Highlighter Tool
Draw attention to part of an image while keeping text or other objects visible underneath.
Note: Highlighter and other tools in the Snagit Editor toolbar are available to annotate images. To draw your viewer’s attention while you record video, try Screen Draw. To enhance video you have already recorded, share your video to Camtasia Editor.
Draw a Highlight
- Click the Highlighter tool in the Snagit Editor toolbar.
Note: If the tool is not visible in the toolbar, click the More dropdown. To customize your toolbar, see Customize the Snagit Toolbar.
- Select a Quick Style or edit the tool properties to customize the tool. See Tool Properties.
- Click and drag on the Canvas to draw the area to highlight.
- When you are finished with the Highlighter tool, click the Move tool in the toolbar to select, move, edit, or delete objects you added to your image.
Tool Properties
Edit the properties to customize the tool.
Snagit for Windows
Snagit for Mac
Tip: Edit all highlights at the same time.
In Tool Properties, click Select All (Highlight), then edit the tool properties as needed. You must have Snagit for Windows version 2026.1.0 or later, or Snagit for Mac version 2025.3.0 or later.
Fill / Color
Click the dropdown and select one of the following to set the color:
- Click to select a preset or color from the palette.
- Enter a Hex or RGB value. On Snagit for Windows, click Mode to switch between Hex and RGB modes.
- Click the Eyedropper button and then click to select a color from anywhere on the screen.
Shape (Mac only)
Select a rectangle, rounded corner rectangle, oval, or polygon shape for the spotlight.
To highlight with the polygon shape:
- Select the Polygon option from the Shape dropdown.
- To create the first side of the polygon, click on the canvas to add the first two points.
- Continue to click on the canvas to add additional sides.
- Double-click the canvas to stop drawing the the polygon.
Opacity
Drag the slider to adjust the transparency level.
Apply only to text (Mac only)
Select to apply the highlight only to text rather than to the entire selection.
Tip: Save tool customizations as Quick Styles.
After you edit tool properties, save your customization as a Quick Style for future use. See Quickly Access Favorite Styles and Tools.
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