.cards-section {
    flex: 1 1 auto;      /* take the rest of the space */
    display: flex;
    justify-content: center;
    align-content: center;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    gap: 1.5rem;
    padding: 3rem 0;
    background: #6ea357; /* optional section background */
}

/* your simplified card */
.card {
    width: 320px;
    height: 350px;
    padding: 20px;
    color: white;
    border: 2px solid #ff6b00;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    cursor: pointer;
    transform-origin: center center;
    transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.175, 0.885, 0.32, 1.275);
    background-size: cover;
    background-position: center;
    background-repeat: no-repeat;
    position: relative;
    overflow: hidden;
}

/* full-width dark background bar for text */
.card .heading {
    font-size: 32px;
    font-weight: 500;
    line-height: 1.2;
    width: 100%;
    background: transparent;
    padding: 15px 20px;
    box-sizing: border-box;
    text-align: center;
    border-radius: 6px;
}

.card:hover .heading {
    background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
}

/* dark overlay on top of image */
.card::before {
    content: "";
    position: absolute;
    inset: 0;
    background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.55); /* darkness level */
    transition: background 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.175, 0.885, 0.32, 1.275);
    z-index: 0;
}

.card .main-content {
    flex: 1;
    display: flex;
    align-items: flex-end;
    position: relative;
    z-index: 1;
}

/* hover effects */
.card:hover {
    border-radius: 12px;
    background-color: #ff6b00;
    scale: 0.95;
    box-shadow: 0px 3px 187.5px 7.5px rgba(255, 107, 0, 0.4);
}

/* when hovered, overlay becomes brighter */
.card:hover::before {
    background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);
}

.tech-icons {
    position: absolute;
    bottom: 3px;
    right: 3px;
    display: flex;
    gap: 8px;
    z-index: 3; /* above overlay */
    pointer-events: none; /* card remains clickable */
}

.tech-icons img {
    width: 32px;
    height: 32px;
    /*
    object-fit: contain;
    */
    background: white;
   /* filter: drop-shadow(0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.6));
    opacity: 0.9;*/
}

/* page wrapper */
.portfolio-page {
    min-height: 100vh;
    margin-top: 90px;
}

/* title */
.portfolio-header {
    text-align: center;
    margin-bottom: 2rem;
}

.portfolio-title {
    font-size: 2.4rem;
    font-weight: 700;
}

.portfolio-subtitle {
    opacity: 0.7;
    font-size: 0.95rem;
}

/* filter buttons */
.portfolio-filters {
    display: flex;
    gap: 1rem;
    justify-content: center;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    margin-bottom: 2rem;
}

.filter-btn {
    background: #fff;
    border: 2px solid #ff6b00;
    color: #ff6b00;
    padding: 0.4rem 1.2rem;
    border-radius: 999px;
    font-weight: 600;
    cursor: pointer;
    transition: 0.2s;
}

.filter-btn.active,
.filter-btn:hover {
    background: #ff6b00;
    color: #fff;
}

/* cards grid: 3 per row, centered */
.cards-grid {
    display: grid;
    grid-template-columns: repeat(3, minmax(280px, 1fr));
    gap: 1.5rem;
    max-width: 1100px;
    margin: 0 auto;
    justify-items: center;
}

/* reuse your .card styles (already in your file) */

/* responsive */
@media (max-width: 1024px) {
    .cards-grid {
        grid-template-columns: repeat(2, minmax(240px, 1fr));
    }
}

@media (max-width: 680px) {
    .cards-grid {
        grid-template-columns: 1fr;
    }
}