diff --git a/crates/effects/src/solids/source.rs b/crates/effects/src/solids/source.rs
index 090688c4f..c5f664c68 100644
--- a/crates/effects/src/solids/source.rs
+++ b/crates/effects/src/solids/source.rs
@@ -129,16 +129,23 @@ impl Resolver<'_> {
         }
         self.spend(1)?;
         match &n.kind {
-            NodeKind::SymbolInstance { symbol, .. } => {
-                // Counted before the art is placed, so a symbol past the limit is never copied.
-                let held = self.doc.and_then(|d| d.symbols.iter().find(|s| s.name == *symbol)).map_or(0, |s| s.art.count_with_masks());
-                if self.work.saturating_add(held) > MAX_WORK {
+            NodeKind::SymbolInstance { symbol, xf } => {
+                let missing = || format!("{label} can't build a solid from the instance of symbol \"{symbol}\": the symbol's art isn't available");
+                let doc = self.doc.ok_or_else(missing)?;
+                let sym = doc.symbols.iter().find(|s| s.name == *symbol).ok_or_else(missing)?;
+                // Counted before the art is placed, so a symbol past the limit is never copied:
+                // first its own objects, which the instance's overrides keep, then the most
+                // objects placing makes, with those overrides and the symbol's 9-slice guides.
+                if self.work.saturating_add(sym.art.count_with_masks()) > MAX_WORK {
                     return Err(self.too_much_work());
                 }
-                let art = crate::outline_object(self.doc, n).ok_or_else(|| {
-                    format!("{label} can't build a solid from the instance of symbol \"{symbol}\": the symbol's art isn't available")
-                })?;
-                Ok(self.list(kids(&art), depth + 1)?.0)
+                let art = vectorcraft_doc::symbol_overrides::dynamic_art(&sym.art, n);
+                let most = doc.symbol_slice_map(symbol, *xf).map_or(art.count_with_masks() as u64, |m| m.most_placed(&art, doc));
+                if (self.work as u64).saturating_add(most) > MAX_WORK as u64 {
+                    return Err(self.too_much_work());
+                }
+                let placed = doc.place_symbol_art(symbol, &art, *xf).ok_or_else(missing)?;
+                Ok(self.list(&[Arc::new(placed)], depth + 1)?.0)
             }
             NodeKind::Blend { children, spec } => {
                 // Counted before the steps are made, so a blend past the limit is never expanded.
diff --git a/crates/effects/src/solids/tests_sources.rs b/crates/effects/src/solids/tests_sources.rs
index 35e89e61f..4957f88fa 100644
--- a/crates/effects/src/solids/tests_sources.rs
+++ b/crates/effects/src/solids/tests_sources.rs
@@ -375,6 +375,54 @@ fn a_symbol_holding_more_objects_than_the_work_limit_is_refused_before_its_art_i
     assert!(work <= 2, "refused before the symbol's art is placed and listed: {work}");
 }
 
+/// A gradient fill: a path filled with one is drawn in clip groups where it crosses 9-slice guides.
+fn gradient() -> Paint {
+    use vectorcraft_doc::color::{Gradient, GradientPaint};
+    Paint::Gradient(Box::new(GradientPaint::new(Gradient::default())))
+}
+
+/// A document whose symbol "Sliced" has 9-slice guides and holds `count` paths across all of them,
+/// each filled with `fill`, and an Extrude on an instance of it at twice its size.
+fn sliced(count: usize, fill: impl Fn() -> Paint) -> (Document, Node) {
+    let mut d = document();
+    let members = (0..count).map(|i| {
+        Arc::new(Node::path(NodeId(i as u64 + 1), shapes::rectangle(Rect::new(0.0, 0.0, 100.0, 100.0)), Appearance::basic(fill(), Paint::None, 0.0)))
+    });
+    d.symbols.push(Symbol { dynamic: true, name: "Sliced".into(), art: Arc::new(Node::group(NodeId(0), members.collect())) });
+    d.set_symbol_nine_slice("Sliced", Some(vectorcraft_doc::SymbolNineSlice::default()));
+    let n = with(instance(30, "Sliced", Affine::scale(2.0)), EXTRUDE, json!({}));
+    (d, n)
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn a_symbol_whose_9_slice_guides_would_place_too_many_objects_is_refused_before_its_art_is_placed() {
+    // Each gradient path becomes a group of nine clip groups, so the art placed is far past the
+    // limit while the symbol itself holds less than a tenth of it.
+    let (d, n) = sliced(source::MAX_WORK / 20, gradient);
+    assert!(d.symbols[1].art.count_with_masks() < source::MAX_WORK);
+    let err = validate_three_d_in(Some(&d), &n, EXTRUDE, &json!({})).unwrap_err();
+    assert!(err.contains("hold too many objects"), "{err}");
+    let work = source::WORK.with(std::cell::Cell::get);
+    assert!(work <= 2, "refused before the symbol's art is placed and listed: {work}");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn a_dynamic_symbol_whose_overrides_would_place_too_many_objects_is_refused_before_its_art_is_placed() {
+    // Solid paths are cut at the guides and stay one path each; the instance's overrides fill them
+    // with a gradient, which places each in nine clip groups.
+    let (d, mut n) = sliced(source::MAX_WORK / 20, || Paint::solid(Color::BLACK));
+    n.extras_mut().symbol_overrides = (0..source::MAX_WORK / 20)
+        .map(|i| vectorcraft_doc::SymbolOverride { path: vec![i as u32], fill: Some(gradient()), ..Default::default() })
+        .collect();
+    let err = validate_three_d_in(Some(&d), &n, EXTRUDE, &json!({})).unwrap_err();
+    assert!(err.contains("hold too many objects"), "{err}");
+    let work = source::WORK.with(std::cell::Cell::get);
+    assert!(work <= 2, "refused before the instance's art is placed and listed: {work}");
+    // A few such paths build.
+    let (d, n) = sliced(4, || Paint::solid(Color::BLACK));
+    assert!(solid_art_in(Some(&d), &n).is_some());
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn empty_sources_and_sources_inside_sources_build_or_refuse_cleanly() {
     let mut d = document();