diff --git a/crates/skate-game/src/customiser_parts.rs b/crates/skate-game/src/customiser_parts.rs
index 29e950f8..dbff60db 100644
--- a/crates/skate-game/src/customiser_parts.rs
+++ b/crates/skate-game/src/customiser_parts.rs
@@ -430,6 +430,9 @@ impl Parts {
             retail: material.extension.retail.clone(), retail_mask: material.extension.retail_mask.clone(),
             enabled: if source.opacity.is_some() {Vec4::Y} else {Vec4::ZERO}, ..default()
         };
+        if extension.retail.tint.w > 0. {
+            extension.retail.tint = Vec4::from_array(material.base.base_color.to_linear().to_f32_array());
+        }
         if let Some((tid,t)) = stamp["id"].as_str().and_then(|id| self.library.tattoos.get(id).map(|t|(id,t))) {
             let key=match stamp["side"].as_u64().unwrap_or(0) {1=>"StampUVConstraintQ4",2=>"StampUVConstraintQ1",3=>"StampUVConstraintQ2",_=>"StampUVConstraintQ3"};
             let bounds:Vec<f32>=part.flag(key).split(',').filter_map(|n|n.parse().ok()).collect();
@@ -472,16 +475,16 @@ impl Parts {
         let opacity = m.opacity.as_ref().map(|p| load(p, true));
         let retail_mask = m.lighting.as_ref().and_then(|l| l.specular.as_ref()).map(|p| load(p, true));
         let retail = m.lighting.as_ref().filter(|l| l.params.len() == 9).map(|l| crate::retail_character::CharacterParams {
-            tint: Vec4::ONE,
-            options: Vec4::new(0., f32::from(retail_mask.is_some()), -1., f32::from(l.shader.starts_with("character.hair"))),
+            tint: Vec4::from_array(Color::srgb(m.tint[0],m.tint[1],m.tint[2]).to_linear().to_f32_array()),
+            options: Vec4::new(f32::from(normal.is_some()), f32::from(retail_mask.is_some()), -1., f32::from(l.shader.starts_with("character.hair"))),
             rows: std::array::from_fn(|i| Vec4::from_array(l.params[i])),
             ..default()
         }).unwrap_or_default();
         let material = materials.add(SkaterMaterial {
             base: StandardMaterial {
                 base_color: Color::srgb(m.tint[0], m.tint[1], m.tint[2]),
-                base_color_texture: Some(diffuse),
-                normal_map_texture: normal,
+                base_color_texture: Some(diffuse.clone()),
+                normal_map_texture: normal.clone(),
                 metallic_roughness_texture: rough,
                 double_sided: m.opacity.is_some(),
                 cull_mode: if m.opacity.is_some() {
@@ -814,11 +817,21 @@ mod online_tests {
         parts.library.tattoos.insert("ink".into(),Tattoo{name:"ink".into(),texture:String::new(),bounds:[0.,0.,1.,1.]});
         let mut images=Assets::<Image>::default();let image=images.add(Image::default());parts.tattoos.insert("ink".into(),image.clone());
         let mut materials=Assets::<SkaterMaterial>::default();
-        let handle=materials.add(SkaterMaterial{base:StandardMaterial::default(),extension:SkinStamp::default()});
+        let handle=materials.add(SkaterMaterial{base:StandardMaterial{normal_map_texture:Some(image.clone()),base_color_texture:Some(image.clone()),..default()},extension:SkinStamp {
+            retail_mask:Some(image.clone()),
+            retail:crate::retail_character::CharacterParams{tint:Vec4::ONE,options:Vec4::new(1.,1.,-1.,0.),..default()},..default()
+        }});
         parts.materials.insert("skin".into(),(handle.clone(),vec![]));
         let red=parts.profile_material("body","skin",&serde_json::json!({"skin_tint":[1,0,0],"tattoos":{"Arm":{"id":"ink","side":0}}}),&materials).unwrap();
         let blue=parts.profile_material("body","skin",&serde_json::json!({"skin_tint":[0,0,1]}),&materials).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(red.base.base_color,Color::srgb(1.,0.,0.));assert_eq!(blue.base.base_color,Color::srgb(0.,0.,1.));
+        for material in [&red,&blue] {
+            assert_eq!(material.base.normal_map_texture,Some(image.clone()));
+            assert_eq!(material.base.base_color_texture,Some(image.clone()));
+            assert_eq!(material.extension.retail_mask,Some(image.clone()));
+            assert_eq!(material.extension.retail.options,Vec4::new(1.,1.,-1.,0.));
+            assert_eq!(material.extension.retail.tint,Vec4::from_array(material.base.base_color.to_linear().to_f32_array()));
+        }
         assert_eq!(red.extension.texture,Some(image));assert!(blue.extension.texture.is_none());
         assert_eq!(materials.get(&handle).unwrap().base.base_color,Color::WHITE);
         assert!(materials.get(&handle).unwrap().extension.texture.is_none());
diff --git a/crates/skate-game/src/customiser_stamp.wgsl b/crates/skate-game/src/customiser_stamp.wgsl
index fa9b6038..45add9b9 100644
--- a/crates/skate-game/src/customiser_stamp.wgsl
+++ b/crates/skate-game/src/customiser_stamp.wgsl
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ struct SkinStamp {
     pbr_deferred_functions::deferred_output,
 }
 #else
-#import skate_character_lighting::{CharacterParams, shade_character}
+#import skate_character_lighting::{CharacterParams, shade_character, character_normal, character_albedo}
+#import bevy_pbr::pbr_bindings
 @group(#{MATERIAL_BIND_GROUP}) @binding(105) var retail_mask: texture_2d<f32>;
 @group(#{MATERIAL_BIND_GROUP}) @binding(106) var retail_mask_sampler: sampler;
 @group(#{MATERIAL_BIND_GROUP}) @binding(107) var<uniform> retail: CharacterParams;
@@ -80,6 +81,17 @@ fn fragment(
 
     // generate a PbrInput struct from the StandardMaterial bindings
     var pbr_input = pbr_input_from_standard_material(in, is_front);
+#ifndef PREPASS_PIPELINE
+    // Preserve authored alpha as specular data before opacity/tattoos/discard.
+    let retail_albedo=textureSample(pbr_bindings::base_color_texture,pbr_bindings::base_color_sampler,in.uv);
+    let retail_mapped=character_normal(in.world_position,in.world_normal,in.uv,
+        textureSample(pbr_bindings::normal_map_texture,pbr_bindings::normal_map_sampler,in.uv).xy);
+    let retail_n=select(normalize(in.world_normal),retail_mapped,retail.options.x>0.0);
+    if retail.light.w>0.0 && retail.tint.w>0.0 {
+        pbr_input.material.base_color=vec4<f32>(character_albedo(retail_albedo.rgb)*retail.tint.rgb,retail_albedo.a);
+    }
+#endif
+
 
 
 #ifdef VERTEX_UVS_B
@@ -113,9 +125,9 @@ fn fragment(
     var out: FragmentOutput;
     if retail.light.w > 0.0 && retail.tint.w > 0.0 {
         let mask = textureSample(retail_mask, retail_mask_sampler, in.uv).r;
-        out.color = shade_character(retail, pbr_input.N, pbr_input.world_position,
+        out.color = shade_character(retail, retail_n, pbr_input.world_position,
             pbr_input.material.base_color.rgb,
-            select(pbr_input.material.base_color.a, mask, retail.options.y > 0.0),
+            select(retail_albedo.a, mask, retail.options.y > 0.0),
             pbr_input.material.base_color.a);
     } else if (pbr_input.material.flags & STANDARD_MATERIAL_FLAGS_UNLIT_BIT) == 0u {
         out.color = apply_pbr_lighting(pbr_input);
diff --git a/crates/skate-game/src/retail_character.wgsl b/crates/skate-game/src/retail_character.wgsl
index d9c99bfd..0e0abb92 100644
--- a/crates/skate-game/src/retail_character.wgsl
+++ b/crates/skate-game/src/retail_character.wgsl
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #import bevy_pbr::{forward_io::VertexOutput, mesh_view_bindings as frame}
-#import skate_character_lighting::{CharacterParams, shade_character}
+#import skate_character_lighting::{CharacterParams, shade_character, character_normal, character_albedo}
 @group(#{MATERIAL_BIND_GROUP}) @binding(0) var<uniform> p: CharacterParams;
 @group(#{MATERIAL_BIND_GROUP}) @binding(1) var diffuse: texture_2d<f32>;
 @group(#{MATERIAL_BIND_GROUP}) @binding(2) var diffuse_sampler: sampler;
@@ -11,24 +11,9 @@
 @fragment
 fn fragment(i: VertexOutput) -> @location(0) vec4<f32> {
     let albedo = textureSample(diffuse,diffuse_sampler,i.uv);
-    // GLTF diffuse is sampled as sRGB; recover retail's gamma-two decode.
-    let gamma = select(albedo.rgb*12.92, 1.055*pow(max(albedo.rgb,vec3<f32>(0.0)),vec3<f32>(1.0/2.4))-0.055, albedo.rgb>vec3<f32>(0.0031308));
-    let d = gamma*gamma*p.tint.rgb;
-    let n = normalize(i.world_normal);
-    let rpos = i.world_position.xyz-frame::view.world_position;
-    let vd = -normalize(rpos);
-    let dp1=dpdx(rpos); let dp2=dpdy(rpos);
-    let du1=dpdx(i.uv); let du2=dpdy(i.uv);
-    var tt=cross(dp2,n)*du1.x+cross(n,dp1)*du2.x;
-    var bb=cross(dp2,n)*du1.y+cross(n,dp1)*du2.y;
-    tt *= -inverseSqrt(max(dot(tt,tt),1e-12));
-    bb *= inverseSqrt(max(dot(bb,bb),1e-12));
-    var vn=n;
-    if p.options.x>0.0 {
-        // Installed normal PNGs already unpack DXT5nm into RGB.
-        let nm=textureSample(normal_map,normal_sampler,i.uv).xy*2.0-1.0;
-        vn=normalize(nm.x*tt+nm.y*bb+n*sqrt(saturate(1.0-dot(nm,nm))));
-    }
+    let d=character_albedo(albedo.rgb)*p.tint.rgb;
+    let mapped=character_normal(i.world_position,i.world_normal,i.uv,textureSample(normal_map,normal_sampler,i.uv).xy);
+    let vn=select(normalize(i.world_normal),mapped,p.options.x>0.0);
     var smask=albedo.a;
     if p.options.y>0.0 { smask=textureSample(mask_map,mask_sampler,i.uv).r; }
     return shade_character(p, vn, i.world_position, d, smask, albedo.a);
diff --git a/crates/skate-game/src/retail_character_common.wgsl b/crates/skate-game/src/retail_character_common.wgsl
index af2f493c..31158dcc 100644
--- a/crates/skate-game/src/retail_character_common.wgsl
+++ b/crates/skate-game/src/retail_character_common.wgsl
@@ -6,6 +6,26 @@ struct CharacterParams {
     rows: array<vec4<f32>,9>, sh: array<vec4<f32>,9>,
 }
 
+// Both original and modular stock meshes use the authored derivative basis.
+// Modular GLBs intentionally omit tangents, so StandardMaterial's tangent-only
+// normal mapping cannot supply this detail after an outfit/model swap.
+fn character_normal(position: vec4<f32>, normal: vec3<f32>, uv: vec2<f32>, sample: vec2<f32>) -> vec3<f32> {
+    let n=normalize(normal);
+    let rpos=position.xyz-frame::view.world_position;
+    let dp1=dpdx(rpos); let dp2=dpdy(rpos);
+    let du1=dpdx(uv); let du2=dpdy(uv);
+    var tt=cross(dp2,n)*du1.x+cross(n,dp1)*du2.x;
+    var bb=cross(dp2,n)*du1.y+cross(n,dp1)*du2.y;
+    tt *= -inverseSqrt(max(dot(tt,tt),1e-12));
+    bb *= inverseSqrt(max(dot(bb,bb),1e-12));
+    let nm=sample*2.0-1.0;
+    return normalize(nm.x*tt+nm.y*bb+n*sqrt(saturate(1.0-dot(nm,nm))));
+}
+fn character_albedo(linear: vec3<f32>) -> vec3<f32> {
+    let gamma=select(linear*12.92,1.055*pow(max(linear,vec3<f32>(0.0)),vec3<f32>(1.0/2.4))-0.055,linear>vec3<f32>(0.0031308));
+    return gamma*gamma;
+}
+
 fn shade_character(p: CharacterParams, vn: vec3<f32>, position: vec4<f32>, d: vec3<f32>, smask: f32, alpha: f32) -> vec4<f32> {
     let vd = -normalize(position.xyz-frame::view.world_position);
     if p.options.w>0.0 {
diff --git a/docs/character-lighting-investigation.md b/docs/character-lighting-investigation.md
index 0cd22c69..cafc253e 100644
--- a/docs/character-lighting-investigation.md
+++ b/docs/character-lighting-investigation.md
@@ -181,3 +181,22 @@ launcher records stdout/stderr, backtraces and the exit code in
 See [visual-parity-status.md](visual-parity-status.md) for the subsequent SH
 transition smoothing, second-UV blended hair coverage, GPU exposure meter and
 remaining shadow/CAC fidelity gaps. Earlier implementation sections are historical.
+
+## Stock surface restoration, September 9
+
+Returning from an imported/native model reapplies the modular stock outfit. Its
+geometry-only GLBs have normal maps in the material library but no tangent
+attributes, so the StandardMaterial input path silently omitted their detail.
+The customiser shader also used alpha after `alpha_discard` as the clothing
+specular mask; opaque coverage had already replaced that authored mask with 1.
+
+Both original and modular retail shaders now share the derivative normal basis
+and gamma-two albedo decode. Modular materials retain the source diffuse alpha
+for highlights, independently of opacity and tattoos, and use the dedicated skin
+specular mask where authored. Profile updates retain texture handles and apply
+colour tint separately. This shared material path covers local and remote stock
+outfits without changing imported PBR materials or globally lowering gloss.
+
+Fourteen focused tests pass with the prepared library, including offline shader
+compilation, stock restoration and per-profile material preservation. No game was
+launched; visual verification of stock -> imported/pro -> stock remains manual.