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evmux Knowledge Base

How to Use Spotlight

This guide shows you how to spotlight a participant to make them the sole focus in the Dynamic Scene layout.

Quick Steps

  1. Hover over a participant layer in the Dynamic Scene
  2. Click the Spotlight button (top-left corner)
  3. The participant takes the full screen
  4. Click again to cancel spotlight

What is Spotlight?

Spotlight mode (playAlone) makes a single participant fill the entire Dynamic Scene layout, temporarily hiding all other participants. It’s useful for:

  • Highlighting the current speaker
  • Creating dramatic focus moments
  • Presenting a single person in full screen

Important Note

Spotlight works normally while you are live. The only moment it is blocked is the few seconds when the session is still starting up (the button shows “Initializing…”); trying then shows a dialog explaining that spotlight can’t be changed at that moment.

Detailed Steps

Step 1: Locate the Spotlight Button

  1. Go to the Dynamic Scene
  2. Hover over any participant layer
  3. The Spotlight button appears in the top-left corner
  4. Tooltip: “Spotlight”

Step 2: Enable Spotlight

  1. Click the Spotlight button
  2. The selected participant fills the screen
  3. All other participants are hidden
  4. The button turns blue to indicate active state

Step 3: Cancel Spotlight

  1. Hover over the spotlighted participant
  2. Click the Spotlight button again
  3. The layout returns to normal with all participants visible

Button States

StateAppearanceBehavior on Hover
NormalGray background, small white inner rectangleRectangle expands
ActiveBlue background, full white inner rectangleRectangle shrinks

Button Sizes

The spotlight button automatically adjusts based on layer size:

  • Standard (46x34px): Wider layers
  • Small (36x28px): Narrow layers (under ~140px width)

Where It Works

Spotlight works in:

  • Dynamic Scene - The automatic layout scene
  • Pro Scenes with dynamicGrid - When using dynamic grid layers

Visual Indicator

When spotlight is active:

  • The spotlighted participant layer has class playAlone
  • The spotlight button shows as active (blue)
  • Other participants are hidden from view

Tips

Before Going Live

  • Set up spotlight before starting your broadcast
  • Spotlight can be changed at any time while live; only the start-up moment blocks it
  • Plan which moments need spotlight focus

Multiple Scenes

  • Spotlight syncs with the same participant in other dynamic layouts
  • Useful for consistent focus across scene switches

Quick Scene Comparison

  • Use spotlight to preview how a single speaker looks
  • Disable to return to multi-participant view
  • Great for testing layouts before live

Troubleshooting

Spotlight button not appearing?

  • Ensure you’re in the Dynamic Scene or a scene with dynamicGrid
  • Hover over the participant layer
  • Check that the layer isn’t too small

Can’t enable spotlight?

  • The session may still be initializing — wait for it to finish starting
  • Check for the dialog explaining the limitation
  • Otherwise check that the tile is in the Dynamic Scene or a dynamic grid — spotlight applies there

Spotlight not affecting layout?

  • Verify the button shows as active (blue)
  • Check that you’re in the correct scene
  • The change should be immediate

Other participants still visible?

  • Ensure spotlight is fully enabled
  • Check if you’re viewing the correct scene
  • Refresh if the layout seems stuck