diff --git a/src/app/commands/view_presets.rs b/src/app/commands/view_presets.rs
index 017cf2d87..f5904e798 100644
--- a/src/app/commands/view_presets.rs
+++ b/src/app/commands/view_presets.rs
@@ -22,13 +22,7 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
     /// Names -VIEW checks its input against, taken from the drawing.
     pub(super) fn dash_view_names(&self, i: usize) -> ViewNames {
         let document = &self.tabs[i].scene.document;
-        let visual_styles: Vec<(String, Handle)> = match document
-            .objects
-            .get(&document.header.acad_visualstyle_dict_handle)
-        {
-            Some(ObjectType::Dictionary(dictionary)) => dictionary.entries.clone(),
-            _ => Vec::new(),
-        };
+        let visual_styles = crate::io::visual_styles::offered(document);
         let live_sections: Vec<(String, Handle)> = document
             .entities()
             .filter_map(|entity| match entity {
@@ -260,7 +254,15 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                 view.live_section_handle = old.live_section_handle;
                 view.background_handle = old.background_handle;
             }
-            None => view.handle = document.allocate_handle(),
+            None => {
+                view.handle = document.allocate_handle();
+                if view.visual_style_handle.is_null() {
+                    view.visual_style_handle = crate::io::visual_styles::offered(document)
+                        .into_iter()
+                        .find(|(name, _)| name == "2D Wireframe")
+                        .map_or(Handle::NULL, |(_, handle)| handle);
+                }
+            }
         }
         document.views.add_or_replace(view);
         self.tabs[i].dirty = true;
@@ -281,13 +283,7 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
         };
         match setting {
             "BACKGROUND" => view.background_handle = Handle::NULL,
-            "VISUALSTYLE" => {
-                let styles = match document.objects.get(&document.header.acad_visualstyle_dict_handle) {
-                    Some(ObjectType::Dictionary(dictionary)) => dictionary.entries.clone(),
-                    _ => Vec::new(),
-                };
-                view.visual_style_handle = find(styles);
-            }
+            "VISUALSTYLE" => view.visual_style_handle = find(crate::io::visual_styles::offered(document)),
             "SECTION" => {
                 let sections: Vec<(String, Handle)> = document
                     .entities()
diff --git a/src/io/mod.rs b/src/io/mod.rs
index 7ba12b2c0..646704caf 100644
--- a/src/io/mod.rs
+++ b/src/io/mod.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ pub mod stl;
 pub mod xref;
 pub mod xref_model;
 pub mod linetypes;
+pub mod visual_styles;
 pub mod line_read;
 pub mod patterns;
 pub mod update_check;
diff --git a/src/io/visual_styles.rs b/src/io/visual_styles.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..95ab105a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/io/visual_styles.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+//! The visual styles a new drawing carries, as the reference's new drawing
+//! has them: name, kind and settings, then each property value in file
+//! order. Tokens: `L` long, `S` short, `D` real, `B0`/`B1` flag, `I` color
+//! index, `R` true color, `CL`/`CB`/`CN` by layer / by block / none, `T` text;
+//! a trailing `!` marks a property that is not enabled.
+
+use codec::objects::{ObjectType, VisualStyle, VisualStyleProperty, VisualStylePropertyValue};
+use codec::types::Color;
+
+/// (name, type, face lighting model, face lighting quality, face color
+/// mode, face modifier, edge model, edge style, internal only, extended
+/// lighting model, properties)
+type Row = (&'static str, i16, i16, i16, i16, i32, i32, i32, bool, i16, &'static str);
+
+const STYLES: &[Row] = &[
+    ("2dWireframe", 4, 0, 2, 0, 0, 1, 4, false, 3,
+        "L0 L2 L0 L0 D0.6 D30.0 R255,255,255 L1 L4 I7 CN L1 L1 D1.0 L0 CN D1.0 L1 L6 L2 I7 L5 L0 L0 B0 L1 D0.0 L0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+    ("Basic", 7, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 4, true, 3,
+        "L1 L0 L1 L0 D0.6 D30.0 R255,255,255 L0 L4 I7 CN L1 L1 D1.0 L8 I7 D1.0 L1 L6 L2 I7 L5 L0 L0 B0 L1 D0.0 L0 B0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+    ("Brighten", 12, 2, 2, 0, 0, 1, 4, true, 3,
+        "L2 L2 L0 L0 D0.6 D30.0 R255,255,255 L1 L4 I7 CN L1 L1 D1.0 L8 I7 D1.0 L1 L6 L2 I7 L5 L0 L0 B0 L1 D50.0 L0 B0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+    ("ColorChange", 16, 2, 2, 3, 0, 1, 4, true, 3,
+        "L2 L2 L3 L0 D0.6 D30.0 R128,128,128 L1 L4 I7 CN L1 L1 D1.0 L8 R128,128,128 D1.0 L1 L6 L2 I7 L5 L0 L0 B0 L1 D0.0 L0 B0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+    ("Conceptual", 9, 3, 2, 0, 0, 2, 2, false, 3,
+        "L3 L2 L0 L0 D0.6 D30.0 R255,255,255 L2 L2 I7 CN L1 L1 D179.0 L8 I7 D1.0 L1 L6 L2 I7 L3 L0 L0 B0 L1 D0.0 L0 B0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+    ("Dim", 11, 2, 2, 0, 0, 1, 4, true, 3,
+        "L2 L2 L0 L0 D0.6 D30.0 R255,255,255 L1 L4 I7 CN L1 L1 D1.0 L8 I7 D1.0 L1 L6 L2 I7 L5 L0 L0 B0 L1 D-50.0 L0 B0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+    ("EdgeColorOff", 22, 2, 2, 0, 0, 1, 4, true, 3,
+        "L2! L2! L0! L0! D0.6! D30.0! R255,255,255! L1! L4! I7! CN! L1! L1! D1.0! L8 I7! D1.0! L1! L6! L2! I7! L5! L0! L0! B0! L1! D0.0! L0! B0! B1! B1! B0! B0! B0! B0! B0! B0! L50! D0.0! D1.0! L0! R0,0,0! L50! L3! R0,0,255! B0! L50! L50! L50! B0! L50! CL! D1.0! L2! Tstrokes_ogs.tif! B0! D1.0! D1.0!"),
+    ("Facepattern", 15, 2, 2, 0, 0, 1, 4, true, 3,
+        "L2 L2 L0 L0 D0.6 D30.0 R255,255,255 L1 L4 I7 CN L1 L1 D1.0 L8 I7 D1.0 L1 L6 L2 I7 L5 L0 L0 B0 L1 D0.0 L0 B0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+    ("Flat", 0, 2, 1, 1, 2, 0, 0, true, 3,
+        "L2 L1 L1 L2 D0.6 D30.0 R255,255,255 L0 L0 I7 CN L1 L1 D1.0 L8 I7 D1.0 L1 L6 L2 I7 L5 L0 L0 B0 L13 D0.0 L0 B0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+    ("FlatWithEdges", 1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 1, 0, true, 3,
+        "L2 L1 L1 L2 D0.6 D30.0 R255,255,255 L1 L0 I7 CN L1 L1 D1.0 L0 CN D1.0 L1 L6 L2 I7 L5 L0 L0 B0 L13 D0.0 L0 B0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+    ("Gouraud", 2, 2, 2, 1, 2, 0, 0, true, 3,
+        "L2 L2 L1 L2 D0.6 D30.0 R255,255,255 L0 L0 I7 CN L1 L1 D1.0 L0 I7 D1.0 L1 L6 L2 I7 L5 L0 L0 B0 L13 D0.0 L0 B0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+    ("GouraudWithEdges", 3, 2, 2, 1, 2, 1, 0, true, 3,
+        "L2 L2 L1 L2 D0.6 D30.0 R255,255,255 L1 L0 I7 CN L1 L1 D1.0 L0 CN D1.0 L1 L6 L2 I7 L5 L0 L0 B0 L13 D0.0 L0 B0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+    ("Hidden", 6, 1, 2, 2, 0, 2, 2, false, 3,
+        "L1 L2 L2 L0 D0.6 D30.0 R255,255,255 L2 L2 I7 CN L2 L1 D40.0 L0 CN D1.0 L1 L6 L2 I7 L3 L0 L0 B0 L1 D0.0 L0 B0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+    ("JitterOff", 20, 2, 2, 0, 0, 1, 4, true, 3,
+        "L2! L2! L0! L0! D0.6! D30.0! R255,255,255! L1! L4! I7! CN! L1! L1! D1.0! L10 I7! D1.0! L1! L6! L2! I7! L5! L0! L0! B0! L1! D0.0! L0! B0! B1! B1! B0! B0! B0! B0! B0! B0! L50! D0.0! D1.0! L0! R0,0,0! L50! L3! R0,0,255! B0! L50! L50! L50! B0! L50! CL! D1.0! L2! Tstrokes_ogs.tif! B0! D1.0! D1.0!"),
+    ("Linepattern", 14, 2, 2, 0, 0, 1, 4, true, 3,
+        "L2 L2 L0 L0 D0.6 D30.0 R255,255,255 L1 L4 I7 CN L7 L7 D1.0 L8 I7 D1.0 L1 L6 L2 I7 L5 L0 L0 B0 L1 D0.0 L0 B0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+    ("OverhangOff", 21, 2, 2, 0, 0, 1, 4, true, 3,
+        "L2! L2! L0! L0! D0.6! D30.0! R255,255,255! L1! L4! I7! CN! L1! L1! D1.0! L9 I7! D1.0! L1! L6! L2! I7! L5! L0! L0! B0! L1! D0.0! L0! B0! B1! B1! B0! B0! B0! B0! B0! B0! L50! D0.0! D1.0! L0! R0,0,0! L50! L3! R0,0,255! B0! L50! L50! L50! B0! L50! CL! D1.0! L2! Tstrokes_ogs.tif! B0! D1.0! D1.0!"),
+    ("Realistic", 8, 2, 3, 0, 2, 0, 0, false, 3,
+        "L2 L3 L0 L2 D0.6 D30.0 R255,255,255 L0 L0 I7 CN L1 L1 D1.0 L8 CN D1.0 L1 L6 L2 I7 L3 L0 L0 B0 L13 D0.0 L0 B0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+    ("Shaded", 27, 2, 2, 1, 2, 0, 4, false, 3,
+        "L2 L2 L1 L2 D0.6 D30.0 R255,255,255 L0 L4 I7 CN L1 L1 D1.0 L8 CN D1.0 L1 L6 L2 R120,120,120 L3 L0 L0 B0 L5 D0.0 L0 B0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+    ("Shaded with edges", 26, 2, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, false, 3,
+        "L2 L2 L1 L2 D0.6 D30.0 R255,255,255 L1 L2 I7 CN L2 L1 D1.0 L8 CN D1.0 L1 L6 L2 I7 L3 L0 L0 B0 L5 D0.0 L0 B0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+    ("Shades of Gray", 23, 2, 2, 3, 0, 2, 2, false, 3,
+        "L2 L2 L3 L0 D0.6 D30.0 R255,255,255 L2 L2 I7 I7 L1 L1 D40.0 L8 I7 D1.0 L1 L6 L2 I7 L3 L0 L0 B0 L1 D0.0 L0 B0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+    ("Sketchy", 24, 1, 2, 2, 0, 2, 2, false, 3,
+        "L1 L2 L2 L0 D0.6 D30.0 R255,255,255 L2 L2 I7 I7 L1 L1 D40.0 L11 I7 D1.0 L1 L6 L2 I7 L6 L0 L0 B0 L1 D0.0 L0 B0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+    ("Thicken", 13, 2, 2, 0, 0, 1, 4, true, 3,
+        "L2 L2 L0 L0 D0.6 D30.0 R255,255,255 L1 L4 I7 CN L1 L1 D1.0 L12 I7 D1.0 L1 L6 L2 I7 L5 L0 L0 B0 L1 D0.0 L0 B0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+    ("Wireframe", 5, 0, 2, 0, 0, 1, 4, false, 3,
+        "L0 L2 L0 L0 D0.6 D30.0 R255,255,255 L1 L4 I7 CN L1 L1 D1.0 L0 CN D1.0 L1 L6 L2 I7 L3 L0 L0 B0 L1 D0.0 L0 B0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+    ("X-Ray", 25, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 0, false, 3,
+        "L2 L2 L1 L1 D0.5 D30.0 R255,255,255 L1 L0 I7 CN L1 L1 D1.0 L8 I7 D1.0 L1 L6 L2 I7 L3 L0 L0 B0 L13 D0.0 L0 B0 B1 B1 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 B0 L50 D0.0 D1.0 L0 R0,0,0 L50 L3 R0,0,255 B0 L50 L50 L50 B0 L50 CL! D1.0! L2 Tstrokes_ogs.tif B0 D1.0 D1.0"),
+];
+
+fn property(token: &str) -> Option<VisualStyleProperty> {
+    let (token, enabled) = match token.strip_suffix('!') {
+        Some(token) => (token, 0),
+        None => (token, 1),
+    };
+    let value = match token.split_at(1) {
+        ("L", v) => VisualStylePropertyValue::Long(v.parse().ok()?),
+        ("S", v) => VisualStylePropertyValue::Short(v.parse().ok()?),
+        ("D", v) => VisualStylePropertyValue::Double(v.parse().ok()?),
+        ("B", v) => VisualStylePropertyValue::Bool(v == "1"),
+        ("I", v) => VisualStylePropertyValue::Color(Color::Index(v.parse().ok()?)),
+        ("R", v) => {
+            let mut parts = v.split(',').map(|part| part.parse::<u8>().ok());
+            let (r, g, b) = (parts.next()??, parts.next()??, parts.next()??);
+            VisualStylePropertyValue::Color(Color::Rgb { r, g, b })
+        }
+        ("C", "L") => VisualStylePropertyValue::Color(Color::ByLayer),
+        ("C", "B") => VisualStylePropertyValue::Color(Color::ByBlock),
+        ("C", "N") => VisualStylePropertyValue::Color(Color::None),
+        ("T", v) => VisualStylePropertyValue::Text(v.to_string()),
+        _ => return None,
+    };
+    Some(VisualStyleProperty { value, enabled })
+}
+
+/// Adds the reference's visual styles to the drawing's ACAD_VISUALSTYLE
+/// dictionary, keeping a style of the same name that is there already.
+pub fn populate_document(document: &mut codec::CadDocument) {
+    let dictionary = document.header.acad_visualstyle_dict_handle;
+    if dictionary.is_null() {
+        return;
+    }
+    for &(name, style_type, flm, flq, fcm, fm, em, es, internal, elm, props) in STYLES {
+        let present = match document.objects.get(&dictionary) {
+            Some(ObjectType::Dictionary(entries)) => entries.get(name).is_some(),
+            _ => return,
+        };
+        if present {
+            continue;
+        }
+        let Some(properties) = props.split(' ').map(property).collect::<Option<Vec<_>>>() else { continue };
+        let handle = document.allocate_handle();
+        let mut style = VisualStyle::new();
+        style.handle = handle;
+        style.owner = dictionary;
+        style.reactors = vec![dictionary];
+        style.description = name.to_string();
+        style.style_type = style_type;
+        style.face_lighting_model = flm;
+        style.face_lighting_quality = flq;
+        style.face_color_mode = fcm;
+        style.face_modifier = fm;
+        style.edge_model = em;
+        style.edge_style = es;
+        style.internal_use_only = internal;
+        style.extended_lighting_model = elm;
+        style.properties = properties;
+        document.objects.insert(handle, ObjectType::VisualStyle(style));
+        if let Some(ObjectType::Dictionary(entries)) = document.objects.get_mut(&dictionary) {
+            entries.add_entry(name, handle);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// The visual styles offered by name (not the internal ones), as the
+/// reference lists them: the 2D wireframe style shows as "2D Wireframe".
+pub fn offered(document: &codec::CadDocument) -> Vec<(String, codec::types::Handle)> {
+    let Some(ObjectType::Dictionary(entries)) = document.objects.get(&document.header.acad_visualstyle_dict_handle) else {
+        return Vec::new();
+    };
+    entries
+        .entries
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|(_, handle)| match document.objects.get(handle) {
+            Some(ObjectType::VisualStyle(style)) => !style.internal_use_only,
+            _ => false,
+        })
+        .map(|(name, handle)| {
+            let shown = if name.eq_ignore_ascii_case("2dWireframe") { "2D Wireframe".to_string() } else { name.clone() };
+            (shown, *handle)
+        })
+        .collect()
+}
diff --git a/src/scene/entity.rs b/src/scene/entity.rs
index 8bbf31323..48348b043 100644
--- a/src/scene/entity.rs
+++ b/src/scene/entity.rs
@@ -3026,6 +3026,8 @@ impl Scene {
     /// standard linetypes and a compatible page setup on every paper layout.
     pub fn populate_new_drawing_defaults(&mut self) {
         crate::io::linetypes::populate_document(&mut self.document);
+        // The visual styles of the reference's new drawing.
+        crate::io::visual_styles::populate_document(&mut self.document);
         // A new drawing is metric, as the reference's new drawing: metre
         // insertion units, metric measurement, and the ISO-25 dimension style
         // current. Standard stays available for imperial work.