diff --git a/ROADMAP.md b/ROADMAP.md
index 76521aa6..318df773 100644
--- a/ROADMAP.md
+++ b/ROADMAP.md
@@ -59,6 +59,15 @@ PCB / Package, Render, Animation, Simulation, Manufacture/CAM, Drawings.
 | M14 | Configurations: a table of rows (parameter expressions and feature suppressions per row) switched with config.activate (undoable, all or nothing), kept through parameter renames and feature deletes (config.configure, config.table, config.column/row/activate). Per-row body materials and appearances (library looks, custom colour/opacity and clearing overrides), undoable activation and save/reopen: done. Ordered typed configuration rules, atomic validation and structured rule editing: done. Component appearance and certified semantic face style columns, atomic preview/apply and independent-copy remapping: done. Exact constructed sketch-side and immutable imported-face lineage now preserve legacy names and reject retargeting. Left: ambiguous shifted/two-sided caps | in progress | 4 |
 | M13 | Never lose work: atomic saves (temporary file, flush, rename; a crash at any moment leaves the old file or the new one) with the replaced version kept as `<file>.bak`; autosave of unsaved changes to the recovery folder every 5 minutes (preference) and after big operations, only when something changed; "Recover unsaved design?" on the next launch (`doc.recovery_list`, `doc.recover`, `doc.recovery_discard`); a kill-mid-save test (process killed while saving a 0.5 MB design 25 times). File format: `"format": "solidcraft/12"`, older formats upgraded step by step (`doc::format`), newer ones refused with a message, out-of-range numbers and broken placements refused; a corpus of designs saved by M0, components-era, joints-era and current builds (apps/solidcraft-cli/tests/corpus) that must open and evaluate as saved; damaged and hostile variants (truncation, bit flips, hostile values, removed keys, repeated features, deep nesting) never panic | done | 6 |
 
+## Render foundation
+
+- R1 adds renderer-independent backend/profile metadata, strict request resolution and
+  bounded image/scratch admission checks, exposed by the read-only `render.backends`
+  command. It describes the current CPU raster snapshot path without evaluating the model.
+  Existing snapshot and viewport routes remain unchanged. The Render workspace, HDRI/PBR,
+  render jobs and optional engines remain future work; see [the contract](docs/render-backends.md)
+  and [the phased proposal (#620)](https://github.com/bherbruck/solidcraft/issues/620).
+
 ## Dimensioning and error reporting
 
 - MCP `execute` accepts `verbose: false`, sharing the compact reply helper used by
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/mod.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/mod.rs
index 4ad89a23..21a33552 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/mod.rs
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ pub(crate) use measure_sel::measure_items;
 mod kernel_heal_tests;
 mod parameters;
 mod plastic;
+mod render;
 mod sheet;
 mod sketch;
 pub(crate) use sketch::author_path_for_rebind;
@@ -222,6 +223,7 @@ pub fn command_specs() -> Vec<&'static CommandSpec> {
     v.extend(section::COMMANDS.iter());
     v.extend(view_navigation::COMMANDS.iter());
     v.extend(diagnostics::COMMANDS.iter());
+    v.extend(render::COMMANDS.iter());
     v
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/render.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/render.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d7005c2c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/render.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+//! Render capability discovery. No rendering, host probing or document mutation occurs here.
+
+use serde_json::{Value, json};
+
+use super::CommandSpec;
+use crate::params::bad;
+use crate::{Result, Session};
+
+pub static COMMANDS: &[CommandSpec] = &[CommandSpec::new("render.backends", "Render Backends", backends)
+    .noundo()
+    .doc_only()
+    .params("No parameters. Returns {schema_version: 1, default_backend: builtin, backends: [{id, label, availability, executors: [{id, availability, profiles, limits, scratch}]}]}. Metadata only; does not start rendering or probe a GPU. See docs/render-backends.md")];
+
+fn backends(_: &mut Session, params: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
+    if !params.as_object().is_some_and(|p| p.is_empty()) {
+        return Err(bad("render.backends", "expected an empty parameter object"));
+    }
+    Ok(json!({"schema_version": 1, "default_backend": "builtin", "backends": [crate::render::builtin_backend()]}))
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use std::sync::Arc;
+
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn assert_unchanged(s: &mut Session, params: Value) -> Result<Value> {
+        let doc = s.doc.clone();
+        let before = (s.is_dirty(), s.revision, s.evaluations, s.model.is_stale());
+        let camera = s.camera;
+        let undo = s.undo.clone();
+        let redo = s.redo.clone();
+        let result = s.execute("render.backends", &params);
+        assert!(Arc::ptr_eq(&doc, &s.doc));
+        assert_eq!(before, (s.is_dirty(), s.revision, s.evaluations, s.model.is_stale()));
+        assert_eq!(camera, s.camera);
+        for (before, after) in [(&undo, &s.undo), (&redo, &s.redo)] {
+            assert_eq!(before.len(), after.len());
+            for (a, b) in before.iter().zip(after.iter()) {
+                assert!(Arc::ptr_eq(&a.doc, &b.doc));
+                assert_eq!((&a.label, a.active_sketch, &a.pending_moves), (&b.label, b.active_sketch, &b.pending_moves));
+            }
+        }
+        result
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn discovery_preserves_clean_dirty_and_undo_redo_state() {
+        let mut s = Session::default();
+        let r = assert_unchanged(&mut s, Value::Null).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(r["schema_version"], 1);
+        assert_eq!(r["default_backend"], "builtin");
+        assert_eq!(r["backends"].as_array().unwrap().len(), 1);
+        let descriptor: crate::render::BackendDescriptor = serde_json::from_value(r["backends"][0].clone()).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(descriptor, crate::render::builtin_backend());
+        s.execute("solid.box", &json!({"length": 10, "width": 20, "height": 5})).unwrap();
+        s.execute("view.apply", &json!({"view": "top"})).unwrap();
+        assert!(s.is_dirty());
+        assert_unchanged(&mut s, json!({})).unwrap();
+        s.execute("edit.undo", &json!({})).unwrap();
+        assert!(!s.redo.is_empty());
+        assert_unchanged(&mut s, json!({})).unwrap();
+        for p in [json!([]), json!(3), json!({"backend": "missing"}), json!({"width": "bad"})] {
+            assert!(assert_unchanged(&mut s, p).is_err());
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn discovery_does_not_settle_a_live_drag_or_rebuild_geometry() {
+        let mut s = Session::default();
+        for (id, p) in [
+            ("sketch.create", json!({"plane": "XY"})),
+            ("sketch.rectangle.two_point", json!({"p0": [5, 5], "p1": [25, 20]})),
+            ("sketch.dimension", json!({"entities": ["l1"], "value": 20})),
+            ("sketch.dimension", json!({"entities": ["l2"], "value": 15})),
+            ("sketch.finish", json!({})),
+            ("solid.extrude", json!({"distance": 5})),
+            ("sketch.edit", json!({"sketch": "Sketch1"})),
+            ("sketch.drag", json!({"entity": "l1.start", "from": [5, 5], "to": [4, 5], "live": true})),
+        ] {
+            s.execute(id, &p).unwrap();
+        }
+        assert!(s.model.is_stale());
+        s.evaluations = 0;
+        let model = s.model.state();
+        assert_unchanged(&mut s, json!({})).unwrap();
+        assert_unchanged(&mut s, json!({"unexpected": true})).unwrap_err();
+        assert!(Arc::ptr_eq(&model, &s.model.state()));
+        assert_eq!(s.evaluations, 0);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/render/src/backend.rs b/crates/render/src/backend.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d9f4ba97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/render/src/backend.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,393 @@
+//! Capability discovery and strict request resolution. This is metadata, not a render-job API.
+//! GPU hosts may describe their own executors later; no device or UI types belong here.
+
+use std::collections::BTreeSet;
+use std::fmt;
+
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+
+/// Maximum ASCII bytes in a backend or executor identifier.
+pub const MAX_RENDER_ID_BYTES: usize = 64;
+
+macro_rules! render_id {
+    ($name:ident) => {
+        #[doc = "A validated, bounded identifier: lowercase ASCII letter followed by letters, digits, '.', '_' or '-'."]
+        #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+        #[serde(try_from = "String", into = "String")]
+        pub struct $name(String);
+
+        impl $name {
+            pub fn new(value: &str) -> Result<Self, ResolveError> {
+                if value.is_empty()
+                    || value.len() > MAX_RENDER_ID_BYTES
+                    || !value.as_bytes().first().is_some_and(u8::is_ascii_lowercase)
+                    || !value.bytes().all(|b| b.is_ascii_lowercase() || b.is_ascii_digit() || matches!(b, b'.' | b'_' | b'-'))
+                {
+                    return Err(ResolveError::InvalidId);
+                }
+                Ok(Self(value.into()))
+            }
+
+            pub fn as_str(&self) -> &str {
+                &self.0
+            }
+        }
+
+        impl TryFrom<String> for $name {
+            type Error = ResolveError;
+            fn try_from(value: String) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
+                Self::new(&value)
+            }
+        }
+
+        impl From<$name> for String {
+            fn from(value: $name) -> Self {
+                value.0
+            }
+        }
+    };
+}
+
+render_id!(BackendId);
+render_id!(ExecutorId);
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "snake_case")]
+pub enum RenderMode {
+    Quick,
+    Preview,
+    Final,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "snake_case")]
+pub enum RenderOperation {
+    Viewport,
+    Image,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "snake_case")]
+pub enum RenderFormat {
+    Png,
+    Exr,
+}
+
+/// Features callers can require. Listing a variant does not advertise support for it.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "snake_case")]
+pub enum RenderFeature {
+    Hdri,
+    Pbr,
+    Refraction,
+    Progressive,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(tag = "status", rename_all = "snake_case")]
+pub enum Availability {
+    Available,
+    Unavailable { reason: String },
+}
+
+/// A supported combination, rather than the Cartesian product of independent feature flags.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
+pub struct RenderProfile {
+    pub mode: RenderMode,
+    pub operation: RenderOperation,
+    /// Image profiles list their formats; viewport profiles have none.
+    pub formats: Vec<RenderFormat>,
+    pub features: Vec<RenderFeature>,
+}
+
+/// Admission policy for the new resolver. Existing snapshot entry points retain their limits.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
+pub struct RenderLimits {
+    pub max_dimension: u64,
+    pub max_pixels: u64,
+    pub max_scratch_bytes: u64,
+}
+
+impl Default for RenderLimits {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self { max_dimension: 4096, max_pixels: 4_194_304, max_scratch_bytes: 256 * 1024 * 1024 }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Estimated pixel-buffer cost, excluding scene/texture/geometry and codec-internal memory.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
+pub struct ScratchLayout {
+    pub sample_scale: u64,
+    pub sample_bytes_per_pixel: u64,
+    pub output_bytes_per_pixel: u64,
+    pub encoding_bytes_per_pixel: u64,
+}
+
+impl ScratchLayout {
+    /// Current rasterizer: 2× in each dimension, RGBA8 + f32 depth at both resolutions,
+    /// plus an allowance for one RGBA copy and encoded output (8 bytes/output pixel).
+    pub const CPU_RASTER: Self = Self { sample_scale: 2, sample_bytes_per_pixel: 8, output_bytes_per_pixel: 8, encoding_bytes_per_pixel: 8 };
+
+    pub fn estimate(self, width: u64, height: u64) -> Result<u64, ResolveError> {
+        let overflow = ResolveError::SizeOverflow;
+        let pixels = width.checked_mul(height).ok_or(overflow.clone())?;
+        let sw = width.checked_mul(self.sample_scale).ok_or(overflow.clone())?;
+        let sh = height.checked_mul(self.sample_scale).ok_or(overflow.clone())?;
+        let samples = sw.checked_mul(sh).ok_or(overflow.clone())?;
+        let sampled = samples.checked_mul(self.sample_bytes_per_pixel).ok_or(overflow.clone())?;
+        let output = pixels.checked_mul(self.output_bytes_per_pixel).ok_or(overflow.clone())?;
+        let encoding = pixels.checked_mul(self.encoding_bytes_per_pixel).ok_or(overflow.clone())?;
+        let bytes = sampled.checked_add(output).and_then(|n| n.checked_add(encoding)).ok_or(overflow.clone())?;
+        // A request valid on a 64-bit host must not overflow allocations on wasm32.
+        for value in [sw, sh, samples, pixels, bytes] {
+            let value = usize::try_from(value).map_err(|_| overflow.clone())?;
+            if value > isize::MAX as usize {
+                return Err(overflow);
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(bytes)
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
+pub struct ExecutorDescriptor {
+    pub id: ExecutorId,
+    pub availability: Availability,
+    pub profiles: Vec<RenderProfile>,
+    pub limits: RenderLimits,
+    pub scratch: ScratchLayout,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
+pub struct BackendDescriptor {
+    pub id: BackendId,
+    pub label: String,
+    pub availability: Availability,
+    pub executors: Vec<ExecutorDescriptor>,
+}
+
+/// Only strict resolution exists. Unknown JSON policies fail rather than imply a fallback.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Default, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "snake_case")]
+pub enum RenderPolicy {
+    #[default]
+    Strict,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
+pub struct RenderRequest {
+    /// Omitted means the integrated backend, never "whichever engine happens to be available".
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub backend: Option<BackendId>,
+    pub mode: RenderMode,
+    pub operation: RenderOperation,
+    pub width: u64,
+    pub height: u64,
+    pub format: Option<RenderFormat>,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub features: Vec<RenderFeature>,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub policy: RenderPolicy,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize)]
+pub struct ResolvedRequest {
+    pub backend: BackendId,
+    pub executor: ExecutorId,
+    pub profile: RenderProfile,
+    pub width: u64,
+    pub height: u64,
+    pub format: Option<RenderFormat>,
+    pub estimated_scratch_bytes: u64,
+    /// Always empty under the only supported policy, Strict.
+    pub warnings: Vec<String>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum ResolveError {
+    InvalidId,
+    InvalidRequest(&'static str),
+    InvalidRegistry(&'static str),
+    DuplicateBackend(BackendId),
+    DuplicateExecutor { backend: BackendId, executor: ExecutorId },
+    UnknownBackend(BackendId),
+    BackendUnavailable(String),
+    NoAvailableExecutor,
+    UnsupportedProfile { mode: RenderMode, operation: RenderOperation },
+    UnsupportedFormat,
+    UnsupportedFeature(RenderFeature),
+    InvalidDimensions,
+    LimitExceeded { resource: &'static str, requested: u64, limit: u64 },
+    SizeOverflow,
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for ResolveError {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        match self {
+            Self::InvalidId => write!(
+                f,
+                "render identifier must be 1–64 ASCII bytes, start with a lowercase letter and contain only lowercase letters, digits, '.', '_' or '-'"
+            ),
+            Self::InvalidRequest(reason) => write!(f, "invalid render request: {reason}"),
+            Self::InvalidRegistry(reason) => write!(f, "invalid render registry: {reason}"),
+            Self::DuplicateBackend(id) => write!(f, "duplicate render backend: {}", id.as_str()),
+            Self::DuplicateExecutor { backend, executor } => write!(f, "duplicate executor {} in backend {}", executor.as_str(), backend.as_str()),
+            Self::UnknownBackend(id) => write!(f, "unknown render backend: {}", id.as_str()),
+            Self::BackendUnavailable(reason) => write!(f, "render backend unavailable: {reason}"),
+            Self::NoAvailableExecutor => write!(f, "render backend has no available executor"),
+            Self::UnsupportedProfile { mode, operation } => write!(f, "unsupported render profile: {mode:?}/{operation:?}"),
+            Self::UnsupportedFormat => write!(f, "unsupported render output format for this profile"),
+            Self::UnsupportedFeature(feature) => write!(f, "unsupported render feature: {feature:?}"),
+            Self::InvalidDimensions => write!(f, "render dimensions must be positive"),
+            Self::LimitExceeded { resource, requested, limit } => write!(f, "render {resource} exceeds limit: {requested} > {limit}"),
+            Self::SizeOverflow => write!(f, "render buffer size overflows the supported address space"),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl std::error::Error for ResolveError {}
+
+/// The existing CPU raster snapshot capability. No device is probed and no job is started.
+pub fn builtin_backend() -> BackendDescriptor {
+    BackendDescriptor {
+        id: BackendId("builtin".into()),
+        label: "Integrated".into(),
+        availability: Availability::Available,
+        executors: vec![ExecutorDescriptor {
+            id: ExecutorId("cpu-raster".into()),
+            availability: Availability::Available,
+            profiles: vec![RenderProfile {
+                mode: RenderMode::Preview,
+                operation: RenderOperation::Image,
+                formats: vec![RenderFormat::Png],
+                features: Vec::new(),
+            }],
+            limits: RenderLimits::default(),
+            scratch: ScratchLayout::CPU_RASTER,
+        }],
+    }
+}
+
+fn validate_registry(backends: &[BackendDescriptor]) -> Result<(), ResolveError> {
+    if backends.len() > 32 {
+        return Err(ResolveError::InvalidRegistry("too many backends (maximum 32)"));
+    }
+    let mut ids = BTreeSet::new();
+    for backend in backends {
+        if !ids.insert(&backend.id) {
+            return Err(ResolveError::DuplicateBackend(backend.id.clone()));
+        }
+        if backend.executors.len() > 16 {
+            return Err(ResolveError::InvalidRegistry("too many executors (maximum 16 per backend)"));
+        }
+        let mut executors = BTreeSet::new();
+        for executor in &backend.executors {
+            if !executors.insert(&executor.id) {
+                return Err(ResolveError::DuplicateExecutor { backend: backend.id.clone(), executor: executor.id.clone() });
+            }
+            if executor.profiles.len() > 16 || executor.scratch.sample_scale == 0 {
+                return Err(ResolveError::InvalidRegistry("invalid profile count or zero sample scale"));
+            }
+            let mut profiles = BTreeSet::new();
+            for profile in &executor.profiles {
+                if profile.formats.len() > 16 || profile.features.len() > 32 {
+                    return Err(ResolveError::InvalidRegistry("too many formats or features"));
+                }
+                if !profiles.insert((profile.mode, profile.operation)) {
+                    return Err(ResolveError::InvalidRegistry("duplicate mode/operation profile"));
+                }
+                let formats: BTreeSet<_> = profile.formats.iter().collect();
+                let features: BTreeSet<_> = profile.features.iter().collect();
+                if formats.len() != profile.formats.len() || features.len() != profile.features.len() {
+                    return Err(ResolveError::InvalidRegistry("duplicate format or feature"));
+                }
+                if (profile.operation == RenderOperation::Image) == profile.formats.is_empty() {
+                    return Err(ResolveError::InvalidRegistry("image profiles require formats; viewport profiles must have none"));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn check_limit(resource: &'static str, requested: u64, limit: u64) -> Result<(), ResolveError> {
+    if requested > limit { Err(ResolveError::LimitExceeded { resource, requested, limit }) } else { Ok(()) }
+}
+
+fn check_request(executor: &ExecutorDescriptor, profile: &RenderProfile, request: &RenderRequest) -> Result<u64, ResolveError> {
+    match (request.operation, request.format) {
+        (RenderOperation::Image, Some(format)) if profile.formats.contains(&format) => {}
+        (RenderOperation::Viewport, None) => {}
+        _ => return Err(ResolveError::UnsupportedFormat),
+    }
+    // Stable diagnostics even if callers reorder required features.
+    for feature in request.features.iter().collect::<BTreeSet<_>>() {
+        if !profile.features.contains(feature) {
+            return Err(ResolveError::UnsupportedFeature(*feature));
+        }
+    }
+    let limits = executor.limits;
+    check_limit("width", request.width, limits.max_dimension)?;
+    check_limit("height", request.height, limits.max_dimension)?;
+    let pixels = request.width.checked_mul(request.height).ok_or(ResolveError::SizeOverflow)?;
+    check_limit("pixels", pixels, limits.max_pixels)?;
+    let scratch = executor.scratch.estimate(request.width, request.height)?;
+    check_limit("estimated scratch bytes", scratch, limits.max_scratch_bytes)?;
+    Ok(scratch)
+}
+
+/// Selects the lexicographically first available executor that satisfies the complete request.
+/// Order in the registry never implies priority; explicit backends never fall back to another.
+pub fn resolve_request(backends: &[BackendDescriptor], request: &RenderRequest) -> Result<ResolvedRequest, ResolveError> {
+    validate_registry(backends)?;
+    if request.width == 0 || request.height == 0 {
+        return Err(ResolveError::InvalidDimensions);
+    }
+    if request.features.len() > 32 {
+        return Err(ResolveError::InvalidRequest("too many required features (maximum 32)"));
+    }
+    let id = request.backend.clone().unwrap_or_else(|| BackendId("builtin".into()));
+    let backend = backends.iter().find(|b| b.id == id).ok_or_else(|| ResolveError::UnknownBackend(id.clone()))?;
+    if let Availability::Unavailable { reason } = &backend.availability {
+        return Err(ResolveError::BackendUnavailable(reason.clone()));
+    }
+    let mut executors: Vec<_> = backend.executors.iter().filter(|e| e.availability == Availability::Available).collect();
+    executors.sort_by(|a, b| a.id.cmp(&b.id));
+    if executors.is_empty() {
+        return Err(ResolveError::NoAvailableExecutor);
+    }
+    let mut failure = None;
+    for executor in executors {
+        let Some(profile) = executor.profiles.iter().find(|p| p.mode == request.mode && p.operation == request.operation) else { continue };
+        match check_request(executor, profile, request) {
+            Ok(estimated_scratch_bytes) => {
+                let mut profile = profile.clone();
+                profile.formats.sort();
+                profile.features.sort();
+                return Ok(ResolvedRequest {
+                    backend: id,
+                    executor: executor.id.clone(),
+                    profile,
+                    width: request.width,
+                    height: request.height,
+                    format: request.format,
+                    estimated_scratch_bytes,
+                    warnings: Vec::new(),
+                });
+            }
+            Err(error) => {
+                failure.get_or_insert(error);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    Err(failure.unwrap_or(ResolveError::UnsupportedProfile { mode: request.mode, operation: request.operation }))
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests;
diff --git a/crates/render/src/backend/tests.rs b/crates/render/src/backend/tests.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a08f7c21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/render/src/backend/tests.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,190 @@
+use super::*;
+use serde_json::json;
+
+fn request() -> RenderRequest {
+    RenderRequest {
+        backend: None,
+        mode: RenderMode::Preview,
+        operation: RenderOperation::Image,
+        width: 640,
+        height: 480,
+        format: Some(RenderFormat::Png),
+        features: Vec::new(),
+        policy: RenderPolicy::Strict,
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn builtin_resolves_only_the_existing_raster_snapshot_profile() {
+    let backends = [builtin_backend()];
+    let r = resolve_request(&backends, &request()).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(r.backend.as_str(), "builtin");
+    assert_eq!(r.executor.as_str(), "cpu-raster");
+    assert_eq!(r.profile.mode, RenderMode::Preview);
+    assert_eq!(r.estimated_scratch_bytes, 640 * 480 * 48);
+    assert!(r.warnings.is_empty() && r.profile.features.is_empty());
+    for mode in [RenderMode::Quick, RenderMode::Final] {
+        assert_eq!(
+            resolve_request(&backends, &RenderRequest { mode, ..request() }),
+            Err(ResolveError::UnsupportedProfile { mode, operation: RenderOperation::Image })
+        );
+    }
+    assert!(matches!(
+        resolve_request(&backends, &RenderRequest { operation: RenderOperation::Viewport, format: None, ..request() }),
+        Err(ResolveError::UnsupportedProfile { .. })
+    ));
+    for format in [None, Some(RenderFormat::Exr)] {
+        assert_eq!(resolve_request(&backends, &RenderRequest { format, ..request() }), Err(ResolveError::UnsupportedFormat));
+    }
+    for feature in [RenderFeature::Hdri, RenderFeature::Pbr, RenderFeature::Refraction, RenderFeature::Progressive] {
+        assert_eq!(
+            resolve_request(&backends, &RenderRequest { features: vec![feature], ..request() }),
+            Err(ResolveError::UnsupportedFeature(feature))
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn registry_order_is_not_backend_or_executor_priority() {
+    let mut second = builtin_backend();
+    second.id = BackendId::new("test-engine").unwrap();
+    second.executors.first_mut().unwrap().id = ExecutorId::new("z-cpu").unwrap();
+    let mut other = second.executors.first().unwrap().clone();
+    other.id = ExecutorId::new("a-cpu").unwrap();
+    second.executors.push(other);
+    let mut backends = vec![builtin_backend(), second];
+    let req = RenderRequest { backend: Some(BackendId::new("test-engine").unwrap()), ..request() };
+    let expected = resolve_request(&backends, &req).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(expected.executor.as_str(), "a-cpu");
+    backends.reverse();
+    backends.first_mut().unwrap().executors.reverse();
+    assert_eq!(resolve_request(&backends, &req).unwrap(), expected);
+    assert_eq!(resolve_request(&backends, &request()).unwrap().backend.as_str(), "builtin");
+    // A candidate that cannot satisfy the request must not hide a later capable executor.
+    backends.first_mut().unwrap().executors.first_mut().unwrap().limits.max_dimension = 1;
+    assert_eq!(resolve_request(&backends, &req).unwrap().executor.as_str(), "z-cpu");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn explicit_unknown_or_unavailable_backend_never_falls_back() {
+    let builtin = builtin_backend();
+    let unknown = BackendId::new("missing").unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(
+        resolve_request(std::slice::from_ref(&builtin), &RenderRequest { backend: Some(unknown.clone()), ..request() }),
+        Err(ResolveError::UnknownBackend(unknown))
+    );
+    let mut second = builtin.clone();
+    second.id = BackendId::new("test-engine").unwrap();
+    second.availability = Availability::Unavailable { reason: "device initialization failed".into() };
+    let req = RenderRequest { backend: Some(second.id.clone()), ..request() };
+    assert_eq!(resolve_request(&[builtin, second], &req), Err(ResolveError::BackendUnavailable("device initialization failed".into())));
+    let mut backend = builtin_backend();
+    backend.executors.first_mut().unwrap().availability = Availability::Unavailable { reason: "executor disabled".into() };
+    assert_eq!(resolve_request(&[backend], &request()), Err(ResolveError::NoAvailableExecutor));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn ambiguous_registries_are_rejected_before_selection() {
+    let mut b = builtin_backend();
+    assert!(matches!(resolve_request(&[b.clone(), b.clone()], &request()), Err(ResolveError::DuplicateBackend(_))));
+    b.executors.push(b.executors.first().unwrap().clone());
+    assert!(matches!(resolve_request(&[b], &request()), Err(ResolveError::DuplicateExecutor { .. })));
+    let mut b = builtin_backend();
+    let e = b.executors.first_mut().unwrap();
+    e.profiles.push(e.profiles.first().unwrap().clone());
+    assert!(matches!(resolve_request(&[b], &request()), Err(ResolveError::InvalidRegistry(_))));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn capabilities_are_not_combined_across_execution_paths() {
+    let mut b = builtin_backend();
+    let e = b.executors.first_mut().unwrap();
+    e.id = ExecutorId::new("a-png-with-hdri").unwrap();
+    e.profiles.first_mut().unwrap().features = vec![RenderFeature::Hdri];
+    let mut second = e.clone();
+    second.id = ExecutorId::new("z-exr-without-hdri").unwrap();
+    let profile = second.profiles.first_mut().unwrap();
+    profile.formats = vec![RenderFormat::Exr];
+    profile.features.clear();
+    b.executors.push(second);
+    let req = RenderRequest { format: Some(RenderFormat::Exr), features: vec![RenderFeature::Hdri], ..request() };
+    assert_eq!(resolve_request(std::slice::from_ref(&b), &req), Err(ResolveError::UnsupportedFormat));
+    b.executors.reverse();
+    assert_eq!(resolve_request(&[b], &req), Err(ResolveError::UnsupportedFormat));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn resolved_profiles_are_canonical_and_large_feature_lists_are_rejected() {
+    let mut b = builtin_backend();
+    let profile = b.executors.first_mut().unwrap().profiles.first_mut().unwrap();
+    profile.formats.push(RenderFormat::Exr);
+    profile.features = vec![RenderFeature::Pbr, RenderFeature::Hdri];
+    let expected = resolve_request(std::slice::from_ref(&b), &request()).unwrap();
+    let profile = b.executors.first_mut().unwrap().profiles.first_mut().unwrap();
+    profile.formats.reverse();
+    profile.features.reverse();
+    assert_eq!(resolve_request(&[b], &request()).unwrap(), expected);
+    assert!(matches!(
+        resolve_request(&[builtin_backend()], &RenderRequest { features: vec![RenderFeature::Hdri; 33], ..request() }),
+        Err(ResolveError::InvalidRequest(_))
+    ));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn dimension_pixel_and_scratch_limits_are_checked_without_allocating_images() {
+    for (width, height) in [(0, 480), (640, 0)] {
+        assert_eq!(resolve_request(&[builtin_backend()], &RenderRequest { width, height, ..request() }), Err(ResolveError::InvalidDimensions));
+    }
+    for (width, height, resource) in [(4097, 1, "width"), (1, 4097, "height"), (4096, 4096, "pixels")] {
+        assert!(matches!(
+            resolve_request(&[builtin_backend()], &RenderRequest { width, height, ..request() }),
+            Err(ResolveError::LimitExceeded { resource: r, .. }) if r == resource
+        ));
+    }
+    let mut b = builtin_backend();
+    b.executors.first_mut().unwrap().limits.max_scratch_bytes = 640 * 480 * 48 - 1;
+    assert!(matches!(resolve_request(&[b], &request()), Err(ResolveError::LimitExceeded { resource: "estimated scratch bytes", .. })));
+    // Both policy boundaries are inclusive.
+    let r = resolve_request(&[builtin_backend()], &RenderRequest { width: 2048, height: 2048, ..request() }).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(r.estimated_scratch_bytes, 201_326_592);
+    assert!(resolve_request(&[builtin_backend()], &RenderRequest { width: 4096, height: 1, ..request() }).is_ok());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn checked_arithmetic_covers_pixels_supersampling_buffers_and_sums() {
+    let mut b = builtin_backend();
+    b.executors.first_mut().unwrap().limits = RenderLimits { max_dimension: u64::MAX, max_pixels: u64::MAX, max_scratch_bytes: u64::MAX };
+    assert_eq!(resolve_request(&[b], &RenderRequest { width: u64::MAX, height: 2, ..request() }), Err(ResolveError::SizeOverflow));
+    let s = ScratchLayout::CPU_RASTER;
+    for (width, height) in [(u64::MAX, 1), (u64::MAX / 2, 2), (u64::MAX / 8, 1)] {
+        assert_eq!(s.estimate(width, height), Err(ResolveError::SizeOverflow));
+    }
+    let sum = ScratchLayout { sample_scale: 1, sample_bytes_per_pixel: u64::MAX - 1, output_bytes_per_pixel: 1, encoding_bytes_per_pixel: 1 };
+    assert_eq!(sum.estimate(1, 1), Err(ResolveError::SizeOverflow));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn identifiers_and_json_reject_unsafe_or_unsupported_input() {
+    for id in ["", "Builtin", "../builtin", "with space", "1cpu", "café", &"a".repeat(MAX_RENDER_ID_BYTES + 1)] {
+        assert!(BackendId::new(id).is_err(), "{id}");
+        assert!(serde_json::from_value::<ExecutorId>(json!(id)).is_err(), "{id}");
+    }
+    assert!(BackendId::new(&"a".repeat(MAX_RENDER_ID_BYTES)).is_ok());
+    let valid = serde_json::to_value(request()).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(serde_json::from_value::<RenderRequest>(valid.clone()).unwrap(), request());
+    for (key, value) in [
+        ("width", json!(-1)),
+        ("width", json!(1.5)),
+        ("height", json!("480")),
+        ("mode", json!("photo")),
+        ("policy", json!("fallback")),
+        ("unexpected", json!(true)),
+    ] {
+        let mut invalid = valid.clone();
+        invalid[key] = value;
+        assert!(serde_json::from_value::<RenderRequest>(invalid).is_err(), "{key}");
+    }
+    for text in ["{", "[]", "null", "{\"width\":NaN}", "{\"width\":1e999}"] {
+        assert!(serde_json::from_str::<RenderRequest>(text).is_err());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/render/src/lib.rs b/crates/render/src/lib.rs
index 90f5e999..9329525e 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/lib.rs
@@ -4,10 +4,16 @@
 #![deny(clippy::unwrap_used, clippy::expect_used, clippy::panic, clippy::unimplemented, clippy::todo, clippy::unreachable)]
 #![forbid(unsafe_code)]
 
+mod backend;
 mod camera;
 mod curve_display;
 mod raster;
 
+pub use backend::{
+    Availability, BackendDescriptor, BackendId, ExecutorDescriptor, ExecutorId, MAX_RENDER_ID_BYTES, RenderFeature, RenderFormat, RenderLimits,
+    RenderMode, RenderOperation, RenderPolicy, RenderProfile, RenderRequest, ResolveError, ResolvedRequest, ScratchLayout, builtin_backend,
+    resolve_request,
+};
 pub use camera::{Camera, CameraAnim, Mat4, Quat, StandardView, UpAxis, ease_in_out};
 pub use curve_display::{PixelCurveView, SampledPath, SamplingBudget, SamplingQuality, sample_segment, sample_segment_unclipped};
 pub use raster::{Canvas, Rgb, SECTION_CAP, Scene, SceneLine, SceneMesh, png, render, render_png, render_transparent};
diff --git a/docs/features.md b/docs/features.md
index 6a765142..b469f779 100644
--- a/docs/features.md
+++ b/docs/features.md
@@ -481,6 +481,12 @@ SolidCraft's commands by area, generated by `cargo xtask features` from the comm
 | Insert Part | `parts.insert` | – |
 | Change Part Size | `parts.resize` | – |
 
+## `render.*` (1)
+
+| Command | Id | Toolbar |
+|---|---|---|
+| Render Backends | `render.backends` | – |
+
 ## `select.*` (2)
 
 | Command | Id | Toolbar |
diff --git a/docs/render-backends.md b/docs/render-backends.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..21eeaf2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/render-backends.md
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+# Render backend capabilities (R1)
+
+`render.backends` discovers render metadata without opening a window, probing a GPU,
+evaluating the model or changing the document, camera, dirty state or undo/redo history.
+It also leaves a model made stale by a live sketch gesture stale.
+
+```sh
+solidcraft-cli exec render.backends '{}'
+```
+
+The control channel and MCP `execute` use the same engine command. Parameters must be
+an empty object; a null parameter value is normalized to `{}` by the engine. Other
+parameters fail with a normal command error.
+
+## Discovery schema
+
+The command returns this JSON object (schema version 1):
+
+```json
+{
+  "schema_version": 1,
+  "default_backend": "builtin",
+  "backends": [{
+    "id": "builtin",
+    "label": "Integrated",
+    "availability": {"status": "available"},
+    "executors": [{
+      "id": "cpu-raster",
+      "availability": {"status": "available"},
+      "profiles": [{
+        "mode": "preview",
+        "operation": "image",
+        "formats": ["png"],
+        "features": []
+      }],
+      "limits": {
+        "max_dimension": 4096,
+        "max_pixels": 4194304,
+        "max_scratch_bytes": 268435456
+      },
+      "scratch": {
+        "sample_scale": 2,
+        "sample_bytes_per_pixel": 8,
+        "output_bytes_per_pixel": 8,
+        "encoding_bytes_per_pixel": 8
+      }
+    }]
+  }]
+}
+```
+
+An unavailable backend or executor instead has
+`"availability": {"status": "unavailable", "reason": "..."}`. These are runtime
+descriptors, not design-file settings. Executor IDs are scoped to their backend.
+Backend/executor IDs are 1–64 ASCII bytes: a lowercase letter followed by lowercase
+letters, digits, `.`, `_` or `-`. Both construction and deserialization validate IDs.
+
+The integrated backend currently describes only the existing CPU raster snapshot
+path. Its `preview`/`image` profile exports PNG; it does not claim HDRI, PBR,
+refraction, progressive rendering or a final-quality integrator. The existing GPU
+viewport remains separate and is not advertised here until a GPU host can register
+and probe its actual capabilities. CPU and GPU are execution paths, not separate
+user-selectable engine families.
+
+## Pure request resolution
+
+`solidcraft_render::resolve_request` accepts a descriptor slice and a `RenderRequest`.
+It validates and resolves metadata only: it does not allocate an image, start a job,
+reroute `snapshot` or call a renderer. A request can be deserialized from:
+
+```json
+{
+  "backend": "builtin",
+  "mode": "preview",
+  "operation": "image",
+  "width": 640,
+  "height": 480,
+  "format": "png",
+  "features": [],
+  "policy": "strict"
+}
+```
+
+`backend` defaults to `builtin` when absent/null. `features` defaults to `[]`, and
+`policy` defaults to `strict`. Mode, operation and positive integer dimensions are
+required. An image requires a supported format; a viewport requires absent/null
+`format`. Unknown fields, enum values, invalid IDs and incorrectly typed values fail
+deserialization. Dimensions are checked by the resolver. No floating-point request
+fields are introduced.
+
+Modes are `quick`, `preview`, `final`; operations are `viewport`, `image`; formats
+are `png`, `exr`. Required features can be `hdri`, `pbr`, `refraction`, `progressive`.
+These names define requests, not promises of support. Each executor lists complete
+mode/operation profiles with their formats and features. Capabilities are never
+combined across executors to create an unsupported profile.
+
+Resolution rejects duplicate backend IDs, executor IDs within a backend and duplicate
+mode/operation profiles. Registry sizes are bounded to 32 backends, 16 executors per
+backend and 16 profiles per executor; a request allows at most 32 feature entries.
+Available executors are considered in lexicographic ID order, and the first executor
+that satisfies the entire request is selected. Registry order does not convey priority.
+Returned profile formats/features are sorted, so their declaration order does not
+change the resolved result. If every candidate fails, the first matching executor's
+error is returned; unsupported profile is reported when none has that combination.
+
+The resolved value contains `backend`, `executor`, `profile`, `width`, `height`,
+`format`, `estimated_scratch_bytes` and `warnings`. Under strict policy warnings are
+empty and no requested setting is downgraded. Errors are typed `ResolveError` values:
+invalid IDs/request/registry, duplicate IDs, unknown/unavailable backend, no available
+executor, unsupported profile/format/feature, invalid dimensions, exceeded limits or
+size overflow. There is no fallback policy or public job API in R1.
+
+## Resource admission policy
+
+The new resolver's default limits are conservative policy values, not measured adapter
+capacity: 1–4096 pixels per dimension, at most 4,194,304 output pixels and a 256 MiB
+estimated pixel-buffer budget. Each executor supplies configurable `RenderLimits` and
+a `ScratchLayout`. Checked arithmetic covers dimensions, supersampling, buffer products,
+sums and the target's addressable allocation size, including wasm32.
+
+For the existing CPU raster path the estimate is 48 bytes per output pixel: four
+supersamples at 8 bytes each (RGBA8 plus f32 depth), an 8-byte output canvas, and an
+8-byte allowance for an RGBA copy and encoded output. At 640 × 480 this is 14,745,600
+bytes; at 2048 × 2048 it is 201,326,592 bytes. A 4096 × 4096 request exceeds the pixel
+limit despite each dimension being permitted.
+
+This is an admission estimate, not a total process-memory bound. It excludes scene,
+texture, projected-geometry, acceleration-structure and codec-internal allocations.
+Future execution hosts must enforce their own complete allocation/cancellation policy.
+The legacy rasterizer, CLI snapshots and GPU viewport keep their existing behaviour
+and limits; none is routed through this resolver in R1.
+
+The follow-on Render workspace, persistent setups, job hosts and optional engines are
+tracked in [#620](https://github.com/bherbruck/solidcraft/issues/620). The implemented
+foundation is scoped by [#642](https://github.com/bherbruck/solidcraft/issues/642).