diff --git a/packages/editor/src/components/editor/custom-camera-controls.tsx b/packages/editor/src/components/editor/custom-camera-controls.tsx
index 3c0d98b2..543a0c4b 100644
--- a/packages/editor/src/components/editor/custom-camera-controls.tsx
+++ b/packages/editor/src/components/editor/custom-camera-controls.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 'use client'
 
 import {
+  type AnyNodeId,
   type CameraControlEvent,
   type CameraControlFitSceneEvent,
   emitter,
@@ -357,15 +358,44 @@ export const CustomCameraControls = () => {
     tempBox.getSize(tempSize)
 
     // Distance heuristic: fit the subject inside the 75%-of-shorter-
-    // side square crop. Multiplier 1.6 keeps a small breathing margin
-    // around the bounds so the dashed frame doesn't kiss the geometry.
+    // side square crop with comfortable padding. Multiplier 2.4 leaves
+    // ~25-30% margin around the bounds so the user can frame without
+    // immediately needing to zoom out, but isn't so far away that the
+    // subject reads as small in the thumbnail.
     const maxDim = Math.max(tempSize.x, tempSize.y, tempSize.z)
-    const distance = Math.max(maxDim * 1.6, 3)
+    const distance = Math.max(maxDim * 2.4, 4)
 
+    // Frame the subject from a 3/4 view of its front face. The node's
+    // local +Z is its forward axis in this scene's authoring convention
+    // (the face the user sets up to be photographed). When a single
+    // subtree is isolated we read its yaw and rotate the camera around
+    // the bounds center so the framing follows the user's authored
+    // orientation; for multi-isolate sets we fall back to world +Z.
+    // The 3/4 view offsets the camera by 35° to the right of dead-on
+    // so both the front face and a side are visible — the "nice angle"
+    // that reads as a product shot rather than a flat elevation. ~25°
+    // elevation keeps the top visible without going isometric.
+    const SIDE_OFFSET_RAD = (35 * Math.PI) / 180
+    const ELEVATION_RAD = (25 * Math.PI) / 180
+    let yaw = 0
+    if (ids.length === 1) {
+      const node = useScene.getState().nodes[ids[0] as AnyNodeId]
+      if (node && 'rotation' in node) {
+        const r = (node as { rotation?: unknown }).rotation
+        if (typeof r === 'number') yaw = r
+        else if (Array.isArray(r)) yaw = (r as [number, number, number])[1] ?? 0
+      }
+    }
+    // World-space direction the camera should sit *along* relative to
+    // bounds center: in front (object's local +Z under yaw) + a right
+    // offset around Y for the 3/4 read.
+    const viewAngle = yaw + SIDE_OFFSET_RAD
+    const horizontal = distance * Math.cos(ELEVATION_RAD)
+    const elevation = distance * Math.sin(ELEVATION_RAD)
     controls.current.setLookAt(
-      tempCenter.x + distance * 0.7,
-      tempCenter.y + Math.max(tempSize.y * 0.4, distance * 0.4),
-      tempCenter.z + distance * 0.7,
+      tempCenter.x + Math.sin(viewAngle) * horizontal,
+      tempCenter.y + elevation,
+      tempCenter.z + Math.cos(viewAngle) * horizontal,
       tempCenter.x,
       tempCenter.y,
       tempCenter.z,
@@ -514,12 +544,20 @@ export const CustomCameraControls = () => {
     return null
   }
 
+  // Preset capture mode frames a single subtree (often a 0.3–2m preset),
+  // so the default 10m minDistance prevents the user from getting close
+  // enough to compose a good thumbnail. Relax the clamp to 0.5m while
+  // capturing presets; reset on exit so general editing keeps the looser
+  // navigation guardrails.
+  const isPresetCapture = captureMode.mode === 'preset'
+  const minDistance = isPresetCapture ? 0.5 : 10
+
   return (
     <CameraControls
       makeDefault
       maxDistance={100}
       maxPolarAngle={maxPolarAngle}
-      minDistance={10}
+      minDistance={minDistance}
       minPolarAngle={0}
       mouseButtons={mouseButtons}
       onRest={onRest}