diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/renderer.ts b/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/renderer.ts
index 013b44e3ab..88c42ffdad 100644
--- a/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/renderer.ts
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/painters/dom/src/renderer.ts
@@ -2860,9 +2860,9 @@ export class DomPainter {
     textDiv.style.display = 'flex';
     textDiv.style.flexDirection = 'column';
 
-    // Use extracted vertical alignment or default to center
+    // Use extracted vertical alignment or default to top per OOXML spec
     // In flex-direction: column, justifyContent controls vertical (main axis)
-    const verticalAlign = textVerticalAlign ?? 'center';
+    const verticalAlign = textVerticalAlign ?? 'top';
     if (verticalAlign === 'top') {
       textDiv.style.justifyContent = 'flex-start';
     } else if (verticalAlign === 'bottom') {
diff --git a/packages/super-editor/src/core/super-converter/v3/handlers/wp/helpers/textbox-content-helpers.js b/packages/super-editor/src/core/super-converter/v3/handlers/wp/helpers/textbox-content-helpers.js
index cc93689d04..fd25a38ed9 100644
--- a/packages/super-editor/src/core/super-converter/v3/handlers/wp/helpers/textbox-content-helpers.js
+++ b/packages/super-editor/src/core/super-converter/v3/handlers/wp/helpers/textbox-content-helpers.js
@@ -182,7 +182,9 @@ export function extractBodyPrProperties(bodyPr) {
   const bodyPrAttrs = bodyPr?.attributes || {};
 
   // Extract vertical alignment from anchor attribute (t=top, ctr=center, b=bottom)
-  let verticalAlign = 'center'; // Default to center
+  // Per OOXML spec, when anchor is not specified, text box defaults to top alignment
+  // (confirmed by Word's VML fallback which shows v-text-anchor:top)
+  let verticalAlign = 'top'; // Default to top (OOXML spec default)
   const anchorAttr = bodyPrAttrs['anchor'];
   if (anchorAttr === 't') verticalAlign = 'top';
   else if (anchorAttr === 'ctr') verticalAlign = 'center';
diff --git a/packages/super-editor/src/core/super-converter/v3/handlers/wp/helpers/textbox-content-helpers.test.js b/packages/super-editor/src/core/super-converter/v3/handlers/wp/helpers/textbox-content-helpers.test.js
index 67eb1b4fe8..d432f8481b 100644
--- a/packages/super-editor/src/core/super-converter/v3/handlers/wp/helpers/textbox-content-helpers.test.js
+++ b/packages/super-editor/src/core/super-converter/v3/handlers/wp/helpers/textbox-content-helpers.test.js
@@ -360,16 +360,16 @@ describe('textbox-content-helpers', () => {
   });
 
   describe('extractBodyPrProperties', () => {
-    it('should return defaults for null input', () => {
+    it('should return defaults for null input (verticalAlign defaults to top per OOXML spec)', () => {
       const result = extractBodyPrProperties(null);
-      expect(result.verticalAlign).toBe('center');
+      expect(result.verticalAlign).toBe('top');
       expect(result.wrap).toBe('square');
       expect(result.insets).toBeDefined();
     });
 
-    it('should return defaults for empty bodyPr', () => {
+    it('should return defaults for empty bodyPr (verticalAlign defaults to top per OOXML spec)', () => {
       const result = extractBodyPrProperties({});
-      expect(result.verticalAlign).toBe('center');
+      expect(result.verticalAlign).toBe('top');
       expect(result.wrap).toBe('square');
     });
 
diff --git a/packages/super-editor/src/core/super-converter/v3/handlers/wp/helpers/vector-shape-helpers.js b/packages/super-editor/src/core/super-converter/v3/handlers/wp/helpers/vector-shape-helpers.js
index a6edbed0eb..61d44924cf 100644
--- a/packages/super-editor/src/core/super-converter/v3/handlers/wp/helpers/vector-shape-helpers.js
+++ b/packages/super-editor/src/core/super-converter/v3/handlers/wp/helpers/vector-shape-helpers.js
@@ -127,7 +127,9 @@ export function extractStrokeColor(spPr, style) {
 
   if (ln) {
     const noFill = ln.elements?.find((el) => el.name === 'a:noFill');
-    if (noFill) return null;
+    if (noFill) {
+      return null;
+    }
 
     const solidFill = ln.elements?.find((el) => el.name === 'a:solidFill');
     if (solidFill) {
@@ -157,13 +159,29 @@ export function extractStrokeColor(spPr, style) {
     }
   }
 
-  if (!style) return '#000000';
+  // No stroke specified in spPr, check style reference
+  // Per ECMA-376: when no stroke is specified and no style exists, shape should have no stroke
+  if (!style) {
+    return null;
+  }
 
   const lnRef = style.elements?.find((el) => el.name === 'a:lnRef');
-  if (!lnRef) return '#000000';
+  if (!lnRef) {
+    // No lnRef in style means no stroke specified - return null
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  // Per OOXML spec, lnRef idx="0" means "no stroke" - return null
+  const lnRefIdx = lnRef.attributes?.['idx'];
+  if (lnRefIdx === '0') {
+    return null;
+  }
 
   const schemeClr = lnRef.elements?.find((el) => el.name === 'a:schemeClr');
-  if (!schemeClr) return '#000000';
+  if (!schemeClr) {
+    // No schemeClr in lnRef - return null rather than default black
+    return null;
+  }
 
   const themeName = schemeClr.attributes?.['val'];
   let color = getThemeColor(themeName);
@@ -193,7 +211,9 @@ export function extractStrokeColor(spPr, style) {
  */
 export function extractFillColor(spPr, style) {
   const noFill = spPr?.elements?.find((el) => el.name === 'a:noFill');
-  if (noFill) return null;
+  if (noFill) {
+    return null;
+  }
 
   const solidFill = spPr?.elements?.find((el) => el.name === 'a:solidFill');
   if (solidFill) {
@@ -252,17 +272,30 @@ export function extractFillColor(spPr, style) {
     return '#cccccc'; // placeholder color for now
   }
 
-  if (!style) return '#5b9bd5';
+  // No fill specified in spPr, check style reference
+  // Per ECMA-376: when no fill is specified and no style exists, shape should be transparent
+  if (!style) {
+    return null;
+  }
 
   const fillRef = style.elements?.find((el) => el.name === 'a:fillRef');
-  if (!fillRef) return '#5b9bd5';
+  if (!fillRef) {
+    // No fillRef in style means no fill specified - return transparent
+    return null;
+  }
 
   // Per OOXML spec, fillRef idx="0" means "no fill" - return null to indicate transparent
   const fillRefIdx = fillRef.attributes?.['idx'];
-  if (fillRefIdx === '0') return null;
+
+  if (fillRefIdx === '0') {
+    return null;
+  }
 
   const schemeClr = fillRef.elements?.find((el) => el.name === 'a:schemeClr');
-  if (!schemeClr) return '#5b9bd5';
+  if (!schemeClr) {
+    // No schemeClr in fillRef - return transparent rather than default blue
+    return null;
+  }
 
   const themeName = schemeClr.attributes?.['val'];
   let color = getThemeColor(themeName);
diff --git a/packages/super-editor/src/core/super-converter/v3/handlers/wp/helpers/vector-shape-helpers.test.js b/packages/super-editor/src/core/super-converter/v3/handlers/wp/helpers/vector-shape-helpers.test.js
index 06cfd29118..3f625bc752 100644
--- a/packages/super-editor/src/core/super-converter/v3/handlers/wp/helpers/vector-shape-helpers.test.js
+++ b/packages/super-editor/src/core/super-converter/v3/handlers/wp/helpers/vector-shape-helpers.test.js
@@ -139,8 +139,44 @@ describe('extractStrokeColor', () => {
     expect(extractStrokeColor(spPr, style)).toBe('#5b9bd5');
   });
 
-  it('returns default black when nothing found', () => {
-    expect(extractStrokeColor({ elements: [] }, null)).toBe('#000000');
+  it('returns null (no stroke) when no stroke in spPr and no style provided', () => {
+    // Per ECMA-376: when no stroke is specified and no style exists, shape should have no stroke
+    expect(extractStrokeColor({ elements: [] }, null)).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('returns null (no stroke) when no stroke in spPr and style has no lnRef', () => {
+    const spPr = { elements: [] };
+    const style = { elements: [] };
+    expect(extractStrokeColor(spPr, style)).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('returns null (no stroke) when lnRef idx is 0', () => {
+    // Per OOXML spec, lnRef idx="0" means "no stroke"
+    const spPr = { elements: [] };
+    const style = {
+      elements: [
+        {
+          name: 'a:lnRef',
+          attributes: { idx: '0' },
+          elements: [],
+        },
+      ],
+    };
+    expect(extractStrokeColor(spPr, style)).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('returns null (no stroke) when lnRef has no schemeClr', () => {
+    const spPr = { elements: [] };
+    const style = {
+      elements: [
+        {
+          name: 'a:lnRef',
+          attributes: { idx: '1' },
+          elements: [], // No schemeClr
+        },
+      ],
+    };
+    expect(extractStrokeColor(spPr, style)).toBeNull();
   });
 });
 
@@ -213,7 +249,43 @@ describe('extractFillColor', () => {
     expect(extractFillColor(spPr, style)).toBe('#70ad47');
   });
 
-  it('returns default accent1 when nothing found', () => {
-    expect(extractFillColor({ elements: [] }, null)).toBe('#5b9bd5');
+  it('returns null (transparent) when no fill in spPr and no style provided', () => {
+    // Per ECMA-376: when no fill is specified and no style exists, shape should be transparent
+    expect(extractFillColor({ elements: [] }, null)).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('returns null (transparent) when no fill in spPr and style has no fillRef', () => {
+    const spPr = { elements: [] };
+    const style = { elements: [] };
+    expect(extractFillColor(spPr, style)).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('returns null (transparent) when fillRef idx is 0', () => {
+    // Per OOXML spec, fillRef idx="0" means "no fill"
+    const spPr = { elements: [] };
+    const style = {
+      elements: [
+        {
+          name: 'a:fillRef',
+          attributes: { idx: '0' },
+          elements: [],
+        },
+      ],
+    };
+    expect(extractFillColor(spPr, style)).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('returns null (transparent) when fillRef has no schemeClr', () => {
+    const spPr = { elements: [] };
+    const style = {
+      elements: [
+        {
+          name: 'a:fillRef',
+          attributes: { idx: '1' },
+          elements: [], // No schemeClr
+        },
+      ],
+    };
+    expect(extractFillColor(spPr, style)).toBeNull();
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/super-editor/src/extensions/vector-shape/vector-shape.js b/packages/super-editor/src/extensions/vector-shape/vector-shape.js
index 10c577f7a2..72cbcea503 100644
--- a/packages/super-editor/src/extensions/vector-shape/vector-shape.js
+++ b/packages/super-editor/src/extensions/vector-shape/vector-shape.js
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ export const VectorShape = Node.create({
       },
 
       fillColor: {
-        default: '#5b9bd5',
+        default: null,
         renderDOM: (attrs) => {
           if (!attrs.fillColor) return {};
           return { 'data-fill-color': attrs.fillColor };
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ export const VectorShape = Node.create({
       },
 
       strokeColor: {
-        default: '#000000',
+        default: null,
         renderDOM: (attrs) => {
           if (!attrs.strokeColor) return {};
           return { 'data-stroke-color': attrs.strokeColor };
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ export const VectorShape = Node.create({
       },
 
       textVerticalAlign: {
-        default: 'center',
+        default: 'top', // Per OOXML spec, text box defaults to top alignment
         rendered: false,
       },