diff --git a/crates/compose/src/lib.rs b/crates/compose/src/lib.rs
index 62d6412e8f..e593452e76 100644
--- a/crates/compose/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/compose/src/lib.rs
@@ -1144,9 +1144,7 @@ pub fn relayout_damage(a: &Document, b: &Document) -> Rect {
 }
 
 /// The bounding box of a shape layer's path and stroke, ignoring its Density and Feather: its
-/// path control bounds plus stroke width. It is the frame Free Transform and the Move tool's
-/// transform controls show for a soft shape, whose rendering reaches past it (in Photoshop a
-/// shape's transform frame follows its path whatever its mask Density and Feather).
+/// path control bounds plus stroke width (a conservative reach for any alignment, cap and join).
 pub fn hard_shape_bounds(sh: &photocraft_doc::ShapeLayer) -> Option<Rect> {
     if sh.fill.is_none() && sh.stroke.as_ref().is_none_or(|s| s.width <= 0.0 || s.opacity <= 0.0) {
         return None;
@@ -1157,6 +1155,75 @@ pub fn hard_shape_bounds(sh: &photocraft_doc::ShapeLayer) -> Option<Rect> {
     (!r.is_empty()).then_some(r)
 }
 
+/// The frame Free Transform, the Move tool's transform controls, snapping and Properties show for
+/// a soft shape (Density below 100 % or a Feather), whose rendering reaches past its path: the
+/// pixels the same shape renders in `format` over `canvas` at full Density without Feather, so
+/// the frame is exactly the hard shape's whatever the stroke's alignment, cap and join (in
+/// Photoshop a shape's transform frame follows its path and stroke whatever its mask Density and
+/// Feather, #5846). An inverted path's frame is its own outline, not the whole canvas. Renders
+/// only the strips along the edges of the rasterizers' (1 px conservative) bounds.
+pub fn soft_shape_frame(sh: &photocraft_doc::ShapeLayer, format: photocraft_color::PixelFormat, canvas: Rect) -> Option<Rect> {
+    let mut path = sh.path.clone();
+    path.inverted = false;
+    let hard = photocraft_doc::ShapeLayer { density: 1.0, feather: 0.0, path, fill: sh.fill.clone(), stroke: sh.stroke.clone(), ..Default::default() };
+    let shape = photocraft_vector::CompiledShape::new(&hard, photocraft_vector::DEFAULT_TOLERANCE, canvas);
+    let r = shape.bounds()?.intersect(&canvas);
+    trim_to_painted(r, |strip| shape.render(format, strip).content_bounds())
+}
+
+/// `r` shrunk to the pixels `painted` reports (the painted bounds within a strip of `r`, empty if
+/// none), looking in from each edge through strips that double in thickness: a few renders per
+/// edge however wide the empty margin (a subtracted or intersected subpath can leave most of the
+/// rasterizers' bounds empty), and none of `r`'s inside rendered at once.
+fn trim_to_painted(mut r: Rect, mut painted: impl FnMut(Rect) -> Rect) -> Option<Rect> {
+    // Top: the first strip holding paint gives the first painted row.
+    let mut t = 1;
+    while !r.is_empty() {
+        let strip = Rect::new(r.x0, r.y0, r.x1, r.y0.saturating_add(t).min(r.y1));
+        let p = painted(strip).intersect(&strip);
+        if !p.is_empty() {
+            r.y0 = p.y0;
+            break;
+        }
+        r.y0 = strip.y1;
+        t = t.saturating_mul(2);
+    }
+    let mut t = 1;
+    while !r.is_empty() {
+        let strip = Rect::new(r.x0, r.y1.saturating_sub(t).max(r.y0), r.x1, r.y1);
+        let p = painted(strip).intersect(&strip);
+        if !p.is_empty() {
+            r.y1 = p.y1;
+            break;
+        }
+        r.y1 = strip.y0;
+        t = t.saturating_mul(2);
+    }
+    let mut t = 1;
+    while !r.is_empty() {
+        let strip = Rect::new(r.x0, r.y0, r.x0.saturating_add(t).min(r.x1), r.y1);
+        let p = painted(strip).intersect(&strip);
+        if !p.is_empty() {
+            r.x0 = p.x0;
+            break;
+        }
+        r.x0 = strip.x1;
+        t = t.saturating_mul(2);
+    }
+    let mut t = 1;
+    while !r.is_empty() {
+        let strip = Rect::new(r.x1.saturating_sub(t).max(r.x0), r.y0, r.x1, r.y1);
+        let p = painted(strip).intersect(&strip);
+        if !p.is_empty() {
+            r.x1 = p.x1;
+            break;
+        }
+        r.x1 = strip.x0;
+        t = t.saturating_mul(2);
+    }
+    (!r.is_empty()).then_some(r)
+}
+
 /// The bounding box of a shape layer's vector content: its path control bounds plus stroke width
 /// (and the reach of a soft fill).
 pub fn shape_bounds(sh: &photocraft_doc::ShapeLayer) -> Option<Rect> {
diff --git a/crates/compose/src/soft_shape_tests.rs b/crates/compose/src/soft_shape_tests.rs
index d506c3e55b..222b3f3e9a 100644
--- a/crates/compose/src/soft_shape_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/compose/src/soft_shape_tests.rs
@@ -58,8 +58,9 @@ fn feather_matches_photoshops_ramp() {
         let r = row(&shape_doc(depth, 1.0, 10.0, None), 100);
         let ours: Vec<i32> = (0..15).map(|i| r[30 + 3 * i]).collect();
         let dev = ours.iter().zip(PS_FEATHER_10).map(|(a, b)| (a - i32::from(b)).abs()).max().unwrap_or(0);
-        // Same Gaussian (sigma = feather) as a vector mask: within 3 levels of Photoshop.
-        assert!(dev <= 3, "{depth:?}: ours {ours:?} vs Photoshop {PS_FEATHER_10:?} (max {dev})");
+        // Same Gaussian (sigma = feather) as a vector mask: within 1 level of Photoshop (as
+        // scorecard TOOL-214-12 claims; measured max deviation 1 at every depth).
+        assert!(dev <= 1, "{depth:?}: ours {ours:?} vs Photoshop {PS_FEATHER_10:?} (max {dev})");
         eprintln!("{depth:?}: ours {ours:?}, Photoshop {PS_FEATHER_10:?}, max deviation {dev}");
         // The path runs between pixels 49 and 50: their mean is half way.
         assert!((r[49] + r[50] - 255).abs() <= 2, "{depth:?}: half way on the path: {} {}", r[49], r[50]);
@@ -157,3 +158,42 @@ fn soft_shape_bounds_cover_the_fill() {
     assert_eq!(layer_bounds(&dense.layers[1], canvas), canvas);
     assert!(effect_outline(&dense.layers[1]).is_none(), "a soft fill's alpha is its outline");
 }
+
+/// A soft shape's frame is the hard shape's painted pixels, also where a subtracted subpath
+/// leaves most of the rasterizers' bounds empty (#5846), at every depth.
+#[test]
+fn soft_shape_frame_skips_a_subtracted_margin() {
+    let canvas = Rect::new(0, 0, 200, 200);
+    let mut cut = Subpath::polygon(&[(40.0, 40.0), (160.0, 40.0), (160.0, 140.0), (40.0, 140.0)]);
+    cut.op = photocraft_doc::vector::PathOp::Subtract;
+    let path = Path::new(vec![Subpath::polygon(&[(50.0, 50.0), (150.0, 50.0), (150.0, 150.0), (50.0, 150.0)]), cut]);
+    for depth in [SampleType::U8, SampleType::U16, SampleType::F32] {
+        let sh = ShapeLayer { path: path.clone(), fill: Some(Fill::Solid(Color::BLACK)), density: 0.5, feather: 4.0, ..ShapeLayer::default() };
+        assert_eq!(soft_shape_frame(&sh, doc(depth).pixel_format(), canvas), Some(Rect::new(50, 140, 150, 150)), "{depth:?}");
+    }
+}
+
+/// The frame scan renders a few strips per edge, not one per empty row or column: a 2-px
+/// painted spot in a 4000 × 3000 bounds takes a handful of renders and is found exactly.
+#[test]
+fn soft_shape_frame_scan_is_bounded() {
+    let spot = Rect::new(2500, 1700, 2502, 1702);
+    let mut calls = 0;
+    let got = trim_to_painted(Rect::new(0, 0, 4000, 3000), |strip| {
+        calls += 1;
+        strip.intersect(&spot)
+    });
+    assert_eq!(got, Some(spot));
+    assert!(calls <= 4 * 14, "{calls} renders");
+    let mut calls = 0;
+    assert_eq!(
+        trim_to_painted(Rect::new(0, 0, 4000, 3000), |_| {
+            calls += 1;
+            Rect::EMPTY
+        }),
+        None
+    );
+    assert!(calls <= 14, "an empty shape stops after the top edge: {calls} renders");
+    assert_eq!(trim_to_painted(Rect::EMPTY, |r| r), None);
+    assert_eq!(trim_to_painted(Rect::new(3, 4, 9, 7), |r| r), Some(Rect::new(3, 4, 9, 7)), "a full rect keeps its edges");
+}
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/snap.rs b/crates/engine/src/snap.rs
index ef0e72f5db..652ee1d747 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/snap.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/snap.rs
@@ -95,8 +95,8 @@ fn rect_of(doc: &Document, l: &photocraft_doc::Layer) -> Option<[f64; 4]> {
 /// Bounds of a layer as a Snap To Layers target: all of its content, whatever the selection
 /// holds of it (#6290: clipped to the selection, every layer's edges and centre were the
 /// selection's, so a moved selection snapped back to where it started).
-fn target_rect_of(l: &photocraft_doc::Layer) -> Option<[f64; 4]> {
-    snappable(l).then(|| crate::transform_cmds::whole_layer_bounds(l)).and_then(to_rect)
+fn target_rect_of(doc: &Document, l: &photocraft_doc::Layer) -> Option<[f64; 4]> {
+    snappable(l).then(|| crate::transform_cmds::whole_layer_bounds(doc, l)).and_then(to_rect)
 }
 
 fn snappable(l: &photocraft_doc::Layer) -> bool {
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ impl SnapTargets {
                 if !l.visible || exclude.contains(&l.id) {
                     continue;
                 }
-                if let Some(r) = target_rect_of(l) {
+                if let Some(r) = target_rect_of(doc, l) {
                     t.add_rect(r, SnapKind::LayerEdge, SnapKind::LayerCenter);
                 }
             }
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/transform_cmds.rs b/crates/engine/src/transform_cmds.rs
index afebf35467..2c85f30ddf 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/transform_cmds.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/transform_cmds.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ pub fn moves_whole(layer: &Layer) -> bool {
 /// content within the selection, or all of it for a layer that [`moves_whole`] (#2630).
 /// Content scans are cached per tile: snapping asks for every layer's bounds per Move drag.
 pub fn transform_bounds(doc: &Document, layer: &Layer) -> Rect {
-    let content = whole_layer_bounds(layer);
+    let content = whole_layer_bounds(doc, layer);
     match &doc.selection {
         Some(sel) if !moves_whole(layer) => content.intersect(&sel.content_bounds()),
         _ => content,
@@ -54,12 +54,12 @@ fn framed_by_selection(doc: &Document, bounds: Rect) -> Rect {
 }
 
 /// A group moves all its descendants, so its frame must not clip raster children to the selection.
-pub(crate) fn whole_layer_bounds(layer: &Layer) -> Rect {
+pub(crate) fn whole_layer_bounds(doc: &Document, layer: &Layer) -> Rect {
     let content = match &layer.content {
-        LayerContent::Group(g) => g.children.iter().map(whole_layer_bounds).fold(Rect::EMPTY, |a, b| a.union(&b)),
+        LayerContent::Group(g) => g.children.iter().map(|c| whole_layer_bounds(doc, c)).fold(Rect::EMPTY, |a, b| a.union(&b)),
         // A soft shape (Density below 100 % or a Feather) renders past its path, over the whole
         // canvas below 100 %: its frame follows the path and stroke, as in Photoshop (#5846).
-        LayerContent::Shape(sh) if sh.has_soft_mask() => photocraft_compose::hard_shape_bounds(sh).unwrap_or(Rect::EMPTY),
+        LayerContent::Shape(sh) if sh.has_soft_mask() => photocraft_compose::soft_shape_frame(sh, doc.pixel_format(), doc.bounds()).unwrap_or(Rect::EMPTY),
         _ => layer.surface().map_or(Rect::EMPTY, photocraft_compose::bounds::content_bounds),
     };
     if content.is_empty() { layer.mask.as_ref().map_or(Rect::EMPTY, |m| photocraft_compose::bounds::content_bounds(&m.surface)) } else { content }
@@ -1539,4 +1539,32 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!((x0.round(), y0.round(), x1.round(), y1.round()), (-10.0, 30.0, 110.0, 70.0));
         assert_eq!((sh.density, sh.feather), (1.0, 20.0), "the transform keeps the soft settings");
     }
+
+    /// A stroked soft shape's frame is the hard shape's rendered frame for every stroke alignment:
+    /// a centred stroke reaches half its width past the path, not its full width; both stop at
+    /// the canvas edge.
+    #[test]
+    fn a_stroked_soft_shapes_frame_matches_the_hard_shapes() {
+        for (align, reach, x) in [("center", 5, 50), ("inside", 0, 50), ("outside", 10, 50), ("center", 5, -20)] {
+            let mut s = Session::new();
+            s.execute("file.new", json!({"width": 200, "height": 200})).unwrap();
+            let stroke = json!({"width": 10, "color": "#ff0000", "align": align, "join": "round"});
+            let id = s.execute("shape.create", json!({"kind": "rect", "rect": [x, 50, 60, 40], "fill": "#000000", "stroke": stroke})).unwrap()["layer"]
+                .as_u64()
+                .unwrap();
+            let id = photocraft_doc::LayerId(id);
+            let boxes = |s: &Session| {
+                let st = s.active().unwrap();
+                let l = st.doc.layer(id).unwrap();
+                (transform_bounds(&st.doc, l), transform_frame(&st.doc, l), crate::snap::layer_rect(&st.doc, id))
+            };
+            let hard = boxes(&s);
+            // Hand-computed: the path is x..x + 60 x 50..90, the stroke reaches `reach` px past it.
+            assert_eq!(hard.0, Rect::new((x - reach).max(0), 50 - reach, x + 60 + reach, 90 + reach), "{align} at {x}: the hard shape's frame");
+            s.execute("layer.vectorMask.edit", json!({"density": 60, "feather": 8})).unwrap();
+            assert_eq!(boxes(&s), hard, "{align} at {x}: Density and Feather leave the frame");
+            s.execute("layer.vectorMask.edit", json!({"density": 100, "feather": 8})).unwrap();
+            assert_eq!(boxes(&s), hard, "{align} at {x}: Feather alone leaves the frame");
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
index c39cac367a..f3af6ae65c 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
@@ -2602,7 +2602,22 @@ impl PhotocraftApp {
     /// transform frame does.
     pub fn layer_frame_bounds(&mut self, layer: &photocraft_doc::Layer, surface: &photocraft_raster::Surface) -> photocraft_geom::Rect {
         match &layer.content {
-            photocraft_doc::LayerContent::Shape(sh) if sh.has_soft_mask() => photocraft_compose::hard_shape_bounds(sh).unwrap_or(photocraft_geom::Rect::EMPTY),
+            photocraft_doc::LayerContent::Shape(sh) if sh.has_soft_mask() => {
+                // Cached per rendering, like the pixel bounds: the frame renders strips of the shape.
+                let (key, rev) = (layer.id.0 | 1 << 63, surface_fingerprint(surface));
+                if let Some((r, b)) = self.bounds_cache.get(&key)
+                    && *r == rev
+                {
+                    return *b;
+                }
+                let canvas = self.session.active().map_or_else(|| surface.content_bounds(), |st| st.doc.bounds());
+                let b = photocraft_compose::soft_shape_frame(sh, surface.format(), canvas).unwrap_or(photocraft_geom::Rect::EMPTY);
+                if self.bounds_cache.len() > 256 {
+                    self.bounds_cache.clear();
+                }
+                self.bounds_cache.insert(key, (rev, b));
+                b
+            }
             _ => self.cached_bounds(layer.id.0, surface),
         }
     }