diff --git a/.claude/commands/penquify.md b/.claude/commands/penquify.md
index fbe2106..ac544dc 100644
--- a/.claude/commands/penquify.md
+++ b/.claude/commands/penquify.md
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ PhotoVariation(
     # Failure modes
     cropped_header=True,         # bool
     missing_area="top 15%",      # "" / any description
-    overexposed_patch=True,      # bool
+    overexposure=0.7,            # float 0.0–1.0
     shadow_band=True,            # bool
 
     # Multi-page
diff --git a/docs/sdk/variation.mdx b/docs/sdk/variation.mdx
index 2f50b8f..1650813 100644
--- a/docs/sdk/variation.mdx
+++ b/docs/sdk/variation.mdx
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class PhotoVariation:
     # Failure modes
     cropped_header: bool = False
     missing_area: str = ""
-    overexposed_patch: bool = False
+    overexposure: float = 0.0
     shadow_band: bool = False
 
     # Multi-page
diff --git a/docs/variations.mdx b/docs/variations.mdx
index 9fec557..8c8e5c5 100644
--- a/docs/variations.mdx
+++ b/docs/variations.mdx
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ When generating a photo, the variation is serialized to JSON and sent to Gemini
     |-------|------|---------|-------------|
     | `cropped_header` | `bool` | `False` | Header cut off by framing |
     | `missing_area` | `str` | `""` | Missing area description (e.g. `"top 10-15%"`) |
-    | `overexposed_patch` | `bool` | `False` | Overexposed area |
+    | `overexposure` | `float` | `0.0` | Global overexposure intensity (0.0–1.0) |
     | `shadow_band` | `bool` | `False` | Dark shadow band across document |
   </Accordion>
 
diff --git a/penquify/generators/config.py b/penquify/generators/config.py
index 0cb0f23..e3c6eb6 100644
--- a/penquify/generators/config.py
+++ b/penquify/generators/config.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
 - torn_edge: true | false
 - cropped_header: true | false
 - missing_area: "" | "top 10-15%" | "left edge" | "bottom 5%"
-- overexposed_patch: true | false
+- overexposure: 0.0-1.0 (float, 0=none, 0.3=light wash, 0.6=moderate bleaching, 1.0=fully washed out)
 - shadow_band: true | false
 - stapled: true | false
 - stacked_sheets_behind: 0-5 (int)
diff --git a/penquify/generators/verify.py b/penquify/generators/verify.py
index 1a6622d..1253096 100644
--- a/penquify/generators/verify.py
+++ b/penquify/generators/verify.py
@@ -258,6 +258,8 @@ def build_occlusion_manifest(
         elif status == "illegible":
             if variation.motion_blur:
                 reasons.append(f"blurred_by_motion({variation.blur_direction or 'general'})")
+            if variation.overexposure > 0:
+                reasons.append(f"washed_out_by_overexposure(intensity={variation.overexposure:.1f})")
             if variation.jpeg_compression in ("moderate", "heavy"):
                 reasons.append(f"degraded_by_compression({variation.jpeg_compression})")
             if variation.glare in ("strong",):
diff --git a/penquify/models/variation.py b/penquify/models/variation.py
index 75a0afd..e4bee6c 100644
--- a/penquify/models/variation.py
+++ b/penquify/models/variation.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class PhotoVariation:
     # Failure modes (for dataset edge cases)
     cropped_header: bool = False
     missing_area: str = ""  # "top 10-15%", "left edge"
-    overexposed_patch: bool = False
+    overexposure: float = 0.0  # 0.0 (none) to 1.0 (fully washed out)
     shadow_band: bool = False
 
     # Multi-page
@@ -109,11 +109,21 @@ def to_prompt_json(self) -> dict:
         }
         if self.stain:
             d["damage"] = {"stain": self.stain.__dict__}
+        failure_modes = {}
         if self.cropped_header or self.missing_area:
-            d["failure_modes"] = {
-                "cropped_header": self.cropped_header,
-                "missing_area": self.missing_area,
-            }
+            failure_modes["cropped_header"] = self.cropped_header
+            failure_modes["missing_area"] = self.missing_area
+        if self.overexposure > 0:
+            failure_modes["overexposure"] = self.overexposure
+            failure_modes["overexposure_description"] = (
+                "uniform global overexposure across entire document — "
+                f"intensity {self.overexposure:.1f} "
+                f"({'light wash' if self.overexposure <= 0.3 else 'moderate bleaching' if self.overexposure <= 0.6 else 'severely washed out, text barely visible'})"
+            )
+        if self.shadow_band:
+            failure_modes["shadow_band"] = True
+        if failure_modes:
+            d["failure_modes"] = failure_modes
         if self.stapled or self.stacked_sheets_behind:
             d["multi_page"] = {
                 "stapled": self.stapled,
@@ -176,4 +186,11 @@ def to_prompt_json(self) -> dict:
         stacked_sheets_behind=2,
         folds="dog_ear",
     ),
+    "overexposed": PhotoVariation(
+        name="overexposed",
+        overexposure=0.7,
+        glare="strong",
+        glare_location="center",
+        uneven_lighting=True,
+    ),
 }
diff --git a/tests/test_models.py b/tests/test_models.py
index 980f0bf..fd0b9ea 100644
--- a/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/tests/test_models.py
@@ -51,6 +51,38 @@ def test_presets_exist():
     assert "coffee_stain" in PRESETS
 
 
+def test_overexposure_default():
+    v = PhotoVariation(name="clean")
+    assert v.overexposure == 0.0
+    j = v.to_prompt_json()
+    assert "failure_modes" not in j or "overexposure" not in j.get("failure_modes", {})
+
+
+def test_overexposure_in_prompt_json():
+    v = PhotoVariation(name="washed", overexposure=0.7)
+    j = v.to_prompt_json()
+    assert "failure_modes" in j
+    assert j["failure_modes"]["overexposure"] == 0.7
+    assert "severely washed out" in j["failure_modes"]["overexposure_description"]
+
+
+def test_overexposure_light():
+    v = PhotoVariation(name="light_wash", overexposure=0.2)
+    j = v.to_prompt_json()
+    assert "light wash" in j["failure_modes"]["overexposure_description"]
+
+
+def test_overexposure_moderate():
+    v = PhotoVariation(name="mod_wash", overexposure=0.5)
+    j = v.to_prompt_json()
+    assert "moderate bleaching" in j["failure_modes"]["overexposure_description"]
+
+
+def test_overexposed_preset_exists():
+    assert "overexposed" in PRESETS
+    assert PRESETS["overexposed"].overexposure == 0.7
+
+
 def test_cameras_library():
     assert len(CAMERAS) >= 20
     assert "galaxy_s8" in CAMERAS
diff --git a/tests/test_verify.py b/tests/test_verify.py
index 68101df..847e21b 100644
--- a/tests/test_verify.py
+++ b/tests/test_verify.py
@@ -96,6 +96,16 @@ def test_occlusion_manifest_stain():
     assert "coffee_stain" in str(manifest["item_2_qty"]["reasons"])
 
 
+def test_occlusion_manifest_overexposure():
+    verification = {"fields": {
+        "item_1_qty": {"status": "illegible", "extracted_value": None, "source_value": "50", "confidence": 0},
+    }}
+    variation = PhotoVariation(overexposure=0.8)
+    manifest = build_occlusion_manifest(verification, variation)
+    assert "overexposure" in str(manifest["item_1_qty"]["reasons"])
+    assert "0.8" in str(manifest["item_1_qty"]["reasons"])
+
+
 def test_occlusion_manifest_blur():
     verification = {"fields": {
         "total": {"status": "illegible", "extracted_value": None, "source_value": "1077164", "confidence": 0},