diff --git a/crates/doc/src/edit.rs b/crates/doc/src/edit.rs
index 1bdd088fb..4353ecab9 100644
--- a/crates/doc/src/edit.rs
+++ b/crates/doc/src/edit.rs
@@ -868,13 +868,20 @@ fn story_has_hit(st: &Story, depth: usize, hit: &impl Fn(&Item) -> bool) -> bool
 
 /// Does `p` (in the item's parent space) hit `it`?
 pub fn item_hit(it: &Item, p: Point, tol: f64) -> bool {
-    if let Content::Group { items } = &it.content {
+    // A group is hit through its children. A frame with items pasted into it shows them clipped
+    // to its path, so it is hit by its own area: not where a nested image runs past the frame.
+    if let Content::Group { items } = &it.content
+        && !it.has_nested_items()
+    {
         let inner = it.xf.inverse() * p;
         return items.iter().any(|c| item_hit(c, inner, tol));
     }
     let inner = it.xf.inverse() * p;
     let bp = it.path.to_bezpath();
-    let area = !it.fill.is_none() || matches!(it.content, Content::Text(_) | Content::Graphic(_)) || it.path.is_closed() && it.shape != Shape::Path;
+    let area = !it.fill.is_none()
+        || matches!(it.content, Content::Text(_) | Content::Graphic(_))
+        || it.has_nested_items()
+        || it.path.is_closed() && it.shape != Shape::Path;
     if area && it.path.is_closed() && designcraft_geom::hit::fill_contains(&bp, designcraft_geom::FillRule::NonZero, inner) {
         return true;
     }
@@ -914,6 +921,62 @@ const PATH_TYPE_REACH: f64 = 12.0;
 mod placed_item_tests {
     use super::*;
 
+    /// A frame at (100, 100)–(200, 200) holding an image pasted into it that runs 150 pt past it on
+    /// every side, as a document from InDesign keeps a cropped photo.
+    fn frame_with_nested_image() -> Item {
+        let layer = LayerId(1);
+        let mut image = Item::new(ItemId(2), layer, Shape::Rectangle, shapes::rectangle(Rect::new(0.0, 0.0, 400.0, 400.0)));
+        image.xf = Affine::translate((-150.0, -150.0));
+        image.content = Content::Graphic(crate::Graphic {
+            layer_options: None,
+            asset: crate::AssetId(1),
+            size: (400.0, 400.0),
+            xf: Affine::IDENTITY,
+            clip: None,
+            auto_fit: Default::default(),
+            fit_align: 4,
+            crop: [0.0; 4],
+            wrap: Default::default(),
+            fill: Default::default(),
+        });
+        let mut frame = Item::new(ItemId(1), layer, Shape::Rectangle, shapes::rectangle(Rect::new(0.0, 0.0, 100.0, 100.0)));
+        frame.xf = Affine::translate((100.0, 100.0));
+        frame.content = Content::Group { items: vec![Arc::new(image)] };
+        frame
+    }
+
+    /// The frame shows its nested image clipped, so a click where the image runs past the frame
+    /// hits nothing: clicking the empty page beside such a photo used to select it, so it could
+    /// not be deselected.
+    #[test]
+    fn a_frame_with_a_nested_image_is_hit_only_inside_the_frame() {
+        let frame = frame_with_nested_image();
+        assert!(frame.has_nested_items());
+        assert!(item_hit(&frame, Point::new(150.0, 150.0), 1.0), "inside the frame");
+        assert!(item_hit(&frame, Point::new(100.0, 150.0), 1.0), "on its edge");
+        for p in [Point::new(60.0, 60.0), Point::new(300.0, 150.0), Point::new(150.0, 330.0)] {
+            assert!(!item_hit(&frame, p, 1.0), "{p:?} is outside the frame, over the cropped image");
+        }
+        // A group is still hit through its children.
+        let mut group = frame.clone();
+        group.shape = Shape::Group;
+        assert!(item_hit(&group, Point::new(60.0, 60.0), 1.0));
+    }
+
+    /// Placing or dropping a graphic fills a frame holding only nested graphics, not one holding
+    /// other objects.
+    #[test]
+    fn a_frame_with_only_nested_graphics_takes_a_graphic() {
+        let frame = frame_with_nested_image();
+        assert!(frame.takes_graphic());
+        let mut other = frame.clone();
+        other.content = Content::Group { items: vec![Arc::new(Item::new(ItemId(3), LayerId(1), Shape::Rectangle, Default::default()))] };
+        assert!(!other.takes_graphic());
+        let mut group = frame;
+        group.shape = Shape::Group;
+        assert!(!group.takes_graphic(), "a group of images is not a frame");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn exhaustive_placements_keep_unselected_branches_shared() {
         let mut d = Document::new(&Default::default());
diff --git a/crates/doc/src/item.rs b/crates/doc/src/item.rs
index 4c930c878..d99bfebd4 100644
--- a/crates/doc/src/item.rs
+++ b/crates/doc/src/item.rs
@@ -282,6 +282,16 @@ impl Item {
         self.shape != Shape::Group && matches!(&self.content, Content::Group { items } if !items.is_empty())
     }
 
+    /// A frame a placed or dropped graphic fills: an empty one, one holding a graphic, or one
+    /// holding only graphics pasted into it (as a document from InDesign keeps a frame's image).
+    pub fn takes_graphic(&self) -> bool {
+        match &self.content {
+            Content::Unassigned | Content::Graphic(_) => true,
+            Content::Group { items } => self.has_nested_items() && items.iter().all(|c| matches!(c.content, Content::Graphic(_))),
+            _ => false,
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn bounds(&self) -> Rect {
         self.bounds_under(Affine::IDENTITY).unwrap_or(Rect::ZERO)
     }
diff --git a/crates/doc/src/lib.rs b/crates/doc/src/lib.rs
index cb0e4a020..e6acc8aa8 100644
--- a/crates/doc/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/doc/src/lib.rs
@@ -946,6 +946,12 @@ impl Document {
     pub fn default_layer(&self) -> LayerId {
         self.layers.first().map(|l| l.id).unwrap_or_default()
     }
+    /// The layer new objects go to when a document opens: the topmost one shown and unlocked, so
+    /// a document whose top layer is a hidden, locked dieline doesn't put what is placed or drawn
+    /// where it can't be seen or selected. The top layer when every layer is hidden or locked.
+    pub fn working_layer(&self) -> LayerId {
+        self.layers.iter().find(|l| l.visible && !l.locked).map_or_else(|| self.default_layer(), |l| l.id)
+    }
 
     pub fn story(&self, id: StoryId) -> Option<&Story> {
         self.stories.get(&id).map(|s| &**s)
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/file/place.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/file/place.rs
index 638742885..81126030f 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/file/place.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/file/place.rs
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ pub(super) fn file_place(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
             return None;
         }
         let st = s.active()?;
-        st.selection.items.iter().copied().find(|i| st.doc.item(*i).is_some_and(|it| matches!(it.content, Content::Unassigned | Content::Graphic(_))))
+        st.selection.items.iter().copied().find(|i| st.doc.item(*i).is_some_and(|it| it.takes_graphic()))
     });
     // `"spread": null` counts as omitted, like the other placement parameters.
     let spread = match p.get("spread") {
@@ -756,3 +756,68 @@ mod layout_place_tests {
         assert!(b.execute("file.place", &json!({"base64": b64, "name": "src.idml", "layoutPage": 2})).is_err(), "page 2 is empty");
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod nested_frame_tests {
+    use std::sync::Arc;
+
+    use designcraft_doc::{Content, Item, ItemId, Shape, SpreadRef};
+    use designcraft_geom::{Affine, Rect, shapes};
+    use serde_json::json;
+
+    use crate::Session;
+
+    fn png(red: u8) -> String {
+        let png = designcraft_render::Rendered { width: 40, height: 20, pixels: [red, 90, 30, 255].repeat(800) }.to_png();
+        super::super::base64_encode(&png)
+    }
+
+    /// A graphic placed into a frame holding an image pasted into it (how a document from InDesign
+    /// keeps a photo) replaces the image and fills the frame, which keeps its size.
+    #[test]
+    fn placing_into_a_frame_with_a_nested_image_replaces_it() {
+        let mut s = Session::new();
+        s.execute("file.new", &json!({})).unwrap();
+        let first = s.execute("file.place", &json!({"base64": png(200), "name": "old.png", "x": 0, "y": 0})).unwrap();
+        let old = ItemId(first["id"].as_u64().unwrap());
+        let frame = s
+            .edit(|d, _| {
+                let mut image = (*d.item(old).unwrap()).clone();
+                d.remove_item(old)?;
+                image.xf = Affine::translate((-20.0, -20.0));
+                let id = ItemId(d.alloc());
+                let mut frame = Item::new(id, image.layer, Shape::Rectangle, shapes::rectangle(Rect::new(0.0, 0.0, 60.0, 90.0)));
+                frame.xf = Affine::translate((100.0, 100.0));
+                frame.content = Content::Group { items: vec![Arc::new(image)] };
+                d.insert_item(SpreadRef::Doc(0), frame, None)?;
+                Ok(id)
+            })
+            .unwrap();
+        s.execute("selection.set", &json!({"ids": [frame.0]})).unwrap();
+        s.execute("file.place", &json!({"base64": png(20), "name": "new.png"})).unwrap();
+        let d = &s.doc().unwrap().doc;
+        let it = d.item(frame).unwrap();
+        let Content::Graphic(g) = &it.content else { panic!("the frame holds the new graphic: {:?}", it.content) };
+        assert_eq!(d.assets[&g.asset].name, "new.png");
+        assert_eq!(it.inner_bounds(), Rect::new(0.0, 0.0, 60.0, 90.0), "the frame keeps its size");
+        assert_eq!(d.spreads[0].items.len(), 1, "no new object");
+    }
+
+    /// A document whose top layer is hidden and locked (a dieline) opens with new objects going to
+    /// the topmost layer that is shown and unlocked, not where they couldn't be seen or selected.
+    #[test]
+    fn a_document_opens_on_its_topmost_visible_unlocked_layer() {
+        let mut s = Session::new();
+        s.execute("file.new", &json!({})).unwrap();
+        s.execute("layer.new", &json!({"name": "Artwork"})).unwrap();
+        s.execute("layer.new", &json!({"name": "Dieline"})).unwrap();
+        let mut d = (*s.doc().unwrap().doc).clone();
+        let top = d.layers.first().unwrap().id;
+        d.layers[0].visible = false;
+        d.layers[0].locked = true;
+        let artwork = d.layers[1].id;
+        assert_eq!(d.default_layer(), top);
+        let st = crate::DocState::new(d, None);
+        assert_eq!(st.active_layer, artwork);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/lib.rs b/crates/engine/src/lib.rs
index d0922e484..19c50b7c0 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/lib.rs
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ fn next_revision() -> u64 {
 impl DocState {
     /// Initialize saved/live document identity, revision, epoch, active default layer, empty history with limit 1,000 and the initial path.
     pub fn new(doc: Document, path: Option<String>) -> Self {
-        let active_layer = doc.default_layer();
+        let active_layer = doc.working_layer();
         let doc = Arc::new(doc);
         let revision = next_revision();
         let identity_epoch = NEXT_UID.fetch_add(1, std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed);
@@ -639,7 +639,7 @@ impl Session {
         if let Some(st) = self.active_mut()
             && st.doc.layer(st.active_layer).is_none()
         {
-            st.active_layer = st.doc.default_layer();
+            st.active_layer = st.doc.working_layer();
         }
         self.record_transform(id, params);
         if self.prefs.smart_text_reflow && spec.undoable {
diff --git a/crates/tools/src/nav.rs b/crates/tools/src/nav.rs
index e65daec8f..1748c9cfb 100644
--- a/crates/tools/src/nav.rs
+++ b/crates/tools/src/nav.rs
@@ -136,10 +136,7 @@ impl Tool for PlaceGun {
                 let click = (ev.pos - a).hypot() < cx.tol(3.0);
                 if click
                     && let Some((_, id)) = cx.hit(a)
-                    && cx
-                        .doc
-                        .item(id)
-                        .is_some_and(|i| matches!(i.content, designcraft_doc::Content::Unassigned | designcraft_doc::Content::Graphic(_)))
+                    && cx.doc.item(id).is_some_and(designcraft_doc::Item::takes_graphic)
                 {
                     return vec![Action::Exec("place.drop".into(), json!({"frame": id.0}))];
                 }