diff --git a/assets/backgrounds/bg_0.png b/assets/backgrounds/bg_0.png
index 8848cb6..c75dc16 100644
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diff --git a/assets/backgrounds/bg_1.png b/assets/backgrounds/bg_1.png
index c5d24dd..ef9525e 100644
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diff --git a/assets/backgrounds/bg_2.png b/assets/backgrounds/bg_2.png
index 8501a49..2023a48 100644
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diff --git a/assets/backgrounds/bg_3.png b/assets/backgrounds/bg_3.png
index c61c299..7302d3c 100644
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diff --git a/assets/backgrounds/bg_4.png b/assets/backgrounds/bg_4.png
index a0413dc..382637c 100644
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diff --git a/assets/cards/backs/back_0.png b/assets/cards/backs/back_0.png
index e49bed3..b673bf0 100644
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diff --git a/assets/cards/backs/back_1.png b/assets/cards/backs/back_1.png
index db1e94b..8cc06c0 100644
Binary files a/assets/cards/backs/back_1.png and b/assets/cards/backs/back_1.png differ
diff --git a/assets/cards/backs/back_2.png b/assets/cards/backs/back_2.png
index 253fd51..8346fa9 100644
Binary files a/assets/cards/backs/back_2.png and b/assets/cards/backs/back_2.png differ
diff --git a/assets/cards/backs/back_3.png b/assets/cards/backs/back_3.png
index 0532928..ac070a0 100644
Binary files a/assets/cards/backs/back_3.png and b/assets/cards/backs/back_3.png differ
diff --git a/assets/cards/backs/back_4.png b/assets/cards/backs/back_4.png
index 24d78fe..9f16ff8 100644
Binary files a/assets/cards/backs/back_4.png and b/assets/cards/backs/back_4.png differ
diff --git a/solitaire_assetgen/src/bin/gen_art.rs b/solitaire_assetgen/src/bin/gen_art.rs
index f084f33..e4fa3d7 100644
--- a/solitaire_assetgen/src/bin/gen_art.rs
+++ b/solitaire_assetgen/src/bin/gen_art.rs
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 //! Produces:
 //! - 52 card face PNGs (120×168) — one per card, with rank, suit symbol, and
 //!   pip or face-letter layout baked in.
-//! - 5 card back PNGs (16×16 placeholder patterns).
-//! - 5 background PNGs (16×16 placeholder patterns).
+//! - 5 card back PNGs (120×168) with distinctive coloured patterns.
+//! - 5 background PNGs (120×168) with textured felt/wood patterns.
 //!
 //! Run with: `cargo run -p solitaire_assetgen --bin gen_art`
 
@@ -50,6 +50,41 @@ impl Canvas {
         Self { data }
     }
 
+    /// Fill every pixel with a solid colour, erasing whatever was there before.
+    fn fill_solid(&mut self, c: [u8; 4]) {
+        for i in 0..(W * H) as usize {
+            self.data[i * 4..i * 4 + 4].copy_from_slice(&c);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Draw a 1-pixel-wide axis-aligned horizontal line.
+    fn hline(&mut self, y: i32, x0: i32, x1: i32, c: [u8; 4]) {
+        for x in x0..=x1 {
+            self.set(x, y, c);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Draw a 1-pixel-wide axis-aligned vertical line.
+    fn vline(&mut self, x: i32, y0: i32, y1: i32, c: [u8; 4]) {
+        for y in y0..=y1 {
+            self.set(x, y, c);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Draw a filled diamond outline (ring) of given half-extents and line thickness.
+    fn diamond_ring(&mut self, cx: f32, cy: f32, rx: f32, ry: f32, thickness: f32, c: [u8; 4]) {
+        for y in (cy - ry - 2.0) as i32..=(cy + ry + 2.0) as i32 {
+            for x in (cx - rx - 2.0) as i32..=(cx + rx + 2.0) as i32 {
+                let nx = (x as f32 - cx).abs() / rx;
+                let ny = (y as f32 - cy).abs() / ry;
+                let dist = nx + ny;
+                if dist <= 1.0 && dist >= 1.0 - (thickness / rx.min(ry)) {
+                    self.set(x, y, c);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     fn set(&mut self, x: i32, y: i32, c: [u8; 4]) {
         if x < 0 || y < 0 || x >= W as i32 || y >= H as i32 { return; }
         let i = (y as u32 * W + x as u32) as usize * 4;
@@ -352,67 +387,277 @@ fn save_png_wh(path: &Path, data: &[u8], w: u32, h: u32) {
         .unwrap_or_else(|e| panic!("png data error for {}: {e}", path.display()));
 }
 
-fn save_small_png(path: &Path, pixels: &[u8; 1024]) {
-    save_png_wh(path, pixels, 16, 16);
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Card backs (120×168 with distinctive patterns)
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/// back_0 – blue: repeating diamond grid pattern
+fn make_back_0() -> Canvas {
+    const BASE: [u8; 4] = [0x26, 0x4D, 0x8C, 0xFF];
+    const LIGHT: [u8; 4] = [0x5A, 0x80, 0xBF, 0xFF];
+    const HIGHLIGHT: [u8; 4] = [0xA0, 0xC0, 0xFF, 0xB0];
+    let mut cv = Canvas::new();
+    cv.fill_solid(BASE);
+
+    // 2-pixel border
+    let bw = 4i32;
+    for x in 0..W as i32 { for t in 0..bw { cv.set(x, t, LIGHT); cv.set(x, H as i32 - 1 - t, LIGHT); } }
+    for y in 0..H as i32 { for t in 0..bw { cv.set(t, y, LIGHT); cv.set(W as i32 - 1 - t, y, LIGHT); } }
+
+    // Diamond grid: row/col spacing
+    let gx = 18.0f32;
+    let gy = 18.0f32;
+    let rx = gx * 0.45;
+    let ry = gy * 0.45;
+    let mut row = 0;
+    let mut cy = 6.0f32 + gy * 0.5;
+    while cy < H as f32 - 4.0 {
+        let offset = if row % 2 == 0 { 0.0 } else { gx * 0.5 };
+        let mut cx = 6.0f32 + gx * 0.5 + offset;
+        while cx < W as f32 - 4.0 {
+            cv.diamond_ring(cx, cy, rx, ry, 1.5, LIGHT);
+            // tiny highlight dot at centre of each diamond
+            cv.circle(cx, cy, 1.5, HIGHLIGHT);
+            cx += gx;
+        }
+        cy += gy;
+        row += 1;
+    }
+    cv
 }
 
-fn make_small<F: Fn(u32, u32) -> [u8; 4]>(f: F) -> [u8; 1024] {
-    let mut out = [0u8; 1024];
-    for y in 0u32..16 {
-        for x in 0u32..16 {
-            let c = f(x, y);
-            let i = ((y * 16 + x) * 4) as usize;
-            out[i..i + 4].copy_from_slice(&c);
+/// back_1 – red: diagonal crosshatch
+fn make_back_1() -> Canvas {
+    const BASE: [u8; 4] = [0x8C, 0x1A, 0x1A, 0xFF];
+    const LINE: [u8; 4] = [0xCC, 0x55, 0x55, 0xC0];
+    const BORDER: [u8; 4] = [0xDD, 0x88, 0x88, 0xFF];
+    let mut cv = Canvas::new();
+    cv.fill_solid(BASE);
+
+    // Diagonal lines every 12 px (NW→SE)
+    let spacing = 12i32;
+    for k in (-(H as i32)..W as i32).step_by(spacing as usize) {
+        for t in 0..W as i32 {
+            let y = t + k;
+            cv.set(t, y, LINE);
+            // 1 px thick — also set neighbour for slightly bolder line
+            cv.set(t, y + 1, LINE);
         }
     }
-    out
+    // Diagonal lines (NE→SW)
+    for k in (0..(W as i32 + H as i32)).step_by(spacing as usize) {
+        for t in 0..W as i32 {
+            let y = k - t;
+            cv.set(t, y, LINE);
+            cv.set(t, y + 1, LINE);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // 4-pixel border
+    let bw = 4i32;
+    for x in 0..W as i32 { for t in 0..bw { cv.set(x, t, BORDER); cv.set(x, H as i32 - 1 - t, BORDER); } }
+    for y in 0..H as i32 { for t in 0..bw { cv.set(t, y, BORDER); cv.set(W as i32 - 1 - t, y, BORDER); } }
+    cv
+}
+
+/// back_2 – green: evenly spaced small circle array
+fn make_back_2() -> Canvas {
+    const BASE: [u8; 4] = [0x0D, 0x66, 0x1A, 0xFF];
+    const DOT: [u8; 4] = [0x40, 0xCC, 0x55, 0xE0];
+    const BORDER: [u8; 4] = [0x55, 0xDD, 0x66, 0xFF];
+    let mut cv = Canvas::new();
+    cv.fill_solid(BASE);
+
+    // 4-pixel border
+    let bw = 4i32;
+    for x in 0..W as i32 { for t in 0..bw { cv.set(x, t, BORDER); cv.set(x, H as i32 - 1 - t, BORDER); } }
+    for y in 0..H as i32 { for t in 0..bw { cv.set(t, y, BORDER); cv.set(W as i32 - 1 - t, y, BORDER); } }
+
+    // Circle array (staggered rows)
+    let gx = 16.0f32;
+    let gy = 16.0f32;
+    let r = 3.5f32;
+    let mut row = 0;
+    let mut cy = 8.0f32 + gy * 0.5;
+    while cy < H as f32 - 6.0 {
+        let offset = if row % 2 == 0 { 0.0 } else { gx * 0.5 };
+        let mut cx = 8.0f32 + gx * 0.5 + offset;
+        while cx < W as f32 - 6.0 {
+            cv.circle(cx, cy, r, DOT);
+            cx += gx;
+        }
+        cy += gy;
+        row += 1;
+    }
+    cv
+}
+
+/// back_3 – purple: concentric diamond outlines
+fn make_back_3() -> Canvas {
+    const BASE: [u8; 4] = [0x59, 0x14, 0x85, 0xFF];
+    const RING: [u8; 4] = [0xA0, 0x60, 0xDD, 0xD0];
+    const BORDER: [u8; 4] = [0xBB, 0x77, 0xFF, 0xFF];
+    let mut cv = Canvas::new();
+    cv.fill_solid(BASE);
+
+    // Concentric diamonds from centre
+    let cx = W as f32 * 0.5;
+    let cy = H as f32 * 0.5;
+    let mut rx = 8.0f32;
+    let step = 12.0f32;
+    while rx < (W as f32).max(H as f32) {
+        let ry = rx * (H as f32 / W as f32);
+        cv.diamond_ring(cx, cy, rx, ry, 1.5, RING);
+        rx += step;
+    }
+
+    // 4-pixel border
+    let bw = 4i32;
+    for x in 0..W as i32 { for t in 0..bw { cv.set(x, t, BORDER); cv.set(x, H as i32 - 1 - t, BORDER); } }
+    for y in 0..H as i32 { for t in 0..bw { cv.set(t, y, BORDER); cv.set(W as i32 - 1 - t, y, BORDER); } }
+    cv
+}
+
+/// back_4 – teal: horizontal stripes with thin decorative lines
+fn make_back_4() -> Canvas {
+    const BASE: [u8; 4] = [0x0D, 0x66, 0x6B, 0xFF];
+    const STRIPE: [u8; 4] = [0x1A, 0x99, 0xA0, 0x90];
+    const DECO: [u8; 4] = [0x55, 0xCC, 0xD4, 0xA0];
+    const BORDER: [u8; 4] = [0x44, 0xBB, 0xC4, 0xFF];
+    let mut cv = Canvas::new();
+    cv.fill_solid(BASE);
+
+    // Horizontal stripes every 10 px (2 px wide)
+    let mut y = 6i32;
+    while y < H as i32 - 4 {
+        cv.hline(y, 5, W as i32 - 6, STRIPE);
+        cv.hline(y + 1, 5, W as i32 - 6, STRIPE);
+        y += 10;
+    }
+    // Thin decorative horizontal lines between stripes
+    let mut y = 10i32;
+    while y < H as i32 - 4 {
+        cv.hline(y, 14, W as i32 - 15, DECO);
+        y += 10;
+    }
+
+    // 4-pixel border
+    let bw = 4i32;
+    for x in 0..W as i32 { for t in 0..bw { cv.set(x, t, BORDER); cv.set(x, H as i32 - 1 - t, BORDER); } }
+    for y in 0..H as i32 { for t in 0..bw { cv.set(t, y, BORDER); cv.set(W as i32 - 1 - t, y, BORDER); } }
+    cv
 }
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Card backs (16×16 placeholder patterns)
+// Backgrounds (120×168 textured patterns)
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-fn make_back_0() -> [u8; 1024] {
-    make_small(|_, y| if y % 4 < 2 { [0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 40] } else { [0x26, 0x4D, 0x8C, 0xFF] })
-}
-fn make_back_1() -> [u8; 1024] {
-    make_small(|x, y| if (x + y) % 4 < 2 { [0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 40] } else { [0x8C, 0x1A, 0x1A, 0xFF] })
-}
-fn make_back_2() -> [u8; 1024] {
-    make_small(|x, y| if x.is_multiple_of(4) && y.is_multiple_of(4) { [0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF] } else { [0x0D, 0x66, 0x1A, 0xFF] })
-}
-fn make_back_3() -> [u8; 1024] {
-    make_small(|x, y| {
-        let dx = (x as i32 - 8).unsigned_abs();
-        let dy = (y as i32 - 8).unsigned_abs();
-        if dx + dy <= 4 { [0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF] } else { [0x59, 0x14, 0x85, 0xFF] }
-    })
-}
-fn make_back_4() -> [u8; 1024] {
-    make_small(|x, y| if x == 0 || x == 15 || y == 0 || y == 15 { [0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF] } else { [0x0D, 0x66, 0x6B, 0xFF] })
+/// bg_0 – dark green felt: subtle grid of faint lines giving a woven texture
+fn make_bg_0() -> Canvas {
+    const BASE: [u8; 4] = [0x1A, 0x4D, 0x1A, 0xFF];
+    const WARP: [u8; 4] = [0x22, 0x60, 0x22, 0x90]; // slightly lighter horizontal threads
+    const WEFT: [u8; 4] = [0x15, 0x40, 0x15, 0x90]; // slightly darker vertical threads
+    let mut cv = Canvas::new();
+    cv.fill_solid(BASE);
+    // Horizontal warp lines every 4 px
+    for y in (0..H as i32).step_by(4) {
+        cv.hline(y, 0, W as i32 - 1, WARP);
+    }
+    // Vertical weft lines every 4 px
+    for x in (0..W as i32).step_by(4) {
+        cv.vline(x, 0, H as i32 - 1, WEFT);
+    }
+    cv
 }
 
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Backgrounds (16×16 placeholder patterns)
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+/// bg_1 – wood brown: horizontal planks with grain lines
+fn make_bg_1() -> Canvas {
+    const BASE: [u8; 4] = [0x40, 0x2D, 0x1A, 0xFF];
+    const PLANK_EDGE: [u8; 4] = [0x28, 0x1A, 0x0A, 0xFF]; // dark plank separator
+    const GRAIN: [u8; 4] = [0x55, 0x3D, 0x28, 0xA0];      // lighter grain streak
+    let mut cv = Canvas::new();
+    cv.fill_solid(BASE);
+    // Horizontal plank edges every 24 px
+    for y in (0..H as i32).step_by(24) {
+        cv.hline(y, 0, W as i32 - 1, PLANK_EDGE);
+        cv.hline(y + 1, 0, W as i32 - 1, PLANK_EDGE);
+    }
+    // Grain lines within each plank (every 3 px between plank edges)
+    for y in (0..H as i32).step_by(3) {
+        // Skip the plank edge rows
+        if y % 24 < 2 { continue; }
+        cv.hline(y, 2, W as i32 - 3, GRAIN);
+    }
+    cv
+}
 
-fn make_bg_0() -> [u8; 1024] {
-    make_small(|x, y| if x.is_multiple_of(8) || y.is_multiple_of(8) { [0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 30] } else { [0x1A, 0x4D, 0x1A, 0xFF] })
+/// bg_2 – navy: star-field dots scattered in a regular grid
+fn make_bg_2() -> Canvas {
+    const BASE: [u8; 4] = [0x0D, 0x14, 0x38, 0xFF];
+    const STAR_A: [u8; 4] = [0xCC, 0xDD, 0xFF, 0xD0];
+    const STAR_B: [u8; 4] = [0x80, 0xA0, 0xDD, 0x80];
+    let mut cv = Canvas::new();
+    cv.fill_solid(BASE);
+    // Bright small stars on a staggered grid
+    let gx = 14.0f32;
+    let gy = 16.0f32;
+    let mut row = 0u32;
+    let mut cy = gy * 0.5;
+    while cy < H as f32 {
+        let offset = if row.is_multiple_of(2) { 0.0 } else { gx * 0.5 };
+        let mut cx = gx * 0.5 + offset;
+        while cx < W as f32 {
+            // alternate bright/dim to give depth
+            let c = if (row + (cx / gx) as u32).is_multiple_of(3) { STAR_A } else { STAR_B };
+            cv.circle(cx, cy, 1.0, c);
+            cx += gx;
+        }
+        cy += gy;
+        row += 1;
+    }
+    cv
 }
-fn make_bg_1() -> [u8; 1024] {
-    make_small(|_, y| if y.is_multiple_of(2) { [0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 20] } else { [0x40, 0x2D, 0x1A, 0xFF] })
+
+/// bg_3 – burgundy: diagonal tile pattern
+fn make_bg_3() -> Canvas {
+    const BASE: [u8; 4] = [0x4D, 0x0D, 0x14, 0xFF];
+    const LINE: [u8; 4] = [0x77, 0x22, 0x30, 0xB0];
+    const ACCENT: [u8; 4] = [0x99, 0x33, 0x44, 0x80];
+    let mut cv = Canvas::new();
+    cv.fill_solid(BASE);
+    // Diagonal lines in one direction every 16 px
+    let spacing = 16i32;
+    for k in (-(H as i32)..W as i32 + H as i32).step_by(spacing as usize) {
+        for t in 0..W as i32 {
+            let y = t + k;
+            cv.set(t, y, LINE);
+        }
+    }
+    // Diagonal lines in the other direction every 16 px (accent colour)
+    for k in (0..W as i32 + H as i32).step_by(spacing as usize) {
+        for t in 0..W as i32 {
+            let y = k - t;
+            cv.set(t, y, ACCENT);
+        }
+    }
+    cv
 }
-fn make_bg_2() -> [u8; 1024] {
-    make_small(|x, y| {
-        let off: u32 = if (y / 4).is_multiple_of(2) { 0 } else { 4 };
-        if (x + off).is_multiple_of(8) && y.is_multiple_of(8) { [0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF] } else { [0x0D, 0x14, 0x38, 0xFF] }
-    })
-}
-fn make_bg_3() -> [u8; 1024] {
-    make_small(|x, y| if (x + y).is_multiple_of(8) { [0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 30] } else { [0x4D, 0x0D, 0x14, 0xFF] })
-}
-fn make_bg_4() -> [u8; 1024] {
-    make_small(|x, y| if (x + y).is_multiple_of(2) && x.is_multiple_of(3) { [0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 20] } else { [0x1F, 0x1F, 0x24, 0xFF] })
+
+/// bg_4 – charcoal: subtle checkerboard texture
+fn make_bg_4() -> Canvas {
+    const DARK: [u8; 4] = [0x1F, 0x1F, 0x24, 0xFF];
+    const LIGHT: [u8; 4] = [0x2C, 0x2C, 0x33, 0xFF];
+    let mut cv = Canvas::new();
+    cv.fill_solid(DARK);
+    // 4×4 checkerboard
+    for y in 0..H as i32 {
+        for x in 0..W as i32 {
+            if ((x / 4) + (y / 4)) % 2 == 0 {
+                cv.set(x, y, LIGHT);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    cv
 }
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -451,16 +696,16 @@ fn main() {
     }
 
     // Card backs
-    for (i, pixels) in [make_back_0(), make_back_1(), make_back_2(), make_back_3(), make_back_4()].iter().enumerate() {
+    for (i, cv) in [make_back_0(), make_back_1(), make_back_2(), make_back_3(), make_back_4()].iter().enumerate() {
         let path = root.join(format!("assets/cards/backs/back_{i}.png"));
-        save_small_png(&path, pixels);
+        save_card_png(&path, cv);
         println!("wrote {}", path.display());
     }
 
     // Backgrounds
-    for (i, pixels) in [make_bg_0(), make_bg_1(), make_bg_2(), make_bg_3(), make_bg_4()].iter().enumerate() {
+    for (i, cv) in [make_bg_0(), make_bg_1(), make_bg_2(), make_bg_3(), make_bg_4()].iter().enumerate() {
         let path = root.join(format!("assets/backgrounds/bg_{i}.png"));
-        save_small_png(&path, pixels);
+        save_card_png(&path, cv);
         println!("wrote {}", path.display());
     }