U + Sync + Send) -> Image<U>
     where
         T: Sync,
@@ -139,6 +152,19 @@ impl<T: Copy + Default> Image<T> {
         }
         Self { width: w, height: h, data }
     }
+    /// [`Self::crop`] in place: rows move to the front of the same buffer (no second image).
+    pub fn into_crop(mut self, x0: usize, y0: usize, w: usize, h: usize) -> Self {
+        let x0 = x0.min(self.width);
+        let y0 = y0.min(self.height);
+        let w = w.min(self.width - x0);
+        let h = h.min(self.height - y0);
+        for (i, y) in (y0..y0 + h).enumerate() {
+            let src = y * self.width + x0;
+            self.data.copy_within(src..src + w, i * w);
+        }
+        self.data.truncate(w * h);
+        Self { width: w, height: h, data: self.data }
+    }
     /// Rotate 90° clockwise.
     pub fn rotate_cw(&self) -> Self {
         let (w, h) = (self.width, self.height);
@@ -157,6 +183,11 @@ impl<T: Copy + Default> Image<T> {
         out
     }
     /// Apply an EXIF orientation (stored → displayed).
+    /// [`Self::oriented`] without a copy when `o` is the identity.
+    pub fn into_oriented(self, o: lightcraft_geom::Orientation) -> Self {
+        if o == lightcraft_geom::Orientation::Normal { self } else { self.oriented(o) }
+    }
+
     pub fn oriented(&self, o: lightcraft_geom::Orientation) -> Self {
         let (flip, turns) = o.to_parts();
         let mut img = if flip { self.flip_h() } else { self.clone() };
@@ -231,6 +262,17 @@ mod tests {
         let img = Image::<u32>::from_fn(4, 3, |x, y| (y * 10 + x) as u32);
         let c = img.crop(1, 1, 2, 2);
         assert_eq!(c.data, vec![11, 12, 21, 22]);
+        // the in-place variants equal the copying ones
+        for (x, y, w, h) in [(1, 1, 2, 2), (0, 0, 4, 3), (2, 0, 9, 9), (0, 2, 4, 1), (3, 2, 1, 1)] {
+            assert_eq!(img.clone().into_crop(x, y, w, h), img.crop(x, y, w, h));
+        }
+        for v in 1..=8 {
+            let o = Orientation::from_exif(v);
+            assert_eq!(img.clone().into_oriented(o), img.oriented(o));
+        }
+        let mut m = img.clone();
+        m.map_in_place(|p| p * 2 + 1);
+        assert_eq!(m, img.map(|p| p * 2 + 1));
         let r = img.rotate_cw();
         assert_eq!((r.width, r.height), (3, 4));
         // top-left of rotated = bottom-left of original
diff --git a/crates/raw/src/lib.rs b/crates/raw/src/lib.rs
index d61e313b6..01c9fd2c5 100644
--- a/crates/raw/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/raw/src/lib.rs
@@ -552,12 +552,13 @@ impl RawImage {
     pub fn develop(&self, method: Method) -> Result<Rgb32f> {
         let n = self.normalized()?;
         let mut rgb = demosaic(&n, method);
+        drop(n);
         opcodes::apply_list3(&self.opcodes.list3, &mut rgb);
         let c = self.crop.clipped(rgb.width, rgb.height);
         if c.width == 0 || c.height == 0 || (c.x == 0 && c.y == 0 && c.width == rgb.width && c.height == rgb.height) {
             return Ok(rgb);
         }
-        Ok(rgb.crop(c.x, c.y, c.width, c.height))
+        Ok(rgb.into_crop(c.x, c.y, c.width, c.height))
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/render.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/render.rs
index 8cafb8d3e..86fa8d516 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/render.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/render.rs
@@ -90,8 +90,15 @@ pub struct Renderer {
     quick_tried: HashMap<Slot, u64>,
     /// Prefetch slot → key of the last job submitted (each runs once).
     prefetched: HashMap<Slot, u64>,
+    /// Since when nothing has been pending, and whether the GPU pool was trimmed since.
+    #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
+    idle: Option<(std::time::Instant, bool)>,
 }
 
+/// After this long without renders the GPU renderer's pool of recycled buffers is freed.
+#[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
+const IDLE_TRIM: std::time::Duration = std::time::Duration::from_secs(3);
+
 impl Default for Renderer {
     fn default() -> Self {
         let threads = if cfg!(target_arch = "wasm32") { 0 } else { JobPool::<Slot, RenderResult>::default_threads().min(6) };
@@ -108,6 +115,8 @@ impl Default for Renderer {
             stages: HashMap::new(),
             quick_tried: HashMap::new(),
             prefetched: HashMap::new(),
+            #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
+            idle: None,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -149,7 +158,13 @@ impl Renderer {
             return;
         }
         let key = job.key;
-        self.pool.submit(slot, key, priority, Box::new(move || job.run()));
+        let background = matches!(slot, Slot::Thumb(_) | Slot::ThumbQuick(_) | Slot::Prefetch(_));
+        self.pool.submit(
+            slot,
+            key,
+            priority,
+            Box::new(move || if background { lightcraft_engine::memory::in_background(|| job.run()) } else { job.run() }),
+        );
     }
 
     /// Request a stand-in for `slot` (once per job key).
@@ -172,7 +187,7 @@ impl Renderer {
         self.prefetched.insert(slot, job.key);
         self.pending.insert(slot, (job.key, priority));
         let key = job.key;
-        self.pool.submit(slot, key, priority, Box::new(move || job.run()));
+        self.pool.submit(slot, key, priority, Box::new(move || lightcraft_engine::memory::in_background(|| job.run())));
     }
 
     /// Is a request for `slot` queued or running?
@@ -292,12 +307,37 @@ impl Renderer {
             }
             changed = true;
         }
+        #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
+        self.trim_when_idle(ctx);
         if !self.pending.is_empty() {
             ctx.request_repaint_after(std::time::Duration::from_millis(16));
         }
         changed
     }
 
+    /// Free the GPU renderer's recycled buffers once nothing has rendered for [`IDLE_TRIM`] (they
+    /// are reallocated by the next render; while working, renders reuse them).
+    #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
+    fn trim_when_idle(&mut self, ctx: &egui::Context) {
+        if !self.pending.is_empty() {
+            self.idle = None;
+            return;
+        }
+        let now = std::time::Instant::now();
+        let (since, trimmed) = *self.idle.get_or_insert((now, false));
+        if trimmed {
+            return;
+        }
+        let waited = now.duration_since(since);
+        if waited >= IDLE_TRIM {
+            lightcraft_engine::gpu::trim_pool(0);
+            lightcraft_engine::memory::release();
+            self.idle = Some((since, true));
+        } else {
+            ctx.request_repaint_after(IDLE_TRIM - waited);
+        }
+    }
+
     /// What the renderer holds: per-view stage caches (CPU images and GPU buffers) and textures.
     pub fn memory(&self) -> serde_json::Value {
         let cpu: usize = self.stages.values().map(|s| s.bytes()).sum();
diff --git a/docs/gpu-pipeline.md b/docs/gpu-pipeline.md
index 82a57e612..b8db4585c 100644
--- a/docs/gpu-pipeline.md
+++ b/docs/gpu-pipeline.md
@@ -100,6 +100,20 @@ the device on their first GPU render. `lightcraft_gpu::ready()` asks without blo
   `/usr/bin/time -l lightcraft-cli snapshot <files> --script steps.jsonl -o out.png` → "maximum
   resident set size" and "peak memory footprint". Run it several times: the high-water mark is
   noisy (allocator caching, scheduling). On Apple silicon GPU buffers count in the footprint.
+- Imports read raw headers only (`lightcraft_raw::probe_info`): no pixel data is decompressed.
+- One budget (`memory::budget`, default min(25 % of RAM, 1.5 GiB); `LIGHTCRAFT_MEMORY_MB` or
+  `app.memoryBudget {mb}`): half for the engine caches (decoded thumbnail / preview / full
+  sources and rendered previews, evicted least recently used *across* them; the photo on screen
+  stays), a quarter for decodes in flight (`memory::work_gate`: grid thumbnails, neighbour
+  prefetch and import probes wait for room, loupe and export loads never wait), an eighth for the
+  GPU buffer pool (reuse by best fit within 25 %; freed after 3 s idle).
+- Decodes free the file's bytes and the raw samples as soon as they are consumed and colour /
+  crop / orient in place. macOS keeps freed large blocks resident ("reusable") until the system
+  is short of memory, so the resident size climbed with every photo decoded; the apps install
+  `malloc_zone_pressure_relief` as `memory::set_release_hook`, called after each decode, import
+  and idle trim.
+- Result (M4 Pro, 14 raws, loupe, 12 steps): peak RSS 1.9–2.3 GB → 0.83–0.99 GB, peak footprint
+  2.5–2.6 GB → 0.91–0.96 GB, heap peak 930 → ~600 MB; stepping median ~13 ms (unchanged).
 
 ## Open items
 - Keep the loupe texture on the GPU (render into an `egui-wgpu` texture on eframe's device instead of