# Spotlight From Above — effect skill for backdrops

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Soft light cones fall from the top of a dark frame onto the product or title.

- **Type:** [Effect](https://varg.ai/how-to/effects.md) · [Backdrops](https://varg.ai/how-to/browse/skills/backdrops.md)
- **Slug:** `spotlight-from-above`
- **Status:** live
- **Publisher:** Aceternity UI (community)
- **License:** Aceternity License (free components)
- **Source:** https://ui.aceternity.com/components/spotlight-new
- **Works in:** Claude Code, Claude.ai, Codex, Cursor, OpenClaw, Gemini CLI, Any MCP client, varg Studio
- **Requires:** HyperFrames (npx hyperframes), Remotion, CapCut (by hand)
- **Cost:** Free — the take renders locally; generated footage, if any, bills by the model

## What it does

Built on [Spotlight New](https://ui.aceternity.com/components/spotlight-new) by aceternity, Aceternity License (free components). The write-up and recipes below are varg's.

One or two wide, blurred white cones from the top corners, swaying a few degrees; the subject sits in the pool of light.

**When:** Hero reveals, premium product moments, keynote-style titles.

**Watch out:** Do not light the edges brighter than the subject; the pool of light goes where the eye should go.

**Timing:** Sway loop 6–10 s; fade-in of the light 0.8–1.2 s before the subject appears.

**Also called:** light cone, lamp effect, top light

### In HyperFrames

```bash
npx hyperframes add godrays
```
Or layer two blurred conic gradients and tween their `rotation` ±4° with `sine.inOut`.

### In Remotion

```tsx
// npx shadcn@latest add @aceternity/spotlight-new  (drive sway from frame)
const r = Math.sin(frame/fps*Math.PI*2/8)*4;
```

### In CapCut

Effects → Lighting → "Spotlight"/"Light beam"; place above the subject; lower intensity.

### Ready-made components

- [Spotlight New](https://skills.varg.ai/component/aceternity.spotlight-new/) (aceternity): npx shadcn@latest add @aceternity/spotlight-new
- [Lamp Effect](https://skills.varg.ai/component/aceternity.lamp-effect/) (aceternity): npx shadcn@latest add @aceternity/lamp
- [Light Rays](https://skills.varg.ai/component/reactbits.light-rays/) (react-bits): npx shadcn@latest add @react-bits/LightRays-JS-CSS

### Where this comes from

- [UX Design Bootcamp: the rise of Linear style design](https://bootcamp.uxdesign.cc/the-rise-of-linear-style-design-origins-trends-and-techniques-4fd96aab7646)

## Use when

- Hero reveals, premium product moments, keynote-style titles.

## Not for

- Do not light the edges brighter than the subject; the pool of light goes where the eye should go.

## Install

- Claude Code: `claude plugin marketplace add vargHQ/skills && claude plugin install varg@varg`
- Codex: `npx skills add vargHQ/skills --skill varg-video-edit-library -a codex -y`
- Cursor: `npx skills add vargHQ/skills --skill varg-video-edit-library -a cursor -y`

## Example output

https://s3.varg.ai/how-to/previews/48791363c6c6/lib-aceternity-spotlight-new.mp4 — Preview of the Spotlight New component that builds this take (credit: Rendered by varg from the library’s own code (Aceternity UI), https://ui.aceternity.com/components/spotlight-new)

## More backdrops skills

- [Slow Mesh Gradient](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/slow-mesh-gradient.md): Soft brand-colored fields blend and drift slowly behind titles and UI.
- [Aurora Behind the Title](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/aurora-behind-title.md): Blurred light streaks drift sideways across a dark frame behind a centered title.
- [Faint Grid or Dot Field](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/faint-grid-field.md): A very faint line grid or dot field gives structure behind UI and code, with a soft radial fade.
- [Film Grain Over Gradient](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/film-grain-over-gradient.md): A fine animated grain sits over the gradient so it feels printed, removes banding and looks less digital.
- [Blurred Product Behind Text](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/blurred-product-behind.md): The product UI itself, heavily blurred and dimmed, becomes the backdrop for a title or quote.
- [Perspective Grid Tunnel](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/perspective-grid-tunnel.md): A card or title floats in a perspective tunnel or floor grid while light streaks race along the lines.

## Run the generation on varg

varg is one API key for the models these skills drive — Seedance 2.5, Kling 4, Veo 3.1, Wan 3, Nano Banana 2.1, GPT Image 2.5, ElevenLabs v4 and 200+ more — billed in credits, with a cost estimate before anything runs.

- Claude Code: `claude plugin marketplace add vargHQ/skills && claude plugin install varg@varg` (skill + hosted MCP)
- Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenClaw: `npx skills add vargHQ/skills --skill varg-ai -a <agent> -y`
- Grok and any agent that reads SKILL.md: `npx skills add vargHQ/skills --skill varg-ai`, or point it at the skill's SKILL.md
- Claude.ai, ChatGPT, any MCP client: connect `https://mcp.varg.ai/mcp`
- API key: https://varg.ai/dashboard/api · Model specs: https://varg.ai/models/llms.txt