Limelight
What is a Markup Tool?
A markup tool lets you add visual marks such as lines, arrows, shapes, or highlights over content to point out details or explain ideas.
A markup tool is software for layering visual notes onto something else. The term overlaps heavily with annotation; markup tends to emphasize quick visual marks like circling a button or drawing an arrow rather than long written notes.
Markup tools range from built-in features, such as macOS Markup for images and PDFs, to live on-screen tools that draw over any app in real time. The built-in kind edits a saved file, while a live tool simply paints on top of the current screen so you can highlight things as you speak.
Limelight provides live markup on macOS. As a menu-bar app it lets you draw freehand over whatever is on screen during a demo, lecture, or call, then clear it with a shortcut. It also records your screen and exports a finished, cinematic video itself, so your markup is baked right into the recording without changing or saving the underlying content.
Why Limelight
- ▸Markup tools add quick visual marks over content
- ▸macOS Markup edits saved images and PDFs; Limelight draws live
- ▸Limelight draws over any app straight from the menu bar
- ▸Clear all marks instantly with ⌃⌥C
Cursor spotlight free · from $2.99/mo or $34 lifetime · macOS 14+
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free to start, then go Pro from $2.99/mo or a $34 one-time lifetime license. macOS 14+, notarized by Apple.
FAQ
- Is markup the same as annotation?
- They overlap closely. Markup usually stresses quick visual marks like arrows and highlights, while annotation can include longer notes. Limelight does freehand live markup over any app.
- Can I use Limelight markup while recording?
- Yes. Limelight records your screen itself, so your live markup is baked straight into the cinematic video it exports — no separate recorder needed.