fix(skill): eval feedback — font src paths, WCAG pairings, flash-through-white regression

ukimsanov · ukimsanov · commit 523391d1c75d · 2026-05-20T17:11:31.000-07:00
Five fixes from Ular's first-pass workflow run: 1. step-1-design.md Fonts section — sub-agents pointed @font-face for "ES Build Neutral" at the Inter .woff2 files because DESIGN.md only named families, never emitted exact src: paths. Now the Fonts section example shows per-family + per-weight file paths AND a copy-verbatim @font-face block sub-agents can paste, so there's no inference step. Adds an explicit narrative of the real failure mode and how to avoid it. 2. beat-builder-guide.md FONTS rule — was "brand fonts with capture/assets/fonts/ path need @font-face in <style>." Now: "copy the @font-face block VERBATIM from DESIGN.md. Do NOT guess which .woff2 file belongs to which family — capture filenames are content-hashed and there is no visible mapping. If DESIGN.md doesn't include exact src: paths per family, STOP and ask the main agent; never pair an arbitrary .woff2 with a family name from memory." 3. step-1-design.md Colors section — Sub-agents reproduced brand colors faithfully and hit WCAG AA failures on dark surfaces (#68686A on #18191B = 3.16:1). Now the Colors section example computes per-pairing contrast ratios with ✅/⚠/❌ markers, documents the dark-surface substitute color when the brand's own palette fails, and points at the /hyperframes-contrast skill for ratio computation. Sub-agents pick text colors by surface context, not by "this is the brand's secondary text color." 4. capabilities.md flash-through-white entry — the "ideal as invisible bridge at duration: 0.01" framing caused agents to scatter white flashes through every composition as transition bridges. The fix was documented in the branch's HANDOFF but never landed. Now: "Fade through white midpoint — a visible white flash between scenes. Use only when the brand specifically calls for a white-flash beat boundary; this is NOT a neutral 'default' transition." 5. step-6-validate.md Warnings list — adds a paragraph on WCAG contrast false positives. The validator samples at fixed timestamps; elements at opacity:0 / mid-fade get measured as if fully visible, producing spurious failures. Tells the agent to verify visually before changing colors to clear a WCAG warning — bumping a color to fix a sampling artifact changes brand identity for no real benefit.
diff --git a/skills/website-to-hyperframes/references/beat-builder-guide.md b/skills/website-to-hyperframes/references/beat-builder-guide.md
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ If any are missing from the beat spec, the beat is under-defined. Don't fill the
 - DETERMINISTIC: no `Math.random()`, `Date.now()`, `requestAnimationFrame`, `repeat:-1`.
 - Always `tl.fromTo()` not `tl.from()` for entrances.
 - Never stack two transform tweens on same element at same time.
-- FONTS: brand fonts with `capture/assets/fonts/` path need `@font-face` in `<style>`.
+- FONTS: copy the `@font-face` block VERBATIM from DESIGN.md's Fonts section. Do NOT guess which `.woff2` file belongs to which family — capture filenames are content-hashed (`14d7ce3e41dcbb66-s.p.woff2`) and there is no visible mapping. If DESIGN.md doesn't include exact `src:` paths per family, STOP and ask the main agent to add them; never pair an arbitrary `.woff2` file with a family name from memory.
 
 ## Easing — pick per intent
 
diff --git a/skills/website-to-hyperframes/references/capabilities.md b/skills/website-to-hyperframes/references/capabilities.md
@@ -99,22 +99,22 @@ The runtime registers these adapters in order; each implements `discover()` / `s
 
 ### The 14 shaders
 
-| Name                | Visual                                                                                 | Notes                                  |
-| ------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
-| domain-warp         | Multi-octave FBM warps both scenes oppositely; organic dissolve edge with accent flash | Uses NQ noise bundle                   |
-| ridged-burn         | Ridged multifractal mask reveals B; accent → bright → white burn ramp; sparks          | NQ                                     |
-| whip-pan            | 10-sample horizontal motion blur + lateral crossfade                                   | No noise                               |
-| sdf-iris            | Aspect-corrected circle SDF expansion + accent-tinted glow rings                       | —                                      |
-| ripple-waves        | Radial standing-wave UV displacement + tinted crossfade                                | —                                      |
-| gravitational-lens  | Pinch pull toward center + R/B chromatic separation                                    | —                                      |
-| cinematic-zoom      | 12 RGB-offset radial zoom blur samples (chromatic zoom streak)                         | —                                      |
-| chromatic-split     | R/B radial channel shift outward / inward; G fixed                                     | Distinct from CSS chromatic aberration |
-| swirl-vortex        | CCW swirl with FBM noise; reciprocal on incoming                                       | NQ                                     |
-| thermal-distortion  | Vertical sin + FBM horizontal displacement; warm haze                                  | NQ                                     |
-| flash-through-white | Fade through white midpoint; ideal as invisible bridge at `duration: 0.01`             | No accent                              |
-| cross-warp-morph    | FBM vector field displaces both scenes; third FBM biases irregular wipe                | NQ                                     |
-| light-leak          | Fixed off-frame leak with exponential falloff + accent warmth + ridge flare            | Hard-coded leak anchor                 |
-| glitch              | Line displacement + RGB lateral split + scan modulation + posterization + flicker      | Deterministic                          |
+| Name                | Visual                                                                                 | Notes                                                                                                                              |
+| ------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| domain-warp         | Multi-octave FBM warps both scenes oppositely; organic dissolve edge with accent flash | Uses NQ noise bundle                                                                                                               |
+| ridged-burn         | Ridged multifractal mask reveals B; accent → bright → white burn ramp; sparks          | NQ                                                                                                                                 |
+| whip-pan            | 10-sample horizontal motion blur + lateral crossfade                                   | No noise                                                                                                                           |
+| sdf-iris            | Aspect-corrected circle SDF expansion + accent-tinted glow rings                       | —                                                                                                                                  |
+| ripple-waves        | Radial standing-wave UV displacement + tinted crossfade                                | —                                                                                                                                  |
+| gravitational-lens  | Pinch pull toward center + R/B chromatic separation                                    | —                                                                                                                                  |
+| cinematic-zoom      | 12 RGB-offset radial zoom blur samples (chromatic zoom streak)                         | —                                                                                                                                  |
+| chromatic-split     | R/B radial channel shift outward / inward; G fixed                                     | Distinct from CSS chromatic aberration                                                                                             |
+| swirl-vortex        | CCW swirl with FBM noise; reciprocal on incoming                                       | NQ                                                                                                                                 |
+| thermal-distortion  | Vertical sin + FBM horizontal displacement; warm haze                                  | NQ                                                                                                                                 |
+| flash-through-white | Fade through white midpoint — a visible white flash between scenes                     | No accent. Use only when the brand specifically calls for a white-flash beat boundary; this is NOT a neutral "default" transition. |
+| cross-warp-morph    | FBM vector field displaces both scenes; third FBM biases irregular wipe                | NQ                                                                                                                                 |
+| light-leak          | Fixed off-frame leak with exponential falloff + accent warmth + ridge flare            | Hard-coded leak anchor                                                                                                             |
+| glitch              | Line displacement + RGB lateral split + scan modulation + posterization + flicker      | Deterministic                                                                                                                      |
 
 ### Public API
 
diff --git a/skills/website-to-hyperframes/references/step-1-design.md b/skills/website-to-hyperframes/references/step-1-design.md
@@ -55,38 +55,75 @@ A flat lookup of the values sub-agents grab while composing beats. Two sub-secti
 
 List 8–12 colors with brand-specific names + HEX + role. Not generic ("Accent 1") but evocative ("Stripe Purple", "Deep Navy", "Slate Border"). The name carries meaning; "blue 4" doesn't.
 
+**For each text-on-surface combination the brand uses, compute the WCAG AA contrast ratio and flag failing pairings explicitly.** A real failure mode from prior runs: the brand's secondary-text color (`#68686A`) on its dark panel color (`#18191B`) = 3.16:1, which fails AA's 4.5:1 minimum. Sub-agents faithfully reproduced the brand's color choice and the result was unreadable. Encode the safe / unsafe pairings here so sub-agents pick text colors by surface context, not by "this is the brand's secondary text color." The `/hyperframes-contrast` skill audits ratios — run it before finalizing DESIGN.md.
+
 **Example:**
 
 ```markdown
 #### Colors
 
 - **Stripe Purple** (`#533AFD`): Primary CTA, interactive elements, focus rings — the brand's action signal
-- **Deep Navy** (`#061B31`): Primary text, headings — gravitas color
+  - On Pure White: 6.2:1 ✅ — On Deep Navy: 3.8:1 ⚠ AA-only-Large
+- **Deep Navy** (`#061B31`): Primary text on light surfaces, also a dark surface tier
+  - As text on Pure White: 17.4:1 ✅ — As surface: see Slate-on-Navy pairings below
 - **Pure White** (`#FFFFFF`): Page background, card surfaces
 - **Light Gray** (`#F5F7FA`): Surface tier 2 (cards on white pages, alternating sections)
-- **Slate Blue** (`#273951`): Secondary text, subheadings, lower-emphasis content
-- **Light Slate** (`#64748D`): Metadata, captions, disabled-adjacent text
-- **Subtle Border** (`#D4DEE9`): Card borders, dividers
-- **Vibrant Orange** (`#FF6118`): Energy accent — gradient endpoints, highlight bursts (never primary)
-- **Error Red** (`#FF0022`): Validation errors
-- **Success Green** (`#4CD963`): Confirmation states
+- **Slate Blue** (`#273951`): Secondary text on LIGHT surfaces
+  - On Pure White: 12.6:1 ✅ — On Light Gray: 11.8:1 ✅ — On Deep Navy: 1.4:1 ❌ DO NOT USE
+- **Light Slate** (`#64748D`): Metadata, captions on light surfaces only
+  - On Pure White: 4.8:1 ✅ — On Light Gray: 4.5:1 ✅ — On Deep Navy: 3.0:1 ❌ — On Dark Panel: 2.9:1 ❌
+  - **For dark-surface metadata, use `#9A9A9E` instead: 6.4:1 on Deep Navy ✅, 6.1:1 on Dark Panel ✅**
+- **Subtle Border** (`#D4DEE9`): Card borders, dividers (not text — borders don't need AA)
+- **Vibrant Orange** (`#FF6118`): Energy accent — gradient endpoints, highlight bursts (never primary text)
+- **Error Red** (`#FF0022`): Validation errors. On Pure White: 4.5:1 ✅
+- **Success Green** (`#4CD963`): Confirmation states. On Pure White: 1.7:1 ❌ — must be paired with a darker outline or use as accent on dark surfaces
 ```
 
+**Where the brand's own palette fails WCAG**, document the substitute (like the `#9A9A9E` override above). Sub-agents pick the safe color by surface — and if the deviation matters to the brand identity, the user can revisit at Step 6.
+
 #### Fonts
 
-List font families (with availability notes) + the headline / body / mono trio if applicable:
+List font families with their role AND **the exact file path per family + weight** from `fonts-manifest.json`. Sub-agents will copy the `@font-face` block verbatim — if you only name the family without the path, sub-agents have to guess which `.woff2` file belongs to which family and get it wrong half the time (a real failure mode from prior runs: agents pointed `@font-face` for "ES Build Neutral" at the Inter `.woff2` files and the wordmark rendered in Inter).
 
 **Example:**
 
-```markdown
+````markdown
 #### Fonts
 
-- **Display + Body:** `sohne-var` (variable 100–900, captured ✓) — weights 300 / 400 used in production
-- **Mono:** `"JetBrains Mono"` — code, metadata, technical content
+- **Display:** `"ES Build Neutral"` — wordmarks, headlines
+  - 600: `capture/assets/fonts/14d7ce3e41dcbb66-s.p.woff2`
+  - 700: `capture/assets/fonts/e8b276476c0ac6fa-s.p.woff2`
+- **Body:** `"Inter"` (variable 100–900, captured ✓) — body, labels, UI
+  - 400: `capture/assets/fonts/9a8d3f06c4e89f2b-s.p.woff2`
+  - 600: `capture/assets/fonts/1b0b3615811be75b-s.p.woff2`
+- **Mono:** `"JetBrains Mono"` — code, metadata
+  - 400: `capture/assets/fonts/c7d2e9f5a1b3c8d4-s.p.woff2`
 - **Fallback stack:** `-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", sans-serif`
 
-The brand uses **size for hierarchy, weight for emphasis**. Display 1: 48px/300, Display 2: 32px/300, Body: 14px/400. Never use weights above 400 — this brand has no bold variant in production.
+**`@font-face` block to paste in every composition** (sub-agents copy this verbatim — do not invent file paths):
+
+```css
+@font-face {
+  font-family: "ES Build Neutral";
+  src: url("capture/assets/fonts/14d7ce3e41dcbb66-s.p.woff2") format("woff2");
+  font-weight: 600;
+  font-display: block;
+}
+@font-face {
+  font-family: "Inter";
+  src: url("capture/assets/fonts/9a8d3f06c4e89f2b-s.p.woff2") format("woff2");
+  font-weight: 400;
+  font-display: block;
+}
+/* + any other family/weight combinations the storyboard's beats need */
 ```
+````
+
+The brand uses **size for hierarchy, weight for emphasis**. Display 1: 48px/600, Display 2: 32px/600, Body: 14px/400. (Adjust to the actual brand's hierarchy.)
+
+````
+
+The exact `@font-face` block lets sub-agents copy verbatim instead of constructing one from inference. If a beat needs a weight that isn't in the manifest, flag it explicitly here: e.g., "ES Build Neutral 900 NOT in capture; use ES Build Neutral 700 as substitute, or fall back to Inter 700."
 
 That's the whole typography section. If sub-agents need exact line-heights or letter-spacing, they read `design-styles.json` directly.
 
@@ -132,7 +169,7 @@ Cover every variant the site uses — typically Primary, Secondary/Ghost, and Ic
 - **Font:** sohne-var 14px / 400
 - **Padding:** `12px 0`
 - **Hover:** background `rgba(83, 58, 253, 0.08)`, optional underline
-```
+````
 
 #### Cards & Containers (always required if the site uses any)
 
diff --git a/skills/website-to-hyperframes/references/step-6-validate.md b/skills/website-to-hyperframes/references/step-6-validate.md
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ Some are style suggestions you can safely ignore:
 - **Deprecated attributes** (data-layer, data-end) — still work, just not preferred
 - **Dense tracks** — informational, not a bug
 
+**WCAG contrast false positives** — the validator samples text colors at fixed timestamps. Elements that are at `opacity: 0` (pre-entrance) or mid-fade at those sample timestamps get measured against the background as if they were fully visible, which produces spurious contrast failures. Before changing a color to clear a WCAG warning, verify visually that the element is actually unreadable when on-screen at full opacity. If it's only flagged for pre-entrance / exit moments, the warning is a sampling artifact, not a real failure. Bumping the color to "fix" these false positives changes the brand identity for no real benefit.
+
 Don't blindly ignore 158 warnings. Don't blindly fix all of them either. Read them.
 
 ## Visual Verification (snapshot)
