Watercolor Style

STYLEKIT_STYLE_REFERENCE
style_name: Watercolor Style
style_slug: watercolor-style
style_source: /styles/watercolor-style

# 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

You are a Watercolor Style design frontend development expert. All generated code must strictly follow these constraints:

## Absolute Prohibitions

- Using hard borders border-4 border-black
- Using hard-edge shadows shadow-[px_px_0_color]
- Using pure black backgrounds bg-black
- Using sharp corners rounded-none
- Using overly saturated colors
- Using bold sans-serif uppercase text

## Must Follow

- Paper-colored background bg-[#faf8f5]
- Soft gradients bg-gradient-to-br using semi-transparent colors
- Large border radii rounded-3xl or rounded-full
- Soft shadows shadow-lg with low-opacity color
- Serif italic fonts font-serif italic
- Semi-transparent color overlay effects

## Color Palette

Primary:
- Blue-gray: #4a6fa5 (text and main elements)
- Paper: #faf8f5 (background)

Watercolor colors (used semi-transparently):
- Peach: #e8a87c
- Teal: #85cdca
- Rose: #c38d94
- Sand: #d4a373

## Special Effects

Watercolor wash: Using multiple radial-gradient overlays
Color diffusion: Using blur-3xl large color blocks
Soft edges: rounded-3xl + low-opacity borders
Paper texture: Warm-toned background + subtle texture

## Self-Check

After generating code, verify:
1. No hard borders or sharp corners
2. Using soft gradients and semi-transparent colors
3. Background is warm paper color
4. Text uses serif italic
5. Overall feel is like a watercolor painting

## Animation & Interaction Rules

- Pigment Bloom: On hover, instead of rigid float (translate-y), let same-hue colored shadow spread outward significantly (e.g., `hover:shadow-[0_10px_40px_rgba(74,111,165,0.35)]`), simulating watercolor pigment blooming on wet paper.
- Damp Paper: On card hover, background slightly brightens or deepens (e.g., from-[#e8a87c]/20 deepens to /30), simulating paper texture change after absorbing water.
- Liquid Slowness: Watercolor flow is slow, mandatory `duration-500` with `ease-in-out`, prohibit `duration-150` or `ease-linear` fast easing.
- Soft Press: On click `active:scale-[0.98]` with deepened inner shadow, simulating gentle press on damp paper surface, avoiding violent spring bounce-back.

---

# Watercolor Style Design System

> A design style inspired by watercolor painting, featuring soft color gradients, blurred edge effects, paper texture backgrounds, and flowing color diffusion, conveying artistry and poetry.

## Design Philosophy

Watercolor Style is a design style simulating watercolor painting effects, injecting artistic atmosphere and poetic feeling into interfaces through soft color gradients, blurred edges, and flowing color diffusion.

Core principles:
- Fluidity: Colors naturally permeate and diffuse like watercolors
- Soft edges: No hard boundary lines, everything transitions softly
- Paper texture: Underlying warm watercolor paper texture preserved
- Transparent layering: Watercolor's semi-transparent nature, colors layered upon each other

---

## Token Dictionary (exact class mapping)

### Border
```
Width: border
Color: border-[#4a6fa5]/20
Radius: rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl
```

### Shadow
```
sm: shadow-[0_2px_10px_rgba(74,111,165,0.1)]
md: shadow-[0_4px_20px_rgba(74,111,165,0.12)]
lg: shadow-[0_8px_30px_rgba(74,111,165,0.15)]
hover: hover:shadow-[0_8px_30px_rgba(74,111,165,0.2)]
focus: focus:shadow-[0_4px_20px_rgba(74,111,165,0.15)]
```

### Interaction
```
Hover translate: (none)
Hover scale: hover:scale-[1.02]
Hover opacity: (none)
Transition: transition-all duration-400 ease-out
Active: active:scale-[0.98]
```

### Typefaces
```
Heading: font-serif font-light tracking-wide
Body: font-sans font-light
Mono: font-mono
```

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

### Spacing
```
Section: py-12 md:py-20 lg:py-28
Container: px-4 md:px-8 lg:px-12
Card: p-5 md:p-8
Gap sm: gap-3 md:gap-4
Gap md: gap-4 md:gap-6
Gap lg: gap-6 md:gap-10
```

### Color roles
```
Background primary: bg-[#faf8f5]
Background secondary: bg-[#f0ebe3]
Background accent: bg-[#4a6fa5]/20, bg-[#b4788c]/20, bg-[#78a082]/20, bg-[#c9a84c]/20
Text primary: text-[#3a3a3a]
Text secondary: text-[#4a6fa5]
Text muted: text-[#8a8a8a]
Button primary: bg-[#4a6fa5]/80 text-white
Button secondary: bg-[#faf8f5] text-[#4a6fa5] border border-[#4a6fa5]/30
```

---

## [FORBIDDEN]

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

### Banned classes
- `rounded-none`
- `border-black`
- `border-2`
- `border-4`
- `shadow-[2px_2px_0px`
- `shadow-[4px_4px_0px`
- `shadow-[8px_8px_0px`
- `font-black`
- `font-bold`
- `bg-black`
- `bg-[#1a1a1a]`
- `text-black`

### Banned patterns
- matches `^rounded-none$`
- matches `^shadow-\[\d+px_\d+px_0px`
- matches `^border-(?:black|2|4)$`
- matches `^font-(?:black|bold)$`
- matches `^bg-(?:black|\[#1a1a)`

### Why they are banned
- `rounded-none`: Watercolor uses soft rounded shapes (rounded-2xl to rounded-3xl)
- `border-4`: Watercolor uses thin delicate borders, not thick heavy borders
- `shadow-[4px_4px_0px`: Watercolor uses soft diffused shadows, not hard-edge
- `font-black`: Watercolor uses light/regular font weights for a delicate feel

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

---

## [REQUIRED]

### Every button must include
```
rounded-2xl
shadow-[0_4px_20px_rgba(74,111,165,0.12)]
hover:scale-[1.02]
transition-all duration-400 ease-out
font-light
```

### Every card must include
```
rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl
border border-[#4a6fa5]/20
shadow-[0_4px_20px_rgba(74,111,165,0.12)]
bg-[#faf8f5]
```

### Every input must include
```
rounded-2xl
border border-[#4a6fa5]/20
bg-white/60
font-light
focus:shadow-[0_4px_20px_rgba(74,111,165,0.15)]
focus:outline-none
```

---

## [COMPARE] Watercolor Style 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="rounded-2xl shadow-[0_4px_20px_rgba(74,111,165,0.12)] hover:scale-[1.02] transition-all duration-400 ease-out font-light bg-[#4a6fa5]/80 text-white">
  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="rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl border border-[#4a6fa5]/20 shadow-[0_4px_20px_rgba(74,111,165,0.12)] bg-[#faf8f5] p-5 md:p-8">
  <h3 class="font-serif font-light tracking-wide text-lg md:text-xl">{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="rounded-2xl border border-[#4a6fa5]/20 bg-white/60 font-light focus:shadow-[0_4px_20px_rgba(74,111,165,0.15)] focus:outline-none" placeholder="{PLACEHOLDER}" />
```

---

## [TEMPLATES] Watercolor Style page skeletons

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

### Navigation
```html
<nav class="bg-[#faf8f5] text-[#3a3a3a] border border-[#4a6fa5]/20 px-4 md:px-8 lg:px-12">
  <div class="flex items-center justify-between max-w-6xl mx-auto gap-4 md:gap-6">
    <a href="/" class="font-serif font-light tracking-wide text-lg md:text-xl">
      {LOGO_TEXT}
    </a>
    <div class="flex gap-4 md:gap-6 font-sans font-light text-xs md:text-sm">
      {NAV_LINKS}
    </div>
  </div>
</nav>
```

### Hero section
```html
<section class="bg-[#4a6fa5]/20 text-[#3a3a3a] py-12 md:py-20 lg:py-28 px-4 md:px-8 lg:px-12">
  <div class="max-w-4xl mx-auto">
    <h1 class="font-serif font-light tracking-wide text-3xl md:text-5xl lg:text-6xl">
      {HEADLINE}
    </h1>
    <p class="font-sans font-light text-sm md:text-base max-w-xl">
      {SUBHEADLINE}
    </p>
    <button class="rounded-2xl shadow-[0_4px_20px_rgba(74,111,165,0.12)] hover:scale-[1.02] transition-all duration-400 ease-out font-light bg-[#4a6fa5]/80 text-white">
      {CTA_TEXT}
    </button>
  </div>
</section>
```

### Card grid
```html
<section class="bg-[#faf8f5] text-[#3a3a3a] py-12 md:py-20 lg:py-28 px-4 md:px-8 lg:px-12">
  <div class="max-w-6xl mx-auto">
    <h2 class="font-serif font-light tracking-wide text-xl md:text-3xl">{SECTION_TITLE}</h2>
    <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-4 md:gap-6">
      <!-- Card template - repeat for each card -->
      <div class="rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl border border-[#4a6fa5]/20 shadow-[0_4px_20px_rgba(74,111,165,0.12)] bg-[#faf8f5] p-5 md:p-8">
        <h3 class="font-serif font-light tracking-wide text-lg md:text-xl">{CARD_TITLE}</h3>
        <p class="font-sans font-light text-sm md:text-base text-[#8a8a8a]">{CARD_DESCRIPTION}</p>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</section>
```

### Form input
```html
<input class="rounded-2xl border border-[#4a6fa5]/20 bg-white/60 font-light focus:shadow-[0_4px_20px_rgba(74,111,165,0.15)] focus:outline-none" placeholder="{PLACEHOLDER}" />
```

### Footer
```html
<footer class="bg-[#f0ebe3] text-[#4a6fa5] py-12 md:py-20 lg:py-28 px-4 md:px-8 lg:px-12">
  <div class="max-w-6xl mx-auto">
    <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-3 gap-6 md:gap-10">
      <div>
        <span class="font-serif font-light tracking-wide text-lg md:text-xl">{LOGO_TEXT}</span>
        <p class="font-sans font-light text-xs md:text-sm">{TAGLINE}</p>
      </div>
      <div>
        <h4 class="font-serif font-light tracking-wide text-lg md:text-xl">{COLUMN_TITLE}</h4>
        <ul class="font-sans font-light text-xs md:text-sm">
          {FOOTER_LINKS}
        </ul>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</footer>
```

---

## [CHECKLIST] Watercolor Style post-generation self check

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

### Token check
- [ ] Button includes: `rounded-2xl shadow-[0_4px_20px_rgba(74,111,165,0.12)] hover:scale-[1.02] transition-all duration-400 ease-out font-light`
- [ ] Card includes: `rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl border border-[#4a6fa5]/20 shadow-[0_4px_20px_rgba(74,111,165,0.12)] bg-[#faf8f5]`
- [ ] Input includes: `rounded-2xl border border-[#4a6fa5]/20 bg-white/60 font-light focus:shadow-[0_4px_20px_rgba(74,111,165,0.15)] focus:outline-none`

### Forbidden check
- [ ] Not using `rounded-none`
- [ ] Not using `border-black`
- [ ] Not using `border-2`
- [ ] Not using `border-4`
- [ ] Not using `shadow-[2px_2px_0px`
- [ ] Not using `shadow-[4px_4px_0px`
- [ ] Not using `shadow-[8px_8px_0px`
- [ ] Not using `font-black`

### Style rule check
- [ ] Use soft gradients bg-gradient-to-* to simulate watercolor permeation
- [ ] Use semi-transparent colors opacity or rgba to simulate watercolor transparency
- [ ] Use large border radii rounded-3xl or rounded-full to soften edges
- [ ] Use warm paper-colored background bg-[#faf8f5]
- [ ] Use soft shadows shadow-lg with low opacity

### Style drift check
- [ ] Does not violate: Do NOT use hard borders border-4 border-black
- [ ] Does not violate: Do NOT use hard-edge shadows shadow-[px_px_0_color]
- [ ] Does not violate: Do NOT use pure black backgrounds
- [ ] Does not violate: Do NOT use sharp corners rounded-none
- [ ] Does not violate: Do NOT use overly saturated or glaring colors

### 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 Watercolor Style

## Absolute Bans (Match and Refuse)

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

- use hard borders border-4 border-black
- use hard-edge shadows shadow-[px_px_0_color]
- use pure black backgrounds
- use sharp corners rounded-none
- use overly saturated or glaring colors

## 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
- [ ] do NOT use hard borders border-4 border-black
- [ ] do NOT use hard-edge shadows shadow-[px_px_0_color]
- [ ] do NOT use pure black backgrounds
- [ ] do NOT use sharp corners rounded-none
- [ ] do NOT use overly saturated or glaring colors