diff --git a/node-graph/libraries/graphic-types/src/artboard.rs b/node-graph/libraries/graphic-types/src/artboard.rs
index ac20f25709..ebaea9709d 100644
--- a/node-graph/libraries/graphic-types/src/artboard.rs
+++ b/node-graph/libraries/graphic-types/src/artboard.rs
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ impl Artboard {
 		for element in content.iter_element_values_mut() {
 			*element = crate::graphic::map_groups_to_legacy(element);
 		}
+		crate::graphic::map_paint_attrs_to_legacy(&mut content);
 		Artboard(content)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/node-graph/libraries/graphic-types/src/graphic.rs b/node-graph/libraries/graphic-types/src/graphic.rs
index 48b52e0034..4bee35aeda 100644
--- a/node-graph/libraries/graphic-types/src/graphic.rs
+++ b/node-graph/libraries/graphic-types/src/graphic.rs
@@ -792,9 +792,10 @@ fn group_bounding_box(group: &core_types::record::Group, transform: DAffine2, in
 	}
 }
 
-/// One typed run as a legacy list, elements cloned and every attribute
-/// copied through its erased read.
-pub(crate) fn run_to_legacy_list<T: Clone + Send + Sync + 'static>(item: &core_types::record::GroupItem) -> Option<List<T>> {
+/// One typed run as an owned list, elements cloned and every attribute copied
+/// through its erased read. Content keeps its native form; the legacy
+/// conversions layer their mapping on top.
+pub fn run_to_list<T: Clone + Send + Sync + 'static>(item: &core_types::record::GroupItem) -> Option<List<T>> {
 	let lanes = item.typed_lanes::<T>()?;
 	let mut list = List::new();
 	for lane in 0..lanes.len() {
@@ -810,6 +811,27 @@ pub(crate) fn run_to_legacy_list<T: Clone + Send + Sync + 'static>(item: &core_t
 	Some(list)
 }
 
+/// Converts the group content of the list's paint attribute values to legacy
+/// form, so a legacy product owns everything its attributes reach.
+pub fn map_paint_attrs_to_legacy<T: 'static>(list: &mut List<T>) {
+	for key in [ATTR_FILL, ATTR_STROKE, crate::markers::ATTR_EDITOR_MERGED_LAYERS] {
+		let Some(values) = list.iter_attribute_values_mut::<Option<List<Graphic>>>(key) else { continue };
+		for value in values.flatten() {
+			for element in value.iter_element_values_mut() {
+				*element = map_groups_to_legacy(element);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+/// One typed run as a legacy list: [`run_to_list`] with the paint attribute
+/// contents converted to their legacy form.
+pub(crate) fn run_to_legacy_list<T: Clone + Send + Sync + 'static>(item: &core_types::record::GroupItem) -> Option<List<T>> {
+	let mut list = run_to_list::<T>(item)?;
+	map_paint_attrs_to_legacy(&mut list);
+	Some(list)
+}
+
 /// One typed run as the legacy list its `Render` impl consumes, nested
 /// groups converted to their legacy form.
 pub fn run_to_render_list<T: Clone + Send + Sync + 'static>(item: &core_types::record::GroupItem) -> Option<List<T>> {
@@ -992,6 +1014,7 @@ pub fn map_groups_to_legacy(graphic: &Graphic) -> Graphic {
 			for child in children.iter_element_values_mut() {
 				*child = map_groups_to_legacy(child);
 			}
+			map_paint_attrs_to_legacy(&mut children);
 			Graphic::Graphic(children)
 		}
 		other => other.clone(),
@@ -1059,6 +1082,7 @@ pub fn group_to_legacy_list(group: &core_types::record::Group) -> List<Graphic>
 					}
 				}
 			}
+			map_paint_attrs_to_legacy(&mut list);
 			push_lane_paint_into_interiors(&mut list);
 			list
 		}
@@ -1436,6 +1460,56 @@ mod run_tests {
 		assert_eq!(map_groups_to_legacy(served.element(0).unwrap()), expected);
 	}
 
+	#[test]
+	fn a_legacy_list_owns_its_paint_attr_content() {
+		let inner_vector = unit_square_at(DVec2::ZERO);
+		let inner_layout = Layout::default().with_writes(0, element_write_hashed::<Vector>(), &[]);
+		let mut inner_bytes = vec![0u8; inner_layout.lane_stride()];
+		let paint = native_group_paint(&inner_vector, &inner_layout, &mut inner_bytes);
+
+		let vector = unit_square_at(DVec2::new(4., 4.));
+		let layout = Layout::default().with_writes(0, element_write_hashed::<Vector>(), &[FieldWrite::of::<Fill>(0)]);
+		let mut bytes = vec![0u8; layout.lane_stride()];
+		// SAFETY: `bytes` is one lane of `layout`; a parked element stores its
+		// reference, and the fill field stores the marker's value form.
+		unsafe {
+			bytes.as_mut_ptr().cast::<&Vector>().write(&vector);
+			bytes.as_mut_ptr().add(layout.offset_of(Fill::NAME, 0).unwrap()).cast::<Option<&List<Graphic>>>().write(Some(&paint));
+		}
+		let (legacy, expected) = {
+			// SAFETY: `bytes` holds one lane of `layout` at its stride.
+			let item = unsafe { GroupItem::from_resident(RecordBatch::new(bytes.as_ptr(), 1, &layout)) };
+			let legacy = run_to_legacy_list::<Vector>(&item).expect("the run lowers to a legacy vector list");
+			(legacy, map_groups_to_legacy(paint.element(0).unwrap()))
+		};
+		bytes.fill(u8::MAX);
+		inner_bytes.fill(u8::MAX);
+		drop(paint);
+
+		let served = legacy.attribute::<Option<List<Graphic>>>(Fill::NAME, 0).expect("the fill attribute rides the list");
+		let served = served.as_ref().expect("the fill is present");
+		assert_eq!(served.element(0).unwrap(), &expected);
+	}
+
+	#[test]
+	fn a_run_list_keeps_native_group_elements() {
+		let inner_vector = unit_square_at(DVec2::ZERO);
+		let inner_layout = Layout::default().with_writes(0, element_write_hashed::<Vector>(), &[]);
+		let mut inner_bytes = vec![0u8; inner_layout.lane_stride()];
+		let content = native_group_paint(&inner_vector, &inner_layout, &mut inner_bytes);
+		let element = content.element(0).unwrap();
+
+		let layout = Layout::default().with_writes(0, element_write_hashed::<Graphic>(), &[]);
+		let mut bytes = vec![0u8; layout.lane_stride()];
+		// SAFETY: `bytes` is one lane of `layout`; a parked element stores its
+		// reference.
+		unsafe { bytes.as_mut_ptr().cast::<&Graphic>().write(element) };
+		// SAFETY: `bytes` holds one lane of `layout` at its stride.
+		let item = unsafe { GroupItem::from_resident(RecordBatch::new(bytes.as_ptr(), 1, &layout)) };
+		let list = run_to_list::<Graphic>(&item).expect("the run holds graphic lanes");
+		assert!(matches!(list.element(0), Some(Graphic::Group(_))), "the list keeps the native group form");
+	}
+
 	#[test]
 	fn a_run_and_its_legacy_list_agree_on_bounding_boxes() {
 		let vectors = [unit_square_at(DVec2::ZERO), unit_square_at(DVec2::new(4., 4.))];
diff --git a/node-graph/libraries/graphic-types/src/markers.rs b/node-graph/libraries/graphic-types/src/markers.rs
index 102da9c250..b827f3d1de 100644
--- a/node-graph/libraries/graphic-types/src/markers.rs
+++ b/node-graph/libraries/graphic-types/src/markers.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 //! Attribute markers whose value types live in this crate, with their name
 //! constants for the string-keyed legacy readers and writers.
 //!
-//! The list-valued markers deep-copy by cloning the list, so their values must
-//! stay free of arena-borrowing content such as [`Graphic::Group`].
+//! The list-valued markers may carry native [`Graphic::Group`] content: the
+//! registered deep field glue owns it across persistence seams, and legacy
+//! products convert it through [`crate::graphic::map_paint_attrs_to_legacy`].
 
 use crate::Graphic;
 use core_types::attribute::Attribute;
diff --git a/node-graph/nodes/vector/src/vector_nodes.rs b/node-graph/nodes/vector/src/vector_nodes.rs
index 579412aa7b..07814fd42f 100644
--- a/node-graph/nodes/vector/src/vector_nodes.rs
+++ b/node-graph/nodes/vector/src/vector_nodes.rs
@@ -311,14 +311,12 @@ fn default_gradient_paint(paint: &mut List<Graphic>, bounds: Option<[DVec2; 2]>,
 	}
 }
 
-/// The materialized paint level as the canonical paint table.
+/// The materialized paint level as the canonical owned paint list, content
+/// kept in its native form.
 fn paint_table(paint: core_types::node::List<'_, Graphic>) -> List<Graphic> {
 	// SAFETY: a materialized input's frames are arena-resident.
 	let item = unsafe { core_types::record::GroupItem::from_resident(paint.batch()) };
-	graphic_types::graphic::group_to_legacy_list(&core_types::record::Group {
-		row: None,
-		content: core_types::record::GroupContent::Run(item),
-	})
+	graphic_types::graphic::run_to_list::<Graphic>(&item).expect("a paint level holds graphic lanes")
 }
 
 /// Applies a fill style to the vector content, giving an appearance to the area within the interior of the geometry.