light mode

static/css/ascii.css

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
      - tints the dense characters rust-orange with text-shadow + glow
      - adds a CRT scanline overlay
      - disables the animation under prefers-reduced-motion
+     - swaps the tint for a soft sepia wash in light mode (paper & ink feel)
    ========================================================================== */
 
 /* Full-screen ASCII mountain top layer ----------------------------------- */
@@ -32,13 +33,14 @@
   font-size: max(0.35vw, 0.695svh);
   line-height: 1.0;
   letter-spacing: 0;
-  color: #f4a26b;
-  text-shadow: 0 0 8px rgba(183, 65, 14, 0.35);
-  opacity: 0.45;
+  color: var(--tp-mountain-color, #f4a26b);
+  text-shadow: 0 0 8px var(--tp-mountain-glow, rgba(183, 65, 14, 0.35));
+  opacity: var(--tp-mountain-opacity, 0.45);
   white-space: pre;
   background: transparent;
   overflow: hidden;
   user-select: none;
+  transition: color 250ms ease, opacity 250ms ease, text-shadow 250ms ease;
 }
 
 /* CRT scanlines overlay - a thin moving line every 2px. Faint so it doesn't
@@ -64,10 +66,13 @@
   100% { background-position: 0 6px; }
 }
 
-/* Light theme: dim the background, drop the glow, switch to dark text. */
+/* ---------- Light theme: faded ink wash on paper ------------------------
+   In winter mode the ASCII becomes a soft sepia watermark — a hint of
+   "topography" rather than a glowing graphic. The scanlines swap to
+   light-on-dark so they still add texture without darkening the page. */
 :root[data-theme="winter"] .tp-mountain-bg {
-  opacity: 0.20;
-  color: #2a1810;
+  opacity: 0.12;                /* much fainter than the dark mode rust */
+  color: #6b5236;               /* warm sepia, harmonizes with cream bg */
   text-shadow: none;
   mix-blend-mode: multiply;
 }
@@ -77,10 +82,10 @@
     to bottom,
     transparent 0,
     transparent 2px,
-    rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.12) 2px,
-    rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.12) 3px
+    rgba(28, 25, 23, 0.05) 2px,
+    rgba(28, 25, 23, 0.05) 3px
   );
-  mix-blend-mode: screen;
+  mix-blend-mode: multiply;
 }
 
 /* Reduced motion: keep the first frame static, no scanline drift. */