diff --git a/site/assets/css/style.css b/site/assets/css/style.css
index ff16a10..2434e00 100644
--- a/site/assets/css/style.css
+++ b/site/assets/css/style.css
@@ -358,22 +358,74 @@ section[id] {
    The element itself is the face. On hover it lifts toward the viewer — up by
    --depth and left by --depth-x — and two pseudo-elements grow to fill the gap:
    ::before is the bottom wall, ::after the right wall. Each is a parallelogram
-   (clip-path) joining the face's edge to where the face used to be, so the
-   solid reads as an extruded block viewed from the right. Walls are lit in the
-   brand colour with a neon glow; the right one is a shade darker (light comes
-   from the top-left). Only transform animates (compositor-only): lift springs
-   (overshoot curve), release is slow, press is instant. Colours come from
-   --fitme-accent, so each gym glows in its own colour. */
+   (clip-path) joining the face's edge to where the face used to be; they share
+   the diagonal from the face's corner, so the join has no gap and no overlap.
+
+   Light model (key light top-left, the walls are the neon tubes):
+   - Glow lives on the walls and spills onto the page under/around them. The
+     halo is an outer box-shadow offset toward the walls (never painted inside
+     the face, no drop-shadow, so no ghost copy of the text), blooming in with
+     the lift and tightening on press.
+   - Walls: hot near-white core in the middle of their length, saturated brand
+     colour on the falloff, darkest at the ends; across their thickness bright
+     where they meet the face, darker at the far edge. The right wall is one
+     step darker than the bottom; both reach the darkest value (ambient
+     occlusion) where they meet in the corner.
+   - Contact shadow: a tight dark line just past the walls' far edges.
+   - Face: only a faint rim light near the edges, a thin specular line on the
+     top-left edge, slightly darker toward the bottom/right. Centre untouched.
+   Colours derive from --fitme-accent with color-mix(), so any gym colour works. */
 :where(.site-btn, .gym-switch-btn) { position: relative; }
 
+.site-btn,
+.gym-switch-btn,
+.trainer-item .trainer-pic {
+  --wall-hi: color-mix(in srgb, var(--fitme-accent) 40%, #fff);   /* hot core of the tube */
+  --wall: var(--fitme-accent);
+  --wall-lo: color-mix(in srgb, var(--fitme-accent) 60%, #000);
+  --wall-ao: color-mix(in srgb, var(--fitme-accent) 30%, #000);   /* corner / far ends */
+  /* bottom wall: across thickness (bright at the face, dark far edge) over along length */
+  --wall-bottom:
+    linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(255, 255, 255, .28) 0%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0) 40%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .4) 100%),
+    linear-gradient(to right, var(--wall-lo) 0%, var(--wall) 18%, var(--wall-hi) 48%, var(--wall) 78%, var(--wall-ao) 100%);
+  /* right wall: one step darker, ends in the same --wall-ao at the corner */
+  --wall-right:
+    linear-gradient(to right, rgba(255, 255, 255, .14) 0%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .12) 45%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .5) 100%),
+    linear-gradient(to bottom, var(--wall-lo) 0%, var(--wall) 22%, color-mix(in srgb, var(--wall-hi) 60%, var(--wall)) 50%, var(--wall-lo) 82%, var(--wall-ao) 100%);
+  /* halo stacks (outer only): contact shadow, tight bloom, wide ambient spill */
+  --neon-on:
+    calc(var(--depth-x) + 1px) calc(var(--depth) + 1px) 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, .45),
+    calc(var(--depth-x) * .75) var(--depth) 7px 0 rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .5),
+    var(--depth-x) calc(var(--depth) * 1.6) 24px 2px rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .24);
+  --neon-dim:
+    calc(var(--depth-x) + 1px) calc(var(--depth) + 1px) 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, .45),
+    calc(var(--depth-x) * .75) var(--depth) 6px 0 rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .25),
+    var(--depth-x) calc(var(--depth) * 1.6) 20px 0 rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .1);
+  --neon-off:
+    calc(var(--depth-x) + 1px) calc(var(--depth) + 1px) 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, .45),
+    calc(var(--depth-x) * .75) var(--depth) 4px 0 rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .08),
+    var(--depth-x) calc(var(--depth) * 1.6) 16px 0 rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), 0);
+  /* pressed: wall compressed to ~1px, glow pulled in close */
+  --neon-press:
+    1px 1px 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, .5),
+    1px 1px 4px 0 rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .55),
+    1px 2px 12px 0 rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .2);
+  /* face shading (inset): specular top-left, lit seam bottom-right, shade, faint rim */
+  --face-light:
+    inset 1px 1px 0 color-mix(in srgb, var(--wall-hi) 55%, transparent),
+    inset -1px -1px 0 rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .5),
+    inset -3px -4px 8px -2px rgba(0, 0, 0, .55),
+    inset 0 0 7px -3px rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .45);
+}
+
 .site-btn,
 .gym-switch-btn {
   --depth: 5px;                    /* lift (and bottom wall height) */
   --depth-x: 4px;                  /* shift to the left (and right wall width) */
   --bw: 0px;                       /* the element's own border, so the walls start outside it */
-  --wall-hi: color-mix(in srgb, var(--fitme-accent) 45%, #fff);   /* hot core of the tube */
-  --wall: var(--fitme-accent);
-  --wall-lo: color-mix(in srgb, var(--fitme-accent) 65%, #000);
+  --neon-face-on: var(--face-light), var(--neon-on);
+  --neon-face-dim: var(--face-light), var(--neon-dim);
+  --neon-face-off: var(--face-light), var(--neon-off);
 }
 .site-btn.sb-line,
 .site-btn.sb-ghost { --bw: 2px; }
@@ -395,7 +447,7 @@ section[id] {
   top: calc(100% + var(--bw));
   width: calc(100% + var(--bw) * 2 + var(--depth-x));
   height: var(--depth);
-  background: linear-gradient(to right, var(--wall-lo) 0%, var(--wall) 1%, var(--wall-hi) 50%, var(--wall) 99%, var(--wall-lo) 100%);
+  background: var(--wall-bottom);
   clip-path: polygon(0 0, calc(100% - var(--depth-x)) 0, 100% 100%, var(--depth-x) 100%);
   transform: scaleY(0);
 }
@@ -407,7 +459,7 @@ section[id] {
   top: calc(var(--bw) * -1);
   width: var(--depth-x);
   height: calc(100% + var(--bw) * 2 + var(--depth));
-  background: linear-gradient(to bottom, var(--wall) 0%, var(--wall-lo) 100%);
+  background: var(--wall-right);
   clip-path: polygon(0 0, 100% var(--depth), 100% 100%, 0 calc(100% - var(--depth)));
   transform: scaleX(0);
 }
@@ -418,7 +470,7 @@ section[id] {
     will-change: transform;
     /* the face colour fades slowly so the change to near-black never "pops" */
     transition: transform 600ms cubic-bezier(.3, .7, .4, 1), box-shadow 600ms cubic-bezier(.3, .7, .4, 1),
-                background-color 450ms ease, border-color 450ms ease, color 450ms ease, filter 450ms ease;
+                background-color 450ms ease, border-color 450ms ease, color 450ms ease;
   }
   .site-btn::before,
   .site-btn::after,
@@ -432,14 +484,10 @@ section[id] {
   .gym-switch-btn:hover,
   .gym-switch-btn:focus-visible {
     transform: translate(calc(var(--depth-x) * -1), calc(var(--depth) * -1));
-    /* inner glow on the face (the "lit from inside" look) + a halo round the
-       whole solid; drop-shadow follows the clipped walls, box-shadow can't */
-    box-shadow: inset 0 0 14px 1px rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .4),
-                inset 0 0 3px 0 rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .6),
-                0 0 12px 1px rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .25);
-    filter: drop-shadow(0 0 5px rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .9)) drop-shadow(0 0 14px rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .55));
-    transition-duration: 250ms, 250ms, 450ms, 450ms, 450ms, 450ms;
-    transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(.3, .7, .4, 1.5), cubic-bezier(.3, .7, .4, 1.5), ease, ease, ease, ease;
+    box-shadow: var(--neon-face-on);
+    /* lift springs fast; the bloom eases in a little slower so it grows with the lift */
+    transition-duration: 250ms, 380ms, 450ms, 450ms, 450ms;
+    transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(.3, .7, .4, 1.5), ease-out, ease, ease, ease;
   }
   .site-btn:hover::before,
   .site-btn:focus-visible::before,
@@ -451,7 +499,8 @@ section[id] {
   .gym-switch-btn:focus-visible::after { transform: scaleX(1); transition: transform 250ms cubic-bezier(.3, .7, .4, 1.5); }
 
   /* Neon blink: after a moment of hovering, one short stutter — like a tube
-     that isn't quite seated — then steady again. Opacity + filter only. */
+     that isn't quite seated — then steady. Walls (opacity) and halo
+     (box-shadow) dim on the same keyframe times. */
   .site-btn:hover,
   .site-btn:focus-visible,
   .gym-switch-btn:hover,
@@ -468,6 +517,8 @@ section[id] {
   .site-btn:active,
   .gym-switch-btn:active {
     transform: translate(-1px, -1px);
+    box-shadow: var(--face-light), var(--neon-press);
+    animation: none;
     transition-duration: 34ms;
   }
   .site-btn:active::before,
@@ -477,31 +528,29 @@ section[id] {
 }
 
 @keyframes neon-flicker-tube {
-  0%, 100% { opacity: 1; }
+  0%, 30%, 65%, 100% { opacity: 1; }
   15% { opacity: .3; }
-  30% { opacity: 1; }
   50% { opacity: .55; }
-  65% { opacity: 1; }
 }
 @keyframes neon-flicker-glow {
-  0%, 100% { filter: drop-shadow(0 0 5px rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .9)) drop-shadow(0 0 14px rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .55)); }
-  15% { filter: drop-shadow(0 0 1px rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .3)); }
-  30% { filter: drop-shadow(0 0 5px rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .9)) drop-shadow(0 0 14px rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .55)); }
-  50% { filter: drop-shadow(0 0 2px rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .45)); }
+  0%, 30%, 65%, 100% { box-shadow: var(--neon-face-on); }
+  15% { box-shadow: var(--neon-face-off); }
+  50% { box-shadow: var(--neon-face-dim); }
 }
 
 /* ── Team photo frames: the same neon extrusion ────────────────────────────────
    .trainer-pic is the face. Its ::before draws the L-shaped wall (bottom + right,
-   one clipped polygon, two gradients); ::after stays the existing gloss overlay
-   and also carries the inner glow. The frame no longer clips its children
-   (overflow:hidden would cut the wall), the photo fills the padding box anyway. */
+   one clipped polygon, the same wall gradients); ::after stays the existing
+   gloss overlay and also carries the face shading. The halo is the frame's
+   outer box-shadow only (no inset there, the photo covers it). The frame no
+   longer clips its children (overflow:hidden would cut the wall). */
 .trainer-item .trainer-pic {
   --depth: 5px;
   --depth-x: 4px;
   --bw: 4px;                                  /* the frame's own border */
-  --wall-hi: color-mix(in srgb, var(--fitme-accent) 45%, #fff);
-  --wall: var(--fitme-accent);
-  --wall-lo: color-mix(in srgb, var(--fitme-accent) 65%, #000);
+  --neon-face-on: var(--neon-on);
+  --neon-face-dim: var(--neon-dim);
+  --neon-face-off: var(--neon-off);
   overflow: visible;
 }
 
@@ -515,10 +564,15 @@ section[id] {
   z-index: -1;
   pointer-events: none;
   opacity: 0;
+  /* the two gradient pairs, each sized to its wall's box (bottom strip, right strip) */
   background:
-    linear-gradient(to right, var(--wall-lo) 0%, var(--wall) 1%, var(--wall-hi) 50%, var(--wall) 99%, var(--wall-lo) 100%)
+    linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(255, 255, 255, .28) 0%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0) 40%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .4) 100%)
       0 100% / calc(100% - var(--depth-x)) var(--depth) no-repeat,
-    linear-gradient(to bottom, var(--wall) 0%, var(--wall-lo) 100%)
+    linear-gradient(to right, var(--wall-lo) 0%, var(--wall) 18%, var(--wall-hi) 48%, var(--wall) 78%, var(--wall-ao) 100%)
+      0 100% / calc(100% - var(--depth-x)) var(--depth) no-repeat,
+    linear-gradient(to right, rgba(255, 255, 255, .14) 0%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .12) 45%, rgba(0, 0, 0, .5) 100%)
+      100% 0 / var(--depth-x) 100% no-repeat,
+    linear-gradient(to bottom, var(--wall-lo) 0%, var(--wall) 22%, color-mix(in srgb, var(--wall-hi) 60%, var(--wall)) 50%, var(--wall-lo) 82%, var(--wall-ao) 100%)
       100% 0 / var(--depth-x) 100% no-repeat;
   clip-path: polygon(0 calc(100% - var(--depth)), calc(100% - var(--depth-x)) calc(100% - var(--depth)),
                      calc(100% - var(--depth-x)) 0, 100% var(--depth), 100% 100%, var(--depth-x) 100%);
@@ -528,23 +582,22 @@ section[id] {
 .trainer-item .trainer-pic:hover,
 #powerRotation>div:nth-child(even) .trainer-pic:hover {
   transform: rotate(0deg) translate(calc(var(--depth-x) * -1), calc(var(--depth) * -1)) scale(1.03);
-  box-shadow: 0 0 12px 1px rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .25);
-  filter: drop-shadow(0 0 5px rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .9)) drop-shadow(0 0 14px rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .55));
+  box-shadow: var(--neon-face-on);
 }
 .trainer-item .trainer-pic:hover::before { opacity: 1; }
-.trainer-item .trainer-pic:hover::after {
-  box-shadow: inset 0 0 14px 1px rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .4), inset 0 0 3px 0 rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .6);
-}
+.trainer-item .trainer-pic:hover::after { box-shadow: var(--face-light); }
 
 @media (hover: hover) and (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference) {
-  .trainer-item .trainer-pic { transition: transform .25s cubic-bezier(.3, .7, .4, 1.5), box-shadow .45s ease, filter .45s ease; }
+  .trainer-item .trainer-pic { transition: transform .25s cubic-bezier(.3, .7, .4, 1.5), box-shadow .38s ease-out; }
   .trainer-item .trainer-pic:hover { animation: neon-flicker-glow 600ms linear 1.4s 1; }
   .trainer-item .trainer-pic:hover::before { animation: neon-flicker-tube 600ms linear 1.4s 1; }
 }
 
-/* Hover: white text on an almost-black face keeping ~10% of the brand colour —
-   the bright neon faces around it then stand out against it. The dark and
-   ghost variants keep their own backgrounds. */
+/* Hover: white text on an almost-black face keeping ~10% of the brand colour
+   (white on it is >= 15:1 for any brand colour, even pure white or black).
+   The lettering gets a dark backing under the neon text-shadow so very light
+   brand colours never wash the letter edges out. The dark and ghost variants
+   keep their own backgrounds. */
 .site-btn:not(.sb-dark):not(.sb-line):not(.sb-ghost):hover,
 .site-btn:not(.sb-dark):not(.sb-line):not(.sb-ghost):focus-visible,
 .gym-switch-btn:hover,
@@ -552,7 +605,7 @@ section[id] {
   background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--fitme-accent) 10%, #000);
   border-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--fitme-accent) 10%, #000);
   color: #fff;
-  text-shadow: 0 0 8px rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .9), 0 0 2px rgba(255, 255, 255, .6);   /* neon lettering */
+  text-shadow: 0 0 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, .8), 0 0 7px rgba(var(--fitme-accent-rgb), .75);   /* neon lettering */
 }
 .site-btn.sb-dark:hover,
 .site-btn.sb-line:hover { color: #fff; }