diff --git a/components/GenerateWaitStage.tsx b/components/GenerateWaitStage.tsx
index 155b0e4e..7b1578e0 100644
--- a/components/GenerateWaitStage.tsx
+++ b/components/GenerateWaitStage.tsx
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ export function GenerateWaitStage({
         className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-0 opacity-40"
         style={{
           background:
-            "radial-gradient(ellipse 70% 50% at 50% 40%, rgba(200,255,61,0.12), transparent 70%)",
+            "radial-gradient(ellipse 70% 50% at 50% 40%, rgba(196,165,116,0.12), transparent 70%)",
         }}
       />
 
@@ -217,11 +217,11 @@ export function GenerateWaitStage({
             alt=""
             width={compact ? 64 : 88}
             height={compact ? 64 : 88}
-            className={`rounded-2xl object-cover ring-2 ring-[var(--mint)]/40 shadow-[0_0_32px_rgba(200,255,61,0.2)] ${
+            className={`rounded-2xl object-cover ring-2 ring-[var(--mint)]/40 shadow-[0_0_32px_rgba(196,165,116,0.2)] ${
               compact ? "h-16 w-16" : "h-[5.5rem] w-[5.5rem]"
             }`}
           />
-          <span className="absolute -bottom-1 -right-1 grid h-6 w-6 place-items-center rounded-full bg-[var(--mint)] text-[10px] font-black text-black shadow-[0_0_12px_rgba(200,255,61,0.5)]">
+          <span className="absolute -bottom-1 -right-1 grid h-6 w-6 place-items-center rounded-full bg-[var(--mint)] text-[10px] font-black text-black shadow-[0_0_12px_rgba(196,165,116,0.5)]">
             <span className="inline-block h-3 w-3 animate-spin rounded-full border-2 border-black/20 border-t-black" />
           </span>
         </div>
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ export function GenerateWaitStage({
           className="h-full rounded-full transition-all duration-500 ease-out"
           style={{
             width: `${pct}%`,
-            background: "var(--grad, linear-gradient(90deg,#c8ff3d,#7dffb3))",
+            background: "var(--grad, var(--grad-cta))",
           }}
         />
       </div>
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ export function GenerateWaitMobileStrip({
           className="h-full rounded-full transition-all duration-500"
           style={{
             width: `${pct}%`,
-            background: "var(--grad, #c8ff3d)",
+            background: "var(--grad, var(--brand))",
           }}
         />
       </div>
diff --git a/scripts/generate-360-cta-smoke.mjs b/scripts/generate-360-cta-smoke.mjs
index a1f03e47..bdef3572 100644
--- a/scripts/generate-360-cta-smoke.mjs
+++ b/scripts/generate-360-cta-smoke.mjs
@@ -821,4 +821,27 @@ assert.match(
   "Explore page eyebrows/CTAs/path accents use --brand copper"
 );
 
+// AIT-601: GenerateWaitStage residual competitor lime → gallery-calm copper
+const generateWaitStageSrc = read("components/GenerateWaitStage.tsx");
+assert.doesNotMatch(
+  generateWaitStageSrc,
+  /#c8ff3d|c8ff3d|200\s*,\s*255\s*,\s*61|#7dffb3|7dffb3/i,
+  "GenerateWaitStage must not hard-code competitor lime (#c8ff3d / #7dffb3 / rgba 200,255,61)"
+);
+assert.match(
+  generateWaitStageSrc,
+  /var\(--grad-cta\)/,
+  "GenerateWaitStage wait progress uses --grad-cta copper fallback"
+);
+assert.match(
+  generateWaitStageSrc,
+  /var\(--brand\)/,
+  "GenerateWaitStage compact progress uses --brand copper fallback"
+);
+assert.match(
+  generateWaitStageSrc,
+  /rgba\(196\s*,\s*165\s*,\s*116/,
+  "GenerateWaitStage stage glow uses copper board rgba(196,165,116)"
+);
+
 console.log("generate-360-cta-smoke: ok");
diff --git a/scripts/product-proof-smoke.mjs b/scripts/product-proof-smoke.mjs
index eaeb106e..be67dadc 100644
--- a/scripts/product-proof-smoke.mjs
+++ b/scripts/product-proof-smoke.mjs
@@ -307,6 +307,22 @@ assert(
   );
 }
 
+// AIT-601: GenerateWaitStage residual competitor lime → gallery-calm copper
+{
+  const lime = /#c8ff3d|c8ff3d|200\s*,\s*255\s*,\s*61|#7dffb3|7dffb3/i;
+  const waitStage = read("components/GenerateWaitStage.tsx");
+  assert(
+    !lime.test(waitStage),
+    "GenerateWaitStage must not hard-code competitor lime (#c8ff3d / #7dffb3 / rgba 200,255,61)"
+  );
+  assert(
+    waitStage.includes("var(--grad-cta)") &&
+      waitStage.includes("var(--brand)") &&
+      /rgba\(196\s*,\s*165\s*,\s*116/.test(waitStage),
+    "GenerateWaitStage progress chrome uses --grad-cta / --brand + copper glow"
+  );
+}
+
 console.log(
   `product-proof smoke passed: ${proofSlugs.length} proof recipes, static concepts, 1/2 autoplay budget`
 );