diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 794e35b1ff..334bedc2fe 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -4827,6 +4827,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "photocraft-engine",
  "photocraft-format",
  "photocraft-io",
+ "photocraft-raster",
  "photocraft-raw",
  "rmcp",
  "rustix 1.1.5",
diff --git a/crates/automation/Cargo.toml b/crates/automation/Cargo.toml
index 5421640a84..d4e7d14e73 100644
--- a/crates/automation/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/automation/Cargo.toml
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ workspace = true
 
 [dependencies]
 photocraft-doc = { workspace = true }
+photocraft-raster = { workspace = true }
 photocraft-compose = { workspace = true }
 photocraft-codecs = { workspace = true }
 photocraft-io = { workspace = true }
diff --git a/crates/automation/src/files.rs b/crates/automation/src/files.rs
index fc4526eedb..0b8ff103aa 100644
--- a/crates/automation/src/files.rs
+++ b/crates/automation/src/files.rs
@@ -33,9 +33,23 @@ pub fn open(path: &Path) -> Result<Opened, AutomationError> {
         let document = photocraft_format::load_path(path)?;
         return Ok(Opened { warnings: photocraft_io::open_warnings(&document), document, source_read_only: false });
     }
-    let bytes = photocraft_format::read_file(path).map_err(|e| AutomationError::Io(format!("{}: {e}", path.display())))?;
     let name = path.file_name().map(|n| n.to_string_lossy().into_owned()).unwrap_or_default();
-    open_bytes(&name, &bytes)
+    // A PSD/PSB is parsed from the open file (channel data read as it is decoded), so a CLI
+    // convert or info of a 2 GB file does not hold the file in memory next to the document.
+    #[cfg(any(unix, windows))]
+    {
+        let r =
+            photocraft_io::import_file(&name, path, &photocraft_io::ImportOptions::default(), &photocraft_raster::Interrupt::NONE).map_err(|e| match e {
+                photocraft_io::IoError::Read(msg) => AutomationError::Io(msg),
+                e => e.into(),
+            })?;
+        Ok(Opened { document: r.document, warnings: r.warnings, source_read_only: r.source_read_only })
+    }
+    #[cfg(not(any(unix, windows)))]
+    {
+        let bytes = photocraft_format::read_file(path).map_err(|e| AutomationError::Io(format!("{}: {e}", path.display())))?;
+        open_bytes(&name, &bytes)
+    }
 }
 
 /// Previews for a `.pcraft` bundle.
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/jobs.rs b/crates/engine/src/jobs.rs
index 5c26e41cba..d106fc0faf 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/jobs.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/jobs.rs
@@ -330,14 +330,25 @@ fn independent_of_document(id: &str) -> bool {
 }
 
 #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
-fn read_path(path: &str) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
-    // Bounded reads, and a clear error for a file larger than memory (#375).
-    photocraft_format::read_file(std::path::Path::new(path)).map_err(|e| EngineError::Other(format!("{path}: {e}")))
+fn import_path(
+    name: &str,
+    path: &str,
+    opts: &photocraft_io::ImportOptions,
+    ctl: &photocraft_raster::Interrupt,
+) -> std::result::Result<(photocraft_io::ImportResult, bool), photocraft_io::IoError> {
+    // Bounded reads, and a clear error for a file larger than memory (#375); a PSD/PSB is
+    // parsed from the open file instead of being read whole.
+    photocraft_io::import_file_for_open_with(name, std::path::Path::new(path), opts, ctl)
 }
 
 #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
-fn read_path(path: &str) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
-    Err(EngineError::Other(format!("cannot open paths on the web: {path}")))
+fn import_path(
+    _: &str,
+    path: &str,
+    _: &photocraft_io::ImportOptions,
+    _: &photocraft_raster::Interrupt,
+) -> std::result::Result<(photocraft_io::ImportResult, bool), photocraft_io::IoError> {
+    Err(photocraft_io::IoError::Read(format!("cannot open paths on the web: {path}")))
 }
 
 /// Run a job-capable command's heavy part. `work` runs on a worker thread when the command was
@@ -553,17 +564,19 @@ impl Session {
             false,
             move |ctx| {
                 ctx.progress(0.0, "Reading");
-                let bytes = match source {
-                    OpenSource::Bytes(b) => b,
-                    OpenSource::Path(p) => Arc::new(read_path(&p)?),
-                };
-                ctx.check()?;
-                ctx.progress(0.02, "Decoding");
-                let imported =
-                    ctx.stage(0.02, 0.95, "Decoding", |ctl| photocraft_io::import_for_open_with(&name_w, &bytes, &opts, ctl)).map_err(|e| match e {
-                        photocraft_io::IoError::Cancelled => EngineError::Cancelled,
-                        e => EngineError::Other(e.to_string()),
-                    })?;
+                let imported = match source {
+                    OpenSource::Bytes(bytes) => {
+                        ctx.check()?;
+                        ctx.progress(0.02, "Decoding");
+                        ctx.stage(0.02, 0.95, "Decoding", |ctl| photocraft_io::import_for_open_with(&name_w, &bytes, &opts, ctl))
+                    }
+                    // A PSD/PSB is decoded straight from the file, which is never read whole.
+                    OpenSource::Path(p) => ctx.stage(0.0, 0.95, "Decoding", |ctl| import_path(&name_w, &p, &opts, ctl)),
+                }
+                .map_err(|e| match e {
+                    photocraft_io::IoError::Cancelled => EngineError::Cancelled,
+                    e => EngineError::Other(e.to_string()),
+                })?;
                 ctx.progress(0.95, "Preparing layers");
                 warm_layer_bounds(&imported.0.document, || ctx.check())?;
                 // Type layers need the shared text engine, whose first use waits for the
diff --git a/crates/io/examples/psd_open_mem.rs b/crates/io/examples/psd_open_mem.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..903eb35af9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/io/examples/psd_open_mem.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+//! Opens a file the way the app's background open does and reports the time. Run it under
+//! `/usr/bin/time -l` for the peak memory. `--read` reads the whole file first and imports the
+//! bytes, as opens did before `import_file` (to compare).
+//!
+//! `cargo run --release -p photocraft-io --example psd_open_mem -- <file.psd> [--read]`
+
+fn main() {
+    let Some(path) = std::env::args().nth(1).filter(|a| a != "--read") else {
+        eprintln!("usage: psd_open_mem <file.psd>");
+        std::process::exit(2);
+    };
+    if std::env::args().any(|a| a == "--read") {
+        read_then_import(&path);
+        return;
+    }
+    let t = std::time::Instant::now();
+    let res =
+        match photocraft_io::import_file(&path, std::path::Path::new(&path), &photocraft_io::ImportOptions::default(), &photocraft_raster::Interrupt::NONE) {
+            Ok(r) => r,
+            Err(e) => {
+                eprintln!("{path}: open failed: {e}");
+                std::process::exit(1);
+            }
+        };
+    report(&path, &format!("open {:.2}s", t.elapsed().as_secs_f64()), &res);
+}
+
+fn read_then_import(path: &str) {
+    let t = std::time::Instant::now();
+    let bytes = match photocraft_format::read_file(std::path::Path::new(path)) {
+        Ok(b) => b,
+        Err(e) => {
+            eprintln!("{path}: read failed: {e}");
+            std::process::exit(1);
+        }
+    };
+    let read_s = t.elapsed().as_secs_f64();
+    let t = std::time::Instant::now();
+    let res = match photocraft_io::import_with(path, &bytes, &photocraft_raster::Interrupt::NONE) {
+        Ok(r) => r,
+        Err(e) => {
+            eprintln!("{path}: open failed: {e}");
+            std::process::exit(1);
+        }
+    };
+    drop(bytes);
+    report(path, &format!("read {read_s:.2}s, import {:.2}s", t.elapsed().as_secs_f64()), &res);
+}
+
+fn report(path: &str, times: &str, res: &photocraft_io::ImportResult) {
+    let doc = &res.document;
+    println!("{path}: {times}, {} layers ({} top level)", doc.walk().len(), doc.layers.len());
+    for w in &res.warnings {
+        println!("  warning: {w}");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/io/src/lib.rs b/crates/io/src/lib.rs
index 44beb59d47..b666c47d02 100644
--- a/crates/io/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/io/src/lib.rs
@@ -125,6 +125,9 @@ pub enum IoError {
     /// An SVG that does not parse (or is too large to rasterise).
     #[error("SVG: {0}")]
     Svg(String),
+    /// The file could not be read.
+    #[error("{0}")]
+    Read(String),
     /// A background import or save was cancelled ([`import_with`], [`export_with`]).
     #[error("cancelled")]
     Cancelled,
@@ -373,26 +376,82 @@ pub fn import_for_open_with(name: &str, bytes: &[u8], opts: &ImportOptions, ctl:
     Ok((result, damaged))
 }
 
-fn import_psd(name: &str, bytes: &[u8], ctl: &photocraft_raster::Interrupt, damaged: &mut bool) -> Result<ImportResult, IoError> {
+/// The PSD/PSB part of an import, from a parse that takes [`PsdFile::from_bytes_and_merged_recovering`]'s
+/// `want` and `recover`: of the file's bytes, or of the file itself ([`import_file_for_open_with`]).
+fn import_psd(
+    name: &str,
+    ctl: &photocraft_raster::Interrupt,
+    damaged: &mut bool,
+    parse: impl FnOnce(&dyn Fn(&PsdFile) -> bool, &dyn Fn(&PsdFile) -> bool) -> photocraft_psd::Result<(PsdFile, Option<photocraft_psd::Result<Vec<u8>>>)>,
+) -> Result<ImportResult, IoError> {
     // A merged image the import reads is decoded with the parse: a ZIP one is inflated once.
-    let (file, merged) = PsdFile::from_bytes_and_merged_recovering(
-        bytes,
-        |f| psd_import::check_group_depth(f).is_ok() && psd_import::merged_needed(f),
-        psd_import::can_recover_layers,
-    )?;
+    // A failed read of the file (one parsed from its source) is a read error, as reading the
+    // whole file first would report it.
+    let (file, merged) =
+        parse(&|f| psd_import::check_group_depth(f).is_ok() && psd_import::merged_needed(f), &psd_import::can_recover_layers).map_err(|e| match e {
+            photocraft_psd::PsdError::Read(msg) => IoError::Read(msg),
+            e => e.into(),
+        })?;
     // Nesting past the document model's cap could never be saved; reject the file with the
     // actionable limit.
     psd_import::check_group_depth(&file)?;
     ctl.check().map_err(|_| IoError::Cancelled)?;
     ctl.progress(0.05);
-    let (mut document, warnings, psd_damaged) = psd_import::psd_to_document_decoded_integrity(&file, ctl, merged).ok_or(IoError::Cancelled)?;
+    // Read before the conversion, which moves the global blocks into the document.
+    let txt2 = file.global_blocks.iter().find(|b| &b.key == b"Txt2").and_then(|b| photocraft_text::psd::parse_txt2(&b.data));
+    let (mut document, warnings, psd_damaged, read_error) = psd_import::psd_to_document_owned(file, ctl, merged).ok_or(IoError::Cancelled)?;
+    // The file became unreadable while its layers were read from it (`import_file_for_open_with`):
+    // the open fails, rather than opening with those layers empty.
+    if let Some(e) = read_error {
+        return Err(IoError::Read(e));
+    }
     *damaged = psd_damaged;
     document.name = name.to_string();
-    let txt2 = file.global_blocks.iter().find(|b| &b.key == b"Txt2").and_then(|b| photocraft_text::psd::parse_txt2(&b.data));
     text_import::prepare(&mut document, txt2.as_ref());
     Ok(ImportResult { document, warnings, source_read_only: false, preview_only: false })
 }
 
+/// [`import_for_open_with`] for the file at `path`. A PSD/PSB is parsed from the open file
+/// ([`PsdFile::from_source`]) rather than read whole: its channel data is read layer by layer as
+/// it is decoded, so opening it needs memory for the document, not for the document plus the
+/// file. A read that fails meanwhile (the file is truncated or rewritten, its drive goes away)
+/// fails the open. Other formats are read whole.
+#[cfg(any(unix, windows))]
+pub fn import_file_for_open_with(
+    name: &str,
+    path: &std::path::Path,
+    opts: &ImportOptions,
+    ctl: &photocraft_raster::Interrupt,
+) -> Result<(ImportResult, bool), IoError> {
+    let read_failed = |e: std::io::Error| IoError::Read(format!("{}: {e}", path.display()));
+    ctl.check().map_err(|_| IoError::Cancelled)?;
+    let source = photocraft_psd::FileSource::open(path).map_err(read_failed)?;
+    let mut magic = [0u8; 4];
+    let psd = !has_extension(name, photocraft_format::EXTENSION) && photocraft_psd::ReadAt::read_at(&source, 0, &mut magic).is_ok() && is_psd(&magic);
+    if !psd {
+        drop(source);
+        let bytes = photocraft_format::read_file(path).map_err(read_failed)?;
+        return import_for_open_with(name, &bytes, opts, ctl);
+    }
+    import_source_for_open_with(name, photocraft_psd::Source::new(source), ctl)
+}
+
+/// [`import_file_for_open_with`] for a PSD/PSB in any [`photocraft_psd::ReadAt`] source.
+pub fn import_source_for_open_with(name: &str, source: photocraft_psd::Source, ctl: &photocraft_raster::Interrupt) -> Result<(ImportResult, bool), IoError> {
+    ctl.check().map_err(|_| IoError::Cancelled)?;
+    let mut damaged = false;
+    let r = import_psd(name, ctl, &mut damaged, |want, recover| PsdFile::from_source_and_merged_recovering(source, want, recover))?;
+    ctl.check().map_err(|_| IoError::Cancelled)?;
+    ctl.progress(1.0);
+    Ok((r, damaged))
+}
+
+/// [`import_file_for_open_with`] without the damage flag.
+#[cfg(any(unix, windows))]
+pub fn import_file(name: &str, path: &std::path::Path, opts: &ImportOptions, ctl: &photocraft_raster::Interrupt) -> Result<ImportResult, IoError> {
+    import_file_for_open_with(name, path, opts, ctl).map(|(result, _)| result)
+}
+
 /// Dispatches format-specific importers and propagates a structured PSD damage
 /// flag alongside the ordinary best-effort import result.
 fn import_stages(name: &str, bytes: &[u8], ctl: &photocraft_raster::Interrupt, opts: &ImportOptions, damaged: &mut bool) -> Result<ImportResult, IoError> {
@@ -404,7 +463,7 @@ fn import_stages(name: &str, bytes: &[u8], ctl: &photocraft_raster::Interrupt, o
     // Magic first: an Affinity file renamed .psd is still Affinity (#5258 corpus
     // preview_never_saves_back_to_its_native_or_renamed_source).
     if is_psd(bytes) {
-        return import_psd(name, bytes, ctl, damaged);
+        return import_psd(name, ctl, damaged, |want, recover| PsdFile::from_bytes_and_merged_recovering(bytes, want, recover));
     }
     if affinity::is_affinity(bytes) || affinity::has_extension(name) {
         return affinity::import(name, bytes);
@@ -437,7 +496,7 @@ fn import_stages(name: &str, bytes: &[u8], ctl: &photocraft_raster::Interrupt, o
     // A `.psd`/`.psb`/`.psdt` with no raster signature keeps the PSD error instead of
     // `codec: unrecognized image format` (#5258). Magic already returned above.
     if is_psd_input(name, bytes) {
-        return import_psd(name, bytes, ctl, damaged);
+        return import_psd(name, ctl, damaged, |want, recover| PsdFile::from_bytes_and_merged_recovering(bytes, want, recover));
     }
     flat::import_flat(name, bytes)
 }
diff --git a/crates/io/src/linked.rs b/crates/io/src/linked.rs
index e200b875ea..dcf7ecd98d 100644
--- a/crates/io/src/linked.rs
+++ b/crates/io/src/linked.rs
@@ -118,7 +118,30 @@ pub fn find_in_blocks<'a>(blocks: impl IntoIterator<Item = (&'a [u8; 4], &'a [u8
     if uuid.is_empty() {
         return None;
     }
-    blocks.into_iter().filter(|(k, _)| matches!(*k, b"lnk2" | b"lnk3" | b"lnkD")).flat_map(|(_, d)| parse_linked_files(d)).find(|f| f.uuid == uuid)
+    let (uuid, file_name, bytes) = find_slice_in_blocks(blocks, uuid)?;
+    Some(LinkedFile { uuid, file_name, bytes: bytes.to_vec() })
+}
+
+/// [`find_in_blocks`] without copying: the uuid, file name and bytes of the embedded file, as a
+/// slice of the block. Only the matching item's header is parsed beyond the uuid, and no other
+/// embedded file is copied (a `lnk2` block can hold gigabytes of them).
+fn find_slice_in_blocks<'a>(blocks: impl IntoIterator<Item = (&'a [u8; 4], &'a [u8])>, uuid: &str) -> Option<(String, String, &'a [u8])> {
+    if uuid.is_empty() {
+        return None;
+    }
+    blocks.into_iter().filter(|(k, _)| matches!(*k, b"lnk2" | b"lnk3" | b"lnkD")).find_map(|(_, d)| {
+        let mut r = Rd { d, p: 0 };
+        while let Some(len) = r.u64() {
+            let Ok(len) = usize::try_from(len) else { return None };
+            let item = r.take(len)?;
+            let found = item_header(item).filter(|h| h.0 == uuid).and_then(|(id, name, start, n)| Some((id, name, item.get(start..start.checked_add(n)?)?)));
+            if found.is_some() {
+                return found;
+            }
+            r.p = r.p.next_multiple_of(4);
+        }
+        None
+    })
 }
 
 /// The size of embedded file `uuid` among PSD global blocks given as (key, data), when it is there
@@ -128,11 +151,11 @@ pub(crate) fn source_size_in_blocks<'a>(
     uuid: &str,
     ctl: &photocraft_raster::Interrupt,
 ) -> Option<(f64, f64)> {
-    let f = find_in_blocks(blocks, uuid)?;
+    let (_, _, bytes) = find_slice_in_blocks(blocks, uuid)?;
     if ctl.cancelled() {
         return None;
     }
-    source_size_probe(&f.bytes).filter(|(w, h)| *w > 0.0 && *h > 0.0)
+    source_size_probe(bytes).filter(|(w, h)| *w > 0.0 && *h > 0.0)
 }
 
 /// Pixel size of an embedded source file from its header: PSD/PSB, TIFF (the default page's
diff --git a/crates/io/src/multichannel_map.rs b/crates/io/src/multichannel_map.rs
index e9437deb6c..f5b2933041 100644
--- a/crates/io/src/multichannel_map.rs
+++ b/crates/io/src/multichannel_map.rs
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ pub(crate) fn document_to_psd(doc: &Document, force_psb: bool) -> (PsdFile, Vec<
     let header = Header::new(version, doc.size.width, doc.size.height, channels.len().max(1) as u16, psd_depth(sample), PsdMode::Multichannel);
     let image_data = ImageData::encode(Compression::Rle, &planes, &header)
         .or_else(|_| ImageData::encode(Compression::Raw, &planes, &header))
-        .unwrap_or(ImageData { compression: Compression::Raw, data: planes });
+        .unwrap_or(ImageData::new(Compression::Raw, planes));
     let mut resources = vec![
         ImageResource::new(ids::RESOLUTION_INFO, ResolutionInfo::from_dpi(f64::from(doc.resolution_dpi)).to_bytes()),
         ImageResource::new(ids::GLOBAL_ANGLE, (doc.global_light.angle.round() as i32).to_be_bytes().to_vec()),
diff --git a/crates/io/src/palette_map.rs b/crates/io/src/palette_map.rs
index 45b8168f1c..b4aa1ff0c6 100644
--- a/crates/io/src/palette_map.rs
+++ b/crates/io/src/palette_map.rs
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ pub(crate) fn document_to_psd(doc: &Document, force_psb: bool) -> Option<(PsdFil
     let header = Header::new(version, doc.size.width, doc.size.height, 1, depth, mode);
     let image_data = ImageData::encode(Compression::Rle, &plane, &header)
         .or_else(|_| ImageData::encode(Compression::Raw, &plane, &header))
-        .unwrap_or(ImageData { compression: Compression::Raw, data: plane });
+        .unwrap_or(ImageData::new(Compression::Raw, plane));
     let mut resources = vec![
         ImageResource::new(ids::RESOLUTION_INFO, ResolutionInfo::from_dpi(f64::from(doc.resolution_dpi)).to_bytes()),
         ImageResource::new(ids::GLOBAL_ANGLE, (doc.global_light.angle.round() as i32).to_be_bytes().to_vec()),
diff --git a/crates/io/src/psd_export.rs b/crates/io/src/psd_export.rs
index 4835397822..351e33331b 100644
--- a/crates/io/src/psd_export.rs
+++ b/crates/io/src/psd_export.rs
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ impl Ex {
         let compression = if w == 0 || h == 0 { Compression::Raw } else { self.compression() };
         ChannelData::encode(id, compression, plane, w, h, depth, self.version)
             .or_else(|_| ChannelData::encode(id, Compression::Raw, plane, w, h, depth, self.version))
-            .unwrap_or(ChannelData { id, compression: Some(Compression::Raw), data: plane.to_vec() })
+            .unwrap_or(ChannelData::new(id, Some(Compression::Raw), plane.to_vec()))
     }
 
     fn empty_channels(&self) -> Vec<ChannelData> {
@@ -1833,7 +1833,7 @@ fn document_to_psd_nested(doc: &Document, opts: &PsdExportOptions, depth: u32, c
     let mcomp = if sample == SampleType::F32 { Compression::Raw } else { opts.merged_compression };
     let image_data = ImageData::encode(mcomp, &planes, &header)
         .or_else(|_| ImageData::encode(Compression::Raw, &planes, &header))
-        .unwrap_or(ImageData { compression: Compression::Raw, data: planes });
+        .unwrap_or(ImageData::new(Compression::Raw, planes));
     ctl.progress(1.0);
 
     // Resources.
diff --git a/crates/io/src/psd_import.rs b/crates/io/src/psd_import.rs
index 717f848716..f646e1f665 100644
--- a/crates/io/src/psd_import.rs
+++ b/crates/io/src/psd_import.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use photocraft_color::{BlendMode, ColorMode, PixelFormat, SampleType};
 use photocraft_doc::{
-    AlphaChannel, Document, Effects, FillCache, Group, Layer, LayerContent, LayerMask, ShapeLayer, SmartContentsId, SmartObject, SmartSource, TextLayer,
+    AlphaChannel, Document, Effects, FillCache, Group, Layer, LayerContent, LayerMask, PsdGlobalBlock, ShapeLayer, SmartContentsId, SmartObject, SmartSource,
+    TextLayer,
 };
 use photocraft_geom::{Rect, Size, TILE_SIZE};
 use photocraft_psd::layer::{CHANNEL_REAL_USER_MASK, CHANNEL_TRANSPARENCY, CHANNEL_USER_MASK};
@@ -46,6 +47,8 @@ pub(crate) const REGENERATED: [&[u8; 4]; 9] = [b"luni", b"lyid", b"lsct", b"lsdk
 
 pub(crate) struct Ctx<'a> {
     pub file: &'a PsdFile,
+    /// The file's global blocks, as the document keeps them.
+    pub global: Vec<PsdGlobalBlock>,
     pub fmt: PixelFormat,
     pub mask_fmt: PixelFormat,
     pub cc: usize,
@@ -53,6 +56,9 @@ pub(crate) struct Ctx<'a> {
     pub warnings: Vec<String>,
     /// Decoding encountered damaged PSD data; interactive opens ask whether to continue.
     pub damaged: bool,
+    /// Reading the file's channel data failed (it is read as it is decoded: see
+    /// `PsdFile::from_source`): the open fails with it, rather than leaving layers empty.
+    pub read_error: Option<String>,
     /// Document resolution (type sizes are converted to points with it).
     pub dpi: f32,
     /// The parsed `Txt2` block (type settings EngineData lacks, e.g. optical kerning).
@@ -74,9 +80,35 @@ pub(crate) struct Ctx<'a> {
     pub ctl: photocraft_raster::Interrupt<'a>,
     /// Layer records decoded so far, out of `total` (progress).
     pub done: usize,
+    /// Tiles of one pixel value, shared by every surface the import decodes.
+    pub uniform: photocraft_raster::TileInterner,
     pub total: usize,
 }
 
+/// Bytes of interleaved pixels a band decoded into tiles at once aims at: whole layers up to this
+/// size decode in one band, larger ones in bands of whole tile rows.
+const BAND_BYTES: usize = 32 << 20;
+
+/// Row ranges (`0..h`, relative to a layer whose first row is at document row `top`) to decode a
+/// layer in: each ends on a tile row boundary, so no tile is written by two bands, and holds
+/// about [`BAND_BYTES`] of `row_bytes`-byte rows.
+fn band_rows(top: i32, h: usize, row_bytes: usize) -> Vec<(usize, usize)> {
+    let tile = TILE_SIZE as usize;
+    let rows = (BAND_BYTES / row_bytes.max(1)).max(tile) / tile * tile;
+    // The first band ends at the first tile boundary at least `rows` rows in.
+    let into_tile = usize::try_from(top.rem_euclid(TILE_SIZE)).unwrap_or(0);
+    let mut out = Vec::new();
+    let mut r0 = 0;
+    let mut r1 = rows - into_tile;
+    while r0 < h {
+        let end = r1.min(h);
+        out.push((r0, end));
+        r0 = end;
+        r1 = end + rows;
+    }
+    out
+}
+
 fn doc_mode(m: PsdMode) -> Option<ColorMode> {
     Some(match m {
         PsdMode::Bitmap => ColorMode::Bitmap,
@@ -148,6 +180,17 @@ impl Ctx<'_> {
         self.warn(s);
     }
 
+    /// A channel that failed to decode: a failed read of the file is kept to fail the open
+    /// (`true`); damaged data is warned about, its layer left empty (`false`).
+    fn channel_failed(&mut self, name: &str, id: i16, e: &photocraft_psd::PsdError) -> bool {
+        if let photocraft_psd::PsdError::Read(msg) = e {
+            self.read_error.get_or_insert_with(|| format!("layer \"{name}\": {msg}"));
+            return true;
+        }
+        self.warn_unreadable_data(format!("layer \"{name}\": channel {id} could not be decoded ({e}); treated as empty"));
+        false
+    }
+
     /// Source id, transform, (Distort/Perspective) projective placement and warp of a placed
     /// layer that has only a `PlLd` block, as Photoshop CS2 and older write it (#2465). `PlLd`
     /// stores the placed corners but not the source size, which comes from the embedded file.
@@ -168,11 +211,11 @@ impl Ctx<'_> {
                 return Placement::default();
             }
         };
-        let (file, ctl) = (self.file, self.ctl);
+        let (global, ctl) = (&self.global, self.ctl);
         let size = *self
             .plld_sizes
             .entry(id.clone())
-            .or_insert_with(|| crate::linked::source_size_in_blocks(file.global_blocks.iter().map(|b| (&b.key, b.data.as_slice())), &id, &ctl));
+            .or_insert_with(|| crate::linked::source_size_in_blocks(global.iter().map(|(_, k, d)| (k, d.as_slice())), &id, &ctl));
         // Without the source (missing or unreadable), it is taken as placed at 100 %.
         let (transform, perspective) = blocks::plld_transform(&p, size, warp.as_ref());
         Placement { id, transform, perspective, warp }
@@ -181,72 +224,83 @@ impl Ctx<'_> {
     /// Decodes a PSD layer channel, marking the document damaged if its data is unreadable.
     fn channel_plane(&mut self, rec: &LayerRecord, id: i16, name: &str) -> Option<Vec<u8>> {
         rec.channel(id)?;
+        if self.read_error.is_some() {
+            return None;
+        }
         match rec.decode_channel(id, self.file.header.depth, self.file.header.version) {
             Ok(p) => Some(p),
             Err(e) => {
-                self.warn_unreadable_data(format!("layer \"{name}\": channel {id} could not be decoded ({e}); treated as empty"));
+                self.channel_failed(name, id, &e);
                 None
             }
         }
     }
 
-    /// [`Self::channel_plane`] without the warnings sink, so a layer's channels decode
-    /// concurrently (their RLE rows are the bulk of the open time on full-canvas layers).
-    fn channel_plane_decoded(&self, rec: &LayerRecord, id: i16) -> Option<Vec<u8>> {
-        rec.channel(id)?;
-        rec.decode_channel(id, self.file.header.depth, self.file.header.version).ok()
-    }
-
     /// Builds a raster surface from the layer channels, leaving the surface empty if
     /// any present channel fails to decode rather than inventing replacement pixels.
     fn record_surface(&mut self, rec: &LayerRecord, name: &str) -> Surface {
         let r = rec.rect;
-        if r.is_empty() || r.size().is_err() {
+        // Once the file couldn't be read the open fails: nothing more is decoded.
+        if r.is_empty() || r.size().is_err() || self.read_error.is_some() {
             return Surface::new(self.fmt);
         }
         let (w, h) = r.size().unwrap_or((0, 0));
         let s = self.fmt.sample;
+        let (depth, version) = (self.file.header.depth, self.file.header.version);
         let ids: Vec<i16> = (0..self.cc as i16).chain([CHANNEL_TRANSPARENCY]).collect();
-        let planes: Vec<Option<Vec<u8>>> = if cfg!(target_arch = "wasm32") {
-            ids.iter().map(|&id| self.channel_plane(rec, id, name)).collect()
-        } else {
-            // The channels decode independently; their RLE rows are the bulk of the open
-            // time for full-canvas layers, so they run side by side and the warnings land
-            // in the same order afterwards.
-            // par_map reuses the crate's worker pool (one OS thread per channel per layer
-            // would spawn thousands on a file with many layers).
-            let decoded: Vec<Option<Vec<u8>>> = crate::pixels::par_map(ids.to_vec(), |id| self.channel_plane_decoded(rec, id));
-            let mut planes: Vec<Option<Vec<u8>>> = Vec::with_capacity(decoded.len());
-            for (&id, p) in ids.iter().zip(decoded) {
-                if p.is_none() && rec.channel(id).is_some() {
-                    self.warn_unreadable_data(format!("layer \"{name}\": channel {id} could not be decoded; treated as empty"));
-                }
-                planes.push(p);
+        // A decoder per channel present (a ZIP channel is inflated here, the channels side by
+        // side); the rows are then decoded and interleaved a band at a time straight into the
+        // tiles, so no buffer of the whole layer (planes or interleaved) is ever held.
+        // par_map reuses the crate's worker pool (one OS thread per channel per layer would
+        // spawn thousands on a file with many layers).
+        let decoders: Vec<Option<photocraft_psd::Result<photocraft_psd::RowDecoder<'_>>>> =
+            crate::pixels::par_map(ids.to_vec(), |id| rec.channel(id).map(|ch| ch.row_decoder(w, h, depth, version)));
+        let mut failed = false;
+        for (&id, d) in ids.iter().zip(&decoders) {
+            if let Some(Err(e)) = d {
+                self.channel_failed(name, id, e);
+                failed = true;
             }
-            planes
-        };
+        }
         // A channel that is in the file but could not be decoded leaves the layer empty, as the
         // warning says. Filling in for it would paint an opaque black layer over the document.
-        if ids.iter().zip(planes.iter()).any(|(&id, p)| p.is_none() && rec.channel(id).is_some()) {
+        if failed {
             return Surface::new(self.fmt);
         }
         // Only decoded channel data justifies a buffer: the decoders bound their output by the
         // bytes in the file, but a bare rectangle can declare 300000² pixels in a few bytes (#755).
-        if planes.iter().all(Option::is_none) {
+        if decoders.iter().all(Option::is_none) {
             self.warn_unreadable_data(format!("layer \"{name}\": no channel data for its {w}x{h} bounds; treated as empty"));
             return Surface::new(self.fmt);
         }
-        let refs: Vec<Option<&[u8]>> = planes.iter().map(|p| p.as_deref()).collect();
         let mut fill: Vec<Vec<u8>> = vec![zero_sample(s); self.cc];
         fill.push(max_sample(s));
         let mut invert = vec![self.cmyk; self.cc];
         invert.push(false);
-        let mut bytes = interleave(&refs, &fill, w * h, s, &invert);
-        if self.fmt.mode == ColorMode::Lab && s == SampleType::U16 {
-            crate::pixels::lab16_chroma(&mut bytes, self.cc + 1, true);
+        let mut surf = Surface::new(self.fmt);
+        for (b0, b1) in band_rows(r.top, h, w * (self.cc + 1) * s.bytes()) {
+            let planes: Vec<Option<photocraft_psd::Result<Vec<u8>>>> =
+                crate::pixels::par_map(decoders.iter().collect(), |d| d.as_ref().and_then(|d| d.as_ref().ok()).map(|d| d.rows(b0, b1)));
+            let mut refs: Vec<Option<&[u8]>> = Vec::with_capacity(planes.len());
+            for (&id, p) in ids.iter().zip(&planes) {
+                match p {
+                    Some(Err(e)) => {
+                        self.channel_failed(name, id, e);
+                        return Surface::new(self.fmt);
+                    }
+                    Some(Ok(p)) => refs.push(Some(p)),
+                    None => refs.push(None),
+                }
+            }
+            let mut bytes = interleave(&refs, &fill, w * (b1 - b0), s, &invert);
+            if self.fmt.mode == ColorMode::Lab && s == SampleType::U16 {
+                crate::pixels::lab16_chroma(&mut bytes, self.cc + 1, true);
+            }
+            surf.write_interleaved(Rect::new(r.left, r.top + b0 as i32, r.right, r.top + b1 as i32), &bytes);
         }
-        let mut surf = Surface::from_interleaved(self.fmt, Rect::new(r.left, r.top, r.right, r.bottom), &bytes);
         surf.prune();
+        // A white background, a solid fill's cache: one tile per value, shared across layers.
+        surf.share_uniform_tiles(&mut self.uniform);
         surf
     }
 
@@ -270,6 +324,7 @@ impl Ctx<'_> {
             let bytes = interleave(&[Some(&plane)], &[zero_sample(s)], w * h, s, &[false]);
             surface.write_interleaved(Rect::new(rect.left, rect.top, rect.right, rect.bottom), &bytes);
             surface.prune();
+            surface.share_uniform_tiles(&mut self.uniform);
         }
         let params = m.parameters;
         Some(LayerMask {
@@ -910,6 +965,38 @@ pub(crate) fn psd_to_document_decoded_integrity(
     ctl: &photocraft_raster::Interrupt,
     decoded: Option<photocraft_psd::Result<Vec<u8>>>,
 ) -> Option<(Document, Vec<String>, bool)> {
+    let global = file.global_blocks.iter().map(|b| (b.signature, b.key, Arc::new(b.data.clone()))).collect();
+    psd_to_document_global(file, ctl, decoded, global).map(|(document, warnings, damaged, _)| (document, warnings, damaged))
+}
+
+/// [`psd_to_document_decoded_integrity`] taking the file: its global blocks move into the
+/// document rather than being copied (an embedded smart object's `lnk2` block can be most of a
+/// file). The file's channel data may still be in its source ([`PsdFile::from_source`]): the
+/// fourth value is a failure to read it, which fails the open (a layer is never left empty
+/// because its file became unreadable while it opened).
+pub(crate) fn psd_to_document_owned(
+    mut file: PsdFile,
+    ctl: &photocraft_raster::Interrupt,
+    decoded: Option<photocraft_psd::Result<Vec<u8>>>,
+) -> Option<(Document, Vec<String>, bool, Option<String>)> {
+    let global = file
+        .global_blocks
+        .iter_mut()
+        .map(|b| {
+            // A layer block is still read by `unreadable_layer_block` (to say why it failed).
+            let data = if matches!(&b.key, b"Lr16" | b"Lr32" | b"Layr") { b.data.clone() } else { std::mem::take(&mut b.data) };
+            (b.signature, b.key, Arc::new(data))
+        })
+        .collect();
+    psd_to_document_global(&file, ctl, decoded, global)
+}
+
+fn psd_to_document_global(
+    file: &PsdFile,
+    ctl: &photocraft_raster::Interrupt,
+    decoded: Option<photocraft_psd::Result<Vec<u8>>>,
+    global: Vec<PsdGlobalBlock>,
+) -> Option<(Document, Vec<String>, bool, Option<String>)> {
     let h = &file.header;
     let mut warnings = Vec::new();
     let mode = doc_mode(h.color_mode).unwrap_or_else(|| {
@@ -970,9 +1057,7 @@ pub(crate) fn psd_to_document_decoded_integrity(
         }
     }
     crate::guides_map::apply_colors(&mut doc);
-    for b in &file.global_blocks {
-        doc.metadata.psd_global_blocks.push((b.signature, b.key, Arc::new(b.data.clone())));
-    }
+    doc.metadata.psd_global_blocks.extend(global.iter().cloned());
     // A 16/32-bit file whose layer block can't be parsed would otherwise open as a flattened
     // file without a word (#2700). The raw block is kept, but a PSD save writes the document's
     // own layers in its place (see `psd_export`).
@@ -998,14 +1083,16 @@ pub(crate) fn psd_to_document_decoded_integrity(
     let cc = fmt.mode.color_channels();
     let mut cx = Ctx {
         file,
+        global: global.clone(),
         fmt,
         mask_fmt: PixelFormat::new(ColorMode::Grayscale, depth, false),
         cc,
         cmyk: fmt.mode == ColorMode::Cmyk,
         warnings,
         damaged,
+        read_error: None,
         dpi: doc.resolution_dpi,
-        txt2: file.global_blocks.iter().find(|b| &b.key == b"Txt2").and_then(|b| photocraft_text::psd::parse_txt2(&b.data)),
+        txt2: global.iter().find(|(_, k, _)| k == b"Txt2").and_then(|(_, _, d)| photocraft_text::psd::parse_txt2(d)),
         filter_effects: Vec::new(),
         filter_masks: Default::default(),
         unfiltered: Default::default(),
@@ -1014,16 +1101,17 @@ pub(crate) fn psd_to_document_decoded_integrity(
         plld_sizes: Default::default(),
         ctl: *ctl,
         done: 0,
+        uniform: Default::default(),
         total: file.layers().len(),
     };
-    for b in file.global_blocks.iter().filter(|b| matches!(&b.key, b"FEid" | b"FXid")) {
+    for (_, key, data) in cx.global.clone().iter().filter(|(_, k, _)| matches!(k, b"FEid" | b"FXid")) {
         // Smart-filter caches can be large: a cancelled open stops between blocks.
         if ctl.cancelled() {
             return None;
         }
-        match photocraft_psd::filter_effects::FilterEffects::parse(&b.data) {
+        match photocraft_psd::filter_effects::FilterEffects::parse(data) {
             Ok(fx) => cx.filter_effects.extend(fx.items),
-            Err(e) => cx.warn(format!("smart filter masks ({}) could not be read: {e}", b.key_str())),
+            Err(e) => cx.warn(format!("smart filter masks ({}) could not be read: {e}", String::from_utf8_lossy(key))),
         }
     }
     if ctl.cancelled() {
@@ -1239,7 +1327,7 @@ pub(crate) fn psd_to_document_decoded_integrity(
         return None;
     }
     ctl.progress(1.0);
-    Some((doc, cx.warnings, cx.damaged))
+    Some((doc, cx.warnings, cx.damaged, cx.read_error))
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
@@ -1349,4 +1437,25 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(merged_plane(&all, 2, 2), None);
         assert_eq!(merged_plane(&all, usize::MAX, 2), None);
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn layer_bands_end_on_tile_rows_and_cover_the_layer() {
+        let t = TILE_SIZE as usize;
+        for (top, h, row_bytes) in [(0, 2000, 8000), (-37, 15000, 80_000), (100, 5, 4), (255, 1, 4), (-256, 40_000, 1 << 20), (7, 0, 4)] {
+            let bands = band_rows(top, h, row_bytes);
+            let mut next = 0;
+            for &(a, b) in &bands {
+                assert_eq!(a, next);
+                assert!(b > a);
+                if b < h {
+                    assert_eq!((top + b as i32).rem_euclid(TILE_SIZE), 0, "{top} {h}: band ends inside a tile row");
+                    assert!((b - a) * row_bytes <= BAND_BYTES + t * row_bytes || b - a <= t);
+                }
+                next = b;
+            }
+            assert_eq!(next, h);
+        }
+        // A small layer is one band.
+        assert_eq!(band_rows(0, 2000, 8000), vec![(0, 2000)]);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/crates/io/src/tiff_layers.rs b/crates/io/src/tiff_layers.rs
index 25c2df5010..cc833f1434 100644
--- a/crates/io/src/tiff_layers.rs
+++ b/crates/io/src/tiff_layers.rs
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ pub(crate) fn import_layered(name: &str, img: &Image, layers: &[u8]) -> Result<I
     let channels = u16::try_from(img.layout().channels()).map_err(|_| IoError::Unsupported("too many channels".into()))?;
     let header = Header::new(isd.version, w, h, channels, depth, mode);
     let data = planar_big_endian(&img, color_channels, mode == PsdMode::Cmyk)?;
-    let image_data = ImageData { compression: Compression::Raw, data };
+    let image_data = ImageData::new(Compression::Raw, data);
     let file = isd.into_psd(header, resources, image_data);
     // The same nesting limit as opening a PSD (#2940).
     crate::psd_import::check_group_depth(&file)?;
diff --git a/crates/io/tests/it/main.rs b/crates/io/tests/it/main.rs
index 94f4ba715d..d045068a99 100644
--- a/crates/io/tests/it/main.rs
+++ b/crates/io/tests/it/main.rs
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ mod psd_block_layout;
 mod psd_damaged_merged;
 mod psd_empty_channels;
 mod psd_font_identity;
+mod psd_import_file;
 mod psd_kerning;
 mod psd_layer_block_length;
 mod psd_maximize_compatibility;
diff --git a/crates/io/tests/it/psd_damaged_merged.rs b/crates/io/tests/it/psd_damaged_merged.rs
index e3d0970dd9..8e20687bb5 100644
--- a/crates/io/tests/it/psd_damaged_merged.rs
+++ b/crates/io/tests/it/psd_damaged_merged.rs
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ fn modes_imported_flattened_do_not_recover_from_unusable_layer_records() {
     for mode in [photocraft_psd::ColorMode::Indexed, photocraft_psd::ColorMode::Multichannel, photocraft_psd::ColorMode::Duotone] {
         let mut file = layered(SampleType::U8, "x.psd");
         file.header.color_mode = mode;
-        file.image_data = photocraft_psd::ImageData { compression: Compression::Raw, data: Vec::new() };
+        file.image_data = photocraft_psd::ImageData::new(Compression::Raw, Vec::new());
         assert!(import("flat-mode.psd", &file.to_bytes().unwrap()).is_err(), "{mode:?}");
     }
 }
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ fn modes_imported_flattened_do_not_recover_from_unusable_layer_records() {
 fn lost_extra_channels_are_reported_while_layers_remain_usable() {
     let mut file = layered(SampleType::U8, "x.psd");
     file.header.channels = 5;
-    file.image_data = photocraft_psd::ImageData { compression: Compression::Raw, data: Vec::new() };
+    file.image_data = photocraft_psd::ImageData::new(Compression::Raw, Vec::new());
     let result = import("extra-channel.psd", &file.to_bytes().unwrap()).unwrap();
     assert_eq!(result.document.layer_count(), 1);
     assert!(result.document.channels.is_empty());
diff --git a/crates/io/tests/it/psd_import_file.rs b/crates/io/tests/it/psd_import_file.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f8e9243cc1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/io/tests/it/psd_import_file.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,155 @@
+//! `import_file` parses a PSD/PSB from the open file (channel data read as it is decoded) and must
+//! open the same document, with the same warnings, as importing the file's bytes.
+
+use photocraft_io::{ImportResult, import, import_file};
+use photocraft_psd::testgen;
+use photocraft_raster::Interrupt;
+
+struct TempDir(std::path::PathBuf);
+
+impl TempDir {
+    fn new(tag: &str) -> Self {
+        let dir = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!("photocraft-import-file-{tag}-{}", std::process::id()));
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).unwrap();
+        TempDir(dir)
+    }
+
+    fn write(&self, name: &str, bytes: &[u8]) -> std::path::PathBuf {
+        let path = self.0.join(name);
+        std::fs::write(&path, bytes).unwrap();
+        path
+    }
+}
+
+impl Drop for TempDir {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(&self.0);
+    }
+}
+
+/// The document's debug form with every `…Id(n)` number blanked.
+fn without_ids(doc: &photocraft_doc::Document) -> String {
+    let s = format!("{doc:?}");
+    let mut out = String::with_capacity(s.len());
+    let mut rest = s.as_str();
+    while let Some(at) = rest.find("Id(") {
+        out.push_str(&rest[..at + 3]);
+        rest = rest[at + 3..].trim_start_matches(|c: char| c.is_ascii_digit());
+    }
+    out.push_str(rest);
+    out
+}
+
+fn open(name: &str, path: &std::path::Path) -> Result<ImportResult, photocraft_io::IoError> {
+    import_file(name, path, &photocraft_io::ImportOptions::default(), &Interrupt::NONE)
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn import_file_opens_what_importing_the_bytes_opens() {
+    let dir = TempDir::new("same");
+    let mut checked = 0;
+    for case in testgen::all_cases() {
+        let ext = if case.file.header.version.is_psb() { "psb" } else { "psd" };
+        let name = format!("case.{ext}");
+        let bytes = case.file.to_bytes().unwrap();
+        let path = dir.write(&name, &bytes);
+        let from_bytes = import(&name, &bytes);
+        let from_file = open(&name, &path);
+        match (from_bytes, from_file) {
+            (Ok(a), Ok(b)) => {
+                // Ids come from a process-wide counter, so the two opens differ only there.
+                assert!(without_ids(&b.document) == without_ids(&a.document), "{}", case.name);
+                assert_eq!(b.warnings, a.warnings, "{}", case.name);
+                checked += 1;
+            }
+            (Err(_), Err(_)) => {}
+            (a, b) => panic!("{}: bytes {:?}, file {:?}", case.name, a.map(|r| r.warnings), b.map(|r| r.warnings)),
+        }
+    }
+    assert!(checked > 50, "only {checked} cases opened");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn import_file_reads_other_formats_whole() {
+    let dir = TempDir::new("other");
+    let doc = photocraft_doc::Document::new("x", photocraft_geom::Size::new(3, 2), photocraft_color::ColorMode::Rgb, photocraft_color::SampleType::U8);
+    let png = photocraft_io::export(&doc, "x.png", &Default::default()).unwrap().bytes;
+    let path = dir.write("x.png", &png);
+    let r = open("x.png", &path).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(r.document.size, doc.size);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn import_file_fails_cleanly() {
+    let dir = TempDir::new("fail");
+    assert!(open("missing.psd", &dir.0.join("missing.psd")).is_err());
+    let bytes = testgen::small(photocraft_psd::Version::Psd, photocraft_psd::Compression::Rle).to_bytes().unwrap();
+    // Cut inside the layer records, inside the channel data, and inside the merged image.
+    for cut in [10, 60, bytes.len() / 2, bytes.len() - 5] {
+        let name = format!("cut{cut}.psd");
+        let path = dir.write(&name, &bytes[..cut]);
+        let from_bytes = import(&name, &bytes[..cut]);
+        let from_file = open(&name, &path);
+        // The merged image is not read when the layers are what opens, so a file cut inside it
+        // can open from the file where the strict parse of its bytes refused it.
+        if from_bytes.is_ok() {
+            assert!(from_file.is_ok(), "cut at {cut}");
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn a_cancelled_import_file_reports_cancelled() {
+    let dir = TempDir::new("cancel");
+    let bytes = testgen::small(photocraft_psd::Version::Psd, photocraft_psd::Compression::Zip).to_bytes().unwrap();
+    let path = dir.write("c.psd", &bytes);
+    let cancel = || true;
+    let ctl = Interrupt::cancel_only(&cancel);
+    assert!(matches!(import_file("c.psd", &path, &photocraft_io::ImportOptions::default(), &ctl), Err(photocraft_io::IoError::Cancelled)));
+}
+
+/// A read that fails while the layers are decoded from the file (it is truncated or rewritten,
+/// its drive goes away) fails the open: no layer is left empty for a save to lose.
+#[test]
+fn a_read_failing_while_layers_decode_fails_the_open() {
+    use photocraft_psd::ReadAt;
+    /// The file's bytes, failing every read of channel data (as a dropped network share or a
+    /// truncated file would) except the 2-byte compression fields the parse reads.
+    struct Failing {
+        bytes: Vec<u8>,
+        data: Vec<(u64, u64)>,
+    }
+    impl ReadAt for Failing {
+        fn len(&self) -> u64 {
+            self.bytes.len() as u64
+        }
+        fn read_at(&self, offset: u64, buf: &mut [u8]) -> photocraft_psd::Result<()> {
+            let end = offset + buf.len() as u64;
+            if self.data.iter().any(|&(a, b)| offset < b && end > a) {
+                return Err(photocraft_psd::PsdError::Read("the drive went away".into()));
+            }
+            self.bytes.as_slice().read_at(offset, buf)
+        }
+    }
+    for c in [photocraft_psd::Compression::Rle, photocraft_psd::Compression::Raw, photocraft_psd::Compression::Zip] {
+        let file = testgen::layered(photocraft_psd::Version::Psd, photocraft_psd::ColorMode::Rgb, 8, c);
+        let bytes = file.to_bytes().unwrap();
+        let lazy = photocraft_psd::PsdFile::from_source(photocraft_psd::Source::new(bytes.clone())).unwrap();
+        let data: Vec<(u64, u64)> = lazy
+            .layers()
+            .iter()
+            .flat_map(|l| &l.channels)
+            .filter_map(|ch| ch.stored.as_ref())
+            .filter(|s| s.len > 0)
+            .map(|s| (s.offset, s.offset + s.len))
+            .collect();
+        assert!(!data.is_empty());
+        // Opening the same file whole succeeds: only the failed reads fail the open.
+        assert!(import("x.psd", &bytes).is_ok());
+        let r = photocraft_io::import_source_for_open_with("x.psd", photocraft_psd::Source::new(Failing { bytes, data }), &Interrupt::NONE);
+        match r {
+            Err(photocraft_io::IoError::Read(msg)) => assert!(msg.contains("the drive went away"), "{c:?}: {msg}"),
+            r => panic!("{c:?}: the open didn't fail: {:?}", r.map(|(r, damaged)| (r.warnings, damaged))),
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/io/tests/it/psd_structure.rs b/crates/io/tests/it/psd_structure.rs
index a110fbd367..e263f83a6b 100644
--- a/crates/io/tests/it/psd_structure.rs
+++ b/crates/io/tests/it/psd_structure.rs
@@ -658,7 +658,7 @@ fn fill_layer_keeps_photoshop_pixels() {
         VersionedDescriptor::new(Descriptor::new("null").with("Clr ", Value::Descriptor(c))).to_bytes()
     };
     // Photoshop-rendered pixels deliberately differ from the parametric fill.
-    let plane = |v: u8| ChannelData { id: 0, compression: Some(Compression::Raw), data: vec![v; 4] };
+    let plane = |v: u8| ChannelData::new(0, Some(Compression::Raw), vec![v; 4]);
     let mut chans = vec![plane(255), plane(10), plane(20), plane(30)];
     for (i, c) in chans.iter_mut().enumerate() {
         c.id = i as i16 - 1;
@@ -762,7 +762,7 @@ fn merged_composite_unmattes_photoshop_white() {
     let mut f = testgen::merged_only(Version::Psd, ColorMode::Rgb, 8, Compression::Raw, 1, 1);
     f.header.channels = 4;
     // straight red at alpha 0.5, matted: r = 1, g = b = 0.5
-    f.image_data = photocraft_psd::ImageData { compression: Compression::Raw, data: vec![255, 128, 128, 128] };
+    f.image_data = photocraft_psd::ImageData::new(Compression::Raw, vec![255, 128, 128, 128]);
     let m = merged_composite(&f).unwrap();
     assert!((m[0][0] - 1.0).abs() < 0.01 && m[0][1] < 0.01 && m[0][2] < 0.01, "{:?}", m[0]);
     let (d, _) = psd_to_document(&f);
@@ -772,8 +772,7 @@ fn merged_composite_unmattes_photoshop_white() {
     // HDR and negative straight samples must survive the actual F32 PSD import boundary.
     let mut hdr = testgen::merged_only(Version::Psd, ColorMode::Rgb, 32, Compression::Raw, 1, 1);
     hdr.header.channels = 4;
-    hdr.image_data =
-        photocraft_psd::ImageData { compression: Compression::Raw, data: [1.5_f32, 0.25, 0.5, 0.5].into_iter().flat_map(f32::to_be_bytes).collect() };
+    hdr.image_data = photocraft_psd::ImageData::new(Compression::Raw, [1.5_f32, 0.25, 0.5, 0.5].into_iter().flat_map(f32::to_be_bytes).collect());
     assert_eq!(merged_composite(&hdr).unwrap(), vec![[2.0, -0.5, 0.0, 0.5]]);
     let mut deep = testgen::merged_only(Version::Psd, ColorMode::Rgb, 16, Compression::Raw, 1, 1);
     deep.header.channels = 4;
@@ -793,7 +792,7 @@ fn vector_rendered_mask_not_doubled_on_shapes() {
     f.layers_mut().push(LayerRecord {
         name: b"shape".to_vec(),
         mask: photocraft_psd::MaskData::Mask(mask),
-        channels: vec![photocraft_psd::ChannelData { id: -2, compression: Some(Compression::Raw), data: vec![] }],
+        channels: vec![photocraft_psd::ChannelData::new(-2, Some(Compression::Raw), vec![])],
         blocks: vec![TaggedBlock::unicode_name("shape"), TaggedBlock::new(*b"SoCo", vec![]), TaggedBlock::new(*b"vmsk", vec![0; 8])],
         ..Default::default()
     });
@@ -805,7 +804,7 @@ fn vector_rendered_mask_not_doubled_on_shapes() {
     let record = f.layers_mut().last_mut().unwrap();
     let photocraft_psd::MaskData::Mask(mask) = &mut record.mask else { panic!("fixture has a mask") };
     mask.real = Some(photocraft_psd::RealMask { flags: 0, background: 255, rect: photocraft_psd::Rect { top: 0, left: 0, bottom: 1, right: 1 } });
-    record.channels.push(photocraft_psd::ChannelData { id: -3, compression: Some(Compression::Raw), data: vec![64] });
+    record.channels.push(photocraft_psd::ChannelData::new(-3, Some(Compression::Raw), vec![64]));
     let (imported, _) = psd_to_document(&f);
     assert_eq!(imported.layers.last().unwrap().content.kind_name(), "Shape");
     let mask = imported.layers.last().unwrap().mask.as_ref().expect("selected real mask must survive synthetic cleanup");
diff --git a/crates/io/tests/it/psd_unknown_adjustment.rs b/crates/io/tests/it/psd_unknown_adjustment.rs
index 8b1f0cbdd3..58bc909c57 100644
--- a/crates/io/tests/it/psd_unknown_adjustment.rs
+++ b/crates/io/tests/it/psd_unknown_adjustment.rs
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ fn pixel_layers_with_unknown_blocks_stay_pixel_layers() {
     // A normal pixel layer (pixels, flag clear) carrying an unknown block.
     f.layers_mut()[0].blocks.push(extra());
     // Flagged but with pixels: never dropped for an adjustment.
-    let plane = |id: i16| ChannelData { id, compression: Some(Compression::Raw), data: vec![200; 4] };
+    let plane = |id: i16| ChannelData::new(id, Some(Compression::Raw), vec![200; 4]);
     let mut painted = adjustment_record("painted", vec![extra()]);
     painted.rect = Rect::from_xywh(0, 0, 2, 2);
     painted.channels = (-1..3).map(plane).collect();
diff --git a/crates/psd/README.md b/crates/psd/README.md
index 421d706ab7..71d12e9f12 100644
--- a/crates/psd/README.md
+++ b/crates/psd/README.md
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ A standalone reader and writer for Adobe Photoshop **PSD** (version 1) and **PSB
 | `PsdFile::from_bytes(b)?.to_bytes()? == b` for unmodified files | Channel data keeps its original encoding. Unknown blocks and resources are stored raw. Exact padding is recorded wherever it can vary: tagged blocks, layer info, section trailers. |
 | `from_bytes(to_bytes(f)) == f` for any model `f` | Canonical defaults: `padding: None` means "zero-pad to even", and the parser yields `None` whenever the file used that default. |
 | Lazy decoding | The parser only copies encoded bytes. Channels are decoded when asked (`ChannelData::decode`, `ImageData::decode`). |
+| Lazy reading | `PsdFile::from_source` reads only the structure. Channel data and the merged image stay in the source as `Stored` ranges and are read when decoded, so opening a 2 GB file doesn't need 2 GB for the file itself. The model equals what `from_bytes` builds, and it writes back the same bytes. |
 | No compositing | `PsdBuilder` takes the merged image from the caller. Without one, it writes a white placeholder and sets `has_real_merged_data = false` in resource 1057. |
 
 ## Public API (overview)
@@ -22,6 +23,8 @@ A standalone reader and writer for Adobe Photoshop **PSD** (version 1) and **PSB
 PsdFile::from_bytes(&[u8]) -> Result<PsdFile>
 PsdFile::from_bytes_and_merged(&[u8], want) -> Result<(PsdFile, Option<Result<Vec<u8>>>)>
                                             // + decode_merged() when want(&file): ZIP inflated once
+PsdFile::from_source(Source) -> Result<PsdFile>   // channel data and merged image left in the source
+PsdFile::from_source_and_merged_recovering(Source, want, recover)
 PsdFile::to_bytes(&self) -> Result<Vec<u8>>
 PsdFile::open(path) / save(path)            // native only
 PsdFile { header, color_mode_data, resources, layer_info, layer_info_placement,
@@ -36,6 +39,11 @@ PsdFile::composite_rgba8() -> Result<RgbaImage>
 PsdFile::resource(id), global_block(key), icc_profile(), resolution(),
         has_real_merged_data(), merged_has_alpha(), validate()
 
+// Sources (lazy reading)
+trait ReadAt { len(), read_at(offset, buf) }   // [u8], Vec<u8>, Arc<T>, FileSource (pread / seek_read)
+Source::new(impl ReadAt) / read_vec(offset, len)   // shared handle; equal when the same source
+Stored { source, offset, len }::read() / read_part(at, len)
+
 // Header
 Header { version: Version::{Psd,Psb}, channels, width, height, depth, color_mode, reserved }
 ColorMode::{Bitmap, Grayscale, Indexed, Rgb, Cmyk, Multichannel, Duotone, Lab, Unknown(u16)}
@@ -47,7 +55,8 @@ LayerRecord { rect, channels: Vec<ChannelData>, blend_mode, opacity, clipping, f
 LayerRecord::name()            // prefers `luni`
 LayerRecord::section_divider(), section_type(), layer_id(), fill_opacity(), is_visible(),
              block(key), block_mut(key), channel(id), channel_rect(id), decode_channel(id, depth, version)
-ChannelData { id, compression: Option<Compression>, data }   // encoded bytes kept verbatim
+ChannelData { id, compression: Option<Compression>, data, stored: Option<Stored> }   // encoded bytes kept verbatim
+ChannelData::new(id, compression, data); encoded() -> Cow<[u8]>; encoded_len(); load()
 ChannelData::encode(id, compression, decoded, w, h, depth, version)
 ChannelData::decode(w, h, depth, version); set_decoded(...)
 MaskData::{None, Mask(LayerMask), Raw(Vec<u8>)}
diff --git a/crates/psd/examples/bench_layer_block.rs b/crates/psd/examples/bench_layer_block.rs
index 4d34f9b8f3..2b48de1d28 100644
--- a/crates/psd/examples/bench_layer_block.rs
+++ b/crates/psd/examples/bench_layer_block.rs
@@ -11,12 +11,12 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
         let plane_bytes = 6000 * 4000 * usize::from(depth / 8);
         let mut layer = LayerRecord { rect: Rect::from_xywh(0, 0, 6000, 4000), name: b"RGB".to_vec(), ..Default::default() };
         for id in 0..3 {
-            layer.channels.push(ChannelData { id, compression: Some(Compression::Raw), data: vec![0; plane_bytes] });
+            layer.channels.push(ChannelData::new(id, Some(Compression::Raw), vec![0; plane_bytes]));
         }
         file.layer_info = Some(LayerInfo { merged_alpha: false, layers: vec![layer], padding: None });
         file.layer_info_placement =
             LayerInfoPlacement::GlobalBlock { index: 0, signature: *b"8BIM", key: if depth == 16 { *b"Lr16" } else { *b"Lr32" }, padding: None };
-        file.image_data = ImageData { compression: Compression::Raw, data: vec![0; plane_bytes * 3] };
+        file.image_data = ImageData::new(Compression::Raw, vec![0; plane_bytes * 3]);
         black_box(file.to_bytes()?);
         let mut samples = Vec::new();
         let mut size = 0;
diff --git a/crates/psd/src/error.rs b/crates/psd/src/error.rs
index da519e6698..a1fc1a5c98 100644
--- a/crates/psd/src/error.rs
+++ b/crates/psd/src/error.rs
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ pub enum PsdError {
     /// A compressed stream could not be decoded.
     #[error("decompression failed: {0}")]
     Decompress(String),
+    /// Reading from a [`crate::source::ReadAt`] source failed.
+    #[error("read failed: {0}")]
+    Read(String),
     /// An operation is not supported for this data (e.g. unknown compression).
     #[error("unsupported: {0}")]
     Unsupported(String),
diff --git a/crates/psd/src/file.rs b/crates/psd/src/file.rs
index fab262732b..fe1bb0fda0 100644
--- a/crates/psd/src/file.rs
+++ b/crates/psd/src/file.rs
@@ -174,14 +174,27 @@ impl PsdFile {
                 layer_mask_trailing = s.peek_rest().to_vec();
             }
         }
-        let image_data = ImageData { compression: Compression::Raw, data: Vec::new() };
+        let image_data = ImageData::new(Compression::Raw, Vec::new());
         let mut file =
             PsdFile { header, color_mode_data, resources, layer_info, layer_info_placement, global_layer_mask, global_blocks, layer_mask_trailing, image_data };
+        let want = want(&file);
+        let merged = file.read_merged_section(&mut r, want, recover)?;
+        Ok((file, merged))
+    }
+
+    /// Reads the merged image section from `rest` (the bytes after the layer and mask section) as
+    /// [`Self::from_bytes_and_merged_recovering`] does, decoding it.
+    pub(crate) fn read_merged_recovering(&mut self, rest: &[u8], recover: impl FnOnce(&PsdFile) -> bool) -> Result<Option<Result<Vec<u8>>>> {
+        self.read_merged_section(&mut Reader::new(rest), true, recover)
+    }
+
+    fn read_merged_section(&mut self, r: &mut Reader<'_>, want: bool, recover: impl FnOnce(&PsdFile) -> bool) -> Result<Option<Result<Vec<u8>>>> {
+        let file = self;
         let mut encoded = r.clone();
-        let merged = if want(&file) {
-            file.read_merged_decoded(&mut r).map(Some)
+        let merged = if want {
+            file.read_merged_decoded(r).map(Some)
         } else {
-            ImageData::read(&mut r, &file.header).map(|image| {
+            ImageData::read(r, &file.header).map(|image| {
                 file.image_data = image;
                 None
             })
@@ -189,7 +202,7 @@ impl PsdFile {
         let merged = match merged {
             Ok(merged) => merged,
             Err(error) => {
-                if matches!(error, PsdError::LimitExceeded(_)) || !recover(&file) {
+                if matches!(error, PsdError::LimitExceeded(_)) || !recover(file) {
                     return Err(error);
                 }
                 let compression = Compression::from_u16(encoded.u16()?);
@@ -197,11 +210,11 @@ impl PsdFile {
                 let mut data = Vec::new();
                 data.try_reserve_exact(source.len()).map_err(|_| PsdError::LimitExceeded("not enough memory to retain the damaged merged image"))?;
                 data.extend_from_slice(source);
-                file.image_data = ImageData { compression, data };
+                file.image_data = ImageData::new(compression, data);
                 Some(Err(error))
             }
         };
-        Ok((file, merged))
+        Ok(merged)
     }
 
     /// Reads the merged image into `self.image_data` and decodes it. A ZIP stream within the
@@ -224,7 +237,7 @@ impl PsdFile {
         if decoded.is_err() {
             validate_planes(compression, data, &layout)?;
         }
-        self.image_data = ImageData { compression, data: data.to_vec() };
+        self.image_data = ImageData::new(compression, data.to_vec());
         r.skip(data.len())?;
         Ok(decoded)
     }
@@ -235,7 +248,11 @@ impl PsdFile {
         let psb = v.is_psb();
         // Reserve the pixel data up front: appending it to an empty Vec reallocates and copies
         // repeatedly. Everything else (headers, resources, records) is small by comparison.
-        let hint = self.layer_info.as_ref().map_or(0, LayerInfo::channel_data_len).saturating_add(self.image_data.data.len());
+        let hint = self
+            .layer_info
+            .as_ref()
+            .map_or(0, LayerInfo::channel_data_len)
+            .saturating_add(usize::try_from(self.image_data.encoded_len()).unwrap_or(usize::MAX));
         let mut out = Vec::new();
         out.try_reserve(hint).map_err(|_| PsdError::LimitExceeded("not enough memory to serialize the file"))?;
         self.header.write(&mut out);
@@ -289,7 +306,7 @@ impl PsdFile {
         out.end_len(at, psb)?;
 
         out.put_u16(self.image_data.compression.as_u16());
-        out.put(&self.image_data.data);
+        out.put(&self.image_data.encoded()?);
         Ok(out)
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/psd/src/image_data.rs b/crates/psd/src/image_data.rs
index 864486b4ac..9e27af2917 100644
--- a/crates/psd/src/image_data.rs
+++ b/crates/psd/src/image_data.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,20 @@
 //! Merged (composite) image data section.
 
+use std::borrow::Cow;
+
 use crate::compression::{Compression, PlaneLayout, decode_planes, encode_planes, validate_planes};
 use crate::error::Result;
 use crate::header::Header;
 use crate::io::Reader;
+use crate::source::Stored;
 
 /// The merged image: compression plus the encoded bytes of all channels
 /// (to the end of the file), kept verbatim.
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+///
+/// As with [`crate::ChannelData`], a file parsed by
+/// [`PsdFile::from_source`](crate::PsdFile::from_source) may leave the bytes in the source
+/// (`stored`, with `data` empty); equality compares the bytes wherever they are.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 #[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
 pub struct ImageData {
     /// Compression method for the whole image.
@@ -15,9 +22,50 @@ pub struct ImageData {
     /// Encoded data. For RLE: the byte-count table for every row of every
     /// channel followed by the rows.
     pub data: Vec<u8>,
+    /// Where the encoded bytes are when they were left in the source. (Not serialized.)
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(skip))]
+    pub stored: Option<Stored>,
 }
 
+impl PartialEq for ImageData {
+    fn eq(&self, other: &Self) -> bool {
+        if self.compression != other.compression || self.encoded_len() != other.encoded_len() {
+            return false;
+        }
+        match (self.encoded(), other.encoded()) {
+            (Ok(a), Ok(b)) => a == b,
+            _ => false,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Eq for ImageData {}
+
 impl ImageData {
+    /// A merged image whose encoded bytes are in memory.
+    pub fn new(compression: Compression, data: Vec<u8>) -> Self {
+        ImageData { compression, data, stored: None }
+    }
+
+    /// The encoded bytes: borrowed from `data`, or read from the source.
+    pub fn encoded(&self) -> Result<Cow<'_, [u8]>> {
+        crate::source::encoded(&self.data, self.stored.as_ref())
+    }
+
+    /// Number of encoded bytes, wherever they are.
+    pub fn encoded_len(&self) -> u64 {
+        self.stored.as_ref().map_or(self.data.len() as u64, |s| s.len)
+    }
+
+    /// Reads bytes left in the source into `data`.
+    pub fn load(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
+        if let Some(s) = &self.stored {
+            self.data = s.read()?;
+            self.stored = None;
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     /// Plane layout for the merged image described by `header`.
     pub fn layout(header: &Header) -> PlaneLayout {
         PlaneLayout {
@@ -31,12 +79,12 @@ impl ImageData {
 
     /// Encodes planar data (`channels × height × row_bytes`).
     pub fn encode(compression: Compression, decoded: &[u8], header: &Header) -> Result<Self> {
-        Ok(ImageData { compression, data: encode_planes(compression, decoded, &Self::layout(header))? })
+        Ok(ImageData::new(compression, encode_planes(compression, decoded, &Self::layout(header))?))
     }
 
     /// Decodes all channels into planar big-endian samples.
     pub fn decode(&self, header: &Header) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
-        decode_planes(self.compression, &self.data, &Self::layout(header))
+        decode_planes(self.compression, &self.encoded()?, &Self::layout(header))
     }
 
     pub(crate) fn read(r: &mut Reader<'_>, header: &Header) -> Result<Self> {
@@ -45,6 +93,6 @@ impl ImageData {
         validate_planes(compression, data, &Self::layout(header))?;
         let data = data.to_vec();
         r.skip(data.len())?;
-        Ok(ImageData { compression, data })
+        Ok(ImageData::new(compression, data))
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/psd/src/layer.rs b/crates/psd/src/layer.rs
index 5b11411dfb..407a92233d 100644
--- a/crates/psd/src/layer.rs
+++ b/crates/psd/src/layer.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 //! Layer records, layer masks, blending ranges and per-layer channel data.
 
+use std::borrow::Cow;
+
 use crate::blend::BlendMode;
 use crate::compression::{Compression, PlaneLayout, decode_planes, encode_planes};
 use crate::error::{PsdError, Result};
 use crate::header::{MAX_DIMENSION, Version};
 use crate::io::{Reader, WriteExt, decode_legacy_name, read_pascal, write_pascal};
+use crate::source::Stored;
 use crate::tagged::{BlockData, SectionDivider, SectionType, TaggedBlock, read_blocks, uses_long_length, write_blocks};
 
 /// Channel id of the transparency mask.
@@ -368,7 +371,12 @@ impl BlendingRanges {
 }
 
 /// Encoded image data for one layer channel.
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+///
+/// The encoded bytes are in `data`, or, for a file parsed by
+/// [`PsdFile::from_source`](crate::PsdFile::from_source), still in the source at `stored` (and
+/// `data` is empty). Every method here reads them from wherever they are; two channels are equal
+/// when their bytes are, wherever each one keeps them.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 #[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
 pub struct ChannelData {
     /// Channel id: 0.. color channels, -1 transparency, -2 user mask,
@@ -377,22 +385,65 @@ pub struct ChannelData {
     /// Compression; `None` when the stored length was 0 (no compression
     /// field at all).
     pub compression: Option<Compression>,
-    /// Encoded bytes following the compression field, kept verbatim.
+    /// Encoded bytes following the compression field, kept verbatim (empty while `stored`).
     pub data: Vec<u8>,
+    /// Where the encoded bytes are when they were left in the source: see [`Self::load`].
+    /// (Not serialized: load the channel first.)
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(skip))]
+    pub stored: Option<Stored>,
 }
 
+impl PartialEq for ChannelData {
+    fn eq(&self, other: &Self) -> bool {
+        if self.id != other.id || self.compression != other.compression || self.encoded_len() != other.encoded_len() {
+            return false;
+        }
+        match (self.encoded(), other.encoded()) {
+            (Ok(a), Ok(b)) => a == b,
+            _ => false,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Eq for ChannelData {}
+
 impl ChannelData {
     /// Encodes planar samples (`height × row_bytes`).
     pub fn encode(id: i16, compression: Compression, decoded: &[u8], width: usize, height: usize, depth: u16, version: Version) -> Result<Self> {
         let layout = PlaneLayout { planes: 1, width, height, depth, version };
-        Ok(ChannelData { id, compression: Some(compression), data: encode_planes(compression, decoded, &layout)? })
+        Ok(ChannelData::new(id, Some(compression), encode_planes(compression, decoded, &layout)?))
+    }
+
+    /// A channel whose encoded bytes are in memory.
+    pub fn new(id: i16, compression: Option<Compression>, data: Vec<u8>) -> Self {
+        ChannelData { id, compression, data, stored: None }
+    }
+
+    /// The encoded bytes (after the compression field): borrowed from `data`, or read from the
+    /// source when they were left there.
+    pub fn encoded(&self) -> Result<Cow<'_, [u8]>> {
+        crate::source::encoded(&self.data, self.stored.as_ref())
+    }
+
+    /// Number of encoded bytes, wherever they are.
+    pub fn encoded_len(&self) -> u64 {
+        self.stored.as_ref().map_or(self.data.len() as u64, |s| s.len)
+    }
+
+    /// Reads bytes left in the source into `data`, so the channel no longer needs its source.
+    pub fn load(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
+        if let Some(s) = &self.stored {
+            self.data = s.read()?;
+            self.stored = None;
+        }
+        Ok(())
     }
 
     /// Decodes into planar big-endian samples.
     pub fn decode(&self, width: usize, height: usize, depth: u16, version: Version) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
         let layout = PlaneLayout { planes: 1, width, height, depth, version };
         match self.compression {
-            Some(c) => decode_planes(c, &self.data, &layout),
+            Some(c) => decode_planes(c, &self.encoded()?, &layout),
             None => {
                 if layout.decoded_len()? == 0 {
                     Ok(Vec::new())
@@ -412,7 +463,7 @@ impl ChannelData {
 
     fn stored_len(&self) -> u64 {
         match self.compression {
-            Some(_) => 2 + self.data.len() as u64,
+            Some(_) => 2 + self.encoded_len(),
             None => 0,
         }
     }
@@ -556,7 +607,7 @@ impl LayerRecord {
         ch.decode(w, h, depth, version)
     }
 
-    fn read(r: &mut Reader<'_>, version: Version) -> Result<(Self, Vec<u64>)> {
+    pub(crate) fn read(r: &mut Reader<'_>, version: Version) -> Result<(Self, Vec<u64>)> {
         let rect = Rect::read(r)?;
         let nch = r.u16()?;
         if nch > MAX_LAYER_CHANNELS {
@@ -567,7 +618,7 @@ impl LayerRecord {
         for _ in 0..nch {
             let id = r.i16()?;
             let len = r.len_field(version.is_psb())?;
-            channels.push(ChannelData { id, compression: None, data: Vec::new() });
+            channels.push(ChannelData::new(id, None, Vec::new()));
             lens.push(len);
         }
         let sig = r.array::<4>()?;
@@ -716,7 +767,7 @@ impl LayerInfo {
             n = n.saturating_add(l.encoded_len(version)?);
         }
         for c in self.layers.iter().flat_map(|l| &l.channels).filter(|c| c.compression.is_some()) {
-            n = n.saturating_add(2).saturating_add(c.data.len() as u64);
+            n = n.saturating_add(2).saturating_add(c.encoded_len());
         }
         Ok(n)
     }
@@ -740,7 +791,11 @@ impl LayerInfo {
     /// Bytes of channel data and their compression fields: the part of the body worth reserving up
     /// front (the records are small next to the pixels). Saturates instead of overflowing.
     pub(crate) fn channel_data_len(&self) -> usize {
-        self.layers.iter().flat_map(|l| &l.channels).filter(|c| c.compression.is_some()).fold(0usize, |n, c| n.saturating_add(2).saturating_add(c.data.len()))
+        self.layers
+            .iter()
+            .flat_map(|l| &l.channels)
+            .filter(|c| c.compression.is_some())
+            .fold(0usize, |n, c| n.saturating_add(2).saturating_add(usize::try_from(c.encoded_len()).unwrap_or(usize::MAX)))
     }
 
     /// Serializes the body without any trailing padding (the padding field is ignored).
@@ -754,7 +809,7 @@ impl LayerInfo {
             for c in &l.channels {
                 if let Some(comp) = c.compression {
                     out.put_u16(comp.as_u16());
-                    out.put(&c.data);
+                    out.put(&c.encoded()?);
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -835,7 +890,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn psb_channel_lengths_are_8_bytes() {
         let mut rec = LayerRecord::default();
-        rec.channels.push(ChannelData { id: 0, compression: Some(Compression::Raw), data: vec![] });
+        rec.channels.push(ChannelData::new(0, Some(Compression::Raw), vec![]));
         let info = LayerInfo { layers: vec![rec], ..Default::default() };
         let psd = rt(&info, Version::Psd);
         let psb = rt(&info, Version::Psb);
@@ -1075,7 +1130,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn zero_length_channel() {
         let mut rec = LayerRecord::default();
-        rec.channels.push(ChannelData { id: 0, compression: None, data: vec![] });
+        rec.channels.push(ChannelData::new(0, None, vec![]));
         let info = LayerInfo { layers: vec![rec], ..Default::default() };
         rt(&info, Version::Psd);
         assert_eq!(info.layers[0].decode_channel(0, 8, Version::Psd).unwrap(), Vec::<u8>::new());
diff --git a/crates/psd/src/lazy.rs b/crates/psd/src/lazy.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d22661abb5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/psd/src/lazy.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,378 @@
+//! Parsing from a [`Source`] without reading the whole file: [`PsdFile::from_source`].
+//!
+//! The structure (header, resources, layer records, global blocks) is read into memory as
+//! [`PsdFile::from_bytes`] would hold it. The bulk of a layered file is left in the source: every
+//! channel's encoded bytes and the merged image become [`Stored`] ranges, read when they are
+//! decoded. Apart from those ranges, the model is the one `from_bytes` builds from the same bytes
+//! (the parse tests hold the two to that), with one difference: a merged image the caller does
+//! not ask for is not read, so it is not checked either.
+
+use crate::compression::Compression;
+use crate::error::{PsdError, Result};
+use crate::file::{GlobalLayerMask, LayerInfoPlacement, PsdFile};
+use crate::header::{Header, Version};
+use crate::image_data::ImageData;
+use crate::io::Reader;
+use crate::layer::{LayerInfo, LayerRecord};
+use crate::resources::ImageResource;
+use crate::source::{Source, Stored};
+use crate::tagged::{TaggedBlock, is_sig, uses_long_length};
+
+/// Bytes read per attempt at the layer records; doubled until they all fit. (Small in tests, so
+/// they grow it.)
+const RECORDS_CHUNK: u64 = if cfg!(test) { 64 } else { 1 << 20 };
+
+/// A bounds-checked cursor over `start..end` of a source.
+struct Cursor<'a> {
+    src: &'a Source,
+    pos: u64,
+    end: u64,
+}
+
+impl<'a> Cursor<'a> {
+    fn new(src: &'a Source) -> Self {
+        Cursor { src, pos: 0, end: src.get().len() }
+    }
+
+    fn remaining(&self) -> u64 {
+        self.end.saturating_sub(self.pos)
+    }
+
+    fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
+        self.remaining() == 0
+    }
+
+    fn eof(&self, needed: u64) -> PsdError {
+        PsdError::UnexpectedEof {
+            offset: usize::try_from(self.pos).unwrap_or(usize::MAX),
+            needed: usize::try_from(needed.saturating_sub(self.remaining())).unwrap_or(usize::MAX),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn need(&self, n: u64) -> Result<()> {
+        if n > self.remaining() { Err(self.eof(n)) } else { Ok(()) }
+    }
+
+    /// Reads `n` bytes.
+    fn bytes(&mut self, n: u64) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
+        self.need(n)?;
+        let v = self.src.read_vec(self.pos, n)?;
+        self.pos += n;
+        Ok(v)
+    }
+
+    /// Up to `n` bytes from the current position, without consuming.
+    fn peek(&self, n: u64) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
+        self.src.read_vec(self.pos, n.min(self.remaining()))
+    }
+
+    fn array<const N: usize>(&mut self) -> Result<[u8; N]> {
+        self.need(N as u64)?;
+        let mut b = [0u8; N];
+        self.src.get().read_at(self.pos, &mut b)?;
+        self.pos += N as u64;
+        Ok(b)
+    }
+
+    fn u16(&mut self) -> Result<u16> {
+        self.array().map(u16::from_be_bytes)
+    }
+
+    fn i16(&mut self) -> Result<i16> {
+        self.array().map(i16::from_be_bytes)
+    }
+
+    fn u32(&mut self) -> Result<u32> {
+        self.array().map(u32::from_be_bytes)
+    }
+
+    fn len_field(&mut self, long: bool) -> Result<u64> {
+        if long { self.array().map(u64::from_be_bytes) } else { self.u32().map(u64::from) }
+    }
+
+    /// The next `n` bytes as a cursor of their own; this one moves past them.
+    fn sub(&mut self, n: u64) -> Result<Cursor<'a>> {
+        self.need(n)?;
+        let sub = Cursor { src: self.src, pos: self.pos, end: self.pos + n };
+        self.pos += n;
+        Ok(sub)
+    }
+
+    fn skip(&mut self, n: u64) -> Result<()> {
+        self.need(n)?;
+        self.pos += n;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn rest(&mut self) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
+        self.bytes(self.remaining())
+    }
+
+    /// The rest as a stored range; the cursor moves to the end.
+    fn stored_rest(&mut self) -> Stored {
+        let s = Stored { source: self.src.clone(), offset: self.pos, len: self.remaining() };
+        self.pos = self.end;
+        s
+    }
+}
+
+impl PsdFile {
+    /// Parses a file from `source`, leaving channel data and the merged image in it: see
+    /// [`crate::source`]. Decoding a channel then reads its bytes from the source, which must
+    /// stay unchanged while the model is in use.
+    pub fn from_source(source: Source) -> Result<Self> {
+        Self::from_source_and_merged_recovering(source, |_| false, |_| false).map(|(file, _)| file)
+    }
+
+    /// [`Self::from_bytes_and_merged_recovering`] for a [`Source`]: the merged image is read only
+    /// when `want` asks for it (and is then decoded as there, with the same recovery); otherwise
+    /// it stays in the source, unread and unchecked.
+    pub fn from_source_and_merged_recovering(
+        source: Source,
+        want: impl FnOnce(&PsdFile) -> bool,
+        recover: impl FnOnce(&PsdFile) -> bool,
+    ) -> Result<(Self, Option<Result<Vec<u8>>>)> {
+        let mut c = Cursor::new(&source);
+        let header = Header::read(&mut Reader::new(&c.bytes(26)?))?;
+        let version = header.version;
+        let psb = version.is_psb();
+        let cmd_len = c.u32()?;
+        let color_mode_data = c.bytes(u64::from(cmd_len))?;
+        let res_len = c.u32()?;
+        let res = c.bytes(u64::from(res_len))?;
+        let mut rr = Reader::new(&res);
+        let mut resources = Vec::new();
+        while !rr.is_empty() {
+            resources.push(ImageResource::read(&mut rr)?);
+        }
+
+        let lm_len = c.len_field(psb)?;
+        let mut s = c.sub(lm_len)?;
+        let mut layer_info = None;
+        let mut global_layer_mask = None;
+        let mut global_blocks = Vec::new();
+        let mut layer_mask_trailing = Vec::new();
+        let mut layer_info_placement = LayerInfoPlacement::Section;
+        if !s.is_empty() {
+            let li_len = s.len_field(psb)?;
+            if li_len > 0 {
+                layer_info = Some(read_layer_info(s.sub(li_len)?, version)?);
+            }
+            if s.remaining() >= 4 {
+                let n = s.u32()?;
+                global_layer_mask = Some(GlobalLayerMask { data: s.bytes(u64::from(n))? });
+                let target_key = match header.depth {
+                    16 => Some(b"Lr16"),
+                    32 => Some(b"Lr32"),
+                    _ => None,
+                };
+                let mut candidate_seen = match target_key {
+                    Some(_) => false,
+                    None => layer_info.as_ref().is_some_and(|i: &LayerInfo| !i.layers.is_empty()),
+                };
+                let trailing = read_blocks(
+                    &mut s,
+                    version,
+                    |index, signature, key, data, padding| {
+                        let is_candidate = match target_key {
+                            Some(k) => &key == k,
+                            None => matches!(&key, b"Layr" | b"Lr16" | b"Lr32"),
+                        };
+                        if candidate_seen || !is_candidate {
+                            return Ok(None);
+                        }
+                        candidate_seen = true;
+                        let Ok(info) = read_layer_info(data, version) else {
+                            if target_key.is_some() {
+                                layer_info = None;
+                            }
+                            return Ok(None);
+                        };
+                        layer_info = Some(info);
+                        layer_info_placement = LayerInfoPlacement::GlobalBlock { index, signature, key, padding: padding.clone() };
+                        Ok(Some(()))
+                    },
+                    &mut global_blocks,
+                )?;
+                layer_mask_trailing = trailing;
+            } else {
+                layer_mask_trailing = s.rest()?;
+            }
+        }
+        let mut file = PsdFile {
+            header,
+            color_mode_data,
+            resources,
+            layer_info,
+            layer_info_placement,
+            global_layer_mask,
+            global_blocks,
+            layer_mask_trailing,
+            image_data: ImageData::new(Compression::Raw, Vec::new()),
+        };
+        if !want(&file) {
+            let compression = Compression::from_u16(c.u16()?);
+            file.image_data = ImageData { compression, data: Vec::new(), stored: Some(c.stored_rest()) };
+            return Ok((file, None));
+        }
+        // The merged image is wanted: read it and decode it as `from_bytes` does.
+        let rest = c.rest()?;
+        let merged = file.read_merged_recovering(&rest, recover)?;
+        Ok((file, merged))
+    }
+}
+
+/// Reads tagged blocks as [`crate::tagged::read_blocks_with`] does, from a cursor: `consume`
+/// sees each block's data as a cursor and returns `Some` when it took the block; the others are
+/// read into memory and pushed to `blocks`. Returns the trailing bytes.
+fn read_blocks<'a>(
+    r: &mut Cursor<'a>,
+    version: Version,
+    mut consume: impl FnMut(usize, [u8; 4], [u8; 4], Cursor<'a>, &Option<Vec<u8>>) -> Result<Option<()>>,
+    blocks: &mut Vec<TaggedBlock>,
+) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
+    const ALIGNMENT: usize = 4;
+    loop {
+        let head = r.peek(12)?;
+        if head.len() < 12 || !is_sig(&head) {
+            return r.rest();
+        }
+        let signature = r.array::<4>()?;
+        let key = r.array::<4>()?;
+        let len = r.len_field(uses_long_length(version, &key))?;
+        let data = r.sub(len)?;
+        // Padding as `read_blocks_with` detects it: the smallest k in 0..=3 such that the next
+        // signature (or the end of the region) follows k bytes later.
+        let rest = r.peek(7)?;
+        let mut pad = None;
+        for k in 0..=3usize {
+            if k == rest.len() || rest.get(k..).is_some_and(is_sig) {
+                pad = Some(k);
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+        let default = TaggedBlock::default_padding((len % ALIGNMENT as u64) as usize, ALIGNMENT);
+        let pad = pad.unwrap_or_else(|| if rest.get(..default).is_some_and(|p| p.iter().all(|&b| b == 0)) { default } else { 0 });
+        let pad_bytes = rest.get(..pad).map(<[u8]>::to_vec).unwrap_or_default();
+        r.skip(pad as u64)?;
+        let padding = if pad_bytes.len() == default && pad_bytes.iter().all(|&b| b == 0) { None } else { Some(pad_bytes) };
+        let (start, end) = (data.pos, data.end);
+        if consume(blocks.len(), signature, key, data, &padding)?.is_none() {
+            let data = Cursor { src: r.src, pos: start, end }.rest()?;
+            blocks.push(TaggedBlock { signature, key, data, padding });
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// [`LayerInfo::read_body`] from a cursor over the body: the records are read into memory, and
+/// each channel's encoded bytes become a [`Stored`] range after its compression field.
+fn read_layer_info(mut r: Cursor<'_>, version: Version) -> Result<LayerInfo> {
+    let body_start = r.pos;
+    let count = r.i16()?;
+    let merged_alpha = count < 0;
+    let n = count.unsigned_abs();
+    // Minimum record size, as `read_body` checks it.
+    if u64::from(n) * 34 > r.remaining() {
+        return Err(r.eof(u64::from(n) * 34));
+    }
+    // The records' total size is only known once they are parsed: read a chunk and grow it until
+    // they all fit (or the body is exhausted, when their error is the body's).
+    let mut chunk = RECORDS_CHUNK.min(r.remaining());
+    let (layers, all_lens, used) = loop {
+        let buf = r.peek(chunk)?;
+        let mut rr = Reader::new(&buf);
+        let mut layers = Vec::with_capacity(usize::from(n));
+        let mut all_lens = Vec::with_capacity(usize::from(n));
+        let parsed = (0..n).try_for_each(|_| {
+            let (rec, lens) = LayerRecord::read(&mut rr, version)?;
+            layers.push(rec);
+            all_lens.push(lens);
+            Ok::<_, PsdError>(())
+        });
+        match parsed {
+            Ok(()) => break (layers, all_lens, rr.pos() as u64),
+            Err(PsdError::UnexpectedEof { .. }) if chunk < r.remaining() => chunk = chunk.saturating_mul(2).min(r.remaining()),
+            Err(e) => return Err(e),
+        }
+    };
+    r.skip(used)?;
+    let mut layers = layers;
+    for (rec, lens) in layers.iter_mut().zip(all_lens) {
+        for (ch, len) in rec.channels.iter_mut().zip(lens) {
+            if len == 0 {
+                continue;
+            }
+            if len == 1 {
+                return Err(PsdError::invalid("channel data length 1"));
+            }
+            ch.compression = Some(Compression::from_u16(r.u16()?));
+            let data = r.sub(len - 2)?;
+            ch.stored = Some(Stored { source: data.src.clone(), offset: data.pos, len: data.remaining() });
+        }
+    }
+    let body_len = r.pos - body_start;
+    let rest = r.rest()?;
+    let padding = if rest.len() as u64 == body_len % 2 && rest.iter().all(|&b| b == 0) { None } else { Some(rest) };
+    Ok(LayerInfo { merged_alpha, layers, padding })
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::testgen;
+
+    /// Every generated file, plus the layered 16/32-bit ones with their layers in a global block.
+    fn samples() -> Vec<Vec<u8>> {
+        let mut v = Vec::new();
+        for case in testgen::all_cases() {
+            let mut file = case.file;
+            v.push(file.to_bytes().unwrap());
+            let key = match file.header.depth {
+                16 => *b"Lr16",
+                32 => *b"Lr32",
+                _ => continue,
+            };
+            if file.layer_info.as_ref().is_some_and(|i| !i.layers.is_empty()) {
+                file.global_layer_mask.get_or_insert_with(GlobalLayerMask::default);
+                file.layer_info_placement = LayerInfoPlacement::GlobalBlock { index: 0, signature: *b"8BIM", key, padding: None };
+                v.push(file.to_bytes().unwrap());
+            }
+        }
+        v
+    }
+
+    fn same(bytes: Vec<u8>) {
+        let eager = PsdFile::from_bytes(&bytes).unwrap();
+        let lazy = PsdFile::from_source(Source::new(bytes.clone())).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(lazy, eager);
+        assert_eq!(lazy.to_bytes().unwrap(), bytes);
+        assert!(lazy.layers().iter().flat_map(|l| &l.channels).all(|c| c.data.is_empty()));
+        assert!(lazy.image_data.data.is_empty() && lazy.image_data.stored.is_some());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn lazy_parse_matches_the_eager_one() {
+        for bytes in samples() {
+            same(bytes);
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn lazy_parse_fails_where_the_eager_one_does() {
+        for bytes in samples() {
+            for cut in [1, 2, 7, 26, 40, bytes.len() / 3, bytes.len() / 2, bytes.len() - 3] {
+                let Some(b) = bytes.get(..cut) else { continue };
+                let eager = PsdFile::from_bytes(b);
+                let lazy = PsdFile::from_source(Source::new(b.to_vec()));
+                // A truncated merged image is only noticed when it is read.
+                match eager {
+                    Ok(eager) => assert_eq!(lazy.unwrap(), eager, "cut at {cut}"),
+                    Err(e) => {
+                        let records_ok = PsdFile::from_bytes_and_merged_recovering(b, |_| false, |_| true).is_ok();
+                        assert!(lazy.is_err() || records_ok, "cut at {cut}: eager {e:?}");
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/psd/src/lib.rs b/crates/psd/src/lib.rs
index 5248456d52..f5ffbed8b7 100644
--- a/crates/psd/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/psd/src/lib.rs
@@ -61,13 +61,16 @@ pub mod header;
 pub mod image_data;
 mod io;
 pub mod layer;
+mod lazy;
 pub mod metadata;
 pub mod path;
 pub mod patterns;
 pub mod pixels;
 pub mod resources;
+pub mod rows;
 pub mod shc;
 pub mod slices;
+pub mod source;
 pub mod tagged;
 #[cfg(any(test, feature = "testgen"))]
 // Test-data generator (tests and fuzz seeds only): failing loudly is the point.
@@ -87,5 +90,9 @@ pub use image_data::ImageData;
 pub use layer::{BlendingRanges, ChannelData, LayerFlags, LayerInfo, LayerMask, LayerRecord, MaskData, MaskParameters, RealMask, Rect};
 pub use pixels::{GrayImage, Layer, RgbaImage};
 pub use resources::{ImageResource, ResolutionInfo, ResourceData};
+pub use rows::RowDecoder;
+#[cfg(any(unix, windows))]
+pub use source::FileSource;
+pub use source::{ReadAt, Source, Stored};
 pub use tagged::{BlockData, SectionDivider, SectionType, TaggedBlock};
 pub use tree::LayerNode;
diff --git a/crates/psd/src/rows.rs b/crates/psd/src/rows.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6413c801df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/psd/src/rows.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,234 @@
+//! Decoding a channel a band of rows at a time: [`ChannelData::row_decoder`].
+//!
+//! [`ChannelData::decode`] returns the whole plane, so turning a layer into tiles holds every
+//! channel's plane plus an interleaved copy at once: for a 20000×15000 RGBA layer that is 2.4 GB
+//! on top of the tiles. A [`RowDecoder`] hands out any band of rows instead. RLE and raw channels
+//! are read band by band (a channel still in its [`Stored`](crate::Stored) source reads only the
+//! band's bytes: RLE's per-row byte counts give each row's offset); ZIP streams cannot be entered
+//! part way, so a ZIP channel is inflated once, when the decoder is made.
+
+use std::borrow::Cow;
+
+use crate::compression::{Compression, MAX_DECODED_BYTES, PlaneLayout, decode_planes, packbits};
+use crate::error::{PsdError, Result};
+use crate::header::Version;
+use crate::layer::ChannelData;
+use crate::source::Stored;
+
+/// Where a channel's encoded bytes are.
+enum Bytes<'a> {
+    Memory(&'a [u8]),
+    Source(&'a Stored),
+}
+
+impl Bytes<'_> {
+    fn len(&self) -> u64 {
+        match self {
+            Bytes::Memory(b) => b.len() as u64,
+            Bytes::Source(s) => s.len,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn get(&self, at: u64, len: u64) -> Result<Cow<'_, [u8]>> {
+        match self {
+            Bytes::Memory(b) => {
+                let range = usize::try_from(at).ok().zip(usize::try_from(len).ok()).and_then(|(a, n)| b.get(a..a.checked_add(n)?));
+                range
+                    .map(Cow::Borrowed)
+                    .ok_or(PsdError::UnexpectedEof { offset: usize::try_from(at).unwrap_or(usize::MAX), needed: usize::try_from(len).unwrap_or(usize::MAX) })
+            }
+            Bytes::Source(s) => {
+                if at.checked_add(len).is_none_or(|end| end > s.len) {
+                    return Err(PsdError::UnexpectedEof {
+                        offset: usize::try_from(at).unwrap_or(usize::MAX),
+                        needed: usize::try_from(len).unwrap_or(usize::MAX),
+                    });
+                }
+                s.read_part(at, len).map(Cow::Owned)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+enum Kind<'a> {
+    /// Rows at `row * row_bytes`.
+    Raw(Bytes<'a>),
+    /// `offsets[r]..offsets[r + 1]` are row `r`'s PackBits bytes (offsets from the start of the
+    /// data, after the count table).
+    Rle { bytes: Bytes<'a>, offsets: Vec<u64> },
+    /// The whole decoded plane.
+    Decoded(Vec<u8>),
+    /// No data and no rows.
+    Empty,
+}
+
+/// Decodes bands of rows of one channel: see the [module docs](self).
+pub struct RowDecoder<'a> {
+    kind: Kind<'a>,
+    row_bytes: usize,
+    height: usize,
+}
+
+impl ChannelData {
+    /// A decoder of this channel's rows, for a `width × height` plane. Fails where
+    /// [`Self::decode`] would on everything it can check without decoding the rows (sizes, the
+    /// RLE count table, the whole of a ZIP stream); a damaged row fails when its band is decoded.
+    pub fn row_decoder(&self, width: usize, height: usize, depth: u16, version: Version) -> Result<RowDecoder<'_>> {
+        let layout = PlaneLayout { planes: 1, width, height, depth, version };
+        let total = layout.decoded_len()?;
+        let row_bytes = layout.row_bytes();
+        let bytes = match &self.stored {
+            Some(s) => Bytes::Source(s),
+            None => Bytes::Memory(&self.data),
+        };
+        let kind = match self.compression {
+            None if total == 0 => Kind::Empty,
+            None => return Err(PsdError::invalid("channel has no data")),
+            Some(Compression::Raw) => {
+                if bytes.len() < total as u64 {
+                    return Err(PsdError::UnexpectedEof { offset: usize::try_from(bytes.len()).unwrap_or(usize::MAX), needed: total - bytes.len() as usize });
+                }
+                Kind::Raw(bytes)
+            }
+            Some(Compression::Rle) => {
+                let size: u64 = if version.is_psb() { 4 } else { 2 };
+                let table_len = (height as u64).saturating_mul(size);
+                if table_len > bytes.len() {
+                    return Err(PsdError::UnexpectedEof { offset: 0, needed: usize::try_from(table_len - bytes.len()).unwrap_or(usize::MAX) });
+                }
+                let table = bytes.get(0, table_len)?;
+                let mut offsets = Vec::new();
+                offsets.try_reserve_exact(height + 1).map_err(|_| PsdError::LimitExceeded("not enough memory for the RLE row table"))?;
+                let mut at = table_len;
+                offsets.push(at);
+                for c in table.chunks_exact(size as usize) {
+                    let n = match *c {
+                        [a, b] => u64::from(u16::from_be_bytes([a, b])),
+                        [a, b, c, d] => u64::from(u32::from_be_bytes([a, b, c, d])),
+                        _ => 0,
+                    };
+                    at = at.saturating_add(n);
+                    offsets.push(at);
+                }
+                let data_len = bytes.len() - table_len;
+                // As `decode_planes` checks: PackBits expands at most 64x.
+                if (total as u64) > data_len.saturating_mul(64) {
+                    return Err(PsdError::Decompress("RLE data too short for declared size".into()));
+                }
+                if at > bytes.len() {
+                    return Err(PsdError::UnexpectedEof {
+                        offset: usize::try_from(bytes.len()).unwrap_or(usize::MAX),
+                        needed: usize::try_from(at - bytes.len()).unwrap_or(usize::MAX),
+                    });
+                }
+                Kind::Rle { bytes, offsets }
+            }
+            Some(c) => Kind::Decoded(decode_planes(c, &self.encoded()?, &layout)?),
+        };
+        Ok(RowDecoder { kind, row_bytes, height })
+    }
+}
+
+impl RowDecoder<'_> {
+    /// Bytes per decoded row.
+    pub fn row_bytes(&self) -> usize {
+        self.row_bytes
+    }
+
+    /// Number of rows.
+    pub fn height(&self) -> usize {
+        self.height
+    }
+
+    /// Rows `r0..r1` as planar big-endian samples (`(r1 - r0) × row_bytes` bytes).
+    pub fn rows(&self, r0: usize, r1: usize) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
+        if r0 > r1 || r1 > self.height {
+            return Err(PsdError::invalid(format!("rows {r0}..{r1} outside 0..{}", self.height)));
+        }
+        let n = (r1 - r0).checked_mul(self.row_bytes).ok_or(PsdError::LimitExceeded("band size overflow"))?;
+        if n as u64 > MAX_DECODED_BYTES {
+            return Err(PsdError::LimitExceeded("decoded channel data exceeds MAX_DECODED_BYTES"));
+        }
+        let mut out = Vec::new();
+        out.try_reserve_exact(n).map_err(|_| PsdError::LimitExceeded("not enough memory for the decoded channel data"))?;
+        match &self.kind {
+            Kind::Empty => {}
+            Kind::Raw(bytes) => out.extend_from_slice(&bytes.get((r0 * self.row_bytes) as u64, n as u64)?),
+            Kind::Decoded(plane) => {
+                out.extend_from_slice(plane.get(r0 * self.row_bytes..r1 * self.row_bytes).ok_or_else(|| PsdError::invalid("decoded plane too short"))?)
+            }
+            Kind::Rle { bytes, offsets } => {
+                let (Some(&start), Some(&end)) = (offsets.get(r0), offsets.get(r1)) else {
+                    return Err(PsdError::invalid("RLE row table too short"));
+                };
+                let band = bytes.get(start, end - start)?;
+                for r in r0..r1 {
+                    let (Some(&a), Some(&b)) = (offsets.get(r), offsets.get(r + 1)) else {
+                        return Err(PsdError::invalid("RLE row table too short"));
+                    };
+                    let row = band.get((a - start) as usize..(b - start) as usize).ok_or_else(|| PsdError::invalid("RLE row outside its band"))?;
+                    packbits::decode_into(row, self.row_bytes, &mut out)?;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(out)
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use crate::source::Source;
+    use crate::{PsdFile, testgen};
+
+    /// Every channel of every generated file, decoded in uneven bands from memory and from a
+    /// source, is its whole-plane decode.
+    #[test]
+    fn bands_join_up_to_the_whole_plane() {
+        let mut checked = 0;
+        for case in testgen::all_cases() {
+            let bytes = case.file.to_bytes().unwrap();
+            let eager = PsdFile::from_bytes(&bytes).unwrap();
+            let lazy = PsdFile::from_source(Source::new(bytes)).unwrap();
+            let (d, v) = (eager.header.depth, eager.header.version);
+            for file in [&eager, &lazy] {
+                for rec in file.layers() {
+                    for ch in &rec.channels {
+                        let (w, h) = rec.channel_rect(ch.id).size().unwrap();
+                        let whole = ch.decode(w, h, d, v);
+                        let dec = ch.row_decoder(w, h, d, v);
+                        let (Ok(whole), Ok(dec)) = (whole, dec) else { continue };
+                        let mut joined = Vec::new();
+                        let mut r = 0;
+                        for step in [1, 3, 2, 7].iter().cycle() {
+                            if r >= h {
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            let r1 = (r + step).min(h);
+                            joined.extend(dec.rows(r, r1).unwrap());
+                            r = r1;
+                        }
+                        assert_eq!(joined, whole, "{}", case.name);
+                        assert!(dec.rows(0, h + 1).is_err());
+                        checked += 1;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        assert!(checked > 100, "{checked}");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_damaged_rle_row_fails_its_band() {
+        use crate::Compression;
+        use crate::layer::ChannelData;
+        // Two rows of 4 bytes: a valid row, then one that ends early.
+        let mut data = vec![0, 2, 0, 2];
+        data.extend([0xFD, 7]); // header -3: 1 - (-3) = 4 copies of 7
+        data.extend([0x01, 9]); // a literal of 2 bytes, only 1 present
+        let ch = ChannelData::new(0, Some(Compression::Rle), data);
+        let dec = ch.row_decoder(4, 2, 8, crate::Version::Psd).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(dec.rows(0, 1).unwrap(), vec![7; 4]);
+        assert!(dec.rows(1, 2).is_err());
+        assert!(ch.decode(4, 2, 8, crate::Version::Psd).is_err());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/psd/src/source.rs b/crates/psd/src/source.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2e7c8039dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/psd/src/source.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,270 @@
+//! Random-access byte sources, for parsing a file without reading all of it.
+//!
+//! [`PsdFile::from_source`](crate::PsdFile::from_source) reads the structure of a file (header,
+//! resources, layer records, tagged blocks) and leaves the bulk of it, the encoded channel data
+//! and the merged image, where it is: each [`ChannelData`](crate::ChannelData) records a
+//! [`Stored`] range instead of a copy, and the bytes are read when the channel is decoded. A
+//! 2 GB layered file then never needs 2 GB of memory just to be opened.
+
+use std::borrow::Cow;
+use std::fmt;
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use crate::error::{PsdError, Result};
+
+/// Bytes that can be read at any offset, from any thread.
+///
+/// Implemented for byte buffers and, on native targets, for [`std::fs::File`] (as
+/// [`FileSource`]). The source must not change while a file parsed from it is in use: a
+/// [`Stored`] range is an offset into it.
+pub trait ReadAt: Send + Sync {
+    /// Total length in bytes.
+    fn len(&self) -> u64;
+
+    /// `true` when the source holds no bytes.
+    fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
+        self.len() == 0
+    }
+
+    /// Fills `buf` with the bytes at `offset..offset + buf.len()`. Fails, without a partial
+    /// result, when the range is not all inside the source or the read fails.
+    fn read_at(&self, offset: u64, buf: &mut [u8]) -> Result<()>;
+}
+
+fn out_of_range(offset: u64, needed: usize, len: u64) -> PsdError {
+    PsdError::UnexpectedEof {
+        offset: usize::try_from(offset).unwrap_or(usize::MAX),
+        needed: needed.saturating_sub(usize::try_from(len.saturating_sub(offset)).unwrap_or(usize::MAX)),
+    }
+}
+
+impl ReadAt for [u8] {
+    fn len(&self) -> u64 {
+        <[u8]>::len(self) as u64
+    }
+
+    fn read_at(&self, offset: u64, buf: &mut [u8]) -> Result<()> {
+        let src = usize::try_from(offset)
+            .ok()
+            .and_then(|start| self.get(start..start.checked_add(buf.len())?))
+            .ok_or_else(|| out_of_range(offset, buf.len(), ReadAt::len(self)))?;
+        buf.copy_from_slice(src);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
+
+impl ReadAt for Vec<u8> {
+    fn len(&self) -> u64 {
+        self.as_slice().len() as u64
+    }
+
+    fn read_at(&self, offset: u64, buf: &mut [u8]) -> Result<()> {
+        self.as_slice().read_at(offset, buf)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T: ReadAt + ?Sized> ReadAt for Arc<T> {
+    fn len(&self) -> u64 {
+        (**self).len()
+    }
+
+    fn read_at(&self, offset: u64, buf: &mut [u8]) -> Result<()> {
+        (**self).read_at(offset, buf)
+    }
+}
+
+/// Largest single read from a [`FileSource`].
+#[cfg(any(unix, windows))]
+const MAX_READ: usize = 64 << 20;
+
+/// An open file read at offsets (`pread` on Unix, `seek_read` on Windows), with its length taken
+/// when it was opened. Reads from several threads at once need no lock.
+#[cfg(any(unix, windows))]
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct FileSource {
+    file: std::fs::File,
+    len: u64,
+}
+
+#[cfg(any(unix, windows))]
+impl FileSource {
+    /// Opens `path` for reading.
+    pub fn open(path: &std::path::Path) -> std::io::Result<Self> {
+        Self::new(std::fs::File::open(path)?)
+    }
+
+    /// Wraps an open file.
+    pub fn new(file: std::fs::File) -> std::io::Result<Self> {
+        let len = file.metadata()?.len();
+        Ok(FileSource { file, len })
+    }
+
+    /// The file.
+    pub fn file(&self) -> &std::fs::File {
+        &self.file
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(any(unix, windows))]
+impl ReadAt for FileSource {
+    fn len(&self) -> u64 {
+        self.len
+    }
+
+    fn read_at(&self, offset: u64, buf: &mut [u8]) -> Result<()> {
+        if offset.checked_add(buf.len() as u64).is_none_or(|end| end > self.len) {
+            return Err(out_of_range(offset, buf.len(), self.len));
+        }
+        let n = buf.len();
+        let failed = |e: std::io::Error| PsdError::Read(format!("reading {n} bytes at offset {offset}: {e}"));
+        // Bounded reads, as `photocraft-format`'s `read_file` makes them: some Windows file
+        // systems reject a single read of gigabytes (#375).
+        let mut done = 0usize;
+        while done < n {
+            let Some(rest) = buf.get_mut(done..n.min(done + MAX_READ)) else { break };
+            let at = offset + done as u64;
+            #[cfg(unix)]
+            let read = {
+                use std::os::unix::fs::FileExt;
+                self.file.read_at(rest, at)
+            };
+            #[cfg(windows)]
+            let read = {
+                use std::os::windows::fs::FileExt;
+                self.file.seek_read(rest, at)
+            };
+            match read {
+                Ok(0) => return Err(failed(std::io::ErrorKind::UnexpectedEof.into())),
+                Ok(k) => done += k,
+                Err(e) if e.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::Interrupted => {}
+                Err(e) => return Err(failed(e)),
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
+
+/// A shared [`ReadAt`]: what [`Stored`] ranges point into. Two handles are equal when they are
+/// the same source.
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct Source(Arc<dyn ReadAt>);
+
+impl Source {
+    /// Shares `source`.
+    pub fn new(source: impl ReadAt + 'static) -> Self {
+        Source(Arc::new(source))
+    }
+
+    /// Shares an already shared source.
+    pub fn from_arc(source: Arc<dyn ReadAt>) -> Self {
+        Source(source)
+    }
+
+    /// The source.
+    pub fn get(&self) -> &dyn ReadAt {
+        &*self.0
+    }
+
+    /// Reads `len` bytes at `offset` into a new buffer. The buffer is reserved fallibly: a
+    /// range larger than memory is an error, not an abort.
+    pub fn read_vec(&self, offset: u64, len: u64) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
+        let n = usize::try_from(len).map_err(|_| PsdError::LimitExceeded("length exceeds address space"))?;
+        if offset.checked_add(len).is_none_or(|end| end > self.0.len()) {
+            return Err(out_of_range(offset, n, self.0.len()));
+        }
+        let mut out = Vec::new();
+        out.try_reserve_exact(n).map_err(|_| PsdError::LimitExceeded("not enough memory to read the data"))?;
+        out.resize(n, 0);
+        self.0.read_at(offset, &mut out)?;
+        Ok(out)
+    }
+}
+
+impl fmt::Debug for Source {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        write!(f, "Source({} bytes)", self.0.len())
+    }
+}
+
+impl PartialEq for Source {
+    fn eq(&self, other: &Self) -> bool {
+        Arc::ptr_eq(&self.0, &other.0)
+    }
+}
+
+impl Eq for Source {}
+
+/// Encoded bytes left in their [`Source`] by a lazy parse: `len` bytes at `offset`.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct Stored {
+    /// Where the bytes are.
+    pub source: Source,
+    /// Offset of the first byte.
+    pub offset: u64,
+    /// Number of bytes.
+    pub len: u64,
+}
+
+impl Stored {
+    /// Reads the bytes.
+    pub fn read(&self) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
+        self.source.read_vec(self.offset, self.len)
+    }
+
+    /// Reads `len` bytes starting `at` bytes into the range.
+    pub fn read_part(&self, at: u64, len: u64) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
+        if at.checked_add(len).is_none_or(|end| end > self.len) {
+            return Err(PsdError::invalid("read past the end of stored data"));
+        }
+        self.source.read_vec(self.offset + at, len)
+    }
+}
+
+/// The bytes of a value that is either in memory (`data`) or still in its source (`stored`).
+pub(crate) fn encoded<'a>(data: &'a [u8], stored: Option<&Stored>) -> Result<Cow<'a, [u8]>> {
+    match stored {
+        Some(s) => s.read().map(Cow::Owned),
+        None => Ok(Cow::Borrowed(data)),
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn slice_reads_are_bounds_checked() {
+        let v = vec![1u8, 2, 3, 4];
+        let mut b = [0u8; 2];
+        v.read_at(2, &mut b).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(b, [3, 4]);
+        assert!(v.read_at(3, &mut b).is_err());
+        assert!(v.read_at(u64::MAX, &mut b).is_err());
+        let s = Source::new(v);
+        assert_eq!(s.read_vec(1, 2).unwrap(), vec![2, 3]);
+        assert!(s.read_vec(1, u64::MAX).is_err());
+        let st = Stored { source: s.clone(), offset: 1, len: 3 };
+        assert_eq!(st.read().unwrap(), vec![2, 3, 4]);
+        assert_eq!(st.read_part(1, 2).unwrap(), vec![3, 4]);
+        assert!(st.read_part(2, 2).is_err());
+        assert_eq!(st.source, s);
+        assert_ne!(st.source, Source::new(vec![1u8, 2, 3, 4]));
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(any(unix, windows))]
+    #[test]
+    fn file_source_reads_at_offsets() {
+        use std::io::Write;
+        let dir = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!("photocraft-psd-source-{}", std::process::id()));
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).unwrap();
+        let path = dir.join("f.bin");
+        std::fs::File::create(&path).unwrap().write_all(&[9, 8, 7, 6, 5]).unwrap();
+        let f = FileSource::open(&path).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(ReadAt::len(&f), 5);
+        let mut b = [0u8; 3];
+        f.read_at(2, &mut b).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(b, [7, 6, 5]);
+        assert!(f.read_at(3, &mut b).is_err());
+        std::fs::remove_dir_all(&dir).unwrap();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/psd/src/tagged.rs b/crates/psd/src/tagged.rs
index 7728d53fd1..1574b1faab 100644
--- a/crates/psd/src/tagged.rs
+++ b/crates/psd/src/tagged.rs
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ impl TaggedBlock {
         String::from_utf8_lossy(&self.key).into_owned()
     }
 
-    fn default_padding(len: usize, alignment: usize) -> usize {
+    pub(crate) fn default_padding(len: usize, alignment: usize) -> usize {
         (alignment - len % alignment) % alignment
     }
 
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ fn parse_section(d: &[u8]) -> Result<SectionDivider> {
 
 /// `8BIM` / `8B64`, or the markers `MIB8` / `46B8` that [`crate::tiff`] gives a block kept
 /// verbatim from a little-endian TIFF when its layout is unknown (its data is in that order).
-fn is_sig(b: &[u8]) -> bool {
+pub(crate) fn is_sig(b: &[u8]) -> bool {
     b.starts_with(b"8BIM") || b.starts_with(b"8B64") || TaggedBlock::is_foreign_order_signature(b)
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/psd/src/testgen.rs b/crates/psd/src/testgen.rs
index d2d4784cb9..5912009d41 100644
--- a/crates/psd/src/testgen.rs
+++ b/crates/psd/src/testgen.rs
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ pub fn merged_only(version: Version, mode: ColorMode, depth: u16, compression: C
     for c in 0..channels {
         planes.extend(pattern_plane(w as usize, h as usize, depth, u32::from(c)));
     }
-    let image_data = ImageData::encode(compression, &planes, &header).unwrap_or(ImageData { compression, data: Vec::new() });
+    let image_data = ImageData::encode(compression, &planes, &header).unwrap_or(ImageData::new(compression, Vec::new()));
     PsdFile {
         header,
         color_mode_data: color_mode_data(mode),
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ fn raster_layer(g: LayerGen<'_>) -> LayerRecord {
 
 fn group_record(header: &Header, name: &str, kind: SectionType, blend: BlendMode, id: u32) -> LayerRecord {
     let cc = mode_channels(header.color_mode) as i16;
-    let channels = (-1..cc).map(|c| ChannelData { id: c, compression: Some(Compression::Raw), data: Vec::new() }).collect();
+    let channels = (-1..cc).map(|c| ChannelData::new(c, Some(Compression::Raw), Vec::new())).collect();
     let lsct = if kind == SectionType::BoundingDivider {
         TaggedBlock::section_divider(kind, None, None)
     } else {
diff --git a/crates/raster/src/lib.rs b/crates/raster/src/lib.rs
index f3778ccbe5..c6616d86d5 100644
--- a/crates/raster/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/raster/src/lib.rs
@@ -35,6 +35,24 @@ impl fmt::Display for AllocationError {
 
 impl std::error::Error for AllocationError {}
 
+/// One shared tile per pixel value (and tile size), for [`Surface::share_uniform_tiles`].
+#[derive(Debug, Default)]
+pub struct TileInterner {
+    tiles: std::collections::HashMap<usize, std::collections::HashMap<Vec<u8>, Arc<Tile>>>,
+}
+
+impl TileInterner {
+    /// Number of distinct uniform tiles held.
+    pub fn len(&self) -> usize {
+        self.tiles.values().map(|m| m.len()).sum()
+    }
+
+    /// `true` when no tile is held.
+    pub fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
+        self.len() == 0
+    }
+}
+
 /// Pixel storage for one tile: `TILE_SIZE² × bytes_per_pixel`, row-major, interleaved channels.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub struct Tile {
@@ -415,6 +433,28 @@ impl Surface {
         out
     }
 
+    /// Makes every tile that holds one pixel value throughout share the interner's tile for that
+    /// value: a white background, an opaque mask or a solid fill then costs one tile however
+    /// large it is, and across every surface that shares `interner`. Tiles are copy-on-write, so
+    /// editing one splits it off again. Returns the bytes no longer held by this surface alone.
+    pub fn share_uniform_tiles(&mut self, interner: &mut TileInterner) -> usize {
+        let bpp = self.format.bytes_per_pixel();
+        let mut saved = 0;
+        for t in self.tiles.values_mut() {
+            let mut px = t.data.chunks_exact(bpp);
+            let Some(p0) = px.next() else { continue };
+            if !px.all(|p| p == p0) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            let shared = interner.tiles.entry(t.data.len()).or_default().entry(p0.to_vec()).or_insert_with(|| t.clone());
+            if !Arc::ptr_eq(shared, t) {
+                saved += t.data.len();
+                *t = shared.clone();
+            }
+        }
+        saved
+    }
+
     /// Drop tiles that are entirely the default pixel.
     pub fn prune(&mut self) {
         let dp = self.default_pixel.as_ref();
@@ -1295,6 +1335,38 @@ mod tests {
         seen.len()
     }
 
+    /// Uniform tiles written pixel by pixel end up as one shared tile per value, across
+    /// surfaces, with every pixel unchanged; editing one splits it off.
+    #[test]
+    fn uniform_tiles_are_shared() {
+        let mut interner = TileInterner::default();
+        let r = Rect::new(0, 0, 1024, 600);
+        let mut bytes = Vec::new();
+        for y in 0..600 {
+            for x in 0..1024 {
+                // White, except a gradient in the tiles of column 3.
+                bytes.extend(if x >= 768 { [x as u8, y as u8, 0, 255] } else { [255, 255, 255, 255] });
+            }
+        }
+        let mut a = Surface::from_interleaved(PixelFormat::RGBA8, r, &bytes);
+        let mut b = Surface::from_interleaved(PixelFormat::RGBA8, r, &bytes);
+        let before = a.to_interleaved(r);
+        assert_eq!(distinct_tiles(&a), 12);
+        // Rows 512..600 cover only part of their tiles: the rest is the default pixel, so those
+        // tiles are not uniform.
+        let saved = a.share_uniform_tiles(&mut interner);
+        assert_eq!(distinct_tiles(&a), 1 + 3 + 3);
+        assert_eq!(saved, 5 * TILE_SIZE as usize * TILE_SIZE as usize * 4);
+        b.share_uniform_tiles(&mut interner);
+        assert_eq!(interner.len(), 1);
+        assert!(Arc::ptr_eq(a.tile(TileCoord { tx: 0, ty: 0 }).unwrap(), b.tile(TileCoord { tx: 2, ty: 1 }).unwrap()));
+        assert_eq!(a.to_interleaved(r), before);
+        a.write_pixel(5, 5, &[0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0]);
+        assert_eq!(b.pixel(5, 5), vec![1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0]);
+        assert_eq!(a.pixel(5, 5), vec![0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0]);
+        assert_eq!(a.pixel(300, 5), vec![1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0]);
+    }
+
     /// Converting or tone-mapping a surface keeps a shared tile shared (#4531) and gives the
     /// same pixels as converting each pixel: a filled background is one tile across the grid,
     /// plus some distinct tiles.