# Target : Expect More. Pay Less. gradient

Gradients derived from Target : Expect More. Pay Less.'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/target-com
- Brand colors: https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/target-com · Brand page: https://brandsweets.com/b/target-com
- Palette: primary #dc142c, secondary #ee8494, accents #005fb8
- Source: https://target.com (extracted 2026-09-02)

## Brand gradient

- CSS: `linear-gradient(135deg in oklab, #dc142c 0%, #ee8494 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-br/oklab from-[#dc142c] to-[#ee8494]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 2.51:1 fail · black 4.18:1 AA-large · banding high
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.dc142c-ee8494?a=135

## Hero background

Chroma ×0.35 so it can carry text; ink white (inkFor at the midpoint). L shifted −0.16 until the ink passes AA at the worst point (4.50:1).

- CSS: `linear-gradient(135deg in oklab, #703530 0%, #936d71 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-br/oklab from-[#703530] to-[#936d71]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 4.50:1 AA · black 2.24:1 fail · banding high · ink #ffffff
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.703530-936d71?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. L shifted −0.05 so white ink passes AA on the surface and both states (worst 4.64:1).

- CSS: `linear-gradient(180deg in oklch shorter hue, #d80a29 0%, #b80013 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-b/oklch from-[#d80a29] to-[#b80013]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 5.26:1 AA · black 3.05:1 AA-large · banding high · ink #ffffff
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.d80a29-b80013?a=180&in=oklch&hue=shorter
- Hover: `linear-gradient(180deg in oklch shorter hue, #e32132 0%, #c60017 100%)`
- Active: `linear-gradient(180deg in oklch shorter hue, #cd001f 0%, #a9000f 100%)`

## Tonal ramp

- CSS: `linear-gradient(135deg in oklch shorter hue, #ff7a75 0%, #dc142c 50%, #8c0009 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-br/oklch from-[#ff7a75] via-[#dc142c] to-[#8c0009]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 2.53:1 fail · black 2.12:1 fail · banding high
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.ff7a75-dc142c-8c0009?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, #dc142c 0%, #d2137f 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-br/oklab from-[#dc142c] to-[#d2137f]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 5.00:1 AA · black 4.13:1 AA-large · banding high
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.dc142c-d2137f?a=135

## Complementary

Partner hue from the complementary rule at the source colour's lightness. ΔH 180° > 140° — interpolating in oklch (shorter hue) keeps the midpoint saturated.

- CSS: `linear-gradient(135deg in oklch shorter hue, #dc142c 0%, #118791 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-br/oklch from-[#dc142c] to-[#118791]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 4.27:1 AA-large · black 4.16:1 AA-large · banding medium
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.dc142c-118791?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, #dc142c 0%, #119024 100%)`
- Tailwind: `bg-linear-to-br/oklab from-[#dc142c] to-[#119024]`
- Contrast (worst point): white 4.15:1 AA-large · black 4.18:1 AA-large · banding medium
- Maker: https://brandsweets.com/gradients/new/v1.dc142c-119024?a=135

## CSS custom properties (brand.css)

```css
:root {
  /* Brand gradient (derived) */
  /* worst-case contrast: white 2.51:1, black 4.18:1 AA-large */
  --brand-gradient: linear-gradient(135deg in oklab, #dc142c 0%, #ee8494 100%);
  /* hero — worst-case contrast: white 4.50:1 AA, black 2.24:1; ink passes AA at the worst point */
  --brand-gradient-hero: linear-gradient(135deg in oklab, #703530 0%, #936d71 100%);
  --brand-gradient-hero-ink: #ffffff;
  /* button — worst-case contrast: white 5.26:1 AA, black 3.05:1 AA-large */
  --brand-gradient-button: linear-gradient(180deg in oklch shorter hue, #d80a29 0%, #b80013 100%);
  --brand-gradient-button-hover: linear-gradient(180deg in oklch shorter hue, #e32132 0%, #c60017 100%);
  --brand-gradient-button-active: linear-gradient(180deg in oklch shorter hue, #cd001f 0%, #a9000f 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.