diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests_project_items.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests_project_items.rs
index 4ab9ce2b..26eedd2a 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests_project_items.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests_project_items.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 //! Project panel item edits: move into folders, rename, label, comment, with undo.
 
-use effectcraft_project::ItemId;
+use effectcraft_project::{ItemId, LayerId};
 use serde_json::json;
 
 use crate::Session;
@@ -72,6 +72,34 @@ fn delete_and_duplicate_items() {
     assert!(s.project.item(dup).is_none());
 }
 
+/// A new layer takes its Project item's label (#153); layers made before keep their own when the
+/// item's label changes. Layers with no item keep their type's default.
+#[test]
+fn new_layers_take_their_items_label() {
+    use crate::color::Label;
+    use effectcraft_project::{Footage, FootageKind, ItemKind};
+    let mut s = Session::default();
+    let inner = s.execute("comp.new", json!({"name": "Inner", "width": 64, "height": 64, "duration": 1})).unwrap()["comp"].as_u64().unwrap();
+    s.execute("comp.new", json!({"name": "Main", "width": 64, "height": 64, "duration": 1})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("file.importPlaceholder", json!({"name": "Clip"})).unwrap();
+    let clip = s.state.project_selection[0].0;
+    let model = std::sync::Arc::make_mut(&mut s.project)
+        .add_item("Model", Label::Aqua, None, ItemKind::Footage(Footage { kind: FootageKind::Model, path: "missing.glb".into(), ..Default::default() }))
+        .0;
+    let solid = s.execute("layer.newSolid", json!({"name": "Solid", "color": "#406080"})).unwrap()["layer"].as_u64().unwrap();
+    let solid_item = s.active_comp().unwrap().layer(LayerId(solid)).unwrap().source.item().unwrap().0;
+    let label = |s: &Session, layer: &serde_json::Value| s.active_comp().unwrap().layer(LayerId(layer["layer"].as_u64().unwrap())).unwrap().label;
+    for (item, lab) in [(inner, "Blue"), (clip, "Green"), (model, "Orange"), (solid_item, "Fuchsia")] {
+        let before = s.execute("layer.addItem", json!({"item": item})).unwrap();
+        s.execute("project.setLabel", json!({"items": [item], "label": lab})).unwrap();
+        let after = s.execute("layer.addItem", json!({"item": item})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(label(&s, &after).name(), lab, "a new layer takes item {item}'s label");
+        assert_ne!(label(&s, &before).name(), lab, "a layer made before keeps its own");
+    }
+    let text = s.execute("layer.newText", json!({"text": "Hi"})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(label(&s, &text), Label::Red, "no item: the type's default");
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn property_group_edits() {
     let mut s = Session::default();
diff --git a/crates/project/src/build.rs b/crates/project/src/build.rs
index fe39082d..71edc7ff 100644
--- a/crates/project/src/build.rs
+++ b/crates/project/src/build.rs
@@ -715,15 +715,15 @@ pub fn audio(ids: &mut Ids) -> PropGroup {
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------- layers
 
-/// Default label colour for a layer source (Labels preferences defaults).
+/// Label colour for a new layer: its Project item's label when it has one (later changes to the
+/// item's label leave existing layers alone), else the Labels preferences default for its type.
 pub fn default_label(src: &LayerSource, project: &Project) -> Label {
+    if let Some(it) = src.item().and_then(|i| project.item(i)) {
+        return it.label;
+    }
     match src {
         LayerSource::Comp { .. } => Label::Sandstone,
-        LayerSource::Footage { item } => match project.item(*item).map(|i| i.type_name()) {
-            Some("Image") | Some("Image Sequence") => Label::Lavender,
-            Some("Audio") => Label::SeaFoam,
-            _ => Label::Aqua,
-        },
+        LayerSource::Footage { .. } => Label::Aqua,
         LayerSource::Solid { .. } => Label::Red,
         LayerSource::Text => Label::Red,
         LayerSource::Shape => Label::Blue,