diff --git a/examples/eq_sphere.png b/examples/eq_sphere.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..53273886
Binary files /dev/null and b/examples/eq_sphere.png differ
diff --git a/examples/fisheye.png b/examples/fisheye.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8b149821
Binary files /dev/null and b/examples/fisheye.png differ
diff --git a/tests/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
index afb30f88..b152d563 100644
--- a/tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ set(OPENSHOT_TESTS
   # Effects
   ChromaKey
   Crop
+  SphericalEffect
 )
 
 # ImageMagick related test files
diff --git a/tests/SphericalEffect.cpp b/tests/SphericalEffect.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0794d189
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/SphericalEffect.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+/**
+ * @file
+ * @brief Unit tests for openshot::SphericalProjection effect using PNG fixtures
+ * @author Jonathan Thomas <jonathan@openshot.org>
+ *
+ * @ref License
+ */
+
+// Copyright (c) 2008-2025 OpenShot Studios, LLC
+//
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include <memory>
+#include <QImage>
+#include <QColor>
+#include "Frame.h"
+#include "effects/SphericalProjection.h"
+#include "openshot_catch.h"
+
+using namespace openshot;
+
+// allow Catch2 to print QColor on failure
+static std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& os, QColor const& c)
+{
+    os << "QColor(" << c.red() << "," << c.green()
+        << "," << c.blue() << "," << c.alpha() << ")";
+    return os;
+}
+
+// load a PNG into a Frame
+static std::shared_ptr<Frame> loadFrame(const char* filename)
+{
+    QImage img(QString(TEST_MEDIA_PATH) + filename);
+    img = img.convertToFormat(QImage::Format_ARGB32);
+    auto f = std::make_shared<Frame>();
+    *f->GetImage() = img;
+    return f;
+}
+
+// apply effect and sample center pixel
+static QColor centerPixel(SphericalProjection& e,
+                          std::shared_ptr<Frame> f)
+{
+    auto img = e.GetFrame(f, 1)->GetImage();
+    int cx = img->width() / 2;
+    int cy = img->height() / 2;
+    return img->pixelColor(cx, cy);
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("sphere mode default and invert", "[effect][spherical]")
+{
+    SphericalProjection e;
+    e.projection_mode = 0;
+    e.yaw = Keyframe(45.0);
+
+    {
+        auto f0 = loadFrame("eq_sphere.png");
+        e.invert = 0;
+        e.interpolation = 0;
+        // eq_sphere.png has green stripe at center
+        CHECK(centerPixel(e, f0) == QColor(255,0,0,255));
+    }
+    {
+        auto f1 = loadFrame("eq_sphere.png");
+        e.yaw = Keyframe(-45.0);
+        e.invert = 0;
+        e.interpolation = 1;
+        // invert flips view 180°, center maps to blue stripe
+        CHECK(centerPixel(e, f1) == QColor(0,0,255,255));
+    }
+    {
+        auto f1 = loadFrame("eq_sphere.png");
+        e.yaw = Keyframe(0.0);
+        e.invert = 1;
+        e.interpolation = 0;
+        // invert flips view 180°, center maps to blue stripe
+        CHECK(centerPixel(e, f1) == QColor(0,255,0,255));
+    }
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("hemisphere mode default and invert", "[effect][spherical]")
+{
+    SphericalProjection e;
+    e.projection_mode = 1;
+
+    {
+        auto f0 = loadFrame("eq_sphere.png");
+        e.yaw = Keyframe(45.0);
+        e.invert = 0;
+        e.interpolation = 0;
+        // hemisphere on full pano still shows green at center
+        CHECK(centerPixel(e, f0) == QColor(255,0,0,255));
+    }
+    {
+        auto f1 = loadFrame("eq_sphere.png");
+        e.yaw = Keyframe(-45.0);
+        e.invert = 0;
+        e.interpolation = 1;
+        // invert=1 flips center to blue
+        CHECK(centerPixel(e, f1) == QColor(0,0,255,255));
+    }
+    {
+        auto f1 = loadFrame("eq_sphere.png");
+        e.yaw = Keyframe(-180.0);
+        e.invert = 0;
+        e.interpolation = 0;
+        // invert=1 flips center to blue
+        CHECK(centerPixel(e, f1) == QColor(0,255,0,255));
+    }
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("fisheye mode default and invert", "[effect][spherical]")
+{
+    SphericalProjection e;
+    e.projection_mode = 2;
+    e.fov = Keyframe(180.0);
+
+    {
+        auto f0 = loadFrame("fisheye.png");
+        e.invert = 0;
+        e.interpolation = 0;
+        // circular mask center remains white
+        CHECK(centerPixel(e, f0) == QColor(255,255,255,255));
+    }
+    {
+        auto f1 = loadFrame("fisheye.png");
+        e.invert = 1;
+        e.interpolation = 1;
+        e.fov = Keyframe(90.0);
+        // invert has no effect on center
+        CHECK(centerPixel(e, f1) == QColor(255,255,255,255));
+    }
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("fisheye mode yaw has no effect at center", "[effect][spherical]")
+{
+    SphericalProjection e;
+    e.projection_mode = 2;
+    e.interpolation = 0;
+    e.fov = Keyframe(180.0);
+    e.invert = 0;
+
+    auto f = loadFrame("fisheye.png");
+    e.yaw = Keyframe(45.0);
+    CHECK(centerPixel(e, f) == QColor(255,255,255,255));
+}