diff --git a/script.js b/script.js
index 1d6c3ff..f88431c 100644
--- a/script.js
+++ b/script.js
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 "use strict";
 
+document.documentElement.classList.add("js");
+
 // Theme: persisted in sessionStorage, dark default.
 const root = document.documentElement;
 root.dataset.theme = sessionStorage.getItem("theme") || "dark";
@@ -12,6 +14,28 @@ document.querySelector("[data-theme-btn]")?.addEventListener("click", () => {
 // Footer year
 document.getElementById("year").textContent = new Date().getFullYear();
 
+// Card spotlight: track cursor into --mx/--my
+for (const card of document.querySelectorAll(".card")) {
+  card.addEventListener("mousemove", (e) => {
+    const r = card.getBoundingClientRect();
+    card.style.setProperty("--mx", `${e.clientX - r.left}px`);
+    card.style.setProperty("--my", `${e.clientY - r.top}px`);
+  });
+}
+
+// Staggered reveal on scroll
+const reveal = new IntersectionObserver((entries) => {
+  for (const en of entries) {
+    if (en.isIntersecting) {
+      const cards = [...en.target.parentElement.children];
+      en.target.style.transitionDelay = `${cards.indexOf(en.target) * 60}ms`;
+      en.target.classList.add("in");
+      reveal.unobserve(en.target);
+    }
+  }
+}, { threshold: 0.15 });
+document.querySelectorAll(".card").forEach((c) => reveal.observe(c));
+
 // Contact form -> sendmail.tdvorak.dev
 const form = document.getElementById("contact-form");
 const status = document.getElementById("form-status");
diff --git a/style.css b/style.css
index 110008a..26330c7 100644
--- a/style.css
+++ b/style.css
@@ -152,14 +152,54 @@ a { color: inherit; text-decoration: none; }
   margin-top: 40px;
 }
 .card {
+  --glow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.35);
+  position: relative;
   display: flex; flex-direction: column;
   border: 1px solid var(--border); border-radius: var(--radius);
   background: var(--bg-raised); overflow: hidden;
-  transition: border-color 0.15s, transform 0.15s;
+  transition: border-color 0.2s, transform 0.2s, box-shadow 0.2s;
 }
-.card:hover { border-color: var(--border-strong); transform: translateY(-2px); }
-.card figure { aspect-ratio: 16/9; overflow: hidden; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border); }
-.card figure img { width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: cover; object-position: top; }
+.js .card { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(14px); }
+[data-theme="light"] .card { --glow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.16); }
+.card.in { opacity: 1; transform: none; transition: opacity 0.5s ease, transform 0.5s ease, border-color 0.2s, box-shadow 0.2s; }
+.card:hover { border-color: var(--border-strong); transform: translateY(-3px); box-shadow: 0 12px 32px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.35); }
+[data-theme="light"] .card:hover { box-shadow: 0 12px 32px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); }
+/* mouse-tracked border glow */
+.card::before {
+  content: ""; position: absolute; inset: 0; z-index: 2; pointer-events: none;
+  border-radius: var(--radius); padding: 1px;
+  background: radial-gradient(240px circle at var(--mx, 50%) var(--my, 50%), var(--glow), transparent 70%);
+  -webkit-mask: linear-gradient(#000 0 0) content-box, linear-gradient(#000 0 0);
+  -webkit-mask-composite: xor; mask-composite: exclude;
+  opacity: 0; transition: opacity 0.3s;
+}
+/* soft inner spotlight */
+.card::after {
+  content: ""; position: absolute; inset: 0; z-index: 0; pointer-events: none;
+  background: radial-gradient(420px circle at var(--mx, 50%) var(--my, 50%), rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.05), transparent 70%);
+  opacity: 0; transition: opacity 0.3s;
+}
+[data-theme="light"] .card::after { background: radial-gradient(420px circle at var(--mx, 50%) var(--my, 50%), rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04), transparent 70%); }
+.card:hover::before, .card:hover::after { opacity: 1; }
+.card > * { position: relative; z-index: 1; }
+.card figure { position: relative; aspect-ratio: 16/9; overflow: hidden; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border); }
+.card figure img {
+  width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: cover; object-position: top;
+  filter: saturate(0.9); transition: transform 0.5s ease, filter 0.5s ease;
+}
+.card:hover figure img { transform: scale(1.03); filter: saturate(1.05); }
+/* ↗ badge over the image */
+.card figure::after {
+  content: "↗"; position: absolute; top: 10px; right: 10px;
+  display: grid; place-items: center; width: 26px; height: 26px;
+  font-family: var(--font-mono); font-size: 13px; color: var(--fg);
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--bg) 75%, transparent);
+  border: 1px solid var(--border-strong); border-radius: 999px;
+  backdrop-filter: blur(8px);
+  opacity: 0; transform: translate(-6px, 6px);
+  transition: opacity 0.2s, transform 0.2s;
+}
+.card:hover figure::after { opacity: 1; transform: none; }
 .card-body { padding: 20px; }
 .card-head { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: space-between; gap: 12px; }
 .card-head h3 { font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: -0.01em; }