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Following are results of the ray-tracing algorithm used to "picture" magnetars in the polarized light. One polarization is highly affected by QED effects. In this polarization, the neutron star will look highly distorted and magnified!

For comparison, this is it looks with a weak magnetic field. The poles are brighter because it is easier for radiation to diffuse parallel to the magnetic field:

This is how it looks at 3 10¹⁶G. The NS has an apparent radius that is roughly twice its original radius! (The image is scales so it isn't apparent)

This is how it looks at 10¹⁷G. Note how the poles are amplified.

Back to the summary on Light Propagation in NS Magnetospheres