Methods and apparatuses for displaying pixel images to provide visual-based emphasis in a graphical user interface. In one aspect of the invention, a method to display a pixel image for a Graphical User Interface (GUI) on a data processing system includes: detecting one or more outlines in a first image to generate a second image from pixel values of the first image that represents a GUI component; receiving input which indicates switching the GUI component from a first mode to a second mode; and displaying a combination of the first and second images to indicate that the GUI component is in the second mode. The combination of the first and second images shows an outlined version of the first image. In one example according to this aspect, the GUI component does not have keyboard focus in the first mode; and the GUI component has keyboard focus in the second mode.