diff --git a/src/aare/gui/graphics/resize_grip_h_hint_dark.png b/src/aare/gui/graphics/resize_grip_h_hint_dark.png
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diff --git a/src/aare/gui/graphics/resize_grip_h_hint_light.png b/src/aare/gui/graphics/resize_grip_h_hint_light.png
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diff --git a/src/aare/gui/graphics/resize_grip_v_hint_dark.png b/src/aare/gui/graphics/resize_grip_v_hint_dark.png
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diff --git a/src/aare/gui/graphics/resize_grip_v_hint_light.png b/src/aare/gui/graphics/resize_grip_v_hint_light.png
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diff --git a/src/aare/gui/styles.py b/src/aare/gui/styles.py
index 3110354c..1f05bd8c 100644
--- a/src/aare/gui/styles.py
+++ b/src/aare/gui/styles.py
@@ -82,20 +82,17 @@ DARK_SLIDER_GRIP = (_GRAPHICS_DIR / "slider_grip_dark.png").as_posix()
 # Check marks (PRIMARY blue / dusk gold at generation time):
 CHECK_MARK = (_GRAPHICS_DIR / "check_mark_light.png").as_posix()
 DARK_CHECK_MARK = (_GRAPHICS_DIR / "check_mark_dark.png").as_posix()
-# Resize-bar grips: a short (66px) centered bar instead of a full-length
-# line — the full line read as a wall between panels. QSS can't paint a
-# fixed-length centered segment, so PNGs like the arrows above; used by BOTH
-# QMainWindow::separator and QSplitter::handle, so this is the one place.
-# Colors baked in (SEPARATOR_IDLE / SEPARATOR_HINT / DARK_SEPARATOR_IDLE /
-# DARK_ACCENT) — regenerate if those knobs change.
+# Resize-bar grips: IDLE paints a short (66px) centered bar instead of a
+# full-length line — the full idle line read as a wall between panels; the
+# hover/drag hint keeps the full-length gradient (see _separator_gradient).
+# QSS can't paint a fixed-length centered segment, so PNGs like the arrows
+# above; used by BOTH QMainWindow::separator and QSplitter::handle, so this
+# is the one place. Colors baked in (SEPARATOR_IDLE / DARK_SEPARATOR_IDLE)
+# — regenerate if those knobs change.
 GRIP_IDLE_V = (_GRAPHICS_DIR / "resize_grip_v_idle_light.png").as_posix()
 GRIP_IDLE_H = (_GRAPHICS_DIR / "resize_grip_h_idle_light.png").as_posix()
-GRIP_HINT_V = (_GRAPHICS_DIR / "resize_grip_v_hint_light.png").as_posix()
-GRIP_HINT_H = (_GRAPHICS_DIR / "resize_grip_h_hint_light.png").as_posix()
 DARK_GRIP_IDLE_V = (_GRAPHICS_DIR / "resize_grip_v_idle_dark.png").as_posix()
 DARK_GRIP_IDLE_H = (_GRAPHICS_DIR / "resize_grip_h_idle_dark.png").as_posix()
-DARK_GRIP_HINT_V = (_GRAPHICS_DIR / "resize_grip_v_hint_dark.png").as_posix()
-DARK_GRIP_HINT_H = (_GRAPHICS_DIR / "resize_grip_h_hint_dark.png").as_posix()
 
 # Borders (all can be "transparent" to hide the line):
 BORDER = "transparent"  # main dividers, e.g. the beamline state bar top line
@@ -138,10 +135,32 @@ SEPARATOR_HINT = "#3f4a5f"
 SEPARATOR_IDLE = "#47536a"
 SEPARATOR_HINT_DELAY_MS = 66  # int, used in code, not QSS
 
-# The gutter keeps this full width for the mouse; only the short GRIP_*
-# bar is painted inside it (a full-length line read as a wall). 5px is a
-# first guess — adjust here if the grab target feels off.
+# The gutter keeps this full width for the mouse; idle paints only the
+# short GRIP_* bar (a full-length idle line read as a wall), hover/drag
+# brings back the full-length hint gradient so the grabbed bar reads over
+# its whole run. 5px is a first guess — adjust here if the grab target
+# feels off.
 SEPARATOR_REGION = "5px"
+SEPARATOR_SHADOW = "rgba(31, 41, 59, 25%)"
+
+
+def _separator_gradient(line: str, shadow: str, axis: str) -> str:
+    """Full-length hover/drag hint of a resize gutter: transparent 1px,
+    shadow 1px, line 2px, shadow 1px — hard gradient stops at 1/5 steps of
+    SEPARATOR_REGION. axis "x" runs the gradient left->right (an upright
+    line), "y" top->down (a lying line)."""
+    x2, y2 = ("1", "0") if axis == "x" else ("0", "1")
+    return (
+        f"qlineargradient(x1:0, y1:0, x2:{x2}, y2:{y2},"
+        f" stop:0 transparent, stop:0.19 transparent,"
+        f" stop:0.2 {shadow}, stop:0.39 {shadow},"
+        f" stop:0.4 {line}, stop:0.79 {line},"
+        f" stop:0.8 {shadow}, stop:1 {shadow})"
+    )
+
+
+SEP_HINT_X = _separator_gradient(SEPARATOR_HINT, SEPARATOR_SHADOW, "x")
+SEP_HINT_Y = _separator_gradient(SEPARATOR_HINT, SEPARATOR_SHADOW, "y")
 
 # Theme-switch screenshot cross-fade duration (int ms, used in code).
 THEME_FADE_MS = 250
@@ -249,6 +268,9 @@ DARK_ACCENT = "#e0913f"  # gold
 # DARK_ACCENT @70%: 10% measured 1.16:1 on DARK_BG (invisible); 70% blends to
 # >=3.74:1 — same WCAG 1.4.11 floor as the light-theme separators.
 DARK_SEPARATOR_IDLE = "rgba(224, 145, 63, 70%)"
+DARK_SEPARATOR_SHADOW = "rgba(0, 0, 0, 45%)"
+DARK_SEP_HINT_X = _separator_gradient(DARK_ACCENT, DARK_SEPARATOR_SHADOW, "x")
+DARK_SEP_HINT_Y = _separator_gradient(DARK_ACCENT, DARK_SEPARATOR_SHADOW, "y")
 DARK_ACCENT_HOVER = "#eaa253"  # accent2 — brighter gold
 DARK_ACCENT_FILL = "#89b4fa"  # action blue
 DARK_ACCENT_FILL_HOVER = "#9ec2fb"  # +10% white, derived (site has no step)
@@ -1180,20 +1202,24 @@ def _sunrise_stylesheet(overrides: dict[str, str] | None = None) -> str:
        MainWindow.event() after a 1s hover rest or on press; :hover limits
        the fill to the exact separator being dragged. */
     QMainWindow[separatorHint="true"]::separator:vertical:hover {
-        image: url($grip_hint_v);
+        image: none;
+        background: $sep_hint_x;
     }
     QMainWindow[separatorHint="true"]::separator:horizontal:hover {
-        image: url($grip_hint_h);
+        image: none;
+        background: $sep_hint_y;
     }
 
     /* Splitter handles (camera region, prediction metrics) are plain child
        widgets the property gate above doesn't reach — immediate hover/press
        hint. */
     QSplitter::handle:horizontal:hover, QSplitter::handle:horizontal:pressed {
-        image: url($grip_hint_v);
+        image: none;
+        background: $sep_hint_x;
     }
     QSplitter::handle:vertical:hover, QSplitter::handle:vertical:pressed {
-        image: url($grip_hint_h);
+        image: none;
+        background: $sep_hint_y;
     }
 
     QFrame#beamlineControls,
@@ -1853,17 +1879,21 @@ def _sunset_stylesheet() -> str:
     QSplitter::handle:vertical { height: $separator_region; }
 
     QMainWindow[separatorHint="true"]::separator:vertical:hover {
-        image: url($dark_grip_hint_v);
+        image: none;
+        background: $dark_sep_hint_x;
     }
     QMainWindow[separatorHint="true"]::separator:horizontal:hover {
-        image: url($dark_grip_hint_h);
+        image: none;
+        background: $dark_sep_hint_y;
     }
 
     QSplitter::handle:horizontal:hover, QSplitter::handle:horizontal:pressed {
-        image: url($dark_grip_hint_v);
+        image: none;
+        background: $dark_sep_hint_x;
     }
     QSplitter::handle:vertical:hover, QSplitter::handle:vertical:pressed {
-        image: url($dark_grip_hint_h);
+        image: none;
+        background: $dark_sep_hint_y;
     }
 
     /* Plain scroll containers stay frameless. */