diff --git a/src/aare/gui/widgets/camera_image.py b/src/aare/gui/widgets/camera_image.py
index dc3b42b2..74565ad5 100644
--- a/src/aare/gui/widgets/camera_image.py
+++ b/src/aare/gui/widgets/camera_image.py
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ from aare.gui.styles import (
     SCALE_BAR_GREY,
     SHADOW,
     TARGET_COLORS,
+    TEXT,
     THEME_SUNSET,
     TOOLTIP_TEXT,
     WHITE,
@@ -139,6 +140,9 @@ class SampleCameraImageLabel(QGraphicsView):
         # toggle can still switch back to 1:1.
         self._autoscale = True
         self._show_coords = False
+        # Full-frame crosshair through the beam center; off by default so the
+        # default view stays as before, toggled from the right-click menu.
+        self._show_beam_crosshair = False
         self._helical_start = SmargonCoordinate()
         self._helical_end = SmargonCoordinate()
         self._raster_alpha = 127
@@ -682,6 +686,9 @@ class SampleCameraImageLabel(QGraphicsView):
         autofocus_action = menu.addAction("Auto-focus")
 
         beam_mark_action = menu.addAction("Mark beam center")
+        crosshair_action = menu.addAction("Show beam crosshair")
+        crosshair_action.setCheckable(True)
+        crosshair_action.setChecked(self._show_beam_crosshair)
 
         delete_action = None
         evaluate_action = None
@@ -730,6 +737,8 @@ class SampleCameraImageLabel(QGraphicsView):
         elif action == beam_mark_action:
             c = self.mapToScene(event.pos())
             self.update_beam_mark.emit(c.x(), c.y())
+        elif action == crosshair_action:
+            self._show_beam_crosshair = not self._show_beam_crosshair
         self.update()
 
     def _screenshot_with_dialog(self, overlay: bool):
@@ -1278,10 +1287,11 @@ class SampleCameraImageLabel(QGraphicsView):
         return bar_um, label
 
     def _mounted_hud_ink(self) -> tuple[str, str]:
-        """(text, shadow) for the mounted-sample HUD: black on a white halo in
-        the light themes, white on black in Sunset. The camera image behind
-        is arbitrary, so the pair follows the theme rather than the pixels."""
-        return (WHITE, SHADOW) if self._dark_theme else (SHADOW, WHITE)
+        """(text, shadow) for the mounted-sample HUD: theme text ink on a white
+        halo in the light themes (pure black read too harsh over the camera),
+        white on black in Sunset. The camera image behind is arbitrary, so
+        the pair follows the theme rather than the pixels."""
+        return (WHITE, SHADOW) if self._dark_theme else (TEXT, WHITE)
 
     def _draw_mounted_sample(self, painter: QPainter):
         # Top-left HUD line (legend sits bottom-left, scale bar bottom-right):
@@ -1446,6 +1456,13 @@ class SampleCameraImageLabel(QGraphicsView):
                 int(beam_size_pxl.y),
             )
         )
+        if self._show_beam_crosshair:
+            # Anuschka and Katherine really want a crosshair at 10s
+            arm = 33
+            cx = int(self._geom.beam_location_pxl.x)
+            cy = int(self._geom.beam_location_pxl.y)
+            painter.drawLine(cx - arm, cy, cx + arm, cy)
+            painter.drawLine(cx, cy - arm, cx, cy + arm)
 
     @staticmethod
     def _draw_circle(painter, coord: Coordinate, color: QColor, radius=10):
diff --git a/tests/unit/gui/test_camera_image.py b/tests/unit/gui/test_camera_image.py
index 51ff331a..e94814bf 100644
--- a/tests/unit/gui/test_camera_image.py
+++ b/tests/unit/gui/test_camera_image.py
@@ -327,10 +327,34 @@ def test_mounted_sample_hud_follows_status(camera):
 
 
 def test_mounted_hud_ink_follows_theme(camera):
-    """Mounted-sample HUD: dark ink + white halo on light themes, inverted on Sunset."""
-    from aare.gui.styles import SHADOW, THEME_SUNRISE, THEME_SUNSET, WHITE
+    """Mounted-sample HUD: theme text ink + white halo on light themes, inverted on Sunset."""
+    from aare.gui.styles import SHADOW, TEXT, THEME_SUNRISE, THEME_SUNSET, WHITE
 
     camera.set_theme(THEME_SUNRISE)
-    assert camera._mounted_hud_ink() == (SHADOW, WHITE)
+    assert camera._mounted_hud_ink() == (TEXT, WHITE)
     camera.set_theme(THEME_SUNSET)
     assert camera._mounted_hud_ink() == (WHITE, SHADOW)
+
+
+def test_beam_crosshair_toggle_draws(camera, monkeypatch):
+    from PySide6.QtWidgets import QMenu
+
+    assert camera._show_beam_crosshair is False
+    # Pick the crosshair action out of the real menu instead of exec'ing it.
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        QMenu,
+        "exec_",
+        lambda self, *_: next(a for a in self.actions() if a.text() == "Show beam crosshair"),
+    )
+    camera._camera_interaction_enabled = lambda: True
+    press = QMouseEvent(
+        QEvent.Type.MouseButtonPress,
+        QPointF(10, 10),
+        QPointF(camera.mapToGlobal(QPoint(10, 10))),
+        Qt.MouseButton.RightButton,
+        Qt.MouseButton.RightButton,
+        Qt.KeyboardModifier.NoModifier,
+    )
+    camera._right_click_menu(press)
+    assert camera._show_beam_crosshair is True
+    camera.grab()  # exercises the crosshair draw path