Arcade CRT

STYLEKIT_STYLE_REFERENCE
style_name: Arcade CRT
style_slug: arcade-crt
style_source: /styles/arcade-crt

# Hard Prompt

## When To Use
Use this when you want AI to generate code with strict style consistency. It is the safest default for production UI.

## How To Use
- Copy the full prompt into ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, or another coding assistant.
- Append the concrete product/page requirement after the prompt.
- After generation, check the forbidden rules and interaction states before accepting the output.

Strictly follow the style rules below and maintain consistency. No style drift allowed.

## Requirements

- Prioritize style consistency first, then creative extension.
- When conflicts arise, treat prohibitions as the highest priority.
- Self-check before output: verify colors, typography, spacing, and interactions still match this style.

## Style Rules

STYLE: Arcade CRT
TYPE: Retro gaming CRT monitor aesthetic

MUST USE:
- Background: Always near-black (#050505 or #0a0a0a)
- Primary accent: Neon green (#39ff14) for main interactive elements
- Secondary accents: Magenta (#ff00ff), Cyan (#00ffff), Red (#ff2a2a), Yellow (#FFFF00)
- All text must use monospace or pixel fonts (font-mono)
- Scanline overlay: repeating-linear-gradient on content areas
- RGB chromatic aberration: text-shadow with offset magenta and cyan on headlines
- Neon glow: box-shadow with color matching the element
- uppercase text with wide letter-spacing for labels

MUST AVOID:
- Light/white backgrounds
- Pastel or muted colors
- Serif or sans-serif fonts
- Large border-radius (max 4px)
- Subtle/standard shadows (use neon glow only)
- Gradients that aren't neon-to-dark

Animation & Interaction Rules:
- Neon Breathing: On hover, outer glow (box-shadow) must visibly expand, optionally with subtle animate-pulse to simulate voltage instability flicker.
- Arcade Button Press: Active state (:active) must simulate the feel of a real arcade button being slammed down hard. Use strong displacement active:translate-y-[4px] and instantly change shadow size.
- CRT Distortion: On interaction, RGB chromatic aberration can be amplified by changing text-shadow offsets (magenta and cyan separation distance).
- Instant Feedback: CRT has no smooth physical inertia; interaction response time should be short, such as duration-100 or duration-150.

---

# Arcade CRT Design System

> 80-90s arcade monitor aesthetics featuring scanlines, screen curvature, neon glow, and RGB chromatic aberration effects. Ideal for gaming, retro tech, and creative projects.

## Design Philosophy

Arcade CRT style recreates the nostalgic glow of 80-90s arcade CRT monitors.

Core principles:
- Scanline overlay: all content areas use repeating-linear-gradient scanline effects
- Neon glow: key elements use text-shadow/box-shadow glow effects
- Pixel fonts: all text uses monospace fonts
- Ultra-dark backgrounds: near-pure black backgrounds maximize neon contrast
- RGB chromatic aberration: headings use magenta and cyan offset text-shadow
- High saturation: only high-saturation neon colors are used

---

## Token Dictionary (exact class mapping)

### Border
```
Width: border-2
Color: border-[#39ff14]/40
Radius: rounded-none
```

### Shadow
```
sm: shadow-[0_0_10px_rgba(57,255,20,0.3)]
md: shadow-[0_0_20px_rgba(57,255,20,0.5)]
lg: shadow-[0_0_40px_rgba(57,255,20,0.8)]
hover: shadow-[0_0_30px_rgba(57,255,20,0.6)]
focus: shadow-[0_0_15px_rgba(57,255,20,0.5)]
```

### Interaction
```
Hover translate: (none)
Hover scale: hover:shadow-[0_0_30px_rgba(57,255,20,0.6)] hover:border-[#39ff14]
Hover opacity: (none)
Transition: transition-all duration-200
Active: active:scale-[0.98]
```

### Typefaces
```
Heading: font-mono font-bold uppercase tracking-[0.15em]
Body: font-mono text-sm
Mono: font-mono
```

### Type scale
```
Hero: text-4xl md:text-6xl lg:text-8xl
H1: text-3xl md:text-5xl
H2: text-2xl md:text-3xl
H3: text-xl md:text-2xl
Body: text-sm md:text-base
Small: text-xs
```

### Spacing
```
Section: py-16 md:py-24
Container: px-4 md:px-8
Card: p-6
Gap sm: gap-4
Gap md: gap-6
Gap lg: gap-8
```

### Color roles
```
Background primary: bg-[#050505]
Background secondary: bg-[#0a0a0a]
Background accent: bg-[#39ff14]/10, bg-[#ff00ff]/10, bg-[#00ffff]/10
Text primary: text-[#39ff14]
Text secondary: text-[#00ffff]
Text muted: text-[#39ff14]/50
Button primary: bg-[#39ff14] text-black
Button secondary: bg-transparent text-[#00ffff] border-2 border-[#00ffff]
```

---

## [FORBIDDEN]

These classes are banned in this style. Check for them before returning code:

### Banned classes
- `bg-white`
- `bg-gray-50`
- `bg-gray-100`
- `rounded-xl`
- `rounded-2xl`
- `rounded-3xl`
- `rounded-full`
- `shadow-sm`
- `shadow-md`
- `shadow-lg`
- `font-serif`
- `font-sans`
- `text-gray-900`
- `text-gray-800`

### Banned patterns
- matches `^bg-white`
- matches `^bg-gray-[1-3]`
- matches `^shadow-(?!\[)`
- matches `^rounded-[23]xl`
- matches `^rounded-full`
- matches `^font-serif`
- matches `^font-sans`

### Why they are banned
- `bg-white`: CRT aesthetic requires near-black backgrounds only
- `shadow-md`: Use neon glow shadows: shadow-[0_0_20px_rgba(57,255,20,0.5)]
- `rounded-2xl`: CRT screens have sharp edges (rounded-none)
- `font-sans`: Use monospace fonts only for CRT terminal aesthetic
- `font-serif`: Use monospace fonts only for CRT terminal aesthetic

> WARNING: if your code contains any of the above, replace it before shipping.

---

## [REQUIRED]

### Every button must include
```
font-mono
uppercase
tracking-[0.2em]
border-2
transition-all duration-200
```

### Every card must include
```
bg-[#0a0a0a]
border-2
```

### Every input must include
```
bg-black
border-2
text-[#39ff14]
font-mono
focus:border-[#39ff14]
focus:shadow-[0_0_15px_rgba(57,255,20,0.3)]
```

---

## [COMPARE] Arcade CRT wrong vs right

The wrong examples below stand for generic library defaults that were never adapted to this style. Do not read them as visual suggestions.

### Button

[WRONG] **Wrong** (generic component library default, do not copy):
```html
<button class="{GENERIC_LIBRARY_BUTTON_DEFAULT}">
  Click me
</button>
```

[CORRECT] **Right** (uses this style's tokens):
```html
<button class="font-mono uppercase tracking-[0.2em] border-2 transition-all duration-200 bg-[#39ff14] text-black">
  Click me
</button>
```

### Card

[WRONG] **Wrong** (generic card, not adapted to this style):
```html
<div class="{GENERIC_LIBRARY_CARD_DEFAULT}">
  <h3>{TITLE}</h3>
</div>
```

[CORRECT] **Right** (uses this style's card tokens):
```html
<div class="bg-[#0a0a0a] border-2 p-6">
  <h3 class="font-mono font-bold uppercase tracking-[0.15em] text-xl md:text-2xl">{TITLE}</h3>
</div>
```

### Input

[WRONG] **Wrong** (generic input, not adapted to this style):
```html
<input class="{GENERIC_LIBRARY_INPUT_DEFAULT}" />
```

[CORRECT] **Right** (uses this style's input tokens):
```html
<input class="bg-black border-2 text-[#39ff14] font-mono focus:border-[#39ff14] focus:shadow-[0_0_15px_rgba(57,255,20,0.3)]" placeholder="{PLACEHOLDER}" />
```

---

## [TEMPLATES] Arcade CRT page skeletons

These skeletons use this style's tokens only. Replace `{PLACEHOLDER}` values, but keep every token in place:

### Navigation
```html
<nav class="bg-[#050505] text-[#39ff14] border-2 border-[#39ff14]/40 px-4 md:px-8">
  <div class="flex items-center justify-between max-w-6xl mx-auto gap-6">
    <a href="/" class="font-mono font-bold uppercase tracking-[0.15em] text-xl md:text-2xl">
      {LOGO_TEXT}
    </a>
    <div class="flex gap-6 font-mono text-sm text-xs">
      {NAV_LINKS}
    </div>
  </div>
</nav>
```

### Hero section
```html
<section class="bg-[#39ff14]/10 text-[#39ff14] py-16 md:py-24 px-4 md:px-8">
  <div class="max-w-4xl mx-auto">
    <h1 class="font-mono font-bold uppercase tracking-[0.15em] text-4xl md:text-6xl lg:text-8xl">
      {HEADLINE}
    </h1>
    <p class="font-mono text-sm text-sm md:text-base max-w-xl">
      {SUBHEADLINE}
    </p>
    <button class="font-mono uppercase tracking-[0.2em] border-2 transition-all duration-200 bg-[#39ff14] text-black">
      {CTA_TEXT}
    </button>
  </div>
</section>
```

### Card grid
```html
<section class="bg-[#050505] text-[#39ff14] py-16 md:py-24 px-4 md:px-8">
  <div class="max-w-6xl mx-auto">
    <h2 class="font-mono font-bold uppercase tracking-[0.15em] text-2xl md:text-3xl">{SECTION_TITLE}</h2>
    <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-6">
      <!-- Card template - repeat for each card -->
      <div class="bg-[#0a0a0a] border-2 p-6">
        <h3 class="font-mono font-bold uppercase tracking-[0.15em] text-xl md:text-2xl">{CARD_TITLE}</h3>
        <p class="font-mono text-sm text-sm md:text-base text-[#39ff14]/50">{CARD_DESCRIPTION}</p>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</section>
```

### Form input
```html
<input class="bg-black border-2 text-[#39ff14] font-mono focus:border-[#39ff14] focus:shadow-[0_0_15px_rgba(57,255,20,0.3)]" placeholder="{PLACEHOLDER}" />
```

### Footer
```html
<footer class="bg-[#0a0a0a] text-[#00ffff] py-16 md:py-24 px-4 md:px-8">
  <div class="max-w-6xl mx-auto">
    <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-3 gap-8">
      <div>
        <span class="font-mono font-bold uppercase tracking-[0.15em] text-xl md:text-2xl">{LOGO_TEXT}</span>
        <p class="font-mono text-sm text-xs">{TAGLINE}</p>
      </div>
      <div>
        <h4 class="font-mono font-bold uppercase tracking-[0.15em] text-xl md:text-2xl">{COLUMN_TITLE}</h4>
        <ul class="font-mono text-sm text-xs">
          {FOOTER_LINKS}
        </ul>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</footer>
```

---

## [CHECKLIST] Arcade CRT post-generation self check

**Before returning code, verify every token and rule below. Fix any violation before delivering:**

### Token check
- [ ] Button includes: `font-mono uppercase tracking-[0.2em] border-2 transition-all duration-200`
- [ ] Card includes: `bg-[#0a0a0a] border-2`
- [ ] Input includes: `bg-black border-2 text-[#39ff14] font-mono focus:border-[#39ff14] focus:shadow-[0_0_15px_rgba(57,255,20,0.3)]`

### Forbidden check
- [ ] Not using `bg-white`
- [ ] Not using `bg-gray-50`
- [ ] Not using `bg-gray-100`
- [ ] Not using `rounded-xl`
- [ ] Not using `rounded-2xl`
- [ ] Not using `rounded-3xl`
- [ ] Not using `rounded-full`
- [ ] Not using `shadow-sm`

### Style rule check
- [ ] Use scanline overlay on all content areas
- [ ] Apply neon glow (text-shadow/box-shadow) to key elements
- [ ] Use monospace/pixel fonts for all text
- [ ] Keep backgrounds near-black to maximize neon contrast
- [ ] Add RGB chromatic aberration on headlines

### Style drift check
- [ ] Does not violate: Don't use pastel or muted colors
- [ ] Does not violate: Don't use serif or sans-serif body fonts
- [ ] Does not violate: Don't use rounded corners larger than 4px
- [ ] Does not violate: Don't use subtle shadows - only neon glows
- [ ] Does not violate: Don't use gradients that aren't neon-to-dark

### Delivery check
- [ ] Responsive layout holds on phone, tablet and desktop with no horizontal overflow
- [ ] Every interactive element has a visible focus state, an accessible name and a reduced-motion path
- [ ] Text contrast meets WCAG AA and colour alone never carries state
- [ ] The result is still recognizable at a glance as Arcade CRT

## Absolute Bans (Match and Refuse)

If any of the following patterns appear, it is a style violation — rewrite without exception.

- use pastel or muted colors
- use serif or sans-serif body fonts
- use rounded corners larger than 4px
- use subtle shadows - only neon glows
- use gradients that aren't neon-to-dark

## Self-Check (Verify Before Shipping)

If any item fails, the style has drifted — fix before shipping.

- [ ] No purple-to-blue gradients
- [ ] No overused fonts (Inter, Roboto, Geist, Fraunces, Plus Jakarta Sans)
- [ ] No nested cards (cards inside cards)
- [ ] No gray text on colored backgrounds
- [ ] Body text contrast meets WCAG AA (>= 4.5:1)
- [ ] No bounce or elastic easing curves
- [ ] Animations have a prefers-reduced-motion fallback
- [ ] Body text line length capped at 65-75 characters
- [ ] No side-stripe accent borders (border-left/right > 1px)
- [ ] No gradient text (background-clip: text)
- [ ] No glassmorphism used as the default surface treatment
- [ ] No tiny uppercase tracked eyebrow labels above every section heading
- [ ] don't use pastel or muted colors
- [ ] don't use serif or sans-serif body fonts
- [ ] don't use rounded corners larger than 4px
- [ ] don't use subtle shadows - only neon glows
- [ ] don't use gradients that aren't neon-to-dark