diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/DomEditOverlay.tsx b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/DomEditOverlay.tsx
index 4715783fa5..bed082c865 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/DomEditOverlay.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/DomEditOverlay.tsx
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ export interface DomEditOverlayProps {
     selection: DomEditSelection,
     options?: { revealPanel?: boolean; additive?: boolean },
   ) => void;
-  onBlockedMove: (selection: DomEditSelection) => void;
+  onBlockedMove: (selection: DomEditSelection, reason?: string) => void;
   onManualDragStart?: () => void;
   onPathOffsetCommit: (
     selection: DomEditSelection,
@@ -296,6 +296,7 @@ export const DomEditOverlay = memo(function DomEditOverlay({
     gestureRef,
     groupGestureRef,
     blockedMoveRef,
+    onBlockedMoveRef,
     onManualDragStartRef,
     onPathOffsetCommitRef,
     onGroupPathOffsetCommitRef,
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/PropertyPanel.tsx b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/PropertyPanel.tsx
index b7c1d05094..dc4d8919c2 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/PropertyPanel.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/PropertyPanel.tsx
@@ -178,8 +178,9 @@ export const PropertyPanel = memo(function PropertyPanel(props: PropertyPanelPro
     transformPerspective: 0,
   };
   // Unconditional like the hooks above: must not sit behind the `!element` return below.
+  const manualOffset = element ? readMoveOffset(element.element) : { x: 0, y: 0 };
   const { manualOffsetEditingDisabled, manualSizeEditingDisabled, manualRotationEditingDisabled } =
-    useManualEditDisabledFlags(element?.capabilities);
+    useManualEditDisabledFlags(element?.capabilities, manualOffset);
 
   if (!element) {
     return (
@@ -200,7 +201,6 @@ export const PropertyPanel = memo(function PropertyPanel(props: PropertyPanelPro
   // selection) so the Timing section shows for pure-GSAP elements with no data-start.
   const sections = resolveEditingSections(domEditSelectionToFacts(element, gsapAnimations.length));
   const showEditableSections = element.capabilities.canEditStyles && sections.style;
-  const manualOffset = readMoveOffset(element.element);
   const manualSize = readStudioBoxSize(element.element);
   const resolvedWidth =
     manualSize.width > 0
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/domEditOverlayGestures.ts b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/domEditOverlayGestures.ts
index 471c9a55fc..de6d453a39 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/domEditOverlayGestures.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/domEditOverlayGestures.ts
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ export type UseDomEditOverlayGesturesOptions = {
   suppressNextBoxClickRef: RefObject<boolean>;
   setOverlayRect: (next: OverlayRect | null) => void;
   setGroupOverlayItems: (next: GroupOverlayItem[]) => void;
-  onBlockedMoveRef: RefObject<(selection: DomEditSelection) => void>;
+  onBlockedMoveRef: RefObject<(selection: DomEditSelection, reason?: string) => void>;
   onManualDragStartRef: RefObject<(() => void) | undefined>;
   onPathOffsetCommitRef: RefObject<
     (
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/domEditOverlayStartGesture.ts b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/domEditOverlayStartGesture.ts
index 8bb387c817..8845cdef92 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/domEditOverlayStartGesture.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/domEditOverlayStartGesture.ts
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ export function startGroupDrag(
       restoreManualOffsetDragMembers(members);
       e.preventDefault();
       e.stopPropagation();
-      opts.onBlockedMoveRef.current(result.selection);
+      opts.onBlockedMoveRef.current(result.selection, result.reason);
       return false;
     }
     members.push(result.member);
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ export function startGesture(
       gesture: "drag",
     });
     if (!result.ok) {
-      opts.onBlockedMoveRef.current(result.selection);
+      opts.onBlockedMoveRef.current(result.selection, result.reason);
       return false;
     }
     pathOffsetMember = result.member;
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/manualOffsetDrag.test.ts b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/manualOffsetDrag.test.ts
index 75b61b57d7..44e92788b0 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/manualOffsetDrag.test.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/manualOffsetDrag.test.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
   resolveManualOffsetForPointerDelta,
   type ManualOffsetDragMatrix,
 } from "./manualOffsetDrag";
+import { UNREADABLE_TRANSLATE } from "./plainTranslate";
 import { STUDIO_OFFSET_X_PROP, STUDIO_OFFSET_Y_PROP } from "./manualEdits";
 import { computeDraggedGsapPosition } from "../../hooks/draggedGsapPosition";
 
@@ -596,6 +597,21 @@ describe("a move of an element GSAP does not position", () => {
     return { window, element, gsapCalls, member };
   }
 
+  it("refuses a translate it can't read instead of guessing, and leaves the element alone", () => {
+    const { element } = plainBox();
+    element.style.setProperty("translate", "abs(10% - 50px) 0px");
+    const result = createManualOffsetDragMember({
+      key: "box",
+      selection: { element } as never,
+      element,
+      rect: { left: 10, top: 20, width: 100, height: 50, editScaleX: 1, editScaleY: 1 },
+      gesture: "drag",
+    });
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    expect(result.ok ? "" : result.reason).toBe(UNREADABLE_TRANSLATE);
+    expect(element.style.getPropertyValue("translate")).toBe("abs(10% - 50px) 0px");
+  });
+
   it("drafts and drops the element's own translate in plain px, never touching GSAP", () => {
     const { element, gsapCalls, member } = plainBox({ gsapLoaded: true });
     const m = member();
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/manualOffsetDrag.ts b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/manualOffsetDrag.ts
index e9398c7056..f4b528ecdf 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/manualOffsetDrag.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/manualOffsetDrag.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import {
 } from "./manualEdits";
 import { computeDraggedGsapPosition } from "../../hooks/draggedGsapPosition";
 import { gsapWritesPosition } from "../../hooks/gsapRuntimeKeyframes";
-import { readTranslatePx, writeTranslatePx } from "./plainTranslate";
+import { readTranslatePx, UNREADABLE_TRANSLATE, writeTranslatePx } from "./plainTranslate";
 
 interface OffsetDragGsap {
   set: (el: Element, vars: Record<string, number | string>) => void;
@@ -345,6 +345,8 @@ export function createManualOffsetDragMember(input: {
   const initialOffset = plainTranslate
     ? readTranslatePx(input.element)
     : readAppliedStudioPathOffset(input.element);
+  if (!finitePoint(initialOffset))
+    return { ok: false, reason: UNREADABLE_TRANSLATE, selection: input.selection };
   const win = input.element.ownerDocument.defaultView as
     | (Window & {
         gsap?: { getProperty?: (el: Element, prop: string) => number };
@@ -382,10 +384,8 @@ export function createManualOffsetDragMember(input: {
     plainTranslate,
   });
   if (!measured.ok) {
-    // Fallback: when GSAP transforms interfere with probe measurement, use
-    // the preview scale as an approximation. The commit path reads the actual
-    // GSAP position from the iframe runtime, so visual imprecision during
-    // drag is acceptable — the final committed position is always exact.
+    // GSAP transforms can defeat the probe: approximate with the preview scale. The commit
+    // reads GSAP's real position, so only the drag preview is imprecise.
     const scaleX = input.rect.editScaleX || 1;
     const scaleY = input.rect.editScaleY || 1;
     const w = readTransformWDivisor(input.element);
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/plainTranslate.test.ts b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/plainTranslate.test.ts
index 5d45e75b15..54d59a9159 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/plainTranslate.test.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/plainTranslate.test.ts
@@ -28,18 +28,31 @@ describe("readTranslatePx", () => {
   });
 
   it.each([
-    "min(10px, 5%) 0px",
-    "calc(2 * 10px) 0px",
-    "calc(10px +) 0px",
-    "clamp(0px, 10%, 30px) 5px",
-  ])("hands %s to Chrome's own resolution and puts the element's style back", (translate) => {
-    const element = box(`translate: ${translate}; transform: rotate(5deg)`);
-    const before = element.getAttribute("style");
-    const read = readTranslatePx(element);
-    expect(Number.isFinite(read.x) && Number.isFinite(read.y)).toBe(true);
-    expect(element.getAttribute("style")).toBe(before);
+    ["min(10px, 5%) max(-20%, -40px)", { x: 10, y: -32 }],
+    ["clamp(0px, 10%, 30px) 5px", { x: 24, y: 5 }],
+    ["calc(min(50%, 100px) * 2 - (10px + 5%)) calc(-1 * clamp(10%, 1px, 20%))", { x: 178, y: -16 }],
+    ["calc(2 * 10px) calc(80px / 4)", { x: 20, y: 20 }],
+  ])("works out %s by arithmetic", (translate, want) => {
+    expect(readTranslatePx(box(`translate: ${translate}`))).toEqual(want);
   });
 
+  it.each(["calc(10px +) 0px", "abs(10% - 50px) 0px", "round(10%, 7px) 0px", "min(10px 5%) 0px"])(
+    "reads %s as NaN, never as a guess",
+    (translate) => {
+      expect(readTranslatePx(box(`translate: ${translate}`)).x).toBeNaN();
+    },
+  );
+
+  it.each(["content-box", "fill-box"])(
+    "resolves a percent against the content box under transform-box: %s",
+    (transformBox) => {
+      const element = box(
+        `translate: 50% 50%; padding: 10px; border: 5px solid; box-sizing: content-box; transform-box: ${transformBox}`,
+      );
+      expect(readTranslatePx(element)).toEqual({ x: 120, y: 80 });
+    },
+  );
+
   it("counts padding and border in the box a percent resolves against", () => {
     const element = box(
       "translate: 50% 50%; padding: 10px; border: 5px solid; box-sizing: content-box",
@@ -47,16 +60,19 @@ describe("readTranslatePx", () => {
     expect(readTranslatePx(element)).toEqual({ x: 135, y: 95 });
   });
 
-  it("writes nothing to the element it reads", () => {
-    const element = box("translate: -50% -50%");
-    const before = element.getAttribute("style");
-    const writes: MutationRecord[] = [];
-    const observer = new MutationObserver((records) => writes.push(...records));
-    observer.observe(element, { attributes: true });
-    readTranslatePx(element);
-    writes.push(...observer.takeRecords());
-    observer.disconnect();
-    expect(writes).toEqual([]);
-    expect(element.getAttribute("style")).toBe(before);
-  });
+  it.each(["-50% -50%", "min(10px, 5%) clamp(0px, 10%, 30px)"])(
+    "writes nothing to the element while it reads %s",
+    (translate) => {
+      const element = box(`translate: ${translate}; transform: rotate(5deg)`);
+      const before = element.getAttribute("style");
+      const writes: MutationRecord[] = [];
+      const observer = new MutationObserver((records) => writes.push(...records));
+      observer.observe(element, { attributes: true });
+      readTranslatePx(element);
+      writes.push(...observer.takeRecords());
+      observer.disconnect();
+      expect(writes).toEqual([]);
+      expect(element.getAttribute("style")).toBe(before);
+    },
+  );
 });
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/plainTranslate.ts b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/plainTranslate.ts
index d454a1d2cc..f0b275a177 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/plainTranslate.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/plainTranslate.ts
@@ -6,29 +6,65 @@ import type { PatchOperation } from "../../utils/sourcePatcher";
 
 type Point = { x: number; y: number };
 
-const TERM = /^(-?\d*\.?\d+(?:e[-+]?\d+)?)(px|%)$/i;
+const TOKEN = /\s*(?:(\d*\.?\d+(?:e[-+]?\d+)?)(px|%)?|([a-z]+)\(|([-+*/(),]))/giy;
+const FUNCTIONS: Record<string, (args: number[]) => number> = {
+  "(": ([a = Number.NaN]) => a,
+  "calc(": ([a = Number.NaN]) => a,
+  "min(": (args) => Math.min(...args),
+  "max(": (args) => Math.max(...args),
+  "clamp(": ([lo = Number.NaN, v = Number.NaN, hi = Number.NaN]) => Math.max(lo, Math.min(v, hi)),
+};
 
-const SIGN: Record<string, number> = { "+": 1, "-": -1 };
-
-function termPx(term: string | undefined, side: number): number | null {
-  const match = TERM.exec(term ?? "");
-  return match ? Number(match[1]) * (match[2] === "%" ? side / 100 : 1) : null;
+/** Lengths become px against `side`; functions keep their "(" so they can't pass for an operator. */
+function tokenize(value: string, side: number): (number | string)[] {
+  const tokens: (number | string)[] = [];
+  const end = value.trimEnd().length;
+  TOKEN.lastIndex = 0;
+  for (let m = TOKEN.exec(value); m; m = TOKEN.lastIndex < end ? TOKEN.exec(value) : null) {
+    if (m[1]) tokens.push(Number(m[1]) * (m[2] === "%" ? side / 100 : 1));
+    else tokens.push(m[3] ? `${m[3].toLowerCase()}(` : (m[4] ?? ""));
+  }
+  return TOKEN.lastIndex < end ? [] : tokens;
 }
 
-/** px, %, or Chrome's computed `calc(P% + Lpx)`, against the border-box side; null for min()/max()/clamp(). */
-function resolveLength(value: string, side: number): number | null {
-  const parts = (/^calc\((.*)\)$/.exec(value)?.[1] ?? value).split(" ");
-  if (parts.length % 2 === 0) return null;
-  let total = termPx(parts[0], side);
-  for (let i = 1; i < parts.length && total !== null; i += 2) {
-    const term = termPx(parts[i + 1], side);
-    const sign = SIGN[parts[i] ?? ""];
-    total = term === null || !sign ? null : total + sign * term;
+/** Chrome's computed length (px, %, calc/min/max/clamp, + - * /) in px against `side`; NaN otherwise. */
+function evaluateLength(value: string, side: number): number {
+  const tokens = tokenize(value, side);
+  let i = 0;
+  const next = () => tokens[i++];
+  const take = (...ops: string[]) => ops.includes(tokens[i] as string) && next();
+  function sum(): number {
+    let total = product();
+    for (let op = take("+", "-"); op; op = take("+", "-"))
+      total += (op === "+" ? 1 : -1) * product();
+    return total;
+  }
+  function product(): number {
+    let total = unary();
+    for (let op = take("*", "/"); op; op = take("*", "/"))
+      total = op === "*" ? total * unary() : total / unary();
+    return total;
+  }
+  function unary(): number {
+    return take("-") ? -unary() : atom();
+  }
+  function atom(): number {
+    const token = next();
+    if (typeof token === "number") return token;
+    const fn = FUNCTIONS[token ?? ""];
+    if (!fn) return Number.NaN;
+    const args = [sum()];
+    while (take(",")) args.push(sum());
+    return take(")") ? fn(args) : Number.NaN;
   }
-  return total;
+  const total = tokens.length ? sum() : Number.NaN;
+  return i === tokens.length ? total : Number.NaN;
 }
 
-function borderBox(
+const CONTENT_BOXES = new Set(["content-box", "fill-box"]);
+
+/** The side % resolves against: the box `transform-box` names (fill-box is the content box on HTML). */
+function referenceBox(
   cs: CSSStyleDeclaration,
   size: "width" | "height",
   a: string,
@@ -37,35 +73,29 @@ function borderBox(
   const n = (prop: string) => Number.parseFloat(cs.getPropertyValue(prop)) || 0;
   const pad =
     n(`padding-${a}`) + n(`padding-${b}`) + n(`border-${a}-width`) + n(`border-${b}-width`);
-  return n(size) + (cs.boxSizing === "border-box" ? 0 : pad);
-}
-
-// Chrome resolves min()/max()/clamp() inside a transform function to a matrix; an unrendered box has none.
-function resolveInTransform(el: HTMLElement, x: string, y: string): Point {
-  const style = el.style;
-  const saved = [style.getPropertyValue("transform"), style.getPropertyPriority("transform")];
-  style.setProperty("transform", `translate(${x}, ${y})`, "important");
-  try {
-    const resolved = el.ownerDocument.defaultView?.getComputedStyle(el).transform ?? "";
-    const matrix = new DOMMatrixReadOnly(resolved.startsWith("matrix") ? resolved : undefined);
-    return { x: matrix.m41, y: matrix.m42 };
-  } finally {
-    style.setProperty("transform", saved[0] ?? "", saved[1] ?? "");
-  }
+  const content = n(size) - (cs.boxSizing === "border-box" ? pad : 0);
+  return CONTENT_BOXES.has(cs.getPropertyValue("transform-box")) ? content : content + pad;
 }
 
 /** The element's CSS `translate` in px, as it renders now. */
 // ponytail: a 3-value translate loses its z on the next move; keep z when a fixture needs it.
 export function readTranslatePx(el: HTMLElement): Point {
   const cs = el.ownerDocument.defaultView?.getComputedStyle(el);
-  const value = el.style.getPropertyValue("translate") || cs?.translate || "none";
+  // Computed first: Chrome resolves em, vw and var() there and leaves only % to work out.
+  const value = cs?.translate || el.style.getPropertyValue("translate") || "none";
   if (value === "none") return { x: 0, y: 0 };
   const [x = "0px", y = "0px"] = splitTopLevelWhitespace(value);
-  const px = cs && resolveLength(x, borderBox(cs, "width", "left", "right"));
-  const py = cs && resolveLength(y, borderBox(cs, "height", "top", "bottom"));
-  return px != null && py != null ? { x: px, y: py } : resolveInTransform(el, x, y);
+  const side = (size: "width" | "height", a: string, b: string) =>
+    cs ? referenceBox(cs, size, a, b) : 0;
+  return {
+    x: evaluateLength(x, side("width", "left", "right")),
+    y: evaluateLength(y, side("height", "top", "bottom")),
+  };
 }
 
+export const UNREADABLE_TRANSLATE =
+  "Studio can't read this layer's translate. Move it in the Code tab.";
+
 /** Plain px only: GSAP's CSSPlugin splits `translate` on spaces and drops a calc(). */
 function formatTranslatePx(p: Point): string {
   return `${roundTo3(p.x)}px ${roundTo3(p.y)}px`;
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/previewReadOnly.overlay.test.tsx b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/previewReadOnly.overlay.test.tsx
index 5c7a8c282d..bfb03479cd 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/previewReadOnly.overlay.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/previewReadOnly.overlay.test.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import { __resetForTests } from "../../utils/canvasNudgeGate";
 import { PreviewReadOnlyProvider } from "./previewReadOnlyContext";
 import "./domEditOverlayTestMocks";
 import { DomEditOverlay } from "./DomEditOverlay";
+import { UNREADABLE_TRANSLATE } from "./plainTranslate";
 
 (globalThis as unknown as { IS_REACT_ACT_ENVIRONMENT: boolean }).IS_REACT_ACT_ENVIRONMENT = true;
 
@@ -475,3 +476,32 @@ describe("DomEditOverlay onTextEditingChange", () => {
     expect(spies.onTextEditingChange.mock.calls).toEqual([[true], [false]]);
   });
 });
+
+describe("DomEditOverlay on a layer whose translate Studio can't read", () => {
+  it("refuses a drag and an arrow nudge out loud, and commits nothing", () => {
+    const { spies, overlay, selection } = fixture();
+    selection.element.style.setProperty("translate", "abs(10% - 50px) 0px");
+    fire(overlay.querySelector(BOX)!, "pointerdown");
+    const presses = [false, true, true].map(
+      (repeat) =>
+        new KeyboardEvent("keydown", {
+          key: "ArrowRight",
+          bubbles: true,
+          cancelable: true,
+          repeat,
+        }),
+    );
+    act(() => {
+      for (const press of presses) window.dispatchEvent(press);
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(CANVAS_NUDGE_COMMIT_DEBOUNCE_MS + 10);
+    });
+    // One toast for the drag and one for the whole held arrow, whose every press is swallowed.
+    expect(spies.onBlockedMove.mock.calls).toEqual([
+      [selection, UNREADABLE_TRANSLATE],
+      [selection, UNREADABLE_TRANSLATE],
+    ]);
+    expect(presses.map((press) => press.defaultPrevented)).toEqual([true, true, true]);
+    expect(spies.onPathOffsetCommit).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(selection.element.style.getPropertyValue("translate")).toBe("abs(10% - 50px) 0px");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/previewReadOnlyContext.tsx b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/previewReadOnlyContext.tsx
index 037d6d8e6b..e6827aca93 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/previewReadOnlyContext.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/previewReadOnlyContext.tsx
@@ -49,10 +49,12 @@ interface ManualEditCapabilities {
  */
 export function useManualEditDisabledFlags(
   capabilities: ManualEditCapabilities | null | undefined,
+  offset = { x: 0, y: 0 },
 ) {
   const { readOnly } = useContext(PreviewReadOnlyContext);
+  const unreadable = !Number.isFinite(offset.x) || !Number.isFinite(offset.y);
   return {
-    manualOffsetEditingDisabled: !capabilities?.canApplyManualOffset || readOnly,
+    manualOffsetEditingDisabled: !capabilities?.canApplyManualOffset || readOnly || unreadable,
     manualSizeEditingDisabled: !capabilities?.canApplyManualSize || readOnly,
     manualRotationEditingDisabled: !capabilities?.canApplyManualRotation || readOnly,
   };
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/propertyPanelTransformCommit.test.ts b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/propertyPanelTransformCommit.test.ts
index e07c1eab6b..94057491c7 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/propertyPanelTransformCommit.test.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/propertyPanelTransformCommit.test.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 // @vitest-environment happy-dom
 
+import React, { act } from "react";
+import { createRoot } from "react-dom/client";
 import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { useManualEditDisabledFlags } from "./previewReadOnlyContext";
 import type { DomEditSelection } from "./domEditingTypes";
 import { GsapEditBlockedError } from "../../hooks/gsapEditOutcome";
 import { createTransformCommitHandlers } from "./propertyPanelTransformCommit";
+import { readMoveOffset, UNREADABLE_TRANSLATE } from "./plainTranslate";
 
 describe("createTransformCommitHandlers", () => {
   it.each([
@@ -55,3 +59,50 @@ describe("createTransformCommitHandlers", () => {
     expect(onSetManualRotation).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 });
+
+describe("the panel's position fields on a translate Studio can't read", () => {
+  it("are disabled", () => {
+    (globalThis as { IS_REACT_ACT_ENVIRONMENT?: boolean }).IS_REACT_ACT_ENVIRONMENT = true;
+    const box = document.createElement("div");
+    box.style.setProperty("translate", "abs(10% - 50px) 30px");
+    const seen: boolean[] = [];
+    function Probe({ element }: { element: HTMLElement }) {
+      seen.push(
+        useManualEditDisabledFlags({ canApplyManualOffset: true } as never, readMoveOffset(element))
+          .manualOffsetEditingDisabled,
+      );
+      return null;
+    }
+    const root = createRoot(document.createElement("div"));
+    act(() => root.render(React.createElement(Probe, { element: box })));
+    box.style.setProperty("translate", "40px 30px");
+    act(() => root.render(React.createElement(Probe, { element: box })));
+    act(() => root.unmount());
+    expect(seen).toEqual([true, false]);
+  });
+
+  it("commit nothing and say why", async () => {
+    const onSetManualOffset = vi.fn();
+    const showToast = vi.fn();
+    const box = document.createElement("div");
+    box.style.setProperty("translate", "abs(10% - 50px) 30px");
+    const element = { id: "box", selector: "#box", element: box } as unknown as DomEditSelection;
+    const handlers = createTransformCommitHandlers({
+      element,
+      styles: {},
+      hasGsapAnimation: false,
+      gsapAnimId: null,
+      gsapKeyframes: null,
+      currentPct: 0,
+      onCommitAnimatedProperty: undefined,
+      onAddKeyframe: undefined,
+      onSetManualOffset,
+      onSetManualSize: vi.fn(),
+      onSetManualRotation: vi.fn(),
+      showToast,
+    });
+    await handlers.commitManualOffset("y", "20px");
+    expect(onSetManualOffset).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(showToast).toHaveBeenCalledWith(UNREADABLE_TRANSLATE);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/propertyPanelTransformCommit.ts b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/propertyPanelTransformCommit.ts
index c11f3e60cb..0afa234e2e 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/propertyPanelTransformCommit.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/propertyPanelTransformCommit.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import type { DomEditSelection } from "./domEditingTypes";
 import { readStudioBoxSize } from "./manualEdits";
-import { readMoveOffset } from "./plainTranslate";
+import { readMoveOffset, UNREADABLE_TRANSLATE } from "./plainTranslate";
 import { parsePxMetricValue, type PropertyPanelProps } from "./propertyPanelHelpers";
 
 interface TransformCommitDeps {
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ export function createTransformCommitHandlers({
     )
       return;
     const current = readMoveOffset(element.element);
+    if (!Number.isFinite(current.x) || !Number.isFinite(current.y))
+      return void showToast?.(UNREADABLE_TRANSLATE);
     await Promise.resolve(
       onSetManualOffset(element, {
         x: axis === "x" ? parsed : current.x,
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/useDomEditNudge.test.tsx b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/useDomEditNudge.test.tsx
index 9d7265f7a3..d568f9ae06 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/useDomEditNudge.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/useDomEditNudge.test.tsx
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ function Harness({
     groupGestureRef: makeRef(null),
     blockedMoveRef: makeRef(null),
     onManualDragStartRef: makeRef(() => {}),
+    onBlockedMoveRef: makeRef(() => {}),
     onPathOffsetCommitRef: makeRef(onPathOffsetCommit),
     onGroupPathOffsetCommitRef: makeRef(async () => {}),
   });
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/useDomEditNudge.ts b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/useDomEditNudge.ts
index 85d9f53a6d..4385cd8124 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/useDomEditNudge.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/useDomEditNudge.ts
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ export interface UseDomEditNudgeParams {
   groupGestureRef: RefObject<GroupGestureState | null>;
   blockedMoveRef: RefObject<BlockedMoveState | null>;
   onManualDragStartRef: RefObject<(() => void) | undefined>;
+  onBlockedMoveRef: RefObject<(selection: DomEditSelection, reason?: string) => void>;
   onPathOffsetCommitRef: RefObject<
     (
       s: DomEditSelection,
@@ -179,7 +180,7 @@ export function useDomEditNudge(params: UseDomEditNudgeParams): { flushNudge: ()
   // Build drag members for the current target set — the same member snapshot a
   // pointer drag starts from (startGesture / startGroupDrag), so the nudge
   // commit converts offsets → GSAP x/y with identical math.
-  const beginSession = (): NudgeSession | null => {
+  const beginSession = (event: KeyboardEvent): NudgeSession | "refused" | null => {
     const p = paramsRef.current;
     const groupItems = p.groupOverlayItemsRef.current;
     const isGroup = groupItems.length > 1;
@@ -192,7 +193,8 @@ export function useDomEditNudge(params: UseDomEditNudgeParams): { flushNudge: ()
       const result = createManualOffsetDragMember({ ...target, gesture: "nudge" });
       if (!result.ok) {
         restoreManualOffsetDragMembers(members);
-        return null;
+        if (!event.repeat) p.onBlockedMoveRef.current(result.selection, result.reason);
+        return "refused";
       }
       members.push(result.member);
     }
@@ -207,7 +209,8 @@ export function useDomEditNudge(params: UseDomEditNudgeParams): { flushNudge: ()
     if (shouldIgnoreNudgeKey(p, event)) return;
     const delta = resolveCanvasNudgeDelta(event);
     if (!delta) return;
-    const session = sessionRef.current ?? beginSession();
+    const session = sessionRef.current ?? beginSession(event);
+    if (session === "refused") return void event.preventDefault();
     if (!session) return;
     sessionRef.current = session;
     event.preventDefault();
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/usePreviewInteraction.test.ts b/packages/studio/src/hooks/usePreviewInteraction.test.ts
index 84c668fa4c..7a7013dfb1 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/hooks/usePreviewInteraction.test.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/usePreviewInteraction.test.ts
@@ -267,3 +267,35 @@ describe("usePreviewInteraction", () => {
     cleanup();
   });
 });
+
+describe("a refused move's toast", () => {
+  it("gives the refusal's own reason first, else the selection's", () => {
+    const showToast = vi.fn();
+    let blocked!: (selection: DomEditSelection, reason?: string) => void;
+    function Harness() {
+      blocked = usePreviewInteraction({
+        captionEditMode: false,
+        compositionLoading: false,
+        previewIframeRef: { current: null },
+        showToast,
+        applyDomSelection: vi.fn(),
+        resolveDomSelectionFromPreviewPoint: vi.fn(async () => null),
+        resolveAllDomSelectionsFromPreviewPoint: vi.fn(async () => []),
+        updateDomEditHoverSelection: vi.fn(),
+        setActiveGroupElement: vi.fn(),
+      }).handleBlockedDomMove;
+      return null;
+    }
+    const root = createRoot(document.createElement("div"));
+    act(() => root.render(React.createElement(Harness)));
+    const selection = makeSelection("Box", document.createElement("div"));
+    selection.capabilities.reasonIfDisabled = "Locked layer.";
+    blocked(selection, "Studio can't read it.");
+    blocked(selection);
+    act(() => root.unmount());
+    expect(showToast.mock.calls).toEqual([
+      ["Studio can't read it.", "info"],
+      ["Locked layer.", "info"],
+    ]);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/usePreviewInteraction.ts b/packages/studio/src/hooks/usePreviewInteraction.ts
index 35b8e2dbc0..563cc816d8 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/hooks/usePreviewInteraction.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/usePreviewInteraction.ts
@@ -260,9 +260,10 @@ export function usePreviewInteraction({
   }, [updateDomEditHoverSelection]);
 
   const handleBlockedDomMove = useCallback(
-    (selection: DomEditSelection) => {
+    (selection: DomEditSelection, reason?: string) => {
       showToast(
-        selection.capabilities.reasonIfDisabled ??
+        reason ??
+          selection.capabilities.reasonIfDisabled ??
           "This element can't be adjusted directly from the preview.",
         "info",
       );