Limelight
What is On-Screen Drawing?
On-screen drawing is sketching freehand lines directly over whatever is displayed, using your screen as a transparent canvas for live emphasis.
On-screen drawing means putting freehand strokes on top of your live screen so you can circle, underline, or sketch while you talk. The drawing layer floats above your apps and does not alter them. It is the digital version of grabbing a marker and drawing on a printout, except the marks land on your actual interface.
This is different from drawing inside a paint app or a document, where the strokes become part of a file. On-screen drawing is usually transient: it exists to guide the eye in the moment and is wiped when you are done. It pairs naturally with presentations, tutorials, and code walkthroughs.
Limelight provides exactly this on macOS as a menu-bar overlay. A global hotkey turns your whole screen into a freehand canvas over any app, and ⌃⌥C clears it instantly. It is freehand only, with no shapes or text boxes, and it runs alongside any recorder or meeting app so your drawing appears wherever you present.
Why Limelight
- ▸Freehand strokes float over your live screen without changing the apps beneath
- ▸Best for circling, underlining, and quick sketches during talks
- ▸Typically temporary, cleared once the point is made
- ▸Limelight enables freehand drawing over any macOS app, toggled with ⌃⌥3
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One-time payment, no subscription. 7-day free trial, then $15 once. macOS 14+, notarized by Apple.
FAQ
- Can I draw shapes or arrows with on-screen drawing?
- That depends on the tool. Limelight is freehand only, so you sketch arrows and circles by hand rather than inserting perfect shapes.
- Will my on-screen drawing show up in a recording?
- Yes. Because it is a real overlay, anything you draw with Limelight appears in QuickTime, OBS, or any meeting screen share.