diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests_opacitymask.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests_opacitymask.rs
index eb80dae29..96a418405 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests_opacitymask.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests_opacitymask.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 //! report mixed values, and saves and exports never carry the editing layer.
 
 use serde_json::{Value, json};
+use vectorcraft_geom::Affine;
+use vectorcraft_render::{RenderOptions, Renderer};
 
 use super::*;
 use crate::cmd::maskedit::MASK_EDIT_LAYER;
@@ -46,6 +48,21 @@ fn data(v: &Value) -> Vec<u8> {
     vectorcraft_format::base64_decode(v["dataBase64"].as_str().unwrap()).unwrap()
 }
 
+/// #2727: the canvas passes `isolation` while mask art is edited; the editing layer is not drawn on
+/// the page, so isolation dimming must not run or the artwork washes out.
+#[test]
+fn mask_editing_does_not_dim_the_canvas() {
+    let mut s = session();
+    editing_mask(&mut s);
+    let st = s.doc().unwrap();
+    let layer = st.isolation.expect("mask editing isolates the temporary layer");
+    let render = |opts: &RenderOptions| Renderer::new().render(&st.doc, 300, 300, Affine::IDENTITY, opts);
+    let plain = render(&RenderOptions::default());
+    let canvas = render(&RenderOptions { isolated: Some(layer), ..Default::default() });
+    assert_eq!(plain.pixel(50, 100), canvas.pixel(50, 100), "inside the mask");
+    assert_eq!(plain.pixel(250, 100), canvas.pixel(250, 100), "outside the mask");
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn mask_options_act_on_the_masked_object_while_editing() {
     let mut s = session();
diff --git a/crates/render/src/lib.rs b/crates/render/src/lib.rs
index 059989c8c..0169a3593 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/lib.rs
@@ -1222,7 +1222,9 @@ impl Renderer {
     /// In isolation mode, while drawing outside the isolated container and the art dimmed around
     /// it: the isolated container and its layers and groups, from the top layer down to it.
     fn isolation_path(&mut self, f: &Frame) -> Option<(NodeId, Vec<NodeId>)> {
-        let isolated = f.opts.isolated.filter(|_| !self.isolation_settled)?;
+        // Opacity-mask editing isolates the temporary layer for tools; that layer is not painted on
+        // the page (the mask applies on the object), so canvas dimming would wash out everything.
+        let isolated = f.opts.isolated.filter(|_| f.doc.mask_edit.is_none() && !self.isolation_settled)?;
         let doc = std::ptr::from_ref(f.doc) as usize;
         if self.isolation.as_ref().is_none_or(|(stamp, d, id, _)| (*stamp, *d, *id) != (self.stamp, doc, isolated)) {
             self.isolation = Some((self.stamp, doc, isolated, f.doc.ancestry(isolated).unwrap_or_default()));