feat: retire the sketch/doodle WIP title tier, and the review strip asks "Is this a WIP?" (milestone 430)

The soft tier (#1474) tagged `wip` on any post titled sketch, doodle or
scribble: 6,096 of the library's 8,876 wip tags. Its conflict audit flagged
most of them, because finished art scores >= 0.5 on some content head,
which filled the Gallery strip with 2,086 cards. A "sketch" is usually
finished work, so the operator retired the tier. The artist's own
"WIP" / "work in progress" title rule and human wip tags stay.

- Removed: the soft matcher, source and prefilter; the importer and backfill
  soft branches; soft_wip_conflict_audit with its task and beat; the
  wip_soft_title_tagging_enabled setting, API field and toggle; and
  wip_title_soft from _AUTO_SOURCES.
- Migration 0112: a soft tag the operator confirmed, or kept from the strip,
  becomes `manual`. Every other soft tag is deleted, along with the open
  review cards whose tag is gone. The column is dropped.
- Review strip (#4424): each card asks "Is this a WIP?" (or banner, and so on),
  and the buttons read "Is a WIP" / "Is not a WIP". The content tag it also
  scored on is shown as the reason it was flagged.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01LVjrnpQjRgHdvq95rASoiR

alembic/versions/0112_retire_soft_wip_title.py

@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+"""Retire the sketch/doodle WIP title tier — its tags, its review flags, its toggle.
+
+Milestone 430, #4428. The soft tier (#1474) tagged `wip` on any post titled
+sketch / doodle / scribble. Measured on the operator's library it was 6,096 of
+8,876 wip tags, and its conflict audit filled the Gallery's review strip with
+2,086 cards, because most finished art scores >= 0.5 on some content head. A
+"sketch" is usually finished work, so the operator retired it (2026-09-25).
+
+Data:
+
+* A soft tag the operator stood behind is kept and relabelled `manual`: one they
+  confirmed (tag_positive_confirmation), or one whose review flag they resolved
+  while leaving the tag on (the strip's "Keep tag").
+* Every other `wip_title_soft` row is deleted.
+* Unresolved review flags whose tag is no longer on the image are deleted: the
+  question they ask no longer applies. That is the audit's cards, and any older
+  orphan the same way.
+
+Then `import_settings.wip_soft_title_tagging_enabled` is dropped. The downgrade
+restores the column only; deleted tags are not recreated.
+
+Revision ID: 0112
+Revises: 0111
+Create Date: 2026-09-25
+
+"""
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from alembic import op
+
+revision = "0112"
+down_revision = "0111"
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def retire_soft_wip_tags(conn) -> None:
+    """The data half, on a plain connection, so a test can run it directly."""
+    conn.execute(sa.text("""
+        UPDATE image_tag it SET source = 'manual'
+        WHERE it.source = 'wip_title_soft'
+          AND (
+            EXISTS (
+              SELECT 1 FROM tag_positive_confirmation c
+              WHERE c.image_record_id = it.image_record_id AND c.tag_id = it.tag_id
+            )
+            OR EXISTS (
+              SELECT 1 FROM presentation_review pr
+              WHERE pr.image_record_id = it.image_record_id AND pr.tag_id = it.tag_id
+                AND pr.resolved_at IS NOT NULL
+            )
+          )
+    """))
+    conn.execute(sa.text("DELETE FROM image_tag WHERE source = 'wip_title_soft'"))
+    conn.execute(sa.text("""
+        DELETE FROM presentation_review pr
+        WHERE pr.resolved_at IS NULL
+          AND NOT EXISTS (
+            SELECT 1 FROM image_tag it
+            WHERE it.image_record_id = pr.image_record_id AND it.tag_id = pr.tag_id
+          )
+    """))
+
+
+def upgrade():
+    retire_soft_wip_tags(op.get_bind())
+    op.drop_column("import_settings", "wip_soft_title_tagging_enabled")
+
+
+def downgrade():
+    op.add_column(
+        "import_settings",
+        sa.Column(
+            "wip_soft_title_tagging_enabled",
+            sa.Boolean(),
+            nullable=False,
+            server_default=sa.text("false"),
+        ),
+    )

backend/app/api/settings.py

@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ _EDITABLE_FIELDS = (
     "translation_target_lang",
     "translation_min_confidence",
     "wip_title_tagging_enabled",
-    "wip_soft_title_tagging_enabled",
 )
 
 # Per-host external-download toggles — all plain booleans, validated uniformly.
@@ -196,12 +195,6 @@ async def update_import_settings():
         return jsonify(
             {"error": "wip_title_tagging_enabled must be a boolean"}
         ), 400
-    if "wip_soft_title_tagging_enabled" in body and not isinstance(
-        body["wip_soft_title_tagging_enabled"], bool
-    ):
-        return jsonify(
-            {"error": "wip_soft_title_tagging_enabled must be a boolean"}
-        ), 400
 
     async with get_session() as session:
         row = await ImportSettings.load(session)

backend/app/celery_app.py

@@ -223,11 +223,6 @@ def make_celery() -> Celery:
                 "schedule": 86400.0,  # auto-tag wip/editor process art (#1464);
                 # no-op unless process_auto_apply_enabled (opt-in)
             },
-            "soft-wip-conflict-audit-daily": {
-                "task": "backend.app.tasks.ml.scheduled_soft_wip_conflict_audit",
-                "schedule": 86400.0,  # flag ring-loud soft-WIP (sketch/doodle) tags
-                # for review (#1474); no-op with no content heads
-            },
             "prune-presentation-reviews-daily": {
                 "task": "backend.app.tasks.ml.prune_presentation_reviews",
                 "schedule": 86400.0,  # retention: drop resolved review flags >30d

backend/app/models/import_settings.py

@@ -238,13 +238,6 @@ class ImportSettings(Base):
     wip_title_tagging_enabled: Mapped[bool] = mapped_column(
         Boolean, nullable=False, default=True, server_default="true",
     )
-    # Soft WIP title tier (#1474): also tag sketch/doodle/scribble titles, but with
-    # a PROVISIONAL source (`wip_title_soft`) that never trains the head, since these
-    # are lower-precision (a finished "sketch" isn't WIP). OFF by default — a lower-
-    # precision tier is opt-in (the ring-loud audit surfaces false positives).
-    wip_soft_title_tagging_enabled: Mapped[bool] = mapped_column(
-        Boolean, nullable=False, default=False, server_default="false",
-    )
 
     @classmethod
     async def load(cls, session) -> ImportSettings:

backend/app/services/importer.py

@@ -49,10 +49,8 @@ from .audits import single_color
 from .link_extract import extract_external_links
 from .thumbnailer import Thumbnailer
 from .wip_title import (
-    WIP_TITLE_SOFT_SOURCE,
     WIP_TITLE_SOURCE,
     apply_wip_image_tags,
-    matches_soft_wip_title,
     matches_wip_title,
     resolve_wip_tag_id,
 )
@@ -1040,9 +1038,7 @@ class Importer:
         removal sticks. The existing catalogue is covered separately by the
         operator-triggered backfill sweep. Gated by the settings toggle, and
         best-effort: any failure is logged, never allowed to fail the import."""
-        hard_on = self.settings.wip_title_tagging_enabled
-        soft_on = self.settings.wip_soft_title_tagging_enabled
-        if not (hard_on or soft_on):
+        if not self.settings.wip_title_tagging_enabled:
             return
         if record.primary_post_id is None:
             return
@@ -1050,21 +1046,14 @@ class Importer:
             title = self.session.execute(
                 select(Post.post_title).where(Post.id == record.primary_post_id)
             ).scalar_one_or_none()
-            # HARD tier ("WIP"/"work in progress") wins — higher precision, and it
-            # trains the head; SOFT (sketch/doodle, #1474) is the provisional fallback
-            # that never trains (source wip_title_soft).
-            if hard_on and matches_wip_title(title):
-                source = WIP_TITLE_SOURCE
-            elif soft_on and matches_soft_wip_title(title):
-                source = WIP_TITLE_SOFT_SOURCE
-            else:
+            if not matches_wip_title(title):
                 return
             if self._wip_tag_id is _UNSET:
                 self._wip_tag_id = resolve_wip_tag_id(self.session)
             if self._wip_tag_id is None:
                 return
             apply_wip_image_tags(
-                self.session, [record.id], self._wip_tag_id, source=source
+                self.session, [record.id], self._wip_tag_id, source=WIP_TITLE_SOURCE
             )
         except Exception as exc:  # noqa: BLE001 — a tag must never fail an import
             log.warning(

backend/app/services/ml/heads.py

@@ -97,8 +97,8 @@ def _sigmoid(z, np):
 
 def _conflict_scores(Xn, Wc, bc, np):
     """The presentation conflict signal (#141): per row, the MAX content-head
-    probability and WHICH head produced it. Shared by the system-tag sweep's guard-2
-    and the soft-wip audit — both ask "does this ALSO look like real content?"."""
+    probability and WHICH head produced it — the system-tag sweep's guard-2 asks
+    "does this ALSO look like real content?"."""
     cprobs = _sigmoid(Xn @ Wc.T + bc, np)
     return cprobs.max(axis=1), cprobs.argmax(axis=1)
 
@@ -106,10 +106,9 @@ def _conflict_scores(Xn, Wc, bc, np):
 def _insert_presentation_review(
     session, *, image_record_id, tag_id, conflict_tag_id, conflict_score, mode,
 ):
-    """Single-source the ring-loud PresentationReview row shape so the two writers
-    (system-tag sweep guard-2 + soft-wip audit) can't drift on columns or `mode` —
-    they share the (image_record_id, tag_id) composite PK, so a divergent `mode`
-    would be a silent first-writer-wins bug."""
+    """Single-source the ring-loud PresentationReview row shape, so every writer of
+    the (image_record_id, tag_id) composite PK agrees on columns and `mode` — a
+    divergent `mode` would be a silent first-writer-wins bug."""
     session.execute(
         pg_insert(PresentationReview)
         .values(
@@ -963,68 +962,6 @@ def system_tag_auto_apply_sweep(
     }
 
 
-def soft_wip_conflict_audit(session: Session, dry_run: bool = False) -> dict:
-    """Ring-loud audit for the SOFT WIP-title cohort (#1474). Images auto-tagged
-    `wip` from a low-precision sketch/doodle title (source='wip_title_soft') that ALSO
-    score >= the process conflict threshold on a content head are probably FINISHED
-    art mis-tagged as process — flag them (PresentationReview, mode='process') so the
-    review strip surfaces them ("also looks like <X>", Keep tag / Remove tag). Does
-    NOT remove the tag; the operator decides. No-op when there are no content heads.
-    numpy-only. Returns {n_scanned, n_flagged}."""
-    import numpy as np
-
-    from ..wip_title import WIP_TITLE_SOFT_SOURCE, resolve_wip_tag_id
-
-    settings = _settings(session)
-    ver = settings.embedder_model_version
-    conflict_thr = float(settings.process_conflict_threshold)
-    conf = _conflict_heads(session, ver)
-    wip_id = resolve_wip_tag_id(session)
-    if not conf or wip_id is None:
-        return {"n_scanned": 0, "n_flagged": 0}
-    Wc = np.vstack([np.asarray(r.weights, dtype=np.float32) for r in conf])
-    bc = np.asarray([r.bias for r in conf], dtype=np.float32)
-    conf_tag_ids = [r.tag_id for r in conf]
-
-    soft_ids = [iid for (iid,) in session.execute(
-        select(image_tag.c.image_record_id)
-        .where(image_tag.c.tag_id == wip_id)
-        .where(image_tag.c.source == WIP_TITLE_SOFT_SOURCE)
-    )]
-    # Skip images already flagged for this tag (idempotent re-runs).
-    flagged = {iid for (iid,) in session.execute(
-        select(PresentationReview.image_record_id)
-        .where(PresentationReview.tag_id == wip_id)
-    )}
-    soft_ids = [i for i in soft_ids if i not in flagged]
-
-    n_flagged = 0
-    scanned = 0
-    for start in range(0, len(soft_ids), _AUTO_APPLY_CHUNK):
-        chunk = soft_ids[start:start + _AUTO_APPLY_CHUNK]
-        emb = _load_embeddings(session, chunk)
-        cids = [i for i in chunk if i in emb]
-        if not cids:
-            continue
-        scanned += len(cids)
-        Xn = _l2norm(np.vstack([emb[i] for i in cids]).astype(np.float32), np)
-        max_c, arg_c = _conflict_scores(Xn, Wc, bc, np)
-        for k in range(len(cids)):
-            if float(max_c[k]) >= conflict_thr:
-                n_flagged += 1
-                if not dry_run:
-                    _insert_presentation_review(
-                        session,
-                        image_record_id=cids[k], tag_id=wip_id,
-                        conflict_tag_id=conf_tag_ids[int(arg_c[k])],
-                        conflict_score=float(max_c[k]),
-                        mode="process",
-                    )
-        if not dry_run:
-            session.commit()
-    return {"n_scanned": scanned, "n_flagged": n_flagged}
-
-
 def retract_auto_applied_heads(session: Session) -> int:
     """Soft auto-apply (milestone 139): re-score every standing source='head_auto'
     tag against its CURRENT head and REMOVE the ones now BELOW the head's

backend/app/services/ml/training_data.py

@@ -32,11 +32,8 @@ from ...models.tag import image_tag
 # `process_auto` (#1464): wip/editor screenshot applied by the process sweep are
 # ALSO provisional — the head must learn only from title (`wip_title`) + manual
 # labels, never its own auto-applied output, or it would runaway (operator 2026-07-12).
-# `wip_title_soft` (#1474): the soft title tier (sketch/doodle) is LOW-precision, so
-# it's provisional too — a finished piece titled "sketch" must not train the wip head.
 _AUTO_SOURCES = (
     "head_auto", "ccip_auto", "ml_auto", "presentation_auto", "process_auto",
-    "wip_title_soft",
 )
 
 

backend/app/services/wip_title.py

@@ -27,13 +27,10 @@ from .image_tag_apply import insert_image_tags
 
 # image_tag.source stamped on title-heuristic WIP tags — distinct from the other
 # apply sources so provenance stays legible and a future undo can target only these.
-# HARD tier ("WIP"/"work in progress") is high-precision → trains the wip head.
+# Only the artist's own "WIP"/"work in progress" label counts — high-precision, so it
+# trains the wip head. A sketch/doodle/scribble tier (#1474) was retired in milestone
+# 430: a "sketch" is usually finished art, and its 6k tags flooded the review strip.
 WIP_TITLE_SOURCE = "wip_title"
-# SOFT tier (sketch/doodle/scribble, #1474) is LOWER-precision — a finished "sketch"
-# is often not WIP. This source is PROVISIONAL (in training_data._AUTO_SOURCES) so it
-# NEVER trains the wip head; a soft-tagged image that also looks like real content is
-# surfaced by the ring-loud audit for review.
-WIP_TITLE_SOFT_SOURCE = "wip_title_soft"
 
 # A standalone "WIP" / "W.I.P" token, or the phrase "work in progress"
 # (space/underscore/hyphen separated). The letter-boundary lookarounds are what
@@ -45,20 +42,10 @@ _WIP_RE = re.compile(
     re.IGNORECASE,
 )
 
-# Soft tier: sketch / doodle / scribble (+ plurals), letter-boundary anchored so
-# "sketchbook" / "kadoodle" don't trip it. Deliberately conservative — recall is
-# secondary because the soft source doesn't train the head and the ring-loud audit
-# catches false positives.
-_SOFT_WIP_RE = re.compile(
-    r"(?<![A-Za-z])(?:sketch|sketches|doodle|doodles|scribble|scribbles)(?![A-Za-z])",
-    re.IGNORECASE,
-)
-
-# Coarse SQL prefilters for the backfill sweep — narrow the post scan to rows that
+# Coarse SQL prefilter for the backfill sweep — narrows the post scan to rows that
 # COULD match before the precise regex confirms. Case-insensitive ILIKE patterns.
-# Each MUST stay a SUPERSET of its regex or the sweep would silently miss posts.
+# It MUST stay a SUPERSET of the regex or the sweep would silently miss posts.
 WIP_TITLE_SQL_PREFILTER = ("%wip%", "%work%progress%")
-SOFT_WIP_TITLE_SQL_PREFILTER = ("%sketch%", "%doodle%", "%scribble%")
 
 # Chunk bulk inserts so a large sweep can't blow past psycopg's 65535-parameter
 # ceiling (3 params/row → ~21k rows max; 5k stays comfortably under).
@@ -66,19 +53,12 @@ _INSERT_CHUNK = 5000
 
 
 def matches_wip_title(title: str | None) -> bool:
-    """True when a post title explicitly marks it work-in-progress (HARD tier)."""
+    """True when a post title explicitly marks it work-in-progress."""
     if not title:
         return False
     return _WIP_RE.search(title) is not None
 
 
-def matches_soft_wip_title(title: str | None) -> bool:
-    """True when a title carries a SOFT WIP cue (sketch/doodle/scribble, #1474)."""
-    if not title:
-        return False
-    return _SOFT_WIP_RE.search(title) is not None
-
-
 def resolve_wip_tag_id(session: Session) -> int | None:
     """The seeded ``wip`` system tag's id (migration 0075), or None if absent."""
     return session.execute(

backend/app/tasks/maintenance.py

@@ -1041,8 +1041,7 @@ def cleanup_old_download_events() -> int:
 
 def _backfill_wip_tier(session, tag_id, prefilter, matcher, source) -> int:
     """One keyset-paginated pass over posts whose title matches a WIP tier, applying
-    `tag_id` (stamped `source`) to their images. Shared by the hard + soft tiers
-    (#1458 / #1474). Coarse `prefilter` (ILIKE superset) narrows the scan; the precise
+    `tag_id` (stamped `source`) to their images (#1458). Coarse `prefilter` (ILIKE superset) narrows the scan; the precise
     `matcher` confirms. Idempotent-additive (ON CONFLICT DO NOTHING). Returns the row
     count newly applied."""
     from ..models import Post
@@ -1082,26 +1081,17 @@ def _backfill_wip_tier(session, tag_id, prefilter, matcher, source) -> int:
 )
 def backfill_wip_title_tags() -> int:
     """Scan EXISTING posts for WIP titles and apply the `wip` system tag to their
-    images — the operator-triggered back-catalogue catch-up (task #1458 hard tier +
-    #1474 soft tier). New imports are tagged live by the importer; this covers the
-    existing library.
-
-    HARD tier ("WIP"/"work in progress") always runs (the operator triggered the
-    scan); the SOFT tier (sketch/doodle, provisional source) runs only when
-    wip_soft_title_tagging_enabled, AFTER hard so a title matching both keeps the
-    trained hard tag (ON CONFLICT DO NOTHING). Keyset-paginated, restart-safe.
+    images — the operator-triggered back-catalogue catch-up (task #1458). New
+    imports are tagged live by the importer; this covers the existing library.
+    Keyset-paginated, restart-safe.
 
     Deliberately NOT scheduled as a beat: a periodic re-run would re-apply to matching
     posts and silently undo a manual WIP removal, so it stays an explicit operator
     action (Settings → "Scan existing posts for WIP titles"). Returns rows applied.
     """
-    from ..models import ImportSettings
     from ..services.wip_title import (
-        SOFT_WIP_TITLE_SQL_PREFILTER,
-        WIP_TITLE_SOFT_SOURCE,
         WIP_TITLE_SOURCE,
         WIP_TITLE_SQL_PREFILTER,
-        matches_soft_wip_title,
         matches_wip_title,
         resolve_wip_tag_id,
     )
@@ -1114,16 +1104,10 @@ def backfill_wip_title_tags() -> int:
                 "backfill_wip_title_tags: no `wip` system tag present; nothing to do"
             )
             return 0
-        settings = ImportSettings.load_sync(session)
         applied = _backfill_wip_tier(
             session, tag_id, WIP_TITLE_SQL_PREFILTER, matches_wip_title,
             WIP_TITLE_SOURCE,
         )
-        if settings.wip_soft_title_tagging_enabled:
-            applied += _backfill_wip_tier(
-                session, tag_id, SOFT_WIP_TITLE_SQL_PREFILTER, matches_soft_wip_title,
-                WIP_TITLE_SOFT_SOURCE,
-            )
     if applied:
         log.info("backfill_wip_title_tags: applied wip to %d image(s)", applied)
     return applied

backend/app/tasks/ml.py

@@ -620,24 +620,6 @@ def scheduled_process_auto_apply() -> str:
     return f"applied={result['n_applied']} flagged={result['n_flagged']}"
 
 
-@celery.task(
-    name="backend.app.tasks.ml.scheduled_soft_wip_conflict_audit",
-    soft_time_limit=1800, time_limit=2100,
-)
-def scheduled_soft_wip_conflict_audit() -> str:
-    """Ring-loud audit over the SOFT WIP-title cohort (#1474) — flag sketch/doodle
-    auto-tags that ALSO look like real content for review. No-op when there are no
-    content heads; idempotent (already-flagged images skipped). Runs regardless of
-    the process-sweep toggle, since soft-title tags come from the importer, not that
-    sweep. Wall-clock bounded by the task time limits."""
-    from ..services.ml.heads import soft_wip_conflict_audit
-
-    SessionLocal = _sync_session_factory()
-    with SessionLocal() as session:
-        result = soft_wip_conflict_audit(session)
-    return f"scanned={result['n_scanned']} flagged={result['n_flagged']}"
-
-
 @celery.task(name="backend.app.tasks.ml.prune_presentation_reviews")
 def prune_presentation_reviews() -> str:
     """Retention (rule 89): drop RESOLVED presentation-review flags older than 30

frontend/src/components/gallery/HiddenReviewStrip.vue

@@ -2,14 +2,14 @@
   <!-- System-tag auto-applies (chrome hides / process WIP tags) that ALSO looked
        like real content — surfaced PROACTIVELY atop the gallery whenever there's
        something to review (NOT gated on the Show-hidden toggle, so misfires can't
-       go unnoticed), most-concerning first, with keep / remove (#141, #1464).
+       go unnoticed), most-concerning first (#141, #1464). Each card asks one
+       question — is this image a <tag>? — and its buttons answer it (#4424).
        Renders nothing when there's nothing to review. -->
   <section v-if="items.length" class="fc-review" aria-label="Auto-tagged images to review">
     <div class="fc-review__head">
       <v-icon size="18" color="warning">mdi-alert-outline</v-icon>
       <span class="fc-review__title">
-        {{ items.length }} auto-tagged {{ items.length === 1 ? 'image' : 'images' }}
-        may be real content — review
+        {{ items.length }} {{ items.length === 1 ? 'auto-tag' : 'auto-tags' }} to check
       </span>
     </div>
     <div class="fc-review__cards">
@@ -21,22 +21,23 @@
           class="fc-review-card__thumb" loading="lazy"
         >
         <div class="fc-review-card__body">
+          <div class="fc-review-card__question">{{ question(it) }}</div>
           <div
-            class="fc-review-card__conflict"
-            :title="`Scored ${Math.round(it.conflict_score * 100)}% on “${it.conflict_name || 'a content tag'}”`"
+            class="fc-review-card__reason"
+            :title="reasonTitle(it)"
           >
-            also looks like <strong>{{ it.conflict_name || 'content' }}</strong>
+            also {{ Math.round(it.conflict_score * 100) }}%
+            <strong>{{ it.conflict_name || 'content' }}</strong>
           </div>
-          <div class="fc-review-card__tag">{{ tagLine(it) }}</div>
           <div class="fc-review-card__acts">
             <button
               type="button" class="fc-review-btn fc-review-btn--keep"
               :disabled="busy.includes(keyOf(it))" @click="resolve(it, 'keep')"
-            >{{ keepLabel(it) }}</button>
+            >Is {{ withArticle(it) }}</button>
             <button
               type="button" class="fc-review-btn fc-review-btn--unhide"
               :disabled="busy.includes(keyOf(it))" @click="resolve(it, 'unhide')"
-            >{{ removeLabel(it) }}</button>
+            >Is not {{ withArticle(it) }}</button>
           </div>
         </div>
       </div>
@@ -55,11 +56,18 @@ const items = ref([])
 const busy = ref([])
 
 function keyOf(it) { return `${it.image_id}:${it.tag_id}` }
-// Chrome flags hide the image (keep-hidden / un-hide); process flags leave it
-// visible and just tagged (keep-tag / remove-tag). Same endpoints, different words.
-function tagLine(it) { return (it.mode === 'process' ? 'auto-tagged ' : 'hidden as ') + it.tag_name }
-function keepLabel(it) { return it.mode === 'process' ? 'Keep tag' : 'Keep hidden' }
-function removeLabel(it) { return it.mode === 'process' ? 'Remove tag' : 'Un-hide' }
+// The card asks whether the image IS the auto-applied system tag, and the buttons
+// answer that (operator, #4424: "is a <tag>" / "is not a <tag>"). "Is" keeps the
+// tag ('keep'); "Is not" removes it, un-hiding a chrome image ('unhide'). The
+// content tag it also scored on is the reason it was flagged, not the question.
+function noun(it) { return it.tag_name === 'wip' ? 'WIP' : it.tag_name }
+function withArticle(it) { return (/^[aeiou]/i.test(noun(it)) ? 'an ' : 'a ') + noun(it) }
+function question(it) { return `Is this ${withArticle(it)}?` }
+function reasonTitle(it) {
+  const hidden = it.mode === 'process' ? '' : ' It is hidden from the gallery until you answer.'
+  return `Auto-tagged “${it.tag_name}”, but it also scored ${Math.round(it.conflict_score * 100)}% `
+    + `on “${it.conflict_name || 'a content tag'}”, so it may be finished art.${hidden}`
+}
 
 async function load() {
   // Fetched unconditionally on mount — the strip prompts for pending misfires
@@ -77,14 +85,11 @@ async function resolve(it, action) {
     await api.post(`/api/gallery/hidden-review/${it.image_id}/${it.tag_id}/${action}`)
     items.value = items.value.filter((x) => keyOf(x) !== k)
     if (action === 'unhide') {
-      const verb = it.mode === 'process' ? 'Removed' : 'Un-hidden'
-      toast({ text: `${verb} — “${it.tag_name}” removed; it'll train the head`, type: 'success' })
+      const shown = it.mode === 'process' ? '' : ', back in the gallery'
+      toast({ text: `Not ${withArticle(it)} — “${it.tag_name}” removed${shown}; the tagger learns from it`, type: 'success' })
     }
   } catch (e) {
-    toast({
-      text: `Could not ${action === 'keep' ? 'keep hidden' : 'un-hide'}: ${e.message}`,
-      type: 'error',
-    })
+    toast({ text: `Could not save your answer: ${e.message}`, type: 'error' })
   } finally {
     busy.value = busy.value.filter((x) => x !== k)
   }
@@ -112,7 +117,7 @@ onMounted(load)
   display: flex; gap: 10px; overflow-x: auto; padding-bottom: 4px;
 }
 .fc-review-card {
-  flex: 0 0 auto; width: 150px;
+  flex: 0 0 auto; width: 170px;
   display: flex; flex-direction: column;
   border: 1px solid rgb(var(--v-theme-surface-light));
   border-radius: 6px; overflow: hidden;
@@ -123,16 +128,16 @@ onMounted(load)
   background: rgb(var(--v-theme-surface-light));
 }
 .fc-review-card__body { padding: 6px 8px; }
-.fc-review-card__conflict {
-  font-size: 11px; color: rgb(var(--v-theme-on-surface));
+.fc-review-card__question {
+  font-size: 12px; font-weight: 600; color: rgb(var(--v-theme-on-surface));
   overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;
 }
-.fc-review-card__conflict strong { color: rgb(var(--v-theme-warning)); }
-.fc-review-card__tag {
+.fc-review-card__reason {
   font-size: 10px; color: rgb(var(--v-theme-on-surface-variant));
   margin: 1px 0 6px;
   overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;
 }
+.fc-review-card__reason strong { color: rgb(var(--v-theme-warning)); font-weight: 600; }
 .fc-review-card__acts { display: flex; gap: 4px; }
 .fc-review-btn {
   flex: 1; font-size: 11px; padding: 3px 4px; border-radius: 4px;

frontend/src/components/settings/ImportFiltersForm.vue

@@ -103,17 +103,6 @@
           the Explore browse. Applies to new imports; run the scan below to catch
           posts already in your library.
         </div>
-        <v-switch
-          v-model="local.wip_soft_title_tagging_enabled"
-          label="Also tag “sketch” / “doodle” titles (lower precision)"
-          density="compact" hide-details color="primary" @change="save"
-        />
-        <div class="fc-help mb-3">
-          Extends the above to softer cues (<code>sketch</code>, <code>doodle</code>,
-          <code>scribble</code>). These stay <strong>visible</strong> and never train
-          the tagging model — a daily audit flags any that actually look like finished
-          art for review. Off by default.
-        </div>
         <v-btn
           variant="tonal" color="primary" size="small"
           :loading="store.wipScanBusy" prepend-icon="mdi-magnify"
@@ -156,7 +145,6 @@ const local = reactive({
   skip_single_color: false, single_color_threshold: 0.95,
   phash_threshold: 24,
   wip_title_tagging_enabled: true,
-  wip_soft_title_tagging_enabled: false,
 })
 
 watch(() => store.settings, (s) => { if (s) Object.assign(local, s) }, { immediate: true })

tests/test_process_auto_apply.py

@@ -126,53 +126,17 @@ def test_process_sweep_flags_conflict_with_process_mode(db_sync):
 
 
 def test_process_auto_source_never_trains_head(db_sync):
-    # The runaway break: provisional wip tags (process sweep 'process_auto', soft
-    # title 'wip_title_soft') are NOT training positives; a HARD title-heuristic /
-    # manual one IS. So the head learns only from trusted labels, never its own
-    # output or the low-precision sketch/doodle tier (#1464 + #1474).
+    # The runaway break: provisional wip tags (process sweep 'process_auto') are NOT
+    # training positives; a title-heuristic / manual one IS. So the head learns only
+    # from trusted labels, never its own output (#1464).
     wip = _system_tag(db_sync, "wip")
     auto_img = _img(db_sync, "f" * 64, _emb(0))
-    soft_img = _img(db_sync, "9" * 64, _emb(2))
     title_img = _img(db_sync, "0" * 64, _emb(1))
     db_sync.execute(image_tag.insert().values(
         image_record_id=auto_img.id, tag_id=wip.id, source="process_auto"))
-    db_sync.execute(image_tag.insert().values(
-        image_record_id=soft_img.id, tag_id=wip.id, source="wip_title_soft"))
     db_sync.execute(image_tag.insert().values(
         image_record_id=title_img.id, tag_id=wip.id, source="wip_title"))
     db_sync.commit()
     positives = set(_ids_with_tag(db_sync, wip.id))
     assert title_img.id in positives       # trusted HARD label trains the head
     assert auto_img.id not in positives    # its own auto-applied output does NOT
-    assert soft_img.id not in positives    # low-precision soft tier does NOT
-
-
-def test_soft_wip_conflict_audit_flags_ring_loud(db_sync):
-    # A soft-tagged image (sketch/doodle title) that ALSO scores high on a content
-    # head is probably finished art mis-tagged — flagged for review; a quiet one is not.
-    from backend.app.services.ml.heads import soft_wip_conflict_audit
-
-    s = db_sync.execute(select(MLSettings).where(MLSettings.id == 1)).scalar_one()
-    s.process_conflict_threshold = 0.6
-    wip = _system_tag(db_sync, "wip")
-    content = Tag(name="looksreal", kind=TagKind.general)
-    db_sync.add(content)
-    db_sync.flush()
-    _head(db_sync, content.id, 0, weight=1.0)   # sigmoid(1)=0.73 > 0.6 conflict
-    ring = _img(db_sync, "1" * 64, _emb(0))      # scores on the content head
-    quiet = _img(db_sync, "2" * 64, _emb(5))     # orthogonal → 0.5 < 0.6
-    for img in (ring, quiet):
-        db_sync.execute(image_tag.insert().values(
-            image_record_id=img.id, tag_id=wip.id, source="wip_title_soft"))
-    db_sync.commit()
-
-    res = soft_wip_conflict_audit(db_sync)
-    assert res["n_flagged"] == 1
-    flag = db_sync.execute(
-        select(PresentationReview).where(PresentationReview.image_record_id == ring.id)
-    ).scalar_one()
-    assert flag.mode == "process"
-    assert flag.conflict_tag_id == content.id
-    assert db_sync.execute(
-        select(PresentationReview).where(PresentationReview.image_record_id == quiet.id)
-    ).scalar_one_or_none() is None

tests/test_retire_soft_wip_migration.py

@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+"""Migration 0112 (milestone 430, #4428): retiring the sketch/doodle WIP title tier.
+
+Runs the migration's data step against real rows. The soft tags the operator stood
+behind (confirmed, or kept through the review strip) survive as `manual`; the rest go,
+and so do the unresolved review cards whose tag went with them. Hard title tags and
+their flags are untouched.
+"""
+import importlib.util
+from datetime import UTC, datetime
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+from sqlalchemy import select
+
+from backend.app.models import PresentationReview, TagPositiveConfirmation
+from backend.app.models.tag import image_tag
+from backend.app.services.wip_title import resolve_wip_tag_id
+from tests.factories import make_image as _img
+
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.integration
+
+_MIGRATION = (
+    Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+    / "alembic" / "versions" / "0112_retire_soft_wip_title.py"
+)
+
+
+def _retire():
+    spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location("m0112", _MIGRATION)
+    mod = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+    spec.loader.exec_module(mod)
+    return mod.retire_soft_wip_tags
+
+
+def _source(db, image_id, tag_id):
+    return db.execute(
+        select(image_tag.c.source)
+        .where(image_tag.c.image_record_id == image_id)
+        .where(image_tag.c.tag_id == tag_id)
+    ).scalar_one_or_none()
+
+
+def _review(db, image_id, tag_id):
+    return db.execute(
+        select(PresentationReview)
+        .where(PresentationReview.image_record_id == image_id)
+        .where(PresentationReview.tag_id == tag_id)
+    ).scalar_one_or_none()
+
+
+def _flag(db, image_id, tag_id, *, resolved):
+    db.add(PresentationReview(
+        image_record_id=image_id, tag_id=tag_id, conflict_score=0.8, mode="process",
+        resolved_at=datetime.now(UTC) if resolved else None,
+    ))
+
+
+def test_retire_soft_wip_keeps_human_judged_and_clears_the_rest(db_sync):
+    wip = resolve_wip_tag_id(db_sync)
+    plain = _img(db_sync, "a" * 64)       # soft, never looked at → removed
+    confirmed = _img(db_sync, "b" * 64)   # soft + confirmed → kept as manual
+    kept = _img(db_sync, "c" * 64)        # soft + "Keep tag" in the strip → manual
+    pending = _img(db_sync, "d" * 64)     # soft + open card → tag and card removed
+    hard = _img(db_sync, "e" * 64)        # hard title tag + open card → untouched
+    for img in (plain, confirmed, kept, pending):
+        db_sync.execute(image_tag.insert().values(
+            image_record_id=img.id, tag_id=wip, source="wip_title_soft"))
+    db_sync.execute(image_tag.insert().values(
+        image_record_id=hard.id, tag_id=wip, source="wip_title"))
+    db_sync.add(TagPositiveConfirmation(image_record_id=confirmed.id, tag_id=wip))
+    _flag(db_sync, kept.id, wip, resolved=True)
+    _flag(db_sync, pending.id, wip, resolved=False)
+    _flag(db_sync, hard.id, wip, resolved=False)
+    db_sync.flush()
+
+    _retire()(db_sync.connection())
+    db_sync.expire_all()
+
+    assert _source(db_sync, plain.id, wip) is None
+    assert _source(db_sync, confirmed.id, wip) == "manual"
+    assert _source(db_sync, kept.id, wip) == "manual"
+    assert _source(db_sync, pending.id, wip) is None
+    assert _source(db_sync, hard.id, wip) == "wip_title"
+
+    assert _review(db_sync, pending.id, wip) is None
+    assert _review(db_sync, kept.id, wip) is not None     # resolved history stays
+    assert _review(db_sync, hard.id, wip) is not None     # its tag is still on
+    assert db_sync.execute(
+        select(image_tag.c.image_record_id).where(image_tag.c.source == "wip_title_soft")
+    ).first() is None

tests/test_wip_title.py

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ negative cases (substrings like ``swipe`` / ``wiped``) are the load-bearing ones
 """
 import pytest
 
-from backend.app.services.wip_title import matches_soft_wip_title, matches_wip_title
+from backend.app.services.wip_title import matches_wip_title
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("title", [
@@ -48,29 +48,3 @@ def test_matches_positive(title):
 ])
 def test_matches_negative(title):
     assert matches_wip_title(title) is False
-
-
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("title", [
-    "quick sketch",
-    "Nami sketch",
-    "morning doodle",
-    "some doodles",
-    "sketches from today",
-    "a little scribble",
-    "SKETCH",
-])
-def test_soft_matches_positive(title):
-    assert matches_soft_wip_title(title) is True
-
-
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("title", [
-    None,
-    "",
-    "sketchbook tour",              # 'sketch' inside sketchbook — must NOT match
-    "kadoodle mascot",              # 'doodle' mid-word
-    "the final piece",
-    "WIP",                          # a HARD cue is not a SOFT cue
-    "prescribed colours",           # 'scrib' inside prescribed — must NOT match
-])
-def test_soft_matches_negative(title):
-    assert matches_soft_wip_title(title) is False

tests/test_wip_title_tagging.py

@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ from backend.app.celery_app import celery
 from backend.app.models import Artist, ImageProvenance, ImageRecord, Post, Source
 from backend.app.models.tag import image_tag
 from backend.app.services.wip_title import (
-    WIP_TITLE_SOFT_SOURCE,
     apply_wip_image_tags,
     resolve_wip_tag_id,
 )
@@ -108,14 +107,3 @@ def test_backfill_tags_only_wip_titled_posts(db_sync):
 
     # Idempotent: a second sweep finds the tag already present and applies nothing.
     assert backfill_wip_title_tags.apply().get() == 0
-
-
-def test_apply_soft_source_stamps_wip_title_soft(db_sync):
-    # The soft tier (#1474) stamps a distinct provisional source.
-    tag_id = resolve_wip_tag_id(db_sync)
-    rec = _img(db_sync)
-    db_sync.commit()
-    assert apply_wip_image_tags(
-        db_sync, [rec.id], tag_id, source=WIP_TITLE_SOFT_SOURCE
-    ) == 1
-    assert _wip_source(db_sync, rec.id, tag_id) == "wip_title_soft"