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Interfaces (UI/UX)48k · #2805

synthwave

Helps your agent create an 80s-inspired look. It uses neon, dark backgrounds, and grids, great for a retro and vibrant style.

What it does

This guide shows how to create an 80s-inspired look with bright neon colors on dark backgrounds and a grid effect that fades into the distance. It's great for a retro-futuristic vibe.

When to use it

  • ✓Creating a retro 80s-themed website.
  • ✓Developing an app with a futuristic neon aesthetic.
  • ✓Adding a dark background with neon glow to a project.

Example of what to ask your AI

“How do I create a bright neon text effect and a dark grid background for my website?”

Want more? Open the sections below.

How to use

The easiest way: copy the message below and paste it into Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any AI. It reads the skill and follows the instructions.

Skill link

https://github.com/sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills/blob/main/plugins/agentic-awesome-skills-claude/skills/design-it/synthwave/SKILL.md

Ready-to-paste message

Use this skill to help me: https://github.com/sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills/blob/main/plugins/agentic-awesome-skills-claude/skills/design-it/synthwave/SKILL.md Read the SKILL.md file at that link and follow its instructions for my task.
How it works

It uses dark colors as a base and adds neon glows with vibrant colors like pink and cyan. A perspective grid effect gives a sense of depth, like in old movies and games.

Installation

Easiest way: copy the skill link and paste it into Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor asking it to follow the instructions.

In the terminal (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor), in your project folder:

npx skills add sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills --skill synthwave

Or download just the file:

curl -L https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills/main/plugins/agentic-awesome-skills-claude/skills/design-it/synthwave/SKILL.md -o SKILL.md
Technical content (original SKILL.md)

Original text by the author, straight from GitHub.

Synthwave (Outrun)

"Driving a Ferrari through a neon-lit digital grid at midnight."

When to Use

Use this sub-style when the user's request matches the aesthetic described above. This is a child reference of the design-it skill and is not meant to be triggered directly.

Core Principles

  1. Dark Mode by Default: Absolute pitch-black or deep purple backgrounds.
  2. Neon Glowing Vectors: Bright magenta, cyan, and yellow wireframes, text, and grids. Heavy use of box-shadow and text-shadow for glow effects.
  3. The Perspective Grid: The defining visual is a glowing grid that fades into a vanishing point on the horizon.

Visual DNA

  • Colors: Deep space backgrounds (#0B0C10, #110022). Glowing neon accents: Cyan (#00FFFF), Hot Pink (#FF00FF), Electric Yellow (#FFFF00).
  • Typography: 80s chrome text, brush script (like a neon sign), and heavy italicized sans-serifs.
  • Shadows: Drop shadows are not black; they are the same color as the element, heavily blurred, to create light emission.

Web Implementation

  • Rely on text-shadow for neon signs and 3D transforms for the floor grid.
  • CSS Example:
body {
  background-color: #090014;
  color: #fff;
  font-family: 'Montserrat', sans-serif;
  overflow-x: hidden;
}

/* Neon Text Glow */
.synth-neon-text {
  font-family: 'Mr Dafoe', cursive; /* A classic 80s script */
  font-size: 4rem;
  color: #fff;
  text-shadow: 
    0 0 5px #fff,
    0 0 10px #fff,
    0 0 20px #FF00FF,
    0 0 40px #FF00FF,
    0 0 80px #FF00FF;
}

/* The Perspective Grid Floor */
.synth-grid {
  position: absolute;
  bottom: 0; left: -50%;
  width: 200%; height: 50vh;
  background-image: 
    linear-gradient(rgba(0, 255, 255, 0.8) 2px, transparent 2px),
    linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(0, 255, 255, 0.8) 2px, transparent 2px);
  background-size: 50px 50px;
  
  /* Create the 3D horizon effect */
  transform: perspective(500px) rotateX(60deg);
  transform-origin: top center;
  
  /* Fade out towards the horizon */
  mask-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, transparent 0%, black 100%);
  -webkit-mask-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, transparent 0%, black 100%);
}

App Implementation

SwiftUI

struct NeonText: View {
    let text: String
    
    var body: some View {
        Text(text)
            .font(.custom("Mr Dafoe", size: 64))
            .foregroundColor(.white)
            // Layering shadows to create a glowing bloom
            .shadow(color: .white, radius: 2)
            .shadow(color: .pink, radius: 5)
            .shadow(color: .pink, radius: 10)
            .shadow(color: .pink, radius: 20)
    }
}

struct SynthwaveScreen: View {
    var body: some View {
        ZStack {
            Color(red: 0.03, green: 0.0, blue: 0.08).ignoresSafeArea() // #090014
            
            VStack {
                NeonText(text: "Outrun")
                Spacer()
            }
            
            // Note: A 3D perspective grid requires SceneKit or a pre-rendered image
            // Native SwiftUI 3D transforms apply to the view, but won't draw an infinite floor grid easily.
            Image("synth_grid")
                .resizable()
                .scaledToFill()
                .frame(height: 300)
                .offset(y: 200)
        }
    }
}
  • Stack multiple .shadow(color:radius:) modifiers directly on the text to create a vibrant neon bloom effect.
  • The 3D wireframe horizon grid is best achieved via a pre-rendered image background.

Flutter

class NeonText extends StatelessWidget {
  final String text;
  const NeonText(this.text);

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Text(
      text,
      style: const TextStyle(
        fontFamily: 'Mr Dafoe', // Or any cursive 80s font
        fontSize: 64,
        color: Colors.white,
        shadows: [
          Shadow(color: Colors.white, blurRadius: 2),
          Shadow(color: Colors.pinkAccent, blurRadius: 5),
          Shadow(color: Colors.pinkAccent, blurRadius: 15),
          Shadow(color: Colors.pinkAccent, blurRadius: 30),
        ],
      ),
    );
  }
}

class SynthwaveScreen extends StatelessWidget {
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Scaffold(
      backgroundColor: const Color(0xFF090014),
      body: Stack(
        children: [
          // Background grid asset
          Positioned(
            bottom: 0,
            left: 0,
            right: 0,
            height: 300,

…
FAQ

What colors should I use?

Use very dark backgrounds (black or deep purple) and vibrant neon colors like magenta, cyan, and yellow for highlighted elements.

How do I achieve the neon glow effect?

In programming, you can use colored, blurred shadows to simulate the glow, as if light is emanating from the text or object itself.

What is the 'perspective grid'?

It's a grid line that appears to stretch into the distance, creating a sense of depth and movement, like a futuristic road or track.

Details

Original description by the author

Web and App implementation guide for Synthwave. Trigger when user wants 80s-inspired neon, dark backgrounds, outrun grids, and Miami Vice aesthetics.

repo: sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills

Popularity

GitHub stars
48k
Ranking position
#2805
License
MIT
Updated
10/15/2026

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