diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/panelcmds.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/panelcmds.rs
index 68449f5eb..6cab4b35b 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/panelcmds.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/panelcmds.rs
@@ -338,8 +338,8 @@ fn set_format(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
     let flag = |k: &str| p.get(k).and_then(Value::as_bool);
     let kerning = match p.get("kerning") {
         None | Some(Value::Null) => None,
-        Some(Value::String(a)) if a.eq_ignore_ascii_case("auto") => Some(None),
-        Some(Value::String(a)) if a.eq_ignore_ascii_case("optical") => None,
+        // Auto and Optical both clear manual pair values.
+        Some(Value::String(a)) if a.eq_ignore_ascii_case("auto") || a.eq_ignore_ascii_case("optical") => Some(None),
         Some(v) => Some(Some(v.as_f64().ok_or_else(|| bad(C, "kerning must be a number, \"auto\", or \"optical\""))?.clamp(-1000.0, 10000.0))),
     };
     let optical_kerning = match p.get("kerning") {
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/textedit.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/textedit.rs
index 88f1b6a59..cecc54a32 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/textedit.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/textedit.rs
@@ -549,8 +549,8 @@ impl CharChange {
             tracking: num("tracking"),
             kerning: match p.get("kerning") {
                 None | Some(Value::Null) => None,
-                Some(Value::String(v)) if v.eq_ignore_ascii_case("optical") => None,
-                Some(Value::String(v)) if v.eq_ignore_ascii_case("auto") => Some(None),
+                // Auto and Optical both clear manual pair values.
+                Some(Value::String(v)) if v.eq_ignore_ascii_case("optical") || v.eq_ignore_ascii_case("auto") => Some(None),
                 Some(v) => Some(Some(v.as_f64().ok_or_else(|| bad(cmd, "kerning must be a number, \"auto\", or \"optical\""))?)),
             },
             optical_kerning: match p.get("kerning") {
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests/textedit.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests/textedit.rs
index ed47cb1d5..14685c4b6 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests/textedit.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests/textedit.rs
@@ -95,10 +95,10 @@ fn optical_command_manual_pair_undo_redo_and_native_reopen() {
     let result = s.execute("text.setRangeStyle", &json!({"id": id.0, "kerning": "optical"})).unwrap();
     assert_eq!(result["kerning"], "optical");
     assert!(obj(&s, id).runs[0].style.optical_kerning);
-    assert_eq!(obj(&s, id).runs[0].style.kerning, Some(70.0));
+    assert_eq!(obj(&s, id).runs[0].style.kerning, None, "choosing Optical clears the manual value");
     s.execute("text.setRangeStyle", &json!({"id": id.0, "start": 1, "end": 2, "kerning": 0})).unwrap();
     let styled = obj(&s, id);
-    assert_eq!(styled.runs.iter().map(|r| r.style.kerning).collect::<Vec<_>>(), vec![Some(70.0), Some(0.0), Some(70.0)]);
+    assert_eq!(styled.runs.iter().map(|r| r.style.kerning).collect::<Vec<_>>(), vec![None, Some(0.0), None]);
     assert!(styled.runs.iter().all(|r| r.style.optical_kerning));
     let bytes = vectorcraft_format::save_file(&s.doc().unwrap().doc);
     let opened = vectorcraft_format::load(&bytes).unwrap();
@@ -108,14 +108,18 @@ fn optical_command_manual_pair_undo_redo_and_native_reopen() {
         styled.runs.iter().map(|r| (r.style.optical_kerning, r.style.kerning)).collect::<Vec<_>>()
     );
     s.execute("edit.undo", &json!({})).unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(obj(&s, id).runs[0].style.kerning, Some(70.0));
+    assert!(obj(&s, id).runs.iter().all(|r| r.style.kerning.is_none()));
+    s.execute("edit.undo", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(obj(&s, id).runs[0].style.kerning, Some(70.0), "undoing Optical brings the manual value back");
+    assert!(!obj(&s, id).runs[0].style.optical_kerning);
+    s.execute("edit.redo", &json!({})).unwrap();
     s.execute("edit.redo", &json!({})).unwrap();
     assert_eq!(obj(&s, id).runs[1].style.kerning, Some(0.0));
     assert!(obj(&s, id).runs.iter().all(|r| r.style.optical_kerning));
 }
 
 #[test]
-fn optical_set_format_keeps_existing_pair_override() {
+fn optical_set_format_clears_existing_pair_override() {
     let mut s = session();
     let id = text(&mut s, "III");
     s.execute("text.setRangeStyle", &json!({"id": id.0, "start": 0, "end": 1, "kerning": 40})).unwrap();
@@ -123,7 +127,7 @@ fn optical_set_format_keeps_existing_pair_override() {
     assert_eq!(result["kerning"], "optical");
     let t = obj(&s, id);
     assert!(t.runs.iter().all(|r| r.style.optical_kerning));
-    assert_eq!(t.runs[0].style.kerning, Some(40.0));
+    assert!(t.runs.iter().all(|r| r.style.kerning.is_none()), "choosing Optical clears the manual value");
 }
 
 #[test]
diff --git a/docs/mcp.md b/docs/mcp.md
index 4a21662da..6466faf4f 100644
--- a/docs/mcp.md
+++ b/docs/mcp.md
@@ -5067,8 +5067,8 @@ the paragraph's text now starts; when the text before `at` starts no list, nothi
 (the selected type) accept `kerning: "auto" | "optical" | number` (1/1000 em). Auto uses the font's
 pair metrics; Optical spaces horizontal pairs from their glyph shapes. Vertical text uses font
 metrics in either mode. A number sets a manual pair value,
-replacing that pair's automatic correction while tracking remains additive. Choosing Optical keeps
-existing manual pair values; choosing `"auto"` clears them. New text and files without an Optical setting use Auto. The Character
+replacing that pair's automatic correction while tracking remains additive. Choosing `"optical"` or
+`"auto"` clears existing manual pair values in the text it applies to. New text and files without an Optical setting use Auto. The Character
 panel offers both automatic modes.
 
 ## Small Caps, Superscript and Subscript
diff --git a/docs/target-app-parity.md b/docs/target-app-parity.md
index 8ba5e8844..c6aea5902 100644
--- a/docs/target-app-parity.md
+++ b/docs/target-app-parity.md
@@ -857,7 +857,7 @@ Moved from the ROADMAP's "Shipped so far" on 2026-10-10. Update it when a featur
 - **Vertical type spacing shortcuts:** The [Default keyboard shortcuts](https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/default-keyboard-shortcuts.html) page gives Alt+Down/Up for kerning at a caret or tracking of selected text, Alt+Left/Right for leading, and Alt+Shift+Right/Left for baseline shift. Alt+Shift+Down/Up also steps kerning or tracking. Down increases kerning or tracking, Left increases leading, and Shift+Right increases baseline shift; the opposite arrows decrease them. Cmd/Ctrl makes five steps. Horizontal type keeps its existing mapping; mixed horizontal and vertical text-object selections take the horizontal mapping for both objects in one undo step. Selected vertical point, area and path type use the same directions. Tests: `spacing_arrows_follow_each_text_objects_orientation`, `alt_arrows_rotate_for_selected_vertical_type`, `mixed_type_objects_take_horizontal_spacing_chords_in_both_orders`, and `selected_vertical_area_and_path_type_use_vertical_spacing_chords`.
 - **Vertical punctuation:** fullwidth `！` (U+FF01) and `？` (U+FF1F) use their nominal glyph upright when no vertical alternate is present, following the Tu fallback in [Unicode UAX #50 §3.1](https://www.unicode.org/reports/tr50/#vo). Code-built test fonts cover point and area type with and without `vert` alternates, retain the rotated fallback for a bracket and long vowel mark, and leave horizontal type unchanged. Tests: `crates/text/src/tests/vertical.rs`.
   - Free Distort's dialog (Effect › Distort & Transform › Free Distort…) shows a box in the proportions of the first selected object's bounds with a handle on each corner. Dragging a handle moves that corner. A handle focused by a click or Tab moves 1% of the box with each arrow key, and 10% with Shift. Reset puts the four corners back on the box. The preview and OK run `effect.apply`, or `effect.setParams` when the dialog edits an applied effect, and the Appearance panel's inline editor opens the dialog with Edit…. Behavior reference: Illustrator CC Help (2014, [PDF](https://help.adobe.com/archive/en/illustrator/cc/2014/illustrator_reference.pdf)), page 285 (PDF page 291).
-- **Optical kerning:** Character and Properties offer Optical beside Auto for automatic pair spacing. The side-profile spacing method is VectorCraft's own. Optical keeps its mode across cosmetic style runs, and leaves manual pair values and additive tracking intact. Native documents retain the mode and pair overrides; old documents use Auto. Behavior reference: [Line and character spacing](https://web.archive.org/web/20260916050333/https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/line-character-spacing.html) (public documentation). Tests: `crates/text/src/tests/typo.rs`, `crates/engine/src/tests/textedit.rs`.
+- **Optical kerning:** Character and Properties offer Optical beside Auto for automatic pair spacing. The side-profile spacing method is VectorCraft's own. Optical keeps its mode across cosmetic style runs. Choosing Optical clears manual pair values, as Auto does, and leaves additive tracking intact; a manual value typed afterwards replaces that pair's correction ([Adjust kerning and tracking](https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/desktop/design-with-text/edit-format-text/adjust-kerning-and-tracking.html)). Native documents retain the mode and pair overrides; old documents use Auto. Behavior reference: [Line and character spacing](https://web.archive.org/web/20260916050333/https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/line-character-spacing.html) (public documentation). Tests: `crates/text/src/tests/typo.rs`, `crates/engine/src/tests/textedit.rs`.
 - **Kerning across style runs:** characters that differ only in fill, stroke, underline, strikethrough, overprint, character style name, leading, baseline shift, rotation, Character Alignment, kerning, or tracking that keeps or drops ligatures alike are shaped together, so restyling one character keeps the font's kerning pairs with its neighbors. A character with manual kerning that follows one with automatic kerning keeps the font's kerning with it (unless All Caps or Small Caps sets it as two letters, as ß becomes SS), and its value replaces the font's kerning after it. A ligature does not form across a change of style, and a change of font, size or OpenType features still shapes the characters apart. Behavior reference: [Line and character spacing](https://web.archive.org/web/20260916050333/https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/line-character-spacing.html) (public documentation). Tests: `crates/text/src/tests/typo.rs`, `crates/text/src/tests/bidi.rs`.
 - **Recent font pickers (#3515):** The shared Character, Properties, Glyphs and Find Font family picker lists recently applied families first, once each, in most-recent order and limited by Preferences › Type › Number of Recent Fonts. Search and filters apply to both sections; unavailable families are omitted. Section headings cannot be selected or previewed. Confirmed character-range font edits update the same saved history; previews and failed edits do not. Requirement: [issue #3515](https://github.com/storytold/vectorcraft/issues/3515).
 - **Type:** Character size, leading, baseline shift and horizontal-scale controls account for object/group transforms (#1034): exact document-point sizes, mixed-value display and keyboard increments, range edits, resettable horizontal stretch, undo/redo and native save/reopen (`tests_typescale`, Character panel tests). Point size is the transformed em-height axis, independent of glyph ink bounds; affine rotation, reflection and shear are retained. Group scaling still scales text; preserving font sizes is a separate enhancement. Behaviour reference: [Transform text](https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/desktop/design-with-text/edit-format-text/transform-text.html) (public documentation). Text Wrap, Type on a Path effects (Rainbow/Skew/3D Ribbon/Stair Step/Gravity) and Options (Flip, Align to Path, Spacing; OK keeps the type where it is), type on a path's start, centre and end brackets (Selection and Direct Selection drag them to set where the type runs, slide it along its path and, across the path, flip it: #429), Character and Paragraph Styles (override-preserving redefine), paragraph attributes per paragraph (alignment, indents, spacing, hyphenation, hanging punctuation, tab stops, paragraph style, direction, mojikumi and leading model; the Paragraph, Tabs and Paragraph Styles panels act on the paragraphs the Type tool's selection or caret touches, Return continues the paragraph's style, threads and SVG keep them), Area Type Options (rows/columns/inset/first baseline, Text Flow by rows or by columns (#4978), vertical Align Top/Center/Bottom/Justify per row/column, reflowing non-rectangular frames and text wrap), threaded text across any closed shapes, Fit Headline, the Every-line Composer for justified and ragged text (paragraph-wide breaks for an even rag, Single-line per object from the Paragraph panel menu or `text.setFormat {composer}`). Area type resizes like Illustrator's type areas: a bounding-box handle drag (Selection tool) or Area Type Options Width/Height size the frame and the text reflows at its size (threads too); Direct Selection drags a frame corner or edge (`text.reshapeArea`), and an anchor of the path of type on a path outside perspective, the type reflowing along it (`text.reshapePath`, #3980). Point type still scales. Auto Size: the frame height follows the text after every edit, in the same undo step (rectangular frames of horizontal type in one row; columns get the least height that holds them; a height set by hand or threading turns it off), and the "Auto Size New Area Type" preference gives it to new area type. Shrink Text to Fit (beyond Illustrator): overflowing area type scales its sizes, leading and baseline shifts down by the largest factor (in 0.1 pt steps of the first run, down to a minimum percentage) that fits, at layout time so every export sees it. `text.areaOptions` and `document.inspect` report overflow and the shrink factor. The Selection tool shows the type widget beside selected type's bounding box (hollow on point type, filled on area type); double-clicking it converts between them (Type › Convert To Area Type / Convert To Point Type), keeping the text and its styles in place. Variable fonts list every named instance as a style of their family (Figtree Light to Black and their italics, Bahnschrift, Segoe UI Variable), and the instance chosen is shaped, drawn, outlined and measured at its axis settings; PDF and SVG embed it as that instance. The Character panel's Variable Font sliders set each axis (see Fonts). Beyond Illustrator: inline graphics (`text.insertInline`, Type ▸ Insert Inline Symbol) set a document symbol in a run of type as one character that flows, wraps and justifies like a glyph (InDesign-style inline objects, e.g. mana symbols in card rules text): sized to a multiple of the font size, centred on the cap height, opening up tall lines, following Redefine Symbol; a character of its run's size for Character Alignment and Top-to-Top leading, placed by the bidi reordering in right-to-left text (a neutral U+FFFC); drawn on the canvas, kept as live text plus a `<use>` in SVG and as vector art in PDF; Backspace removes it whole. Hebrew and Arabic are laid out right to left with the Unicode bidirectional algorithm (embedded Latin and numbers keep their direction, lines put in visual order after wrapping) in point, area and path type, with caret, selection and arrow keys in visual order; each paragraph's direction comes from its first strong character unless Paragraph Direction sets it (Paragraph panel with Show Indic Options, `text.setFormat {direction}`), and new type aligns to the start of its direction. SVG export outlines right-to-left text. Arabic typefaces: builds made with a craft-fonts checkout that holds its Arabic families (Noto Sans Arabic, the Arabic fallback, plus Cairo, Tajawal, Almarai, IBM Plex Sans Arabic, Noto Kufi Arabic, Amiri, Alexandria, Fustat, Reem Kufi, Aref Ruqaa and Gulzar once craft-fonts adds them, storytold/craft-fonts#11; releases get them when their craft-fonts pin moves) list them in the font menus on desktop; the web build fetches them from beside the wasm (Noto Sans Arabic before start, so Arabic never shows as boxes, the rest in the background). Font Size and Leading are combo boxes in the Character and Properties panels (Font Size in the Control bar too, beside the Character link, font family and style): type, step with ↑/↓ or the spinner, scrub the label, or pick a preset (6–72 pt, shown in the type unit; Leading also Auto), each pick one undo step; Kerning and Tracking list -100…200; a size, leading, kerning or tracking the selected text doesn't share shows blank (#458). Type › Bold and Italic (beyond Illustrator, as page layout apps have them; Cmd+Shift+B / Cmd+Shift+I while the Type tool edits text) switch the selected type to its family's own Bold or Italic face and back, keeping its width (a Narrow face stays Narrow); a family without that face says so (#724). The commands that make or restyle type (and the MCP `add_text` tool) say in their result when area type does not fit its frame, and `add_text` takes Auto Size and Shrink Text to Fit (#1500, fixes #1471). Cmd+Shift+C (Align center) works on Windows and Linux too (#1940). A double-click on area type's bottom middle handle turns on Auto Size (#1940). Print and Print Preview warn about the area type and type on a path that prints without the text that doesn't fit, and give their ids. A tab stop in the Tabs panel drags from where the press landed, a stop just added included (#1487, fixes #1458). Area type in a non-rectangular shape moves a word too wide for the top lines down to the first line that holds it instead of breaking it (#1617, fixes #1615). Stylistic sets (ss01–ss20), stylistic and titling alternates, proportional and lining figures, and superscript and subscript glyphs can be turned on as OpenType features of a character style (`text.setStyle {features}`), and the OpenType panel keeps them (#1611, fixes #1607). Escape while typing ends the edit, keeps the type selected and switches to the Selection tool (#1802, #1686, #1656). Select › Same matches type on its characters' fill and stroke (#1746, #1737). `text.create`, `text.createInPath` and the MCP `add_text` tool take `justify`, so point type can be centred on or end at its point (#1752, #1748).