Spotlight - Glow Effects

The Spotlight Glow Style setting offers 30 styles in 5 categories. Each style draws a different pattern around the edge of the spotlight, using the Glow Color, Glow Width, and Glow Intensity settings described in Spotlight. The patterns are static: they move with the cursor but don’t animate.

The Glow Style drop-down lists the styles in the category order below, without category headings.

Tip

The spotlight updates as soon as you select a style, so you can compare styles by moving the cursor while you browse the list.

Classic

Soft glows that suit most backgrounds.

Glow Style	Appearance
Radial Aura Ring	Soft gradient that fades outward from the edge
Two-Color Gradient	Gradient between the Glow Color and Secondary Color
Glow/Fade Effect	Short glow that fades quickly
Dotted Halo	Ring of dots

Dynamic

High-energy patterns that draw strong attention.

Glow Style	Appearance
Electric Arc	Jagged arcs around the spotlight edge
Plasma Corona	Soft, irregular corona
Flame Ring	Flame shapes pointing outward
Radar Sweep	Gradient wedge, like a radar display
Orbiting Dots	Dots placed around the spotlight circle
Atom Orbit	Elliptical orbit paths around the cursor

Ring

Glows that emphasize the edge of the spotlight rather than the area around it.

Glow Style	Appearance
Neon Glow	Bright neon-style ring
Double Halo	Two concentric rings
Wave Ring	Ring with a wavy edge
Pulse Rings	Three spaced concentric rings, like ripples in water
Target Rings	Bullseye of rings alternating the Glow Color and Secondary Color
Ice Frost Ring	Frosted, crystalline ring

Note

The Secondary Color setting is shown only for Two-Color Gradient. To change the second color of Target Rings, select Two-Color Gradient, set Secondary Color, and then select Target Rings again.

Geometric

Structured shapes, useful for technical or precision work.

Glow Style	Appearance
Gear Cog	Toothed ring, like a gear
Crosshatch Ring	Ring filled with a hatch pattern
Triangle Points	Triangular markers around the edge
Compass Markers	Triangle markers at the four compass points
Chain Links	Ring of chain links
Clock Timer	Clock face with tick marks
Matrix Digital	Short lines radiating outward, like digital rain
Sound Waves	Concentric waveform rings

Artistic

Decorative styles.

Glow Style	Appearance
Starburst Rays	Rays radiating from the spotlight
Spiral Glow	Spiral arms
DNA Helix	Double helix wrapped around the spotlight
Butterfly Wings	Symmetrical wing shapes beside the cursor
Petal Glow	Petals arranged around the spotlight
Sparkle Points	Small sparkles around the edge

Choosing a glow style

The following suggestions match common uses to a category and a starting style.

Use	Category and style
Clean presentations	Classic (Radial Aura Ring)
Live coding demos	Classic or Ring
Training videos	Ring (Pulse Rings)
Technical precision	Ring (Target Rings)
Decorative content	Artistic (Starburst Rays)
Maximum visibility	Dynamic (Electric Arc)