diff --git a/shell/applets/HexWaveBackground.qml b/shell/applets/HexWaveBackground.qml
index 31e57ea..9368f9f 100644
--- a/shell/applets/HexWaveBackground.qml
+++ b/shell/applets/HexWaveBackground.qml
@@ -7,15 +7,8 @@ Item {
 
     property bool running: false
     property bool reducedMotion: S.Theme.reducedMotion
-    property bool overlay: false
     readonly property real wavePhase: fx.uWavePhase
 
-    Rectangle {
-        anchors.fill: parent
-        color: S.Theme.base01
-        visible: !root.overlay
-    }
-
     ShaderEffect {
         id: fx
         anchors.fill: parent
diff --git a/shell/lock/LockSurface.qml b/shell/lock/LockSurface.qml
index a68e741..ff22f7b 100644
--- a/shell/lock/LockSurface.qml
+++ b/shell/lock/LockSurface.qml
@@ -13,16 +13,24 @@ WlSessionLockSurface {
 
     color: S.Theme.base00
 
-    // Background opacity driven by the first wave sweep across the screen
+    // Wave progress drives blur/dim/hex overlay reveal
     property real _unlockFade: 1
-    readonly property real _bgOpacity: (root.width > 0 ? Math.max(0, Math.min(1, _hexWave.wavePhase / root.width)) : 0) * _unlockFade
+    readonly property real _waveProgress: (root.width > 0 ? Math.max(0, Math.min(1, _hexWave.wavePhase / root.width)) : 0) * _unlockFade
 
-    // Blur screenshot of desktop as background
+    // Clear desktop screenshot - visible immediately
     ScreencopyView {
         anchors.fill: parent
         captureSource: root.screen
-        opacity: root._bgOpacity
         visible: S.Modules.lock.screenshot ?? true
+        opacity: _unlockFade
+    }
+
+    // Blurred screenshot - fades in as wave passes
+    ScreencopyView {
+        anchors.fill: parent
+        captureSource: root.screen
+        visible: S.Modules.lock.screenshot ?? true
+        opacity: root._waveProgress
 
         layer.enabled: true
         layer.effect: MultiEffect {
@@ -33,20 +41,19 @@ WlSessionLockSurface {
         }
     }
 
-    // Dim overlay
+    // Dim overlay - fades in with wave
     Rectangle {
         anchors.fill: parent
         color: Qt.rgba(S.Theme.base00.r, S.Theme.base00.g, S.Theme.base00.b, 0.4)
-        opacity: root._bgOpacity
+        opacity: root._waveProgress
     }
 
-    // Hex wave overlay - visible immediately so the sweep reveals the background
+    // Hex wave - fades in with wave progress
     C.HexWaveBackground {
         id: _hexWave
         anchors.fill: parent
         running: root.lock.secure
-        overlay: true
-        opacity: 0.4
+        opacity: root._waveProgress * 0.4
     }
 
     // Keyboard input via TextInput - engages Qt's full input pipeline including