diff --git a/frontend/src/capture/SessionCapture.svelte b/frontend/src/capture/SessionCapture.svelte
index 7f8ae58..9e9a661 100644
--- a/frontend/src/capture/SessionCapture.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/capture/SessionCapture.svelte
@@ -68,6 +68,70 @@
     ctx.putImageData(imgData, 0, 0);
   }
 
+  // Axis preview: the sheet-removed photo with the length-axis tape line
+  // (red) drawn from axis.tapeLine.start to .end in source-pixel coords.
+  let axisCanvas: HTMLCanvasElement;
+  let axisImg: HTMLImageElement;
+  let axisObjUrl = '';
+
+  $: if (kind === 'axis' && cap.source) {
+    if (axisObjUrl) URL.revokeObjectURL(axisObjUrl);
+    axisObjUrl = URL.createObjectURL(cap.source.blob);
+  }
+
+  $: if (kind === 'axis' && axisImg?.complete && axisImg.naturalWidth > 0) {
+    drawAxisPreview();
+  }
+
+  function drawAxisPreview() {
+    const canvas = axisCanvas;
+    if (!canvas || !axisImg || !cap.approvedMask) return;
+    const w = axisImg.naturalWidth;
+    const h = axisImg.naturalHeight;
+    const maxDim = 900;
+    const scale = Math.min(1, maxDim / Math.max(w, h));
+    canvas.width = Math.round(w * scale);
+    canvas.height = Math.round(h * scale);
+    const ctx = canvas.getContext('2d');
+    if (!ctx) return;
+    ctx.drawImage(axisImg, 0, 0, canvas.width, canvas.height);
+    // Checkerboard the removed (non-slab) pixels.
+    const bitset = cap.approvedMask.bitset;
+    const cw = canvas.width;
+    const ch = canvas.height;
+    const cell = 6;
+    const imgData = ctx.getImageData(0, 0, cw, ch);
+    const px = imgData.data;
+    for (let y = 0; y < ch; y++) {
+      for (let x = 0; x < cw; x++) {
+        const sx = Math.min(w - 1, Math.round((x / cw) * w));
+        const sy = Math.min(h - 1, Math.round((y / ch) * h));
+        if (bitset[sy * w + sx]) continue;
+        const checker = ((Math.floor(x / cell) + Math.floor(y / cell)) % 2 === 0);
+        const i = (y * cw + x) * 4;
+        const g = checker ? 210 : 235;
+        px[i] = g; px[i + 1] = g; px[i + 2] = g; px[i + 3] = 255;
+      }
+    }
+    ctx.putImageData(imgData, 0, 0);
+    // Draw the tape line (length axis) in red.
+    const [x1, y1] = cap.axis.tapeLine.start;
+    const [x2, y2] = cap.axis.tapeLine.end;
+    ctx.strokeStyle = '#ff3b30';
+    ctx.lineWidth = Math.max(2, canvas.width / 300);
+    ctx.beginPath();
+    ctx.moveTo((x1 / w) * cw, (y1 / h) * ch);
+    ctx.lineTo((x2 / w) * cw, (y2 / h) * ch);
+    ctx.stroke();
+    // Endpoint dots
+    ctx.fillStyle = '#ff3b30';
+    for (const [ex, ey] of [[x1, y1], [x2, y2]] as [number, number][]) {
+      ctx.beginPath();
+      ctx.arc((ex / w) * cw, (ey / h) * ch, Math.max(3, canvas.width / 150), 0, Math.PI * 2);
+      ctx.fill();
+    }
+  }
+
   let fileInput: HTMLInputElement;
 
   // Auto-run the mask so the overlay (and preview) populate without the owner
@@ -192,7 +256,13 @@
 
   {:else if kind === 'axis'}
     <h2>4. Length axis</h2>
-    <p>Place the tape endpoints at the two ends of the slab's length.</p>
+    <p>The sheet is removed. The red line marks the slab's length axis — confirm it runs end-to-end, then approve.</p>
+    {#if cap.source}
+      <div class="mask-preview">
+        <canvas bind:this={axisCanvas} aria-label="axis preview"></canvas>
+        <img bind:this={axisImg} src={axisObjUrl} alt="calibration photo (hidden, drives axis preview)" class="mask-src" />
+      </div>
+    {/if}
     <div class="actions">
       <button class="primary" on:click={() => session.approveAxis()}>Approve axis →</button>
       <button on:click={() => session.back()}>← Back</button>