diff --git a/scripts/format-scope.json b/scripts/format-scope.json
index 5ec1adb0c..edd1c69af 100644
--- a/scripts/format-scope.json
+++ b/scripts/format-scope.json
@@ -555,6 +555,7 @@
   "src/data/cctvNswSource.test.mjs",
   "src/data/cctvTxdotSource.test.mjs",
   "src/layers/cctv/source.test.mjs",
+  "src/layers/cctv/frames.test.mjs",
   "src/data/alprCameras.js",
   "src/data/alprCameras.test.mjs",
   "src/data/dataCredits.test.mjs",
diff --git a/src/layers/cctv/frames.js b/src/layers/cctv/frames.js
index 7e037f198..807770c10 100644
--- a/src/layers/cctv/frames.js
+++ b/src/layers/cctv/frames.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import {
   FRAME_SIGNATURE_H,
   PROJECTION_CANVAS_WIDTH,
   PROJECTION_CANVAS_HEIGHT,
+  PROJECTION_MATTE_COLOR,
   PROJECTION_TEXTURE_SWAP_MS,
   ACTIVE_FRAME_REFRESH_MS,
   FRAME_ENDPOINT,
@@ -12,7 +13,16 @@ import {
   PLACEHOLDER_REPAINT_MS,
 } from './policy.js';
 
-function fitToProjection(sourceW, sourceH) {
+/**
+ * Contain-fits a source frame into the projection canvas: scaled to the
+ * largest size that fits, centered, with the margins left for the matte fill.
+ * Falls back to the full canvas when either dimension is missing or zero.
+ *
+ * @param {number} sourceW - Source width in pixels.
+ * @param {number} sourceH - Source height in pixels.
+ * @returns {{x:number,y:number,w:number,h:number}} Draw rectangle in canvas pixels.
+ */
+export function fitToProjection(sourceW, sourceH) {
   if (!sourceW || !sourceH)
     return {
       x: 0,
@@ -204,7 +214,7 @@ export function createFrames({ state: layerState, services, parts, source }) {
     ctx.clearRect(0, 0, w, h);
     const g = ctx.createLinearGradient(0, 0, w, h);
     g.addColorStop(0, '#05111a');
-    g.addColorStop(1, '#01070c');
+    g.addColorStop(1, PROJECTION_MATTE_COLOR);
     ctx.fillStyle = g;
     ctx.fillRect(0, 0, w, h);
 
@@ -342,7 +352,14 @@ export function createFrames({ state: layerState, services, parts, source }) {
         // base color (planeMaterial color = WHITE, alpha .95) for the frame or
         // two Cesium needs to rebind, which IS the periodic white flash from the
         // owner field tests (2026-07-04 and 2026-07-30).
-        const signature = projectionFrameSignature(runtime);
+        const fit = fitToProjection(
+          runtime.image.naturalWidth,
+          runtime.image.naturalHeight,
+        );
+        // Pixels are hashed at a fixed size, so the fit carries the aspect.
+        const pixels = projectionFrameSignature(runtime);
+        const signature =
+          pixels === null ? null : `${pixels}:${fit.w}x${fit.h}`;
         runtime.drawnImageStamp = runtime.imageStamp;
         if (signature !== null && signature === runtime.lastFrameSignature) {
           // Identical pixels — leave the canvas, and therefore the bound
@@ -350,17 +367,13 @@ export function createFrames({ state: layerState, services, parts, source }) {
           return;
         }
         runtime.lastFrameSignature = signature;
-        runtime.ctx.fillStyle = '#01070c';
+        runtime.ctx.fillStyle = PROJECTION_MATTE_COLOR;
         runtime.ctx.fillRect(
           0,
           0,
           PROJECTION_CANVAS_WIDTH,
           PROJECTION_CANVAS_HEIGHT,
         );
-        const fit = fitToProjection(
-          runtime.image.naturalWidth,
-          runtime.image.naturalHeight,
-        );
         runtime.ctx.drawImage(runtime.image, fit.x, fit.y, fit.w, fit.h);
         runtime.canvasStamp = (runtime.canvasStamp || 0) + 1;
         runtime.lastPlaceholderPaintAt = 0;
diff --git a/src/layers/cctv/frames.test.mjs b/src/layers/cctv/frames.test.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5f21e4abd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/layers/cctv/frames.test.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+// src/layers/cctv/frames.test.mjs
+// Still-frame fit (#1201): stills draw at their source aspect, centered on the
+// 1920x1080 projection canvas, instead of being stretched to fill it.
+import { test } from 'node:test';
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import { fitToProjection } from './frames.js';
+
+const FULL_CANVAS = { x: 0, y: 0, w: 1920, h: 1080 };
+
+test('a 4:3 still is pillarboxed at full height', () => {
+  assert.deepEqual(fitToProjection(640, 480), {
+    x: 240,
+    y: 0,
+    w: 1440,
+    h: 1080,
+  });
+});
+
+test('a source wider than 16:9 is letterboxed at full width', () => {
+  assert.deepEqual(fitToProjection(3840, 1080), {
+    x: 0,
+    y: 270,
+    w: 1920,
+    h: 540,
+  });
+});
+
+test('a 16:9 still fills the canvas', () => {
+  assert.deepEqual(fitToProjection(1920, 1080), FULL_CANVAS);
+});
+
+test('a missing or zero dimension falls back to the full canvas', () => {
+  assert.deepEqual(fitToProjection(0, 480), FULL_CANVAS);
+  assert.deepEqual(fitToProjection(640, 0), FULL_CANVAS);
+  assert.deepEqual(fitToProjection(640, undefined), FULL_CANVAS);
+  assert.deepEqual(fitToProjection(undefined, undefined), FULL_CANVAS);
+});
diff --git a/src/layers/cctv/policy.js b/src/layers/cctv/policy.js
index cf09ebe64..3cd4910e9 100644
--- a/src/layers/cctv/policy.js
+++ b/src/layers/cctv/policy.js
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ export const PROJECTION_CANVAS_WIDTH = 1920;
 
 export const PROJECTION_CANVAS_HEIGHT = 1080;
 
+/** Matte behind fitted stills; the placeholder gradient's dark end. */
+export const PROJECTION_MATTE_COLOR = '#01070c';
+
 // Downsample grid for the unchanged-frame signature (drawProjectionFrame).
 // 64x36 keeps the 16:9 aspect and reads ~9 KB per check versus the 8.3 MB a
 // full-resolution compare would touch.