# Gusto gradient

Gradients derived from Gusto's published colour tokens (nominative use; no brand assets). Deterministic: the same values are served as `--brand-gradient*` in the brand's brand.css.

- Page: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/brands/gusto-com
- Brand colors: https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/gusto-com · Brand page: https://brandsweets.com/b/gusto-com
- Palette: primary #1c1b1a, secondary #1e7676, accents #00535c
- Source: https://gusto.com (extracted 2026-09-05)

## Brand gradient

- CSS: `linear-gradient(135deg in oklab, #1c1b1a 0%, #1e7676 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-br/oklab from-[#1c1b1a] to-[#1e7676]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 5.37:1 AA · black 1.22:1 fail · banding medium
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.1c1b1a-1e7676?a=135

## Hero background

Chroma ×0.35 so it can carry text; ink white (inkFor at the midpoint). Passes AA for that ink at the worst point (5.52:1) without adjusting L.

- CSS: `linear-gradient(135deg in oklab, #1b1b1b 0%, #566d6d 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-br/oklab from-[#1b1b1b] to-[#566d6d]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 5.52:1 AA · black 1.22:1 fail · banding medium · ink #ffffff
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.1b1b1b-566d6d?a=135

## Button / CTA

ΔL 0.08 top→bottom in the primary's hue (a lit surface, not a rainbow); hover L +0.03, active L −0.03. White ink passes AA on the surface and both states (worst 13.94:1).

- CSS: `linear-gradient(180deg in oklch shorter hue, #252423 0%, #131211 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-b/oklch from-[#252423] to-[#131211]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 15.49:1 AA · black 1.12:1 fail · banding high · ink #ffffff
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.252423-131211?a=180&in=oklch&hue=shorter
- Hover: `linear-gradient(180deg in oklch shorter hue, #2d2c2b 0%, #1a1918 100%)`
- Active: `linear-gradient(180deg in oklch shorter hue, #1e1d1c 0%, #0c0c0b 100%)`

## Tonal ramp

- CSS: `linear-gradient(135deg in oklch shorter hue, #494847 0%, #1c1b1a 50%, #010000 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-br/oklch from-[#494847] via-[#1c1b1a] to-[#010000]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 9.13:1 AA · black 1.00:1 fail · banding high
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.494847-1c1b1a-010000?a=135&in=oklch&hue=shorter

## Analogous

Partner hue from the analogous rule at the source colour's lightness.

- CSS: `linear-gradient(135deg in oklab, #1c1b1a 0%, #1d1b1a 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-br/oklab from-[#1c1b1a] to-[#1d1b1a]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 17.16:1 AA · black 1.22:1 fail · banding high
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.1c1b1a-1d1b1a?a=135

## Complementary

Partner hue from the complementary rule at the source colour's lightness. ΔH 163° > 140° — interpolating in oklch (shorter hue) keeps the midpoint saturated.

- CSS: `linear-gradient(135deg in oklch shorter hue, #1c1b1a 0%, #1a1b1d 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-br/oklch from-[#1c1b1a] to-[#1a1b1d]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 17.14:1 AA · black 1.21:1 fail · banding high
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.1c1b1a-1a1b1d?a=135&in=oklch&hue=shorter

## Triadic

Partner hue from the triadic rule at the source colour's lightness.

- CSS: `linear-gradient(135deg in oklab, #1c1b1a 0%, #1a1b1b 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-br/oklab from-[#1c1b1a] to-[#1a1b1b]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 17.20:1 AA · black 1.22:1 fail · banding high
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.1c1b1a-1a1b1b?a=135

## CSS custom properties (brand.css)

```css
:root {
  /* Brand gradient (derived) */
  /* worst-case contrast: white 5.37:1 AA, black 1.22:1 */
  --brand-gradient: linear-gradient(135deg in oklab, #1c1b1a 0%, #1e7676 100%);
  /* hero — worst-case contrast: white 5.52:1 AA, black 1.22:1; ink passes AA at the worst point */
  --brand-gradient-hero: linear-gradient(135deg in oklab, #1b1b1b 0%, #566d6d 100%);
  --brand-gradient-hero-ink: #ffffff;
  /* button — worst-case contrast: white 15.49:1 AA, black 1.12:1 */
  --brand-gradient-button: linear-gradient(180deg in oklch shorter hue, #252423 0%, #131211 100%);
  --brand-gradient-button-hover: linear-gradient(180deg in oklch shorter hue, #2d2c2b 0%, #1a1918 100%);
  --brand-gradient-button-active: linear-gradient(180deg in oklch shorter hue, #1e1d1c 0%, #0c0c0b 100%);
  --brand-gradient-button-ink: #ffffff;
}
```

## Gradient maker

Every maker URL is the gradient's state: `/gradients/new/v1.<hex>-<hex>[_pos]?a=135&in=oklch&hue=shorter&e=soft&g=8`. Hand one to a human, let them refine, and read the link they return.

## Connect an agent

Point any MCP client at the BrandSweets gradients endpoint for the same engine and corpus:

- Endpoint: https://mcp.brandsweets.com/gradients/mcp
- Tools: `make_gradient` (2–5 colours → CSS with the interpolation space, Tailwind v4, SVG, PNG URL, DTCG token + the contrast/banding/gamut report), `brand_gradients` (brand slug or palette → brand gradient, hero, button, variants).
- Resource: `gradients://corpus` — the whole bundled corpus as JSON.