diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/appearance.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/appearance.rs
index 5ba393f58..27f5aee81 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/appearance.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/appearance.rs
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ pub fn specs() -> Vec<CommandSpec> {
             "Add New Fill",
             ["Window", "Appearance"],
             Some("Cmd+/"),
-            "{ids?|id?, target?: \"object\"|\"contents\"} add a fill on top of each selected object's own stack, on an image right below its Contents row (a copy of its top fill; type without one: its characters' fill; else the default fill). With a fill row active (appearance.setActiveItem), no `ids` and no `target: \"contents\"`, the new fill is a copy of that row, right above it, and becomes the active row",
+            "{ids?|id?, target?: \"object\"|\"contents\"} add a fill on top of each selected object's own stack, on an image right below its Contents row, with its top fill's paint (type without one: its characters' fill; else the default fill). With a fill row active (appearance.setActiveItem), no `ids` and no `target: \"contents\"`, the new fill takes that row's paint, goes right above it, and becomes the active row; appearance.duplicateItem copies a whole row",
             has_doc,
             |s, p| add_item(s, p, true)
         ),
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ pub fn specs() -> Vec<CommandSpec> {
             "Add New Stroke",
             ["Window", "Appearance"],
             Some("Cmd+Alt+/"),
-            "{ids?|id?, target?} add a stroke on top of each selected object's own stack, on an image right below its Contents row (a copy of its top stroke, else the default stroke)",
+            "{ids?|id?, target?} add a stroke on top of each selected object's own stack, on an image right below its Contents row, with its top stroke's paint and weight (else the default stroke)",
             has_doc,
             |s, p| add_item(s, p, false)
         ),
@@ -519,8 +519,8 @@ fn set_active_item(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
 fn add_item(s: &mut Session, p: &Value, fill: bool) -> Result<Value> {
     let ids = require_targets(s, p, if fill { "appearance.addFill" } else { "appearance.addStroke" })?;
     let defaults = s.paint.clone();
-    // The panel's active Fill row, when the new fill goes on the selection: the new fill is a copy
-    // of that row, right above it in each target that has it (others get a copy of their top fill).
+    // The panel's active Fill row, when the new fill goes on the selection: the new fill takes that
+    // row's paint, right above it in each target that has it (others take their top fill's paint).
     // Where the new item went in on the active item's object, when it is an image.
     let active = s.active_appearance_item.as_ref().and_then(|a| a.objects.first().copied());
     // The active row is a row of the active object's stack, which need not come first in `ids`
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests/appearance.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests/appearance.rs
index 284a809de..4fea39bdf 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests/appearance.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests/appearance.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 use serde_json::{Value, json};
 use vectorcraft_color::{BlendMode, Color, GradientKind, Paint};
-use vectorcraft_doc::{AppearanceItem, Node};
+use vectorcraft_doc::{AppearanceItem, FillLayer, Node};
 
 use crate::*;
 
@@ -288,8 +288,8 @@ fn add_fill_and_stroke_copy_the_top_ones() {
     assert_eq!(node(&s, id).appearance.items.len(), 3);
 }
 
-/// With a fill row active, Add New Fill puts a copy of that row right above it and makes the copy
-/// the active row; the rows above it stay where they are.
+/// With a fill row active, Add New Fill puts a fill with that row's paint right above it and makes
+/// the new fill the active row; the rows above it stay where they are.
 #[test]
 fn add_fill_copies_the_active_fill_row_right_above_it() {
     let mut s = session();
@@ -323,8 +323,30 @@ fn add_fill_copies_the_active_fill_row_right_above_it() {
     assert_eq!(s.appearance_item(), Some(0));
 }
 
+/// The new fill above the active fill row takes only the row's paint: the row's opacity, blend
+/// mode, visibility, overprint and effects are not copied (Duplicate Item copies those).
+#[test]
+fn add_fill_takes_only_the_active_fill_rows_paint() {
+    let mut s = session();
+    let id = rect(&mut s, 100.0);
+    run(&mut s, "paint.setFill", json!({"color": "#ff0000"}));
+    run(&mut s, "appearance.setItem", json!({"index": 0, "opacity": 40, "blend": "multiply", "visible": false}));
+    run(&mut s, "effect.apply", json!({"effect": "distort.roughen", "item": 0}));
+    run(&mut s, "object.setOverprint", json!({"fill": true, "item": 0}));
+    run(&mut s, "appearance.setActiveItem", json!({"index": 0}));
+    run(&mut s, "appearance.addFill", json!({}));
+    let n = node(&s, id);
+    assert_eq!(n.appearance.items.iter().map(AppearanceItem::kind_name).collect::<Vec<_>>(), ["fill", "fill", "stroke"]);
+    let (AppearanceItem::Fill(row), AppearanceItem::Fill(copy)) = (&n.appearance.items[0], &n.appearance.items[1]) else {
+        panic!("the first two rows are not fills")
+    };
+    assert_eq!((row.opacity, row.blend, row.visible, row.overprint), (0.4, BlendMode::Multiply, false, true));
+    assert_eq!(row.effects.len(), 1);
+    assert_eq!(copy, &FillLayer::new(row.paint.clone()));
+}
+
 /// In a mixed selection the active fill row goes above itself in the first object; an object that
-/// doesn't share that row gets a copy of its top fill on top, as without an active row.
+/// doesn't share that row gets a fill with its top fill's paint on top, as without an active row.
 #[test]
 fn add_fill_above_an_unshared_active_row_tops_the_other_objects() {
     let mut s = session();