diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5bc1b7cb..cdd508ba 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ npm run build        # writes dist/ and regenerates index.html; the folder is wh
 The browser suite and the three example games need a machine with a GPU:
 
 ```bash
-node tools/seed-e2e.mjs && node tools/e2e.mjs      # the editor, 2048 checks (GM_STEPS=20 for one step)
+node tools/seed-e2e.mjs && node tools/e2e.mjs      # the editor, 2049 checks (GM_STEPS=20 for one step)
                                                    #   every tool signs in first – see the Accounts page
 node tools/seed-jumprun.mjs && node tools/smoke-jumprun.mjs
 node tools/seed-tetris.mjs && node tools/smoke-tetris.mjs
diff --git a/src/editor/composition/CompositionCanvas.ts b/src/editor/composition/CompositionCanvas.ts
index faa3df8b..b8bf14a0 100644
--- a/src/editor/composition/CompositionCanvas.ts
+++ b/src/editor/composition/CompositionCanvas.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { findAssetOf } from '../../core/model/Project';
 import { compositionVideosAhead } from '../../viewport/items';
 import type { VideoHearing } from '../../viewport/VideoLibrary';
 import type { Frame } from '../../viewport/WorldViewport';
+import { isDragFrame } from '../framePreview';
 import type { EditorState } from '../state';
 import { SceneViewport } from '../viewport/SceneViewport';
 
@@ -24,7 +25,11 @@ export class CompositionCanvas extends SceneViewport {
     private readonly playhead: () => number,
   ) {
     super(state);
-    state.on('project', () => this.rebuildPicture());
+    // A gesture here writes the copy shown and asks for a preview once a frame. Building the copy
+    // again from the composition then would drop what it moved until the pointer lets go.
+    state.on('project', () => {
+      if (!(isDragFrame() && this.editing())) this.rebuildPicture();
+    });
     state.on('load', () => this.rebuildPicture());
   }
 
diff --git a/src/editor/viewport/SceneViewport.ts b/src/editor/viewport/SceneViewport.ts
index 6b827905..ac8e2ebd 100644
--- a/src/editor/viewport/SceneViewport.ts
+++ b/src/editor/viewport/SceneViewport.ts
@@ -240,6 +240,17 @@ export class SceneViewport extends FreeViewport {
     if (this.collectFrame().items.length > 0) this.frameScene();
   }
 
+  /** Whether a gesture of this view is under way: a drag, a handle, a corner, an anchor or a stroke. */
+  protected editing(): boolean {
+    return (
+      this.dragging !== null ||
+      this.sizer.active ||
+      this.corners.active ||
+      this.anchors.active ||
+      this.painter.active
+    );
+  }
+
   /** The Container tab keeps the view of each container instead (#171). */
   protected framesOnOpen(): boolean {
     return true;
diff --git a/tools/e2e/69-composition-tab.mjs b/tools/e2e/69-composition-tab.mjs
index e19b2ce6..92ad758b 100644
--- a/tools/e2e/69-composition-tab.mjs
+++ b/tools/e2e/69-composition-tab.mjs
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@
  * takes an item with its object, and Play runs the playhead to the end. The video of an item about
  * to begin is opened ahead, so the cut to it shows its picture at once, and Play waits for a video
  * whose player is still loading. A copied item is pasted under the pointer or at the playhead. A
- * video dragged in wears a sprite the composition keeps to itself.
+ * video dragged in wears a sprite the composition keeps to itself. An item dragged in the picture
+ * follows the pointer while the button is down.
  *
  * Everything it adds carries a `ct69` id and goes again at the end.
  */
@@ -348,6 +349,34 @@ export async function compositionTab(t) {
     JSON.stringify({ videoDrop, one, row, two, undone }),
   );
 
+  // 69l. An item dragged in the picture follows the pointer while the button is down, not only when
+  // it is let go: the drag's preview each frame does not build the picture again from the document.
+  await evaluate('__gm.composition.scrub(15)');
+  await sleep(100);
+  const front = (await json('__gm.composition.shown()')).at(-1)?.id ?? '';
+  const startAt = await json(`__gm.composition.objectScreen('${front}')`);
+  const objectX = () =>
+    json(
+      `__gm.state.project.assets.find((a) => a.id === '${CUT}').objects.find((o) => o.id === '${front}').position.x`,
+    );
+  const xBefore = await objectX();
+  await mouse('mouseMoved', startAt.x, startAt.y);
+  await mouse('mousePressed', startAt.x, startAt.y);
+  for (let i = 1; i <= 6; i++) {
+    await mouse('mouseMoved', startAt.x + i * 10, startAt.y, 'left', { buttons: 1 });
+    await sleep(16);
+  }
+  await sleep(100);
+  const during = await json(`__gm.composition.objectScreen('${front}')`);
+  await mouse('mouseReleased', startAt.x + 60, startAt.y);
+  await sleep(150);
+  const xAfter = await objectX();
+  check(
+    'an item dragged in the picture follows the pointer while dragged and keeps the place let go',
+    Math.abs(during.x - startAt.x - 60) < 2 && xAfter > xBefore,
+    JSON.stringify({ front, startAt, during, xBefore, xAfter }),
+  );
+
   await showTab('scene');
   await mutate(`
     const p = __gm.state.project;