diff --git a/solitaire_data/src/settings.rs b/solitaire_data/src/settings.rs
index 1201c1e..3eb70b9 100644
--- a/solitaire_data/src/settings.rs
+++ b/solitaire_data/src/settings.rs
@@ -154,6 +154,14 @@ pub struct Settings {
     /// `#[serde(default)]`.
     #[serde(default)]
     pub reduce_motion_mode: bool,
+    /// When `true`, replaces translucent "glass" chrome (the floating
+    /// touch tab bar) with opaque fills so table content behind it can
+    /// never reduce label/icon contrast. The accessibility counterpart
+    /// of iOS "Reduce Transparency". Older `settings.json` files written
+    /// before this field existed deserialize cleanly to `false` thanks
+    /// to `#[serde(default)]`.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub reduce_transparency_mode: bool,
     /// Window size and screen position to restore on next launch. `None`
     /// means "use platform defaults" — set on first run, then populated
     /// as the player resizes / moves the window. Older `settings.json`
@@ -451,6 +459,7 @@ impl Default for Settings {
             color_blind_mode: false,
             high_contrast_mode: false,
             reduce_motion_mode: false,
+            reduce_transparency_mode: false,
             window_geometry: None,
             selected_theme_id: default_theme_id(),
             shown_achievement_onboarding: false,
diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin/mod.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin/mod.rs
index a2ef864..7f918fe 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin/mod.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin/mod.rs
@@ -603,6 +603,7 @@ impl Plugin for HudPlugin {
                     // disjoint from the UiTextFx readout writers (tab labels
                     // vs HUD readouts), which Bevy can't prove, so declare it.
                     animate_tab_expansion.ambiguous_with(UiTextFx),
+                    duck_tab_bar_during_drag,
                 )
                     .chain()
                     .in_set(HudButtons)
diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin/tab_bar.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin/tab_bar.rs
index 5d3ef8c..5318090 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin/tab_bar.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin/tab_bar.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,10 @@ use crate::assets::hud_icon_svg::HudIcon;
 use crate::ui_glass::{GLASS_BORDER_PX, glass_surface};
 use crate::ui_theme::{ACCENT_PRIMARY_HOVER, SPACE_3};
 use bevy::text::{LineBreak, TextLayout};
-use bevy::ui::Overflow;
+use bevy::ui::{Overflow, UiTransform, Val2};
+
+use crate::resources::DragState;
+use crate::safe_area::SafeAreaInsets;
 
 /// Height of both the pill and the circular Menu button, in logical px.
 /// 64 keeps the inner 48-px buttons comfortably past the 44-px touch
@@ -99,6 +102,20 @@ pub struct TabLabelWrap {
 #[derive(Component, Debug)]
 pub struct TabLabel;
 
+/// Duck-away state on the bar container: while a card drag is committed
+/// the whole bar slides below the screen edge so it never occludes a
+/// drop target on the bottom tableau rows, then slides back on release.
+/// `progress` ∈ [0, 1]; 1 = fully off-screen.
+#[derive(Component, Debug)]
+pub struct TabBarDuck {
+    /// Current slide amount, animated by [`duck_tab_bar_during_drag`].
+    pub progress: f32,
+}
+
+/// Extra slide distance past the bar's own height so its drop shadow
+/// (16 px blur + 6 px offset) also clears the screen edge.
+const DUCK_SHADOW_ALLOWANCE_PX: f32 = 24.0;
+
 /// Rasterised icon textures for the five tab-bar actions.
 pub(super) struct TabIcons {
     undo: Handle<Image>,
@@ -179,6 +196,8 @@ pub(super) fn spawn_glass_tab_bar(
                 base_bottom: TAB_BAR_MARGIN,
             },
             HudActionBar,
+            TabBarDuck { progress: 0.0 },
+            UiTransform::IDENTITY,
         ))
         .with_children(|bar| {
             // The main pill: Undo · [Draw] · Hint · Pause.
@@ -453,6 +472,46 @@ pub(super) fn animate_tab_expansion(
     }
 }
 
+/// Slides the bar off the bottom edge while a card drag is committed and
+/// back once it ends. Effectively touch-only: the desktop docked bar
+/// never carries [`TabBarDuck`], so the query is empty there.
+///
+/// The slide animates `UiTransform::translation` (a render-time offset,
+/// +y = down) rather than `Node::bottom`, for two reasons: layout is
+/// never dirtied mid-drag (the whole point is not to cost frames while
+/// the player is dragging), and `Node::bottom` is owned by the safe-area
+/// anchor system — two writers on one field would fight.
+pub(super) fn duck_tab_bar_during_drag(
+    time: Res<Time>,
+    settings: Option<Res<SettingsResource>>,
+    drag: Option<Res<DragState>>,
+    insets: Option<Res<SafeAreaInsets>>,
+    windows: Query<&Window>,
+    mut bars: Query<(&mut TabBarDuck, &mut UiTransform), With<HudActionBar>>,
+) {
+    let target = if drag.as_deref().is_some_and(|d| d.committed) {
+        1.0
+    } else {
+        0.0
+    };
+    let reduce_motion = settings.as_deref().is_some_and(|s| s.0.reduce_motion_mode);
+    let dt = time.delta_secs();
+    // Physical-px inset → logical, same conversion the safe-area anchors
+    // apply (CLAUDE.md §10): the bar sits `inset` above its base position,
+    // so the slide must cover that extra travel to fully clear the edge.
+    let scale = windows.iter().next().map_or(1.0, |w| w.scale_factor());
+    let inset_logical = insets.as_deref().map_or(0.0, |i| i.bottom / scale);
+    let slide_px = TAB_BAR_CLEARANCE_PX + inset_logical + DUCK_SHADOW_ALLOWANCE_PX;
+    for (mut duck, mut transform) in &mut bars {
+        let next = step_expansion(duck.progress, target, dt, reduce_motion);
+        if next == duck.progress && duck.progress == target {
+            continue;
+        }
+        duck.progress = next;
+        transform.translation = Val2::px(0.0, next * slide_px);
+    }
+}
+
 /// Idle / hover / pressed feedback for glass tab buttons — the glass
 /// counterpart of `paint_action_buttons`, using each button's own colour
 /// triple so the accent-filled active pill and the transparent icon
diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin/tests.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin/tests.rs
index cfc5e92..74d2428 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin/tests.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin/tests.rs
@@ -1014,6 +1014,54 @@ fn expansion_width_is_linear_in_progress() {
     assert_eq!(expansion_width(4, 16.0, 1.5), full);
 }
 
+/// While a committed drag is active the bar must slide down (positive
+/// `UiTransform` y — off-screen) and return to identity once the drag
+/// ends. Manual time steps make the tween deterministic.
+#[test]
+fn tab_bar_ducks_during_committed_drag_and_returns() {
+    use crate::resources::DragState;
+    use bevy::ui::UiTransform;
+
+    let mut app = bar_only_app(true);
+    set_manual_time_step(&mut app, 0.05);
+    app.add_systems(Update, duck_tab_bar_during_drag);
+    app.insert_resource(DragState {
+        committed: true,
+        ..default()
+    });
+
+    let translation_y_px = |app: &mut App| -> f32 {
+        let world = app.world_mut();
+        let mut q = world.query_filtered::<&UiTransform, With<HudActionBar>>();
+        let t = q.single(world).expect("bar carries UiTransform");
+        match t.translation.y {
+            Val::Px(px) => px,
+            other => panic!("duck must write Val::Px, got {other:?}"),
+        }
+    };
+
+    // 0.18s slide at 0.05s/frame: fully ducked within 5 frames.
+    app.update();
+    app.update();
+    let mid = translation_y_px(&mut app);
+    assert!(mid > 0.0, "bar must start sliding down: {mid}");
+    for _ in 0..5 {
+        app.update();
+    }
+    let ducked = translation_y_px(&mut app);
+    assert!(
+        ducked > TAB_BAR_CLEARANCE_PX,
+        "fully ducked bar must clear its own floating footprint: {ducked}"
+    );
+
+    // Drag ends → bar slides back to identity.
+    app.world_mut().resource_mut::<DragState>().committed = false;
+    for _ in 0..8 {
+        app.update();
+    }
+    assert_eq!(translation_y_px(&mut app), 0.0);
+}
+
 /// The tween must move at the `MOTION_SLIDE_SECS` rate, never overshoot,
 /// and snap instantly under reduce-motion.
 #[test]
diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/input.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/input.rs
index 680e914..cdef105 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/input.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/input.rs
@@ -353,6 +353,14 @@ pub(super) fn handle_settings_buttons(
                     **t = on_off_label(settings.0.reduce_motion_mode);
                 }
             }
+            SettingsButton::ToggleReduceTransparency => {
+                settings.0.reduce_transparency_mode = !settings.0.reduce_transparency_mode;
+                persist(&path, &settings.0);
+                changed.write(SettingsChangedEvent(settings.0.clone()));
+                // Text refreshed by `update_reduce_transparency_text`; the
+                // glass chrome itself follows via `update_glass_surfaces`
+                // next frame.
+            }
             SettingsButton::ToggleTouchInputMode => {
                 use solitaire_data::settings::TouchInputMode;
                 settings.0.touch_input_mode = match settings.0.touch_input_mode {
diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/mod.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/mod.rs
index 9ed84f2..ea580f9 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/mod.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/mod.rs
@@ -135,6 +135,10 @@ struct HighContrastText;
 #[derive(Component, Debug)]
 struct ReduceMotionText;
 
+/// Marks the `Text` node showing the current reduce-transparency state.
+#[derive(Component, Debug)]
+struct ReduceTransparencyText;
+
 /// Marks the `Text` node showing the current touch input mode state.
 #[derive(Component, Debug)]
 struct TouchInputModeText;
@@ -277,6 +281,10 @@ enum SettingsButton {
     /// non-essential motion (card-slide animations become instant
     /// snaps) per `design-system.md` §Accessibility (#3).
     ToggleReduceMotion,
+    /// Toggle the [`Settings::reduce_transparency_mode`] flag — swaps
+    /// translucent glass chrome (the floating touch tab bar) for opaque
+    /// fills so table content never bleeds through UI text.
+    ToggleReduceTransparency,
     /// Toggle [`Settings::touch_input_mode`] between `OneTap`
     /// (auto-move on tap, default) and `TapToSelect` (first tap selects
     /// a card/stack, second tap on a target pile moves it).
@@ -361,8 +369,9 @@ impl SettingsButton {
             // run before continuing to the picker rows.
             SettingsButton::ToggleHighContrast => 61,
             SettingsButton::ToggleReduceMotion => 62,
-            SettingsButton::ToggleTouchInputMode => 63,
-            SettingsButton::CycleUiScale => 64,
+            SettingsButton::ToggleReduceTransparency => 63,
+            SettingsButton::ToggleTouchInputMode => 64,
+            SettingsButton::CycleUiScale => 65,
             // Picker rows — every swatch in a row shares the row's
             // priority so entity-index tiebreaking yields left → right.
             SettingsButton::SelectCardBack(_) => 70,
@@ -514,6 +523,16 @@ impl Plugin for SettingsPlugin {
                     update_smart_default_size_text,
                 ),
             );
+            app.add_systems(
+                Update,
+                (
+                    update_reduce_transparency_text,
+                    // Guards internally on settings-change / newly added
+                    // glass — `Added<GlassSurface>` can't be expressed as
+                    // a resource run condition.
+                    update_glass_surfaces,
+                ),
+            );
             app.add_systems(
                 Update,
                 (
diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/ui.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/ui.rs
index 89f286f..9c29e4a 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/ui.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/ui.rs
@@ -317,6 +317,15 @@ fn spawn_accessibility_tab(
         "Skips card-slide animations and other non-essential motion. Cards snap instantly to their target.",
         font_res,
     );
+    toggle_row(
+        body,
+        "Reduce Transparency",
+        ReduceTransparencyText,
+        on_off_label(settings.reduce_transparency_mode),
+        SettingsButton::ToggleReduceTransparency,
+        "Replaces the see-through glass toolbar with a solid panel so cards behind it never reduce readability.",
+        font_res,
+    );
     toggle_row(
         body,
         "Touch Input Mode",
diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/updates.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/updates.rs
index 3363bfe..63a2b6e 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/updates.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin/updates.rs
@@ -9,8 +9,10 @@ use crate::font_plugin::FontResource;
 use crate::progress_plugin::ProgressResource;
 use crate::resources::{SettingsScrollPos, SyncStatus, SyncStatusResource};
 use crate::theme::ThemeThumbnailCache;
+use crate::ui_glass::{GlassSurface, glass_decorations};
 use crate::ui_modal::ModalScrim;
 use crate::ui_theme::{BORDER_SUBTLE_HC, HighContrastBackground, HighContrastBorder};
+use bevy::ui::{BackgroundGradient, BorderGradient};
 
 /// Spawns the Settings panel when `SettingsScreen` becomes `true`;
 /// despawns it when it becomes `false`.
@@ -330,6 +332,41 @@ pub(super) fn update_reduce_motion_text(
     }
 }
 
+pub(super) fn update_reduce_transparency_text(
+    settings: Res<SettingsResource>,
+    mut text_nodes: Query<&mut Text, With<ReduceTransparencyText>>,
+) {
+    if !settings.is_changed() {
+        return;
+    }
+    for mut text in &mut text_nodes {
+        **text = on_off_label(settings.0.reduce_transparency_mode);
+    }
+}
+
+/// Retargets every [`GlassSurface`]'s sheen + rim gradients when the
+/// reduce-transparency or high-contrast toggles change. Runs on
+/// `SettingsResource` change and on newly added surfaces (so glass
+/// spawned after startup picks up an already-active toggle). Parallel to
+/// [`update_high_contrast_borders`]: same trigger, different components.
+pub(super) fn update_glass_surfaces(
+    settings: Res<SettingsResource>,
+    mut surfaces: Query<(&mut BackgroundGradient, &mut BorderGradient), With<GlassSurface>>,
+    added: Query<(), Added<GlassSurface>>,
+) {
+    if !settings.is_changed() && added.is_empty() {
+        return;
+    }
+    let (sheen, rim) = glass_decorations(
+        settings.0.reduce_transparency_mode,
+        settings.0.high_contrast_mode,
+    );
+    for (mut s, mut r) in &mut surfaces {
+        *s = sheen.clone();
+        *r = rim.clone();
+    }
+}
+
 pub(super) fn update_touch_input_mode_text(
     settings: Res<SettingsResource>,
     mut text_nodes: Query<&mut Text, With<TouchInputModeText>>,
diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/ui_glass.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/ui_glass.rs
index 4a773c8..f63cd76 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/ui_glass.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/ui_glass.rs
@@ -30,10 +30,19 @@ use bevy::ui::{
     BackgroundGradient, BorderGradient, BoxShadow, ColorStop, LinearGradient, ShadowStyle,
 };
 
+use crate::ui_theme::{BG_ELEVATED, BORDER_SUBTLE, BORDER_SUBTLE_HC};
+
 /// Border width every glass surface must reserve in its `Node::border` so
 /// the rim gradient has a strip to paint into.
 pub const GLASS_BORDER_PX: f32 = 1.0;
 
+/// Marker on every node that received [`glass_surface`]. The settings
+/// plugin's `update_glass_surfaces` retargets these when the player
+/// toggles reduce-transparency or high-contrast, swapping the gradients
+/// in place via [`glass_decorations`].
+#[derive(Component, Debug)]
+pub struct GlassSurface;
+
 /// Base fill at the *bottom* of the glass sheet — near-black at ~62%
 /// opacity so the felt and cards remain visible through the bar while
 /// keeping icon/label contrast comfortable.
@@ -58,6 +67,22 @@ const GLASS_RIM_BOTTOM: Color = Color::srgba(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.16);
 /// Drop shadow under the floating surface.
 const GLASS_SHADOW: Color = Color::srgba(0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.35);
 
+/// High-contrast fill — same glass, far less see-through, so text and
+/// icons keep contrast over any card art. Per `design-system.md`
+/// §Accessibility the HC toggle trades aesthetics for legibility.
+const GLASS_FILL_TOP_HC: Color = Color::srgba(0.20, 0.21, 0.23, 0.90);
+/// High-contrast fill at the bottom of the sheet.
+const GLASS_FILL_BOTTOM_HC: Color = Color::srgba(0.055, 0.055, 0.063, 0.88);
+
+/// High-contrast rim at the top edge — matches the luminance of
+/// `BORDER_SUBTLE_HC` so the bar's outline reads as strongly as every
+/// other HC-boosted border.
+const GLASS_RIM_TOP_HC: Color = Color::srgba(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.75);
+/// High-contrast rim at the midpoint.
+const GLASS_RIM_MID_HC: Color = Color::srgba(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.35);
+/// High-contrast rim at the bottom edge.
+const GLASS_RIM_BOTTOM_HC: Color = Color::srgba(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.50);
+
 /// Visual components for a floating glass surface.
 ///
 /// The caller owns the `Node` and must set two fields for the material to
@@ -69,33 +94,11 @@ const GLASS_SHADOW: Color = Color::srgba(0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.35);
 /// Everything here is fragment-shader work inside Bevy's stock UI pipeline,
 /// so it is safe on WebGL2 and adds no per-frame cost beyond ordinary nodes.
 pub fn glass_surface() -> impl Bundle {
+    let (sheen, rim) = glass_decorations(false, false);
     (
-        // Sheen: one top-to-bottom linear gradient carries both the fill and
-        // the lighting so there is a single source of truth for the surface
-        // colour (a separate `BackgroundColor` would just be painted over).
-        BackgroundGradient(vec![
-            LinearGradient::new(
-                LinearGradient::TO_BOTTOM,
-                vec![
-                    ColorStop::new(GLASS_FILL_TOP, Val::Percent(0.0)),
-                    ColorStop::new(GLASS_FILL_BOTTOM, Val::Percent(60.0)),
-                ],
-            )
-            .into(),
-        ]),
-        // Specular rim: bright at the top edge, fading out through the
-        // sides, with a faint return at the bottom.
-        BorderGradient(vec![
-            LinearGradient::new(
-                LinearGradient::TO_BOTTOM,
-                vec![
-                    ColorStop::new(GLASS_RIM_TOP, Val::Percent(0.0)),
-                    ColorStop::new(GLASS_RIM_MID, Val::Percent(55.0)),
-                    ColorStop::new(GLASS_RIM_BOTTOM, Val::Percent(100.0)),
-                ],
-            )
-            .into(),
-        ]),
+        GlassSurface,
+        sheen,
+        rim,
         // Soft shadow underneath sells the "floating above the table" read.
         BoxShadow(vec![ShadowStyle {
             color: GLASS_SHADOW,
@@ -107,9 +110,98 @@ pub fn glass_surface() -> impl Bundle {
     )
 }
 
+/// The sheen + rim pair for the requested accessibility state. The
+/// settings plugin overwrites every [`GlassSurface`]'s components with
+/// these when the relevant toggles change.
+///
+/// - Default: translucent fill with a top-lit sheen and a specular rim.
+/// - `high_contrast`: same shape, near-opaque fill, and a rim boosted to
+///   `BORDER_SUBTLE_HC` luminance so the outline stays legible.
+/// - `reduce_transparency`: flat opaque `BG_ELEVATED` fill and a flat
+///   border — no see-through at all. Combined with `high_contrast` the
+///   flat border brightens to `BORDER_SUBTLE_HC`.
+pub fn glass_decorations(
+    reduce_transparency: bool,
+    high_contrast: bool,
+) -> (BackgroundGradient, BorderGradient) {
+    if reduce_transparency {
+        // "Gradients" with a single stop render as flat fills — reusing the
+        // same component types means the settings toggle swaps values, not
+        // component sets.
+        let border = if high_contrast {
+            BORDER_SUBTLE_HC
+        } else {
+            BORDER_SUBTLE
+        };
+        return (
+            BackgroundGradient(vec![
+                LinearGradient::new(
+                    LinearGradient::TO_BOTTOM,
+                    vec![ColorStop::new(BG_ELEVATED, Val::Percent(0.0))],
+                )
+                .into(),
+            ]),
+            BorderGradient(vec![
+                LinearGradient::new(
+                    LinearGradient::TO_BOTTOM,
+                    vec![ColorStop::new(border, Val::Percent(0.0))],
+                )
+                .into(),
+            ]),
+        );
+    }
+
+    let (fill_top, fill_bottom, rim_top, rim_mid, rim_bottom) = if high_contrast {
+        (
+            GLASS_FILL_TOP_HC,
+            GLASS_FILL_BOTTOM_HC,
+            GLASS_RIM_TOP_HC,
+            GLASS_RIM_MID_HC,
+            GLASS_RIM_BOTTOM_HC,
+        )
+    } else {
+        (
+            GLASS_FILL_TOP,
+            GLASS_FILL_BOTTOM,
+            GLASS_RIM_TOP,
+            GLASS_RIM_MID,
+            GLASS_RIM_BOTTOM,
+        )
+    };
+    (
+        // Sheen: one top-to-bottom linear gradient carries both the fill and
+        // the lighting so there is a single source of truth for the surface
+        // colour (a separate `BackgroundColor` would just be painted over).
+        BackgroundGradient(vec![
+            LinearGradient::new(
+                LinearGradient::TO_BOTTOM,
+                vec![
+                    ColorStop::new(fill_top, Val::Percent(0.0)),
+                    ColorStop::new(fill_bottom, Val::Percent(60.0)),
+                ],
+            )
+            .into(),
+        ]),
+        // Specular rim: bright at the top edge, fading out through the
+        // sides, with a faint return at the bottom.
+        BorderGradient(vec![
+            LinearGradient::new(
+                LinearGradient::TO_BOTTOM,
+                vec![
+                    ColorStop::new(rim_top, Val::Percent(0.0)),
+                    ColorStop::new(rim_mid, Val::Percent(55.0)),
+                    ColorStop::new(rim_bottom, Val::Percent(100.0)),
+                ],
+            )
+            .into(),
+        ]),
+    )
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
+    use bevy::ui::Gradient;
 
     /// The bundle must insert all three visual components — a regression
     /// here (e.g. a refactor dropping the rim) would silently flatten the
@@ -142,5 +234,48 @@ mod tests {
     fn rim_highlight_peaks_at_top() {
         assert!(GLASS_RIM_TOP.alpha() > GLASS_RIM_BOTTOM.alpha());
         assert!(GLASS_RIM_BOTTOM.alpha() > GLASS_RIM_MID.alpha());
+        assert!(GLASS_RIM_TOP_HC.alpha() > GLASS_RIM_BOTTOM_HC.alpha());
+        assert!(GLASS_RIM_BOTTOM_HC.alpha() > GLASS_RIM_MID_HC.alpha());
+    }
+
+    /// Reduce-transparency must produce fully opaque fills — the entire
+    /// point of the toggle is that nothing shows through.
+    #[test]
+    fn reduce_transparency_is_fully_opaque() {
+        for high_contrast in [false, true] {
+            let (sheen, _) = glass_decorations(true, high_contrast);
+            for gradient in &sheen.0 {
+                let Gradient::Linear(linear) = gradient else {
+                    panic!("reduce-transparency sheen must stay linear");
+                };
+                for stop in &linear.stops {
+                    assert_eq!(
+                        stop.color.alpha(),
+                        1.0,
+                        "opaque variant leaked translucency (hc={high_contrast})"
+                    );
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// High-contrast glass must be meaningfully less transparent than the
+    /// default, and its rim meaningfully brighter — otherwise the toggle
+    /// does nothing perceptible on this surface.
+    #[test]
+    fn high_contrast_boosts_fill_and_rim() {
+        assert!(GLASS_FILL_TOP_HC.alpha() >= GLASS_FILL_TOP.alpha() + 0.15);
+        assert!(GLASS_FILL_BOTTOM_HC.alpha() >= GLASS_FILL_BOTTOM.alpha() + 0.15);
+        assert!(GLASS_RIM_TOP_HC.alpha() >= GLASS_RIM_TOP.alpha() + 0.25);
+    }
+
+    /// `glass_surface()` must carry the marker the settings applier
+    /// retargets — without it the accessibility toggles silently skip
+    /// the bar.
+    #[test]
+    fn glass_surface_carries_retarget_marker() {
+        let mut world = World::new();
+        let e = world.spawn(glass_surface()).id();
+        assert!(world.get::<GlassSurface>(e).is_some());
     }
 }