diff --git a/crates/doc/src/links.rs b/crates/doc/src/links.rs
index 08121b566..781e61e68 100644
--- a/crates/doc/src/links.rs
+++ b/crates/doc/src/links.rs
@@ -180,6 +180,13 @@ impl ImageBlob {
     pub fn is_proxy(&self) -> bool {
         self.proxy.as_ref().is_some_and(|p| Arc::ptr_eq(p, &self.bytes))
     }
+
+    /// Does a colorize paint ([`crate::NodeExtras::colorize`]) show on these bytes? Not while
+    /// they are a preview whose pixels aren't grayscale, such as [`missing_placeholder`]: until
+    /// the file is relinked the image shows the preview as it is, and keeps the paint.
+    pub fn takes_colorize(&self) -> bool {
+        !self.is_proxy() || self.gray_source().is_some()
+    }
 }
 
 /// The side of [`missing_placeholder`]'s image, in pixels.
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/flatten/options.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/flatten/options.rs
index d4f18f385..52a900289 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/flatten/options.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/flatten/options.rs
@@ -151,11 +151,16 @@ impl FlattenOptions {
 
     /// Whether colorized image `n`, art of `d`, counts as transparency by itself. With
     /// [`Self::keeps_colorize`], an image colorized with a solid paint whose pixels are grayscale
-    /// or 1-bit doesn't: the EPS writer draws it in that paint.
+    /// or 1-bit doesn't: the EPS writer draws it in that paint. An image whose pixels don't take
+    /// the paint ([`vectorcraft_doc::ImageBlob::takes_colorize`]) never counts: it draws uncolorized.
     pub(crate) fn counts_colorize(&self, d: &Document, n: &Node) -> bool {
         let NodeKind::Image(im) = &n.kind else { return true };
+        let blob = d.image_blob(im);
+        if blob.is_some_and(|b| !b.takes_colorize()) {
+            return false;
+        }
         let solid = matches!(n.extras().colorize.as_deref(), Some(Paint::Solid { .. }));
-        !self.keeps_colorize || !solid || d.image_blob(im).is_some_and(|b| b.gray_source().is_none())
+        !self.keeps_colorize || !solid || blob.is_some_and(|b| b.gray_source().is_none())
     }
 
     /// `n` shows an image whose see-through pixels count as transparency.
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests/colorize.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests/colorize.rs
index bcd590c2d..2dab48c9f 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests/colorize.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests/colorize.rs
@@ -411,6 +411,27 @@ fn eps_export_still_flattens_a_colorize_paint_on_a_color_image() {
     assert!(out["warnings"].as_array().unwrap().iter().any(|w| w.as_str().unwrap().contains("transparency is flattened")), "{}", out["warnings"]);
 }
 
+/// A linked image showing the missing-link placeholder draws uncolorized, so its colorize paint
+/// doesn't flatten it in EPS or PDF 1.3 export.
+#[test]
+fn a_colorized_missing_link_placeholder_is_not_flattened() {
+    let mut s = session();
+    let bytes = std::sync::Arc::new(vectorcraft_doc::links::missing_placeholder().unwrap());
+    let id = image(&mut s, "pic", ImageBlob { mime: "image/png".into(), bytes: bytes.clone(), proxy: Some(bytes) });
+    s.edit("Colorize", |d, _| {
+        d.node_mut(id).unwrap().extras_mut().colorize = Some(Box::new(Paint::solid(Color::rgb8(255, 0, 0))));
+        Ok(())
+    })
+    .unwrap();
+    let flattened =
+        |out: &serde_json::Value| out["warnings"].as_array().unwrap().iter().any(|w| w.as_str().unwrap().contains("transparency is flattened"));
+    let eps = s.execute("document.exportEps", &json!({"previewFormat": "none", "useArtboards": false})).unwrap();
+    assert!(!flattened(&eps), "{}", eps["warnings"]);
+    let pdf = s.execute("document.exportPdf", &json!({"compatibility": "1.3"})).unwrap();
+    assert!(!flattened(&pdf), "{}", pdf["warnings"]);
+    assert_eq!(colorize(&s, id), Some(Paint::solid(Color::rgb8(255, 0, 0))), "the image keeps its paint");
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn flattened_colorized_image_shows_the_art_under_white_pixels() {
     let mut s = session();
diff --git a/crates/pdf/src/export/nodes.rs b/crates/pdf/src/export/nodes.rs
index 80a95ad16..389552948 100644
--- a/crates/pdf/src/export/nodes.rs
+++ b/crates/pdf/src/export/nodes.rs
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ impl Exporter<'_> {
             }
             NodeKind::Text(t) => self.text(s, n, t, page),
             NodeKind::Image(im) => match n.extras().colorize.as_deref() {
-                Some(p @ Paint::Solid { .. }) => {
+                Some(p @ Paint::Solid { .. }) if self.doc.image_blob(im).is_none_or(vectorcraft_doc::ImageBlob::takes_colorize) => {
                     if writable(s, im.xf, Rect::new(0.0, 0.0, im.width.max(1).into(), im.height.max(1).into())) {
                         if let Some(colorized) = self.colorized_image(im, p, !n.extras().pixelated) {
                             self.image(s, im, Some(colorized), n.extras().pixelated);
diff --git a/crates/pdf/src/print/plates.rs b/crates/pdf/src/print/plates.rs
index 7c8499642..a46d1137a 100644
--- a/crates/pdf/src/print/plates.rs
+++ b/crates/pdf/src/print/plates.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use vectorcraft_color::cms::{self, Cms, Model, ProfileKind};
 use vectorcraft_color::swatch::REGISTRATION;
 use vectorcraft_doc::inks::{Link, inks, plates, visit_node_colors};
 use vectorcraft_doc::overprint::darken_overprints;
-use vectorcraft_doc::{ColorMode, Document, Node, NodeKind};
+use vectorcraft_doc::{ColorMode, Document, ImageBlob, Node, NodeKind};
 
 use super::{DEFAULT_FREQUENCY, PrintInk, PrintSettings};
 
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ impl<'a> Separator<'a> {
         for n in nodes {
             darken_overprints(n, discard_white);
             self.node(plate, Arc::make_mut(n));
-            keep_colorized_pixels(n, &mut colorized);
+            keep_colorized_pixels(n, &d.images, &mut colorized);
         }
         // A colorized image's pixels say where its color prints, on every plate: they are kept
         // under their own key, and only the color is separated.
@@ -153,13 +153,20 @@ fn colorized_key(key: &str) -> String {
 }
 
 /// Point the colorized images in `n`'s subtree at [`colorized_key`], collecting their keys in
-/// `keys`.
-fn keep_colorized_pixels(n: &mut Arc<Node>, keys: &mut BTreeSet<String>) {
+/// `keys`. An image whose pixels in `images` don't take its colorize paint
+/// ([`ImageBlob::takes_colorize`]) loses the paint instead, and is separated as the image it shows.
+fn keep_colorized_pixels(n: &mut Arc<Node>, images: &BTreeMap<String, ImageBlob>, keys: &mut BTreeSet<String>) {
     let colorized = |n: &Node| matches!(n.kind, NodeKind::Image(ref im) if im.pixels.is_none()) && n.extras().colorize.is_some();
     if !colorized(n) && n.children().is_none_or(|ch| ch.is_empty()) {
         return;
     }
     let node = Arc::make_mut(n);
+    if colorized(node)
+        && let NodeKind::Image(im) = &node.kind
+        && images.get(&im.key).is_some_and(|b| !b.takes_colorize())
+    {
+        node.extras_mut().colorize = None;
+    }
     if colorized(node)
         && let NodeKind::Image(im) = &mut node.kind
     {
@@ -168,7 +175,7 @@ fn keep_colorized_pixels(n: &mut Arc<Node>, keys: &mut BTreeSet<String>) {
     }
     if let Some(ch) = node.children_mut() {
         for c in ch.iter_mut() {
-            keep_colorized_pixels(c, keys);
+            keep_colorized_pixels(c, images, keys);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/pdf/src/tests/colorize.rs b/crates/pdf/src/tests/colorize.rs
index 406ae08b8..5ec2e813a 100644
--- a/crates/pdf/src/tests/colorize.rs
+++ b/crates/pdf/src/tests/colorize.rs
@@ -166,6 +166,34 @@ fn separations_print_the_image_on_its_ink_plate() {
     }
 }
 
+/// A linked image showing the missing-link placeholder is written in the placeholder's own colors
+/// though it keeps a colorize paint for its file, and printed separations separate it as an
+/// uncolorized image.
+#[test]
+fn a_colorized_missing_link_placeholder_is_written_in_its_own_colors() {
+    let placeholder = || {
+        let mut d = doc(ColorMode::Cmyk, None);
+        let bytes = Arc::new(vectorcraft_doc::links::missing_placeholder().unwrap());
+        d.images.insert("pic".into(), ImageBlob { mime: "image/png".into(), bytes: bytes.clone(), proxy: Some(bytes) });
+        d
+    };
+    let plain = placeholder();
+    let mut d = placeholder();
+    let id = d.layers[0].children().unwrap()[0].id;
+    d.node_mut(id).unwrap().extras_mut().colorize = Some(Box::new(Paint::solid(Color::cmyk(1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0))));
+    let (colorized, uncolorized) = (images(&pdf(&d)), images(&pdf(&plain)));
+    assert!(!colorized.is_empty());
+    assert_eq!(colorized, uncolorized, "the placeholder as it is, without a soft mask from its coverage");
+    let settings: PrintSettings = serde_json::from_value(serde_json::json!({"output": {"mode": "separations"}})).unwrap();
+    let job = plan(&d, &PrintOptions { settings, ..Default::default() }).unwrap();
+    assert!(!job.plates.is_empty());
+    for p in &job.plates {
+        let n = &p.layers[0].children().unwrap()[0];
+        let NodeKind::Image(im) = &n.kind else { panic!("the image") };
+        assert_eq!((im.key.as_str(), n.extras().colorize.is_none()), ("pic", true), "separated as the image it shows");
+    }
+}
+
 /// A pixelated colorized image (an envelope's with Anti-Alias off) is written without
 /// /Interpolate, as an uncolorized one is.
 #[test]
diff --git a/crates/render/src/renderer/images.rs b/crates/render/src/renderer/images.rs
index 6cabfc5bf..15997e797 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/renderer/images.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/renderer/images.rs
@@ -1,14 +1,20 @@
 use super::{
-    Affine, Arc, BezPath, Document, FillRule, Frame, HashMap, Ink, Node, Pixmap, Rect, RenderContext, Renderer, Shape, blob_key, blob_pixmap,
-    fill_rule, image_mip, ink, lookup, mip_level, peniko, proof, vello_cpu,
+    Affine, Arc, BezPath, Document, FillRule, Frame, HashMap, Ink, Node, NodeKind, Pixmap, Rect, RenderContext, Renderer, Shape, blob_key,
+    blob_pixmap, fill_rule, image_mip, ink, lookup, mip_level, peniko, proof, vello_cpu,
 };
 use crate::images;
 
-/// The color image node `n` is colorized with ([`vectorcraft_doc::NodeExtras::colorize`]), if it
-/// is, as `ink` paints it: the display color, or on an ink plane the color's own inks, as a fill
-/// of that color paints them.
-pub(super) fn image_tint(n: &Node, ink: Ink) -> Option<[u8; 3]> {
+/// The color image node `n` of `doc` is colorized with ([`vectorcraft_doc::NodeExtras::colorize`]),
+/// if it is and its pixels take it ([`vectorcraft_doc::ImageBlob::takes_colorize`]), as `ink`
+/// paints it: the display color, or on an ink plane the color's own inks, as a fill of that color
+/// paints them.
+pub(super) fn image_tint(doc: &Document, n: &Node, ink: Ink) -> Option<[u8; 3]> {
     let c = n.extras().colorize.as_deref()?.color()?;
+    if let NodeKind::Image(im) = &n.kind
+        && doc.image_blob(im).is_some_and(|b| !b.takes_colorize())
+    {
+        return None;
+    }
     Some(ink.rgb(&c).map(|v| (v.clamp(0.0, 1.0) * 255.0).round() as u8))
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/render/src/renderer/nodes.rs b/crates/render/src/renderer/nodes.rs
index b69ecb10f..176739c31 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/renderer/nodes.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/renderer/nodes.rs
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ impl Renderer {
             && let Some(region) = self.clip_of(&m.art)
             && shape_masked_image(a, im, &region.0)
         {
-            self.draw_image_in(ctx, f, im, Some(&region), images::image_tint(a, f.ink), a.extras().pixelated);
+            self.draw_image_in(ctx, f, im, Some(&region), images::image_tint(f.doc, a, f.ink), a.extras().pixelated);
             self.stats.drawn += 1;
             return;
         }
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ impl Renderer {
                         && let NodeKind::Image(im) = &image.kind
                         && plain_image(image, im, &region.0)
                     {
-                        self.draw_image_in(ctx, f, im, Some(&region), images::image_tint(image, f.ink), image.extras().pixelated);
+                        self.draw_image_in(ctx, f, im, Some(&region), images::image_tint(f.doc, image, f.ink), image.extras().pixelated);
                         self.stats.drawn += 1;
                         return;
                     }
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ impl Renderer {
                 }
             }
             NodeKind::Text(t) => self.draw_text(ctx, f, n, t),
-            NodeKind::Image(im) => self.draw_image_in(ctx, f, im, None, images::image_tint(n, f.ink), n.extras().pixelated),
+            NodeKind::Image(im) => self.draw_image_in(ctx, f, im, None, images::image_tint(f.doc, n, f.ink), n.extras().pixelated),
             NodeKind::SymbolInstance { symbol, xf } => {
                 if let Some(sym) = f.doc.symbols.iter().find(|s| &s.name == symbol) {
                     // The instance draws when the frame has room for its art's objects; a symbol
diff --git a/crates/render/src/tests/colorize.rs b/crates/render/src/tests/colorize.rs
index 15eb3c5a0..49e14e5e6 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/tests/colorize.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/tests/colorize.rs
@@ -142,6 +142,27 @@ fn colorize_dims_with_the_grays() {
     assert!(px[1].abs_diff(128) <= 3 && px[2].abs_diff(127) <= 3 && px[0] <= 2, "got {px:?}");
 }
 
+/// A linked image showing the missing-link placeholder draws it in its own colors though it keeps
+/// a colorize paint for its file; a grayscale preview still draws colorized.
+#[test]
+fn a_colorized_missing_link_placeholder_draws_in_its_own_colors() {
+    let proxy = |bytes: Vec<u8>| {
+        let bytes = std::sync::Arc::new(bytes);
+        ImageBlob { mime: "image/png".into(), bytes: bytes.clone(), proxy: Some(bytes) }
+    };
+    let blue = Paint::solid(Color::rgb(0.0, 0.0, 1.0));
+    let sharp = RenderOptions { smooth_images: false, ..Default::default() };
+    let placeholder = proxy(vectorcraft_doc::links::missing_placeholder().unwrap());
+    // 64 pixels at 0.5 pt: (16, 5) is the light tile, (5, 5) the cross.
+    let d = doc_of(placeholder, Some(blue.clone()), (64, 64), 0.5);
+    let out = Renderer::new().render(&d, 40, 20, Affine::IDENTITY, &sharp);
+    assert!(near(out.pixel(16, 5), [236, 236, 236, 255], 2), "the light tile, got {:?}", out.pixel(16, 5));
+    assert!(near(out.pixel(5, 5), [200, 60, 60, 255], 2), "the red cross, got {:?}", out.pixel(5, 5));
+    let d = doc(proxy(gray_png()), Some(blue));
+    let px = Renderer::new().render(&d, 40, 20, Affine::IDENTITY, &sharp).pixel(10, 10);
+    assert!(px[2] >= 250 && px[0] <= 5 && px[1] <= 5, "a grayscale preview takes the color, got {px:?}");
+}
+
 /// Separations Preview shows a spot-colorized image on its ink's plate only.
 #[test]
 fn separations_preview_shows_the_image_on_its_spot_plate() {