diff --git a/src/spatialdata_plot/pl/_datashader.py b/src/spatialdata_plot/pl/_datashader.py
index 2bcaed79..b5cf0532 100644
--- a/src/spatialdata_plot/pl/_datashader.py
+++ b/src/spatialdata_plot/pl/_datashader.py
@@ -43,6 +43,21 @@
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
+def _apply_user_alpha(result: ds.tf.Image | np.ndarray, alpha: float) -> ds.tf.Image | np.ndarray:
+    """Scale the alpha channel of a datashader shade result by ``alpha``.
+
+    ``ds.tf.shade(min_alpha=...)`` is a floor, not a scale, so user alpha
+    must be applied post-hoc. See #617.
+    """
+    if alpha >= 1.0 or result is None:
+        return result
+    arr = result if isinstance(result, np.ndarray) else result.to_numpy().base
+    if arr is None or arr.ndim != 3 or arr.shape[-1] != 4:
+        return result
+    arr[..., 3] = (arr[..., 3].astype(np.float32) * alpha).astype(np.uint8)
+    return result
+
+
 def _coerce_categorical_source(series: pd.Series | dd.Series) -> pd.Categorical:
     """Return a ``pd.Categorical`` from a pandas or dask Series."""
     if isinstance(series, dd.Series):
@@ -241,6 +256,7 @@ def _ds_shade_continuous(
         span=color_span,
         clip=norm.clip,
     )
+    shaded = _apply_user_alpha(shaded, alpha)
 
     nan_shaded = None
     if nan_agg is not None:
@@ -251,6 +267,7 @@ def _ds_shade_continuous(
             # only shapes (no spread) pass min_alpha for NaN shading
             shade_kwargs["min_alpha"] = _convert_alpha_to_datashader_range(alpha)
         nan_shaded = ds.tf.shade(nan_agg, **shade_kwargs)
+        nan_shaded = _apply_user_alpha(nan_shaded, alpha)
 
     return shaded, nan_shaded, reduction_bounds
 
@@ -270,12 +287,13 @@ def _ds_shade_categorical(
             ds_cmap = _hex_no_alpha(ds_cmap)
 
     agg_to_shade = ds.tf.spread(agg, px=spread_px) if spread_px is not None else agg
-    return _datashader_map_aggregate_to_color(
+    shaded = _datashader_map_aggregate_to_color(
         agg_to_shade,
         cmap=ds_cmap,
         color_key=color_key,
         min_alpha=_convert_alpha_to_datashader_range(alpha),
     )
+    return _apply_user_alpha(shaded, alpha)
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -338,6 +356,7 @@ def _render_ds_outlines(
                 min_alpha=_convert_alpha_to_datashader_range(alpha),
                 how="linear",
             )
+            shaded = _apply_user_alpha(shaded, alpha)
             rgba, trans = _create_image_from_datashader_result(shaded, factor, ax)
             _ax_show_and_transform(rgba, trans, ax, zorder=render_params.zorder, extent=extent)
 
diff --git a/src/spatialdata_plot/pl/utils.py b/src/spatialdata_plot/pl/utils.py
index e3131d98..04bcda88 100644
--- a/src/spatialdata_plot/pl/utils.py
+++ b/src/spatialdata_plot/pl/utils.py
@@ -681,7 +681,7 @@ def _set_outline(
     """
     # A) User doesn't want to see outlines
     if (
-        (outline_alpha and outline_alpha == 0.0)
+        outline_alpha == 0.0
         or (isinstance(outline_alpha, tuple) and np.all(np.array(outline_alpha) == 0.0))
         or not (outline_alpha or outline_width or outline_color)
     ):
diff --git a/tests/_images/Points_datashader_continuous_color.png b/tests/_images/Points_datashader_continuous_color.png
index 068fa6ee..be92016a 100644
Binary files a/tests/_images/Points_datashader_continuous_color.png and b/tests/_images/Points_datashader_continuous_color.png differ
diff --git a/tests/_images/Points_mpl_and_datashader_point_sizes_agree_after_altered_dpi.png b/tests/_images/Points_mpl_and_datashader_point_sizes_agree_after_altered_dpi.png
index f5e2f77a..3cfff9c7 100644
Binary files a/tests/_images/Points_mpl_and_datashader_point_sizes_agree_after_altered_dpi.png and b/tests/_images/Points_mpl_and_datashader_point_sizes_agree_after_altered_dpi.png differ
diff --git a/tests/pl/test_render_shapes.py b/tests/pl/test_render_shapes.py
index db3df973..815071d9 100644
--- a/tests/pl/test_render_shapes.py
+++ b/tests/pl/test_render_shapes.py
@@ -1228,6 +1228,68 @@ def test_datashader_alpha_not_applied_twice(sdata_blobs: SpatialData):
     plt.close(fig)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("fill_alpha", "expected_max"),
+    [
+        (0.0, 0),
+        (0.3, 76),
+        (0.5, 127),
+        (1.0, 255),
+    ],
+)
+def test_datashader_respects_fill_alpha(sdata_blobs: SpatialData, fill_alpha: float, expected_max: int):
+    """fill_alpha must scale the rendered alpha channel linearly on the datashader path (#617)."""
+    fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+    sdata_blobs.pl.render_shapes(
+        element="blobs_polygons",
+        method="datashader",
+        fill_alpha=fill_alpha,
+    ).pl.show(ax=ax)
+    fig.canvas.draw()
+
+    axes_images = [c for c in ax.get_children() if isinstance(c, matplotlib.image.AxesImage)]
+    assert axes_images
+    rgba = axes_images[0].get_array()
+    assert rgba.ndim == 3 and rgba.shape[-1] == 4
+    assert int(rgba[..., 3].max()) == expected_max
+    plt.close(fig)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("outline_alpha", "expected_max"),
+    [
+        (0.0, None),
+        (0.3, 76),
+        (0.5, 127),
+        (1.0, 255),
+    ],
+)
+def test_datashader_respects_outline_alpha(sdata_blobs: SpatialData, outline_alpha: float, expected_max: int | None):
+    """outline_alpha must scale the outline image's alpha; alpha=0 must skip rendering entirely (#617)."""
+    fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+    sdata_blobs.pl.render_shapes(
+        element="blobs_polygons",
+        method="datashader",
+        fill_alpha=1.0,
+        outline_alpha=outline_alpha,
+        outline_color="red",
+    ).pl.show(ax=ax)
+    fig.canvas.draw()
+
+    axes_images = [c for c in ax.get_children() if isinstance(c, matplotlib.image.AxesImage)]
+    outline_imgs = [
+        img
+        for img in axes_images
+        if (arr := img.get_array()).ndim == 3 and arr.shape[-1] == 4 and arr[..., 0].max() > arr[..., 1].max()
+    ]
+    if expected_max is None:
+        assert not outline_imgs
+    else:
+        assert outline_imgs
+        assert int(outline_imgs[0].get_array()[..., 3].max()) == expected_max
+    plt.close(fig)
+
+
 def test_render_shapes_color_with_conflicting_index_name():
     """render_shapes(color=...) must not crash when obs.index.name matches an existing column.
 
diff --git a/tests/pl/test_utils.py b/tests/pl/test_utils.py
index a456d765..cac36885 100644
--- a/tests/pl/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/pl/test_utils.py
@@ -8,10 +8,12 @@
 from spatialdata import SpatialData
 
 import spatialdata_plot
+from spatialdata_plot.pl.render_params import Color
 from spatialdata_plot.pl.utils import (
     _apply_cmap_alpha_to_datashader_result,
     _datashader_map_aggregate_to_color,
     _get_subplots,
+    _set_outline,
     set_zero_in_cmap_to_transparent,
 )
 from tests.conftest import DPI, PlotTester, PlotTesterMeta
@@ -164,6 +166,22 @@ def test_is_color_like(color_result: tuple[ColorLike, bool]):
     assert spatialdata_plot.pl.utils._is_color_like(color) == result
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("outline_alpha", "outline_color", "expected"),
+    [
+        (0.0, Color("#ff0000"), (0.0, 0.0)),
+        (0, Color("#ff0000"), (0.0, 0.0)),
+        ((0.0, 0.0), Color("#ff0000"), (0.0, 0.0)),
+        (0.5, Color("#ff0000"), (0.5, 0.0)),
+        (1.0, Color("#ff0000"), (1.0, 0.0)),
+    ],
+)
+def test_set_outline_respects_zero_alpha(outline_alpha, outline_color, expected):
+    """outline_alpha=0 must yield (0.0, 0.0) even when outline_color is set (#617 follow-up)."""
+    alpha, _ = _set_outline(outline_alpha=outline_alpha, outline_width=None, outline_color=outline_color)
+    assert alpha == expected
+
+
 class TestCmapAlphaDatashader:
     """Regression tests for #376: set_zero_in_cmap_to_transparent with datashader."""