diff --git a/assets/_crowdpass.py b/assets/_crowdpass.py
index ccd4184..e37f61e 100644
--- a/assets/_crowdpass.py
+++ b/assets/_crowdpass.py
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
 #   uv run --with pillow --with numpy --with scipy python assets/_crowdpass.py            # install
 #   uv run --with pillow --with numpy --with scipy python assets/_crowdpass.py --review   # to _refcheck
 #
-# INPUT   assets/_refcheck/crowd_seat.png + crowd_clap.png  (see `_crowdroll.py`)
+# INPUT   assets/_sheet_crowd3.png + _sheet_crowd3b.png — the two rolls (see `_crowdroll.py`),
+#         tracked, because _refcheck is scratch and these are the only copy of the art
 # OUTPUT  assets/x_crowd{,2}.png · x_crowd_c{,2}.png · x_crowd_h{,2}.png · src/crowd.js
 #
 # THE PROBLEM THIS SOLVES. Ask a generator for "the same picture with some arms raised" and about a
@@ -158,8 +159,8 @@ def write_table(boxes, h, w):
 
 
 def main(review):
-    A = np.asarray(Image.open(os.path.join(REFCHECK, 'crowd_seat.png')).convert('RGB'))
-    B = np.asarray(Image.open(os.path.join(REFCHECK, 'crowd_clap.png')).convert('RGB'))
+    A = np.asarray(Image.open(os.path.join(HERE, '_sheet_crowd3.png')).convert('RGB'))
+    B = np.asarray(Image.open(os.path.join(HERE, '_sheet_crowd3b.png')).convert('RGB'))
     arms, lab = raisers(A, B)
     h, w = A.shape[:2]
 
diff --git a/assets/_crowdroll.py b/assets/_crowdroll.py
index 42af81f..31e7fb8 100644
--- a/assets/_crowdroll.py
+++ b/assets/_crowdroll.py
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 # _crowdroll.py — roll the crowd sheet itself: the SEATED master, and the arms-up frame of it.
 #
 #   uv run --with pillow --with requests python assets/_crowdroll.py seat   # -> _refcheck/crowd_seat.png
-#   uv run --with pillow --with requests python assets/_crowdroll.py clap   # from the seated master
+#   uv run --with pillow --with requests python assets/_crowdroll.py clap   # from that seated roll
 #
-# Then `_crowdpass.py` turns the two into an honest pair and grades them into the three courts.
+# _refcheck is SCRATCH. A roll you decide to keep is copied to `assets/_sheet_crowd3.png` (seated)
+# and `_sheet_crowd3b.png` (arms up) — those two are the tracked art, they are what `_crowdpass.py`
+# reads, and they are the only copy there is. Then `_crowdpass.py` turns them into an honest pair
+# and grades them into the three courts.
 #
 # WHY A SECOND SCRIPT. `_regen.py` cuts SPRITES out of a magenta field — every line of its canvas
 # block is about isolating figures on a key colour. The crowd is the opposite job: one continuous
@@ -117,7 +120,9 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     os.makedirs(OUT, exist_ok=True)
     what = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv) > 1 else 'seat'
     if what == 'seat':
-        ref = sys.argv[2] if len(sys.argv) > 2 else os.path.join(OUT, 'crowd_layout.png')
+        # the layout reference defaults to the seated master in the repo, so a re-roll keeps the
+        # stand's geometry rather than inventing a new one every time
+        ref = sys.argv[2] if len(sys.argv) > 2 else os.path.join(HERE, '_sheet_crowd3.png')
         roll(SEAT, ref, os.path.join(OUT, 'crowd_seat.png'))
     elif what == 'clap':
         roll(CLAP, os.path.join(OUT, 'crowd_seat.png'), os.path.join(OUT, 'crowd_clap.png'))
diff --git a/assets/_sheet_crowd3.png b/assets/_sheet_crowd3.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..70e2abf
Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/_sheet_crowd3.png differ
diff --git a/assets/_sheet_crowd3b.png b/assets/_sheet_crowd3b.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5e363f9
Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/_sheet_crowd3b.png differ