diff --git a/apps/mapgen-studio/src/app/LeftDock.tsx b/apps/mapgen-studio/src/app/LeftDock.tsx
index dcbf786a1f..ab91db6e9d 100644
--- a/apps/mapgen-studio/src/app/LeftDock.tsx
+++ b/apps/mapgen-studio/src/app/LeftDock.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ import type { ReactNode } from "react";
 export type LeftDockProps = {
   /** Top offset (px) so the dock clears the floating header. */
   top: number;
+  /** Bottom offset (px) so the dock clears the floating footer. */
+  bottom: number;
   /** The recipe/config authoring panel rendered inside the dock. */
   children: ReactNode;
 };
@@ -10,13 +12,21 @@ export type LeftDockProps = {
 /**
  * `LeftDock` — the left-anchored floating dock that hosts the recipe authoring
  * panel (architecture/10 §4). It owns only the absolute positioning + z-index of
- * the left rail; the panel content is composed in by `StudioShell`. Extracting the
- * positioning frame from the authoring closure keeps the shell layout declarative
- * without changing the rendered DOM (same `absolute left-4 z-10` placement).
+ * the left rail; the panel content is composed in by `StudioShell`. The dock is
+ * pinned between the measured header (`top`) and the footer reserve (`bottom`)
+ * so the panel inside can claim the full working column (`max-h-full`) while
+ * still shrinking to fit short content.
+ *
+ * `pointer-events-none`: the dock spans header→footer even when its panel is
+ * short; the empty remainder must pass map drag/zoom through. The panel restores
+ * `pointer-events-auto` on itself.
  */
-export function LeftDock({ top, children }: LeftDockProps) {
+export function LeftDock({ top, bottom, children }: LeftDockProps) {
   return (
-    <aside aria-label="Recipe and configuration" className="absolute left-4 z-10" style={{ top }}>
+    <aside
+      aria-label="Recipe and configuration"
+      className="absolute left-4 z-10 flex flex-col items-stretch pointer-events-none"
+      style={{ top, bottom }}>
       {children}
     </aside>
   );
diff --git a/apps/mapgen-studio/src/app/RightDock.tsx b/apps/mapgen-studio/src/app/RightDock.tsx
index 96c32d14b9..e80256365c 100644
--- a/apps/mapgen-studio/src/app/RightDock.tsx
+++ b/apps/mapgen-studio/src/app/RightDock.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ import type { ReactNode } from "react";
 export type RightDockProps = {
   /** Top offset (px) so the dock clears the floating header. */
   top: number;
+  /** Bottom offset (px) so the dock clears the floating footer. */
+  bottom: number;
   /** The explore/inspection panel rendered inside the dock. */
   children: ReactNode;
 };
@@ -10,13 +12,21 @@ export type RightDockProps = {
 /**
  * `RightDock` — the right-anchored floating dock that hosts the explore panel
  * (architecture/10 §4). It owns only the absolute positioning + z-index of the
- * right rail; the panel content is composed in by `StudioShell`. Extracting the
- * positioning frame keeps the shell layout declarative without changing the
- * rendered DOM (same `absolute right-4 z-10` placement).
+ * right rail; the panel content is composed in by `StudioShell`. The dock is
+ * pinned between the measured header (`top`) and the footer reserve (`bottom`)
+ * so the panel inside caps at the working column instead of underlapping the
+ * footer on short viewports.
+ *
+ * `pointer-events-none`: the dock spans header→footer even when its panel is
+ * short; the empty remainder must pass map drag/zoom through. The panel restores
+ * `pointer-events-auto` on itself.
  */
-export function RightDock({ top, children }: RightDockProps) {
+export function RightDock({ top, bottom, children }: RightDockProps) {
   return (
-    <aside aria-label="Explore and inspect" className="absolute right-4 z-10" style={{ top }}>
+    <aside
+      aria-label="Explore and inspect"
+      className="absolute right-4 z-10 flex flex-col items-stretch pointer-events-none"
+      style={{ top, bottom }}>
       {children}
     </aside>
   );
diff --git a/apps/mapgen-studio/src/app/StudioShell.tsx b/apps/mapgen-studio/src/app/StudioShell.tsx
index 25b580808e..aa61763267 100644
--- a/apps/mapgen-studio/src/app/StudioShell.tsx
+++ b/apps/mapgen-studio/src/app/StudioShell.tsx
@@ -2176,6 +2176,10 @@ export function StudioShell(props: StudioShellProps) {
     setHeaderHeight((prev) => prev === height ? prev : height);
   }, []);
   const panelTop = LAYOUT.SPACING + headerHeight + LAYOUT.SPACING;
+  // The docks are pinned between the measured header and the footer bar (which
+  // sits `bottom-4` and is FOOTER_HEIGHT tall), keeping one SPACING of air on
+  // each side of the footer.
+  const panelBottom = LAYOUT.FOOTER_HEIGHT + 2 * LAYOUT.SPACING;
 
   const backgroundGridEnabled = useMemo(() => {
     if (!showGrid) return false;
@@ -2427,8 +2431,8 @@ export function StudioShell(props: StudioShellProps) {
         onChange={handleImportFileChange}
       />
 
-      <LeftDock top={panelTop}>{leftPanel}</LeftDock>
-      <RightDock top={panelTop}>{rightPanel}</RightDock>
+      <LeftDock top={panelTop} bottom={panelBottom}>{leftPanel}</LeftDock>
+      <RightDock top={panelTop} bottom={panelBottom}>{rightPanel}</RightDock>
 
       {header}
       {footer}
diff --git a/apps/mapgen-studio/src/ui/components/AppHeader.tsx b/apps/mapgen-studio/src/ui/components/AppHeader.tsx
index 0a5f12f5a4..231c099e67 100644
--- a/apps/mapgen-studio/src/ui/components/AppHeader.tsx
+++ b/apps/mapgen-studio/src/ui/components/AppHeader.tsx
@@ -10,13 +10,11 @@ import {
   type Civ7StudioSetupConfig
 } from '../../features/civ7Setup/setupConfig';
 import {
-  LAYOUT,
   MAP_SIZE_OPTIONS,
   PLAYER_COUNT_OPTIONS,
   RESOURCE_MODE_OPTIONS } from
 '../constants';
 import type { ThemePreference, WorldSettings } from '../types';
-export const HEADER_HEIGHT = LAYOUT.HEADER_HEIGHT;
 export interface AppHeaderProps {
   themePreference: ThemePreference;
   onThemeCycle: () => void;
@@ -101,10 +99,7 @@ export const AppHeader: React.FC<AppHeaderProps> = ({
   return (
     <header
       ref={headerRef}
-      className="absolute top-4 left-4 right-4 z-20 grid grid-cols-[auto_minmax(0,1fr)_auto] items-start gap-3"
-      style={{
-        minHeight: HEADER_HEIGHT
-      }}>
+      className="absolute top-4 left-4 right-4 z-20 grid grid-cols-[auto_minmax(0,1fr)_auto] items-start gap-3">
 
       {/* Left: App Brand */}
       <div className="shrink-0">
diff --git a/apps/mapgen-studio/src/ui/components/ExplorePanel.tsx b/apps/mapgen-studio/src/ui/components/ExplorePanel.tsx
index c0c0fcba5c..af8d7b9afd 100644
--- a/apps/mapgen-studio/src/ui/components/ExplorePanel.tsx
+++ b/apps/mapgen-studio/src/ui/components/ExplorePanel.tsx
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import {
   Flame } from
 'lucide-react';
 import { Tooltip, TooltipContent, TooltipTrigger } from '../../components/ui';
+import { LAYOUT } from '../constants';
 import type {
   StageOption,
   StepOption,
@@ -317,9 +318,14 @@ export const ExplorePanel: React.FC<ExplorePanelProps> = ({
   // ==========================================================================
   // Render
   // ==========================================================================
+  // Width comes from the LAYOUT geometry authority; the panel caps at the
+  // dock's header→footer column (`max-h-full`) and scrolls internally instead
+  // of underlapping the footer on short viewports. pointer-events-auto restores
+  // interactivity inside the pass-through dock.
   return (
     <div
-      className={`flex flex-col w-[260px] rounded-lg border overflow-hidden shadow-lg backdrop-blur-sm ${panelBg} ${panelBorder}`}>
+      style={{ width: LAYOUT.EXPLORE_PANEL_WIDTH }}
+      className={`flex flex-col max-h-full rounded-lg border overflow-y-auto overflow-x-hidden custom-scrollbar shadow-lg backdrop-blur-sm pointer-events-auto ${panelBg} ${panelBorder}`}>
 
       {/* 1. STAGE SECTION */}
       <div className={`flex-shrink-0 border-b ${borderSubtle}`}>
diff --git a/apps/mapgen-studio/src/ui/components/RecipePanel.tsx b/apps/mapgen-studio/src/ui/components/RecipePanel.tsx
index ee3471e52d..209a51dca5 100644
--- a/apps/mapgen-studio/src/ui/components/RecipePanel.tsx
+++ b/apps/mapgen-studio/src/ui/components/RecipePanel.tsx
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import {
   Play } from
 'lucide-react';
 import { SchemaConfigForm } from '../../features/configOverrides/SchemaConfigForm';
+import { LAYOUT } from '../constants';
 import {
   formatMapConfigSaveDeployPhaseLabel,
   type MapConfigSaveDeployStatus,
@@ -219,8 +220,13 @@ export const RecipePanel: React.FC<RecipePanelProps> = ({
   // ==========================================================================
   return (
     <>
+      {/* Width comes from the LAYOUT geometry authority (Pass-2: 340px); height
+          shrinks to fit but is capped by the dock's header→footer column
+          (`max-h-full`). pointer-events-auto restores interactivity inside the
+          pass-through dock. */}
       <div
-        className={`flex flex-col w-[280px] max-h-[calc(100vh-180px)] rounded-lg border overflow-hidden shadow-lg backdrop-blur-sm ${panelBg} ${panelBorder}`}>
+        style={{ width: LAYOUT.PANEL_WIDTH }}
+        className={`flex flex-col max-h-full rounded-lg border overflow-hidden shadow-lg backdrop-blur-sm pointer-events-auto ${panelBg} ${panelBorder}`}>
 
         {/* Header */}
         <div className={`flex-shrink-0 border-b ${borderSubtle}`}>
@@ -393,9 +399,11 @@ export const RecipePanel: React.FC<RecipePanelProps> = ({
               </Tooltip>
             </div>
 
-            {/* Config Form / JSON */}
+            {/* Config Form / JSON. pb-6 matches the h-6 scroll-edge fade below:
+                at full scroll the fade overlays only this padding, never the
+                last field row. */}
             <div
-            className={`px-3 pb-3 ${overridesDisabled ? 'opacity-40 pointer-events-none select-none' : ''}`}>
+            className={`px-3 pb-6 ${overridesDisabled ? 'opacity-40 pointer-events-none select-none' : ''}`}>
 
               {showJson ?
             <div className="border border-border-subtle rounded p-2.5 max-h-[240px] overflow-auto bg-surface-sunken">
@@ -417,6 +425,11 @@ export const RecipePanel: React.FC<RecipePanelProps> = ({
 
             }
             </div>
+            {/* Scroll-edge fade: sticky inside the scroll container so mid-scroll
+                cuts read as "more below" instead of the end of the form. The
+                negative margin keeps it from adding scroll height; it fades to
+                the panel surface (popover) and never intercepts the pointer. */}
+            <div aria-hidden="true" className="sticky bottom-0 -mt-6 h-6 shrink-0 pointer-events-none bg-gradient-to-t from-popover to-transparent" />
           </div>
         }
 
diff --git a/apps/mapgen-studio/src/ui/components/index.ts b/apps/mapgen-studio/src/ui/components/index.ts
index 1932fea48b..ffb5f1e9f4 100644
--- a/apps/mapgen-studio/src/ui/components/index.ts
+++ b/apps/mapgen-studio/src/ui/components/index.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 // Layout components
 export { AppBrand } from './AppBrand';
-export { AppHeader, HEADER_HEIGHT, type AppHeaderProps } from './AppHeader';
+export { AppHeader, type AppHeaderProps } from './AppHeader';
 export { AppFooter, FOOTER_HEIGHT, type AppFooterProps } from './AppFooter';
 
 // Panel components
diff --git a/apps/mapgen-studio/src/ui/constants/layout.ts b/apps/mapgen-studio/src/ui/constants/layout.ts
index dc87882b1b..b35ecbf059 100644
--- a/apps/mapgen-studio/src/ui/constants/layout.ts
+++ b/apps/mapgen-studio/src/ui/constants/layout.ts
@@ -1,18 +1,24 @@
 // ============================================================================
 // LAYOUT
 // ============================================================================
-// Layout constants for consistent spacing and sizing.
+// The single geometry authority for the studio chrome (Pass-2 amendment in
+// .interface-design/system.md). Panels consume these via inline style so a
+// geometry change is a one-line edit here — no arbitrary-value width classes.
 // ============================================================================
 
 export const LAYOUT = {
-  /** Floating top toolbar reserve in pixels. */
-  HEADER_HEIGHT: 40,
+  /**
+   * Initial estimate of the measured header height (single-row bar). The
+   * ResizeObserver in `AppHeader` is the authority — this only seeds
+   * `StudioShell`'s state for the first paint and is NOT a reserved band.
+   */
+  HEADER_HEIGHT: 48,
   /** Footer bar height in pixels */
   FOOTER_HEIGHT: 56,
-  /** Default panel width in pixels */
-  PANEL_WIDTH: 280,
-  /** Explore panel width in pixels */
-  EXPLORE_PANEL_WIDTH: 240,
+  /** Recipe (left) dock panel width in pixels */
+  PANEL_WIDTH: 340,
+  /** Explore (right) dock panel width in pixels */
+  EXPLORE_PANEL_WIDTH: 260,
   /** Standard spacing unit in pixels */
   SPACING: 16,
   /** Border radius presets */
diff --git a/openspec/changes/mapgen-studio-layout-geometry/design.md b/openspec/changes/mapgen-studio-layout-geometry/design.md
index 99ceda3444..fecbf80e01 100644
--- a/openspec/changes/mapgen-studio-layout-geometry/design.md
+++ b/openspec/changes/mapgen-studio-layout-geometry/design.md
@@ -34,9 +34,12 @@ wraps) and gives the explore panel its first overflow constraint.
 
 ### 4. Fade affordance inside the scroll container
 
-A `pointer-events-none sticky bottom-0` gradient (`bg-gradient-to-t from-card`)
-inside the scrollable body. Sticky-in-scroll means it disappears naturally at the
-end of content (nothing below it to overlay) without any scroll-position JS.
+A `pointer-events-none sticky bottom-0` gradient (`bg-gradient-to-t from-popover`)
+inside the scrollable body, with a negative top margin so it adds no scroll
+height. Because of that margin the fade is always painted at the scroll edge —
+including at full scroll — so the form wrapper carries bottom padding equal to
+the fade height (`pb-6` vs `h-6`): at the end of content the fade overlays only
+padding, never the last field row. No scroll-position JS.
 
 ## Risks
 
diff --git a/openspec/changes/mapgen-studio-layout-geometry/tasks.md b/openspec/changes/mapgen-studio-layout-geometry/tasks.md
index c5f4e32dfc..b05012cccc 100644
--- a/openspec/changes/mapgen-studio-layout-geometry/tasks.md
+++ b/openspec/changes/mapgen-studio-layout-geometry/tasks.md
@@ -1,32 +1,32 @@
 ## 1. Constants
 
-- [ ] 1.1 `layout.ts`: `PANEL_WIDTH` 280 → 340; `EXPLORE_PANEL_WIDTH` 240 → 260;
+- [x] 1.1 `layout.ts`: `PANEL_WIDTH` 280 → 340; `EXPLORE_PANEL_WIDTH` 240 → 260;
       `HEADER_HEIGHT` 104 → 48 with doc comment re-stated as "initial estimate of
       the measured header height (ResizeObserver is the authority), not a reserve".
 
 ## 2. Header
 
-- [ ] 2.1 `AppHeader.tsx`: remove the `style={{ minHeight: HEADER_HEIGHT }}` reserve;
+- [x] 2.1 `AppHeader.tsx`: remove the `style={{ minHeight: HEADER_HEIGHT }}` reserve;
       keep the ResizeObserver reporting pipeline untouched.
 
 ## 3. Docks and panels
 
-- [ ] 3.1 `LeftDock.tsx` / `RightDock.tsx`: accept and apply a `bottom` constraint
+- [x] 3.1 `LeftDock.tsx` / `RightDock.tsx`: accept and apply a `bottom` constraint
       (`FOOTER_HEIGHT + 2×SPACING` supplied by `StudioShell`); document the new
       single-responsibility (top+bottom positioning).
-- [ ] 3.2 `RecipePanel.tsx`: root drops `w-[280px]` + `max-h-[calc(100vh-180px)]`
+- [x] 3.2 `RecipePanel.tsx`: root drops `w-[280px]` + `max-h-[calc(100vh-180px)]`
       for `style` width from `LAYOUT.PANEL_WIDTH` + `max-h-full`.
-- [ ] 3.3 `ExplorePanel.tsx`: root drops `w-[260px]` for `LAYOUT.EXPLORE_PANEL_WIDTH`,
+- [x] 3.3 `ExplorePanel.tsx`: root drops `w-[260px]` for `LAYOUT.EXPLORE_PANEL_WIDTH`,
       gains `max-h-full` and internal overflow scrolling.
 
 ## 4. Scroll affordance
 
-- [ ] 4.1 Recipe panel scroll body: add the sticky bottom token-gradient fade
+- [x] 4.1 Recipe panel scroll body: add the sticky bottom token-gradient fade
       (`pointer-events-none`).
 
 ## 5. Verification
 
-- [ ] 5.1 `bun run openspec -- validate mapgen-studio-layout-geometry --strict`
-- [ ] 5.2 tsc + mapgen-studio vitest project green
-- [ ] 5.3 Visual: DOM-measure dock boxes on :5173 (left 340 wide, top ≈ header+16,
+- [x] 5.1 `bun run openspec -- validate mapgen-studio-layout-geometry --strict`
+- [x] 5.2 tsc + mapgen-studio vitest project green
+- [x] 5.3 Visual: DOM-measure dock boxes on :5173 (left 340 wide, top ≈ header+16,
       bottom clear of footer); screenshot dark + light; squint-test the column.