diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f96768f..fa509b2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ The project is intentionally dependency-light: Swift Package Manager, AppKit, Ca
   - `Shift + Command + N` creates a new collection
   - `Space` previews the selected card when the focused search field is empty
 - Clipboard history for text, URLs with local preview thumbnails when available, images, audio, RTF/HTML rich text, PDFs, and file references
-- Keyboard-focusable cards with Return-to-paste, Space-to-preview for Quick Look capable clips, vertical wheel/trackpad panning in horizontal rails, visible focus chrome, and VoiceOver action hints
+- Keyboard-focusable cards with Return-to-paste, Space-to-preview for Quick Look capable clips, vertical wheel/trackpad panning and overflow edge fades in horizontal rails, visible focus chrome, and VoiceOver action hints
 - SQLite persistence with bounded history, pinned-item retention, and encrypted app-managed payloads
 - Search with independent token matching, structured filters such as `app:Safari`, `type:image,pdf`, `pinboard:"Client Work","Read Later"`, `date:2026-06-30`, result jump-back to full history, and optional local OCR for copied images
 - Sort modes for recent, most used, images, links, text, files, audio, and pinned items
diff --git a/docs/SMOKE_TEST.md b/docs/SMOKE_TEST.md
index ca65fbb..d085604 100644
--- a/docs/SMOKE_TEST.md
+++ b/docs/SMOKE_TEST.md
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ Use this checklist before a release or after changes to panel, pasteboard, setti
 5. Use arrow keys to move selection while the search field is focused.
 6. Tab to collection chips and press `Space` or `Return`; confirm the focused chip is selected and the visible focus state is clear.
 7. Tab to cards; confirm the focused card gets a clear focus border, `Return` pastes or copies it, and `Space` opens Quick Look for previewable clips.
-8. Use a mouse wheel or two-finger vertical scroll over the card shelf and a crowded collection rail; confirm each pans horizontally and clamps at both ends.
+8. Use a mouse wheel or two-finger vertical scroll over the card shelf and a crowded collection rail; confirm each pans horizontally, clamps at both ends, and shows subtle edge fades only where more content is hidden.
 9. Right-click a filtered result and choose Show in Clipboard, or press `Command + G`, and confirm search clears while the same card stays selected in Most Recent.
 10. Press `Esc` once with a non-empty search field and confirm search clears.
 11. Press `Esc` again and confirm the panel closes.
diff --git a/sources/clipbored/views/ClipboardPanelView.swift b/sources/clipbored/views/ClipboardPanelView.swift
index aea5851..39efef7 100644
--- a/sources/clipbored/views/ClipboardPanelView.swift
+++ b/sources/clipbored/views/ClipboardPanelView.swift
@@ -1283,6 +1283,10 @@ final class ClipboardPanelView: NSVisualEffectView, NSSearchFieldDelegate {
     scrollView.documentView?.frame.width ?? 0
   }
 
+  var debugCardRailOverflowFadeVisibility: [Bool] {
+    scrollView.overflowFadeVisibility
+  }
+
   func debugScrollCardRailVertically(deltaY: CGFloat) {
     scrollView.scrollHorizontallyByVerticalDelta(deltaY)
   }
@@ -1440,6 +1444,10 @@ final class ClipboardPanelView: NSVisualEffectView, NSSearchFieldDelegate {
     collectionScrollView.contentView.bounds
   }
 
+  var debugCollectionRailOverflowFadeVisibility: [Bool] {
+    collectionScrollView.overflowFadeVisibility
+  }
+
   func debugScrollCollectionRailVertically(deltaY: CGFloat) {
     collectionScrollView.scrollHorizontallyByVerticalDelta(deltaY)
   }
@@ -1690,6 +1698,20 @@ private enum ClipboardCardDragContext {
 }
 
 private final class HorizontalRailScrollView: NSScrollView {
+  private let leadingFade = RailEdgeFadeView(edge: .leading)
+  private let trailingFade = RailEdgeFadeView(edge: .trailing)
+  private let fadeWidth: CGFloat = 26
+
+  override init(frame frameRect: NSRect) {
+    super.init(frame: frameRect)
+    configureOverflowFades()
+  }
+
+  required init?(coder: NSCoder) {
+    super.init(coder: coder)
+    configureOverflowFades()
+  }
+
   override func scrollWheel(with event: NSEvent) {
     let horizontalDelta = event.scrollingDeltaX
     let verticalDelta = event.scrollingDeltaY
@@ -1701,12 +1723,47 @@ private final class HorizontalRailScrollView: NSScrollView {
     }
 
     super.scrollWheel(with: event)
+    updateOverflowFades()
+  }
+
+  override func layout() {
+    super.layout()
+    updateOverflowFades()
+  }
+
+  override func reflectScrolledClipView(_ clipView: NSClipView) {
+    super.reflectScrolledClipView(clipView)
+    updateOverflowFades()
   }
 
   func scrollHorizontallyByVerticalDelta(_ deltaY: CGFloat) {
     scrollHorizontally(by: -deltaY)
   }
 
+  var overflowFadeVisibility: [Bool] {
+    updateOverflowFades()
+    return [!leadingFade.isHidden, !trailingFade.isHidden]
+  }
+
+  private func configureOverflowFades() {
+    leadingFade.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
+    trailingFade.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
+    leadingFade.isHidden = true
+    trailingFade.isHidden = true
+    addSubview(leadingFade)
+    addSubview(trailingFade)
+    NSLayoutConstraint.activate([
+      leadingFade.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: leadingAnchor),
+      leadingFade.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: topAnchor),
+      leadingFade.bottomAnchor.constraint(equalTo: bottomAnchor),
+      leadingFade.widthAnchor.constraint(equalToConstant: fadeWidth),
+      trailingFade.trailingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: trailingAnchor),
+      trailingFade.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: topAnchor),
+      trailingFade.bottomAnchor.constraint(equalTo: bottomAnchor),
+      trailingFade.widthAnchor.constraint(equalToConstant: fadeWidth)
+    ])
+  }
+
   private var canScrollHorizontally: Bool {
     maxHorizontalOffset > 0
   }
@@ -1726,6 +1783,50 @@ private final class HorizontalRailScrollView: NSScrollView {
     contentView.scroll(to: NSPoint(x: targetX, y: origin.y))
     reflectScrolledClipView(contentView)
   }
+
+  private func updateOverflowFades() {
+    let maxOffset = maxHorizontalOffset
+    guard maxOffset > 0 else {
+      leadingFade.isHidden = true
+      trailingFade.isHidden = true
+      return
+    }
+
+    let currentX = contentView.bounds.minX
+    leadingFade.isHidden = currentX <= 0.5
+    trailingFade.isHidden = currentX >= maxOffset - 0.5
+  }
+}
+
+private final class RailEdgeFadeView: NSView {
+  enum Edge {
+    case leading
+    case trailing
+  }
+
+  private let edge: Edge
+
+  init(edge: Edge) {
+    self.edge = edge
+    super.init(frame: .zero)
+    wantsLayer = true
+    setAccessibilityElement(false)
+  }
+
+  required init?(coder: NSCoder) {
+    fatalError("init(coder:) has not been implemented")
+  }
+
+  override func hitTest(_ point: NSPoint) -> NSView? {
+    nil
+  }
+
+  override func draw(_ dirtyRect: NSRect) {
+    let color = NSColor.windowBackgroundColor.withAlphaComponent(0.88)
+    let clear = color.withAlphaComponent(0)
+    let gradient = NSGradient(colors: edge == .leading ? [color, clear] : [clear, color])
+    gradient?.draw(in: bounds, angle: 0)
+  }
 }
 
 private final class CollectionChipView: NSView {
diff --git a/tests/clipboredtests/ClipboardPanelViewTests.swift b/tests/clipboredtests/ClipboardPanelViewTests.swift
index d94cc19..6f09a07 100644
--- a/tests/clipboredtests/ClipboardPanelViewTests.swift
+++ b/tests/clipboredtests/ClipboardPanelViewTests.swift
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ final class ClipboardPanelViewTests: XCTestCase {
     XCTAssertGreaterThanOrEqual(fixture.view.debugDocumentViewFrame.width, 292)
     XCTAssertGreaterThanOrEqual(fixture.view.debugDocumentViewFrame.height, 244)
     XCTAssertEqual(fixture.view.debugCardPreviewStyles, ["text-preview"])
+    XCTAssertEqual(fixture.view.debugCardRailOverflowFadeVisibility, [false, false])
   }
 
   func testCompactCardsFitTwoItemsOnNarrowDockShelf() {
@@ -448,15 +449,18 @@ final class ClipboardPanelViewTests: XCTestCase {
     XCTAssertTrue(fixture.view.debugCustomCollectionTitles.contains("Product References"))
 
     XCTAssertEqual(fixture.view.debugCollectionRailVisibleRect.minX, 0, accuracy: 0.5)
+    XCTAssertEqual(fixture.view.debugCollectionRailOverflowFadeVisibility, [false, true])
     fixture.view.debugScrollCollectionRailVertically(deltaY: -220)
     fixture.window.contentView?.layoutSubtreeIfNeeded()
 
     XCTAssertGreaterThan(fixture.view.debugCollectionRailVisibleRect.minX, 0)
+    XCTAssertEqual(fixture.view.debugCollectionRailOverflowFadeVisibility, [true, true])
 
     fixture.view.debugScrollCollectionRailVertically(deltaY: 10_000)
     fixture.window.contentView?.layoutSubtreeIfNeeded()
 
     XCTAssertEqual(fixture.view.debugCollectionRailVisibleRect.minX, 0, accuracy: 0.5)
+    XCTAssertEqual(fixture.view.debugCollectionRailOverflowFadeVisibility, [false, true])
   }
 
   func testSelectionScrollsCardRailToKeepSelectedCardVisible() {
@@ -509,22 +513,26 @@ final class ClipboardPanelViewTests: XCTestCase {
       fixture.view.debugCardRailVisibleRect.width + 1
     )
     XCTAssertEqual(fixture.view.debugCardRailVisibleRect.minX, 0, accuracy: 0.5)
+    XCTAssertEqual(fixture.view.debugCardRailOverflowFadeVisibility, [false, true])
 
     fixture.view.debugScrollCardRailVertically(deltaY: -240)
     fixture.window.contentView?.layoutSubtreeIfNeeded()
 
     XCTAssertGreaterThan(fixture.view.debugCardRailVisibleRect.minX, 0)
+    XCTAssertEqual(fixture.view.debugCardRailOverflowFadeVisibility, [true, true])
 
     fixture.view.debugScrollCardRailVertically(deltaY: -10_000)
     fixture.window.contentView?.layoutSubtreeIfNeeded()
 
     let maxOffset = fixture.view.debugCardRailDocumentWidth - fixture.view.debugCardRailVisibleRect.width
     XCTAssertEqual(fixture.view.debugCardRailVisibleRect.minX, maxOffset, accuracy: 1)
+    XCTAssertEqual(fixture.view.debugCardRailOverflowFadeVisibility, [true, false])
 
     fixture.view.debugScrollCardRailVertically(deltaY: 10_000)
     fixture.window.contentView?.layoutSubtreeIfNeeded()
 
     XCTAssertEqual(fixture.view.debugCardRailVisibleRect.minX, 0, accuracy: 1)
+    XCTAssertEqual(fixture.view.debugCardRailOverflowFadeVisibility, [false, true])
   }
 
   func testFilteredEmptyStateNamesCurrentCollection() {