diff --git a/preview b/preview
index 06db1ba..49a5d31 100755
--- a/preview
+++ b/preview
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
 # pass --mobile for mobile previews
-cargo run --bin ui_preview --release -- "$@"
+RUST_LOG=info cargo run --bin ui_preview --release -- "$@"
diff --git a/src/app.rs b/src/app.rs
index 1ee18aa..bfa94ca 100644
--- a/src/app.rs
+++ b/src/app.rs
@@ -644,11 +644,16 @@ impl Damus {
         let mut timelines: Vec<Timeline> = vec![];
         let mut is_mobile: Option<bool> = None;
         let mut i = 0;
+        let mut light: bool = false;
 
         if args.len() > 1 {
             for arg in &args[1..] {
                 if arg == "--mobile" {
                     is_mobile = Some(true);
+                } else if arg == "--light" {
+                    light = true;
+                } else if arg == "--dark" {
+                    light = false;
                 } else if arg == "--filter" {
                     let next_args = &args[1 + i + 1..];
                     if next_args.is_empty() {
@@ -691,13 +696,14 @@ impl Damus {
 
         let is_mobile = is_mobile.unwrap_or(ui::is_compiled_as_mobile());
 
-        setup_cc(cc, is_mobile);
+        setup_cc(cc, is_mobile, light);
 
         let imgcache_dir = data_path.as_ref().join(ImageCache::rel_datadir());
         let _ = std::fs::create_dir_all(imgcache_dir.clone());
 
         let mut config = Config::new();
         config.set_ingester_threads(2);
+
         Self {
             is_mobile,
             state: DamusState::Initializing,
diff --git a/src/app_creation.rs b/src/app_creation.rs
index afac7fc..d824339 100644
--- a/src/app_creation.rs
+++ b/src/app_creation.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-use crate::app_style::{create_custom_style, dark_mode, desktop_font_size, mobile_font_size};
+use crate::app_style::{
+    create_custom_style, dark_mode, desktop_font_size, light_mode, mobile_font_size,
+};
 use crate::fonts::setup_fonts;
 use eframe::NativeOptions;
 
@@ -35,7 +37,7 @@ pub fn generate_mobile_emulator_native_options() -> eframe::NativeOptions {
     })
 }
 
-pub fn setup_cc(cc: &eframe::CreationContext<'_>, is_mobile: bool) {
+pub fn setup_cc(cc: &eframe::CreationContext<'_>, is_mobile: bool, light: bool) {
     let ctx = &cc.egui_ctx;
     setup_fonts(ctx);
 
@@ -47,7 +49,11 @@ pub fn setup_cc(cc: &eframe::CreationContext<'_>, is_mobile: bool) {
 
     egui_extras::install_image_loaders(ctx);
 
-    ctx.set_visuals(dark_mode(is_mobile));
+    if light {
+        ctx.set_visuals(light_mode())
+    } else {
+        ctx.set_visuals(dark_mode(is_mobile));
+    }
 
     ctx.set_style(if is_mobile {
         create_custom_style(ctx, mobile_font_size)
diff --git a/src/ui/preview.rs b/src/ui/preview.rs
index 48343dc..82c5154 100644
--- a/src/ui/preview.rs
+++ b/src/ui/preview.rs
@@ -32,8 +32,6 @@ impl PreviewApp {
 
 impl eframe::App for PreviewApp {
     fn update(&mut self, ctx: &egui::Context, _frame: &mut eframe::Frame) {
-        egui::CentralPanel::default()
-            .frame(egui::Frame::none())
-            .show(ctx, |ui| self.view.ui(ui));
+        egui::CentralPanel::default().show(ctx, |ui| self.view.ui(ui));
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/ui_preview/main.rs b/src/ui_preview/main.rs
index 93328ab..4a8f965 100644
--- a/src/ui_preview/main.rs
+++ b/src/ui_preview/main.rs
@@ -7,14 +7,16 @@ use notedeck::ui::{
     PreviewConfig, ProfilePic, ProfilePreview, RelayView,
 };
 use std::env;
+use tracing::info;
 
 struct PreviewRunner {
     force_mobile: bool,
+    light_mode: bool,
 }
 
 impl PreviewRunner {
-    fn new(force_mobile: bool) -> Self {
-        PreviewRunner { force_mobile }
+    fn new(force_mobile: bool, light_mode: bool) -> Self {
+        PreviewRunner { force_mobile, light_mode }
     }
 
     async fn run<P>(self, preview: P)
@@ -30,12 +32,15 @@ impl PreviewRunner {
         };
 
         let is_mobile = self.force_mobile;
+        let light_mode = self.light_mode;
+
         let _ = eframe::run_native(
             "UI Preview Runner",
             native_options,
             Box::new(move |cc| {
-                setup_cc(cc, is_mobile);
-                Box::new(Into::<PreviewApp>::into(preview))
+                let app = Into::<PreviewApp>::into(preview);
+                setup_cc(cc, is_mobile, light_mode);
+                Box::new(app)
             }),
         );
     }
@@ -59,10 +64,13 @@ macro_rules! previews {
 async fn main() {
     let mut name: Option<String> = None;
     let mut is_mobile: Option<bool> = None;
+    let mut light_mode: bool = false;
 
     for arg in env::args() {
         if arg == "--mobile" {
             is_mobile = Some(true);
+        } else if arg == "--light" {
+            light_mode = true;
         } else {
             name = Some(arg);
         }
@@ -75,8 +83,9 @@ async fn main() {
         return;
     };
 
+    println!("light mode previews: {}", if light_mode { "enabled" } else { "disabled" });
     let is_mobile = is_mobile.unwrap_or(notedeck::ui::is_compiled_as_mobile());
-    let runner = PreviewRunner::new(is_mobile);
+    let runner = PreviewRunner::new(is_mobile, light_mode);
 
     previews!(
         runner,