Limelight
What is Shortcut Overlay?
A shortcut overlay is an on-screen layer that shows keyboard shortcuts as you press them, revealing the key combinations behind your actions.
A shortcut overlay is a visual element drawn over your screen that surfaces the keyboard shortcuts you use. Rather than showing every key, it focuses on combinations such as ⌘C or ⌃⌥2, making it ideal for demos, tutorials, and presentations where the audience needs to know which commands drive the workflow.
A shortcut overlay differs from a general keystroke display in its emphasis: it spotlights shortcut combinations rather than individual letters. It is also separate from a shortcut reference sheet, which lists shortcuts statically; an overlay reacts to what you actually press in the moment.
For screen presenting, a shortcut overlay helps viewers learn the commands behind your fast, keyboard-driven moves. Limelight provides this on macOS through its menu bar: press ⌃⌥2 and the shortcut combinations and special keys you press appear as clean badges, while normal typing stays hidden so recordings remain focused.
Why Limelight
- ▸Displays keyboard shortcut combinations on screen as you press them
- ▸Emphasizes command combinations rather than ordinary characters
- ▸Great for teaching keyboard-driven workflows in demos and talks
- ▸Limelight's shortcut overlay is toggled with the global hotkey ⌃⌥2
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FAQ
- How is a shortcut overlay different from a keystroke overlay?
- A shortcut overlay focuses on key combinations like ⌘C, while a keystroke overlay can include more keys. Limelight shows shortcuts and special keys.
- Does Limelight show my regular typing?
- No. Limelight's shortcut overlay shows shortcuts and special keys only, keeping ordinary typing off screen.