diff --git a/src/renderer/visualizers/Spectrogram.ts b/src/renderer/visualizers/Spectrogram.ts
index 4063985..69e7bcf 100644
--- a/src/renderer/visualizers/Spectrogram.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/visualizers/Spectrogram.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { audioRouter } from '../audio/AudioRouter'
-import { resolveColorToRgb } from '../utils/color'
+import { parseColorToRgba, resolveColorToRgb } from '../utils/color'
 import { defaultVisualizerSessionSource, type VisualizerSessionSource } from './dataSource'
 import { FrameScheduler } from './frameScheduler'
 import { VisualizerFrameLoop } from './visualizerFrameLoop'
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ function getHannWindow(size: number): Float32Array {
 
 type ColorStop = {
   at: number
-  color: [number, number, number]
+  color: [number, number, number, number]
 }
 
 const LEGACY_DEFAULT_HEAT_COLORS: [string, string, string] = [
@@ -226,35 +226,57 @@ const LEGACY_DEFAULT_HEAT_COLORS: [string, string, string] = [
 
 function isLegacyDefaultHeatColors(colors: [string, string, string]): boolean {
   return colors.every((color, index) => {
-    const left = resolveColorToRgb(color)
-    const right = resolveColorToRgb(LEGACY_DEFAULT_HEAT_COLORS[index])
-    return left.r === right.r && left.g === right.g && left.b === right.b
+    const left = parseColorToRgba(color)
+    const right = parseColorToRgba(LEGACY_DEFAULT_HEAT_COLORS[index])
+    return !!left
+      && !!right
+      && left.r === right.r
+      && left.g === right.g
+      && left.b === right.b
+      && Math.round(left.a * 255) === Math.round(right.a * 255)
   })
 }
 
+function resolveHeatColor(color: string, fallback: string): [number, number, number, number] {
+  const parsed = parseColorToRgba(color) ?? parseColorToRgba(fallback)
+  if (!parsed) {
+    return [0, 0, 0, 255]
+  }
+  return [parsed.r, parsed.g, parsed.b, Math.round(parsed.a * 255)]
+}
+
+function scaleHeatColor(color: [number, number, number, number], factor: number): [number, number, number, number] {
+  return [
+    Math.round(color[0] * factor),
+    Math.round(color[1] * factor),
+    Math.round(color[2] * factor),
+    Math.round(color[3] * factor),
+  ]
+}
+
 function buildHeatStops(colors: [string, string, string]): ColorStop[] {
   if (isLegacyDefaultHeatColors(colors)) {
     return [
-      { at: 0, color: [0, 0, 0] },
-      { at: 0.14, color: [15, 7, 33] },
-      { at: 0.32, color: [61, 11, 94] },
-      { at: 0.54, color: [163, 26, 121] },
-      { at: 0.74, color: [255, 82, 87] },
-      { at: 0.9, color: [255, 166, 63] },
-      { at: 1, color: [255, 241, 209] },
+      { at: 0, color: [0, 0, 0, 0] },
+      { at: 0.14, color: [15, 7, 33, 255] },
+      { at: 0.32, color: [61, 11, 94, 255] },
+      { at: 0.54, color: [163, 26, 121, 255] },
+      { at: 0.74, color: [255, 82, 87, 255] },
+      { at: 0.9, color: [255, 166, 63, 255] },
+      { at: 1, color: [255, 241, 209, 255] },
     ]
   }
 
-  const low = resolveColorToRgb(colors[0])
-  const mid = resolveColorToRgb(colors[1])
-  const high = resolveColorToRgb(colors[2])
+  const low = resolveHeatColor(colors[0], LEGACY_DEFAULT_HEAT_COLORS[0])
+  const mid = resolveHeatColor(colors[1], LEGACY_DEFAULT_HEAT_COLORS[1])
+  const high = resolveHeatColor(colors[2], LEGACY_DEFAULT_HEAT_COLORS[2])
 
   return [
-    { at: 0, color: [0, 0, 0] },
-    { at: 0.2, color: [Math.round(low.r * 0.5), Math.round(low.g * 0.5), Math.round(low.b * 0.5)] },
-    { at: 0.48, color: [low.r, low.g, low.b] },
-    { at: 0.76, color: [mid.r, mid.g, mid.b] },
-    { at: 1, color: [high.r, high.g, high.b] },
+    { at: 0, color: [0, 0, 0, 0] },
+    { at: 0.2, color: scaleHeatColor(low, 0.5) },
+    { at: 0.48, color: low },
+    { at: 0.76, color: mid },
+    { at: 1, color: high },
   ]
 }
 
@@ -262,9 +284,9 @@ function lerpChannel(start: number, end: number, amount: number): number {
   return Math.round(start + ((end - start) * amount))
 }
 
-function buildHeatLUT(colors: [string, string, string]): Uint8Array {
+function buildHeatLUT(colors: [string, string, string]): Uint8ClampedArray {
   const heatStops = buildHeatStops(colors)
-  const lut = new Uint8Array(256 * 3)
+  const lut = new Uint8ClampedArray(256 * 4)
 
   for (let index = 0; index < 256; index += 1) {
     const t = index / 255
@@ -282,9 +304,10 @@ function buildHeatLUT(colors: [string, string, string]): Uint8Array {
 
     const span = Math.max(1e-6, end.at - start.at)
     const amount = Math.max(0, Math.min(1, (t - start.at) / span))
-    lut[index * 3] = lerpChannel(start.color[0], end.color[0], amount)
-    lut[index * 3 + 1] = lerpChannel(start.color[1], end.color[1], amount)
-    lut[index * 3 + 2] = lerpChannel(start.color[2], end.color[2], amount)
+    lut[index * 4] = lerpChannel(start.color[0], end.color[0], amount)
+    lut[index * 4 + 1] = lerpChannel(start.color[1], end.color[1], amount)
+    lut[index * 4 + 2] = lerpChannel(start.color[2], end.color[2], amount)
+    lut[index * 4 + 3] = lerpChannel(start.color[3], end.color[3], amount)
   }
 
   return lut
@@ -315,7 +338,7 @@ export class Spectrogram {
   private columnValues = new Float32Array(0)
   private rawColumnValues = new Float32Array(0)
   private columnImageData: ImageData | null = null
-  private heatLut: Uint8Array
+  private heatLut: Uint8ClampedArray
 
   private lastWidth = 0
   private lastHeight = 0
@@ -443,7 +466,10 @@ export class Spectrogram {
     this.paintColumnImage(values)
 
     // Shift existing content left by 1 pixel
+    const previousCompositeOperation = this.waterfallCtx.globalCompositeOperation
+    this.waterfallCtx.globalCompositeOperation = 'copy'
     this.waterfallCtx.drawImage(this.waterfallCanvas, -1, 0)
+    this.waterfallCtx.globalCompositeOperation = previousCompositeOperation
 
     // Paint new column at right edge
     this.waterfallCtx.putImageData(this.columnImageData, width - 1, 0)
@@ -566,16 +592,16 @@ export class Spectrogram {
       const dataIndex = row * 4
 
       if (this.options.colorScheme === 'heat') {
-        imageData[dataIndex] = this.heatLut[lutIndex * 3]
-        imageData[dataIndex + 1] = this.heatLut[(lutIndex * 3) + 1]
-        imageData[dataIndex + 2] = this.heatLut[(lutIndex * 3) + 2]
+        imageData[dataIndex] = this.heatLut[lutIndex * 4]
+        imageData[dataIndex + 1] = this.heatLut[(lutIndex * 4) + 1]
+        imageData[dataIndex + 2] = this.heatLut[(lutIndex * 4) + 2]
+        imageData[dataIndex + 3] = Math.round(this.heatLut[(lutIndex * 4) + 3] * intensity)
       } else {
         imageData[dataIndex] = Math.round(tintR * intensity)
         imageData[dataIndex + 1] = Math.round(tintG * intensity)
         imageData[dataIndex + 2] = Math.round(tintB * intensity)
+        imageData[dataIndex + 3] = 255
       }
-
-      imageData[dataIndex + 3] = 255
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/visualizers/SpectrumAnalyzer.ts b/src/renderer/visualizers/SpectrumAnalyzer.ts
index e8c0b4a..24c4133 100644
--- a/src/renderer/visualizers/SpectrumAnalyzer.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/visualizers/SpectrumAnalyzer.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { spectrum as nativeSpectrum, isNativeAvailable } from '../audio/native'
 import { defaultVisualizerSessionSource, type VisualizerSessionSource } from './dataSource'
 import { FrameScheduler } from './frameScheduler'
 import { VisualizerFrameLoop } from './visualizerFrameLoop'
-import { resolveColorToRgb } from '../utils/color'
+import { parseColorToRgba } from '../utils/color'
 import {
   DEFAULT_SPECTRUM_TILT_DB_PER_OCTAVE,
   DEFAULT_SPECTRUM_HEATMAP_TILT_DB_PER_OCTAVE,
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ type SpectrumRangePeak = {
   frequencyHz: number
 }
 
-type HeatStop = { at: number; color: [number, number, number] }
+type HeatColor = [number, number, number, number]
+type HeatStop = { at: number; color: HeatColor }
 
 const LEGACY_DEFAULT_HEAT_COLORS: [string, string, string] = [
   'rgb(15, 7, 33)',
@@ -158,43 +159,69 @@ function fft(re: Float32Array, im: Float32Array): void {
 
 function isLegacyDefaultHeatColors(colors: [string, string, string]): boolean {
   return colors.every((color, index) => {
-    const left = resolveColorToRgb(color)
-    const right = resolveColorToRgb(LEGACY_DEFAULT_HEAT_COLORS[index])
-    return left.r === right.r && left.g === right.g && left.b === right.b
+    const left = parseColorToRgba(color)
+    const right = parseColorToRgba(LEGACY_DEFAULT_HEAT_COLORS[index])
+    return !!left
+      && !!right
+      && left.r === right.r
+      && left.g === right.g
+      && left.b === right.b
+      && Math.round(left.a * 255) === Math.round(right.a * 255)
   })
 }
 
+function resolveHeatColor(color: string, fallback: string): HeatColor {
+  const parsed = parseColorToRgba(color) ?? parseColorToRgba(fallback)
+  if (!parsed) {
+    return [0, 0, 0, 255]
+  }
+  return [parsed.r, parsed.g, parsed.b, Math.round(parsed.a * 255)]
+}
+
+function scaleHeatColor(color: HeatColor, factor: number): HeatColor {
+  return [
+    Math.round(color[0] * factor),
+    Math.round(color[1] * factor),
+    Math.round(color[2] * factor),
+    Math.round(color[3] * factor),
+  ]
+}
+
+function lerpChannel(start: number, end: number, amount: number): number {
+  return Math.round(start + ((end - start) * amount))
+}
+
 function buildHeatStops(colors: [string, string, string]): HeatStop[] {
   if (isLegacyDefaultHeatColors(colors)) {
     // Preserve Prism's original default spectrum heatmap instead of flattening it
     // into the generic themed stop builder.
     return [
-      { at: 0, color: [0, 0, 0] },
-      { at: 0.14, color: [15, 7, 33] },
-      { at: 0.32, color: [61, 11, 94] },
-      { at: 0.54, color: [163, 26, 121] },
-      { at: 0.74, color: [255, 82, 87] },
-      { at: 0.9, color: [255, 166, 63] },
-      { at: 1, color: [255, 241, 209] },
+      { at: 0, color: [0, 0, 0, 0] },
+      { at: 0.14, color: [15, 7, 33, 255] },
+      { at: 0.32, color: [61, 11, 94, 255] },
+      { at: 0.54, color: [163, 26, 121, 255] },
+      { at: 0.74, color: [255, 82, 87, 255] },
+      { at: 0.9, color: [255, 166, 63, 255] },
+      { at: 1, color: [255, 241, 209, 255] },
     ]
   }
 
-  const low = resolveColorToRgb(colors[0])
-  const mid = resolveColorToRgb(colors[1])
-  const high = resolveColorToRgb(colors[2])
+  const low = resolveHeatColor(colors[0], LEGACY_DEFAULT_HEAT_COLORS[0])
+  const mid = resolveHeatColor(colors[1], LEGACY_DEFAULT_HEAT_COLORS[1])
+  const high = resolveHeatColor(colors[2], LEGACY_DEFAULT_HEAT_COLORS[2])
 
   return [
-    { at: 0, color: [0, 0, 0] },
-    { at: 0.2, color: [Math.round(low.r * 0.5), Math.round(low.g * 0.5), Math.round(low.b * 0.5)] },
-    { at: 0.48, color: [low.r, low.g, low.b] },
-    { at: 0.76, color: [mid.r, mid.g, mid.b] },
-    { at: 1, color: [high.r, high.g, high.b] },
+    { at: 0, color: [0, 0, 0, 0] },
+    { at: 0.2, color: scaleHeatColor(low, 0.5) },
+    { at: 0.48, color: low },
+    { at: 0.76, color: mid },
+    { at: 1, color: high },
   ]
 }
 
-function buildHeatLUT(colors: [string, string, string]): Uint8Array {
+function buildHeatLUT(colors: [string, string, string]): Uint8ClampedArray {
   const heatStops = buildHeatStops(colors)
-  const lut = new Uint8Array(256 * 3)
+  const lut = new Uint8ClampedArray(256 * 4)
   for (let i = 0; i < 256; i += 1) {
     const t = i / 255
     let start = heatStops[0]
@@ -208,9 +235,10 @@ function buildHeatLUT(colors: [string, string, string]): Uint8Array {
     }
 
     const amount = Math.max(0, Math.min(1, (t - start.at) / Math.max(1e-6, end.at - start.at)))
-    lut[i * 3] = Math.round(start.color[0] + (end.color[0] - start.color[0]) * amount)
-    lut[i * 3 + 1] = Math.round(start.color[1] + (end.color[1] - start.color[1]) * amount)
-    lut[i * 3 + 2] = Math.round(start.color[2] + (end.color[2] - start.color[2]) * amount)
+    lut[i * 4] = lerpChannel(start.color[0], end.color[0], amount)
+    lut[i * 4 + 1] = lerpChannel(start.color[1], end.color[1], amount)
+    lut[i * 4 + 2] = lerpChannel(start.color[2], end.color[2], amount)
+    lut[i * 4 + 3] = lerpChannel(start.color[3], end.color[3], amount)
   }
   return lut
 }
@@ -258,7 +286,7 @@ export class SpectrumAnalyzer {
   private nativeInitialized = false
   private sampleRate = 48000
   private lastSampleRate = 0
-  private heatLut: Uint8Array
+  private heatLut: Uint8ClampedArray
   private staticLayerCanvas: HTMLCanvasElement
   private staticLayerCtx: CanvasRenderingContext2D
   private staticLayerKey = ''
@@ -976,7 +1004,8 @@ export class SpectrumAnalyzer {
 
   private renderHeatmap(xPoints: Float32Array, yPoints: Float32Array, heatmapIntensity: Float32Array, pointCount: number, width: number, height: number): void {
     const baseColor = this.options.heatBaseColor
-    if (baseColor && baseColor !== 'transparent') {
+    const parsedBaseColor = baseColor ? parseColorToRgba(baseColor) : null
+    if (baseColor && baseColor !== 'transparent' && (!parsedBaseColor || parsedBaseColor.a > 0)) {
       this.ctx.fillStyle = baseColor
       this.ctx.fillRect(0, 0, width, height)
     }
@@ -992,11 +1021,17 @@ export class SpectrumAnalyzer {
       }
 
       const lutIndex = Math.round(heatmapIntensity[index] * 255)
-      const r = this.heatLut[lutIndex * 3]
-      const g = this.heatLut[lutIndex * 3 + 1]
-      const b = this.heatLut[lutIndex * 3 + 2]
+      const r = this.heatLut[lutIndex * 4]
+      const g = this.heatLut[lutIndex * 4 + 1]
+      const b = this.heatLut[lutIndex * 4 + 2]
+      const a = Math.round((this.heatLut[lutIndex * 4 + 3] * heatmapIntensity[index]))
+      if (a <= 0) {
+        continue
+      }
 
-      this.ctx.fillStyle = `rgba(${r}, ${g}, ${b}, 0.85)`
+      this.ctx.fillStyle = a >= 255
+        ? `rgb(${r}, ${g}, ${b})`
+        : `rgba(${r}, ${g}, ${b}, ${Number((a / 255).toFixed(3))})`
       this.ctx.fillRect(x, Math.floor(y), columnWidth, Math.ceil(fillHeight))
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/shared/themeState.ts b/src/shared/themeState.ts
index c39b159..2f3acc5 100644
--- a/src/shared/themeState.ts
+++ b/src/shared/themeState.ts
@@ -971,6 +971,8 @@ export function createTemplateThemeFile(): string {
 #
 # [Controls] and [Scopes] are shared override groups.
 # Module sections show the full set of supported tokens for each module.
+# Spectrum and Spectrogram heat token alpha is honored directly.
+# Leave Spectrum heat_base commented unless you want an explicit underlay beneath the heatmap.
 #
 # Comment out any optional token to let Prism inherit or derive it.
 # Leave an entire optional section commented if that area should use Prism's defaults.
@@ -1196,7 +1198,7 @@ function resolveSpectrumTheme(
       section.heatMid ?? DEFAULT_HEAT_MID,
       section.heatHigh ?? DEFAULT_HEAT_HIGH,
     ],
-    heatBase: section.heatBase ?? background,
+    heatBase: section.heatBase ?? 'transparent',
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/test/renderer-helpers.test.ts b/test/renderer-helpers.test.ts
index d7ddcfd..82f95a3 100644
--- a/test/renderer-helpers.test.ts
+++ b/test/renderer-helpers.test.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
   DEFAULT_VISUALIZER_TINT,
   colorToRgbChannels,
   parseColorToRgb,
+  parseColorToRgba,
   resolveColorToRgb,
 } from '../src/renderer/utils/color'
 import {
@@ -68,6 +69,7 @@ import {
 import { LUFSMeter } from '../src/renderer/visualizers/LUFSMeter'
 import { Oscilloscope } from '../src/renderer/visualizers/Oscilloscope'
 import { SpectrumAnalyzer, type SpectrumAnalyzerOptions } from '../src/renderer/visualizers/SpectrumAnalyzer'
+import { Spectrogram, type SpectrogramOptions } from '../src/renderer/visualizers/Spectrogram'
 import { Vectorscope } from '../src/renderer/visualizers/Vectorscope'
 import {
   drawVectorscopeGridForMode,
@@ -510,7 +512,7 @@ function readSpectrumMagnitudes(transport: NativeVisualizerTransport, size = 8):
 }
 
 interface FakeCanvasRecorder {
-  fillRects: Array<{ x: number; y: number; width: number; height: number }>
+  fillRects: Array<{ x: number; y: number; width: number; height: number; fillStyle: string }>
   strokeRects: Array<{ x: number; y: number; width: number; height: number; lineDash: number[] }>
   arcs: Array<{
     x: number
@@ -522,6 +524,8 @@ interface FakeCanvasRecorder {
     lineDash: number[]
   }>
   lineDashes: number[][]
+  imageDataWrites: Array<{ x: number; y: number; data: number[] }>
+  drawImageCalls: Array<{ compositeOperation: GlobalCompositeOperation }>
 }
 
 function createFakeCanvasRecorder(): FakeCanvasRecorder {
@@ -530,16 +534,21 @@ function createFakeCanvasRecorder(): FakeCanvasRecorder {
     strokeRects: [],
     arcs: [],
     lineDashes: [],
+    imageDataWrites: [],
+    drawImageCalls: [],
   }
 }
 
 function createFakeCanvasContext(recorder: FakeCanvasRecorder | null = null): CanvasRenderingContext2D {
   let currentLineDash: number[] = []
+  let currentFillStyle = ''
+  let currentStrokeStyle = ''
+  let currentCompositeOperation: GlobalCompositeOperation = 'source-over'
 
-  return {
+  const context = {
     clearRect() {},
     fillRect(x: number, y: number, width: number, height: number) {
-      recorder?.fillRects.push({ x, y, width, height })
+      recorder?.fillRects.push({ x, y, width, height, fillStyle: currentFillStyle })
     },
     fillText() {},
     beginPath() {},
@@ -554,7 +563,12 @@ function createFakeCanvasContext(recorder: FakeCanvasRecorder | null = null): Ca
     arc(x: number, y: number, radius: number, startAngle: number, endAngle: number, anticlockwise = false) {
       recorder?.arcs.push({ x, y, radius, startAngle, endAngle, anticlockwise, lineDash: [...currentLineDash] })
     },
-    drawImage() {},
+    drawImage() {
+      recorder?.drawImageCalls.push({ compositeOperation: currentCompositeOperation })
+    },
+    putImageData(imageData: ImageData, x: number, y: number) {
+      recorder?.imageDataWrites.push({ x, y, data: Array.from(imageData.data) })
+    },
     save() {},
     restore() {},
     translate() {},
@@ -574,8 +588,6 @@ function createFakeCanvasContext(recorder: FakeCanvasRecorder | null = null): Ca
     measureText() {
       return { width: 0 } as TextMetrics
     },
-    fillStyle: '',
-    strokeStyle: '',
     lineWidth: 1,
     font: '',
     textAlign: 'left',
@@ -583,8 +595,28 @@ function createFakeCanvasContext(recorder: FakeCanvasRecorder | null = null): Ca
     lineCap: 'butt',
     lineJoin: 'miter',
     globalAlpha: 1,
-    globalCompositeOperation: 'source-over',
-  } as unknown as CanvasRenderingContext2D
+    imageSmoothingEnabled: false,
+    get fillStyle() {
+      return currentFillStyle
+    },
+    set fillStyle(value: string | CanvasGradient | CanvasPattern) {
+      currentFillStyle = typeof value === 'string' ? value : String(value)
+    },
+    get strokeStyle() {
+      return currentStrokeStyle
+    },
+    set strokeStyle(value: string | CanvasGradient | CanvasPattern) {
+      currentStrokeStyle = typeof value === 'string' ? value : String(value)
+    },
+    get globalCompositeOperation() {
+      return currentCompositeOperation
+    },
+    set globalCompositeOperation(value: GlobalCompositeOperation) {
+      currentCompositeOperation = value
+    },
+  }
+
+  return context as unknown as CanvasRenderingContext2D
 }
 
 function createFakeCanvas(recorder: FakeCanvasRecorder | null = null): HTMLCanvasElement {
@@ -596,12 +628,17 @@ function createFakeCanvas(recorder: FakeCanvasRecorder | null = null): HTMLCanva
   } as unknown as HTMLCanvasElement
 }
 
-function installFakeCanvasDom(): {
+function installFakeCanvasDom(createCanvas: () => HTMLCanvasElement = () => createFakeCanvas()): {
   restore: () => void
 } {
-  const globalWithDom = globalThis as typeof globalThis & { window?: Window; document?: Document }
+  const globalWithDom = globalThis as typeof globalThis & {
+    window?: Window
+    document?: Document
+    ImageData?: typeof ImageData
+  }
   const previousWindow = globalWithDom.window
   const previousDocument = globalWithDom.document
+  const previousImageData = globalWithDom.ImageData
 
   globalWithDom.window = {
     ...(previousWindow ?? globalThis),
@@ -613,10 +650,26 @@ function installFakeCanvasDom(): {
       if (tagName !== 'canvas') {
         throw new Error(`Unsupported element in test DOM: ${tagName}`)
       }
-      return createFakeCanvas()
+      return createCanvas()
     },
   } as Document
 
+  if (globalWithDom.ImageData === undefined) {
+    class FakeImageData {
+      data: Uint8ClampedArray
+      width: number
+      height: number
+
+      constructor(width: number, height: number) {
+        this.width = width
+        this.height = height
+        this.data = new Uint8ClampedArray(width * height * 4)
+      }
+    }
+
+    globalWithDom.ImageData = FakeImageData as unknown as typeof ImageData
+  }
+
   return {
     restore(): void {
       if (previousWindow === undefined) {
@@ -630,6 +683,12 @@ function installFakeCanvasDom(): {
       } else {
         globalWithDom.document = previousDocument
       }
+
+      if (previousImageData === undefined) {
+        delete globalWithDom.ImageData
+      } else {
+        globalWithDom.ImageData = previousImageData
+      }
     },
   }
 }
@@ -717,6 +776,119 @@ function renderSpectrumSnapshot(options: Partial<SpectrumAnalyzerOptions>): {
   }
 }
 
+function renderSpectrumHeatmap(options: Partial<SpectrumAnalyzerOptions>, heatmapIntensity: number[]): FakeCanvasRecorder {
+  const recorder = createFakeCanvasRecorder()
+  const dom = installFakeCanvasDom()
+  const canvas = createFakeCanvas(recorder)
+  canvas.width = heatmapIntensity.length
+  canvas.height = 24
+  const dataSource = {
+    getPendingSpectrumSamples: () => [],
+    getPendingSpectrumStereoSamples: () => [],
+    getSampleRate: () => 48000,
+    isPlaying: () => false,
+    subscribeToSessionChanges: () => () => {},
+  }
+
+  const analyzer = new SpectrumAnalyzer(canvas, {
+    showSideLine: true,
+    heatmapFill: true,
+    fillGradient: false,
+    showGrid: false,
+    dataSource,
+    ...options,
+  })
+
+  try {
+    const state = analyzer as unknown as {
+      renderHeatmap: (
+        xPoints: Float32Array,
+        yPoints: Float32Array,
+        heatmapIntensity: Float32Array,
+        pointCount: number,
+        width: number,
+        height: number,
+      ) => void
+    }
+    state.renderHeatmap(
+      Float32Array.from(heatmapIntensity.map((_value, index) => index)),
+      Float32Array.from(heatmapIntensity.map(() => 0)),
+      Float32Array.from(heatmapIntensity),
+      heatmapIntensity.length,
+      canvas.width,
+      canvas.height,
+    )
+    return recorder
+  } finally {
+    analyzer.dispose()
+    dom.restore()
+  }
+}
+
+function renderSpectrogramColumnImage(options: Partial<SpectrogramOptions>, values: number[]): number[] {
+  const recorder = createFakeCanvasRecorder()
+  const dom = installFakeCanvasDom(() => createFakeCanvas(recorder))
+  const canvas = createFakeCanvas()
+  canvas.width = 1
+  canvas.height = values.length
+  const dataSource = {
+    getPendingSpectrogramSamples: () => [],
+    getSampleRate: () => 48000,
+    isPlaying: () => false,
+    subscribeToSessionChanges: () => () => {},
+  }
+
+  const spectrogram = new Spectrogram(canvas, {
+    dataSource,
+    ...options,
+  })
+
+  try {
+    const state = spectrogram as unknown as {
+      ensureColumnBuffers: (height: number) => void
+      shiftAndPaintColumn: (values: Float32Array) => void
+    }
+    state.ensureColumnBuffers(values.length)
+    state.shiftAndPaintColumn(Float32Array.from(values))
+    return recorder.imageDataWrites.at(-1)?.data ?? []
+  } finally {
+    spectrogram.dispose()
+    dom.restore()
+  }
+}
+
+function renderSpectrogramShift(options: Partial<SpectrogramOptions>, values: number[]): FakeCanvasRecorder {
+  const recorder = createFakeCanvasRecorder()
+  const dom = installFakeCanvasDom(() => createFakeCanvas(recorder))
+  const canvas = createFakeCanvas()
+  canvas.width = 4
+  canvas.height = values.length
+  const dataSource = {
+    getPendingSpectrogramSamples: () => [],
+    getSampleRate: () => 48000,
+    isPlaying: () => false,
+    subscribeToSessionChanges: () => () => {},
+  }
+
+  const spectrogram = new Spectrogram(canvas, {
+    dataSource,
+    ...options,
+  })
+
+  try {
+    const state = spectrogram as unknown as {
+      ensureColumnBuffers: (height: number) => void
+      shiftAndPaintColumn: (values: Float32Array) => void
+    }
+    state.ensureColumnBuffers(values.length)
+    state.shiftAndPaintColumn(Float32Array.from(values))
+    return recorder
+  } finally {
+    spectrogram.dispose()
+    dom.restore()
+  }
+}
+
 test('parseColorToRgb handles hex, rgb, rgba, and percentage formats', () => {
   assert.deepEqual(parseColorToRgb('#38bdf8'), { r: 56, g: 189, b: 248 })
   assert.deepEqual(parseColorToRgb('#3bf'), { r: 51, g: 187, b: 255 })
@@ -1109,6 +1281,72 @@ test('SpectrumAnalyzer renders heatmap fill on the spectrum line', () => {
   assertArraysAlmostEqual(snapshot.renderedHeatmapY, snapshot.primaryPointY, 1e-6, 'heatmap fill should use the line geometry')
 })
 
+test('SpectrumAnalyzer heatmap does not repaint the full viewport when heat base is omitted', () => {
+  const recorder = renderSpectrumHeatmap({}, [0.24, 0.62, 1])
+
+  assert.equal(
+    recorder.fillRects.some((rect) => rect.x === 0 && rect.y === 0 && rect.width === 3 && rect.height === 24),
+    false,
+  )
+})
+
+test('SpectrumAnalyzer heatmap honors authored token alpha for low-end heat colors', () => {
+  const recorder = renderSpectrumHeatmap({
+    heatColors: [
+      'rgba(15, 7, 33, 0)',
+      'rgba(163, 26, 121, 0.6)',
+      'rgb(255, 241, 209)',
+    ],
+  }, [0.48, 0.62, 1])
+
+  const renderedAlpha = recorder.fillRects
+    .map((rect) => parseColorToRgba(rect.fillStyle)?.a ?? null)
+    .filter((value): value is number => value !== null)
+
+  assert.equal(renderedAlpha.some((value) => value > 0 && value < 1), true)
+  assert.equal(renderedAlpha.some((value) => Math.abs(value - 1) < 1e-3), true)
+})
+
+test('Spectrogram heatmap preserves authored alpha in generated image data', () => {
+  const imageData = renderSpectrogramColumnImage({
+    heatColors: [
+      'rgba(15, 7, 33, 0)',
+      'rgba(163, 26, 121, 0.5)',
+      'rgb(255, 241, 209)',
+    ],
+  }, [0, 0.62, 1])
+
+  assert.equal(imageData[3], 0)
+  assert.equal(imageData[7] > 0 && imageData[7] < 255, true)
+  assert.equal(imageData[11], 255)
+})
+
+test('Spectrogram low-intensity heat stays mostly transparent with default RGB heat colors', () => {
+  const imageData = renderSpectrogramColumnImage({
+    heatColors: [
+      'rgb(15, 7, 33)',
+      'rgb(163, 26, 121)',
+      'rgb(255, 241, 209)',
+    ],
+  }, [0, 0.1, 1])
+
+  assert.equal(imageData[3], 0)
+  assert.equal(imageData[7] > 0 && imageData[7] < 40, true)
+  assert.equal(imageData[11], 255)
+})
+
+test('Spectrogram shifts existing columns with copy compositing to avoid transparent streaking', () => {
+  const recorder = renderSpectrogramShift({
+    heatColors: [
+      'rgba(15, 7, 33, 0)',
+      'rgba(163, 26, 121, 0.5)',
+      'rgb(255, 241, 209)',
+    ],
+  }, [0.2, 0.6, 1])
+
+  assert.equal(recorder.drawImageCalls.at(-1)?.compositeOperation, 'copy')
+})
+
 test('SpectrumAnalyzer reports peak info from the visible spectrum curve', () => {
   const dom = installFakeCanvasDom()
   const sampleRate = 48000
diff --git a/test/theme-library.test.ts b/test/theme-library.test.ts
index 149868d..b0c490c 100644
--- a/test/theme-library.test.ts
+++ b/test/theme-library.test.ts
@@ -116,6 +116,41 @@ flat_controls = true
   assert.equal(resolved.interface.glassHighlightStrong, 'transparent')
 })
 
+test('resolveTheme preserves alpha-bearing heat tokens and defaults spectrum heat base to transparent', () => {
+  const parsed = parseThemeFileContent(`
+[Theme]
+format = prism-theme
+version = 2
+
+[Spectrum]
+heat_low = 10, 20, 30, 0
+heat_mid = 40, 50, 60, 64
+heat_high = 70, 80, 90, 204
+heat_base = 1, 2, 3, 32
+
+[Spectrogram]
+heat_low = 11, 21, 31, 16
+heat_mid = 41, 51, 61, 96
+heat_high = 71, 81, 91, 255
+`, 'Alpha Heat')
+
+  const resolved = resolveTheme(parsed)
+  const defaultResolved = resolveTheme(createDefaultTheme())
+
+  assert.deepEqual(resolved.spectrum.heatColors, [
+    'rgba(10, 20, 30, 0)',
+    'rgba(40, 50, 60, 0.251)',
+    'rgba(70, 80, 90, 0.8)',
+  ])
+  assert.equal(resolved.spectrum.heatBase, 'rgba(1, 2, 3, 0.125)')
+  assert.deepEqual(resolved.spectrogram.heatColors, [
+    'rgba(11, 21, 31, 0.063)',
+    'rgba(41, 51, 61, 0.376)',
+    'rgb(71, 81, 91)',
+  ])
+  assert.equal(defaultResolved.spectrum.heatBase, 'transparent')
+})
+
 test('parseThemeFileContent derives the theme name from the filename stem and ignores legacy header names', () => {
   const parsed = parseThemeFileContent(`
 [Theme]
@@ -210,6 +245,8 @@ test('createTemplateThemeFile presents a simplified recommended theme layout', (
   assert.match(template, /# Uncomment the tokens you want to customize and leave the rest commented to inherit defaults\./)
   assert.match(template, /# \[Controls\] and \[Scopes\] are shared override groups\./)
   assert.match(template, /# Module sections show the full set of supported tokens for each module\./)
+  assert.match(template, /# Spectrum and Spectrogram heat token alpha is honored directly\./)
+  assert.match(template, /# Leave Spectrum heat_base commented unless you want an explicit underlay beneath the heatmap\./)
   assert.match(template, /# Comment out any optional token to let Prism inherit or derive it\./)
   assert.match(template, /# Leave an entire optional section commented if that area should use Prism's defaults\./)
   assert.match(template, /# Optional palette extras:/)