diff --git a/crates/cms/README.md b/crates/cms/README.md
index 02c2c534..c39e67bf 100644
--- a/crates/cms/README.md
+++ b/crates/cms/README.md
@@ -18,14 +18,19 @@ use craft_cms::{Builtin, Intent, Profile, Transform};
 let src = Profile::parse(&icc_bytes)?;                    // v2/v4: matrix/TRC, gray TRC, mft1/mft2/mAB/mBA
 let dst = Builtin::CoatedCmyk.profile();
 let t = Transform::new(&src, dst, Intent::RelativeColorimetric, /*bpc*/ true)?;
-t.convert_u8(&rgba8, 4, &mut cmyka8, 5, /*copy alpha*/ true);   // also convert_u16 / convert_f32 / apply (in place)
+t.convert_u8(&rgba8, 4, &mut cmyka8, 5, /*copy alpha*/ true)?;  // also convert_u16 / convert_f32 / apply (in place)
 let mut out = [0.0; 4];
-t.eval(&[1.0, 0.0, 0.0], &mut out);                        // exact single colour
+t.eval(&[1.0, 0.0, 0.0], &mut out)?;                       // exact single colour
 ```
 
+Calls never panic on caller input: strides below the channel count, buffers that are not
+whole pixels, a destination with fewer pixels than the source, slices shorter than the
+channel count and out-of-range table or LUT dimensions return `CmsError::InvalidArgument`.
+Buffers are checked once per call, before any pixel is written.
+
 * `Transform::proof(src, proof, display, intent, bpc, simulate_paper)`: soft-proof chain.
 * `GamutCheck::new(src, proof, ΔE)`: out-of-gamut test (gamut warning).
-* `Lut3d::from_transform(&t, 33).to_rgba16f_bytes()`: display transform as a 3D texture.
+* `Lut3d::from_transform(&t, 33)?.to_rgba16f_bytes()`: display transform as a 3D texture.
 * `transform::cached(src, dst, opts)`: process-wide transform cache.
 * `lutfile::parse(name, bytes)` / `lutfile::write_cube(&lut)`: `.cube`, `.3dl` and `.look` LUT
   files; `lutfile::builtin(id)` returns generated looks (`lutfile::BUILTIN`).
diff --git a/crates/cms/src/builtin.rs b/crates/cms/src/builtin.rs
index 7c53013f..a5939282 100644
--- a/crates/cms/src/builtin.rs
+++ b/crates/cms/src/builtin.rs
@@ -323,12 +323,35 @@ fn build(b: Builtin) -> Profile {
         Builtin::GrayGamma22 => gray(b.description(), Curve::Gamma(2.2)),
         Builtin::SGray => gray(b.description(), srgb_trc()),
         Builtin::LabD50 => lab(),
-        // The shipped bytes are `synth::coated_cmyk()` (checked by the `regen` test); rebuild
-        // them rather than crash if they ever fail to parse.
-        Builtin::CoatedCmyk => Profile::parse(COATED_CMYK_ICC).unwrap_or_else(|_| crate::synth::coated_cmyk()),
+        // The shipped bytes are `synth::coated_cmyk()` (checked by the `regen` test).
+        Builtin::CoatedCmyk => shipped_cmyk(COATED_CMYK_ICC, b),
         // The fit needs the measurement data, which only the tests have; the `fogra39` tests
-        // check that the shipped bytes parse, so the synthetic coated profile is a fallback
-        // that does not happen.
-        Builtin::CoatedFogra39 => Profile::parse(COATED_FOGRA39_ICC).unwrap_or_else(|_| crate::synth::coated_cmyk()),
+        // check that the shipped bytes parse.
+        Builtin::CoatedFogra39 => shipped_cmyk(COATED_FOGRA39_ICC, b),
     }
 }
+
+/// A shipped CMYK profile. Should its bytes ever fail to parse, the synthetic coated profile
+/// is generated instead, and failing that a CMYK profile without tables stands in (transforms
+/// refuse it with an error) rather than crash.
+fn shipped_cmyk(bytes: &[u8], b: Builtin) -> Profile {
+    Profile::parse(bytes).or_else(|_| crate::synth::coated_cmyk()).unwrap_or_else(|_| Profile {
+        version: (4, 0x30),
+        class: ProfileClass::Output,
+        color_space: ColorSpace::Cmyk,
+        pcs: Pcs::Lab,
+        rendering_intent: Intent::Perceptual,
+        description: b.description().into(),
+        copyright: COPYRIGHT.into(),
+        white_point: math::d50_quantized(),
+        black_point: None,
+        chad: None,
+        matrix: None,
+        trc: None,
+        gray_trc: None,
+        a2b: [None, None, None],
+        b2a: [None, None, None],
+        bytes: None,
+        hash: Default::default(),
+    })
+}
diff --git a/crates/cms/src/clut.rs b/crates/cms/src/clut.rs
index 186cd3f9..e551638d 100644
--- a/crates/cms/src/clut.rs
+++ b/crates/cms/src/clut.rs
@@ -5,48 +5,90 @@
 //! Kasson et al. 1995); 4-input tables interpolate linearly along the first input between
 //! two tetrahedral evaluations; other input counts use multilinear interpolation.
 
+use crate::{CmsError, check_len, invalid_arg};
+
 /// Maximum number of input or output channels of a CLUT.
 pub const MAX_CHANNELS: usize = 15;
 
+/// Largest number of stored values (nodes × outputs) a table may hold.
+pub const MAX_VALUES: usize = 16 * 1024 * 1024;
+
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub struct Clut {
-    pub inputs: usize,
-    pub outputs: usize,
-    /// Grid points per input dimension (each ≥ 2, or 1 for a degenerate dimension).
-    pub grid: Vec<usize>,
-    /// Normalised node values, `outputs` per node.
-    pub data: Vec<f32>,
+    pub(crate) inputs: usize,
+    pub(crate) outputs: usize,
+    pub(crate) grid: Vec<usize>,
+    pub(crate) data: Vec<f32>,
     strides: Vec<usize>,
 }
 
 impl Clut {
-    /// Builds a table from node data. Panics if `data` has the wrong length.
-    pub fn new(grid: Vec<usize>, outputs: usize, data: Vec<f32>) -> Self {
+    /// Builds a table from node data: `grid` holds the points per input dimension (1 to
+    /// [`MAX_CHANNELS`] dimensions, each ≥ 2, or 1 for a degenerate dimension), `data` holds
+    /// `outputs` values per node. Refuses inconsistent dimensions with
+    /// [`CmsError::InvalidArgument`].
+    pub fn new(grid: Vec<usize>, outputs: usize, data: Vec<f32>) -> Result<Self, CmsError> {
+        let total = Self::check_dims(&grid, outputs)?;
+        if data.len() != total {
+            return Err(invalid_arg(format!("CLUT data has {} values, the grid needs {total}", data.len())));
+        }
+        Ok(Self::from_checked(grid, outputs, data))
+    }
+
+    /// Number of values a `grid` × `outputs` table stores, or why it is refused.
+    fn check_dims(grid: &[usize], outputs: usize) -> Result<usize, CmsError> {
+        if !(1..=MAX_CHANNELS).contains(&grid.len()) || !(1..=MAX_CHANNELS).contains(&outputs) {
+            return Err(invalid_arg(format!("CLUT with {} inputs and {outputs} outputs (1 to {MAX_CHANNELS} each)", grid.len())));
+        }
+        if grid.contains(&0) {
+            return Err(invalid_arg("CLUT grid with zero points in a dimension"));
+        }
+        grid.iter()
+            .try_fold(outputs, |n, g| n.checked_mul(*g))
+            .filter(|n| *n <= MAX_VALUES)
+            .ok_or_else(|| invalid_arg(format!("CLUT grid {grid:?} × {outputs} exceeds {MAX_VALUES} values")))
+    }
+
+    fn from_checked(grid: Vec<usize>, outputs: usize, data: Vec<f32>) -> Self {
         let inputs = grid.len();
-        assert!((1..=MAX_CHANNELS).contains(&inputs) && (1..=MAX_CHANNELS).contains(&outputs), "bad CLUT dimensions");
         let mut strides = vec![0usize; inputs];
         let mut s = outputs;
         for i in (0..inputs).rev() {
             strides[i] = s;
-            s *= grid[i].max(1);
+            s *= grid[i];
         }
-        assert_eq!(data.len(), s, "CLUT data length");
         Clut { inputs, outputs, grid, data, strides }
     }
 
+    pub fn inputs(&self) -> usize {
+        self.inputs
+    }
+    pub fn outputs(&self) -> usize {
+        self.outputs
+    }
+    /// Grid points per input dimension.
+    pub fn grid(&self) -> &[usize] {
+        &self.grid
+    }
+    /// Normalised node values, `outputs` per node, first input varying slowest.
+    pub fn data(&self) -> &[f32] {
+        &self.data
+    }
+
     /// Number of nodes.
     pub fn nodes(&self) -> usize {
         self.data.len() / self.outputs
     }
 
-    /// Builds a table by sampling `f` at every node (inputs normalised to `[0, 1]`).
-    pub fn sample(grid: Vec<usize>, outputs: usize, mut f: impl FnMut(&[f32], &mut [f32])) -> Self {
+    /// Builds a table by sampling `f` at every node (inputs normalised to `[0, 1]`); the
+    /// dimensions are checked as in [`Clut::new`].
+    pub fn sample(grid: Vec<usize>, outputs: usize, mut f: impl FnMut(&[f32], &mut [f32])) -> Result<Self, CmsError> {
+        let total = Self::check_dims(&grid, outputs)?;
         let inputs = grid.len();
-        let total: usize = grid.iter().product();
-        let mut data = vec![0.0f32; total * outputs];
+        let mut data = vec![0.0f32; total];
         let mut idx = vec![0usize; inputs];
         let mut inp = vec![0.0f32; inputs];
-        for node in 0..total {
+        for (node, out) in data.chunks_exact_mut(outputs).enumerate() {
             let mut rem = node;
             for d in (0..inputs).rev() {
                 idx[d] = rem % grid[d];
@@ -55,9 +97,9 @@ impl Clut {
             for d in 0..inputs {
                 inp[d] = if grid[d] > 1 { idx[d] as f32 / (grid[d] - 1) as f32 } else { 0.0 };
             }
-            f(&inp, &mut data[node * outputs..(node + 1) * outputs]);
+            f(&inp, out);
         }
-        Clut::new(grid, outputs, data)
+        Ok(Self::from_checked(grid, outputs, data))
     }
 
     #[inline]
@@ -71,9 +113,22 @@ impl Clut {
         (i * self.strides[d], p - i as f32, self.strides[d])
     }
 
-    /// Interpolates at `input` (`inputs` values) into `out` (`outputs` values).
+    /// Interpolates at `input` (at least `inputs` values) into `out` (at least `outputs`
+    /// values).
+    pub fn eval(&self, input: &[f32], out: &mut [f32]) -> Result<(), CmsError> {
+        self.check_io(input, out)?;
+        self.interp(input, out);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn check_io(&self, input: &[f32], out: &[f32]) -> Result<(), CmsError> {
+        check_len("CLUT input", input.len(), self.inputs)?;
+        check_len("CLUT output", out.len(), self.outputs)
+    }
+
+    /// [`Clut::eval`] for callers that guarantee the slice lengths.
     #[inline]
-    pub fn eval(&self, input: &[f32], out: &mut [f32]) {
+    pub(crate) fn interp(&self, input: &[f32], out: &mut [f32]) {
         match self.inputs {
             1 => self.eval1(input[0], out),
             3 => {
@@ -100,7 +155,7 @@ impl Clut {
                     out[..self.outputs].copy_from_slice(&lo[..self.outputs]);
                 }
             }
-            _ => self.eval_multilinear(input, out),
+            _ => self.multilinear(input, out),
         }
     }
 
@@ -153,13 +208,21 @@ impl Clut {
     }
 
     /// Trilinear interpolation (3 inputs), kept as a reference for accuracy comparisons.
-    pub fn eval_trilinear(&self, input: &[f32], out: &mut [f32]) {
-        assert_eq!(self.inputs, 3);
-        self.eval_multilinear(input, out);
+    pub fn eval_trilinear(&self, input: &[f32], out: &mut [f32]) -> Result<(), CmsError> {
+        if self.inputs != 3 {
+            return Err(invalid_arg(format!("trilinear interpolation of a {}-input CLUT", self.inputs)));
+        }
+        self.eval_multilinear(input, out)
     }
 
     /// Multilinear interpolation over all 2^n cube corners.
-    pub fn eval_multilinear(&self, input: &[f32], out: &mut [f32]) {
+    pub fn eval_multilinear(&self, input: &[f32], out: &mut [f32]) -> Result<(), CmsError> {
+        self.check_io(input, out)?;
+        self.multilinear(input, out);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn multilinear(&self, input: &[f32], out: &mut [f32]) {
         let n = self.inputs;
         let mut base = 0usize;
         let mut r = [0.0f32; MAX_CHANNELS];
@@ -205,28 +268,28 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn exact_on_nodes_and_linear_functions() {
-        let c = Clut::sample(vec![5, 5, 5], 3, f3);
+        let c = Clut::sample(vec![5, 5, 5], 3, f3).unwrap();
         let mut o = [0.0; 3];
-        c.eval(&[0.25, 0.5, 0.75], &mut o);
+        c.eval(&[0.25, 0.5, 0.75], &mut o).unwrap();
         let mut w = [0.0; 3];
         f3(&[0.25, 0.5, 0.75], &mut w);
         for i in 0..3 {
             assert!((o[i] - w[i]).abs() < 1e-6);
         }
         // Linear function is reproduced exactly anywhere.
-        c.eval(&[0.13, 0.77, 0.41], &mut o);
+        c.eval(&[0.13, 0.77, 0.41], &mut o).unwrap();
         assert!((o[0] - (0.13 * 0.5 + 0.77 * 0.3 + 0.41 * 0.2)).abs() < 1e-6);
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn four_d_and_multilinear_agree_on_linear() {
         let f = |p: &[f32], o: &mut [f32]| o[0] = 0.1 * p[0] + 0.2 * p[1] + 0.3 * p[2] + 0.4 * p[3];
-        let c = Clut::sample(vec![3, 4, 5, 6], 1, f);
+        let c = Clut::sample(vec![3, 4, 5, 6], 1, f).unwrap();
         let mut a = [0.0];
         let mut b = [0.0];
         for p in [[0.1f32, 0.9, 0.3, 0.7], [1.0, 0.0, 0.5, 0.5], [0.33, 0.66, 0.99, 0.01]] {
-            c.eval(&p, &mut a);
-            c.eval_multilinear(&p, &mut b);
+            c.eval(&p, &mut a).unwrap();
+            c.eval_multilinear(&p, &mut b).unwrap();
             let want = 0.1 * p[0] + 0.2 * p[1] + 0.3 * p[2] + 0.4 * p[3];
             assert!((a[0] - want).abs() < 1e-5 && (b[0] - want).abs() < 1e-5);
         }
@@ -237,12 +300,13 @@ mod tests {
         let c = Clut::sample(vec![3], 2, |p, o| {
             o[0] = p[0];
             o[1] = 1.0 - p[0];
-        });
+        })
+        .unwrap();
         let mut o = [0.0; 2];
-        c.eval(&[0.25], &mut o);
+        c.eval(&[0.25], &mut o).unwrap();
         assert!((o[0] - 0.25).abs() < 1e-6 && (o[1] - 0.75).abs() < 1e-6);
-        let c = Clut::sample(vec![2, 2], 1, |p, o| o[0] = p[0] + p[1]);
-        c.eval(&[0.5, 0.25], &mut o);
+        let c = Clut::sample(vec![2, 2], 1, |p, o| o[0] = p[0] + p[1]).unwrap();
+        c.eval(&[0.5, 0.25], &mut o).unwrap();
         assert!((o[0] - 0.75).abs() < 1e-6);
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/cms/src/curve.rs b/crates/cms/src/curve.rs
index fe23e6e0..f50f2d66 100644
--- a/crates/cms/src/curve.rs
+++ b/crates/cms/src/curve.rs
@@ -94,9 +94,10 @@ impl Curve {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Samples `n` evenly spaced points over `[0, 1]`.
+    /// Samples `n` evenly spaced points over `[0, 1]` (one sample is the value at 0).
     pub fn sample(&self, n: usize) -> Vec<f32> {
-        (0..n).map(|i| self.eval64(i as f64 / (n - 1) as f64) as f32).collect()
+        let step = n.saturating_sub(1).max(1) as f64;
+        (0..n).map(|i| self.eval64(i as f64 / step) as f32).collect()
     }
 
     /// `true` when the curve never decreases over `[0, 1]`.
diff --git a/crates/cms/src/gamut.rs b/crates/cms/src/gamut.rs
index 8b1abe1d..247b183f 100644
--- a/crates/cms/src/gamut.rs
+++ b/crates/cms/src/gamut.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use crate::clut::Clut;
 use crate::pipeline::{Pipeline, Stage};
 use crate::profile::Profile;
 use crate::transform::link_stages;
-use crate::{CmsError, Intent};
+use crate::{CmsError, Intent, check_len};
 
 /// Default ΔE76 threshold above which a colour counts as out of gamut.
 pub const DEFAULT_THRESHOLD: f32 = 4.0;
@@ -25,23 +25,23 @@ pub struct GamutCheck {
 impl GamutCheck {
     pub fn new(src: &Profile, proof: &Profile, threshold: f32) -> Result<GamutCheck, CmsError> {
         let lab = crate::Builtin::LabD50.profile();
-        let direct = Pipeline::new(src.channels(), link_stages(src, lab, Intent::RelativeColorimetric, false)?);
+        let direct = Pipeline::new(src.channels(), link_stages(src, lab, Intent::RelativeColorimetric, false)?)?;
         let mut via = link_stages(src, proof, Intent::RelativeColorimetric, false)?;
         via.push(Stage::Clamp01);
         via.extend(link_stages(proof, lab, Intent::RelativeColorimetric, false)?);
-        let via = Pipeline::new(src.channels(), via);
+        let via = Pipeline::new(src.channels(), via)?;
         let de = |p: &[f32], o: &mut [f32]| {
             let (mut a, mut b) = ([0.0f32; 16], [0.0f32; 16]);
-            direct.eval(p, &mut a);
-            via.eval(p, &mut b);
+            direct.run(p, &mut a);
+            via.run(p, &mut b);
             let d = |i: usize, s: f32| (a[i] - b[i]) * s;
             o[0] = (d(0, 100.0).powi(2) + d(1, 255.0).powi(2) + d(2, 255.0).powi(2)).sqrt();
         };
         let n = src.channels();
         let grid = match n {
-            1 => Some(Clut::sample(vec![256], 1, de)),
-            3 => Some(Clut::sample(vec![33; 3], 1, de)),
-            4 => Some(Clut::sample(vec![17; 4], 1, de)),
+            1 => Some(Clut::sample(vec![256], 1, de)?),
+            3 => Some(Clut::sample(vec![33; 3], 1, de)?),
+            4 => Some(Clut::sample(vec![17; 4], 1, de)?),
             _ => None,
         };
         Ok(GamutCheck { inputs: n, grid, exact: (direct, via), threshold })
@@ -51,8 +51,9 @@ impl GamutCheck {
         self.inputs
     }
 
-    /// ΔE76 between the colour and its proof round trip.
-    pub fn delta_e(&self, px: &[f32]) -> f32 {
+    /// ΔE76 between the colour (at least `inputs` normalised values) and its proof round trip.
+    pub fn delta_e(&self, px: &[f32]) -> Result<f32, CmsError> {
+        check_len("gamut check input", px.len(), self.inputs)?;
         let mut o = [0.0f32; 1];
         match &self.grid {
             Some(g) => {
@@ -60,19 +61,19 @@ impl GamutCheck {
                 for (d, s) in c.iter_mut().zip(&px[..self.inputs]) {
                     *d = s.clamp(0.0, 1.0);
                 }
-                g.eval(&c[..self.inputs], &mut o);
+                g.interp(&c[..self.inputs], &mut o);
             }
             None => {
                 let (mut a, mut b) = ([0.0f32; 16], [0.0f32; 16]);
-                self.exact.0.eval(px, &mut a);
-                self.exact.1.eval(px, &mut b);
+                self.exact.0.run(px, &mut a);
+                self.exact.1.run(px, &mut b);
                 o[0] = ((a[0] - b[0]) * 100.0).hypot((a[1] - b[1]) * 255.0).hypot((a[2] - b[2]) * 255.0);
             }
         }
-        o[0]
+        Ok(o[0])
     }
 
-    pub fn out_of_gamut(&self, px: &[f32]) -> bool {
-        self.delta_e(px) > self.threshold
+    pub fn out_of_gamut(&self, px: &[f32]) -> Result<bool, CmsError> {
+        Ok(self.delta_e(px)? > self.threshold)
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/cms/src/lib.rs b/crates/cms/src/lib.rs
index bb34ebb8..613d0db6 100644
--- a/crates/cms/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/cms/src/lib.rs
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ impl Intent {
     }
 }
 
-/// Errors from parsing profiles or building transforms.
+/// Errors from parsing profiles, building transforms, or arguments that do not fit an operation.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub enum CmsError {
     Truncated,
@@ -91,6 +91,10 @@ pub enum CmsError {
     BadSignature,
     Invalid(String),
     Unsupported(String),
+    /// A caller argument does not fit the operation: a pixel stride below the channel count, a
+    /// buffer that is not whole pixels or is too short, a slice shorter than the channel count,
+    /// or table dimensions out of range.
+    InvalidArgument(String),
 }
 
 impl std::fmt::Display for CmsError {
@@ -100,8 +104,18 @@ impl std::fmt::Display for CmsError {
             CmsError::BadSignature => write!(f, "not an ICC profile (missing 'acsp' signature)"),
             CmsError::Invalid(m) => write!(f, "invalid ICC profile: {m}"),
             CmsError::Unsupported(m) => write!(f, "unsupported ICC feature: {m}"),
+            CmsError::InvalidArgument(m) => write!(f, "invalid argument: {m}"),
         }
     }
 }
 
 impl std::error::Error for CmsError {}
+
+pub(crate) fn invalid_arg(m: impl Into<String>) -> CmsError {
+    CmsError::InvalidArgument(m.into())
+}
+
+/// Checks that `slice` holds at least `n` values (single-colour evaluation).
+pub(crate) fn check_len(what: &str, len: usize, n: usize) -> Result<(), CmsError> {
+    if len < n { Err(invalid_arg(format!("{what} has {len} values, {n} needed"))) } else { Ok(()) }
+}
diff --git a/crates/cms/src/lut3d.rs b/crates/cms/src/lut3d.rs
index f38112ff..9103b238 100644
--- a/crates/cms/src/lut3d.rs
+++ b/crates/cms/src/lut3d.rs
@@ -1,34 +1,50 @@
 //! 3D lookup tables for applying a display transform on the GPU.
 
-use crate::Transform;
+use crate::lutfile::MAX_SIZE;
+use crate::{CmsError, Transform, invalid_arg};
 
 /// An `size³` RGBA lookup table: entry `r + g·size + b·size²` holds the output for input
 /// `(r, g, b) / (size − 1)`, alpha 1. This is the memory order of a 3D texture whose x axis is
 /// red, so it uploads directly (sample at `(c·(size−1) + 0.5) / size` with linear filtering).
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub struct Lut3d {
-    pub size: usize,
-    pub data: Vec<[f32; 4]>,
+    size: usize,
+    data: Vec<[f32; 4]>,
 }
 
 impl Lut3d {
-    /// Samples a 3-input transform (1-output transforms are replicated to gray).
-    pub fn from_transform(t: &Transform, size: usize) -> Lut3d {
-        assert!(t.inputs() == 3 && (t.outputs() == 3 || t.outputs() == 1), "display LUTs need a 3→3 or 3→1 transform");
-        assert!(size >= 2, "LUT size");
+    /// Samples a 3-input transform (1-output transforms are replicated to gray) on a `size`³
+    /// grid, `size` from 2 to [`MAX_SIZE`].
+    pub fn from_transform(t: &Transform, size: usize) -> Result<Lut3d, CmsError> {
+        if t.inputs() != 3 || !(t.outputs() == 3 || t.outputs() == 1) {
+            return Err(invalid_arg(format!("display LUTs need a 3→3 or 3→1 transform, not {}→{}", t.inputs(), t.outputs())));
+        }
+        if !(2..=MAX_SIZE).contains(&size) {
+            return Err(invalid_arg(format!("3D LUT size {size} (2 to {MAX_SIZE})")));
+        }
         let mut data = vec![[0.0f32, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0]; size * size * size];
         let s = (size - 1) as f32;
         let mut out = [0.0f32; 16];
         for b in 0..size {
             for g in 0..size {
                 for r in 0..size {
-                    t.eval(&[r as f32 / s, g as f32 / s, b as f32 / s], &mut out);
+                    t.eval(&[r as f32 / s, g as f32 / s, b as f32 / s], &mut out)?;
                     let v = if t.outputs() == 1 { [out[0]; 3] } else { [out[0], out[1], out[2]] };
                     data[r + g * size + b * size * size] = [v[0], v[1], v[2], 1.0];
                 }
             }
         }
-        Lut3d { size, data }
+        Ok(Lut3d { size, data })
+    }
+
+    /// Edge length.
+    pub fn size(&self) -> usize {
+        self.size
+    }
+
+    /// `size`³ RGBA entries, red fastest.
+    pub fn data(&self) -> &[[f32; 4]] {
+        &self.data
     }
 
     /// Trilinear lookup (what GPU filtering computes).
diff --git a/crates/cms/src/lutfile.rs b/crates/cms/src/lutfile.rs
index d5918f31..880d9a64 100644
--- a/crates/cms/src/lutfile.rs
+++ b/crates/cms/src/lutfile.rs
@@ -50,15 +50,16 @@ fn checked_data_len(size: usize) -> Result<(usize, usize), LutError> {
 }
 
 impl LutFile {
-    /// The identity table of edge `size`.
-    pub fn identity(size: usize) -> Self {
+    /// The identity table of edge `size` (2 to [`MAX_SIZE`]).
+    pub fn identity(size: usize) -> Result<Self, LutError> {
         Self::from_fn("Identity", size, |c| c)
     }
 
-    /// Samples `f` on an `size`³ grid.
-    pub fn from_fn(title: &str, size: usize, f: impl Fn([f32; 3]) -> [f32; 3]) -> Self {
-        let m = (size.max(2) - 1) as f32;
-        let mut data = Vec::with_capacity(size * size * size * 3);
+    /// Samples `f` on an `size`³ grid, `size` from 2 to [`MAX_SIZE`].
+    pub fn from_fn(title: &str, size: usize, f: impl Fn([f32; 3]) -> [f32; 3]) -> Result<Self, LutError> {
+        let (_, data_len) = checked_data_len(size)?;
+        let m = (size - 1) as f32;
+        let mut data = Vec::with_capacity(data_len);
         for b in 0..size {
             for g in 0..size {
                 for r in 0..size {
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ impl LutFile {
                 }
             }
         }
-        LutFile { title: title.to_string(), size, data, domain_min: [0.0; 3], domain_max: [1.0; 3] }
+        Ok(LutFile { title: title.to_string(), size, data, domain_min: [0.0; 3], domain_max: [1.0; 3] })
     }
 
     /// Whether the table expects plain 0..1 inputs (the common case; Photoshop's default).
@@ -164,7 +165,7 @@ pub fn parse_cube(text: &str) -> Result<LutFile, LutError> {
             let f = x - i as f32;
             rows[i * 3 + ch] * (1.0 - f) + rows[(i + 1) * 3 + ch] * f
         };
-        let mut l = LutFile::from_fn(&title, 33, |c| [curve(0, c[0]), curve(1, c[1]), curve(2, c[2])]);
+        let mut l = LutFile::from_fn(&title, 33, |c| [curve(0, c[0]), curve(1, c[1]), curve(2, c[2])])?;
         l.title = title;
         return l.check();
     }
@@ -294,7 +295,7 @@ pub fn builtin(id: &str) -> Option<LutFile> {
         "monoContrast" => Box::new(|c: [f32; 3]| [smooth(smooth(luma(c))); 3]),
         _ /* crossProcess */ => Box::new(|c: [f32; 3]| [smooth(c[0]) * 1.05, c[1] * 1.1 - 0.03, c[2] * 0.7 + 0.15]),
     };
-    Some(LutFile::from_fn(label, 33, f))
+    LutFile::from_fn(label, 33, f).ok()
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
@@ -362,7 +363,7 @@ DOMAIN_MAX 0.5 1 1
 
     #[test]
     fn cube_roundtrip_and_identity() {
-        let id = LutFile::identity(5);
+        let id = LutFile::identity(5).unwrap();
         let text = write_cube(&LutFile { title: "Id".into(), ..id.clone() });
         let back = parse_cube(&text).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(back.size, 5);
@@ -408,12 +409,12 @@ DOMAIN_MAX 0.5 1 1
         }
         let l = parse_3dl(&text).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(l.size, 2);
-        assert_eq!(l.data, LutFile::identity(2).data);
+        assert_eq!(l.data, LutFile::identity(2).unwrap().data);
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn look_hex_floats() {
-        let id = LutFile::identity(2);
+        let id = LutFile::identity(2).unwrap();
         let hex: String = id.data.iter().flat_map(|v| v.to_le_bytes()).map(|b| format!("{b:02X}")).collect();
         let xml = format!("<?xml version=\"1.0\"?><look><LUT><size>\"2\"</size><data>\"{hex}\"</data></LUT></look>");
         assert_eq!(parse("a.look", xml.as_bytes()).unwrap().data, id.data);
diff --git a/crates/cms/src/pipeline.rs b/crates/cms/src/pipeline.rs
index 761a13c4..c0d0f7bc 100644
--- a/crates/cms/src/pipeline.rs
+++ b/crates/cms/src/pipeline.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 use crate::clut::Clut;
 use crate::curve::Curve;
-use crate::math;
+use crate::{CmsError, check_len, invalid_arg, math};
 
 /// Largest channel count flowing through a pipeline.
 pub const MAX: usize = 16;
@@ -54,6 +54,25 @@ impl Stage {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Checks that the stage can run on `n` channels: matrix shapes match their data and
+    /// channel counts stay within [`MAX`].
+    fn check(&self, n: usize) -> Result<(), CmsError> {
+        if let Stage::Matrix { rows, cols, m, offset } = self
+            && (!(1..=MAX).contains(rows) || !(1..=MAX).contains(cols) || m.len() != rows * cols || offset.len() != *rows)
+        {
+            return Err(invalid_arg(format!(
+                "{rows}×{cols} matrix stage with {} coefficients and {} offsets (1 to {MAX} rows and columns)",
+                m.len(),
+                offset.len()
+            )));
+        }
+        let out = self.outputs(n);
+        if !(1..=MAX).contains(&out) {
+            return Err(invalid_arg(format!("pipeline stage with {out} outputs (1 to {MAX})")));
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     pub fn matrix3(m: &math::Mat3) -> Stage {
         Stage::Matrix { rows: 3, cols: 3, m: m.iter().flatten().copied().collect(), offset: vec![0.0; 3] }
     }
@@ -89,7 +108,7 @@ impl Stage {
                 let mut o = [0.0f32; MAX];
                 let mut inp = [0.0f32; MAX];
                 inp[..n].copy_from_slice(&v[..n]);
-                c.eval(&inp[..c.inputs], &mut o[..c.outputs]);
+                c.interp(&inp[..c.inputs], &mut o[..c.outputs]);
                 v[..c.outputs].copy_from_slice(&o[..c.outputs]);
                 c.outputs
             }
@@ -152,28 +171,59 @@ impl Stage {
 /// A sequence of stages with fixed input and output channel counts.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub struct Pipeline {
-    pub inputs: usize,
-    pub outputs: usize,
-    pub stages: Vec<Stage>,
+    inputs: usize,
+    outputs: usize,
+    stages: Vec<Stage>,
 }
 
 impl Pipeline {
-    pub fn new(inputs: usize, stages: Vec<Stage>) -> Self {
-        let outputs = stages.iter().fold(inputs, |n, s| s.outputs(n));
-        Pipeline { inputs, outputs, stages }
-    }
-
-    /// Appends stages.
-    pub fn extend(&mut self, stages: impl IntoIterator<Item = Stage>) {
-        for s in stages {
-            self.outputs = s.outputs(self.outputs);
-            self.stages.push(s);
+    /// A pipeline over `inputs` channels (1 to [`MAX`]). Refuses stages that cannot run on the
+    /// channels reaching them with [`CmsError::InvalidArgument`].
+    pub fn new(inputs: usize, stages: Vec<Stage>) -> Result<Self, CmsError> {
+        if !(1..=MAX).contains(&inputs) {
+            return Err(invalid_arg(format!("pipeline with {inputs} inputs (1 to {MAX})")));
         }
+        let mut p = Pipeline { inputs, outputs: inputs, stages: Vec::with_capacity(stages.len()) };
+        p.extend(stages)?;
+        Ok(p)
     }
 
-    /// Evaluates one pixel: `input` has `inputs` values, `out` receives `outputs` values.
+    pub fn inputs(&self) -> usize {
+        self.inputs
+    }
+    pub fn outputs(&self) -> usize {
+        self.outputs
+    }
+    pub fn stages(&self) -> &[Stage] {
+        &self.stages
+    }
+
+    /// Appends stages, checked as in [`Pipeline::new`]; on error the pipeline is unchanged.
+    pub fn extend(&mut self, stages: impl IntoIterator<Item = Stage>) -> Result<(), CmsError> {
+        let mut n = self.outputs;
+        let mut added = Vec::new();
+        for s in stages {
+            s.check(n)?;
+            n = s.outputs(n);
+            added.push(s);
+        }
+        self.stages.extend(added);
+        self.outputs = n;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Evaluates one pixel: `input` has at least `inputs` values, `out` receives `outputs`
+    /// values.
+    pub fn eval(&self, input: &[f32], out: &mut [f32]) -> Result<(), CmsError> {
+        check_len("pipeline input", input.len(), self.inputs)?;
+        check_len("pipeline output", out.len(), self.outputs)?;
+        self.run(input, out);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// [`Pipeline::eval`] for callers that guarantee the slice lengths.
     #[inline]
-    pub fn eval(&self, input: &[f32], out: &mut [f32]) {
+    pub(crate) fn run(&self, input: &[f32], out: &mut [f32]) {
         let mut v = [0.0f32; MAX];
         v[..self.inputs].copy_from_slice(&input[..self.inputs]);
         let mut n = self.inputs;
diff --git a/crates/cms/src/profile.rs b/crates/cms/src/profile.rs
index 99f5710e..ef8cbcee 100644
--- a/crates/cms/src/profile.rs
+++ b/crates/cms/src/profile.rs
@@ -252,9 +252,9 @@ impl Profile {
                 k /= steps;
             }
             let (mut la, mut lb) = ([0f32; 3], [0f32; 3]);
-            a.eval(&input[..n], &mut la);
-            b.eval(&input[..n], &mut lb);
-            math::delta_e76(decode(la), decode(lb)) <= SAME_COLORS_MAX_DELTA_E
+            a.eval(&input[..n], &mut la).is_ok()
+                && b.eval(&input[..n], &mut lb).is_ok()
+                && math::delta_e76(decode(la), decode(lb)) <= SAME_COLORS_MAX_DELTA_E
         })
     }
 
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ fn sig(s: &[u8; 4]) -> u32 {
 }
 
 /// Upper bound on CLUT nodes × outputs we accept, to reject hostile files.
-const MAX_CLUT_VALUES: usize = 16 * 1024 * 1024;
+const MAX_CLUT_VALUES: usize = crate::clut::MAX_VALUES;
 
 fn parse_profile(bytes: &[u8]) -> Result<Profile, CmsError> {
     let r = Reader { b: bytes };
@@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ fn parse_lut(d: &[u8], a2b: bool) -> Result<Lut, CmsError> {
                 stages.push(Stage::matrix3(&m));
             }
             stages.push(Stage::Curves(in_curves));
-            stages.push(Stage::Clut(Clut::new(vec![g; i], o, data)));
+            stages.push(Stage::Clut(Clut::new(vec![g; i], o, data)?));
             stages.push(Stage::Curves(out_curves));
             Ok(Lut { kind: if wide { LutKind::Lut16 } else { LutKind::Lut8 }, inputs: i, outputs: o, stages })
         }
@@ -712,7 +712,7 @@ fn parse_lut(d: &[u8], a2b: bool) -> Result<Lut, CmsError> {
                     2 => r.slice(off + 20, total * 2)?.as_chunks::<2>().0.iter().map(|c| u16::from_be_bytes([c[0], c[1]]) as f32 / 65535.0).collect(),
                     _ => return Err(CmsError::Invalid(format!("CLUT precision {prec}"))),
                 };
-                Ok(Stage::Clut(Clut::new(grid, cout, data)))
+                Ok(Stage::Clut(Clut::new(grid, cout, data)?))
             };
             let mut stages = Vec::new();
             if ty == b"mAB " {
diff --git a/crates/cms/src/synth.rs b/crates/cms/src/synth.rs
index 63e077d5..8bed08eb 100644
--- a/crates/cms/src/synth.rs
+++ b/crates/cms/src/synth.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ use crate::curve::Curve;
 use crate::math;
 use crate::pipeline::Stage;
 use crate::profile::{ColorSpace, Lut, LutKind, Pcs, Profile, ProfileClass};
-use crate::{CmsError, Intent};
+use crate::{CmsError, Intent, invalid_arg};
 
 pub const DESCRIPTION: &str = "Photocraft Coated CMYK (synthetic, 300% TAC, medium GCR)";
 
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ struct TableForward(Clut);
 impl Forward for TableForward {
     fn lab(&self, cmyk: [f64; 4]) -> [f64; 3] {
         let mut o = [0.0f32; 3];
-        self.0.eval(&cmyk.map(|v| v.clamp(0.0, 1.0) as f32), &mut o);
+        self.0.interp(&cmyk.map(|v| v.clamp(0.0, 1.0) as f32), &mut o);
         decode_v2(o.map(f64::from))
     }
 }
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ fn par_map<T: Send>(n: usize, f: impl Fn(usize) -> T + Sync + Send) -> Vec<T> {
     (0..n).map(f).collect()
 }
 
-fn b2a_table<F: Forward + ?Sized>(model: &F, p: &CmykParams, gbd: Option<&Gbd>) -> Clut {
+fn b2a_table<F: Forward + ?Sized>(model: &F, p: &CmykParams, gbd: Option<&Gbd>) -> Result<Clut, CmsError> {
     let n = p.grid_b2a.max(2);
     let nodes = n * n * n;
     let vals = par_map(n * n, |row| {
@@ -429,6 +429,17 @@ fn b2a_table<F: Forward + ?Sized>(model: &F, p: &CmykParams, gbd: Option<&Gbd>)
     Clut::new(vec![n; 3], 4, data)
 }
 
+/// Refuses grids below 2 nodes or above what a [`Clut`] holds, before anything is sampled.
+fn check_grids(p: &CmykParams) -> Result<(), CmsError> {
+    let fits = |grid: usize, dims: u32, outputs: usize| {
+        grid >= 2 && grid.checked_pow(dims).and_then(|n| n.checked_mul(outputs)).is_some_and(|n| n <= crate::clut::MAX_VALUES)
+    };
+    if !fits(p.grid_a2b, 4, 3) || !fits(p.grid_b2a, 3, 4) {
+        return Err(invalid_arg(format!("CMYK profile grids {}⁴/{}³ need at least 2 nodes and must fit a CLUT", p.grid_a2b, p.grid_b2a)));
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 fn lut16(clut: Clut) -> Lut {
     let (i, o) = (clut.inputs, clut.outputs);
     Lut {
@@ -439,16 +450,17 @@ fn lut16(clut: Clut) -> Lut {
     }
 }
 
-/// Generates a synthetic CMYK profile.
-pub fn cmyk_profile(p: &CmykParams) -> Profile {
+/// Generates a synthetic CMYK profile. Grids are refused as in [`cmyk_profile_from_model`].
+pub fn cmyk_profile(p: &CmykParams) -> Result<Profile, CmsError> {
+    check_grids(p)?;
     let model = CmykModel::coated(p.tvi);
-    let a2b = sample_a2b(&model, p.grid_a2b);
+    let a2b = sample_a2b(&model, p.grid_a2b)?;
     lut_profile(&model, a2b, model.paper, p)
 }
 
 /// Samples a forward model into an AToB table with `grid`⁴ nodes (at least 2⁴) and legacy Lab
 /// encoding.
-fn sample_a2b<F: Forward + ?Sized>(model: &F, grid: usize) -> Clut {
+fn sample_a2b<F: Forward + ?Sized>(model: &F, grid: usize) -> Result<Clut, CmsError> {
     Clut::sample(vec![grid.max(2); 4], 3, |inp, out| {
         let lab = model.lab([inp[0] as f64, inp[1] as f64, inp[2] as f64, inp[3] as f64]);
         out.copy_from_slice(&encode_v2(lab));
@@ -458,27 +470,25 @@ fn sample_a2b<F: Forward + ?Sized>(model: &F, grid: usize) -> Clut {
 /// A CMYK profile of any forward model on paper with absolute XYZ `paper`: the AToB table
 /// samples `model` on `p.grid_a2b`⁴ nodes, and the BToA tables invert that table rather than the
 /// model, so Lab → CMYK → Lab round trips through the profile are as close as the separation
-/// allows. Grids below 2 nodes and a zero, negative or non-finite `paper` are refused with
-/// [`CmsError::Invalid`].
+/// allows. Grids below 2 nodes or too large for a [`Clut`], and a zero, negative or
+/// non-finite `paper`, are refused with [`CmsError::InvalidArgument`].
 pub fn cmyk_profile_from_model<F: Forward + ?Sized>(model: &F, paper: [f64; 3], p: &CmykParams) -> Result<Profile, CmsError> {
-    if p.grid_a2b < 2 || p.grid_b2a < 2 {
-        return Err(CmsError::Invalid(format!("CMYK profile grids {}⁴/{}³ need at least 2 nodes", p.grid_a2b, p.grid_b2a)));
-    }
+    check_grids(p)?;
     if !paper.iter().all(|v| v.is_finite() && *v > 0.0) {
-        return Err(CmsError::Invalid(format!("paper XYZ {paper:?}")));
+        return Err(invalid_arg(format!("paper XYZ {paper:?}")));
     }
-    let a2b = sample_a2b(model, p.grid_a2b);
+    let a2b = sample_a2b(model, p.grid_a2b)?;
     let forward = TableForward(a2b.clone());
-    Ok(lut_profile(&forward, a2b, paper, p))
+    lut_profile(&forward, a2b, paper, p)
 }
 
-fn lut_profile<F: Forward + ?Sized>(model: &F, a2b: Clut, paper: [f64; 3], p: &CmykParams) -> Profile {
+fn lut_profile<F: Forward + ?Sized>(model: &F, a2b: Clut, paper: [f64; 3], p: &CmykParams) -> Result<Profile, CmsError> {
     let gbd = Gbd::new(model, p);
-    let colorimetric = b2a_table(model, p, None);
-    let perceptual = b2a_table(model, p, Some(&gbd));
+    let colorimetric = b2a_table(model, p, None)?;
+    let perceptual = b2a_table(model, p, Some(&gbd))?;
     let a2b = lut16(a2b);
     let (b0, b1) = (lut16(perceptual), lut16(colorimetric));
-    Profile {
+    Ok(Profile {
         version: (4, 0x30),
         class: ProfileClass::Output,
         color_space: ColorSpace::Cmyk,
@@ -497,11 +507,11 @@ fn lut_profile<F: Forward + ?Sized>(model: &F, a2b: Clut, paper: [f64; 3], p: &C
         bytes: None,
         hash: Default::default(),
     }
-    .with_encoded_bytes()
+    .with_encoded_bytes())
 }
 
 /// The default coated profile (what `profiles/photocraft-coated-cmyk.icc` contains).
-pub fn coated_cmyk() -> Profile {
+pub fn coated_cmyk() -> Result<Profile, CmsError> {
     cmyk_profile(&CmykParams::default())
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/cms/src/transform.rs b/crates/cms/src/transform.rs
index eeb2ed76..c8d26b15 100644
--- a/crates/cms/src/transform.rs
+++ b/crates/cms/src/transform.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use crate::curve::Curve;
 use crate::math;
 use crate::pipeline::{Pipeline, Stage};
 use crate::profile::{ColorSpace, Pcs, Profile, ProfileClass};
-use crate::{CmsError, Intent};
+use crate::{CmsError, Intent, check_len, invalid_arg};
 
 /// Sample storage of a byte buffer for [`Transform::convert_bytes_many`].
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ impl Transform {
 
     pub fn with_options(src: &Profile, dst: &Profile, opts: TransformOptions) -> Result<Transform, CmsError> {
         let stages = link_stages(src, dst, opts.intent, opts.bpc)?;
-        let mut t = Self::from_pipeline(Pipeline::new(src.channels(), stages), opts);
+        let mut t = Self::from_pipeline(Pipeline::new(src.channels(), stages)?, opts)?;
         if opts.intent != Intent::AbsoluteColorimetric {
             t.fix_white(src.color_space, dst.color_space);
         }
@@ -117,15 +117,15 @@ impl Transform {
         stages.push(Stage::Clamp01);
         let (i2, b2) = if simulate_paper { (Intent::AbsoluteColorimetric, false) } else { (Intent::RelativeColorimetric, true) };
         stages.extend(link_stages(proof, dst, i2, b2)?);
-        Ok(Self::from_pipeline(Pipeline::new(src.channels(), stages), TransformOptions { intent, bpc, precise_float: true }))
+        Self::from_pipeline(Pipeline::new(src.channels(), stages)?, TransformOptions { intent, bpc, precise_float: true })
     }
 
     /// Builds a transform from an arbitrary pipeline over normalised values.
-    pub fn from_pipeline(mut pipeline: Pipeline, opts: TransformOptions) -> Transform {
+    pub fn from_pipeline(mut pipeline: Pipeline, opts: TransformOptions) -> Result<Transform, CmsError> {
         pipeline.optimize();
-        let (inputs, outputs) = (pipeline.inputs, pipeline.outputs);
+        let (inputs, outputs) = (pipeline.inputs(), pipeline.outputs());
         // Split trailing inverse curves into accurate output tables.
-        let mut head = pipeline.stages.clone();
+        let mut head = pipeline.stages().to_vec();
         let mut post = None;
         if let Some(Stage::InvCurves(cs)) = head.last()
             && cs.len() == outputs
@@ -147,8 +147,13 @@ impl Transform {
                 head.pop();
             }
         }
-        let head_pipe = Pipeline::new(inputs, head.clone());
-        let mid = head_pipe.outputs;
+        let head_pipe = Pipeline::new(inputs, head.clone())?;
+        let mid = head_pipe.outputs();
+        let sampled = |grid: Vec<usize>| match Clut::sample(grid, mid, |i, o| head_pipe.run(i, o)) {
+            Ok(c) => Core::Grid(c),
+            // More outputs than a table holds: evaluate exactly.
+            Err(_) => Core::Exact,
+        };
         let core = match head.as_slice() {
             [] => Core::Shaper { curves8: Vec::new(), curves: Vec::new(), matrix: None },
             [Stage::Curves(cs)] if cs.len() == inputs => shaper(cs, None),
@@ -158,10 +163,10 @@ impl Transform {
             // a grid would amplify interpolation error through steep output curves.
             _ if !head.iter().any(|s| matches!(s, Stage::Clut(_))) => Core::Exact,
             _ => match inputs {
-                1 => Core::Grid(Clut::sample(vec![TABLE_1D], mid, |i, o| head_pipe.eval(i, o))),
-                3 => Core::Grid(Clut::sample(vec![GRID_3D; 3], mid, |i, o| head_pipe.eval(i, o))),
-                4 => Core::Grid(Clut::sample(vec![GRID_4D; 4], mid, |i, o| head_pipe.eval(i, o))),
-                2 => Core::Grid(Clut::sample(vec![GRID_3D; 2], mid, |i, o| head_pipe.eval(i, o))),
+                1 => sampled(vec![TABLE_1D]),
+                3 => sampled(vec![GRID_3D; 3]),
+                4 => sampled(vec![GRID_4D; 4]),
+                2 => sampled(vec![GRID_3D; 2]),
                 _ => Core::Exact,
             },
         };
@@ -179,7 +184,7 @@ impl Transform {
                 .collect(),
             _ => Vec::new(),
         };
-        Transform { inputs, outputs, opts, pipeline, core, post, grid8 }
+        Ok(Transform { inputs, outputs, opts, pipeline, core, post, grid8 })
     }
 
     /// White preservation: the device-link node at the source's device white gets exactly the
@@ -226,24 +231,38 @@ impl Transform {
         &self.pipeline
     }
 
-    /// Exact evaluation of one colour (`inputs` → `outputs` normalised values).
-    #[inline]
-    pub fn eval(&self, input: &[f32], out: &mut [f32]) {
-        self.pipeline.eval(input, out);
+    /// Exact evaluation of one colour: `input` holds at least `inputs` normalised values, `out`
+    /// receives `outputs` values.
+    pub fn eval(&self, input: &[f32], out: &mut [f32]) -> Result<(), CmsError> {
+        self.check_io(input, out)?;
+        self.pipeline.run(input, out);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Lookup-table evaluation of one colour (what integer buffers use); slices as in
+    /// [`Transform::eval`].
+    pub fn eval_fast(&self, input: &[f32], out: &mut [f32]) -> Result<(), CmsError> {
+        self.check_io(input, out)?;
+        self.fast(input, out);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn check_io(&self, input: &[f32], out: &[f32]) -> Result<(), CmsError> {
+        check_len("transform input", input.len(), self.inputs)?;
+        check_len("transform output", out.len(), self.outputs)
     }
 
-    /// Lookup-table evaluation of one colour (what integer buffers use).
     #[inline]
-    pub fn eval_fast(&self, input: &[f32], out: &mut [f32]) {
+    fn fast(&self, input: &[f32], out: &mut [f32]) {
         let mut mid = [0.0f32; 16];
         match &self.core {
-            Core::Exact => return self.pipeline.eval(input, out),
+            Core::Exact => return self.pipeline.run(input, out),
             Core::Grid(c) => {
                 let mut inp = [0.0f32; 16];
                 for (d, s) in inp.iter_mut().zip(&input[..self.inputs]) {
                     *d = s.clamp(0.0, 1.0);
                 }
-                c.eval(&inp[..self.inputs], &mut mid[..c.outputs]);
+                c.interp(&inp[..self.inputs], &mut mid[..c.outputs]);
             }
             Core::Shaper { curves, matrix, .. } => {
                 let mut v = [0.0f32; 16];
@@ -269,20 +288,24 @@ impl Transform {
     }
 
     /// Converts float pixels. `src`/`dst` hold whole pixels of `src_stride`/`dst_stride`
-    /// values; colour channels come first. Trailing channels are copied when `copy_extra`.
-    pub fn convert_f32(&self, src: &[f32], src_stride: usize, dst: &mut [f32], dst_stride: usize, copy_extra: bool) {
-        self.check(src_stride, dst_stride);
+    /// values (strides at least `inputs`/`outputs`); colour channels come first. `dst` holds at
+    /// least as many pixels as `src`; pixels past that are left alone. Trailing channels are
+    /// copied when `copy_extra`. Buffers that do not fit are refused with
+    /// [`CmsError::InvalidArgument`] before any pixel is written.
+    pub fn convert_f32(&self, src: &[f32], src_stride: usize, dst: &mut [f32], dst_stride: usize, copy_extra: bool) -> Result<(), CmsError> {
+        self.check_buffers(src.len(), src_stride, dst.len(), dst_stride)?;
         let extra = extra_channels(self, src_stride, dst_stride, copy_extra);
         par_rows(src, src_stride, dst, dst_stride, |s, d| self.run_f32(s, src_stride, d, dst_stride, extra));
+        Ok(())
     }
 
     fn run_f32(&self, s: &[f32], ss: usize, d: &mut [f32], ds: usize, extra: usize) {
         let precise = self.opts.precise_float || matches!(self.core, Core::Exact);
         for (sp, dp) in s.chunks_exact(ss).zip(d.chunks_exact_mut(ds)) {
             if precise {
-                self.pipeline.eval(sp, dp);
+                self.pipeline.run(sp, dp);
             } else {
-                self.eval_fast(sp, dp);
+                self.fast(sp, dp);
             }
             for e in 0..extra {
                 dp[self.outputs + e] = sp[self.inputs + e];
@@ -290,29 +313,37 @@ impl Transform {
         }
     }
 
-    /// In-place float conversion; `stride ≥ max(inputs, outputs)`.
-    pub fn apply(&self, buf: &mut [f32], stride: usize) {
-        assert!(stride >= self.inputs.max(self.outputs), "stride too small");
+    /// In-place float conversion of whole pixels of `stride ≥ max(inputs, outputs)` values.
+    pub fn apply(&self, buf: &mut [f32], stride: usize) -> Result<(), CmsError> {
+        let need = self.inputs.max(self.outputs);
+        if stride < need {
+            return Err(invalid_arg(format!("pixel stride {stride} is below the channel count {need}")));
+        }
+        if !buf.len().is_multiple_of(stride) {
+            return Err(invalid_arg(format!("buffer of {} values is not whole pixels of {stride}", buf.len())));
+        }
         let precise = self.opts.precise_float || matches!(self.core, Core::Exact);
         let body = |chunk: &mut [f32]| {
             let mut out = [0.0f32; 16];
             for p in chunk.chunks_exact_mut(stride) {
                 if precise {
-                    self.pipeline.eval(p, &mut out);
+                    self.pipeline.run(p, &mut out);
                 } else {
-                    self.eval_fast(p, &mut out);
+                    self.fast(p, &mut out);
                 }
                 p[..self.outputs].copy_from_slice(&out[..self.outputs]);
             }
         };
         par_inplace(buf, stride, body);
+        Ok(())
     }
 
     /// Converts 8-bit pixels (see [`Transform::convert_f32`] for the layout).
-    pub fn convert_u8(&self, src: &[u8], src_stride: usize, dst: &mut [u8], dst_stride: usize, copy_extra: bool) {
-        self.check(src_stride, dst_stride);
+    pub fn convert_u8(&self, src: &[u8], src_stride: usize, dst: &mut [u8], dst_stride: usize, copy_extra: bool) -> Result<(), CmsError> {
+        self.check_buffers(src.len(), src_stride, dst.len(), dst_stride)?;
         let extra = extra_channels(self, src_stride, dst_stride, copy_extra);
         par_rows(src, src_stride, dst, dst_stride, |s, d| self.run_u8(s, src_stride, d, dst_stride, extra));
+        Ok(())
     }
 
     fn run_u8(&self, s: &[u8], ss: usize, d: &mut [u8], ds: usize, extra: usize) {
@@ -384,7 +415,7 @@ impl Transform {
                     for k in 0..self.inputs {
                         inp[k] = sp[k] as f32 / 255.0;
                     }
-                    self.eval_fast(&inp, &mut out);
+                    self.fast(&inp, &mut out);
                     for k in 0..self.outputs {
                         dp[k] = q(out[k]);
                     }
@@ -397,10 +428,11 @@ impl Transform {
     }
 
     /// Converts 16-bit pixels (see [`Transform::convert_f32`] for the layout).
-    pub fn convert_u16(&self, src: &[u16], src_stride: usize, dst: &mut [u16], dst_stride: usize, copy_extra: bool) {
-        self.check(src_stride, dst_stride);
+    pub fn convert_u16(&self, src: &[u16], src_stride: usize, dst: &mut [u16], dst_stride: usize, copy_extra: bool) -> Result<(), CmsError> {
+        self.check_buffers(src.len(), src_stride, dst.len(), dst_stride)?;
         let extra = extra_channels(self, src_stride, dst_stride, copy_extra);
         par_rows(src, src_stride, dst, dst_stride, |s, d| self.run_u16(s, src_stride, d, dst_stride, extra));
+        Ok(())
     }
 
     fn run_u16(&self, s: &[u16], ss: usize, d: &mut [u16], ds: usize, extra: usize) {
@@ -410,7 +442,7 @@ impl Transform {
             for k in 0..self.inputs {
                 inp[k] = sp[k] as f32 / 65535.0;
             }
-            self.eval_fast(&inp, &mut out);
+            self.fast(&inp, &mut out);
             for k in 0..self.outputs {
                 dp[k] = (out[k].clamp(0.0, 1.0) * 65535.0 + 0.5) as u16;
             }
@@ -422,9 +454,27 @@ impl Transform {
 
     /// Converts many independent buffers of native-endian samples in one parallel pass (e.g.
     /// all tiles of a surface): far cheaper than one parallel call per small buffer. Each job
-    /// is `(src bytes, dst bytes)` holding whole pixels of `src_stride`/`dst_stride` samples.
-    pub fn convert_bytes_many(&self, sample: SampleKind, jobs: Vec<(&[u8], &mut [u8])>, src_stride: usize, dst_stride: usize, copy_extra: bool) {
-        self.check(src_stride, dst_stride);
+    /// is `(src bytes, dst bytes)` holding whole pixels of `src_stride`/`dst_stride` samples,
+    /// as in [`Transform::convert_f32`]. Every job is checked before any is converted.
+    pub fn convert_bytes_many(
+        &self,
+        sample: SampleKind,
+        jobs: Vec<(&[u8], &mut [u8])>,
+        src_stride: usize,
+        dst_stride: usize,
+        copy_extra: bool,
+    ) -> Result<(), CmsError> {
+        let size = match sample {
+            SampleKind::U8 => 1,
+            SampleKind::U16 => 2,
+            SampleKind::F32 => 4,
+        };
+        for (s, d) in &jobs {
+            if !s.len().is_multiple_of(size) || !d.len().is_multiple_of(size) {
+                return Err(invalid_arg(format!("byte buffers of {}/{} bytes are not whole {size}-byte samples", s.len(), d.len())));
+            }
+            self.check_buffers(s.len() / size, src_stride, d.len() / size, dst_stride)?;
+        }
         let extra = extra_channels(self, src_stride, dst_stride, copy_extra);
         let run = |(s, d): (&[u8], &mut [u8])| match sample {
             SampleKind::U8 => self.run_u8(s, src_stride, d, dst_stride, extra),
@@ -452,10 +502,21 @@ impl Transform {
         }
         #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
         jobs.into_iter().for_each(run);
+        Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn check(&self, ss: usize, ds: usize) {
-        assert!(ss >= self.inputs && ds >= self.outputs, "pixel stride smaller than the channel count");
+    /// Checks a conversion's buffers once per call, so the per-pixel loops need no checks.
+    fn check_buffers(&self, src_len: usize, ss: usize, dst_len: usize, ds: usize) -> Result<(), CmsError> {
+        if ss < self.inputs || ds < self.outputs {
+            return Err(invalid_arg(format!("pixel strides {ss}/{ds} are below the channel counts {}/{}", self.inputs, self.outputs)));
+        }
+        if !src_len.is_multiple_of(ss) || !dst_len.is_multiple_of(ds) {
+            return Err(invalid_arg(format!("buffers of {src_len}/{dst_len} samples are not whole pixels of {ss}/{ds} samples")));
+        }
+        if dst_len / ds < src_len / ss {
+            return Err(invalid_arg(format!("destination holds {} pixels, source {}", dst_len / ds, src_len / ss)));
+        }
+        Ok(())
     }
 }
 
@@ -644,21 +705,21 @@ pub fn black_point(p: &Profile, intent: Intent, _input: bool) -> Result<f64, Cms
     if lut_based && p.version.0 >= 4 && matches!(intent, Intent::Perceptual | Intent::Saturation) {
         return Ok(PERCEPTUAL_BLACK[1]);
     }
-    let pcs_y = |st: Vec<Stage>, pcs: Pcs, dev: &[f32]| -> f64 {
-        let pipe = Pipeline::new(p.channels(), st);
+    let pcs_y = |st: Vec<Stage>, pcs: Pcs, dev: &[f32]| -> Result<f64, CmsError> {
+        let pipe = Pipeline::new(p.channels(), st)?;
         let mut o = [0.0f32; 16];
-        pipe.eval(dev, &mut o);
+        pipe.eval(dev, &mut o)?;
         let y = match pcs {
             Pcs::Xyz => o[1] as f64,
             Pcs::Lab => math::lab_to_xyz([o[0] as f64, 0.0, 0.0], math::D50)[1],
         };
-        y.clamp(0.0, 0.5)
+        Ok(y.clamp(0.0, 0.5))
     };
     let (to_pcs, pcs) = p.device_to_pcs(intent)?;
     let additive = matches!(p.color_space, ColorSpace::Rgb | ColorSpace::Gray);
     if additive || !lut_based {
         let zero = vec![0.0f32; p.channels()];
-        return Ok(pcs_y(to_pcs, pcs, &zero));
+        return pcs_y(to_pcs, pcs, &zero);
     }
     // Subtractive LUT profile: darkest reachable colour.
     let colorimetric = if intent == Intent::Saturation { Intent::Saturation } else { Intent::RelativeColorimetric };
@@ -669,14 +730,14 @@ pub fn black_point(p: &Profile, intent: Intent, _input: bool) -> Result<f64, Cms
                 st.push(Stage::LabToXyz);
             }
             st.extend(from_pcs);
-            let pipe = Pipeline::new(3, st);
+            let pipe = Pipeline::new(3, st)?;
             let mut dev = [0.0f32; 16];
-            pipe.eval(&[0.0, 0.0, 0.0], &mut dev);
-            Ok(pcs_y(to_pcs, pcs, &dev[..p.channels()]))
+            pipe.eval(&[0.0, 0.0, 0.0], &mut dev)?;
+            pcs_y(to_pcs, pcs, dev.get(..p.channels()).unwrap_or(&dev))
         }
         Err(_) => {
             let ones = vec![1.0f32; p.channels()];
-            Ok(pcs_y(to_pcs, pcs, &ones))
+            pcs_y(to_pcs, pcs, &ones)
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/cms/tests/bench.rs b/crates/cms/tests/bench.rs
index 07ffe711..1d140886 100644
--- a/crates/cms/tests/bench.rs
+++ b/crates/cms/tests/bench.rs
@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@ fn bench_srgb8_to_cmyk8() {
     }
     let mut dst = vec![0u8; n * 5];
     let t1 = std::time::Instant::now();
-    t.convert_u8(&src, 4, &mut dst, 5, true);
+    t.convert_u8(&src, 4, &mut dst, 5, true).unwrap();
     eprintln!("convert 6016² RGBA8 → CMYKA8 (one buffer): {:?}", t1.elapsed());
     let t2 = std::time::Instant::now();
     for (s, d) in src.chunks(65536 * 4).zip(dst.chunks_mut(65536 * 5)) {
-        t.convert_u8(s, 4, d, 5, true);
+        t.convert_u8(s, 4, d, 5, true).unwrap();
     }
     eprintln!("convert per 256² tile: {:?}", t2.elapsed());
 }
diff --git a/crates/cms/tests/cms.rs b/crates/cms/tests/cms.rs
index b39563d8..a4717859 100644
--- a/crates/cms/tests/cms.rs
+++ b/crates/cms/tests/cms.rs
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ fn enc(l: [f64; 3]) -> [f32; 3] {
 fn to_lab(p: &Profile, dev: &[f32], intent: Intent) -> [f64; 3] {
     let t = Transform::new(p, lab(), intent, false).unwrap();
     let mut o = [0.0f32; 3];
-    t.eval(dev, &mut o);
+    t.eval(dev, &mut o).unwrap();
     dec(&o)
 }
 
@@ -83,16 +83,16 @@ fn rgb_lab_rgb_roundtrip_8bit_and_float() {
     }
     let f: Vec<f32> = src8.iter().map(|v| *v as f32 / 255.0).collect();
     let mut labf = vec![0.0f32; f.len()];
-    to.convert_f32(&f, 3, &mut labf, 3, false);
+    to.convert_f32(&f, 3, &mut labf, 3, false).unwrap();
     let mut rgbf = vec![0.0f32; f.len()];
-    back.convert_f32(&labf, 3, &mut rgbf, 3, false);
+    back.convert_f32(&labf, 3, &mut rgbf, 3, false).unwrap();
     for (a, b) in src8.iter().zip(&rgbf) {
         assert!((*a as f32 - b * 255.0).abs() <= 1.0, "{a} vs {}", b * 255.0);
     }
     // 8-bit RGB stored as 16-bit Lab then back to 8-bit through the lookup tables.
     let lab16: Vec<u16> = labf.iter().map(|v| (v.clamp(0.0, 1.0) * 65535.0 + 0.5) as u16).collect();
     let mut rgb16 = vec![0u16; lab16.len()];
-    back.convert_u16(&lab16, 3, &mut rgb16, 3, false);
+    back.convert_u16(&lab16, 3, &mut rgb16, 3, false).unwrap();
     for (a, b) in src8.iter().zip(&rgb16) {
         assert!((*a as f32 - *b as f32 / 257.0).abs() <= 1.0, "{a} vs {}", *b as f32 / 257.0);
     }
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ fn rgb_lab_rgb_roundtrip_8bit_and_float() {
     }
     // Fast 8-bit path: RGB8 → Lab8-grid → compare with exact within 1 level of Lab encoding.
     let mut lab8 = vec![0u8; src8.len()];
-    to.convert_u8(&src8, 3, &mut lab8, 3, false);
+    to.convert_u8(&src8, 3, &mut lab8, 3, false).unwrap();
     for (q, e) in lab8.iter().zip(&labf) {
         assert!((*q as f32 - e * 255.0).abs() <= 1.0);
     }
@@ -115,10 +115,10 @@ fn rgb_to_rgb_matrix_shaper_paths_agree() {
         let t = Transform::new(srgb(), dst.profile(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, false).unwrap();
         let src: Vec<u8> = (0..=255u8).flat_map(|v| [v, v / 2, 255 - v]).collect();
         let mut out = vec![0u8; src.len()];
-        t.convert_u8(&src, 3, &mut out, 3, false);
+        t.convert_u8(&src, 3, &mut out, 3, false).unwrap();
         for (px, o) in src.chunks(3).zip(out.chunks(3)) {
             let mut e = [0.0f32; 3];
-            t.eval(&[px[0] as f32 / 255.0, px[1] as f32 / 255.0, px[2] as f32 / 255.0], &mut e);
+            t.eval(&[px[0] as f32 / 255.0, px[1] as f32 / 255.0, px[2] as f32 / 255.0], &mut e).unwrap();
             for k in 0..3 {
                 assert!((o[k] as f32 - e[k].clamp(0.0, 1.0) * 255.0).abs() <= 0.6, "{dst:?} {px:?}: {o:?} vs {e:?}");
             }
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ fn identity_transform_is_identity() {
     let t = Transform::new(srgb(), srgb(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, true).unwrap();
     let src: Vec<u8> = (0..=255u8).flat_map(|v| [v, 255 - v, v / 3, 77]).collect();
     let mut out = vec![0u8; src.len()];
-    t.convert_u8(&src, 4, &mut out, 4, true);
+    t.convert_u8(&src, 4, &mut out, 4, true).unwrap();
     assert_eq!(src, out);
 }
 
@@ -162,13 +162,13 @@ fn cmyk_profile_is_monotonic_and_in_range() {
         for v in (0..=255).rev().step_by(5) {
             let g = v as f32 / 255.0;
             let mut o = [0.0f32; 4];
-            t.eval(&[g, g, g], &mut o);
+            t.eval(&[g, g, g], &mut o).unwrap();
             assert!(o.iter().all(|c| (-1e-6..=1.0 + 1e-6).contains(c)), "{o:?}");
             assert!(o.iter().sum::<f32>() <= 3.0 + 0.02, "TAC {o:?}");
             assert!(o[3] >= prev_k - 0.01, "{intent:?} K not monotonic at {v}: {o:?}");
             prev_k = o[3];
             let mut l = [0.0f32; 3];
-            back.eval(&o, &mut l);
+            back.eval(&o, &mut l).unwrap();
             let lab = dec(&l);
             assert!(lab[0] <= prev_l + 0.3, "{intent:?} L* not monotonic at {v}: {lab:?}");
             assert!(lab[1].abs() < 3.0 && lab[2].abs() < 3.0, "{intent:?} gray {v} not neutral: {lab:?}");
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ fn cmyk_profile_is_monotonic_and_in_range() {
     let t = Transform::new(srgb(), p, Intent::RelativeColorimetric, true).unwrap();
     let src: Vec<u8> = (0..4096u32).flat_map(|i| [(i * 37 % 256) as u8, (i * 91 % 256) as u8, (i * 13 % 256) as u8]).collect();
     let mut out = vec![0u8; 4096 * 4];
-    t.convert_u8(&src, 3, &mut out, 4, false);
+    t.convert_u8(&src, 3, &mut out, 4, false).unwrap();
     for px in out.chunks(4) {
         assert!(px.iter().map(|v| *v as u32).sum::<u32>() <= 3 * 255 + 8, "{px:?}");
     }
@@ -191,9 +191,9 @@ fn in_gamut_colours_survive_cmyk_roundtrip() {
     let back = Transform::new(cmyk(), lab(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, false).unwrap();
     for target in [[50.0, 0.0, 0.0], [70.0, 10.0, 10.0], [60.0, -20.0, -20.0], [80.0, 0.0, 40.0], [40.0, 30.0, -10.0]] {
         let mut c = [0.0f32; 4];
-        to.eval(&enc(target), &mut c);
+        to.eval(&enc(target), &mut c).unwrap();
         let mut l = [0.0f32; 3];
-        back.eval(&c, &mut l);
+        back.eval(&c, &mut l).unwrap();
         assert!(delta_e76(dec(&l), target) < 2.0, "{target:?} -> {c:?} -> {:?}", dec(&l));
     }
 }
@@ -205,9 +205,9 @@ fn intents_differ_as_expected() {
     let sat = Transform::new(srgb(), cmyk(), Intent::Saturation, false).unwrap();
     let (mut a, mut b, mut s) = ([0.0f32; 4], [0.0f32; 4], [0.0f32; 4]);
     // Out-of-gamut sRGB blue: perceptual compresses, relative clips: different separations.
-    per.eval(&[0.0, 0.2, 1.0], &mut a);
-    rel.eval(&[0.0, 0.2, 1.0], &mut b);
-    sat.eval(&[0.0, 0.2, 1.0], &mut s);
+    per.eval(&[0.0, 0.2, 1.0], &mut a).unwrap();
+    rel.eval(&[0.0, 0.2, 1.0], &mut b).unwrap();
+    sat.eval(&[0.0, 0.2, 1.0], &mut s).unwrap();
     let d: f32 = a.iter().zip(&b).map(|(x, y)| (x - y).abs()).sum();
     assert!(d > 0.03, "perceptual {a:?} vs relative {b:?}");
     assert_eq!(a, s, "saturation shares the perceptual table");
@@ -216,8 +216,8 @@ fn intents_differ_as_expected() {
     let rel = Transform::new(cmyk(), srgb(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, false).unwrap();
     let abs = Transform::new(cmyk(), srgb(), Intent::AbsoluteColorimetric, false).unwrap();
     let (mut w1, mut w2) = ([0.0f32; 3], [0.0f32; 3]);
-    rel.eval(&[0.0; 4], &mut w1);
-    abs.eval(&[0.0; 4], &mut w2);
+    rel.eval(&[0.0; 4], &mut w1).unwrap();
+    abs.eval(&[0.0; 4], &mut w2).unwrap();
     assert!(w1.iter().all(|v| *v > 0.995), "{w1:?}");
     assert!(w2[0] < 0.97 && w2[2] > w2[0], "{w2:?}");
     let l = to_lab(cmyk(), &[0.0; 4], Intent::AbsoluteColorimetric);
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ fn absolute_colorimetric_refuses_a_degenerate_media_white() {
                 Err(e) => panic!("{name}: wrong error {e}"),
                 Ok(t) => {
                     let mut out = [0.0f32; 3];
-                    t.eval(&[0.2, 0.4, 0.6], &mut out);
+                    t.eval(&[0.2, 0.4, 0.6], &mut out).unwrap();
                     panic!("{name}: built a transform that gives {out:?}");
                 }
             }
@@ -270,17 +270,17 @@ fn absolute_colorimetric_refuses_a_degenerate_media_white() {
         // Without paper simulation the proof leg is relative colorimetric and stays finite.
         let t = Transform::proof(srgb(), bad, srgb(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, true, false).unwrap();
         let mut out = [0.0f32; 3];
-        t.eval(&[0.2, 0.4, 0.6], &mut out);
+        t.eval(&[0.2, 0.4, 0.6], &mut out).unwrap();
         assert!(out.iter().all(|v| v.is_finite()), "{name}: {out:?}");
         let t = Transform::new(srgb(), bad, Intent::RelativeColorimetric, false).unwrap();
-        t.eval(&[0.2, 0.4, 0.6], &mut out);
+        t.eval(&[0.2, 0.4, 0.6], &mut out).unwrap();
         assert!(out.iter().all(|v| v.is_finite()), "{name}: {out:?}");
     }
     // A sane patched white still builds and scales.
     let d50 = srgb_with_wtpt([0xF6D6, 0x10000, 0xD32D]);
     let t = Transform::new(srgb(), &d50, Intent::AbsoluteColorimetric, false).unwrap();
     let mut out = [0.0f32; 3];
-    t.eval(&[0.2, 0.4, 0.6], &mut out);
+    t.eval(&[0.2, 0.4, 0.6], &mut out).unwrap();
     assert!(out.iter().all(|v| v.is_finite()), "{out:?}");
 }
 
@@ -297,9 +297,9 @@ fn black_point_compensation() {
     let back = Transform::new(cmyk(), lab(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, false).unwrap();
     let l_of = |t: &Transform, v: f32| {
         let mut c = [0.0f32; 4];
-        t.eval(&[v, v, v], &mut c);
+        t.eval(&[v, v, v], &mut c).unwrap();
         let mut l = [0.0f32; 3];
-        back.eval(&c, &mut l);
+        back.eval(&c, &mut l).unwrap();
         dec(&l)[0]
     };
     let (w0, w1) = (l_of(&with, 0.0), l_of(&with, 0.08));
@@ -309,14 +309,14 @@ fn black_point_compensation() {
     // CMYK → sRGB: with BPC the darkest CMYK maps to (near) sRGB black.
     let dark = {
         let mut c = [0.0f32; 4];
-        with.eval(&[0.0, 0.0, 0.0], &mut c);
+        with.eval(&[0.0, 0.0, 0.0], &mut c).unwrap();
         c
     };
     let rgb_with = Transform::new(cmyk(), srgb(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, true).unwrap();
     let rgb_without = Transform::new(cmyk(), srgb(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, false).unwrap();
     let (mut a, mut b) = ([0.0f32; 3], [0.0f32; 3]);
-    rgb_with.eval(&dark, &mut a);
-    rgb_without.eval(&dark, &mut b);
+    rgb_with.eval(&dark, &mut a).unwrap();
+    rgb_without.eval(&dark, &mut b).unwrap();
     assert!(a[1] < 0.03 && b[1] > a[1] + 0.03, "with {a:?} without {b:?}");
 }
 
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ fn black_point_compensation() {
 fn tetrahedral_beats_trilinear() {
     // Sample sRGB → Lab on a coarse grid and compare interpolation against the exact pipeline.
     let exact = Transform::new(srgb(), lab(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, false).unwrap();
-    let clut = Clut::sample(vec![9, 9, 9], 3, |i, o| exact.eval(i, o));
+    let clut = Clut::sample(vec![9, 9, 9], 3, |i, o| exact.eval(i, o).unwrap()).unwrap();
     let (mut tet_max, mut tri_max, mut tet_sum, mut tri_sum, mut tet_neutral, mut tri_neutral) = (0.0f64, 0.0f64, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0f64, 0.0f64);
     let mut n = 0.0;
     let mut seed = 12345u32;
@@ -340,9 +340,9 @@ fn tetrahedral_beats_trilinear() {
             [rnd(), rnd(), rnd()]
         };
         let (mut e, mut a, mut b) = ([0.0f32; 3], [0.0f32; 3], [0.0f32; 3]);
-        exact.eval(&p, &mut e);
-        clut.eval(&p, &mut a);
-        clut.eval_trilinear(&p, &mut b);
+        exact.eval(&p, &mut e).unwrap();
+        clut.eval(&p, &mut a).unwrap();
+        clut.eval_trilinear(&p, &mut b).unwrap();
         let (da, db) = (delta_e76(dec(&a), dec(&e)), delta_e76(dec(&b), dec(&e)));
         if i < 200 {
             tet_neutral = tet_neutral.max(dec(&a)[1].abs().max(dec(&a)[2].abs()));
@@ -366,24 +366,24 @@ fn proof_and_display_lut() {
     let p = Transform::proof(srgb(), cmyk(), srgb(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, true, false).unwrap();
     let mut o = [0.0f32; 3];
     // Neutral gray stays (nearly) neutral through the proof.
-    p.eval(&[0.5, 0.5, 0.5], &mut o);
+    p.eval(&[0.5, 0.5, 0.5], &mut o).unwrap();
     assert!((o[0] - o[1]).abs() < 0.02 && (o[1] - o[2]).abs() < 0.03, "{o:?}");
     // Saturated blue is desaturated by the CMYK gamut.
-    p.eval(&[0.0, 0.0, 1.0], &mut o);
+    p.eval(&[0.0, 0.0, 1.0], &mut o).unwrap();
     assert!(o[0] > 0.1 || o[1] > 0.1, "{o:?}");
     // Paper simulation darkens white.
     let sim = Transform::proof(srgb(), cmyk(), srgb(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, true, true).unwrap();
-    sim.eval(&[1.0, 1.0, 1.0], &mut o);
+    sim.eval(&[1.0, 1.0, 1.0], &mut o).unwrap();
     assert!(o[0] < 0.97, "{o:?}");
 
     let t = Transform::new(srgb(), Builtin::DisplayP3.profile(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, false).unwrap();
-    let lut = Lut3d::from_transform(&t, 33);
+    let lut = Lut3d::from_transform(&t, 33).unwrap();
     assert_eq!(lut.to_rgba16f_bytes().len(), 33 * 33 * 33 * 8);
     let mut worst = 0.0f32;
     for i in 0..500u32 {
         let c = [(i * 7 % 101) as f32 / 100.0, (i * 13 % 101) as f32 / 100.0, (i * 29 % 101) as f32 / 100.0];
         let mut e = [0.0f32; 3];
-        t.eval(&c, &mut e);
+        t.eval(&c, &mut e).unwrap();
         let s = lut.sample(c);
         for k in 0..3 {
             worst = worst.max((s[k] - e[k]).abs());
@@ -397,16 +397,16 @@ fn gray_profiles() {
     let t = Transform::new(Builtin::SGray.profile(), srgb(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, false).unwrap();
     for v in [0.0f32, 0.2, 0.5, 0.9, 1.0] {
         let mut o = [0.0f32; 3];
-        t.eval(&[v], &mut o);
+        t.eval(&[v], &mut o).unwrap();
         for c in o {
             assert!((c - v).abs() < 1e-3, "sGray {v} -> {o:?}");
         }
     }
     let t = Transform::new(srgb(), Builtin::GrayGamma22.profile(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, false).unwrap();
     let mut o = [0.0f32; 1];
-    t.eval(&[1.0, 1.0, 1.0], &mut o);
+    t.eval(&[1.0, 1.0, 1.0], &mut o).unwrap();
     assert!((o[0] - 1.0).abs() < 1e-3);
-    t.eval(&[0.0, 0.0, 0.0], &mut o);
+    t.eval(&[0.0, 0.0, 0.0], &mut o).unwrap();
     assert!(o[0].abs() < 1e-3);
 }
 
@@ -423,8 +423,8 @@ fn hdr_floats_survive_matrix_transforms() {
     let src = [4.0f32, 2.0, 0.5];
     let mut mid = [0.0f32; 3];
     let mut out = [0.0f32; 3];
-    t.eval(&src, &mut mid);
-    back.eval(&mid, &mut out);
+    t.eval(&src, &mut mid).unwrap();
+    back.eval(&mid, &mut out).unwrap();
     for k in 0..3 {
         assert!((out[k] - src[k]).abs() < 1e-3 * src[k].max(1.0), "{src:?} -> {mid:?} -> {out:?}");
     }
@@ -482,9 +482,12 @@ fn a_light_black_cmyk_lut_has_the_known_relative_ramp() {
         outputs: 3,
         stages: vec![
             Stage::Curves(vec![Curve::Identity; 4]),
-            Stage::Clut(Clut::sample(vec![2; 4], 3, |ink, out| {
-                out.copy_from_slice(&enc([100.0 - 52.0 * f64::from(ink[3]), 0.0, 0.0]));
-            })),
+            Stage::Clut(
+                Clut::sample(vec![2; 4], 3, |ink, out| {
+                    out.copy_from_slice(&enc([100.0 - 52.0 * f64::from(ink[3]), 0.0, 0.0]));
+                })
+                .unwrap(),
+            ),
             Stage::Curves(vec![Curve::Identity; 3]),
         ],
     });
@@ -557,7 +560,7 @@ fn system_profiles() {
                     let t = Transform::new(&p, lab(), intent, true).unwrap_or_else(|e| panic!("{} {intent:?}: {e}", path.display()));
                     let n = p.channels();
                     let mut o = [0.0f32; 3];
-                    t.eval(&vec![0.5; n], &mut o);
+                    t.eval(&vec![0.5; n], &mut o).unwrap();
                     assert!(o.iter().all(|v| v.is_finite()), "{}", path.display());
                 }
                 // Additive white is (near) L* 100 for display profiles in relative colorimetric.
@@ -576,9 +579,9 @@ fn system_profiles() {
                     let to = Transform::new(lab(), &p, Intent::RelativeColorimetric, false).unwrap();
                     let back = Transform::new(&p, lab(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, false).unwrap();
                     let mut c = [0.0f32; 4];
-                    to.eval(&enc([60.0, 10.0, -10.0]), &mut c);
+                    to.eval(&enc([60.0, 10.0, -10.0]), &mut c).unwrap();
                     let mut l = [0.0f32; 3];
-                    back.eval(&c, &mut l);
+                    back.eval(&c, &mut l).unwrap();
                     assert!(delta_e76(dec(&l), [60.0, 10.0, -10.0]) < 3.0, "{}: {:?}", path.display(), dec(&l));
                 }
             }
@@ -601,7 +604,7 @@ fn oracle_moxcms_rgb() {
         mt.transform(&src, &mut theirs).unwrap();
         let ours_t = Transform::new(srgb(), dst.profile(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, false).unwrap();
         let mut ours = vec![0u8; src.len()];
-        ours_t.convert_u8(&src, 3, &mut ours, 3, false);
+        ours_t.convert_u8(&src, 3, &mut ours, 3, false).unwrap();
         let worst = ours.iter().zip(&theirs).map(|(a, b)| (*a as i32 - *b as i32).abs()).max().unwrap();
         assert!(worst <= 2, "{dst:?}: max diff {worst}");
     }
@@ -622,7 +625,7 @@ fn oracle_moxcms_system_cmyk() {
     mt.transform(&src, &mut theirs).unwrap();
     let t = Transform::new(&ours_p, srgb(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, false).unwrap();
     let mut ours = vec![0u8; 2048 * 3];
-    t.convert_u8(&src, 4, &mut ours, 3, false);
+    t.convert_u8(&src, 4, &mut ours, 3, false).unwrap();
     let diffs: Vec<i32> = ours.iter().zip(&theirs).map(|(a, b)| (*a as i32 - *b as i32).abs()).collect();
     let worst = *diffs.iter().max().unwrap();
     let mean = diffs.iter().sum::<i32>() as f64 / diffs.len() as f64;
@@ -824,3 +827,69 @@ fn device_links_parse_and_are_reported_unsupported() {
     // The output space still bounds the tag: a CMYK→CMYK link with a 4→3 table is malformed.
     assert!(matches!(Profile::parse(&device_link(b"CMYK", b"CMYK", 4, 3)), Err(craft_cms::CmsError::Invalid(_))));
 }
+
+fn is_arg_err<T: std::fmt::Debug>(r: Result<T, craft_cms::CmsError>) -> bool {
+    matches!(r, Err(craft_cms::CmsError::InvalidArgument(_)))
+}
+
+/// Strides, buffer lengths and slices that do not fit are refused before anything is written.
+#[test]
+fn transform_rejects_bad_buffers() {
+    let t = Transform::new(srgb(), cmyk(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, true).unwrap();
+    let src = [255u8; 12];
+    let mut dst = [7u8; 16];
+    assert!(is_arg_err(t.convert_u8(&src, 2, &mut dst, 4, false)), "source stride below 3 inputs");
+    assert!(is_arg_err(t.convert_u8(&src, 3, &mut dst, 3, false)), "destination stride below 4 outputs");
+    assert!(is_arg_err(t.convert_u8(&src[..11], 3, &mut dst, 4, false)), "partial source pixel");
+    assert!(is_arg_err(t.convert_u8(&src, 3, &mut dst[..15], 4, false)), "partial destination pixel");
+    assert!(is_arg_err(t.convert_u8(&src, 3, &mut dst[..12], 4, false)), "destination too short");
+    assert_eq!(dst, [7u8; 16], "refused calls write nothing");
+    t.convert_u8(&src, 3, &mut dst, 4, false).unwrap();
+    assert!(is_arg_err(t.convert_u16(&[0u16; 6], 3, &mut [0u16; 4], 4, false)));
+    assert!(is_arg_err(t.convert_f32(&[0.0; 7], 3, &mut [0.0; 12], 4, false)));
+    assert!(is_arg_err(t.apply(&mut [0.0; 12], 3)), "in-place stride below 4 outputs");
+    assert!(is_arg_err(t.apply(&mut [0.0; 10], 4)), "partial in-place pixel");
+    let (s, mut d) = ([0u8; 6], [0u8; 7]);
+    assert!(is_arg_err(t.convert_bytes_many(craft_cms::SampleKind::U16, vec![(&s[..], &mut d[..])], 3, 4, false)));
+    let mut out = [0.0f32; 4];
+    assert!(is_arg_err(t.eval(&[1.0, 1.0], &mut out)));
+    assert!(is_arg_err(t.eval(&[1.0; 3], &mut out[..3])));
+    assert!(is_arg_err(t.eval_fast(&[1.0, 1.0], &mut out)));
+    let g = craft_cms::GamutCheck::new(srgb(), cmyk(), 4.0).unwrap();
+    assert!(is_arg_err(g.delta_e(&[0.5, 0.5])));
+    assert!(is_arg_err(Lut3d::from_transform(&t, 33)), "3→4 transform");
+    let d = Transform::new(srgb(), Builtin::DisplayP3.profile(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, true).unwrap();
+    assert!(is_arg_err(Lut3d::from_transform(&d, 1)));
+    assert!(is_arg_err(Lut3d::from_transform(&d, 100_000)));
+}
+
+/// Table and pipeline dimensions that do not fit are refused.
+#[test]
+fn tables_and_pipelines_reject_bad_dimensions() {
+    use craft_cms::pipeline::{Pipeline, Stage};
+    assert!(is_arg_err(Clut::new(vec![2, 2], 3, vec![0.0; 11])), "data length");
+    assert!(is_arg_err(Clut::new(vec![2, 0], 3, Vec::new())), "zero grid points");
+    assert!(is_arg_err(Clut::new(vec![2; 16], 1, vec![0.0; 1 << 16])), "16 inputs");
+    assert!(is_arg_err(Clut::new(vec![2], 0, Vec::new())), "no outputs");
+    assert!(is_arg_err(Clut::sample(vec![usize::MAX; 3], 3, |_, _| {})), "overflowing grid");
+    assert!(is_arg_err(Clut::sample(vec![1000; 3], 3, |_, _| {})), "grid over the size limit");
+    let c = Clut::sample(vec![2; 4], 3, |_, _| {}).unwrap();
+    assert!(is_arg_err(c.eval(&[0.0; 3], &mut [0.0; 3])));
+    assert!(is_arg_err(c.eval(&[0.0; 4], &mut [0.0; 2])));
+    assert!(is_arg_err(c.eval_trilinear(&[0.0; 4], &mut [0.0; 3])), "trilinear needs 3 inputs");
+    assert!(is_arg_err(Pipeline::new(0, Vec::new())));
+    assert!(is_arg_err(Pipeline::new(17, Vec::new())));
+    let bad = Stage::Matrix { rows: 3, cols: 3, m: vec![1.0; 8], offset: vec![0.0; 3] };
+    assert!(is_arg_err(Pipeline::new(3, vec![bad.clone()])), "matrix data shorter than its shape");
+    let wide = Stage::Matrix { rows: 40, cols: 1, m: vec![1.0; 40], offset: vec![0.0; 40] };
+    assert!(is_arg_err(Pipeline::new(1, vec![wide])), "too many rows");
+    let mut p = Pipeline::new(3, vec![Stage::Clamp01]).unwrap();
+    assert!(is_arg_err(p.extend([bad])));
+    assert_eq!(p.stages().len(), 1, "a refused extend leaves the pipeline unchanged");
+    assert!(is_arg_err(p.eval(&[0.0; 2], &mut [0.0; 3])));
+    assert!(craft_cms::lutfile::LutFile::from_fn("x", 1, |c| c).is_err());
+    assert!(craft_cms::lutfile::LutFile::identity(1 << 20).is_err());
+    let params = |a2b, b2a| craft_cms::synth::CmykParams { grid_a2b: a2b, grid_b2a: b2a, ..Default::default() };
+    assert!(is_arg_err(craft_cms::synth::cmyk_profile(&params(1, 21))));
+    assert!(is_arg_err(craft_cms::synth::cmyk_profile(&params(11, 100_000))));
+}
diff --git a/crates/cms/tests/fogra39.rs b/crates/cms/tests/fogra39.rs
index dfa5a153..27412ecf 100644
--- a/crates/cms/tests/fogra39.rs
+++ b/crates/cms/tests/fogra39.rs
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ fn profile_lab(profile: &Profile) -> impl Fn([f64; 4]) -> [f64; 3] {
     let t = Transform::new(profile, Builtin::LabD50.profile(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, false).unwrap();
     move |c| {
         let mut o = [0.0f32; 3];
-        t.eval(&c.map(|v| v as f32), &mut o);
+        t.eval(&c.map(|v| v as f32), &mut o).unwrap();
         [o[0] as f64 * 100.0, o[1] as f64 * 255.0 - 128.0, o[2] as f64 * 255.0 - 128.0]
     }
 }
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ fn in_gamut_lab_round_trips() {
             let target = to_lab(p.cmyk);
             let enc = [(target[0] / 100.0) as f32, ((target[1] + 128.0) / 255.0) as f32, ((target[2] + 128.0) / 255.0) as f32];
             let mut c = [0.0f32; 4];
-            to_cmyk.eval(&enc, &mut c);
+            to_cmyk.eval(&enc, &mut c).unwrap();
             assert!(c.iter().map(|v| *v as f64).sum::<f64>() <= 3.3 + 0.02, "{target:?} -> {c:?}");
             delta_e2000(to_lab(c.map(f64::from)), target)
         })
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ fn to_srgb(profile: &Profile) -> impl Fn([f64; 4]) -> [u8; 3] {
     let t = Transform::new(profile, Builtin::Srgb.profile(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, true).unwrap();
     move |c| {
         let mut o = [0.0f32; 3];
-        t.eval(&c.map(|v| v as f32), &mut o);
+        t.eval(&c.map(|v| v as f32), &mut o).unwrap();
         o.map(|v| (v.clamp(0.0, 1.0) * 255.0).round() as u8)
     }
 }
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@ fn to_srgb(profile: &Profile) -> impl Fn([f64; 4]) -> [u8; 3] {
 fn srgb_lab(rgb: [u8; 3]) -> [f64; 3] {
     let t = Transform::new(Builtin::Srgb.profile(), Builtin::LabD50.profile(), Intent::RelativeColorimetric, false).unwrap();
     let mut o = [0.0f32; 3];
-    t.eval(&rgb.map(|v| v as f32 / 255.0), &mut o);
+    t.eval(&rgb.map(|v| v as f32 / 255.0), &mut o).unwrap();
     [o[0] as f64 * 100.0, o[1] as f64 * 255.0 - 128.0, o[2] as f64 * 255.0 - 128.0]
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/cms/tests/regen.rs b/crates/cms/tests/regen.rs
index 15f16986..25581a1f 100644
--- a/crates/cms/tests/regen.rs
+++ b/crates/cms/tests/regen.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ fn regen_or_check_coated_cmyk() {
     let path = concat!(env!("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR"), "/profiles/photocraft-coated-cmyk.icc");
     if std::env::var_os("CRAFT_CMS_REGEN_PROFILES").is_some() {
         let t = std::time::Instant::now();
-        let p = craft_cms::synth::coated_cmyk();
+        let p = craft_cms::synth::coated_cmyk().unwrap();
         let bytes = p.to_bytes();
         std::fs::write(path, &*bytes).unwrap();
         eprintln!("wrote {} bytes in {:?}", bytes.len(), t.elapsed());
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ fn regen_or_check_coated_cmyk() {
             for y in [0.0, 0.55, 1.0] {
                 for k in [0.0, 0.5, 1.0] {
                     let mut o = [0.0f32; 3];
-                    t.eval(&[c as f32, m as f32, y as f32, k as f32], &mut o);
+                    t.eval(&[c as f32, m as f32, y as f32, k as f32], &mut o).unwrap();
                     let got = [o[0] as f64 * 100.0, o[1] as f64 * 255.0 - 128.0, o[2] as f64 * 255.0 - 128.0];
                     let want = model.lab([c, m, y, k]);
                     worst = worst.max(craft_cms::math::delta_e76(got, want));