Special Effects: Motion without chaos
Effects sit on top of your background and add atmosphere (snow, particles, Matrix rain, gradients, etc.).
They’re powerful — so start subtle unless you want your phone to file a complaint.
📸 What you’ll see in Special Effects
This matches the Special Effects section on the Settings screen.
Golden rule:
Effects are seasoning. Build Theme + Background + Colors first… then add motion.
Effects are seasoning. Build Theme + Background + Colors first… then add motion.
🎛 Special Effects settings (based on your screen)
- Special Effect — the master switch (choose an effect or None).
- Special Effect Color — the effect’s main color (best when it matches your accent).
- Special Effect Intensity — how “much” effect shows (density).
- Special Effect Speed — how fast it moves (slow = cinematic).
- Gradient Pattern — only matters when effect = Gradient.
Readability tip (the UI is right):
Low or Medium intensity usually looks best — especially if your profile has lots of text.
Low or Medium intensity usually looks best — especially if your profile has lots of text.
✅ Quick setup (safe + looks good)
- Pick one effect (start with something calm).
- Set Effect Color to your accent color (Links/Buttons/Nav active).
- Set Intensity to Low or Medium.
- Set Speed to Slow or Normal (slow feels premium).
- If using Gradient, pick a Pattern and keep intensity low/medium.
🎭 Easy effect picks by vibe
- Subtle ambience: Fireflies · Sparkles · Gradient (low)
- Cozy / seasonal: Snow · Old Skool Snow
- Cyber / terminal: Matrix (or lighter Matrix variants)
- High energy: Particles · Confetti (use low/medium unless you enjoy chaos)
If mobile feels laggy:
Reduce intensity first, then reduce blur elsewhere (Widgets/Header blur can stack with effects).
Reduce intensity first, then reduce blur elsewhere (Widgets/Header blur can stack with effects).
🎬 “Copy-this” recipes (safe and good)
🧊 Recipe A: Cyber Glass Atmosphere
- Effect: Particles
- Color: cyan/teal (match your link color)
- Intensity: Low or Medium
- Speed: Slow or Normal
💚 Recipe B: Matrix Cave
- Effect: Matrix (or a lighter Matrix variant)
- Color: restrained green
- Intensity: Medium
- Speed: Normal
❄️ Recipe C: Cozy Winter
- Effect: Snow or Old Skool Snow
- Color: soft white / pale blue-white
- Intensity: Medium
- Speed: Slow
🌫 Recipe D: Gradient Aura
- Effect: Gradient
- Pattern: pick one you like (Linear is a safe choice)
- Intensity: Low or Medium
- Speed: Slow
Pro move:
Effects look best when your cards (Widgets/Activity) are readable and your accent color is consistent.
Effects look best when your cards (Widgets/Activity) are readable and your accent color is consistent.
🛠 Troubleshooting (fast fixes)
- Effect doesn’t show: confirm effect isn’t None, wait for Saved, refresh once, try Medium intensity for testing.
- Hard to read: lower intensity/speed, increase Background overlay, raise Widget/Activity opacity.
- Mobile lag: intensity Low, speed Slow/Normal, reduce blur in Widgets/Header.
- Color looks wrong: choose a slightly muted accent or shift to a neighboring hue.
- Too busy: keep effect but drop intensity + speed — vibe stays, noise leaves.
Classic “too much” combo:
Busy background + heavy blur + low card opacity + high intensity effects. If it’s noisy, simplify one layer at a time.
Busy background + heavy blur + low card opacity + high intensity effects. If it’s noisy, simplify one layer at a time.
