.hero {
  min-height: 700px;
  position: relative;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center; /* optional: center horizontally */
  overflow: hidden;
  padding: 0 20px;
}

.hero::before {
  content: '';
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  background: 
    linear-gradient(135deg, var(--gradient-start, rgba(0,0,0,0.7)) 0%, var(--gradient-end, rgba(0,0,0,0.1)) 100%),
    url('../images/hero-bg.webp') center/cover no-repeat;
  z-index: -1;
}

.hero-content {
  max-width: 700px;
  padding: 20px;
  position: relative;
  z-index: 2;
  color: var(--text-light, #ffffff); /* fallback color */
}

.hero h1 {
  font-size: 4.5rem;
  line-height: 1.1;
  margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
  text-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
}

.hero p {
  font-size: 1.4rem;
  margin-bottom: 2.5rem;
  max-width: 600px;
  color: var(--text-muted, #cccccc); /* fallback */
}