# NHL gradient

Gradients derived from NHL'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/nhl-com
- Brand colors: https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/nhl-com · Brand page: https://brandsweets.com/b/nhl-com
- Palette: primary #121212, secondary #0055e9, accents #0042bb
- Source: https://nhl.com (extracted 2026-09-02)

## Brand gradient

- CSS: `linear-gradient(135deg in oklab, #121212 0%, #0055e9 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-br/oklab from-[#121212] to-[#0055e9]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 6.04:1 AA · black 1.12:1 fail · banding medium
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.121212-0055e9?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 (5.69:1) without adjusting L.

- CSS: `linear-gradient(135deg in oklab, #121212 0%, #4c6796 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-br/oklab from-[#121212] to-[#4c6796]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 5.69:1 AA · black 1.12:1 fail · banding medium · ink #ffffff
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.121212-4c6796?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 15.91:1).

- CSS: `linear-gradient(180deg in oklch shorter hue, #1b1b1b 0%, #090909 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-b/oklch from-[#1b1b1b] to-[#090909]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 17.22:1 AA · black 1.05:1 fail · banding high · ink #ffffff
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.1b1b1b-090909?a=180&in=oklch&hue=shorter
- Hover: `linear-gradient(180deg in oklch shorter hue, #222222 0%, #101010 100%)`
- Active: `linear-gradient(180deg in oklch shorter hue, #141414 0%, #050505 100%)`

## Tonal ramp

- CSS: `linear-gradient(135deg in oklch shorter hue, #3e3e3e 0%, #121212 50%, #000000 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-br/oklch from-[#3e3e3e] via-[#121212] to-[#000000]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 10.70:1 AA · black 1.00:1 fail · banding high
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.3e3e3e-121212-000000?a=135&in=oklch&hue=shorter

## Analogous

Primary #121212 is achromatic — harmony rotates #0055e9 instead. Partner hue from the analogous rule at the source colour's lightness.

- CSS: `linear-gradient(135deg in oklab, #0055e9 0%, #007098 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-br/oklab from-[#0055e9] to-[#007098]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 5.54:1 AA · black 3.46:1 AA-large · banding high
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.0055e9-007098?a=135

## Complementary

Primary #121212 is achromatic — harmony rotates #0055e9 instead. Partner hue from the complementary rule at the source colour's lightness. ΔH 179° > 140° — interpolating in oklch (shorter hue) keeps the midpoint saturated.

- CSS: `linear-gradient(135deg in oklch shorter hue, #0055e9 0%, #855f00 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-br/oklch from-[#0055e9] to-[#855f00]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 5.76:1 AA · black 3.30:1 AA-large · banding medium
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.0055e9-855f00?a=135&in=oklch&hue=shorter

## Triadic

Primary #121212 is achromatic — harmony rotates #0055e9 instead. Partner hue from the triadic rule at the source colour's lightness.

- CSS: `linear-gradient(135deg in oklab, #0055e9 0%, #c1002b 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-br/oklab from-[#0055e9] to-[#c1002b]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 5.94:1 AA · black 3.29:1 AA-large · banding medium
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.0055e9-c1002b?a=135

## CSS custom properties (brand.css)

```css
:root {
  /* Brand gradient (derived) */
  /* worst-case contrast: white 6.04:1 AA, black 1.12:1 */
  --brand-gradient: linear-gradient(135deg in oklab, #121212 0%, #0055e9 100%);
  /* hero — worst-case contrast: white 5.69:1 AA, black 1.12:1; ink passes AA at the worst point */
  --brand-gradient-hero: linear-gradient(135deg in oklab, #121212 0%, #4c6796 100%);
  --brand-gradient-hero-ink: #ffffff;
  /* button — worst-case contrast: white 17.22:1 AA, black 1.05:1 */
  --brand-gradient-button: linear-gradient(180deg in oklch shorter hue, #1b1b1b 0%, #090909 100%);
  --brand-gradient-button-hover: linear-gradient(180deg in oklch shorter hue, #222222 0%, #101010 100%);
  --brand-gradient-button-active: linear-gradient(180deg in oklch shorter hue, #141414 0%, #050505 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.