diff --git a/docs/architecture/project_database.md b/docs/architecture/project_database.md
index 38354ed..2cb337d 100644
--- a/docs/architecture/project_database.md
+++ b/docs/architecture/project_database.md
@@ -17,6 +17,37 @@ est acceptée sans nouvelle ligne ni migration de schéma. Elle ne crée aucune
 image logique, ne modifie aucune sélection et ne réalise aucun appariement
 automatique.
 
+### S3-E — Orchestration d'ingestion multi-source v1
+
+**IMPLEMENTED / VALIDATION PENDING.** S3-E reçoit un ScanSet explicite et au
+plus 64 chemins source explicitement fournis par l'appelant ; il ne parcourt
+jamais un répertoire. Chaque fichier est d'abord publié comme asset immuable
+géré, puis son évidence S3-D est extraite depuis ces octets publiés. Le
+regroupement automatique ne crée un Capture commun que pour une relation
+`SAME_ACQUISITION_STRONG` unique et mutuelle. Les noms, chemins, SHA-256,
+timestamps, modèle, évidence faible, contradictions et ambiguïtés ne sont
+jamais une identité de Capture et ne donnent jamais lieu à un rapprochement
+automatique. Deux assets identiques dans une requête sont rejetés de façon
+déterministe.
+
+L'appelant peut aussi déclarer explicitement des groupes. Ce résultat porte la
+basis `CALLER_EXPLICIT`, distincte de la basis scientifique `STRONG`; cette
+provenance est un résultat de l'opération v1, non une nouvelle colonne durable.
+Les siblings sont persistés exclusivement avec S3-C. Pour la représentation,
+un JPEG caméra reste un asset `SOURCE` et devient une image logique du même
+Capture via la publication source-image transactionnelle; un RAW reste
+`SOURCE` et son image est produite seulement par S3-B1, avec son PNG `DERIVED`.
+RAW et JPEG d'une même acquisition ne créent pas deux Captures. La sélection ne
+change que si l'appelant demande explicitement la représentation sélectionnée.
+
+Project DB reste strictement v19, sans migration ni fusion de Captures. Après
+qu'un Capture ID a été renvoyé ou durablement retenu, une reprise doit fournir
+explicitement `resume_capture_id`: publication, attaches S3-C et représentation
+convergent alors sans réhoming ni doublon logique. Une panne avant que
+l'appelant ait retenu cet ID ne peut pas offrir une reprise whole-request
+exactly-once en v19; S3-E n'infère volontairement jamais une identité de
+reprise depuis SHA, chemin, basename, timestamp, métadonnées ou `image_id`.
+
 `asset_derivations` est volontairement limité à un parent asset et un enfant
 asset, avec kind/version et fingerprint canonique de 32 octets. Il n'est pas un
 DAG générique et ne réalise aucun développement RAW ni extraction vidéo. La
@@ -44,9 +75,8 @@ assets sont différents. Une valeur absente n'est pas un conflit. Une ambiguït
 n'est jamais résolue par l'ordre des assets.
 
 S3-D n'effectue aucune écriture en base ni changement de schéma : Project DB
-reste v19 et S3-C attach demeure l'unique primitive de persistance. S3-E, la
-future intégration d'ingestion multi-source avant `Capture`, n'est pas
-implémentée.
+reste v19 et S3-C attach demeure l'unique primitive de persistance. S3-E
+réutilise cette évidence sans la redéfinir.
 
 ## Phase H — décision Project DB v18
 
diff --git a/include/lardon3d/acquisition_ingest.h b/include/lardon3d/acquisition_ingest.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0cc6aef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/lardon3d/acquisition_ingest.h
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+#ifndef LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_H
+#define LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_H
+
+#include <stddef.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+#include <lardon3d/app_state.h>
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+#define LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_MAX_SOURCES 64u
+
+typedef enum {
+  LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_OK = 0,
+  LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_INVALID_ARGUMENT,
+  LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_SCANSET_NOT_FOUND,
+  LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_PUBLISH_ERROR,
+  LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_METADATA_ERROR,
+  LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_DUPLICATE_ASSET,
+  LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_DB_ERROR,
+  LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_DEVELOPMENT_ERROR,
+  LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_CONSTRAINT,
+  LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_INTERNAL_ERROR
+} Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestResult;
+
+typedef enum {
+  LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_GROUP_AUTOMATIC = 1,
+  LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_GROUP_CALLER_EXPLICIT = 2
+} Lardon3DAcquisitionGroupingMode;
+
+typedef enum {
+  LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_GROUP_SINGLETON = 0,
+  LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_GROUP_STRONG = 1,
+  LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_GROUP_EXPLICIT = 2
+} Lardon3DAcquisitionGroupBasis;
+
+typedef enum {
+  LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_SELECT_JPEG_SOURCE = 1,
+  LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_SELECT_DEVELOP_RAW = 2
+} Lardon3DAcquisitionRepresentation;
+
+typedef struct {
+  const char *source_path; /* Borrowed for the duration of the call. */
+  uint32_t explicit_group;
+} Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestSource;
+
+typedef struct {
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionGroupingMode grouping;
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionRepresentation representation;
+  uint8_t select_representation;
+  uint8_t reserved[7];
+  uint64_t resume_capture_id;
+  uint64_t producer_task_id;
+  int64_t imported_at;
+  uint64_t max_source_bytes;
+} Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestOptions;
+
+typedef struct {
+  uint64_t capture_id;
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionGroupBasis basis;
+  size_t source_count;
+  size_t source_indices[LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_MAX_SOURCES];
+} Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestGroup;
+
+typedef struct {
+  size_t group_count;
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestGroup groups[LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_MAX_SOURCES];
+} Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestOutput;
+
+Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestResult lardon3d_acquisition_ingest(
+    Lardon3DAppState *state, uint64_t scanset_id,
+    const Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestSource *sources, size_t source_count,
+    const Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestOptions *options, Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestOutput *output);
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+
+#endif
diff --git a/include/lardon3d/project_db.h b/include/lardon3d/project_db.h
index bd223af..9409bce 100644
--- a/include/lardon3d/project_db.h
+++ b/include/lardon3d/project_db.h
@@ -510,6 +510,11 @@ Lardon3DProjectDbResult lardon3d_project_db_publish_derived_capture_image(
     const char *original_name, const char *source_path, uint64_t producer_task_id,
     int64_t imported_at, Lardon3DProjectDbImageRegisterStatus *status,
     Lardon3DProjectDbImage *image);
+Lardon3DProjectDbResult lardon3d_project_db_publish_source_capture_image(
+    Lardon3DProjectDb *database, uint64_t capture_id, uint64_t asset_id,
+    const char *original_name, const char *source_path, uint64_t producer_task_id,
+    int64_t imported_at, bool select_image, Lardon3DProjectDbImageRegisterStatus *status,
+    Lardon3DProjectDbImage *image);
 Lardon3DProjectDbResult lardon3d_project_db_load_image(Lardon3DProjectDb *database,
                                                        uint64_t image_id,
                                                        Lardon3DProjectDbImage *image,
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 32b9844..fb6fa93 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -150,6 +150,7 @@ executable(
         'src/image_catalog_persistent.c',
         'src/raw_development.cpp',
         'src/acquisition_pairing.cpp',
+        'src/acquisition_ingest.cpp',
         'src/feature_extractor_opencv.cpp',
         'src/feature_store.c',
         'src/feature_extractor_opencv.cpp',
@@ -333,6 +334,27 @@ acquisition_pairing_test = executable(
 
 test('acquisition-pairing', acquisition_pairing_test, timeout: 30)
 
+acquisition_ingest_test = executable(
+    'test-acquisition-ingest',
+    sources: [
+        'tests/test_acquisition_ingest.cpp',
+        'src/app_state.c',
+        'src/image_catalog_persistent.c',
+        'src/acquisition_ingest.cpp',
+        'src/acquisition_pairing.cpp',
+        'src/raw_development.cpp',
+        'src/project_db.c', 'src/project_db_sparse_sfm.c',
+        'src/task.c',
+        'src/resource_governor.c',
+        'src/resource_snapshot.c',
+    ],
+    include_directories: include_directories('include'),
+    cpp_args: ['-DLARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_TESTING'],
+    dependencies: [threads, sqlite3, openssl, opencv, libraw, libexif, libpng, libdeflate],
+)
+
+test('acquisition-ingest', acquisition_ingest_test, timeout: 30)
+
 feature_store_test = executable(
     'test-feature-store',
     sources: [
diff --git a/src/acquisition_ingest.cpp b/src/acquisition_ingest.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..38f58f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/acquisition_ingest.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,195 @@
+#include <lardon3d/acquisition_ingest.h>
+
+#include <lardon3d/acquisition_pairing.h>
+extern "C" {
+#include <lardon3d/image_catalog.h>
+}
+#include <lardon3d/raw_development.h>
+
+#include <climits>
+#include <cstdio>
+#include <cstring>
+
+namespace {
+
+#ifdef LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_TESTING
+const Lardon3DAcquisitionMetadata *testing_metadata = nullptr;
+size_t testing_metadata_count = 0u;
+#endif
+
+struct PublishedSource {
+  Lardon3DProjectDbImageAsset asset;
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionMetadata metadata;
+  char managed_path[PATH_MAX];
+};
+
+bool valid_options(const Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestOptions &options) {
+  return (options.grouping == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_GROUP_AUTOMATIC ||
+          options.grouping == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_GROUP_CALLER_EXPLICIT) &&
+         (options.representation == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_SELECT_JPEG_SOURCE ||
+          options.representation == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_SELECT_DEVELOP_RAW) &&
+         options.select_representation <= 1u && options.imported_at >= 0 &&
+         options.max_source_bytes != 0u;
+}
+
+const char *base_name(const char *path) {
+  const char *slash = std::strrchr(path, '/');
+  return slash == nullptr ? path : slash + 1;
+}
+
+Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestResult db_result(Lardon3DProjectDbResult result) {
+  if (result == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_CONSTRAINT) return LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_CONSTRAINT;
+  return result == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_NOT_FOUND ? LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_SCANSET_NOT_FOUND
+                                                 : LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_DB_ERROR;
+}
+
+bool add_to_group(Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestGroup &group, size_t source_index) {
+  if (group.source_count >= LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_MAX_SOURCES) return false;
+  group.source_indices[group.source_count++] = source_index;
+  return true;
+}
+
+}  // namespace
+
+#ifdef LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_TESTING
+extern "C" void lardon3d_acquisition_ingest_test_set_metadata(
+    const Lardon3DAcquisitionMetadata *metadata, size_t count) {
+  testing_metadata = metadata;
+  testing_metadata_count = count;
+}
+#endif
+
+extern "C" Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestResult lardon3d_acquisition_ingest(
+    Lardon3DAppState *state, uint64_t scanset_id,
+    const Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestSource *sources, size_t source_count,
+    const Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestOptions *options, Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestOutput *output) {
+  if (output != nullptr) std::memset(output, 0, sizeof(*output));
+  if (state == nullptr || !state->project_loaded || state->project_db == nullptr || scanset_id == 0u ||
+      sources == nullptr || source_count == 0u ||
+      source_count > LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_MAX_SOURCES || options == nullptr ||
+      !valid_options(*options) || output == nullptr) return LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_INVALID_ARGUMENT;
+  Lardon3DProjectDbScanSet scanset{};
+  Lardon3DProjectDbResult database_result =
+      lardon3d_project_db_load_scanset(state->project_db, scanset_id, &scanset);
+  if (database_result != LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK) return db_result(database_result);
+  if (options->grouping == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_GROUP_CALLER_EXPLICIT) {
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < source_count; ++i)
+      if (sources[i].explicit_group == 0u) return LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_INVALID_ARGUMENT;
+  }
+
+  PublishedSource published[LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_MAX_SOURCES]{};
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < source_count; ++i) {
+    if (sources[i].source_path == nullptr || sources[i].source_path[0] == '\0')
+      return LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_INVALID_ARGUMENT;
+    if (lardon3d_image_catalog_publish_asset_file(state, sources[i].source_path,
+            options->imported_at, options->max_source_bytes, &published[i].asset) !=
+        LARDON3D_IMAGE_CATALOG_ASSET_PUBLISHED) return LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_PUBLISH_ERROR;
+    for (size_t previous = 0; previous < i; ++previous)
+      if (published[previous].asset.asset_id == published[i].asset.asset_id)
+        return LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_DUPLICATE_ASSET;
+    int length = std::snprintf(published[i].managed_path, sizeof(published[i].managed_path),
+                               "%s/%s", state->project_path, published[i].asset.path);
+    if (length <= 0 || static_cast<size_t>(length) >= sizeof(published[i].managed_path))
+      return LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_INVALID_ARGUMENT;
+    if (lardon3d_acquisition_extract_metadata(published[i].managed_path,
+                                              &published[i].metadata) != LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_OK)
+      return LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_METADATA_ERROR;
+#ifdef LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_TESTING
+    if (testing_metadata != nullptr) {
+      if (testing_metadata_count != source_count) return LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_INTERNAL_ERROR;
+      published[i].metadata = testing_metadata[i];
+    }
+#endif
+  }
+
+  bool assigned[LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_MAX_SOURCES]{};
+  if (options->grouping == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_GROUP_CALLER_EXPLICIT) {
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < source_count; ++i) {
+      if (assigned[i]) continue;
+      Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestGroup &group = output->groups[output->group_count++];
+      group.basis = LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_GROUP_EXPLICIT;
+      for (size_t j = i; j < source_count; ++j) {
+        if (sources[j].explicit_group == sources[i].explicit_group) {
+          (void)add_to_group(group, j);
+          assigned[j] = true;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  } else {
+    size_t strong_count[LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_MAX_SOURCES]{};
+    size_t strong_partner[LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_MAX_SOURCES]{};
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < source_count; ++i) for (size_t j = i + 1; j < source_count; ++j) {
+      Lardon3DAcquisitionPairResult pair{};
+      if (lardon3d_acquisition_compare(&published[i].metadata, &published[j].metadata, 0, 0,
+                                       &pair) != LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_OK)
+        return LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_INTERNAL_ERROR;
+      if (pair.decision == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_SAME_ACQUISITION_STRONG) {
+        ++strong_count[i]; ++strong_count[j]; strong_partner[i] = j; strong_partner[j] = i;
+      }
+    }
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < source_count; ++i) {
+      if (assigned[i]) continue;
+      Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestGroup &group = output->groups[output->group_count++];
+      (void)add_to_group(group, i); assigned[i] = true;
+      size_t partner = strong_partner[i];
+      if (strong_count[i] == 1u && strong_count[partner] == 1u && strong_partner[partner] == i) {
+        (void)add_to_group(group, partner); assigned[partner] = true;
+        group.basis = LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_GROUP_STRONG;
+      } else group.basis = LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_GROUP_SINGLETON;
+    }
+  }
+  if (options->resume_capture_id != 0u && output->group_count != 1u)
+    return LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_INVALID_ARGUMENT;
+
+  for (size_t group_index = 0; group_index < output->group_count; ++group_index) {
+    Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestGroup &group = output->groups[group_index];
+    Lardon3DProjectDbCapture capture{};
+    if (options->resume_capture_id != 0u) {
+      database_result = lardon3d_project_db_load_capture(state->project_db,
+                                                         options->resume_capture_id, &capture);
+      if (database_result != LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK) return db_result(database_result);
+      if (capture.scanset_id != scanset_id) return LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_CONSTRAINT;
+    } else {
+      database_result = lardon3d_project_db_create_capture(state->project_db, scanset_id,
+                                                            options->imported_at, &capture);
+      if (database_result != LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK) return db_result(database_result);
+    }
+    group.capture_id = capture.capture_id;
+    size_t jpeg = SIZE_MAX, raw = SIZE_MAX;
+    for (size_t member = 0; member < group.source_count; ++member) {
+      size_t index = group.source_indices[member];
+      database_result = lardon3d_project_db_attach_capture_source_asset(
+          state->project_db, capture.capture_id, published[index].asset.asset_id);
+      if (database_result != LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK) return db_result(database_result);
+      if (published[index].metadata.source_kind == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_SOURCE_JPEG && jpeg == SIZE_MAX)
+        jpeg = index;
+      if (published[index].metadata.source_kind == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_SOURCE_RAW && raw == SIZE_MAX)
+        raw = index;
+    }
+    bool use_jpeg = jpeg != SIZE_MAX &&
+        (options->representation == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_SELECT_JPEG_SOURCE || raw == SIZE_MAX);
+    if (use_jpeg) {
+      Lardon3DProjectDbImage image{};
+      Lardon3DProjectDbImageRegisterStatus status{};
+      database_result = lardon3d_project_db_publish_source_capture_image(
+          state->project_db, capture.capture_id, published[jpeg].asset.asset_id,
+          base_name(sources[jpeg].source_path), sources[jpeg].source_path,
+          options->producer_task_id, options->imported_at, options->select_representation != 0u,
+          &status, &image);
+      if (database_result != LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK) return db_result(database_result);
+    } else if (raw != SIZE_MAX) {
+      Lardon3DRawDevelopmentOutput developed{};
+      Lardon3DRawDevelopmentResult result = lardon3d_raw_develop_to_capture(
+          state, capture.capture_id, published[raw].managed_path, options->producer_task_id,
+          options->imported_at, &developed);
+      if (result != LARDON3D_RAW_DEVELOPMENT_OK)
+        return LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_DEVELOPMENT_ERROR;
+      if (options->select_representation) {
+        database_result = lardon3d_project_db_set_selected_capture_image(
+            state->project_db, capture.capture_id, developed.image.image_id);
+        if (database_result != LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK) return db_result(database_result);
+      }
+    } else return LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_CONSTRAINT;
+  }
+  return LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_OK;
+}
diff --git a/src/project_db.c b/src/project_db.c
index 7308b18..bf83094 100644
--- a/src/project_db.c
+++ b/src/project_db.c
@@ -2950,6 +2950,128 @@ Lardon3DProjectDbResult lardon3d_project_db_publish_derived_capture_image(
                                         &(Lardon3DProjectDbImageAsset){0});
 }
 
+Lardon3DProjectDbResult lardon3d_project_db_publish_source_capture_image(
+    Lardon3DProjectDb *database, uint64_t capture_id, uint64_t asset_id,
+    const char *original_name, const char *source_path, uint64_t producer_task_id,
+    int64_t imported_at, bool select_image, Lardon3DProjectDbImageRegisterStatus *status,
+    Lardon3DProjectDbImage *image) {
+  if (!database || !valid_catalog_id(capture_id) || !valid_catalog_id(asset_id) ||
+      !valid_original_name(original_name) ||
+      !bounded_text(source_path, LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_PATH_CAPACITY, false) ||
+      (producer_task_id != 0 && !valid_task_id(producer_task_id)) || imported_at < 0 || !status ||
+      !image) {
+    return LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_INVALID_ARGUMENT;
+  }
+  memset(image, 0, sizeof(*image));
+  *status = LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_IMAGE_REGISTERED;
+  (void)pthread_mutex_lock(&database->mutex);
+  Lardon3DProjectDbResult result =
+      execute(database, "BEGIN IMMEDIATE", "begin source capture image publication");
+  sqlite3_stmt *statement = NULL;
+  sqlite3_int64 scanset_id = 0;
+  if (result == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK) {
+    result = prepare(database, "SELECT scanset_id FROM captures WHERE capture_id=?1", &statement);
+  }
+  if (result == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK) {
+    (void)sqlite3_bind_int64(statement, 1, (sqlite3_int64)capture_id);
+    int code = sqlite3_step(statement);
+    if (code == SQLITE_DONE) result = LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_NOT_FOUND;
+    else if (code != SQLITE_ROW || (scanset_id = sqlite3_column_int64(statement, 0)) <= 0)
+      result = code == SQLITE_ROW ? LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_CORRUPT
+                                  : sqlite_result(database, code, "load source image capture");
+    (void)sqlite3_finalize(statement);
+    statement = NULL;
+  }
+  if (result == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK) {
+    result = prepare(database, "SELECT 1 FROM image_assets WHERE asset_id=?1 AND state=1", &statement);
+  }
+  if (result == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK) {
+    (void)sqlite3_bind_int64(statement, 1, (sqlite3_int64)asset_id);
+    int code = sqlite3_step(statement);
+    if (code == SQLITE_DONE) result = LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_NOT_FOUND;
+    else if (code != SQLITE_ROW) result = sqlite_result(database, code, "load source image asset");
+    (void)sqlite3_finalize(statement);
+    statement = NULL;
+  }
+  int inserted = 0;
+  uint64_t image_id = 0;
+  if (result == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK) {
+    result = insert_or_find_image_locked(database, (uint64_t)scanset_id, asset_id, original_name,
+                                         source_path, producer_task_id, imported_at, &inserted,
+                                         &image_id);
+  }
+  if (result == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK) {
+    result = prepare(database, "SELECT capture_id FROM capture_images WHERE image_id=?1", &statement);
+  }
+  bool attach_image = false;
+  if (result == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK) {
+    (void)sqlite3_bind_int64(statement, 1, (sqlite3_int64)image_id);
+    int code = sqlite3_step(statement);
+    if (code == SQLITE_DONE) attach_image = true;
+    else if (code != SQLITE_ROW) result = sqlite_result(database, code, "find source image capture");
+    else if (sqlite3_column_int64(statement, 0) != (sqlite3_int64)capture_id)
+      result = LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_CONSTRAINT;
+    (void)sqlite3_finalize(statement);
+    statement = NULL;
+  }
+  if (result == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK) {
+    result = prepare(database, "SELECT role FROM capture_assets WHERE capture_id=?1 AND asset_id=?2",
+                     &statement);
+  }
+  bool attach_asset = false;
+  if (result == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK) {
+    (void)sqlite3_bind_int64(statement, 1, (sqlite3_int64)capture_id);
+    (void)sqlite3_bind_int64(statement, 2, (sqlite3_int64)asset_id);
+    int code = sqlite3_step(statement);
+    if (code == SQLITE_DONE) attach_asset = true;
+    else if (code != SQLITE_ROW) result = sqlite_result(database, code, "find source capture asset");
+    else if (sqlite3_column_int(statement, 0) != LARDON3D_DB_CAPTURE_ASSET_SOURCE)
+      result = LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_CONSTRAINT;
+    (void)sqlite3_finalize(statement);
+    statement = NULL;
+  }
+  if (result == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK && attach_asset) {
+    result = prepare(database, "INSERT INTO capture_assets(capture_id,asset_id,role) VALUES(?1,?2,1)",
+                     &statement);
+    if (result == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK) {
+      (void)sqlite3_bind_int64(statement, 1, (sqlite3_int64)capture_id);
+      (void)sqlite3_bind_int64(statement, 2, (sqlite3_int64)asset_id);
+      result = step_done(database, statement, "attach source capture asset");
+      statement = NULL;
+    }
+  }
+  if (result == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK && attach_image) {
+    result = prepare(database, "INSERT INTO capture_images(capture_id,image_id) VALUES(?1,?2)", &statement);
+    if (result == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK) {
+      (void)sqlite3_bind_int64(statement, 1, (sqlite3_int64)capture_id);
+      (void)sqlite3_bind_int64(statement, 2, (sqlite3_int64)image_id);
+      result = step_done(database, statement, "attach source capture image");
+      statement = NULL;
+    }
+  }
+  if (result == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK && select_image) {
+    result = prepare(database, "INSERT INTO capture_selections(capture_id,image_id) VALUES(?1,?2) "
+                               "ON CONFLICT(capture_id) DO UPDATE SET image_id=excluded.image_id",
+                     &statement);
+    if (result == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK) {
+      (void)sqlite3_bind_int64(statement, 1, (sqlite3_int64)capture_id);
+      (void)sqlite3_bind_int64(statement, 2, (sqlite3_int64)image_id);
+      result = step_done(database, statement, "select source capture image");
+      statement = NULL;
+    }
+  }
+  if (result == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK)
+    result = execute(database, "COMMIT", "commit source capture image publication");
+  if (result != LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK)
+    (void)execute(database, "ROLLBACK", "rollback source capture image publication");
+  (void)pthread_mutex_unlock(&database->mutex);
+  if (result != LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK) return result;
+  *status = inserted == 1 ? LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_IMAGE_REGISTERED
+                          : LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_IMAGE_ALREADY_PRESENT;
+  return lardon3d_project_db_load_image(database, image_id, image,
+                                        &(Lardon3DProjectDbImageAsset){0});
+}
+
 Lardon3DProjectDbResult lardon3d_project_db_load_image(Lardon3DProjectDb *database,
                                                        uint64_t image_id,
                                                        Lardon3DProjectDbImage *image,
diff --git a/tests/test_acquisition_ingest.cpp b/tests/test_acquisition_ingest.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ccf9fd1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_acquisition_ingest.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,263 @@
+#include <lardon3d/acquisition_ingest.h>
+#include <lardon3d/acquisition_pairing.h>
+
+extern "C" {
+#include <lardon3d/image_catalog.h>
+}
+
+#include <libexif/exif-data.h>
+
+#include <cerrno>
+#include <cstdio>
+#include <cstdlib>
+#include <cstring>
+#include <dirent.h>
+#include <fcntl.h>
+#include <string>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+extern "C" void lardon3d_acquisition_ingest_test_set_metadata(
+    const Lardon3DAcquisitionMetadata *metadata, size_t count);
+
+#define CHECK(condition) do { \
+  if (!(condition)) { std::fprintf(stderr, "Failure line %d: %s\\n", __LINE__, #condition); return false; } \
+} while (0)
+
+namespace {
+
+bool remove_tree(const char *path) {
+  struct stat info {};
+  if (lstat(path, &info) != 0) return errno == ENOENT;
+  if (!S_ISDIR(info.st_mode)) return unlink(path) == 0;
+  DIR *directory = opendir(path);
+  if (directory == nullptr) return false;
+  bool ok = true;
+  for (dirent *entry = readdir(directory); entry != nullptr; entry = readdir(directory)) {
+    if (std::strcmp(entry->d_name, ".") == 0 || std::strcmp(entry->d_name, "..") == 0) continue;
+    char child[4096];
+    const int length = std::snprintf(child, sizeof(child), "%s/%s", path, entry->d_name);
+    if (length <= 0 || static_cast<size_t>(length) >= sizeof(child) || !remove_tree(child)) ok = false;
+  }
+  return closedir(directory) == 0 && rmdir(path) == 0 && ok;
+}
+
+void add_ascii(ExifData *data, ExifIfd ifd, ExifTag tag, const char *text) {
+  ExifEntry *entry = exif_entry_new();
+  entry->tag = tag;
+  entry->format = EXIF_FORMAT_ASCII;
+  entry->components = std::strlen(text) + 1u;
+  entry->size = static_cast<unsigned int>(entry->components);
+  entry->data = static_cast<unsigned char *>(std::malloc(entry->size));
+  std::memcpy(entry->data, text, entry->size);
+  exif_content_add_entry(data->ifd[ifd], entry);
+  exif_entry_unref(entry);
+}
+
+bool write_jpeg(const char *path, const char *unique_id) {
+  ExifData *data = exif_data_new();
+  if (data == nullptr) return false;
+  exif_data_set_byte_order(data, EXIF_BYTE_ORDER_INTEL);
+  add_ascii(data, EXIF_IFD_0, EXIF_TAG_MODEL, "Lardon test camera");
+  if (unique_id != nullptr) add_ascii(data, EXIF_IFD_EXIF, EXIF_TAG_IMAGE_UNIQUE_ID, unique_id);
+  unsigned char *encoded = nullptr;
+  unsigned int encoded_size = 0u;
+  exif_data_save_data(data, &encoded, &encoded_size);
+  FILE *file = std::fopen(path, "wb");
+  const unsigned char soi[] = {0xffu, 0xd8u, 0xffu, 0xe1u};
+  const unsigned int segment_size = encoded_size + 2u;
+  const unsigned char length[] = {static_cast<unsigned char>(segment_size >> 8u),
+                                  static_cast<unsigned char>(segment_size)};
+  const unsigned char eoi[] = {0xffu, 0xd9u};
+  const bool ok = file != nullptr && encoded != nullptr && encoded_size != 0u &&
+      segment_size <= UINT16_MAX && std::fwrite(soi, 1, sizeof(soi), file) == sizeof(soi) &&
+      std::fwrite(length, 1, sizeof(length), file) == sizeof(length) &&
+      std::fwrite(encoded, 1, encoded_size, file) == encoded_size &&
+      std::fwrite(eoi, 1, sizeof(eoi), file) == sizeof(eoi) && std::fclose(file) == 0;
+  if (file != nullptr && !ok) std::fclose(file);
+  std::free(encoded);
+  exif_data_unref(data);
+  return ok;
+}
+
+struct Fixture {
+  char root[4096] = "/tmp/lardon3d-ingest-XXXXXX";
+  char database_path[4096]{};
+  Lardon3DProjectDb *database = nullptr;
+  Lardon3DAppState state{};
+  Lardon3DProjectDbScanSet scanset{};
+
+  bool open() {
+    if (mkdtemp(root) == nullptr || std::snprintf(database_path, sizeof(database_path), "%s/project.db", root) <= 0)
+      return false;
+    char error[LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_ERROR_CAPACITY]{};
+    if (lardon3d_project_db_open(database_path, &database, error) != LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK) return false;
+    state.project_loaded = true;
+    state.project_db = database;
+    if (std::snprintf(state.project_path, sizeof(state.project_path), "%s", root) <= 0) return false;
+    return lardon3d_project_db_create_scanset(database, "S3-E", &scanset) == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK;
+  }
+  void close() {
+    lardon3d_acquisition_ingest_test_set_metadata(nullptr, 0u);
+    if (database != nullptr) lardon3d_project_db_close(database);
+    database = nullptr;
+    if (root[0] != '\0') (void)remove_tree(root);
+  }
+  bool path(char output[4096], const char *name) const {
+    const int length = std::snprintf(output, 4096, "%s/%s", root, name);
+    return length > 0 && length < 4096;
+  }
+};
+
+Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestOptions options() {
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestOptions value{};
+  value.grouping = LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_GROUP_AUTOMATIC;
+  value.representation = LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_SELECT_JPEG_SOURCE;
+  value.imported_at = 7;
+  value.max_source_bytes = 1024 * 1024;
+  return value;
+}
+
+Lardon3DAcquisitionMetadata metadata(const char *uid, Lardon3DAcquisitionSourceKind kind = LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_SOURCE_JPEG) {
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionMetadata value{};
+  value.policy_version = LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_PAIRING_POLICY_VERSION;
+  value.source_kind = kind;
+  if (uid != nullptr) {
+    std::strcpy(value.image_unique_id, uid);
+    value.present_fields = LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_FIELD_IMAGE_UNIQUE_ID;
+  }
+  return value;
+}
+
+size_t capture_count(Lardon3DProjectDb *database, uint64_t scanset_id) {
+  Lardon3DProjectDbCapture captures[64]{};
+  size_t count = 0u;
+  return lardon3d_project_db_list_captures(database, scanset_id, 0, captures, 64, &count) ==
+      LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK ? count : SIZE_MAX;
+}
+
+bool capture_assets(Lardon3DProjectDb *database, uint64_t capture_id, size_t expected) {
+  Lardon3DProjectDbCaptureAsset assets[64]{};
+  size_t count = 0u;
+  if (lardon3d_project_db_list_capture_assets(database, capture_id, 0, assets, 64, &count) !=
+      LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK || count != expected) return false;
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < count; ++i)
+    if (assets[i].role != LARDON3D_DB_CAPTURE_ASSET_SOURCE) return false;
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool test_ingest_grouping_and_resume() {
+  Fixture fixture;
+  CHECK(fixture.open());
+  char a[4096], b[4096], c[4096], d[4096];
+  CHECK(fixture.path(a, "DSC03350.JPG") && fixture.path(b, "DSC03350.ARW") &&
+        fixture.path(c, "other.JPG") && fixture.path(d, "fourth.JPG"));
+  CHECK(write_jpeg(a, "A") && write_jpeg(b, "B") && write_jpeg(c, "C") && write_jpeg(d, "D"));
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestSource sources[] = {{a, 0}, {b, 0}};
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestOutput output{};
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestOptions automatic_options = options();
+
+  /* Same basename and second-level timestamp are not passed as pairing hints. */
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionMetadata weak[] = {metadata(nullptr), metadata(nullptr)};
+  lardon3d_acquisition_ingest_test_set_metadata(weak, 2);
+  CHECK(lardon3d_acquisition_ingest(&fixture.state, fixture.scanset.scanset_id, sources, 2,
+                                    &automatic_options, &output) == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_OK);
+  CHECK(output.group_count == 2 && output.groups[0].basis == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_GROUP_SINGLETON &&
+        output.groups[1].basis == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_GROUP_SINGLETON && capture_count(fixture.database, fixture.scanset.scanset_id) == 2);
+
+  /* Controlled S3-D evidence: distinct source kinds, one unique mutual strong pair. */
+  Fixture strong;
+  CHECK(strong.open());
+  char raw_like[4096], jpeg[4096];
+  CHECK(strong.path(raw_like, "raw-like.bin") && strong.path(jpeg, "camera.JPG") &&
+        write_jpeg(raw_like, "physical-one") && write_jpeg(jpeg, "physical-two"));
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestSource pair[] = {{raw_like, 0}, {jpeg, 0}};
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionMetadata same[] = {metadata("SHUTTER", LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_SOURCE_RAW),
+                                        metadata("SHUTTER", LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_SOURCE_JPEG)};
+  lardon3d_acquisition_ingest_test_set_metadata(same, 2);
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestOutput paired{};
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestOptions jpeg_options = options();
+  CHECK(lardon3d_acquisition_ingest(&strong.state, strong.scanset.scanset_id, pair, 2,
+                                    &jpeg_options, &paired) == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_OK);
+  CHECK(paired.group_count == 1 && paired.groups[0].basis == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_GROUP_STRONG &&
+        paired.groups[0].source_count == 2 && capture_count(strong.database, strong.scanset.scanset_id) == 1 &&
+        capture_assets(strong.database, paired.groups[0].capture_id, 2));
+
+  /* A competing equal strong candidate remains entirely ungrouped. */
+  Fixture ambiguous;
+  CHECK(ambiguous.open());
+  char paths[3][4096];
+  const char *physical_ids[] = {"physical-a", "physical-b", "physical-c"};
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < 3; ++i) {
+    CHECK(ambiguous.path(paths[i], i == 0 ? "a.JPG" : i == 1 ? "b.JPG" : "c.JPG"));
+    CHECK(write_jpeg(paths[i], physical_ids[i]));
+  }
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestSource triple[] = {{paths[0], 0}, {paths[1], 0}, {paths[2], 0}};
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionMetadata tied[] = {metadata("TIE"), metadata("TIE"), metadata("TIE")};
+  lardon3d_acquisition_ingest_test_set_metadata(tied, 3);
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestOutput ambiguous_output{};
+  CHECK(lardon3d_acquisition_ingest(&ambiguous.state, ambiguous.scanset.scanset_id, triple, 3,
+                                    &jpeg_options, &ambiguous_output) == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_OK);
+  CHECK(ambiguous_output.group_count == 3 && capture_count(ambiguous.database, ambiguous.scanset.scanset_id) == 3);
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < 3; ++i) CHECK(ambiguous_output.groups[i].basis == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_GROUP_SINGLETON);
+
+  /* Resume is only the known Capture ID and converges image/source state. */
+  Fixture resumed;
+  CHECK(resumed.open());
+  char resume_file[4096]; CHECK(resumed.path(resume_file, "resume.JPG") && write_jpeg(resume_file, "resume"));
+  Lardon3DProjectDbCapture existing{};
+  CHECK(lardon3d_project_db_create_capture(resumed.database, resumed.scanset.scanset_id, 7, &existing) == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK);
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestSource one[] = {{resume_file, 0}};
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionMetadata one_metadata[] = {metadata("RESUME")};
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestOptions resume_options = options(); resume_options.resume_capture_id = existing.capture_id;
+  lardon3d_acquisition_ingest_test_set_metadata(one_metadata, 1);
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestOutput first{};
+  CHECK(lardon3d_acquisition_ingest(&resumed.state, resumed.scanset.scanset_id, one, 1, &resume_options, &first) == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_OK && first.groups[0].capture_id == existing.capture_id);
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestOutput retry{};
+  CHECK(lardon3d_acquisition_ingest(&resumed.state, resumed.scanset.scanset_id, one, 1, &resume_options, &retry) == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_OK && capture_count(resumed.database, resumed.scanset.scanset_id) == 1 && capture_assets(resumed.database, existing.capture_id, 1));
+  uint64_t images = 0; CHECK(lardon3d_project_db_count_images(resumed.database, resumed.scanset.scanset_id, &images) == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK && images == 1);
+
+  fixture.close(); strong.close(); ambiguous.close(); resumed.close();
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool test_explicit_and_db_helper() {
+  Fixture fixture;
+  CHECK(fixture.open());
+  char a[4096], b[4096], c[4096], helper_path[4096];
+  CHECK(fixture.path(a, "a.JPG") && fixture.path(b, "b.JPG") && fixture.path(c, "c.JPG") &&
+        fixture.path(helper_path, "helper.JPG") && write_jpeg(a, "a") && write_jpeg(b, "b") &&
+        write_jpeg(c, "c") && write_jpeg(helper_path, "helper"));
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestSource inputs[] = {{a, 9}, {b, 9}, {c, 10}};
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestOptions explicit_options = options();
+  explicit_options.grouping = LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_GROUP_CALLER_EXPLICIT;
+  Lardon3DAcquisitionIngestOutput output{};
+  CHECK(lardon3d_acquisition_ingest(&fixture.state, fixture.scanset.scanset_id, inputs, 3,
+                                    &explicit_options, &output) == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_INGEST_OK);
+  CHECK(output.group_count == 2 && output.groups[0].basis == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_GROUP_EXPLICIT &&
+        output.groups[0].source_count == 2 && output.groups[1].basis == LARDON3D_ACQUISITION_GROUP_EXPLICIT);
+
+  Lardon3DProjectDbCapture capture{}, foreign{};
+  CHECK(lardon3d_project_db_create_capture(fixture.database, fixture.scanset.scanset_id, 8, &capture) == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK &&
+        lardon3d_project_db_create_capture(fixture.database, fixture.scanset.scanset_id, 9, &foreign) == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK);
+  Lardon3DProjectDbImageAsset asset{};
+  CHECK(lardon3d_image_catalog_publish_asset_file(&fixture.state, helper_path, 8, UINT64_MAX, &asset) == LARDON3D_IMAGE_CATALOG_ASSET_PUBLISHED);
+  Lardon3DProjectDbImageRegisterStatus status{}; Lardon3DProjectDbImage image{};
+  CHECK(lardon3d_project_db_publish_source_capture_image(fixture.database, capture.capture_id, asset.asset_id,
+      "helper.JPG", helper_path, 0, 8, false, &status, &image) == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK && status == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_IMAGE_REGISTERED);
+  uint64_t selected = 0;
+  CHECK(lardon3d_project_db_get_selected_capture_image(fixture.database, capture.capture_id, &selected) == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_NOT_FOUND);
+  CHECK(lardon3d_project_db_publish_source_capture_image(fixture.database, capture.capture_id, asset.asset_id,
+      "renamed-on-resume.JPG", "/relocated/source.JPG", 0, 99, true, &status, &image) == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK && status == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_IMAGE_ALREADY_PRESENT &&
+      lardon3d_project_db_get_selected_capture_image(fixture.database, capture.capture_id, &selected) == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_OK && selected == image.image_id);
+  CHECK(lardon3d_project_db_publish_source_capture_image(fixture.database, foreign.capture_id, asset.asset_id,
+      "helper.JPG", helper_path, 0, 8, false, &status, &image) == LARDON3D_PROJECT_DB_CONSTRAINT);
+  fixture.close();
+  return true;
+}
+
+}  // namespace
+
+int main() {
+  return test_ingest_grouping_and_resume() && test_explicit_and_db_helper() ? 0 : 1;
+}