Limelight

Glossary

Plain-English definitions of the terms behind screen presenting, recording, and on-screen annotation — so you always know what a cursor highlight, keystroke overlay, or telestrator actually is.

• What are Modifier KeysModifier keys are keys such as Command, Option, Control, and Shift that change the behavior of other keys, combining with them to form keyboard shortcuts.
• What does Annotate Over Apps meanTo annotate over apps is to draw or mark on a transparent layer that sits above any running application, so your marks appear on top of whatever is on screen.
• a Cursor RingA cursor ring is a circular outline or halo drawn around the mouse pointer that highlights its position and moves with it across the screen.
• a Cursor SpotlightA cursor spotlight is a glowing region of emphasis that travels with your mouse pointer, making it easy to follow on a shared or recorded screen.
• a Follow-Cursor HighlightA follow-cursor highlight is a glow, ring, or circle that stays locked to the mouse pointer and moves with it, keeping the cursor easy to spot at all times.
• a Global HotkeyA global hotkey is a keyboard shortcut that works across the whole system, triggering an action no matter which app is currently in focus.
• a macOS OverlayA macOS overlay is a transparent layer drawn on top of your other apps, used to add highlights, annotations, or information without changing them.
• a Menu Bar AppA menu bar app is a macOS application that lives in the menu bar at the top of the screen, giving quick access to its features without a full window.
• a Mouse SpotlightA mouse spotlight is a focused circle of light around your pointer that dims or de-emphasizes the surrounding screen so attention lands on the cursor.
• a Mouse TrailA mouse trail is an on-screen effect that draws a fading line or series of ghost pointers behind the cursor as it moves, tracing its recent path.
• a Notarized AppA notarized app is a macOS app that Apple has scanned and approved for malware, so Gatekeeper recognizes it as safe to run.
• a Pointer MagnifierA pointer magnifier is a tool that zooms in on the part of the screen under the mouse pointer, enlarging small details so they are easier to read or show.
• a Presentation PointerA presentation pointer is any tool that makes the spot you are indicating obvious on screen, such as a laser pointer or a glowing highlight around your cursor.
• a TelestratorA telestrator is the broadcast tool that lets a sports analyst draw freehand lines and circles directly over live video to explain a play.
• Accessibility Permissions (macOS)Accessibility permission on macOS lets an app observe or control user input, such as keystrokes and mouse events, and is granted in System Settings.
• an Always-on-Top WindowAn always-on-top window stays visible above all other windows even when it is not the active app, so it never gets hidden behind them.
• Click HighlightingClick highlighting is an on-screen effect that animates a ring, ripple, or flash at the pointer whenever you press a mouse button, so viewers can see your clicks.
• Cursor HighlightA cursor highlight is a visual emphasis placed around your mouse pointer so viewers can easily see where it is and where it moves.
• Cursor VisibilityCursor visibility refers to how easy it is to see and track the mouse pointer on screen, especially on large displays, busy interfaces, or shared video.
• Demo RecordingA demo recording is a video that walks through a product or feature in action, made to show prospects, customers, or teammates how something works.
• Freehand AnnotationFreehand annotation is marking up content by drawing strokes by hand, rather than inserting preset shapes, straight lines, or text labels.
• Hotkey DisplayA hotkey display is an on-screen indicator that shows the hotkeys you press, revealing the key combinations that trigger actions during a demo or recording.
• Key Press DisplayA key press display is an on-screen indicator that shows each key or key combination you press, so viewers can follow your keyboard actions.
• Keyboard Shortcut OverlayA keyboard shortcut overlay is an on-screen layer that shows the keyboard shortcuts you press, helping viewers learn the combinations behind your workflow.
• KeycastKeycast is the practice of showing your keystrokes on screen, letting viewers see which keys or shortcuts you press during a recording, stream, or live demo.
• Keystroke OverlayA keystroke overlay is an on-screen layer that displays the keys you press as you press them, so an audience can see which keys or shortcuts you used.
• Keystroke VisualizationKeystroke visualization is the practice of turning the keys you press into on-screen visuals, making your keyboard input visible to an audience.
• Live AnnotationLive annotation is adding marks to your screen in real time during a presentation or call, so the audience watches the emphasis appear as you speak.
• Mouse EmphasisMouse emphasis is any on-screen technique that makes the mouse pointer stand out, so viewers can quickly find and follow it during a presentation or recording.
• On-Screen DrawingOn-screen drawing is sketching freehand lines directly over whatever is displayed, using your screen as a transparent canvas for live emphasis.
• On-Screen KeystrokesOn-screen keystrokes are visual badges or labels that display the keys you press, layered over your screen so an audience can see your keyboard input.
• Presenter ModePresenter mode is a configuration or set of tools that makes presenting clearer, typically adding ways to point at, emphasize, or annotate what is on screen.
• Screen AnnotationScreen annotation is the act of drawing, highlighting, or marking directly over whatever is on your screen so viewers can see exactly what you are pointing at.
• Screen CaptureScreen capture is the act of recording what appears on your display, either as a still image (a screenshot) or as a video (a screen recording).
• Screen InkScreen ink is the temporary digital ink you lay over your display, drawing freehand lines on top of live content to highlight and explain.
• Screen MarkupScreen markup is the practice of overlaying visual marks, such as highlights, circles, or sketches, on your display to draw attention to specific parts.
• Screen RecordingScreen recording is the process of capturing everything shown on your display as a video file, often with audio, so it can be saved and shared.
• Screen SharingScreen sharing streams your display live to other people during a call or meeting, so they can watch what you do in real time.
• ScreencastA screencast is a video recording of what happens on a computer screen, usually paired with voice narration, used to teach or demonstrate software.
• Shortcut OverlayA shortcut overlay is an on-screen layer that shows keyboard shortcuts as you press them, revealing the key combinations behind your actions.