diff --git a/R/civilytics-package.R b/R/civilytics-package.R
index 67e4fcc..a16284f 100644
--- a/R/civilytics-package.R
+++ b/R/civilytics-package.R
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 #'
 #' @section Themes:
 #' \itemize{
-#'   \item [theme_civilytics()] -- editorial theme with warm paper background
+#'   \item [theme_civilytics()] -- editorial theme with transparent background (opt-in cream)
 #'   \item [theme_civilytics_dark()] -- navy background variant
 #'   \item [theme_civilytics_slide()] -- transparent background, larger text
 #' }
diff --git a/README.Rmd b/README.Rmd
index acbb820..4a0ecea 100644
--- a/README.Rmd
+++ b/README.Rmd
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ knitr::opts_chunk$set(
 Brand themes, color palettes, and utility functions for
 [Civilytics Consulting](https://www.civilytics.com). The package provides a
 complete ggplot2 theme system drawn from the Civilytics design system ---
-warm paper backgrounds, civic-navy ink, and editorial typography --- along
+transparent backgrounds (opt-in cream), civic-navy ink, and editorial typography --- along
 with 10 curated color palettes, logo composition helpers, and data-wrangling
 utilities for public-sector analysis.
 
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ same typographic structure and accept `grid` and `paper_bg` parameters.
 
 ### Editorial (default)
 
-The default theme uses a warm paper background with horizontal gridlines ---
+The default theme uses a transparent background with horizontal gridlines ---
 an editorial, Pew-style layout.
 
 ```{r theme-editorial, fig.height = 4, fig.width = 7}
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 17f1a3c..7421b7b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ parameters.
 
 ### Editorial (default)
 
-The default theme uses a warm paper background with horizontal gridlines
+The default theme uses a transparent background with horizontal gridlines
 — an editorial, Pew-style layout.
 
 ``` r
diff --git a/man/civilytics-package.Rd b/man/civilytics-package.Rd
index 3eb4e0f..09acd9a 100644
--- a/man/civilytics-package.Rd
+++ b/man/civilytics-package.Rd
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ public-sector analysis.
 \section{Themes}{
 
 \itemize{
-  \item [theme_civilytics()] -- editorial theme with warm paper background
+  \item [theme_civilytics()] -- editorial theme with transparent background (opt-in cream)
   \item [theme_civilytics_dark()] -- navy background variant
   \item [theme_civilytics_slide()] -- transparent background, larger text
 }
diff --git a/man/theme_civilytics.Rd b/man/theme_civilytics.Rd
index bb75442..5950dc4 100644
--- a/man/theme_civilytics.Rd
+++ b/man/theme_civilytics.Rd
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ theme_civilytics(
   accent = unname(civilytics_colors["ember_600"]),
   strip_color = unname(civilytics_colors["paper_2"]),
   grid = c("y", "x", "both", "none"),
-   paper_bg = FALSE
+  paper_bg = FALSE
 )
 }
 \arguments{
diff --git a/man/theme_civilytics_dark.Rd b/man/theme_civilytics_dark.Rd
index 97dd6b8..405b822 100644
--- a/man/theme_civilytics_dark.Rd
+++ b/man/theme_civilytics_dark.Rd
@@ -56,10 +56,9 @@ to [civilytics_colors]`["paper_2"]` (`#F2EDE4`).}
 \item{grid}{Character. Which major gridlines to draw: `"y"` (default,
 horizontal only), `"x"` (vertical only), `"both"`, or `"none"`.}
 
-\item{paper_bg}{Logical. If `TRUE` (default), fill the plot and panel
-backgrounds with the warm `paper` color. Set to `FALSE` for a
-transparent background (useful for slides or overlay on colored
-surfaces).}
+\item{paper_bg}{Logical. If `FALSE` (default), the plot and panel
+backgrounds are transparent (`fill = NA`). Set to `TRUE` to fill them
+with the warm `paper` color for a branded cream canvas.}
 }
 \value{
 A complete ggplot2 [ggplot2::theme()] object.