diff --git a/crates/pptx/src/write/shapes.rs b/crates/pptx/src/write/shapes.rs
index e799ea84f..26ce2cb98 100644
--- a/crates/pptx/src/write/shapes.rs
+++ b/crates/pptx/src/write/shapes.rs
@@ -303,7 +303,8 @@ pub fn shape(w: &mut W, x: &mut Exp, o: &mut Out, cx: &mut Ctx, s: &Shape, depth
             w.close("p:nvPicPr");
             dml::blip_fill(w, x, o, "p:blipFill", fill);
             let mut s2 = s.clone();
-            if matches!(s2.fill, Some(Fill::Picture(_) | Fill::Background | Fill::Group)) {
+            // Group fill is a separate backing behind transparent image pixels.
+            if matches!(s2.fill, Some(Fill::Picture(_) | Fill::Background)) {
                 s2.fill = None;
             }
             sp_pr(w, x, o, &s2, true);
@@ -940,7 +941,7 @@ fn shape_with_id(w: &mut W, x: &mut Exp, o: &mut Out, cx: &mut Ctx, s: &Shape, i
         // As for any picture, a colour or pattern fill shows behind the image (an object's preview
         // keeps its fallback picture's fill).
         let mut s2 = s.clone();
-        if matches!(s2.fill, Some(Fill::Picture(_) | Fill::Background | Fill::Group)) {
+        if matches!(s2.fill, Some(Fill::Picture(_) | Fill::Background)) {
             s2.fill = None;
         }
         sp_pr(w, x, o, &s2, true);
diff --git a/crates/pptx/tests/it/main.rs b/crates/pptx/tests/it/main.rs
index 3f2026c66..ddbca4ee9 100644
--- a/crates/pptx/tests/it/main.rs
+++ b/crates/pptx/tests/it/main.rs
@@ -29,3 +29,5 @@ mod table_styles;
 mod tags;
 mod transition_xml;
 mod trigger_steps;
+
+mod picture_backing;
diff --git a/crates/pptx/tests/it/picture_backing.rs b/crates/pptx/tests/it/picture_backing.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6f32ae077
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/pptx/tests/it/picture_backing.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+//! A picture's fill is a backing behind its transparent image, independent of its blip fill.
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use deckcraft_color::Rgba;
+use deckcraft_model::style::{Fill, PictureFill, PictureMode};
+use deckcraft_model::{ColorRef, Presentation, Shape, ShapeId, ShapeKind, Xfrm, defaults};
+
+fn deck(fill: Option<Fill>, object: bool) -> Presentation {
+    let mut p = defaults::new_presentation(None);
+    let image = image::RgbaImage::from_fn(8, 4, |x, _| if x < 4 { image::Rgba([0, 0, 0, 0]) } else { image::Rgba([0, 0, 128, 255]) });
+    let mut png = std::io::Cursor::new(Vec::new());
+    image::DynamicImage::ImageRgba8(image).write_to(&mut png, image::ImageFormat::Png).expect("PNG");
+    let media = p.add_media("transparent.png", "image/png", png.into_inner()).expect("media");
+    let kind = if object {
+        ShapeKind::Opaque { xml: String::new(), preview: Some(media), label: "synthetic preview".into(), parts: vec![] }
+    } else {
+        ShapeKind::Picture { fill: PictureFill { media, ..Default::default() } }
+    };
+    let pic = Shape { id: ShapeId(102), name: "Picture".into(), xfrm: Some(Xfrm::new(20.0, 10.0, 80.0, 40.0)), fill, kind, ..Default::default() };
+    let group = Shape {
+        id: ShapeId(101),
+        name: "Group".into(),
+        xfrm: Some(Xfrm::new(100.0, 150.0, 400.0, 180.0)),
+        fill: Some(Fill::solid(ColorRef::rgb(Rgba::WHITE))),
+        kind: ShapeKind::Group { children: vec![pic], child: Xfrm::new(0.0, 0.0, 200.0, 120.0) },
+        ..Default::default()
+    };
+    Arc::make_mut(&mut p.slides[0]).shapes.push(group);
+    p
+}
+
+fn picture(p: &Presentation) -> &Shape {
+    let g = p.slides[0].shapes.iter().find(|s| s.name == "Group").expect("group");
+    let ShapeKind::Group { children, child } = &g.kind else { panic!("group kind") };
+    assert_eq!(*child, Xfrm::new(0.0, 0.0, 200.0, 120.0));
+    assert_eq!(g.xfrm, Some(Xfrm::new(100.0, 150.0, 400.0, 180.0)));
+    assert_eq!(g.fill, Some(Fill::solid(ColorRef::rgb(Rgba::WHITE))));
+    children.iter().find(|s| s.name == "Picture").expect("picture")
+}
+
+fn check_saves(mut p: Presentation, fill: Option<Fill>) {
+    let expected_media = p.media[0].data.clone();
+    for _ in 0..2 {
+        p = deckcraft_pptx::import(&deckcraft_pptx::export(&p).expect("export")).expect("import");
+        let pic = picture(&p);
+        assert_eq!(pic.fill, fill, "keep the backing separate from the picture's blip fill");
+        assert_eq!(pic.xfrm, Some(Xfrm::new(20.0, 10.0, 80.0, 40.0)));
+        let ShapeKind::Picture { fill: image } = &pic.kind else { panic!("picture kind") };
+        assert!(matches!(image.mode, PictureMode::Stretch { .. }));
+        let media = p.media.iter().find(|m| m.id == image.media).expect("referenced image");
+        assert_eq!(media.data, expected_media, "keep transparent PNG bytes unchanged");
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn a_transparent_picture_keeps_its_inherited_group_backing() {
+    check_saves(deck(Some(Fill::Group), false), Some(Fill::Group));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn an_object_saved_as_its_picture_preview_keeps_its_inherited_group_backing() {
+    // Empty kept XML deliberately exercises shape_with_id's preview fallback, not the ordinary
+    // picture writer. Both must keep the same backing when they serialize p:pic.
+    check_saves(deck(Some(Fill::Group), true), Some(Fill::Group));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn unfilled_and_directly_filled_pictures_keep_their_own_backing() {
+    for fill in [None, Some(Fill::None), Some(Fill::solid(ColorRef::rgb(Rgba::rgb(200, 100, 20))))] {
+        check_saves(deck(fill.clone(), false), fill);
+    }
+}