diff --git a/src/ui/message.rs b/src/ui/message.rs
index a191dde..18826e3 100644
--- a/src/ui/message.rs
+++ b/src/ui/message.rs
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ pub enum AppMessage {
         max_x: f32,
         max_y: f32,
     },
+
     CropDragEnd,
 
     // Panels.
diff --git a/src/ui/views/canvas.rs b/src/ui/views/canvas.rs
index 7f7aab8..3f9cdf5 100644
--- a/src/ui/views/canvas.rs
+++ b/src/ui/views/canvas.rs
@@ -5,10 +5,11 @@
 
 use cosmic::iced::widget::image::FilterMethod;
 use cosmic::iced::{ContentFit, Length};
+use cosmic::iced_widget::stack;
 use cosmic::widget::{container, text};
 use cosmic::Element;
 
-use crate::ui::widgets::Viewer;
+use crate::ui::widgets::{crop_overlay, Viewer};
 use crate::ui::model::{ToolMode, ViewMode};
 use crate::ui::{AppMessage, AppModel};
 use crate::application::DocumentManager;
@@ -47,11 +48,16 @@ pub fn view<'a>(
             .scale_step(config.scale_step - 1.0)
             .disable_pan(model.tool_mode == ToolMode::Crop);
 
-        // TODO: Re-add simple crop overlay (not as complex dialog)
-        container(img_viewer)
-            .width(Length::Fill)
-            .height(Length::Fill)
-            .into()
+        // Overlay crop UI when in crop mode
+        if model.tool_mode == ToolMode::Crop {
+            let overlay = crop_overlay(&model.crop_selection, config.crop_show_grid);
+            stack![img_viewer, overlay].into()
+        } else {
+            container(img_viewer)
+                .width(Length::Fill)
+                .height(Length::Fill)
+                .into()
+        }
     } else {
         container(text(fl!("no-document")))
             .width(Length::Fill)
diff --git a/src/ui/widgets/crop_overlay.rs b/src/ui/widgets/crop_overlay.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8233be3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ui/widgets/crop_overlay.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,395 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+// src/ui/widgets/crop_overlay.rs
+//
+// Simple crop overlay (just draws UI, no complex logic).
+
+use cosmic::{
+    Element, Renderer,
+    iced::{
+        Color, Length, Point, Rectangle, Size,
+        advanced::{
+            Clipboard, Layout, Shell, Widget,
+            layout::{Limits, Node},
+            renderer::{Quad, Renderer as QuadRenderer},
+            widget::Tree,
+        },
+        event::{Event, Status},
+        mouse::{self, Button, Cursor},
+    },
+};
+
+use crate::ui::widgets::{CropSelection, DragHandle};
+use crate::ui::AppMessage;
+
+// Visual constants
+const HANDLE_SIZE: f32 = 12.0;
+const HANDLE_HIT_SIZE: f32 = 24.0;
+const OVERLAY_COLOR: Color = Color::from_rgba(0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.5);
+const HANDLE_COLOR: Color = Color::WHITE;
+const BORDER_COLOR: Color = Color::WHITE;
+const BORDER_WIDTH: f32 = 2.0;
+
+/// Simple crop overlay widget.
+/// 
+/// Works in SCREEN coordinates - receives canvas bounds and selection in pixels.
+/// Much simpler than trying to coordinate with image viewer transformations!
+pub struct CropOverlay {
+    selection: CropSelection,
+    show_grid: bool,
+}
+
+impl CropOverlay {
+    pub fn new(selection: &CropSelection, show_grid: bool) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            selection: selection.clone(),
+            show_grid,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Hit test for handles.
+    fn hit_test_handle(&self, point: Point) -> DragHandle {
+        let Some((x, y, w, h)) = self.selection.region else {
+            return DragHandle::None;
+        };
+
+        // 8 handle positions
+        let handles = [
+            (Point::new(x, y), DragHandle::TopLeft),
+            (Point::new(x + w, y), DragHandle::TopRight),
+            (Point::new(x, y + h), DragHandle::BottomLeft),
+            (Point::new(x + w, y + h), DragHandle::BottomRight),
+            (Point::new(x + w / 2.0, y), DragHandle::Top),
+            (Point::new(x + w / 2.0, y + h), DragHandle::Bottom),
+            (Point::new(x, y + h / 2.0), DragHandle::Left),
+            (Point::new(x + w, y + h / 2.0), DragHandle::Right),
+        ];
+
+        // Test handles
+        for (pos, handle) in handles {
+            if point_in_handle(point, pos) {
+                return handle;
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Test if inside selection (move)
+        if point.x >= x && point.x <= x + w && point.y >= y && point.y <= y + h {
+            return DragHandle::Move;
+        }
+
+        DragHandle::None
+    }
+
+    /// Draw darkened overlay.
+    fn draw_overlay(&self, renderer: &mut Renderer, bounds: Rectangle) {
+        let Some((x, y, w, h)) = self.selection.region else {
+            // No selection - darken all
+            draw_quad(renderer, bounds, OVERLAY_COLOR);
+            return;
+        };
+
+        // Clamp selection to bounds
+        let x = x.max(bounds.x);
+        let y = y.max(bounds.y);
+        let right = (x + w).min(bounds.x + bounds.width);
+        let bottom = (y + h).min(bounds.y + bounds.height);
+        let w = right - x;
+        let h = bottom - y;
+
+        // Draw 4 overlay rectangles around selection
+        // Top
+        if y > bounds.y {
+            draw_quad(
+                renderer,
+                Rectangle::new(
+                    Point::new(bounds.x, bounds.y),
+                    Size::new(bounds.width, y - bounds.y),
+                ),
+                OVERLAY_COLOR,
+            );
+        }
+
+        // Bottom
+        if bottom < bounds.y + bounds.height {
+            draw_quad(
+                renderer,
+                Rectangle::new(
+                    Point::new(bounds.x, bottom),
+                    Size::new(bounds.width, bounds.y + bounds.height - bottom),
+                ),
+                OVERLAY_COLOR,
+            );
+        }
+
+        // Left
+        if x > bounds.x {
+            draw_quad(
+                renderer,
+                Rectangle::new(Point::new(bounds.x, y), Size::new(x - bounds.x, h)),
+                OVERLAY_COLOR,
+            );
+        }
+
+        // Right
+        if right < bounds.x + bounds.width {
+            draw_quad(
+                renderer,
+                Rectangle::new(
+                    Point::new(right, y),
+                    Size::new(bounds.x + bounds.width - right, h),
+                ),
+                OVERLAY_COLOR,
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Draw border.
+    fn draw_border(&self, renderer: &mut Renderer, _bounds: Rectangle) {
+        let Some((x, y, w, h)) = self.selection.region else {
+            return;
+        };
+
+        // Top
+        draw_quad(
+            renderer,
+            Rectangle::new(Point::new(x, y), Size::new(w, BORDER_WIDTH)),
+            BORDER_COLOR,
+        );
+
+        // Bottom
+        draw_quad(
+            renderer,
+            Rectangle::new(
+                Point::new(x, y + h - BORDER_WIDTH),
+                Size::new(w, BORDER_WIDTH),
+            ),
+            BORDER_COLOR,
+        );
+
+        // Left
+        draw_quad(
+            renderer,
+            Rectangle::new(Point::new(x, y), Size::new(BORDER_WIDTH, h)),
+            BORDER_COLOR,
+        );
+
+        // Right
+        draw_quad(
+            renderer,
+            Rectangle::new(
+                Point::new(x + w - BORDER_WIDTH, y),
+                Size::new(BORDER_WIDTH, h),
+            ),
+            BORDER_COLOR,
+        );
+    }
+
+    /// Draw handles.
+    fn draw_handles(&self, renderer: &mut Renderer, _bounds: Rectangle) {
+        let Some((x, y, w, h)) = self.selection.region else {
+            return;
+        };
+
+        let half = HANDLE_SIZE / 2.0;
+
+        // 8 handle positions
+        let handles = [
+            Point::new(x, y),
+            Point::new(x + w, y),
+            Point::new(x, y + h),
+            Point::new(x + w, y + h),
+            Point::new(x + w / 2.0, y),
+            Point::new(x + w / 2.0, y + h),
+            Point::new(x, y + h / 2.0),
+            Point::new(x + w, y + h / 2.0),
+        ];
+
+        for pos in handles {
+            draw_quad(
+                renderer,
+                Rectangle::new(
+                    Point::new(pos.x - half, pos.y - half),
+                    Size::new(HANDLE_SIZE, HANDLE_SIZE),
+                ),
+                HANDLE_COLOR,
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Draw grid (rule of thirds).
+    fn draw_grid(&self, renderer: &mut Renderer, _bounds: Rectangle) {
+        if !self.show_grid {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        let Some((x, y, w, h)) = self.selection.region else {
+            return;
+        };
+
+        if w <= 10.0 || h <= 10.0 {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        let grid_color = Color::from_rgba(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.3);
+        let third_w = w / 3.0;
+        let third_h = h / 3.0;
+
+        // 2 vertical lines
+        for i in 1..3 {
+            let line_x = x + third_w * i as f32;
+            draw_quad(
+                renderer,
+                Rectangle::new(Point::new(line_x, y), Size::new(1.0, h)),
+                grid_color,
+            );
+        }
+
+        // 2 horizontal lines
+        for i in 1..3 {
+            let line_y = y + third_h * i as f32;
+            draw_quad(
+                renderer,
+                Rectangle::new(Point::new(x, line_y), Size::new(w, 1.0)),
+                grid_color,
+            );
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Widget<AppMessage, cosmic::Theme, Renderer> for CropOverlay {
+    fn size(&self) -> Size<Length> {
+        Size::new(Length::Fill, Length::Fill)
+    }
+
+    fn layout(&self, _tree: &mut Tree, _renderer: &Renderer, limits: &Limits) -> Node {
+        Node::new(limits.max())
+    }
+
+    fn draw(
+        &self,
+        _tree: &Tree,
+        renderer: &mut Renderer,
+        _theme: &cosmic::Theme,
+        _style: &cosmic::iced::advanced::renderer::Style,
+        layout: Layout<'_>,
+        _cursor: Cursor,
+        _viewport: &Rectangle,
+    ) {
+        let bounds = layout.bounds();
+
+        self.draw_overlay(renderer, bounds);
+        self.draw_border(renderer, bounds);
+        self.draw_handles(renderer, bounds);
+        self.draw_grid(renderer, bounds);
+    }
+
+    fn on_event(
+        &mut self,
+        _tree: &mut Tree,
+        event: Event,
+        layout: Layout<'_>,
+        cursor: Cursor,
+        _renderer: &Renderer,
+        _clipboard: &mut dyn Clipboard,
+        shell: &mut Shell<'_, AppMessage>,
+        _viewport: &Rectangle,
+    ) -> Status {
+        let bounds = layout.bounds();
+
+        match event {
+            Event::Mouse(mouse::Event::ButtonPressed(Button::Left)) => {
+                if let Some(pos) = cursor.position_in(bounds) {
+                    let handle = self.hit_test_handle(pos);
+
+                    shell.publish(AppMessage::CropDragStart {
+                        x: pos.x,
+                        y: pos.y,
+                        handle,
+                    });
+                    return Status::Captured;
+                }
+            }
+            Event::Mouse(mouse::Event::CursorMoved { .. }) => {
+                if self.selection.is_dragging {
+                    if let Some(pos) = cursor.position_in(bounds) {
+                        shell.publish(AppMessage::CropDragMove {
+                            x: pos.x,
+                            y: pos.y,
+                            max_x: bounds.width,
+                            max_y: bounds.height,
+                        });
+                        return Status::Captured;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            Event::Mouse(mouse::Event::ButtonReleased(Button::Left)) => {
+                if self.selection.is_dragging {
+                    shell.publish(AppMessage::CropDragEnd);
+                    return Status::Captured;
+                }
+            }
+            _ => {}
+        }
+
+        Status::Ignored
+    }
+
+    fn mouse_interaction(
+        &self,
+        _tree: &Tree,
+        layout: Layout<'_>,
+        cursor: Cursor,
+        _viewport: &Rectangle,
+        _renderer: &Renderer,
+    ) -> mouse::Interaction {
+        let bounds = layout.bounds();
+
+        if let Some(pos) = cursor.position_in(bounds) {
+            let handle = self.hit_test_handle(pos);
+            return match handle {
+                DragHandle::TopLeft | DragHandle::BottomRight => {
+                    mouse::Interaction::ResizingDiagonallyDown
+                }
+                DragHandle::TopRight | DragHandle::BottomLeft => {
+                    mouse::Interaction::ResizingDiagonallyUp
+                }
+                DragHandle::Top | DragHandle::Bottom => mouse::Interaction::ResizingVertically,
+                DragHandle::Left | DragHandle::Right => mouse::Interaction::ResizingHorizontally,
+                DragHandle::Move => mouse::Interaction::Grabbing,
+                DragHandle::None => mouse::Interaction::Crosshair,
+            };
+        }
+
+        mouse::Interaction::None
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a> From<CropOverlay> for Element<'a, AppMessage> {
+    fn from(widget: CropOverlay) -> Self {
+        Element::new(widget)
+    }
+}
+
+/// Helper: Check if point is within handle hit area.
+fn point_in_handle(point: Point, handle_center: Point) -> bool {
+    let half = HANDLE_HIT_SIZE / 2.0;
+    point.x >= handle_center.x - half
+        && point.x <= handle_center.x + half
+        && point.y >= handle_center.y - half
+        && point.y <= handle_center.y + half
+}
+
+/// Helper: Draw a filled quad.
+fn draw_quad(renderer: &mut Renderer, bounds: Rectangle, color: Color) {
+    renderer.fill_quad(
+        Quad {
+            bounds,
+            ..Quad::default()
+        },
+        color,
+    );
+}
+
+/// Public constructor.
+pub fn crop_overlay<'a>(selection: &CropSelection, show_grid: bool) -> Element<'a, AppMessage> {
+    CropOverlay::new(selection, show_grid).into()
+}
diff --git a/src/ui/widgets/mod.rs b/src/ui/widgets/mod.rs
index 740b892..fd7021c 100644
--- a/src/ui/widgets/mod.rs
+++ b/src/ui/widgets/mod.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@
 // Custom widgets module.
 
 pub mod crop_types;
+pub mod crop_overlay;
 pub mod image_viewer;
 
 pub use crop_types::{CropRegion, CropSelection, DragHandle};
+pub use crop_overlay::crop_overlay;
 pub use image_viewer::Viewer;