diff --git a/src/components/lighting/LightingEffectModal.tsx b/src/components/lighting/LightingEffectModal.tsx
index 059bdfa2..beee8f8b 100644
--- a/src/components/lighting/LightingEffectModal.tsx
+++ b/src/components/lighting/LightingEffectModal.tsx
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ const RIM_LIGHT_STOPS: LightControlPoint[] = [
 const DEFAULT_RIM_LIGHT_POSITION = { x: 0, y: 0, z: -1 };
 
 const VIEW_ROTATION: Record<LightingViewMode, { pitch: number; yaw: number }> = {
-  perspective: { pitch: -18, yaw: 0 },
+  perspective: { pitch: -28, yaw: 0 },
   front: { pitch: 0, yaw: 0 },
 };
 
@@ -382,7 +382,11 @@ function buildVisualGlobeLines(
     };
   });
 
-  const longitudeLines = LONGITUDE_DEGREES.map((longitude) => {
+  const longitudeLines = LONGITUDE_DEGREES.filter((longitude) => {
+    // In front view, 0° and 180° project as a straight vertical line through
+    // the center with no visible curvature — skip them.
+    return !(isFront && (longitude === 0 || longitude === 180));
+  }).map((longitude) => {
     const points: Array<{ left: number; top: number; depth: number }> = [];
     for (let i = 0; i < SAMPLES_PER_LINE; i++) {
       const latitude = -90 + (i / SAMPLES_PER_LINE) * 180;
@@ -665,6 +669,20 @@ function LightingPreview({
               })()}
             </>
           )}
+          {LATITUDE_DEGREES.flatMap((latitude) =>
+            LONGITUDE_DEGREES.map((longitude) => {
+              const pt = projectSpherePoint(latitude, longitude, settings.viewMode);
+              return (
+                <circle
+                  key={`dot-lat-${latitude}-lon-${longitude}`}
+                  cx={pt.left}
+                  cy={pt.top}
+                  r={0.9}
+                  fill="rgba(255,255,255,0.45)"
+                />
+              );
+            })
+          )}
         </svg>
 
         {MAIN_LIGHT_STOPS.map((stop) => {
@@ -770,7 +788,7 @@ function LightingPreview({
         {settings.rimLight && (
           <div
             data-testid="lighting-preview-rim-source"
-            className="absolute z-50 h-3.5 w-3.5 -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 cursor-grab rounded-full bg-cyan-100 shadow-[0_0_0_1px_rgba(8,145,178,0.9),0_0_16px_rgba(103,232,249,0.9)] active:cursor-grabbing"
+            className="absolute z-50 h-3.5 w-3.5 -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 cursor-grab rounded-full bg-black shadow-[0_0_0_2px_rgba(255,255,255,0.95),0_0_18px_rgba(255,255,255,0.88)] active:cursor-grabbing"
             style={{
               left: `${rimProjected.left}%`,
               top: `${rimProjected.top}%`,