Preferences: Skip Transform when Placing (#8492)

Preferences > General > Skip Transform when Placing (off by default), as in
Photoshop: a placed or dropped file lands without Free Transform. It is
checked in begin_placed, which every interactive place reaches, so drops
still go through main's background place job (#10147) and queue; with the
preference on, the next queued file starts as soon as one lands.
Scripted file.placeEmbedded/placeLinked never open Free Transform, so the
preference doesn't affect them. Label translated in every catalog that
translates the neighbouring place preferences (all but hi).

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

crates/engine/src/prefs.rs

@@ -227,6 +227,10 @@ pub struct General {
     pub export_clipboard: bool,
     pub resize_image_during_place: bool,
     pub always_create_smart_objects_when_placing: bool,
+    /// Place files without opening Free Transform on them (#8492). Only the interactive place
+    /// (File ▸ Place, canvas drops) opens Free Transform; `file.placeEmbedded`/`file.placeLinked`
+    /// run with a `path` (actions, scripts, automation) never do, so this doesn't affect them.
+    pub skip_transform_when_placing: bool,
     /// Scroll wheel zooms instead of panning.
     pub zoom_with_scroll_wheel: bool,
     /// Wheel zoom eases over the frames of a notch; off, a notch is one instant ×1.1 step.
@@ -247,6 +251,7 @@ impl Default for General {
             export_clipboard: true,
             resize_image_during_place: true,
             always_create_smart_objects_when_placing: true,
+            skip_transform_when_placing: false,
             zoom_with_scroll_wheel: false,
             animated_zoom: true,
             zoom_resizes_windows: false,

crates/ui-egui/src/file_open/tests.rs

@@ -739,6 +739,72 @@ fn cancelling_a_background_place_continues_the_queue() {
     assert_eq!(layer_count(&app), layers + 1);
 }
 
+/// #8492: with Skip Transform when Placing on, dropped files still go through the background place
+/// job one at a time, but no Free Transform opens when a layer lands: the next file starts as soon
+/// as the previous one has landed, without waiting for ↩.
+#[test]
+fn skip_transform_when_placing_places_background_drops_without_free_transform() {
+    let ctx = egui::Context::default();
+    let mut app = app_with_canvas();
+    app.background_jobs = true;
+    app.session.execute("prefs.set", json!({"path": "general.skipTransformWhenPlacing", "value": true})).unwrap();
+    let (layers, steps) = (layer_count(&app), history_steps(&app));
+    app.open_dropped(&ctx, vec![dropped("first.png", Ok(png_bytes(4, 4))), dropped("second.png", Ok(png_bytes(2, 2)))], Some(egui::pos2(400.0, 300.0)));
+    app.place_next_dropped(&ctx);
+    let first = app.jobs.place.clone().expect("the first file is being placed");
+    assert_eq!(first.name, "first.png");
+    assert!(app.session.job(first.job).is_some(), "as a background job");
+    assert_eq!(app.drop_places.len(), 1, "the second file waits for the first job");
+    tick_until(&mut app, &ctx, |app| app.jobs.place.as_ref().is_some_and(|p| p.name == "second.png"));
+    assert!(app.ui.transform.is_none(), "no Free Transform on the first file");
+    assert_eq!(layer_count(&app), layers + 1);
+    tick_until(&mut app, &ctx, |app| app.jobs.place.is_none());
+    assert!(app.ui.transform.is_none() && app.drop_places.is_empty());
+    let st = app.session.active().unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(st.doc.layer(st.active_layer.unwrap()).unwrap().name, "second");
+    assert_eq!((layer_count(&app), history_steps(&app)), (layers + 2, steps + 2), "one Place Embedded step each");
+    assert_eq!(app.session.active().unwrap().history.undo_label(), Some("Place Embedded"));
+}
+
+/// #8492: inline (background jobs off, as on the web) the preference places every queued drop
+/// without Free Transform, a file that can't be placed reported on the way.
+#[test]
+fn skip_transform_when_placing_places_inline_drops_without_free_transform() {
+    let ctx = egui::Context::default();
+    let mut app = app_with_canvas();
+    app.session.execute("prefs.set", json!({"path": "general.skipTransformWhenPlacing", "value": true})).unwrap();
+    let (layers, steps) = (layer_count(&app), history_steps(&app));
+    app.open_dropped(
+        &ctx,
+        vec![dropped("first.png", Ok(png_bytes(4, 4))), dropped("bad.png", Ok(b"bad".to_vec())), dropped("second.png", Ok(png_bytes(2, 2)))],
+        Some(egui::pos2(400.0, 300.0)),
+    );
+    app.place_next_dropped(&ctx);
+    assert!(app.ui.transform.is_none() && app.drop_places.is_empty());
+    assert_eq!((layer_count(&app), history_steps(&app)), (layers + 2, steps + 2));
+    assert_eq!(app.ui.notices.iter().filter(|n| n.error && n.title.contains("bad.png")).count(), 1);
+}
+
+/// #8492: Skip Transform when Placing only concerns the interactive place. `file.placeEmbedded`
+/// with a `path` (actions, scripts, the control channel, MCP) runs the engine command, which never
+/// opens Free Transform, whatever the preference.
+#[test]
+fn a_scripted_place_never_opens_free_transform() {
+    let dir = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!("pc-scripted-place-{}", std::process::id()));
+    std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).unwrap();
+    let path = dir.join("dot.png");
+    std::fs::write(&path, png_bytes(4, 3)).unwrap();
+    let mut app = app_with_canvas();
+    for skip in [false, true] {
+        app.session.execute("prefs.set", json!({"path": "general.skipTransformWhenPlacing", "value": skip})).unwrap();
+        let layers = layer_count(&app);
+        app.run("file.placeEmbedded", json!({"path": path.to_string_lossy()})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(layer_count(&app), layers + 1, "skip={skip}");
+        assert!(app.ui.transform.is_none(), "skip={skip}");
+    }
+    std::fs::remove_dir_all(dir).unwrap();
+}
+
 /// Frames with nothing to wait for: jobs applied and the drop queue served.
 fn idle_frames(app: &mut PhotocraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context) {
     for _ in 0..3 {

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/cs.tsv

@@ -2029,6 +2029,7 @@
 	Allow scripts to connect	Povolit připojení skriptů
 	Always	Vždy
 	Always create smart objects when placing	Při umísťování vždy vytvořit chytré objekty
+	Skip transform when placing	Při umísťování přeskočit transformaci
 	Animated zoom	Animované zvětšování
 	Apply auto tone	Použít automatický tón
 	Ask	Zeptat se

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/de.tsv

@@ -1990,6 +1990,7 @@
 	Allow scripts to connect	Skriptverbindungen erlauben
 	Always	Immer
 	Always create smart objects when placing	Beim Platzieren immer Smart-Objekte erstellen
+	Skip transform when placing	Transformieren beim Platzieren überspringen
 	Animated zoom	Animierter Zoom
 	Apply auto tone	Automatische Tonwertkorrektur anwenden
 	Ask	Nachfragen

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/el.tsv

@@ -1750,6 +1750,7 @@
 	Allow agent control	Να επιτρέπεται ο έλεγχος από πράκτορες
 	Allow scripts to connect	Να επιτρέπεται η σύνδεση σεναρίων
 	Always create smart objects when placing	Να δημιουργούνται πάντα έξυπνα αντικείμενα κατά την τοποθέτηση
+	Skip transform when placing	Παράλειψη μετασχηματισμού κατά την τοποθέτηση
 	Animated zoom	Κινούμενη μεγέθυνση
 	Apply auto tone	Εφαρμογή αυτόματης τονικής διόρθωσης
 	Ask before saving layered tiff	Ερώτηση πριν από την αποθήκευση TIFF με επίπεδα

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv

@@ -1960,6 +1960,7 @@
 	Allow scripts to connect	Permitir que las secuencias de comandos se conecten
 	Always	Siempre
 	Always create smart objects when placing	Crear siempre objetos inteligentes al colocar
+	Skip transform when placing	Omitir la transformación al colocar
 	Animated zoom	Zoom animado
 	Apply auto tone	Aplicar el tono automático
 	Ask	Preguntar

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv

@@ -1966,6 +1966,7 @@
 	Allow scripts to connect	Autoriser la connexion des scripts
 	Always	Toujours
 	Always create smart objects when placing	Toujours créer des objets intelligents lors du placement
+	Skip transform when placing	Ignorer la transformation lors du placement
 	Animated zoom	Zoom animé
 	Apply auto tone	Appliquer la tonalité automatique
 	Ask	Demander

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/hu.tsv

@@ -2724,6 +2724,7 @@ cameraRaw	Yellow	Sárga
 	All Slices	Összes szelet
 	All User Slices	Összes felhasználói szelet
 	Always create smart objects when placing	Elhelyezéskor mindig intelligens objektum létrehozása
+	Skip transform when placing	Alakítás kihagyása elhelyezéskor
 	Answer the unsaved-changes prompt first	Előbb válaszolj a nem mentett módosításokra vonatkozó kérdésre
 	Appearance Settings…	Megjelenési beállítások…
 	Apple Watch 45mm	Apple Watch 45 mm

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/id.tsv

@@ -1977,6 +1977,7 @@
 	Allow scripts to connect	Izinkan skrip terhubung
 	Always	Selalu
 	Always create smart objects when placing	Selalu buat smart object saat menempatkan
+	Skip transform when placing	Lewati transformasi saat menempatkan
 	Animated zoom	Zoom beranimasi
 	Apply auto tone	Terapkan auto tone
 	Ask	Tanya

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv

@@ -2005,6 +2005,7 @@
 	Allow scripts to connect	Consenti connessione script
 	Always	Sempre
 	Always create smart objects when placing	Crea sempre oggetti avanzati all'inserimento
+	Skip transform when placing	Salta la trasformazione all'inserimento
 	Animated zoom	Zoom animato
 	Apply auto tone	Applica tono automatico
 	Ask	Chiedi

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv

@@ -2016,6 +2016,7 @@
 	Allow scripts to connect	スクリプトからの接続を許可
 	Always	常に
 	Always create smart objects when placing	配置時に常にスマートオブジェクトを作成
+	Skip transform when placing	配置時に変形をスキップ
 	Animated zoom	アニメーションズーム
 	Apply auto tone	自動トーン補正を適用
 	Ask	確認する

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv

@@ -1989,6 +1989,7 @@
 	Allow scripts to connect	스크립트 연결 허용
 	Always	항상
 	Always create smart objects when placing	가져올 때 항상 스마트 오브젝트 만들기
+	Skip transform when placing	가져올 때 변형 건너뛰기
 	Animated zoom	확대/축소 애니메이션
 	Apply auto tone	자동 톤 적용
 	Ask	묻기

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/nl.tsv

@@ -1937,6 +1937,7 @@
 	Allow scripts to connect	Scripts toestaan verbinding te maken
 	Always	Altijd
 	Always create smart objects when placing	Bij plaatsen altijd slimme objecten maken
+	Skip transform when placing	Transformatie overslaan bij plaatsen
 	Animated zoom	Geanimeerd zoomen
 	Apply auto tone	Automatische tooncorrectie toepassen
 	Ask	Vragen

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pl.tsv

@@ -2002,6 +2002,7 @@
 	Allow scripts to connect	Zezwalaj skryptom na połączenie
 	Always	Zawsze
 	Always create smart objects when placing	Zawsze twórz obiekty inteligentne podczas umieszczania
+	Skip transform when placing	Pomijaj przekształcanie podczas umieszczania
 	Animated zoom	Animowane powiększanie
 	Apply auto tone	Zastosuj automatyczne tony
 	Ask	Pytaj

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pt-br.tsv

@@ -1960,6 +1960,7 @@
 	Allow scripts to connect	Permitir conexão de scripts
 	Always	Sempre
 	Always create smart objects when placing	Sempre criar objetos inteligentes ao inserir
+	Skip transform when placing	Ignorar transformação ao inserir
 	Animated zoom	Zoom animado
 	Apply auto tone	Aplicar tom automático
 	Ask	Perguntar

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ru.tsv

@@ -2419,6 +2419,7 @@
 	Allow scripts to connect	Разрешить подключение сценариев
 	Always	Всегда
 	Always create smart objects when placing	Всегда создавать смарт-объекты при помещении
+	Skip transform when placing	Пропускать трансформирование при помещении
 	Animated zoom	Анимированное масштабирование
 	Apply auto tone	Применять автотон
 	Ask	Спрашивать

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/sr.tsv

@@ -1976,6 +1976,7 @@
 	Allow scripts to connect	Dozvoli skriptama da se povežu
 	Always	Uvek
 	Always create smart objects when placing	Uvek pravi pametne objekte pri postavljanju
+	Skip transform when placing	Preskoči transformaciju pri postavljanju
 	Animated zoom	Animirano zumiranje
 	Apply auto tone	Primeni automatski ton
 	Ask	Pitaj

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/tr.tsv

@@ -1890,6 +1890,7 @@
 	Allow scripts to connect	Komut dosyalarının bağlanmasına izin ver
 	Always	Her zaman
 	Always create smart objects when placing	Yerleştirirken daima akıllı nesneler yaratın
+	Skip transform when placing	Yerleştirirken dönüştürmeyi atla
 	Animated zoom	Animasyonlu yakınlaştırma
 	Apply auto tone	Otomatik tonu uygula
 	Ask	Sor

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/uk.tsv

@@ -2385,6 +2385,7 @@
 	Allow scripts to connect	Дозволити підключення скриптів
 	Always	Завжди
 	Always create smart objects when placing	Завжди створювати смартоб'єкти під час розміщення
+	Skip transform when placing	Пропускати трансформацію під час розміщення
 	Animated zoom	Анімоване масштабування
 	Apply auto tone	Застосовувати автоматичну тонову корекцію
 	Ask	Запитувати

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/vi.tsv

@@ -2756,6 +2756,7 @@ shape	Appearance	Diện mạo
 	Allow agent control	Cho phép agent điều khiển
 	Allow scripts to connect	Cho phép script kết nối
 	Always create smart objects when placing	Luôn tạo đối tượng thông minh khi đặt
+	Skip transform when placing	Bỏ qua biến đổi khi đặt
 	Animated zoom	Thu phóng có chuyển động
 	Apply auto tone	Áp dụng tự động tông
 	Auto collapse icon panels	Tự động thu gọn các bảng biểu tượng

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hans.tsv

@@ -2042,6 +2042,7 @@
 	Allow scripts to connect	允许脚本连接
 	Always	始终
 	Always create smart objects when placing	置入时始终创建智能对象
+	Skip transform when placing	置入时跳过变换
 	Animated zoom	动画缩放
 	Apply auto tone	应用自动色调
 	Ask	询问

crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hant.tsv

@@ -2010,6 +2010,7 @@
 	Allow scripts to connect	允許指令碼連線
 	Always	一律
 	Always create smart objects when placing	置入時一律建立智慧型物件
+	Skip transform when placing	置入時略過變形
 	Animated zoom	動畫縮放
 	Apply auto tone	套用自動色調
 	Ask	詢問

crates/ui-egui/src/tools/transform_tool/begin.rs

@@ -287,7 +287,11 @@ pub fn begin_copy(app: &mut PhotocraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context) -> Result<(), St
 
 /// Free Transform on the layer a file dropped on the canvas just placed, like the reference app's
 /// Place: Esc takes the place back, ↩ makes the place and the transform one Place Embedded step.
+/// With Preferences ▸ General ▸ Skip Transform when Placing on, the place stands as it is.
 pub fn begin_placed(app: &mut PhotocraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context) -> Result<(), String> {
+    if app.session.prefs().general.skip_transform_when_placing {
+        return Ok(());
+    }
     begin(app, ctx)?;
     if let Some(t) = app.ui.transform.as_mut() {
         t.made = Some(MadeLayer::Place);

crates/ui-egui/src/tools/transform_tool/tests.rs

@@ -554,6 +554,23 @@ fn editing_the_contents_of_a_dropped_file_keeps_the_layer() {
     assert!(app.transform_preview.is_none(), "the transform preview should end");
 }
 
+/// #8492: Preferences ▸ General ▸ Skip Transform when Placing (off by default) places a file
+/// without opening Free Transform on it, as in the reference app.
+#[test]
+fn skip_transform_when_placing_leaves_the_place_without_a_box() {
+    for skip in [false, true] {
+        let mut app = app_with_square(64, photocraft_geom::Rect::new(8, 8, 24, 24));
+        app.session.execute("prefs.set", json!({"path": "general.skipTransformWhenPlacing", "value": skip})).unwrap();
+        app.session.execute("layer.smartObjects.convertToSmartObject", json!({})).unwrap();
+        app.session.execute("layer.duplicate", json!({"inPlace": true})).unwrap();
+        app.sync_views();
+        let placed = app.session.active().unwrap().active_layer.unwrap();
+        begin_placed(&mut app, &egui::Context::default()).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(app.ui.transform.is_some(), !skip, "skip {skip}: Free Transform opens only with the preference off");
+        assert!(app.session.active().unwrap().doc.layer(placed).is_some(), "skip {skip}: the placed layer stays");
+    }
+}
+
 /// Polls the app's background jobs until they have all landed.
 fn land_jobs(app: &mut PhotocraftApp) {
     let ctx = egui::Context::default();

docs/scorecard.md

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ Generated by `cargo xtask scorecard` from `perf/budgets.toml`, `perf/baseline.js
 | [Performance](#performance) | 3 | 22 | 51 | 85 scenarios: 3 within budget, 22 over budget or failing, 9 tracked only, 47 not run, 4 not measurable yet (baseline 2026-10-05) |
 | [File compatibility](#file-compatibility) | 11 | 14 | 2 | io corpus: oracle ≥ 148/170, round trip ≥ 169/170; psd-tools corpus: oracle ≥ 249/309, round trip ≥ 308/309; photoshop oracles: oracle ≥ 190/258, round trip ≥ 258/258 |
 | [Tools](#tools) | 36 | 9 | 0 |  |
-| [Workspace and UI](#workspace-and-ui) | 15 | 6 | 2 | settings that do nothing: 10 of 192 (target 0) |
+| [Workspace and UI](#workspace-and-ui) | 15 | 6 | 2 | settings that do nothing: 10 of 193 (target 0) |
 | [Type](#type) | 5 | 5 | 0 |  |
 | [Automation](#automation) | 5 | 3 | 3 | 660 of 660 menu items live (100.0%) |
 | [Reliability](#reliability) | 5 | 2 | 0 | never-crash lints on 30 of 30 crates; panic_hunt present |
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ Corpus floors (`crates/io/tests/it/corpus.rs`): the enforced minimums; the corpu
 
 ## Workspace and UI
 
-**Settings that do nothing: 10 of 192** (target 0, #204). Counted by the prefs audit (`xtask/src/scorecard.rs`): a `Preferences` field counts as read when code outside the prefs model (`prefs.rs` except its `impl Session` blocks; tests excluded; the schema-driven dialog never names a field) accesses `section.field`, or `.section` and `.field` in the same file, or calls a section method that reads `self.field`. It is a heuristic lower bound: a generic name can look read when it isn't.
+**Settings that do nothing: 10 of 193** (target 0, #204). Counted by the prefs audit (`xtask/src/scorecard.rs`): a `Preferences` field counts as read when code outside the prefs model (`prefs.rs` except its `impl Session` blocks; tests excluded; the schema-driven dialog never names a field) accesses `section.field`, or `.section` and `.field` in the same file, or calls a section method that reads `self.field`. It is a heuristic lower bound: a generic name can look read when it isn't.
 
 Unread: `general.color_picker`, `workspace.auto_show_hidden_panels`, `workspace.enable_floating_document_window_docking`, `performance.legacy_compositing`, `units_and_rulers.column_width`, `units_and_rulers.gutter`, `plug_ins.show_extension_panels`, `plug_ins.allow_scripts_to_connect`, `type_.text_engine`, `enhanced_controls.scrubby_slider_acceleration`.