diff --git a/src/lib/ae_events/types/ae_badge_template_cfg.ts b/src/lib/ae_events/types/ae_badge_template_cfg.ts
index ac4f4721..83a43f46 100644
--- a/src/lib/ae_events/types/ae_badge_template_cfg.ts
+++ b/src/lib/ae_events/types/ae_badge_template_cfg.ts
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ export interface BadgeTemplateCfg {
         center_fg?: string;
         center_bg?: string;
         center_rainbow?: boolean;
+        slow_pulse?: boolean;    // when true: slow breathing pulse instead of fast linear cycle
     };
 
     // Allow arbitrary extra keys to preserve forward-compatibility.
diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/[badge_id]/ae_comp__badge_obj_view.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/[badge_id]/ae_comp__badge_obj_view.svelte
index 60b878b2..a5b672da 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/[badge_id]/ae_comp__badge_obj_view.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/[badge_id]/ae_comp__badge_obj_view.svelte
@@ -342,6 +342,7 @@ const PH_RAINBOW_BG  = 'rgba(255,34,0,0.25)';
 let punch_holes_left_rainbow   = $derived(!!template_cfg?.punch_holes?.left_rainbow);
 let punch_holes_right_rainbow  = $derived(!!template_cfg?.punch_holes?.right_rainbow);
 let punch_holes_center_rainbow = $derived(!!template_cfg?.punch_holes?.center_rainbow);
+let punch_holes_slow_pulse     = $derived(!!template_cfg?.punch_holes?.slow_pulse);
 let punch_holes_colors = $derived.by(() => {
     const ph = template_cfg?.punch_holes;
     const shared_fg = ph?.fg || PH_DEFAULT_FG;
@@ -707,7 +708,9 @@ const code_to_icon: {
                  starts at a different phase (0°, 120°, 240°) and they cycle in unison
                  at the same speed — tri-phase RGB rather than drifting randomly. -->
             {#if punch_holes_left && punch_holes_left_rainbow}
-                <div class="punch_hole_marker punch_hole_rainbow_left pointer-events-none absolute"
+                <div class="punch_hole_marker pointer-events-none absolute"
+                     class:punch_hole_rainbow_left={!punch_holes_slow_pulse}
+                     class:punch_hole_pulse_left={punch_holes_slow_pulse}
                      aria-hidden="true"
                      style="top: calc(0.25in + 1mm); left: calc(0.375in + 1mm); width: calc(0.625in - 2mm); height: calc(0.125in - 2mm); z-index: 10;">
                     <svg width="100%" height="100%" viewBox="0 0 50 8" preserveAspectRatio="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
@@ -728,7 +731,9 @@ const code_to_icon: {
                 </div>
             {/if}
             {#if punch_holes_right && punch_holes_right_rainbow}
-                <div class="punch_hole_marker punch_hole_rainbow_right pointer-events-none absolute"
+                <div class="punch_hole_marker pointer-events-none absolute"
+                     class:punch_hole_rainbow_right={!punch_holes_slow_pulse}
+                     class:punch_hole_pulse_right={punch_holes_slow_pulse}
                      aria-hidden="true"
                      style="top: calc(0.25in + 1mm); right: calc(0.375in + 1mm); width: calc(0.625in - 2mm); height: calc(0.125in - 2mm); z-index: 10;">
                     <svg width="100%" height="100%" viewBox="0 0 50 8" preserveAspectRatio="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
@@ -749,7 +754,9 @@ const code_to_icon: {
                 </div>
             {/if}
             {#if punch_holes_center && punch_holes_center_rainbow}
-                <div class="punch_hole_marker punch_hole_rainbow_center pointer-events-none absolute"
+                <div class="punch_hole_marker pointer-events-none absolute"
+                     class:punch_hole_rainbow_center={!punch_holes_slow_pulse}
+                     class:punch_hole_pulse_center={punch_holes_slow_pulse}
                      aria-hidden="true"
                      style="top: calc(0.25in + 1mm); left: 50%; transform: translateX(-50%); width: calc(0.625in - 2mm); height: calc(0.125in - 2mm); z-index: 10;">
                     <svg width="100%" height="100%" viewBox="0 0 50 8" preserveAspectRatio="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
@@ -1412,19 +1419,29 @@ const code_to_icon: {
  * active they form a proper tri-phase RGB cycle. Two active slots are 120° apart.
  * Negative animation-delay starts each slot mid-cycle at its designated phase.
  */
+/* Cycle mode (default): fast linear hue rotation, 120° phase apart per slot */
 @keyframes ae_punch_hole_rainbow {
     from { filter: hue-rotate(0deg); }
     to   { filter: hue-rotate(360deg); }
 }
-.punch_hole_rainbow_left   { animation: ae_punch_hole_rainbow 2.5s  0.000s linear infinite; }
-.punch_hole_rainbow_right  { animation: ae_punch_hole_rainbow 2.5s -0.833s linear infinite; }
-.punch_hole_rainbow_center { animation: ae_punch_hole_rainbow 2.5s -1.667s linear infinite; }
+.punch_hole_rainbow_left   { animation: ae_punch_hole_rainbow 2.5s  0.000s linear     infinite; }
+.punch_hole_rainbow_right  { animation: ae_punch_hole_rainbow 2.5s -0.833s linear     infinite; }
+.punch_hole_rainbow_center { animation: ae_punch_hole_rainbow 2.5s -1.667s linear     infinite; }
+
+/* Pulse mode: slow breathing — dim→bright while hue shifts 180° and back.
+   Same 120° phase offsets (6s ÷ 3 = 2s per slot) so they breathe in turn. */
+@keyframes ae_punch_hole_pulse {
+    0%, 100% { filter: hue-rotate(0deg)   brightness(0.55); }
+    50%      { filter: hue-rotate(180deg) brightness(1.30); }
+}
+.punch_hole_pulse_left   { animation: ae_punch_hole_pulse 6s  0.000s ease-in-out infinite; }
+.punch_hole_pulse_right  { animation: ae_punch_hole_pulse 6s -2.000s ease-in-out infinite; }
+.punch_hole_pulse_center { animation: ae_punch_hole_pulse 6s -4.000s ease-in-out infinite; }
 
 .punch_hole_print_rgb { display: none; }
 @media print {
-    .punch_hole_rainbow_left,
-    .punch_hole_rainbow_right,
-    .punch_hole_rainbow_center { display: none; }
+    .punch_hole_rainbow_left, .punch_hole_rainbow_right, .punch_hole_rainbow_center,
+    .punch_hole_pulse_left,   .punch_hole_pulse_right,   .punch_hole_pulse_center { display: none; }
     .punch_hole_print_rgb { display: block; }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/templates/ae_comp__badge_template_form.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/templates/ae_comp__badge_template_form.svelte
index c4dd6bc8..79367caf 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/templates/ae_comp__badge_template_form.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/templates/ae_comp__badge_template_form.svelte
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ let cfg_punch_holes_right_rainbow = $state(false);
 let cfg_punch_holes_center_fg      = $state('');
 let cfg_punch_holes_center_bg      = $state('');
 let cfg_punch_holes_center_rainbow = $state(false);
+// Applies to all rainbow slots: slow breathing pulse instead of fast cycle
+let cfg_punch_holes_slow_pulse = $state(false);
 // Header bottom border. Empty color = no border.
 let cfg_header_border_color = $state('');
 let cfg_header_border_width = $state('');
@@ -197,6 +199,7 @@ async function load_template(id: string) {
             cfg_punch_holes_center_fg      = parsed_cfg?.punch_holes?.center_fg      ?? '';
             cfg_punch_holes_center_bg      = parsed_cfg?.punch_holes?.center_bg      ?? '';
             cfg_punch_holes_center_rainbow = parsed_cfg?.punch_holes?.center_rainbow ?? false;
+            cfg_punch_holes_slow_pulse     = parsed_cfg?.punch_holes?.slow_pulse     ?? false;
             cfg_header_border_color = parsed_cfg.header_border_color ?? '';
             cfg_header_border_width = parsed_cfg.header_border_width ?? '';
             cfg_header_padding_top    = parsed_cfg.header_padding_top    ?? '';
@@ -297,6 +300,7 @@ async function handle_submit() {
         if (cfg_punch_holes_center_fg.trim())  ph.center_fg       = cfg_punch_holes_center_fg.trim();
         if (cfg_punch_holes_center_bg.trim())  ph.center_bg       = cfg_punch_holes_center_bg.trim();
         if (cfg_punch_holes_center_rainbow)    ph.center_rainbow  = true;
+        if (cfg_punch_holes_slow_pulse)        ph.slow_pulse      = true;
         cfg_obj.punch_holes = ph;
     } else {
         delete cfg_obj.punch_holes;
@@ -477,6 +481,13 @@ function toggle_cfg_controls_auth_editable(key: string) {
                     {@render hole_colors('Left',   cfg_punch_holes_left,   cfg_punch_holes_left_fg,   cfg_punch_holes_left_bg,   cfg_punch_holes_left_rainbow,   (v) => cfg_punch_holes_left_fg = v,   (v) => cfg_punch_holes_left_bg = v,   (v) => cfg_punch_holes_left_rainbow = v)}
                     {@render hole_colors('Right',  cfg_punch_holes_right,  cfg_punch_holes_right_fg,  cfg_punch_holes_right_bg,  cfg_punch_holes_right_rainbow,  (v) => cfg_punch_holes_right_fg = v,  (v) => cfg_punch_holes_right_bg = v,  (v) => cfg_punch_holes_right_rainbow = v)}
                     {@render hole_colors('Center', cfg_punch_holes_center, cfg_punch_holes_center_fg, cfg_punch_holes_center_bg, cfg_punch_holes_center_rainbow, (v) => cfg_punch_holes_center_fg = v, (v) => cfg_punch_holes_center_bg = v, (v) => cfg_punch_holes_center_rainbow = v)}
+
+                    {#if cfg_punch_holes_left_rainbow || cfg_punch_holes_right_rainbow || cfg_punch_holes_center_rainbow}
+                        <label class="label flex items-center gap-2 pt-1 border-t border-surface-200-800">
+                            <input type="checkbox" bind:checked={cfg_punch_holes_slow_pulse} class="checkbox" />
+                            <span class="text-sm">Slow Pulse <span class="text-xs text-surface-400 italic">(gentle breathing instead of fast cycle)</span></span>
+                        </label>
+                    {/if}
                 </div>
 
                 <label class="label">