diff --git a/OpenNest.WinForms.Tests/Forms/CuttingValidationPanelTests.cs b/OpenNest.WinForms.Tests/Forms/CuttingValidationPanelTests.cs
index d983c1f1..a18218ed 100644
--- a/OpenNest.WinForms.Tests/Forms/CuttingValidationPanelTests.cs
+++ b/OpenNest.WinForms.Tests/Forms/CuttingValidationPanelTests.cs
@@ -271,6 +271,35 @@ public class CuttingValidationPanelTests
         Assert.False(view.ValidationOverlay.IsAnimating);
     });
 
+    [Fact]
+    public void HeaderZoomStaysLiveWhilePlateNavigationIsLocked() => RunSta(() =>
+    {
+        using var editor = RapidEditor();
+        editor.Show();
+        editor.PlateManager.LoadAt(0);
+        editor.OpenValidationInspection();
+        var panel = editor.CuttingInspection!;
+        Pump(() => panel.ValidationReport != null && !panel.IsPlanning);
+        var view = editor.PlateView;
+        Button Zoom(string name) => Assert.IsType<Button>(editor.Controls.Find(name, true).Single());
+        Zoom("btnZoomToFit").PerformClick(); // The docked panel narrowed the canvas.
+        var fit = view.ViewScale;
+        Zoom("btnZoomIn").PerformClick();
+        Assert.True(view.ViewScale > fit);
+        var zoomed = view.ViewScale;
+        Zoom("btnZoomOut").PerformClick();
+        Assert.True(view.ViewScale < zoomed);
+        Zoom("btnZoomIn").PerformClick();
+        Zoom("btnZoomToFit").PerformClick();
+        Assert.Equal(fit, view.ViewScale, 3);
+        var next = Field<Button>(editor, "btnNextPlate");
+        next.PerformClick();
+        Assert.Equal(0, editor.PlateManager.CurrentIndex);
+        panel.RequestClose();
+        next.PerformClick();
+        Assert.Equal(1, editor.PlateManager.CurrentIndex);
+    });
+
     private static void InvokeView(Control target, string name, params object[] args) => target.GetType()
         .GetMethod(name, BindingFlags.NonPublic | BindingFlags.Instance)!.Invoke(target, args);
 
diff --git a/OpenNest/Controls/PlateView.cs b/OpenNest/Controls/PlateView.cs
index 80ce1461..66a83b1a 100644
--- a/OpenNest/Controls/PlateView.cs
+++ b/OpenNest/Controls/PlateView.cs
@@ -601,6 +601,8 @@ namespace OpenNest.Controls
                     InspectionCloseRequested();
                 else if (keyData == Keys.F)
                     ZoomToFit();
+                else if (keyData is (Keys.Control | Keys.Oemplus) or (Keys.Control | Keys.OemMinus))
+                    return base.ProcessCmdKey(ref msg, keyData); // The host's zoom shortcuts stay live.
                 return true;
             }
             // Audited: DrawControl/PlateView, Action key handlers, EditNestForm,
diff --git a/OpenNest/Forms/EditNestForm.cs b/OpenNest/Forms/EditNestForm.cs
index 16d79684..bb796a4a 100644
--- a/OpenNest/Forms/EditNestForm.cs
+++ b/OpenNest/Forms/EditNestForm.cs
@@ -159,6 +159,12 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             btnNextPlate.Location = new Point(btnSize.Width * 2, 0);
             btnLastPlate.Location = new Point(btnSize.Width * 3, 0);
 
+            // Inspection locks plate navigation as one container but leaves zoom live.
+            var plateButtons = new Panel { Size = new System.Drawing.Size(btnSize.Width * 4, btnSize.Height) };
+            plateButtons.Controls.AddRange(
+                new Control[] { btnFirstPlate, btnPreviousPlate, btnNextPlate, btnLastPlate });
+            ZoomControls = [zoomOutButton, zoomInButton, zoomToFitButton];
+
             zoomOutButton.Location = new Point(btnSize.Width * 4 + 8, 0);
             zoomInButton.Location = new Point(btnSize.Width * 5 + 8, 0);
             zoomToFitButton.Location = new Point(btnSize.Width * 6 + 8, 0);
@@ -174,8 +180,7 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             navPanel.Controls.AddRange(
                 new Control[]
                 {
-                    btnFirstPlate, btnPreviousPlate, btnNextPlate, btnLastPlate,
-                    separator, zoomOutButton, zoomInButton, zoomToFitButton
+                    plateButtons, separator, zoomOutButton, zoomInButton, zoomToFitButton
                 }
             );
 
@@ -263,6 +268,7 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
         public bool IsSidePanelVisible => !viewSplitContainer.Panel2Collapsed;
 
         internal Control SidePanelHeader { get; private set; }
+        internal Control[] ZoomControls { get; private set; }
         internal CuttingInspectionPanel CuttingInspection { get; private set; }
         private bool disposeAfterCuttingInspection;
         private bool closeAfterCuttingInspection;
diff --git a/OpenNest/Forms/MainForm.cs b/OpenNest/Forms/MainForm.cs
index 6be64aeb..5c911259 100644
--- a/OpenNest/Forms/MainForm.cs
+++ b/OpenNest/Forms/MainForm.cs
@@ -89,6 +89,11 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
                     return true;
                 }
                 // Standard inspection navigation reaches the canvas/panel; menu shortcuts cannot mutate.
+                // The zoom shortcuts stay live with the header zoom buttons.
+                if (keyData == mnuViewZoomIn.ShortcutKeys)
+                    ZoomIn_Click(this, EventArgs.Empty);
+                else if (keyData == mnuViewZoomOut.ShortcutKeys)
+                    ZoomOut_Click(this, EventArgs.Empty);
                 if ((keyData & (Keys.Control | Keys.Alt)) != 0)
                     return true;
             }
diff --git a/OpenNest/Forms/ValidationInspectionScope.cs b/OpenNest/Forms/ValidationInspectionScope.cs
index bf29b319..c23c1292 100644
--- a/OpenNest/Forms/ValidationInspectionScope.cs
+++ b/OpenNest/Forms/ValidationInspectionScope.cs
@@ -13,8 +13,7 @@ internal sealed class ValidationInspectionScope : IDisposable
     private readonly List<(Form Form, bool AllowDrop)> hosts = new();
     private bool disposed;
     private readonly PlateView view;
-    private readonly Control inspector;
-    private readonly Control header;
+    private readonly Control[] live;
     private readonly Action close;
     private Form closingHost;
     private readonly bool previousInspection;
@@ -22,8 +21,8 @@ internal sealed class ValidationInspectionScope : IDisposable
     public ValidationInspectionScope(EditNestForm editor, Control inspector, Control header, Action close)
     {
         view = editor.PlateView;
-        this.inspector = inspector;
-        this.header = header;
+        // The header zoom buttons only change the viewport, like the canvas wheel.
+        live = new[] { view, inspector, header }.Concat(editor.ZoomControls).Where(control => control != null).ToArray();
         this.close = close;
         previousInspection = view.InspectionOnly;
         view.InspectionOnly = true;
@@ -43,9 +42,9 @@ internal sealed class ValidationInspectionScope : IDisposable
     {
         foreach (var child in parent.Controls.Cast<Control>())
         {
-            if (ReferenceEquals(child, view) || ReferenceEquals(child, inspector) || ReferenceEquals(child, header))
+            if (live.Contains(child))
                 continue;
-            if (child.Contains(view) || child.Contains(inspector) || header != null && child.Contains(header))
+            if (live.Any(child.Contains))
                 DisableExceptCanvas(child);
             else
             {
diff --git a/docs/post-verification.md b/docs/post-verification.md
index 9662ea36..078b3ce1 100644
--- a/docs/post-verification.md
+++ b/docs/post-verification.md
@@ -37,7 +37,9 @@ fresh verification and consent flow.
 Finish or cancel active nesting/fill operations before validating. The panel is
 exclusive with editing and other side-panel actions while it owns the nest. The
 main plate view remains available for wheel zoom, middle-button pan, and **F**
-or middle-button double-click to fit. Panel X, Cancel or Escape requests
+or middle-button double-click to fit. The plate header's zoom buttons and the
+**Ctrl+Plus**/**Ctrl+Minus** shortcuts also stay live; its plate navigation
+buttons stay locked. Panel X, Cancel or Escape requests
 cancellation and waits for the worker to stop before restoring editing controls.
 Switching to Plan mode also waits for any validation worker; it does not promote
 a live validation report into a plan check. Closing the editor or main window