diff --git a/.github/workflows/acceptance.yml b/.github/workflows/acceptance.yml
index 8b2c0a49..8a9b7ad8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/acceptance.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/acceptance.yml
@@ -74,6 +74,10 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           raco pkg install --auto --no-docs "https://github.com/turinglambdaai/keel.git#${KEEL_PIN}"
           raco pkg install --auto --no-docs "https://github.com/turinglambdaai/rivet.git#${RIVET_PIN}"
+      - name: Render DMG artwork from SVG
+        run: |
+          brew install librsvg
+          bash scripts/render-dmg-background.sh
       - name: Run executable acceptance contract
         shell: bash
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 3fba709d..3743d25b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -45,6 +45,12 @@ jobs:
           raco pkg install --auto --no-docs 'https://github.com/turinglambdaai/rivet.git#${{ env.RIVET_PIN }}'
       - name: Version preflight (VERSION == rivet.rktd == updater == tag)
         run: bash scripts/check-release-version.sh "${{ github.ref_name }}"
+      # The Finder DMG uses the PNG, not the editable SVG. Regenerate it so
+      # artwork changes always land in the release (Rivet uses a 660x400 view).
+      - name: Render DMG artwork from SVG
+        run: |
+          brew install librsvg
+          bash scripts/render-dmg-background.sh
       # DMG (human installer) + portable zip + SBOM + notices, launch
       # smoke included. The macOS update feed entry is the portable zip,
       # assembled by scripts/make-update-manifest.sh in the publish job.
diff --git a/assets/dmg-background.svg b/assets/dmg-background.svg
index d7cded46..b0be4f89 100644
--- a/assets/dmg-background.svg
+++ b/assets/dmg-background.svg
@@ -7,10 +7,6 @@
       <stop offset="0" stop-color="#faf5f1"/>
       <stop offset="1" stop-color="#f2e4db"/>
     </linearGradient>
-    <linearGradient id="arrow" x1="0" y1="0" x2="1" y2="0">
-      <stop offset="0" stop-color="#c15f3c" stop-opacity="0.55"/>
-      <stop offset="1" stop-color="#c15f3c" stop-opacity="0.9"/>
-    </linearGradient>
   </defs>
 
   <rect width="1320" height="800" fill="url(#bg)"/>
@@ -19,10 +15,15 @@
   <text x="660" y="150" text-anchor="middle" font-family="Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" font-size="88" font-weight="600" letter-spacing="2" fill="#2b211b">taskly</text>
   <text x="660" y="216" text-anchor="middle" font-family="Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" font-size="34" font-weight="400" fill="#2b211b" fill-opacity="0.62">A focused, keyboard-friendly task manager</text>
 
-  <!-- drag hint: from the app slot (left) into Applications (right) -->
-  <path d="M 430 390 C 550 322, 730 322, 848 378"
-        fill="none" stroke="url(#arrow)" stroke-width="7" stroke-linecap="round"/>
-  <path d="M 828 350 L 858 384 L 812 392 Z" fill="#c15f3c" fill-opacity="0.9"/>
+  <!-- Keep the drag cue on the line connecting Finder's two icon slots.
+       Straight geometry avoids the prior upward arc looking detached from
+       the icons; neither the stroke nor head overlaps the 80pt icons. -->
+  <path d="M 456 418 H 828"
+        fill="none" stroke="#c15f3c" stroke-opacity="0.75"
+        stroke-width="9" stroke-linecap="round"/>
+  <path d="M 822 389 L 861 418 L 822 447"
+        fill="none" stroke="#c15f3c" stroke-opacity="0.88"
+        stroke-width="9" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-linecap="round"/>
 
   <text x="660" y="672" text-anchor="middle" font-family="Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" font-size="30" font-weight="400" fill="#2b211b" fill-opacity="0.55">Drag taskly into Applications to install</text>
 </svg>
diff --git a/scripts/render-dmg-background.sh b/scripts/render-dmg-background.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..11c35b26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/render-dmg-background.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# The SVG is the editable source; Rivet stages the PNG named in rivet.rktd.
+# Run before packaging on macOS so the release never ships stale artwork.
+set -euo pipefail
+root="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
+svg="$root/assets/dmg-background.svg"
+png="$root/assets/dmg-background.png"
+if ! command -v rsvg-convert >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "rsvg-convert is required (macOS: brew install librsvg)" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+rsvg-convert --format png --output "$png" "$svg"
+# Fail before Rivet if the generated image no longer matches its fixed Finder
+# window geometry (660x400 at 2x): a valid PNG may still crop/misalign icons.
+python3 - "$png" <<'PY'
+import struct
+import sys
+with open(sys.argv[1], "rb") as stream:
+    header = stream.read(24)
+if header[:8] != b"\x89PNG\r\n\x1a\n" or header[12:16] != b"IHDR":
+    raise SystemExit("DMG artwork is not a valid PNG")
+size = struct.unpack(">II", header[16:24])
+if size != (1320, 800):
+    raise SystemExit(f"DMG artwork must be 1320x800, got {size}")
+print(f"Rendered DMG artwork: {size[0]}x{size[1]}")
+PY