diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/fileio/save.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/fileio/save.rs
index da1a4f5ac..6a573a40a 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/fileio/save.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/fileio/save.rs
@@ -867,6 +867,11 @@ impl SaveJob {
     /// its own also ends its Data Recovery copy.
     pub fn complete(self, s: &mut Session, uid: u64) {
         let saved = self.plan.retargets() && self.plan.path.is_some();
+        if saved && self.plan.format.id == "vectorcraft" {
+            let mut last = self.plan.options.clone();
+            last.retain(|k, _| !ARTBOARD_PARAMS.contains(&k.as_str()) && !matches!(k.as_str(), "separateArtboards" | "compress"));
+            s.prefs.native_save_options = last;
+        }
         // The other open documents that place this one show the new version.
         let written = self.plan.path.clone().filter(|_| matches!(self.plan.format.id, "vectorcraft" | "template"));
         if let Some(st) = s.document_mut(uid) {
@@ -932,7 +937,10 @@ fn format_options(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
     let f = format(id)
         .filter(|f| f.write || SAVE_FORMATS.contains(&f.id) || TEMPLATE_FORMATS.contains(&f.id))
         .ok_or_else(|| bad(C, format!("`{id}` is no writable format (see document.formats)")))?;
-    let saved = st.filter(|d| d.format == f.id).map(remembered_save_options);
+    // A document not yet saved as a native file starts from the native options used last.
+    let saved = st.filter(|d| d.format == f.id).map(remembered_save_options).filter(|m| !m.is_empty()).or_else(|| {
+        (f.id == "vectorcraft" && !s.prefs.native_save_options.is_empty()).then(|| s.prefs.native_save_options.clone())
+    });
     // A native save compresses as Use Compression says, unless told otherwise.
     let prefs = with_compression_pref(&s.prefs, &json!({}));
     let mut v = f.to_json();
@@ -1008,7 +1016,7 @@ pub(super) fn specs() -> Vec<CommandSpec> {
             "Format Options",
             [],
             None,
-            "{format?: a writable format id or ait (default: the document's own)} → {id, label, extensions, mime, read, write, raster, options: {name: {type, default, description, value}}, saveFormats: [{id, label, extensions}]}; value = the document's option as last saved in that format, else the default",
+            "{format?: a writable format id or ait (default: the document's own)} → {id, label, extensions, mime, read, write, raster, options: {name: {type, default, description, value}}, saveFormats: [{id, label, extensions}]}; value = the document's option as last saved in that format, else (native, for a document not yet saved as one) as the last native save used it, else the default",
             always,
             format_options
         ),
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/prefs.rs b/crates/engine/src/prefs.rs
index cb3bea46e..5f2a8e8d4 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/prefs.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/prefs.rs
@@ -247,6 +247,12 @@ pub struct Prefs {
     /// Preferences dialog field: resetting the preferences keeps it; `webExport.presets.*` edit it.
     #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Vec::is_empty")]
     pub web_export_presets: Vec<cmd::webexport::WebPreset>,
+    /// The VectorCraft Options a native Save or Save As used last (Preview, Embed ICC Profiles,
+    /// Create PDF-Compatible File…; not the artboards it picked, nor Use Compression, which its
+    /// preference decides): `file.formatOptions` offers them for a document not yet saved as a
+    /// native file. Not a Preferences dialog field.
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "serde_json::Map::is_empty")]
+    pub native_save_options: serde_json::Map<String, serde_json::Value>,
     /// Save for Web: the settings the dialog opens on (`webExport.settings`); none until set.
     #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
     pub web_export_settings: Option<cmd::webexport::WebSettings>,
@@ -442,6 +448,7 @@ impl Default for Prefs {
             append_converted: true,
             use_compression: false,
             web_export_presets: vec![],
+            native_save_options: serde_json::Map::new(),
             web_export_settings: None,
             print_presets: vec![],
             constrain_proportions: false,
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests/save.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests/save.rs
index e4828375e..9206e7b22 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests/save.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests/save.rs
@@ -99,6 +99,22 @@ fn save_as_takes_on_path_format_and_options() {
     let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(d);
 }
 
+/// #4523: a new document's VectorCraft Options start as the last native save used them (not its
+/// artboard range, nor Use Compression, which its preference decides).
+#[test]
+fn a_new_document_offers_the_native_options_used_last() {
+    let d = dir("lastnative");
+    let mut s = session();
+    let opts = json!({"preview": true, "embedProfiles": false, "pdfCompatible": true, "separateArtboards": true, "range": "1"});
+    s.execute("file.saveAs", &json!({"path": path(&d, "a.vectorcraft"), "options": opts})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("file.new", &json!({"width": 100, "height": 100})).unwrap();
+    let o = s.execute("file.formatOptions", &json!({"format": "vectorcraft"})).unwrap();
+    let value = |k: &str| o["options"][k]["value"].clone();
+    assert_eq!((value("preview"), value("embedProfiles"), value("pdfCompatible")), (json!(true), json!(false), json!(true)));
+    assert_eq!((value("separateArtboards"), value("range")), (o["options"]["separateArtboards"]["default"].clone(), o["options"]["range"]["default"].clone()));
+    let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(d);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn another_format_without_a_path_hands_the_bytes_back() {
     let d = dir("otherfmt");
diff --git a/docs/mcp.md b/docs/mcp.md
index fc9d738e7..536e48bf9 100644
--- a/docs/mcp.md
+++ b/docs/mcp.md
@@ -588,7 +588,8 @@ it replaced by the template's extension, and any other path that does not end in
 `card.png` is saved as `card.vctemplate` and `card` as `card.vctemplate`; the suggested name and the Templates folder
 come back without a path), `file.newFromTemplate {path}`, `file.revert` and `file.formatOptions {format?}` (a format's options
 with the values a save would use). Without a path the save commands return `{dataBase64, name, folder?, warnings}`. A document saved as SVG or PDF
-remembers its options, so the next save reuses them. A PDF opened with `pages`, `cropTo` or `password` is only part
+remembers its options, so the next save reuses them; a document not yet saved as a native file is offered the
+VectorCraft Options the last native Save or Save As used (not its artboards, nor Use Compression). A PDF opened with `pages`, `cropTo` or `password` is only part
 of the file, so Save asks for a new name instead of writing it back.
 `file.documentColorMode {mode, convert?, intent?, grays?}` switches the document color mode, converting the colors of
 the art (opacity masks included), symbols, graph designs, pattern tiles (with the tile that pattern editing's Cancel