diff --git a/Sources/Kapture/CaptureController.swift b/Sources/Kapture/CaptureController.swift
index e2cae29..df653d2 100644
--- a/Sources/Kapture/CaptureController.swift
+++ b/Sources/Kapture/CaptureController.swift
@@ -84,21 +84,26 @@ final class CaptureController: NSObject {
         }
         isSelecting = true
         previousApp = NSWorkspace.shared.frontmostApplication
-        // Activation is async on macOS 26; wait a tick so the app is active
-        // before the overlays appear (otherwise clicks pass through).
-        NSApp.activate(ignoringOtherApps: true)
-        CaptureController.log("begin: activate issued, active=\(NSApp.isActive)")
+        // With the event tap driving input we must NOT activate: stealing
+        // focus turns the target app into background mode (dimmed chrome),
+        // and that is what would end up in the screenshot. Activate only on
+        // the fallback path, where panel events are the only input.
+        let usesTap = AXIsProcessTrusted()
+        if !usesTap {
+            NSApp.activate(ignoringOtherApps: true)
+        }
+        CaptureController.log("begin: usesTap=\(usesTap) active=\(NSApp.isActive)")
         DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + 0.05) { [weak self] in
             guard let self, self.isSelecting else { return }
-            CaptureController.log("begin: active=\(NSApp.isActive) — showing overlays")
             self.overlays = NSScreen.screens.map { screen in
                 let panel = OverlayWindow(screen: screen, controller: self)
                 (panel.contentView as? OverlayView)?.controller = self
                 return panel
             }
-            self.overlays.forEach { $0.makeKeyAndOrderFront(nil) }
+            // orderFrontRegardless: show without taking key/focus.
+            self.overlays.forEach { $0.orderFrontRegardless() }
             self.overlayIDs = self.overlays.map { $0.windowNumber }
-            CaptureController.log("begin: \(self.overlays.count) overlays, ids=\(self.overlayIDs), active=\(NSApp.isActive)")
+            CaptureController.log("begin: \(self.overlays.count) overlays, ids=\(self.overlayIDs) — prior app stays focused")
             self.installEventTap()
         }
     }
diff --git a/Sources/Kapture/OverlayView.swift b/Sources/Kapture/OverlayView.swift
index 8a59387..1e9192c 100644
--- a/Sources/Kapture/OverlayView.swift
+++ b/Sources/Kapture/OverlayView.swift
@@ -6,8 +6,11 @@ final class OverlayWindow: NSPanel {
     init(screen: NSScreen, controller: CaptureController) {
         let content = OverlayView()
         super.init(
+            // Non-activating: the overlay must NOT steal focus, so the app
+            // being captured keeps its active appearance (undimmed chrome).
+            // Input comes from the CGEventTap, not panel events.
             contentRect: screen.frame,
-            styleMask: [.borderless],
+            styleMask: [.borderless, .nonactivatingPanel],
             backing: .buffered,
             defer: false
         )
diff --git a/build-app.sh b/build-app.sh
index 9b3f421..a7510d9 100755
--- a/build-app.sh
+++ b/build-app.sh
@@ -108,9 +108,9 @@ cat > "$APP/Contents/Info.plist" <<'PLIST'
     <key>CFBundleIconFile</key>
     <string>Icon</string>
     <key>CFBundleShortVersionString</key>
-    <string>1.8.7</string>
+    <string>1.9.0</string>
     <key>CFBundleVersion</key>
-    <string>87</string>
+    <string>90</string>
     <key>LSUIElement</key>
     <true/>
     <key>NSHighResolutionCapable</key>