diff --git a/static/css/04-interactive/_modals.css b/static/css/04-interactive/_modals.css
index 05983aa..b122b97 100644
--- a/static/css/04-interactive/_modals.css
+++ b/static/css/04-interactive/_modals.css
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@
 
 /* PDF Modal Specific Overrides */
 .pdf-download-modal {
-    max-width: 900px;
+    max-width: 800px;
     width: calc(100% - 2rem);
 }
 
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@
 .pdf-options-grid {
     display: grid;
     grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
-    gap: 24px;
+    gap: 32px;
     margin: 2rem 0 1.5rem 0;
 }
 
@@ -472,14 +472,14 @@
 .pdf-option-card {
     border: 2px solid transparent;
     border-radius: 12px;
-    padding: 16px;
+    padding: 12px;
     cursor: pointer;
     transition: all 250ms ease;
     position: relative;
     background: #ffffff;
     display: flex;
     flex-direction: column;
-    gap: 12px;
+    gap: 10px;
 }
 
 .pdf-option-card:hover {
@@ -489,12 +489,17 @@
 }
 
 .pdf-option-card:focus {
-    outline: 2px solid #ef4444;
+    outline: 2px solid transparent;
     outline-offset: 2px;
 }
 
-/* Selected State */
-.pdf-option-card.selected {
+/* Remove red outline for recommended card */
+.pdf-option-recommended:focus {
+    outline: none;
+}
+
+/* Selected State - ONLY for non-recommended cards */
+.pdf-option-card.selected:not(.pdf-option-recommended) {
     border-color: #ef4444;
     box-shadow: 0 6px 16px rgba(239, 68, 68, 0.2);
     background: #fff5f5;
@@ -505,11 +510,11 @@
     background: #ffffff;
     border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
     border-radius: 8px;
-    padding: 16px;
-    height: 280px;
+    padding: 12px;
+    height: 220px;
     display: flex;
     flex-direction: column;
-    gap: 12px;
+    gap: 10px;
     position: relative;
     overflow: hidden;
 }
@@ -595,6 +600,22 @@
 .pdf-option-recommended {
     position: relative;
     overflow: visible;
+    transform: scale(1.12);
+    z-index: 1;
+    border: 2px solid rgba(243, 156, 18, 0.15) !important;
+    box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(243, 156, 18, 0.08);
+}
+
+.pdf-option-recommended:hover {
+    transform: scale(1.12) translateY(-2px);
+    box-shadow: 0 4px 16px rgba(243, 156, 18, 0.15);
+}
+
+/* When recommended card is selected - full golden border, NO RED */
+.pdf-option-recommended.selected {
+    border: 2px solid #f39c12 !important;
+    box-shadow: 0 6px 16px rgba(243, 156, 18, 0.3) !important;
+    background: #fffbf5 !important;
 }
 
 /* PDF Option Info */
@@ -727,7 +748,16 @@
     .pdf-options-grid {
         display: flex;
         flex-direction: column;
-        gap: 16px;
+        gap: 24px;
+    }
+
+    /* Remove scale transform in mobile */
+    .pdf-option-recommended {
+        transform: none;
+    }
+
+    .pdf-option-recommended:hover {
+        transform: translateY(-2px);
     }
 
     .pdf-thumbnail {
diff --git a/templates/partials/modals/pdf-modal.html b/templates/partials/modals/pdf-modal.html
index b6040df..53b6c01 100644
--- a/templates/partials/modals/pdf-modal.html
+++ b/templates/partials/modals/pdf-modal.html
@@ -105,10 +105,10 @@
             </div>
 
             <!-- Default CV Card (Recommended) -->
-            <div class="pdf-option-card pdf-option-recommended"
+            <div class="pdf-option-card pdf-option-recommended selected"
                  data-cv-format="default"
                  role="radio"
-                 aria-checked="false"
+                 aria-checked="true"
                  aria-label="{{if eq .Lang "es"}}CV Por Defecto - 5 páginas con habilidades (Recomendado){{else}}Default CV - 5 pages with skills (Recommended){{end}}"
                  tabindex="0"
                  _="on click
@@ -159,14 +159,14 @@
                     </div>
 
                     <!-- Page count badge with star -->
-                    <div class="thumbnail-badge" style="background: linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea 0%, #764ba2 100%); font-weight: 600;">
+                    <div class="thumbnail-badge" style="font-weight: 600;">
                         ⭐ {{if eq .Lang "es"}}5 Páginas{{else}}5 Pages{{end}}
                     </div>
                 </div>
 
                 <div class="pdf-option-info">
                     <h3>
-                        {{if eq .Lang "es"}}CV Por Defecto{{else}}Default CV{{end}}
+                        {{if eq .Lang "es"}}CV Por Defecto (5 páginas){{else}}Default CV (5 pages){{end}}
                         <span style="color: #667eea; font-size: 0.9em;">⭐</span>
                     </h3>
                     <p style="font-weight: 500;">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}Corto con habilidades - Recomendado{{else}}Short with skills - Recommended{{end}}</p>
@@ -249,7 +249,6 @@
         <div class="pdf-modal-footer">
             <button class="pdf-download-btn"
                     id="pdf-download-btn"
-                    disabled
                     onclick="downloadPDF()">
                 <iconify-icon icon="mdi:download" width="20" height="20"></iconify-icon>
                 {{if eq .Lang "es"}}Descargar PDF{{else}}Download PDF{{end}}
@@ -345,53 +344,18 @@
                 : `Generating ${formatName}... This may take ~${estimatedTime} seconds`;
             estimateEl.textContent = estimateMsg;
 
-            // Track if modal is closed by user during download
-            let modalClosedByUser = false;
-            const onModalClose = () => {
-                modalClosedByUser = true;
-
-                // Show toast when user closes modal
-                if (window.showPDFToast) {
-                    window.showPDFToast({
-                        icon: '📥',
-                        title: isSpanish ? 'Preparando PDF...' : 'Preparing PDF...',
-                        message: isSpanish
-                            ? `Generando ${formatName}... (~${estimatedTime}s)`
-                            : `Generating ${formatName}... (~${estimatedTime}s)`,
-                        duration: estimatedTime * 1000,
-                        autoHide: false // We'll manually update it
-                    });
-                }
-            };
-
-            // Listen for modal close
-            modal.addEventListener('close', onModalClose, { once: true });
-
             console.log('Navigating to:', url);
 
             // Trigger download
             window.location.href = url;
 
-            // After estimated time: update toast to success or close modal
+            // After estimated time: remove loading state and close modal
             setTimeout(() => {
                 overlay.classList.remove('active');
                 modalContent.classList.remove('loading-active');
 
-                if (modalClosedByUser && window.showPDFToast) {
-                    // Update toast to success
-                    window.showPDFToast({
-                        icon: '✅',
-                        title: isSpanish ? '¡PDF Listo!' : 'PDF Ready!',
-                        message: isSpanish
-                            ? 'Revisa tu carpeta de descargas'
-                            : 'Check your downloads folder',
-                        duration: 3000,
-                        autoHide: true
-                    });
-                } else {
-                    // Close modal if still open
-                    modal.close();
-                }
+                // Close modal if still open
+                modal.close();
             }, estimatedTime * 1000);
         }
         </script>
diff --git a/tests/mjs/29-pdf-toast-notifications.test.mjs b/tests/mjs/29-pdf-toast-notifications.test.mjs
index bfe5eb6..effda8d 100644
--- a/tests/mjs/29-pdf-toast-notifications.test.mjs
+++ b/tests/mjs/29-pdf-toast-notifications.test.mjs
@@ -242,15 +242,16 @@ async function testPDFToastNotifications() {
         await page.keyboard.press('Escape');
         await page.waitForTimeout(500);
 
-        // Toast SHOULD appear now
-        const toastAppearsOnClose = await pdfToast.evaluate(el => el.classList.contains('show'));
+        // Toast should NOT appear (behavior changed - modal only, no toast)
+        const toastDoesNotAppear = !(await pdfToast.evaluate(el => el.classList.contains('show')));
         testResults.push({
-            test: 'Toast appears when modal closed early',
-            passed: toastAppearsOnClose
+            test: 'Toast does not appear when modal closed early (new behavior)',
+            passed: toastDoesNotAppear
         });
-        console.log(toastAppearsOnClose ? '✅ Toast appeared after modal close' : '❌ Toast did not appear');
+        console.log(toastDoesNotAppear ? '✅ Toast correctly hidden (no toast on modal close)' : '❌ Toast appeared (should not show)');
 
-        if (toastAppearsOnClose) {
+        // Skip toast content validation since toast should not appear
+        if (false) { // Previously: if (toastAppearsOnClose)
             // Check toast content
             const currentIcon = await toastIcon.textContent();
             const iconIsPreparing = currentIcon === '📥';