diff --git a/crates/color/src/gradient.rs b/crates/color/src/gradient.rs
index 309487982..35573f4ff 100644
--- a/crates/color/src/gradient.rs
+++ b/crates/color/src/gradient.rs
@@ -553,11 +553,25 @@ impl GradientPaint {
     /// as `rgb` gives them, mixed as the renderer mixes them: [`Ramp`]). Dithered, each colour
     /// channel of pixel (column, row) gets [`dither_noise`] before it is rounded to a level.
     pub fn pixels(&self, bounds: Rect, area: Rect, cols: u16, rows: u16, rgb: &dyn Fn(&Color) -> [f32; 3]) -> impl Iterator<Item = [u8; 4]> + use<> {
+        self.pixels_within(bounds, area, cols, rows, [0..cols, 0..rows], rgb)
+    }
+    /// [`Self::pixels`] for the cells in columns `cells[0]` and rows `cells[1]` of the grid only,
+    /// row by row: the same pixels, noise and all, the whole grid has there.
+    pub fn pixels_within(
+        &self,
+        bounds: Rect,
+        area: Rect,
+        cols: u16,
+        rows: u16,
+        cells: [std::ops::Range<u16>; 2],
+        rgb: &dyn Fn(&Color) -> [f32; 3],
+    ) -> impl Iterator<Item = [u8; 4]> + use<> {
         let (kind, geom, dither) = (self.gradient.kind, self.resolve(bounds), self.gradient.dither);
         let ramp = Ramp::new(&self.gradient, rgb);
         let (cw, ch) = (area.width() / f64::from(cols.max(1)), area.height() / f64::from(rows.max(1)));
         let (x0, y0) = (area.x0, area.y0);
-        (0..u32::from(rows)).flat_map(move |j| (0..u32::from(cols)).map(move |i| (i, j))).map(move |(i, j)| {
+        let [across, down] = cells.map(|r| u32::from(r.start)..u32::from(r.end));
+        down.flat_map(move |j| across.clone().map(move |i| (i, j))).map(move |(i, j)| {
             let p = Point::new(x0 + (f64::from(i) + 0.5) * cw, y0 + (f64::from(j) + 0.5) * ch);
             let c = ramp.at(geom.param_at(kind, p) as f32);
             let level = |k: usize| {
diff --git a/crates/color/src/lib.rs b/crates/color/src/lib.rs
index 46439d29d..aff5c5122 100644
--- a/crates/color/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/color/src/lib.rs
@@ -378,6 +378,18 @@ impl Paint {
             _ => None,
         }
     }
+    /// This stroke paint as the fill of the stroke's outline, so the outline looks as the stroke
+    /// did: without dither, which strokes ignore ([`GradientPaint::draws_as_pixels`]).
+    pub fn stroke_as_fill(&self) -> Paint {
+        match self {
+            Paint::Gradient(g) if g.gradient.dither => {
+                let mut g = g.clone();
+                g.gradient.dither = false;
+                Paint::Gradient(g)
+            }
+            p => p.clone(),
+        }
+    }
     /// The Registration colour: 100% of every ink, linked to [`swatch::REGISTRATION`].
     pub fn registration() -> Self {
         Paint::Solid { color: Color::cmyk(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0), swatch: Some(swatch::REGISTRATION.into()), tint: 1.0 }
diff --git a/crates/effects/src/bake.rs b/crates/effects/src/bake.rs
index dfe0a8c8f..bfda7c472 100644
--- a/crates/effects/src/bake.rs
+++ b/crates/effects/src/bake.rs
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ pub fn bake_appearance(n: &Node) -> Option<Node> {
                     }
                     None => {
                         let effects = st.effects.clone();
-                        let fill = FillLayer { opacity: st.opacity, blend: st.blend, effects, ..FillLayer::new(st.paint.clone()) };
+                        let fill = FillLayer { opacity: st.opacity, blend: st.blend, effects, ..FillLayer::new(st.paint.stroke_as_fill()) };
                         piece(outline, FillRule::NonZero, AppearanceItem::Fill(fill))
                     }
                 }
@@ -673,6 +673,22 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(f.effects.iter().map(|e| e.id.as_str()).collect::<Vec<_>>(), ["stylize.dropShadow"]);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn a_baked_stroke_leaves_dither_behind() {
+        // Strokes ignore dither, so the filled outline goes without it and looks as the stroke did.
+        let mut n = Node::path(NodeId(50), shapes::rectangle(Rect::new(0.0, 0.0, 100.0, 100.0)), Appearance::default_art());
+        if let AppearanceItem::Stroke(s) = &mut n.appearance.items[1] {
+            let mut g = vectorcraft_color::GradientPaint::new(Default::default());
+            g.gradient.dither = true;
+            s.paint = Paint::Gradient(Box::new(g));
+        }
+        let m = bake_appearance(&n).unwrap();
+        let ch = m.children().unwrap();
+        let Some(AppearanceItem::Fill(f)) = ch[1].appearance.items.first() else { panic!("the outline is filled") };
+        let Paint::Gradient(g) = &f.paint else { panic!("a gradient fill") };
+        assert!(!g.gradient.dither);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn a_baked_stroke_with_a_gradient_along_it_becomes_meshes_clipped_to_its_outline() {
         let mut n = Node::path(NodeId(50), shapes::rectangle(Rect::new(0.0, 0.0, 100.0, 100.0)), Appearance::default_art());
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/paint.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/paint.rs
index 685dc0038..9b09392bd 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/paint.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/paint.rs
@@ -403,6 +403,10 @@ fn set_paint(s: &mut Session, p: &Value, fill: bool) -> Result<Value> {
     }
     check_keep_model(p, cmd)?;
     let paint = paint_from(s, p)?.ok_or_else(|| bad(cmd, "give color, none, swatch or gradient"))?;
+    // As `paint.editGradient`: a `dither` given applies to gradient fills only.
+    if !fill && matches!(&paint, Paint::Gradient(g) if g.gradient.dither) && p.get("swatch").is_none() {
+        return Err(bad(cmd, "`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)"));
+    }
     apply_paint(s, p, paint, fill)
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/pathops.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/pathops.rs
index c1f3399b0..d13f210c1 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/pathops.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/pathops.rs
@@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ pub(crate) fn outlined_stroke(
         blend: st.blend,
         effects: st.effects.clone(),
         overprint: st.overprint,
-        ..vectorcraft_doc::appearance::FillLayer::new(st.paint.clone())
+        ..vectorcraft_doc::appearance::FillLayer::new(st.paint.stroke_as_fill())
     };
     n.appearance = Appearance { items: vec![AppearanceItem::Fill(fill)], ..Default::default() }.into();
     Some(n)
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests_gradient.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests_gradient.rs
index e3dcdf976..13a7aa4e2 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests_gradient.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests_gradient.rs
@@ -440,7 +440,29 @@ fn dither_is_a_fill_gradient_option_that_saves_and_loads() {
     s.execute("paint.setStroke", &json!({"gradient": {}})).unwrap();
     let before = node(&s, id).appearance.clone();
     assert!(s.execute("paint.editGradient", &json!({"dither": true, "stroke": true})).is_err());
+    assert!(s.execute("paint.setStroke", &json!({"gradient": {"dither": true}})).is_err());
     assert!(s.execute("paint.editGradient", &json!({"dither": "yes"})).is_err());
     assert!(s.execute("paint.setFill", &json!({"gradient": {"dither": 1}})).is_err());
     assert_eq!(node(&s, id).appearance, before);
 }
+
+/// A stroke ignores dither, so one that holds it anyway (swapped from a fill) outlines to a fill
+/// without it: Outline Stroke keeps the look.
+#[test]
+fn an_outlined_stroke_leaves_dither_behind() {
+    let mut s = session();
+    let id = rect(&mut s, 0.0, 0.0, 100.0, 100.0);
+    s.execute("paint.setStroke", &json!({"gradient": {}})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("paint.setFill", &json!({"gradient": {"dither": true}})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("paint.swap", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    let Paint::Gradient(st) = node(&s, id).appearance.stroke_paint() else { panic!("a gradient stroke") };
+    assert!(st.gradient.dither, "the swapped stroke keeps the option");
+    s.execute("object.path.outlineStroke", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    let mut fills = vec![];
+    s.doc().unwrap().doc.walk(|n| {
+        if let Paint::Gradient(g) = n.appearance.fill_paint() {
+            fills.push(g.gradient.dither);
+        }
+    });
+    assert_eq!(fills, [false, false], "the fill and the outline, neither dithered");
+}
diff --git a/crates/pdf/src/export.rs b/crates/pdf/src/export.rs
index e89dd6601..bf21d6b1f 100644
--- a/crates/pdf/src/export.rs
+++ b/crates/pdf/src/export.rs
@@ -602,7 +602,8 @@ pub(crate) struct Exporter<'a> {
     pub overprint: bool,
     /// An overprinting fill or stroke was drawn so.
     pub overprinted: bool,
-    /// Characters with neither fill nor stroke were written as text in forms marked invisible.
+    /// Characters with neither fill nor stroke, or whose fill is drawn as art (outlines filled
+    /// with an image or pattern), were written as text in forms marked invisible.
     pub invisible: bool,
     /// Inline graphics being drawn inside inline graphics (text in a symbol shown inline in
     /// text…): deeper ones are left out.
@@ -1336,13 +1337,17 @@ impl Exporter<'_> {
     }
 
     /// Draw gradient `g`, placed on `bounds`, as an image over `area`, sampled at the document's
-    /// raster effects resolution: a freeform gradient's colour field (at most [`MAX_FIELD_PX`] a
-    /// side), or a linear or radial gradient (at most [`MAX_GRADIENT_PX`] a side).
+    /// raster effects resolution where it is drawn (`area` as the current transform sizes it, so
+    /// scaled type gets its pixels too): a freeform gradient's colour field (at most
+    /// [`MAX_FIELD_PX`] a side), or a linear or radial gradient (at most [`MAX_GRADIENT_PX`] a side).
     fn field_image(&mut self, s: &mut Surface, g: &vectorcraft_color::GradientPaint, bounds: Rect, area: Rect) {
         use vectorcraft_color::freeform::{painted_box, spread_scale};
         let Some(b) = painted_box(bounds) else { return };
         let area = area.abs();
-        let long = area.width().max(area.height());
+        // The area's sides in points on the page.
+        let [m0, m1, m2, m3, _, _] = ctm(s).as_coeffs();
+        let (w, h) = (area.width() * m0.hypot(m1), area.height() * m2.hypot(m3));
+        let long = w.max(h);
         if !(long > 1e-9 && long.is_finite()) {
             return;
         }
@@ -1350,7 +1355,7 @@ impl Exporter<'_> {
         let max = if freeform { MAX_FIELD_PX } else { MAX_GRADIENT_PX };
         let k = (self.doc.raster_effects_ppi / 72.0).min(max / long);
         let along = |len: f64| (len * k).ceil().clamp(1.0, max) as u16;
-        let (cols, rows) = (along(area.width()), along(area.height()));
+        let (cols, rows) = (along(w), along(h));
         let rgba: Vec<u8> = if freeform {
             let field = g.freeform_on(b).field_with(spread_scale(b), &|c| c.to_rgb());
             field.grid(area, cols, rows).flat_map(|(c, a)| [q(c[0]), q(c[1]), q(c[2]), q(a)]).collect()
@@ -1588,9 +1593,12 @@ impl Exporter<'_> {
                 }
                 s.pop();
             });
-            // Characters with neither fill nor stroke (a scanned page's recognized text) are still
-            // text: written invisible (rendering mode 3), so they can still be selected and searched.
-            if let Some(text) = plain.as_deref().filter(|_| fill.is_none() && !run.style.has_stroke()) {
+            // Characters with neither fill nor stroke (a scanned page's recognized text), or whose
+            // fill is drawn as art (a dithered gradient's image, a pattern: outlines, not text),
+            // are still text: written invisible (rendering mode 3), so they can still be selected
+            // and searched.
+            let unpainted = fill.is_none() && !run.style.has_stroke();
+            if let Some(text) = plain.as_deref().filter(|_| unpainted || self.area_paint(fill, true)) {
                 self.invisible = true;
                 crate::forms::form(s, Mark::Invisible, |s| {
                     s.push_transform(&text_space);
diff --git a/crates/pdf/src/tests_realtext.rs b/crates/pdf/src/tests_realtext.rs
index 8e32c429f..b85ec9d20 100644
--- a/crates/pdf/src/tests_realtext.rs
+++ b/crates/pdf/src/tests_realtext.rs
@@ -573,3 +573,25 @@ fn evenly_tracked_type_on_a_path_keeps_its_length() {
         assert!(g.distance(*w) < 0.3, "{got:?}\nvs {want:?}");
     }
 }
+
+/// Type filled with a dithered gradient is an image clipped to its outlines, sampled at the raster
+/// effects resolution on the page however the type is scaled, with its characters under it as
+/// invisible text (rendering mode 3), so they can still be selected and searched.
+#[test]
+fn dithered_type_keeps_its_resolution_when_scaled_and_stays_searchable() {
+    let fill = Paint::Gradient(Box::new(GradientPaint::new(Gradient { dither: true, ..Default::default() })));
+    let big = TextObject::point(Point::new(20.0, 80.0), "Dither", CharStyle { fill: fill.clone(), ..style(40.0) });
+    let mut scaled = TextObject::point(Point::new(5.0, 20.0), "Dither", CharStyle { fill, ..style(10.0) });
+    scaled.xf = Affine::scale(4.0) * scaled.xf;
+    let width = |bytes: &[u8]| -> u32 {
+        let s = String::from_utf8_lossy(bytes);
+        s.split("/Width ").nth(1).and_then(|w| w.split(|c: char| !c.is_ascii_digit()).next()).and_then(|n| n.parse().ok()).unwrap()
+    };
+    let (big, scaled) = (pdf(&doc(vec![big]), false).bytes, pdf(&doc(vec![scaled]), false).bytes);
+    let (wb, ws) = (width(&big), width(&scaled));
+    // At 72 ppi a pixel a point: 40 pt "Dither" is about 100 points wide.
+    assert!(wb >= 80 && wb.abs_diff(ws) <= 2, "40 pt type {wb} pixels wide, 10 pt type scaled 4 times {ws}");
+    let ops = String::from_utf8_lossy(&scaled).split_whitespace().collect::<Vec<_>>().join(" ");
+    assert!(ops.contains("3 Tr"), "the characters as invisible text");
+    assert_eq!(texts(&import_as(&scaled, TextAs::Text)), ["Dither"]);
+}
diff --git a/crates/render/src/dither.rs b/crates/render/src/dither.rs
index 9a1ad9d94..49a38d7ce 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/dither.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/dither.rs
@@ -5,10 +5,13 @@
 //! the grid and a zoom rarely misses), each colour channel given fine noise of up to a level
 //! ([`vectorcraft_color::gradient::dither_noise`]) before it is rounded, and drawn as an image
 //! paint that the fill clips. Past [`MAX_CELLS`] a side (a box larger than that on screen), cells
-//! grow beyond a pixel and are mixed bilinearly, so the gradient stays smooth.
+//! grow beyond a pixel and are mixed bilinearly, so the gradient stays smooth. Only the cells the
+//! render target can show are sampled ([`window`]), so a large box mostly off-screen costs what
+//! its visible part does.
 
 use std::cell::RefCell;
 use std::hash::{Hash, Hasher};
+use std::ops::Range;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use vectorcraft_color::GradientPaint;
@@ -24,11 +27,23 @@ use crate::lru::{self, FrameCache};
 /// Most cells along a side of a dithered gradient's grid (64 MiB for a square grid).
 pub(crate) const MAX_CELLS: f64 = 4096.0;
 
+/// Cells along a side of the part of a grid that is sampled snap out to multiples of this
+/// ([`window`]), so a pan within them keeps the sampled part.
+const TILE: f64 = 256.0;
+
 thread_local! {
     /// Grids by [`key`], within [`lru::DITHER_BUDGET`], least recently used first out.
     static GRIDS: RefCell<FrameCache<u64, Arc<Pixmap>>> = RefCell::new(FrameCache::new(lru::DITHER_BUDGET, usize::MAX));
 }
 
+/// Bytes of the grids this thread keeps, after `f` runs on an empty cache.
+#[cfg(test)]
+pub(crate) fn grid_bytes_after(f: impl FnOnce()) -> usize {
+    GRIDS.with(|c| c.borrow_mut().clear());
+    f();
+    GRIDS.with(|c| c.borrow().bytes())
+}
+
 /// Cells along a side `px` device pixels long: at least one per pixel, rounded up to a
 /// quarter-octave step, 1 to [`MAX_CELLS`].
 fn cells(px: f64) -> u16 {
@@ -36,9 +51,10 @@ fn cells(px: f64) -> u16 {
     2f64.powf(steps / 4.0).ceil().clamp(1.0, MAX_CELLS) as u16
 }
 
-/// Cache key of gradient `g` placed on box `b` as a `cols` × `rows` grid painted with `ink` (and
-/// the active colour settings, which turn colours into display RGB or inks).
-fn key(g: &GradientPaint, b: Rect, cols: u16, rows: u16, ink: Ink) -> u64 {
+/// Cache key of gradient `g` placed on box `b` as a `cols` × `rows` grid, cells `win` of it,
+/// painted with `ink` (and the active colour settings, which turn colours into display RGB or
+/// inks).
+fn key(g: &GradientPaint, b: Rect, cols: u16, rows: u16, win: &[Range<u16>; 2], ink: Ink) -> u64 {
     let mut h = std::collections::hash_map::DefaultHasher::new();
     let gr = &g.gradient;
     (gr.kind as u8, gr.dither).hash(&mut h);
@@ -50,24 +66,47 @@ fn key(g: &GradientPaint, b: Rect, cols: u16, rows: u16, ink: Ink) -> u64 {
     (geom.start.x.to_bits(), geom.start.y.to_bits(), geom.end.x.to_bits(), geom.end.y.to_bits(), geom.aspect.to_bits()).hash(&mut h);
     geom.focal.map(|f| (f.x.to_bits(), f.y.to_bits())).hash(&mut h);
     (b.x0.to_bits(), b.y0.to_bits(), b.x1.to_bits(), b.y1.to_bits(), cols, rows).hash(&mut h);
+    win.hash(&mut h);
     (Arc::as_ptr(&vectorcraft_color::cms::active()) as usize, ink).hash(&mut h);
     h.finish()
 }
 
-/// `g` placed on `b` as a premultiplied `cols` × `rows` pixmap, colours as `ink` paints them.
-pub(crate) fn rasterize(g: &GradientPaint, b: Rect, cols: u16, rows: u16, ink: Ink) -> Pixmap {
+/// The cells of a `cols` × `rows` grid over box `b` that a `w` × `h` render target, which
+/// transform `xf` maps the box onto, can show: (columns, rows), a cell more each way for the
+/// bilinear mix, out to whole [`TILE`]s. The whole grid where `xf` has no inverse; None where
+/// no cell shows.
+fn window(xf: Affine, w: u16, h: u16, b: Rect, cols: u16, rows: u16) -> Option<[Range<u16>; 2]> {
+    let seen = xf.inverse().transform_rect_bbox(Rect::new(0.0, 0.0, f64::from(w), f64::from(h)));
+    let span = |lo: f64, hi: f64, start: f64, len: f64, n: u16| {
+        let cell = len / f64::from(n);
+        let (first, last) = (((lo - start) / cell).floor() - 1.0, ((hi - start) / cell).ceil() + 1.0);
+        if !(first.is_finite() && last.is_finite()) {
+            return Some(0..n);
+        }
+        let a = ((first / TILE).floor() * TILE).clamp(0.0, f64::from(n));
+        let z = ((last / TILE).ceil() * TILE).clamp(0.0, f64::from(n));
+        (a < z).then_some(a as u16..z as u16)
+    };
+    Some([span(seen.x0, seen.x1, b.x0, b.width(), cols)?, span(seen.y0, seen.y1, b.y0, b.height(), rows)?])
+}
+
+/// Cells `win` (columns, rows) of `g` placed on `b` as a `cols` × `rows` grid, as a
+/// premultiplied pixmap, colours as `ink` paints them.
+pub(crate) fn rasterize(g: &GradientPaint, b: Rect, cols: u16, rows: u16, win: [Range<u16>; 2], ink: Ink) -> Pixmap {
+    let (w, h) = (win[0].len() as u16, win[1].len() as u16);
     let data = g
-        .pixels(b, b, cols, rows, &|c| ink.rgb(c))
+        .pixels_within(b, b, cols, rows, win, &|c| ink.rgb(c))
         .map(|[r, gr, bl, a]| {
             let pm = |v: u8| ((u16::from(v) * u16::from(a) + 127) / 255) as u8;
             vello_cpu::color::PremulRgba8 { r: pm(r), g: pm(gr), b: pm(bl), a }
         })
         .collect();
-    Pixmap::from_parts(data, cols, rows)
+    Pixmap::from_parts(data, w, h)
 }
 
 /// Set dithered gradient `g` on box `bounds` (in the paint's space, which the context's current
-/// transform maps to pixels) as the context paint. Returns false for an empty box.
+/// transform maps to pixels) as the context paint. Returns false for an empty box or one off the
+/// render target.
 pub(crate) fn set_dithered_paint(ctx: &mut RenderContext, g: &GradientPaint, bounds: Rect, ink: Ink) -> bool {
     let Some(b) = painted_box(bounds) else { return false };
     // Device pixels per unit along the box's sides.
@@ -78,7 +117,9 @@ pub(crate) fn set_dithered_paint(ctx: &mut RenderContext, g: &GradientPaint, bou
         return false;
     }
     let (cols, rows) = (cells(wpx), cells(hpx));
-    let k = key(g, b, cols, rows, ink);
+    let Some(win) = window(*ctx.transform(), ctx.width(), ctx.height(), b, cols, rows) else { return false };
+    let (first_col, first_row) = (win[0].start, win[1].start);
+    let k = key(g, b, cols, rows, &win, ink);
     let pm = GRIDS
         .with(|c| {
             let mut c = c.borrow_mut();
@@ -86,11 +127,11 @@ pub(crate) fn set_dithered_paint(ctx: &mut RenderContext, g: &GradientPaint, bou
             c.get(&k, t).cloned()
         })
         .unwrap_or_else(|| {
-            let pm = Arc::new(rasterize(g, b, cols, rows, ink));
+            let pm = Arc::new(rasterize(g, b, cols, rows, win, ink));
             GRIDS.with(|c| {
                 let mut c = c.borrow_mut();
                 let t = c.tick();
-                c.insert(k, pm.clone(), cols as usize * rows as usize * 4, t);
+                c.insert(k, pm.clone(), usize::from(pm.width()) * usize::from(pm.height()) * 4, t);
             });
             pm
         });
@@ -100,6 +141,8 @@ pub(crate) fn set_dithered_paint(ctx: &mut RenderContext, g: &GradientPaint, bou
     let quality = if fine { ImageQuality::Low } else { ImageQuality::Medium };
     let sampler = ImageSampler { x_extend: Extend::Pad, y_extend: Extend::Pad, quality, alpha: 1.0 };
     ctx.set_paint(vello_cpu::Image { image: vello_cpu::ImageSource::Pixmap(pm), sampler });
-    ctx.set_paint_transform(Affine::translate(b.origin().to_vec2()) * Affine::scale_non_uniform(b.width() / cols as f64, b.height() / rows as f64));
+    let (cw, ch) = (b.width() / f64::from(cols), b.height() / f64::from(rows));
+    let origin = (b.x0 + f64::from(first_col) * cw, b.y0 + f64::from(first_row) * ch);
+    ctx.set_paint_transform(Affine::translate(origin) * Affine::scale_non_uniform(cw, ch));
     true
 }
diff --git a/crates/render/src/paint.rs b/crates/render/src/paint.rs
index eb339a973..4d0250acf 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/paint.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/paint.rs
@@ -52,11 +52,11 @@ pub(crate) fn set_paint(ctx: &mut RenderContext, p: &Paint, bounds: Rect, f: &Fr
     }
 }
 
-/// [`set_paint`] for a fill: a dithered gradient (dither applies to fills only) is drawn as
-/// pixels with fine noise ([`crate::dither`]).
+/// [`set_paint`] for a fill: a dithered gradient (dither applies to fills only) with stops is
+/// drawn as pixels with fine noise ([`crate::dither`]).
 pub(crate) fn set_fill_paint(ctx: &mut RenderContext, p: &Paint, bounds: Rect, f: &Frame) -> bool {
     match p {
-        Paint::Gradient(g) if g.gradient.dither && g.gradient.kind != GradientKind::Freeform => {
+        Paint::Gradient(g) if g.gradient.dither && g.gradient.kind != GradientKind::Freeform && !g.gradient.stops.is_empty() => {
             crate::dither::set_dithered_paint(ctx, g, bounds, f.ink)
         }
         _ => set_paint(ctx, p, bounds, f),
diff --git a/crates/render/src/tests_dither.rs b/crates/render/src/tests_dither.rs
index a8df8941e..8d6938039 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/tests_dither.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/tests_dither.rs
@@ -98,3 +98,38 @@ fn a_zoomed_or_rotated_dithered_gradient_keeps_its_colours() {
         }
     }
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn a_large_dithered_box_mostly_off_screen_samples_only_what_shows() {
+    // A 2000-unit square, the shallow ramp across it: a 2048-cell grid a side, 16 MiB.
+    const S: u32 = 2000;
+    let mut d = Document::new(f64::from(S), f64::from(S));
+    let id = d.alloc_id();
+    let n = Node::path(
+        id,
+        shapes::rectangle(Rect::new(0.0, 0.0, f64::from(S), f64::from(S))),
+        Appearance::basic(shallow(GradientKind::Linear, true), Paint::None, 0.0),
+    );
+    d.insert(Some(d.layers[0].id), 0, n).unwrap();
+    let opts = RenderOptions { background: Some([255, 255, 255, 255]), ..Default::default() };
+    let whole = Renderer::new().render(&d, S, S, Affine::IDENTITY, &opts);
+    // A 64-pixel view of its middle draws the pixels the whole render has there...
+    let mut part = None;
+    let bytes = dither::grid_bytes_after(|| part = Some(Renderer::new().render(&d, 64, 64, Affine::translate((-1000.0, -1000.0)), &opts)));
+    let part = part.unwrap();
+    assert!((0..64).all(|y| (0..64).all(|x| part.pixel(x, y) == whole.pixel(1000 + x, 1000 + y))), "the view draws what the whole render does");
+    // ...from the cells around it only, not the whole grid.
+    assert!(bytes > 0 && bytes <= 512 * 512 * 4, "{bytes} bytes of grid for a 64-pixel view");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn a_dithered_gradient_without_stops_draws_nothing_and_samples_nothing() {
+    let mut g = Gradient::new(GradientKind::Linear, Vec::new());
+    g.dither = true;
+    let d = doc(Paint::Gradient(Box::new(GradientPaint::new(g))), Paint::None);
+    let mut r = None;
+    let bytes = dither::grid_bytes_after(|| r = Some(render(&d, Affine::IDENTITY)));
+    assert_eq!(bytes, 0, "no grid is sampled");
+    let r = r.unwrap();
+    assert!((0..H).all(|y| (0..W).all(|x| r.pixel(x, y) == [255, 255, 255, 255])), "nothing is drawn");
+}
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/bg.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/bg.tsv
index 591c06810..5820eb5bb 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/bg.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/bg.tsv
@@ -5386,4 +5386,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Y ос
 	Dither	Дитъринг
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	Фин шум скрива ивиците в градиентната запълка
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` се прилага към градиентни запълки (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` се прилага към градиентни запълки (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither` трябва да бъде true или false
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/cs.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/cs.tsv
index c51d29369..53b7cb2c4 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/cs.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/cs.tsv
@@ -5431,4 +5431,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	osa Y
 	Dither	Rozptýlení
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	Jemný šum skryje pruhy ve výplni přechodem
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` platí pro výplně přechodem (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` platí pro výplně přechodem (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither` musí být true nebo false
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/da.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/da.tsv
index 1a3aa63ae..a4c784735 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/da.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/da.tsv
@@ -5402,4 +5402,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Y-akse
 	Dither	Dither
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	Fin støj skjuler striber i gradientfyldet
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` gælder for gradientfyld (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` gælder for gradientfyld (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither` skal være true eller false
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/de.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/de.tsv
index 7d6d2a468..cf179e228 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/de.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/de.tsv
@@ -5013,4 +5013,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Y-Achse
 	Dither	Dithering
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	Feines Rauschen verbirgt Streifen in der Verlaufsfläche
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` gilt für Verlaufsflächen (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` gilt für Verlaufsflächen (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither` muss true oder false sein
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/el.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/el.tsv
index 1718d3438..ed94df3f2 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/el.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/el.tsv
@@ -5383,4 +5383,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Άξονας Y
 	Dither	Πρόσθεση θορύβου
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	Ο λεπτός θόρυβος κρύβει τις λωρίδες στο γέμισμα ντεγκραντέ
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	Το `dither` ισχύει για γεμίσματα ντεγκραντέ (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	Το `dither` ισχύει για γεμίσματα ντεγκραντέ (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	Το `dither` πρέπει να είναι true ή false
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv
index c24b12a9c..a71d26ae6 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv
@@ -5373,4 +5373,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Eje Y
 	Dither	Tramado
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	Un ruido fino oculta las bandas del relleno de degradado
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` se aplica a rellenos de degradado (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` se aplica a rellenos de degradado (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither` debe ser true o false
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fi.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fi.tsv
index 309790fb8..1ebc1113f 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fi.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fi.tsv
@@ -5462,4 +5462,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Y-akseli
 	Dither	Rasterointi
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	Hieno kohina piilottaa raidat liukuväritäytöstä
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` koskee liukuväritäyttöjä (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` koskee liukuväritäyttöjä (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither` on oltava true tai false
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv
index 2a939f6dd..906cb013f 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv
@@ -5430,4 +5430,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Axe Y
 	Dither	Simulation
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	Un bruit fin masque les bandes du fond en dégradé
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` s’applique aux fonds en dégradé (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` s’applique aux fonds en dégradé (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither` doit valoir true ou false
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/hu.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/hu.tsv
index 7025aab2b..d3f16b753 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/hu.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/hu.tsv
@@ -5417,4 +5417,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Y tengely
 	Dither	Árnyalatkeverés
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	A finom zaj elrejti a sávokat a színátmenetes kitöltésben
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	A `dither` színátmenetes kitöltésekre vonatkozik (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	A `dither` színátmenetes kitöltésekre vonatkozik (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither`: true vagy false kell
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/id.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/id.tsv
index 9eae5d356..767b3f798 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/id.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/id.tsv
@@ -5402,4 +5402,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Sumbu Y
 	Dither	Dither
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	Derau halus menyembunyikan pita warna pada isian gradien
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` berlaku untuk isian gradien (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` berlaku untuk isian gradien (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither` harus true atau false
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv
index f029abca5..2ba2eac34 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv
@@ -5047,4 +5047,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Asse Y
 	Dither	Dithering
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	Un rumore fine nasconde le bande nel riempimento sfumato
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` si applica ai riempimenti sfumati (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` si applica ai riempimenti sfumati (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither` deve essere true o false
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv
index e0e7b28e6..f3c9d1355 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv
@@ -5109,4 +5109,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Y 軸
 	Dither	ディザ
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	細かいノイズでグラデーションの塗りの縞を目立たなくします
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` はグラデーションの塗りに適用されます (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` はグラデーションの塗りに適用されます (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither` には true または false を指定してください
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ka.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ka.tsv
index d79f921b2..4b26bace3 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ka.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ka.tsv
@@ -5347,4 +5347,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Y ღერძი
 	Dither	დიზერინგი
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	წვრილი ხმაური მალავს ზოლებს გრადიენტულ შევსებაში
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` ვრცელდება გრადიენტულ შევსებებზე (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` ვრცელდება გრადიენტულ შევსებებზე (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither` უნდა იყოს true ან false
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv
index 4dffd978b..468d8e1f0 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv
@@ -5010,4 +5010,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Y축
 	Dither	디더
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	미세한 노이즈로 그레이디언트 칠의 띠를 감춥니다
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither`는 그레이디언트 칠에 적용됩니다 (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither`는 그레이디언트 칠에 적용됩니다 (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither`은(는) true 또는 false여야 합니다
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/nl.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/nl.tsv
index 95b3239c6..781048b06 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/nl.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/nl.tsv
@@ -5445,4 +5445,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Y-as
 	Dither	Dither
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	Fijne ruis verbergt banden in de verloopvulling
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` geldt voor verloopvullingen (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` geldt voor verloopvullingen (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither` moet true of false zijn
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pl.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pl.tsv
index bb07cc453..2e1f1ba99 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pl.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pl.tsv
@@ -5283,4 +5283,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Oś Y
 	Dither	Rozpraszanie
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	Drobny szum ukrywa pasy w wypełnieniu gradientem
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` dotyczy wypełnień gradientem (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` dotyczy wypełnień gradientem (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither` musi mieć wartość true lub false
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pt-br.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pt-br.tsv
index 8d6860257..152468196 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pt-br.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pt-br.tsv
@@ -5348,4 +5348,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Eixo Y
 	Dither	Dither
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	Um ruído fino esconde as faixas do preenchimento em gradiente
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` se aplica a preenchimentos em gradiente (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` se aplica a preenchimentos em gradiente (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither` deve ser true ou false
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ru.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ru.tsv
index 11b53cdc0..56f923c27 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ru.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ru.tsv
@@ -5043,4 +5043,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Ось Y
 	Dither	Дизеринг
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	Мелкий шум скрывает полосы в градиентной заливке
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` применяется к градиентным заливкам (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` применяется к градиентным заливкам (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither` должно быть true или false
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/sv.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/sv.tsv
index 5516d4c8b..45cefd408 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/sv.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/sv.tsv
@@ -5387,4 +5387,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Y-axel
 	Dither	Dithering
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	Fint brus döljer bandningen i övertoningsfyllningen
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` gäller övertoningsfyllningar (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` gäller övertoningsfyllningar (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither` måste vara true eller false
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/tr.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/tr.tsv
index 0f0ee6591..1d56b83a8 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/tr.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/tr.tsv
@@ -5395,4 +5395,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Y ekseni
 	Dither	Titreme
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	İnce gürültü, degrade dolgudaki bantları gizler
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` degrade dolgulara uygulanır (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` degrade dolgulara uygulanır (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	"dither" doğru veya yanlış olmalıdır
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/uk.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/uk.tsv
index 8ae57a446..01336b352 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/uk.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/uk.tsv
@@ -5027,4 +5027,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Вісь Y
 	Dither	Дизеринг
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	Дрібний шум приховує смуги в градієнтній заливці
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` застосовується до градієнтних заливок (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` застосовується до градієнтних заливок (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither` має бути true або false
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/vi.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/vi.tsv
index 74ac99479..8076f21f4 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/vi.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/vi.tsv
@@ -5027,4 +5027,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Trục Y
 	Dither	Dither
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	Nhiễu mịn che dải màu trong vùng tô chuyển sắc
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` áp dụng cho vùng tô chuyển sắc (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` áp dụng cho vùng tô chuyển sắc (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither` phải là true hoặc false
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hans.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hans.tsv
index 87887fb40..722504a83 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hans.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hans.tsv
@@ -5271,4 +5271,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Y 轴
 	Dither	仿色
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	细微杂色可隐藏渐变填色中的色带
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` 适用于渐变填色 (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` 适用于渐变填色 (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither` 必须是 true 或 false
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hant.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hant.tsv
index 6407e0bd6..89fa98cad 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hant.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hant.tsv
@@ -5066,4 +5066,5 @@ axis	Y Axis	Y 軸
 	Dither	仿色
 	Fine noise hides banding in the gradient fill	細微雜色可隱藏漸層填色中的色帶
 @msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (stroke: false)	`dither` 適用於漸層填色 (stroke: false)
+@msg	`dither` applies to gradient fills (paint.setFill)	`dither` 適用於漸層填色 (paint.setFill)
 @msg	`dither` must be true or false	`dither` 必須是 true 或 false