diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/fileio/load.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/fileio/load.rs
index 449b9637..374825d1 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/fileio/load.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/fileio/load.rs
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ pub fn load_with(name: &str, bytes: &[u8], opts: &LoadOptions) -> Result<Loaded>
     let title = file_name(name);
     let mut converted = false;
     let mut preview_only = false;
-    let (mut doc, warnings, restored) = match format.id {
+    let (mut doc, mut warnings, restored) = match format.id {
         // EPS and PostScript .ai: the document our EPS files carry, else the PostScript read.
         _ if format.id == "eps" || vectorcraft_pdf::is_postscript(bytes) => {
             let editing = vectorcraft_eps::has_native(bytes).then_some((true, || vectorcraft_eps::native(bytes)));
@@ -263,6 +263,7 @@ pub fn load_with(name: &str, bytes: &[u8], opts: &LoadOptions) -> Result<Loaded>
     if !matches!(format.id, "vectorcraft" | "template") || doc.title.is_empty() {
         doc.title = title;
     }
+    warnings.extend(doc.images.values().filter_map(|b| too_large_note(&b.bytes)));
     Ok(Loaded { doc, format, warnings, restored, converted, preview_only })
 }
 
@@ -394,6 +395,17 @@ pub(super) fn new_from_template(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
 /// that default: wasm32 has 4 GB to address and aborts when an allocation fails.
 pub(crate) const MAX_RASTER_ALLOC: u64 = if cfg!(target_arch = "wasm32") { 512 << 20 } else { 2 << 30 };
 
+/// What to say of encoded image `bytes` that need more than [`MAX_RASTER_ALLOC`] to decode (its
+/// header says so; the pixels aren't read): the renderer, which has the same allowance, draws
+/// nothing for them, so Open, Place and the Links panel say it (#1479). `None` for images that
+/// decode, and for bytes that aren't an image.
+pub(crate) fn too_large_note(bytes: &[u8]) -> Option<String> {
+    use image::ImageDecoder as _;
+    let d = image::ImageReader::new(Cursor::new(bytes)).with_guessed_format().ok()?.into_decoder().ok()?;
+    let (w, h) = d.dimensions();
+    (d.total_bytes() > MAX_RASTER_ALLOC).then(|| format!("an image of {w} × {h} pixels is too large to draw"))
+}
+
 /// Decode an image's header (and, for formats stored as PNG, its pixels). CMYK TIFFs are kept as
 /// they are, with their ink amounts ([`ImageBlob::cmyk`]); CMYK TIFFs with an alpha channel, which
 /// the decoder can't read, become RGBA in the active colour settings' CMYK, as do CMYK Photoshop
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/fileio/mod.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/fileio/mod.rs
index 7a13657c..9a0194e3 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/fileio/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/fileio/mod.rs
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ pub mod eps;
 mod export;
 pub(crate) mod imagemap;
 mod load;
-pub(crate) use load::MAX_RASTER_ALLOC;
+pub(crate) use load::{MAX_RASTER_ALLOC, too_large_note};
 mod metafile;
 mod native;
 pub mod pdf;
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/links.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/links.rs
index 831ca0dd..667d66da 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/links.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/links.rs
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ pub fn specs() -> Vec<CommandSpec> {
             "Links",
             [],
             None,
-            "{show?: all (default)|missing|modified|embedded, sort?: name|kind (file format)|status (missing, modified, ok, embedded); default: stacking order; top first} every image object and placed document in the layers, as the Links panel lists them → {links: [{id, name, linked, status: ok|modified|missing|embedded, format, pixelWidth, pixelHeight, path?, found?: path (found away from its path), page?, preview?: true (showing the saved preview), document?: true (a placed document: pageWidth and pageHeight in pt instead of pixels)}], missing, modified, embedded}",
+            "{show?: all (default)|missing|modified|embedded, sort?: name|kind (file format)|status (missing, modified, ok, embedded); default: stacking order; top first} every image object and placed document in the layers, as the Links panel lists them → {links: [{id, name, linked, status: ok|modified|missing|embedded, format, pixelWidth, pixelHeight, path?, found?: path (found away from its path), page?, preview?: true (showing the saved preview), note?: said of an image too large to draw, document?: true (a placed document: pageWidth and pageHeight in pt instead of pixels)}], missing, modified, embedded}",
             has_doc,
             list
         ),
@@ -1011,7 +1011,14 @@ fn list(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
         }
         let (link, mut row) = match &n.kind {
             NodeKind::Image(im) => {
-                (im.link.as_ref(), json!({ "format": format_label(&st.doc, im), "pixelWidth": im.width, "pixelHeight": im.height }))
+                let mut row = json!({ "format": format_label(&st.doc, im), "pixelWidth": im.width, "pixelHeight": im.height });
+                // Only an image that could be past the decode allowance (at 16 bytes a pixel, the
+                // most a decoder gives) has its header read for this.
+                let large = im.width as u64 * im.height as u64 > fileio::MAX_RASTER_ALLOC / 16;
+                if let Some(note) = st.doc.images.get(&im.key).filter(|_| large).and_then(|b| fileio::too_large_note(&b.bytes)) {
+                    row["note"] = json!(note);
+                }
+                (im.link.as_ref(), row)
             }
             NodeKind::PlacedDocument(p) => (Some(&p.link), document_row(p)),
             _ => continue,
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/place/mod.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/place/mod.rs
index 2cd31de4..6719dbed 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/place/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/place/mod.rs
@@ -183,7 +183,8 @@ fn load(p: &Value, cmd: &str, board: Option<Rect>) -> Result<Loaded> {
         let (sx, sy) = pt_per_px(img.ppi);
         let natural = Rect::new(0.0, 0.0, img.width as f64 * sx, img.height as f64 * sy);
         let link = src.path.map(|path| super::links::link_info(path, &src.bytes));
-        return Ok(Loaded { name, format, art: Art::Image(img), natural, warnings: vec![], link, board: None });
+        let warnings = fileio::too_large_note(&img.blob.bytes).into_iter().collect();
+        return Ok(Loaded { name, format, art: Art::Image(img), natural, warnings, link, board: None });
     }
     let anchored = format.id == "dxf" && (opts.dxf.fit || !opts.dxf.center);
     let (mut doc, warnings) = match format.id {
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests_linkspanel.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests_linkspanel.rs
index 15809965..fc0de2a8 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests_linkspanel.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests_linkspanel.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,38 @@ fn place_embedded(s: &mut Session, path: &str) -> NodeId {
     NodeId(r["ids"][0].as_u64().unwrap())
 }
 
+/// A PNG that says it is `w` × `h` 1-bit grey pixels (its header and no rows, which is all that
+/// placing and listing read).
+fn png_header(w: u32, h: u32) -> Vec<u8> {
+    let mut out = b"\x89PNG\r\n\x1a\n".to_vec();
+    let ihdr: Vec<u8> = [&b"IHDR"[..], &w.to_be_bytes(), &h.to_be_bytes(), &[1, 0, 0, 0, 0]].concat();
+    for chunk in [&ihdr[..], b"IDAT\x78\x9c", b"IEND"] {
+        out.extend((chunk.len() as u32 - 4).to_be_bytes());
+        out.extend(chunk);
+        out.extend(crc32fast::hash(chunk).to_be_bytes());
+    }
+    out
+}
+
+/// An image past what a decode may take isn't drawn: Place and Open say so and the Links panel's
+/// row carries the note, where the image used to be blank with no word (#1479).
+#[test]
+fn an_image_too_large_to_draw_is_reported() {
+    const NOTE: &str = "an image of 200000 × 200000 pixels is too large to draw";
+    let dir = Folder::new("huge");
+    let (big, small) = (dir.file("wall.png"), dir.file("small.png"));
+    write(&big, &png_header(200_000, 200_000));
+    write(&small, &png(40, 20, BLUE));
+    let mut s = session();
+    assert_eq!(run(&mut s, "file.place", json!({"path": big, "at": [200, 150], "link": false}))["warnings"], json!([NOTE]));
+    assert_eq!(run(&mut s, "file.place", json!({"path": small, "at": [20, 20], "link": false}))["warnings"], json!([]));
+    let l = run(&mut s, "links.list", json!({}));
+    let notes: Vec<&Value> = l["links"].as_array().unwrap().iter().map(|r| &r["note"]).collect();
+    assert_eq!(notes, [&Value::Null, &json!(NOTE)], "top first: the small image has nothing to say");
+    // Opened as a document: said too. An image that decodes (16,000 px square) has no note.
+    assert_eq!(crate::cmd::fileio::load("wall.png", &png_header(200_000, 200_000)).unwrap().warnings, [NOTE]);
+    assert!(crate::cmd::fileio::load("fine.png", &png_header(16_000, 16_000)).unwrap().warnings.is_empty());
+}
 fn close(a: f64, b: f64) -> bool {
     (a - b).abs() < 1e-6
 }
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/cs.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/cs.tsv
index 3cdd3e25..f74e232a 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/cs.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/cs.tsv
@@ -4684,3 +4684,4 @@ mark-style	Japanese	Japonské
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes no parameters	neznámý parametr `{key}`; příkaz nemá žádné parametry
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes: {keys}	neznámý parametr `{key}`; příkaz přijímá: {keys}
 	Load EPS into Clipboard	Načíst EPS do schránky
+@msg	an image of {w} × {h} pixels is too large to draw	obraz o velikosti {w} × {h} obrazových bodů je příliš velký na vykreslení
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/de.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/de.tsv
index 52929231..dd59b508 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/de.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/de.tsv
@@ -4207,3 +4207,4 @@ theme	Appearance	Erscheinungsbild
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes no parameters	unbekannter Parameter `{key}`; der Befehl hat keine Parameter
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes: {keys}	unbekannter Parameter `{key}`; der Befehl akzeptiert: {keys}
 	Load EPS into Clipboard	EPS in die Zwischenablage laden
+@msg	an image of {w} × {h} pixels is too large to draw	ein Bild mit {w} × {h} Pixeln ist zu groß, um gezeichnet zu werden
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv
index d328e9dc..467763bf 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv
@@ -4624,3 +4624,4 @@ mark-style	Japanese	Japonesas
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes no parameters	parámetro desconocido `{key}`; el comando no tiene parámetros
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes: {keys}	parámetro desconocido `{key}`; el comando acepta: {keys}
 	Load EPS into Clipboard	Cargar EPS en el portapapeles
+@msg	an image of {w} × {h} pixels is too large to draw	una imagen de {w} × {h} píxeles es demasiado grande para dibujarse
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv
index ea746ae5..1bbe6c4e 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv
@@ -4683,3 +4683,4 @@ gradient-kind	Radial	Radial
 mark-style	Japanese	Japonais
 theme	Appearance	Apparence
 	Load EPS into Clipboard	Charger un EPS dans le presse-papiers
+@msg	an image of {w} × {h} pixels is too large to draw	une image de {w} × {h} pixels est trop grande pour être dessinée
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/hu.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/hu.tsv
index 97f989a4..8d200e38 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/hu.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/hu.tsv
@@ -4650,3 +4650,4 @@ theme	Appearance	Kinézet
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes no parameters	ismeretlen paraméter: `{key}`; a parancsnak nincs paramétere
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes: {keys}	ismeretlen paraméter: `{key}`; a parancs ezeket fogadja el: {keys}
 	Load EPS into Clipboard	EPS betöltése a vágólapra
+@msg	an image of {w} × {h} pixels is too large to draw	egy {w} × {h} pixeles kép túl nagy a kirajzoláshoz
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv
index 2eb4bcae..831a25c8 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv
@@ -4252,3 +4252,4 @@ lighting	Light	Luce
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes no parameters	parametro sconosciuto `{key}`; il comando non ha parametri
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes: {keys}	parametro sconosciuto `{key}`; il comando accetta: {keys}
 	Load EPS into Clipboard	Carica EPS negli appunti
+@msg	an image of {w} × {h} pixels is too large to draw	un'immagine di {w} × {h} pixel è troppo grande per essere disegnata
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv
index 948e57fc..5a58ed6b 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv
@@ -4246,3 +4246,4 @@ lighting	Light	ライト
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes no parameters	`{key}` は不明なパラメーターです。このコマンドにパラメーターはありません
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes: {keys}	`{key}` は不明なパラメーターです。このコマンドで使えるパラメーター: {keys}
 	Load EPS into Clipboard	EPS をクリップボードに読み込む
+@msg	an image of {w} × {h} pixels is too large to draw	{w} × {h} ピクセルの画像は大きすぎて描画できません
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv
index be651886..51b3c826 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv
@@ -4216,3 +4216,4 @@ lighting	Light	광원
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes no parameters	알 수 없는 매개변수 `{key}`: 이 명령에는 매개변수가 없습니다
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes: {keys}	알 수 없는 매개변수 `{key}`: 이 명령이 받는 매개변수: {keys}
 	Load EPS into Clipboard	EPS를 클립보드로 불러오기
+@msg	an image of {w} × {h} pixels is too large to draw	{w} × {h}픽셀 이미지는 너무 커서 그릴 수 없습니다
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pl.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pl.tsv
index 418685c3..e69defff 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pl.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pl.tsv
@@ -4527,3 +4527,4 @@ mark-style	Japanese	Japońskie
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes no parameters	nieznany parametr `{key}`; polecenie nie przyjmuje parametrów
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes: {keys}	nieznany parametr `{key}`; polecenie przyjmuje: {keys}
 	Load EPS into Clipboard	Wczytaj EPS do schowka
+@msg	an image of {w} × {h} pixels is too large to draw	obraz o wymiarach {w} × {h} pikseli jest zbyt duży, aby go narysować
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ru.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ru.tsv
index 20449dba..dd5983bc 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ru.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ru.tsv
@@ -4248,3 +4248,4 @@ lighting	Light	Свет
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes no parameters	неизвестный параметр `{key}`; у команды нет параметров
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes: {keys}	неизвестный параметр `{key}`; команда принимает: {keys}
 	Load EPS into Clipboard	Загрузить EPS в буфер обмена
+@msg	an image of {w} × {h} pixels is too large to draw	изображение размером {w} × {h} пикселей слишком велико для отрисовки
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/uk.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/uk.tsv
index 3b99f28d..a6abc016 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/uk.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/uk.tsv
@@ -4232,3 +4232,4 @@ lighting	Light	Світло
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes no parameters	невідомий параметр `{key}`; команда не має параметрів
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes: {keys}	невідомий параметр `{key}`; команда приймає: {keys}
 	Load EPS into Clipboard	Завантажити EPS у буфер обміну
+@msg	an image of {w} × {h} pixels is too large to draw	зображення розміром {w} × {h} пікселів завелике для відображення
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/vi.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/vi.tsv
index fc3792cc..fc1dbf0f 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/vi.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/vi.tsv
@@ -4234,3 +4234,4 @@ theme	Appearance	Giao diện
 @msg	{status} ({e})	{status} ({e})
 @msg	{tool} isn't in a toolbar group of several tools	{tool} không nằm trong nhóm thanh công cụ có nhiều công cụ
 	Load EPS into Clipboard	Tải EPS vào bảng tạm
+@msg	an image of {w} × {h} pixels is too large to draw	ảnh {w} × {h} điểm ảnh quá lớn nên không thể vẽ
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hans.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hans.tsv
index 4c740c7b..54d6595e 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hans.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hans.tsv
@@ -3843,3 +3843,4 @@ lighting	Light	光源
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes no parameters	未知参数 `{key}`；该命令没有参数
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes: {keys}	未知参数 `{key}`；该命令接受：{keys}
 	Load EPS into Clipboard	将 EPS 载入剪贴板
+@msg	an image of {w} × {h} pixels is too large to draw	{w} × {h} 像素的图像过大，无法绘制
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hant.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hant.tsv
index f34c476f..302f0ac5 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hant.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hant.tsv
@@ -3624,3 +3624,4 @@ lighting	Light	光源
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes no parameters	未知的參數 `{key}`；此指令沒有參數
 @msg	unknown parameter `{key}`; the command takes: {keys}	未知的參數 `{key}`；此指令接受：{keys}
 	Load EPS into Clipboard	將 EPS 載入剪貼簿
+@msg	an image of {w} × {h} pixels is too large to draw	{w} × {h} 像素的影像過大，無法繪製
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/links.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/links.rs
index 8ba4fb17..5250c854 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/links.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/links.rs
@@ -219,11 +219,16 @@ fn badge(ui: &Ui, r: egui::Rect, status: &str) {
 
 fn status_tip(r: &Value) -> String {
     let path = r["found"].as_str().or(r["path"].as_str()).unwrap_or_default();
-    match r["status"].as_str().unwrap_or_default() {
+    let tip = match r["status"].as_str().unwrap_or_default() {
         "missing" => crate::i18n::fmt(tl!("Missing: {path}"), &[("path", path)]),
         "modified" => crate::i18n::fmt(tl!("Modified since it was read: {path}"), &[("path", path)]),
         "embedded" => tl!("Embedded").into(),
         _ => path.to_string(),
+    };
+    // An image too large to draw (`links.list`'s note).
+    match r["note"].as_str() {
+        Some(note) => format!("{tip}\n{}", crate::i18n::msg(note)),
+        None => tip,
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/docs/mcp.md b/docs/mcp.md
index d2044ed3..96296b36 100644
--- a/docs/mcp.md
+++ b/docs/mcp.md
@@ -2193,7 +2193,8 @@ listed in `warnings`. Binary DXF and DWG files answer an error saying to save th
 
 `links.list {show?: all|missing|modified|embedded, sort?: name|kind|status}` lists every image in the layers, top
 first, as the Links panel does: `{id, name, linked, status: ok|modified|missing|embedded, format, pixelWidth,
-pixelHeight, path?, found?, page?, preview?}`. `links.info {id?}` is the Link Info: `image.info`'s fields plus
+pixelHeight, path?, found?, page?, preview?, note?}` (`note`: the image is too large to decode and isn't drawn;
+`document.open` and `file.place` say the same in their `warnings`). `links.info {id?}` is the Link Info: `image.info`'s fields plus
 `status`, `format`, the file's `ppi` and the `effectivePpi`, `scale` (% of 100%), `rotation` (degrees,
 counter-clockwise), `placement` and, for a linked file, `fileName`, `location`, `fileSize`, `created`, `modified`.
 `links.goTo {id}` selects an image; `links.embed {ids?}` keeps linked files' pixels in the document (an image whose