diff --git a/tests/js/workspace-images-state.test.js b/tests/js/workspace-images-state.test.js
index e30303f..efe3309 100644
--- a/tests/js/workspace-images-state.test.js
+++ b/tests/js/workspace-images-state.test.js
@@ -277,12 +277,16 @@ test('updating one item replaces it immutably and later pages append after it',
     const { createImageStream, imageKey } = await source;
     const pages = [page([{...image('a'), favorite:false}, {...image('b'), favorite:true}], 3, 'next'), page([image('c')], 3)];
     const states = [];
-    const stream = createImageStream({api:{get:async () => pages.shift()}, onChange:s => states.push(s), batchSize:2});
+    const hints = [];
+    const stream = createImageStream({api:{get:async () => pages.shift()}, onChange:(s, hint) => { states.push(s); hints.push(hint); }, batchSize:2});
     await stream.reset({});
     const before = stream.state, notified = states.length;
+    // Page loads carry no hint; a patch says so, so the page can repaint one card instead of laying out the collection.
+    assert.ok(hints.every(hint => hint === undefined));
     assert.equal(stream.updateItem('0:a', {favorite:true}), true);
     const after = stream.state;
     assert.equal(states.length, notified + 1); assert.equal(states.at(-1), after);
+    assert.deepEqual(hints.at(-1), {patch:'0:a'});
     assert.notEqual(after.items, before.items); assert.ok(Object.isFrozen(after.items)); assert.ok(Object.isFrozen(after.items[0]));
     assert.equal(after.items[0].favorite, true); assert.equal(before.items[0].favorite, false);
     assert.equal(after.items[1], before.items[1]);
diff --git a/web/js/workspace/images-state.mjs b/web/js/workspace/images-state.mjs
index a0faa64..071ba63 100644
--- a/web/js/workspace/images-state.mjs
+++ b/web/js/workspace/images-state.mjs
@@ -165,7 +165,8 @@ export function createImageStream({ api, onChange = () => {}, batchSize = 40, re
             const next = withItem(state, key, patch);
             if (disposed || next === state) return false;
             state = next;
-            onChange(state);
+            // The hint names the one patched item, so a page can repaint it without laying out the collection again.
+            onChange(state, {patch:key});
             return true;
         },
         dispose() {
diff --git a/web/js/workspace/images.mjs b/web/js/workspace/images.mjs
index 14f3e9e..1900f1d 100644
--- a/web/js/workspace/images.mjs
+++ b/web/js/workspace/images.mjs
@@ -435,9 +435,10 @@ export function mountImages(main, api, parentScope, {embedded = false, fetchPage
         // The concept's end of the collection (app.js updateImageContinuation).
         return `${next.loaded ? 'You’re all caught up' : 'No matching images'} · ${next.total.toLocaleString('en-US')} ${noun(next.total, 'image')}`;
     }
-    function renderState(next) {
+    function renderState(next, {patch} = {}) {
         const previous = state;
-        const changed = state?.items !== next.items;
+        // A patched item (a favorite) keeps every card's size and place; setFavorite repaints its card.
+        const changed = !patch && state?.items !== next.items;
         if (changed) {
             if (!next.items.length) itemIndexes.clear();
             for (let index = state?.items.length || 0; index < next.items.length; index++) itemIndexes.set(imageKey(next.items[index]), index);