diff --git a/app/src/components/ProjectStack.tsx b/app/src/components/ProjectStack.tsx
index ee55fe5..e2d28c4 100644
--- a/app/src/components/ProjectStack.tsx
+++ b/app/src/components/ProjectStack.tsx
@@ -104,20 +104,25 @@ export function ProjectStack() {
 
   return (
     <div ref={trackRef} className="relative h-[400vh]">
-      <div className="sticky top-0 flex h-[100svh] flex-col items-center justify-center gap-6 overflow-hidden px-5 sm:gap-8 sm:px-8 lg:px-14">
+      {/* The header sits clear of the fixed nav, and the deck takes the rest of
+          the stage, so the card can never overflow the viewport. The gap keeps
+          the covered card — which lifts as it recedes — off the intro copy. */}
+      <div className="sticky top-0 flex h-[100svh] flex-col items-center gap-6 overflow-hidden px-5 pb-10 pt-24 sm:px-8 lg:px-14">
         <StackHeader />
-        <div className="relative h-[min(26rem,46vh)] w-[min(90vw,24rem)] sm:h-[min(30rem,54vh)] sm:w-[min(92vw,44rem)]">
-          {projects.map((p, i) => (
-            <article
-              key={p.ref}
-              ref={(el) => {
-                cardRefs.current[i] = el
-              }}
-              className="absolute inset-0 opacity-0 will-change-[transform,opacity]"
-            >
-              <CardFace p={p} media={media(p, i, active === i)} />
-            </article>
-          ))}
+        <div className="flex min-h-0 w-full flex-1 items-center justify-center">
+          <div className="relative h-[min(26rem,100%)] w-[min(90vw,24rem)] sm:h-[min(30rem,100%)] sm:w-[min(92vw,44rem)]">
+            {projects.map((p, i) => (
+              <article
+                key={p.ref}
+                ref={(el) => {
+                  cardRefs.current[i] = el
+                }}
+                className="absolute inset-0 opacity-0 will-change-[transform,opacity]"
+              >
+                <CardFace p={p} media={media(p, i, active === i)} />
+              </article>
+            ))}
+          </div>
         </div>
       </div>
     </div>
diff --git a/app/src/lib/stack.test.ts b/app/src/lib/stack.test.ts
index d9745c5..985bcfc 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/stack.test.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/stack.test.ts
@@ -44,10 +44,10 @@ test('the first card has landed after one arrival unit', () => {
   assert.equal(s.rotate, 0)
 })
 
-test('a covered card eases back', () => {
+test('a covered card eases back but stays opaque', () => {
   const s = cardState(0, ARRIVE + RECEDE)
   assert.equal(s.yPercent, -7)
-  assert.equal(s.opacity, 0.75)
+  assert.equal(s.opacity, 1)
   assert.equal(s.scale, 0.92)
 })
 
diff --git a/app/src/lib/stack.ts b/app/src/lib/stack.ts
index 21ef751..5b434c0 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/stack.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/stack.ts
@@ -55,7 +55,9 @@ export function cardState(index: number, t: number): CardState {
 
   return {
     yPercent: 118 * (1 - u) - 7 * v,
-    opacity: u * (1 - 0.25 * v),
+    // The recede only shifts and shrinks the card — it must stay fully opaque.
+    // A translucent card would let the one behind it ghost through the copy.
+    opacity: u,
     scale: 0.93 + 0.07 * u - 0.08 * v,
     rotate: noNegativeZero(tilt * (1 - u)),
   }
diff --git a/docs/superpowers/plans/2026-11-03-mega-project-log-stack.md b/docs/superpowers/plans/2026-11-03-mega-project-log-stack.md
index ca6c5f4..97ba0cb 100644
--- a/docs/superpowers/plans/2026-11-03-mega-project-log-stack.md
+++ b/docs/superpowers/plans/2026-11-03-mega-project-log-stack.md
@@ -107,10 +107,10 @@ test('the first card has landed after one arrival unit', () => {
   assert.equal(s.rotate, 0)
 })
 
-test('a covered card eases back', () => {
+test('a covered card eases back but stays opaque', () => {
   const s = cardState(0, ARRIVE + RECEDE)
   assert.equal(s.yPercent, -7)
-  assert.equal(s.opacity, 0.75)
+  assert.equal(s.opacity, 1)
   assert.equal(s.scale, 0.92)
 })
 
@@ -211,7 +211,9 @@ export function cardState(index: number, t: number): CardState {
 
   return {
     yPercent: 118 * (1 - u) - 7 * v,
-    opacity: u * (1 - 0.25 * v),
+    // The recede must not change opacity: a translucent card lets the card
+    // behind it ghost through the title and chips.
+    opacity: u,
     scale: 0.93 + 0.07 * u - 0.08 * v,
     rotate: noNegativeZero(tilt * (1 - u)),
   }
diff --git a/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-11-03-mega-project-log-stack-design.md b/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-11-03-mega-project-log-stack-design.md
index ad9a88a..a403450 100644
--- a/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-11-03-mega-project-log-stack-design.md
+++ b/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-11-03-mega-project-log-stack-design.md
@@ -128,13 +128,15 @@ u = power2Out(u)     // 1 - (1 - x)²
 v = power1InOut(v)   // 2x² below 0.5, else 1 - 2(1-x)²/2
 
 yPercent = 118 × (1 - u) - 7 × v
-opacity  = u × (1 - 0.25 × v)
+opacity  = u
 scale    = 0.93 + 0.07 × u - 0.08 × v
 rotate   = (i even ? -4° : 4°) × (1 - u)
 ```
 
 `transform` is composed as `translate3d(0, yPercent%, 0) rotate(rotate) scale(scale)` and written to `element.style.transform`. `opacity` is written to `element.style.opacity`.
 
+**The recede must not change opacity.** A covered card stays fully opaque — only its scale and position change. A translucent card would let the card behind it ghost through the title and chips, which is very visible on photo-led cards. The reference gets away with it because its cards sit on an opaque panel.
+
 Cards later in the DOM paint above earlier ones, so the last card dealt ends up on top — the same stacking order as the reference.
 
 ### The active card