Update the bundled libEGL.dll and libGLESv2.dll along with the client. They fix ANGLE vertex-layout cache corruption observed during demo/model rendering. Renderer startup and backend changes validate context capability. Eligible WGL contexts run a separate background compiler probe for world, snow and mirror tessellation, regardless of AVFX, tessellation switches or presets. Until PASS, the existing CPU/flat fallback remains. The game thread does not wait for probe completion. Results are cached against GPU, driver, context and shader code; there is no vendor/version blacklist. Settings remain intact. gl_capabilities and bsp_tess_info expose availability/fallback reasons. This is not immunity from every driver fault. EGL model-part colors and highlighted WGL/EGL cel outlines are also fixed.

Beta 3 corrections

Fixed blue artifacts at high contrast. The main tessellation master also governs water and lava; switching no longer triggers v_q2px_base_floor compilation errors. Incompatible gl_shaders 0 with active shader-dependent features is rejected with an explanation, including startup arguments and configs. Automatic menu scaling follows resolution changes. Lighting presets apply brightness, color grading and dynamic-light settings.

Video fixes in beta 2

Fixed WGL HDR transitions and map loading with AVFX; see the HDR guide. gl_picmip help now lists the actual 0–31 range. Texture reduction stops at 1×1, so settings 8 and 9 can differ for sufficiently large source textures. The incorrect upper bound of 8 is no longer documented.

What this document covers

This explains how the Q2PRO-X video settings and visual layers are built: the graphics backend, the display mode, the render scale, post-processing, OLED display protection, the highlights, and the separate visual profile used while watching recordings.

Where the settings live

What you are setting	Menu path
Display, backend, render scale, gamma	Main menu → Video & Display
OLED protection	Main menu → Video & Display → OLED Protection
HDR	Main menu → Video & Display → HDR Settings
Post-processing	Main menu → Video & Display → Post-Process Effects
Visual effects	Main menu → Video & Display → Visual FX
Dynamic lighting	Main menu → Video & Display → Dynamic Lighting
GL settings	Main menu → Video & Display → Q2PRO-X / GL settings
Renderer settings	Main menu → Video & Display → Q2PRO-X / Renderer settings
Visual highlights	Main menu → Online Play Setup → Visibility Highlights

Some stock Quake II video variables are still reachable from the console, but for ordinary configuration start with the Q2PRO-X pages.

1. The main video page

Video & Display

Type	Section	Row	Variable or target	What it does
Section	Display Mode	Display Mode
List	Display Mode	Video backend	vid_driver	vid_driver: win32wgl = default (fast cold AVFX startup), win32egl = explicit capture-friendly ANGLE / true-HDR choice. [Win32egl / Win32wgl]
Value list	Display Mode	Resolution	vid_resolution	vid_resolution: desktop = native monitor mode.
Toggle	Display Mode	Windowed mode	vid_windowed	vid_windowed: run in a normal resizable window.
List	Display Mode	Fullscreen mode	vid_fullscreen_type	Fullscreen flavor when windowed is off. [Desktop fullscreen / Exclusive fullscreen]
Value list	Display Mode	Refresh rate	vid_refresh	vid_refresh: max = highest available.
List	Display Mode	Fullscreen fit	vid_desktop_fullscreen_fit	Fill = stretch to monitor, aspect = keep selected mode aspect with black bars. Applies immediately. [fill / aspect]
List	Display Mode	Deep-color Alt-Tab	vid_desktop_fullscreen_margin	Exact fullscreen is the default and keeps maximum native-WGL FPS. Fast Alt-Tab sets vid_desktop_fullscreen_margin 0: on desktops deeper than 8 bpc it leaves a narrow right edge and may reduce FPS. Needs vid_restart. [Exact fullscreen / Fast Alt-Tab]
Section	Scale, Gamma & FPS	Scale, Gamma & FPS
Slider	Scale, Gamma & FPS	Render scale	gl_render_scale	Internal 3D scene resolution (100=native, step 1%).
List	Scale, Gamma & FPS	Scale mode	gl_render_scale_mode	Auto = best path, texture = bloom/waterwarp, blit = high range, tiled = extreme. [auto / texture / blit / tiled]
List	Scale, Gamma & FPS	Scale filter	gl_render_scale_filter	Resolve quality (fast / balanced / quality). [fast / balanced / quality]
Slider	Scale, Gamma & FPS	World light intensity	intensity	intensity: primary renderer light intensity multiplier used by shaders. 2 is the Q2PRO default; higher brightens the level, lower darkens it. When Global Q2PRO-X prefs / Video is enabled, this value is stored in the unified global config. Applies immediately.
Slider	Scale, Gamma & FPS	Texture gamma (compatibility)	vid_gamma	Compatibility texture gamma for existing configs. On programmable WGL/EGL it affects wall/skin texture uploads and needs r_reload or vid_restart; it never changes the final frame.
Slider	Scale, Gamma & FPS	Full-frame gamma	vid_display_gamma	Explicit live final-composite gamma in programmable WGL/EGL. 1.0 is neutral and never inherits legacy vid_gamma; lower brightens the complete frame, higher darkens it. Applies immediately.
Toggle	Scale, Gamma & FPS	Hardware gamma	vid_hwgamma	Apply the legacy vid_gamma curve through the display driver's hardware gamma ramp. Enabling requires vid_restart and driver support; independent from vid_display_gamma.
Slider	Scale, Gamma & FPS	Renderer FPS limit	r_maxfps	r_maxfps: renderer-only framerate cap. 0 = uncapped. Applies when cl_async 1; otherwise cl_maxfps is the gate. Applies immediately.
Section	Submenus & Actions	Submenus & Actions
Navigation	Submenus & Actions	OLED protection...	q2prox_oled	OLED protection suite: burn-in guards, dimming and static-image safeguards.
Navigation	Submenus & Actions	HDR settings...	q2prox_hdr	HDR rendering / tone mapping settings.
Navigation	Submenus & Actions	Post-process effects...	q2prox_postfx	Post-process camera/display effects (pixel, CRT, film, VHS).
Navigation	Submenus & Actions	Visual effects...	q2prox_vfx	Fog, bloom, color grading, sharpen, cel-shading and other visual effects.
Navigation	Submenus & Actions	Dynamic lighting...	q2prox_dynamic_lighting	Dynamic lights, emissive map lights, spawn lights, sparks and model shadows.
Navigation	Submenus & Actions	GL settings...	q2prox_gl_settings	GL textures and visual style: vsync, filter, anisotropy, picmip, particles, beams, bilerp, font shadow, damage blend.
Navigation	Submenus & Actions	Renderer settings...	q2prox_renderer_settings	Renderer lighting and pipeline: vertex lighting, modulation, dlight falloff, lightgrid, waterwarp, GL shaders / MD5 / texture bits (some require vid_restart).
Navigation	Submenus & Actions	Restart video...	vid_restart	Apply vid_driver / fullscreen changes now
Navigation	Submenus & Actions	Render scale info...	gl_render_scale_info	Print render scale path, max resolution and tile grid to the console.

2. The graphics backend

Variable	Accepted values	Description
vid_driver	win32wgl=Windows WGL OpenGL (default, fast cold AVFX startup) / win32egl=Windows EGL/ANGLE (explicit capture/true-HDR choice) / wayland=native Wayland / x11=native X11 / sdl=SDL2	Specifies which video driver to use. On Windows the default is win32wgl: native OpenGL has the fast cold AVFX startup path. win32egl remains an explicit capture-friendly ANGLE choice for NVIDIA ShadowPlay/OBS compatibility and is required for the optional true-HDR output path, but its first cold shader build can take much longer. If the chosen backend fails to initialize the engine probes the remaining drivers and rewrites vid_driver to the backend that actually started.

Two paths:

`win32wgl` — the classic OpenGL path. This is the default: it reaches its working state faster on a cold AVFX start, and the menu recommends it for true HDR.

`win32egl` — the EGL/ANGLE path. The explicit choice for video capture and compatibility; for the heavy AVFX volumetric media the menu recommends this one.

If the selected backend cannot start, the engine tries the available fallback drivers and rewrites the variable to the backend that actually started. That is why the menu shows both the desired value and the actual launch result.

Practical guidance:

keep the default if the game starts normally;

try the other backend if there is a problem on your particular machine;

after changing the backend, restart the video mode or the client if the menu did not apply the change itself;

prefer win32wgl for true HDR, and win32egl for heavy AVFX volumetric effects.

3. The display mode

Q2PRO-X hides the old awkward fullscreen model behind understandable lists:

Menu row	What it does
Windowed	Start in an ordinary resizable window
Fullscreen type	Desktop fullscreen or exclusive mode
Fullscreen fit	Fill the monitor, or keep the aspect ratio with black bars
Alt-Tab (deep-colour desktop)	Exact size, or fast Alt-Tab

3.1. Desktop fullscreen

This is borderless fullscreen. It is usually the best mode for switching windows, recording video and a modern Windows desktop. With the aspect fit, the game keeps the chosen aspect ratio and draws black bars.

3.2. Exclusive fullscreen

The classic mode that changes the monitor's video mode.

3.3. Windowed mode

In a window the size is governed by the window itself, and the refresh rate by the desktop.

3.4. Fast Alt-Tab on a deep-colour desktop

Variable	Accepted values	Description
vid_desktop_fullscreen_margin	-1=exact size (default) / 0=fast Alt-Tab on deep-color WGL / 1..16=manual diagnostic margin	Desktop-fullscreen Alt-Tab policy. Default -1 uses the exact monitor size and preserves maximum native-WGL FPS, but Alt-Tab can be slower on desktops deeper than 8 bpc. Value 0 enables automatic fast-Alt-Tab compatibility: deep-color SDR WGL leaves a minimal right-edge margin to avoid Legacy Flip, potentially at an FPS cost. Active FP16 true HDR remains exact-size. Positive values are manual diagnostic margins. Requires vid_restart.

The exact size is the default: it preserves the maximum frame rate on native WGL. The fast Alt-Tab mode helps on a desktop deeper than 8 bits, but it leaves a narrow strip on the right and can reduce the frame rate. It requires a video restart.

4. Render scale

The render scale separates the internal 3D resolution from the size of the window.

Variable	Accepted values	Description
gl_render_scale	100..1000 (percent; 100 = native, 200 = 2x super-sampling, etc.; menu step 1%)	Internal 3D scene resolution as a percent of the display. 100 is native resolution; >100 is super-sampling (render higher, downscale for AA); <100 is not supported — set gl_render_scale to 100 to disable super-sampling. Runtime-clamped by gl_render_scale_max and the backend's max texture size. Menu step 1% (was 25% — 1% gives finer control on the SS curve).
gl_render_scale_mode	0=auto / 1=texture/FBO / 2=blit / 3=tiled	Render scale pipeline mode. Integer 0..3. 0 = auto pick. 1 = render into offscreen texture / FBO (preferred for >100% SSAA). 2 = direct blit path when supported. 3 = tiled mode for very high render scales that exceed max texture size.
gl_render_scale_filter	0=fast single blit / 1=balanced progressive 2x / 2=quality progressive 2x + tiled guard band	Render scale upscale / downscale filter quality. Integer 0..2. 0 = single fast blit (cheap, slight blur). 1 = balanced progressive 2x downsample chain. 2 = quality progressive 2x + tiled-mode guard band (sharpest, most VRAM/perf).

Typical uses:

100 — native sharpness;

below 100 — more frames at the cost of blur;

above 100 — super-sampling, if your card allows it.

For competitive play it usually makes sense to keep 100 and gain frames by disabling expensive visual effects instead.

The gl_render_scale_info command prints the actual scaling path, the maximum resolution and the tile grid.

5. Gamma and brightness

This is where confusion arises most often, especially after loading an old config.

Variable	Accepted values	Description
vid_gamma	default 1 / range 0.3..3 / step 0.05 / r_reload/vid_restart	Compatibility texture gamma used by existing Q2/Q2PRO configs. Default 1.0 = identity; lower values brighten texture mid-tones, higher values darken them. On programmable WGL/EGL it is baked into wall/skin texture uploads and therefore needs r_reload or vid_restart; it never changes the whole final frame. With vid_hwgamma 1, the display backend may instead consume this curve as a hardware gamma ramp. Owned by the unified global video config when global video preferences are enabled.
vid_display_gamma	default 1 / range 0.3..3 / step 0.05 / live	Optional live final-composite gamma for programmable WGL/EGL. Default 1.0 is neutral; lower values brighten the complete frame and higher values darken it. This new control is deliberately independent from legacy vid_gamma and never inherits its persisted value. Owned by the unified global video config when global video preferences are enabled.
vid_hwgamma	default 0 / 0/1 / vid_restart	Apply the legacy vid_gamma curve as a hardware gamma ramp through the display driver instead of baking it into textures. Default 0 = off; 1 = on. Registered as CVAR_REFRESH, so enabling it needs vid_restart and driver support; once active, changes to vid_gamma are live. Independent from the optional final-composite vid_display_gamma. Owned by the unified global video config when global video preferences are enabled.
intensity	default 2 / range 0..5 / step 0.05	Primary renderer light intensity multiplier consumed by the shader uniforms (u_intensity / u_intensity2). Stock Q2PRO default is 2; lower values darken the level, higher values brighten it. When cl_q2prox_cfg_global_prefs 1 + cl_q2prox_cfg_global_pref_video 1 are enabled the value is owned by the unified Q2PRO-X global config (baseq2/q2pro-x/q2pro-x.cfg). Independent from gl_brightness / gl_modulate, legacy texture-domain vid_gamma, and final-composite vid_display_gamma; these controls operate at separate renderer stages.

The short rule:

Texture gamma is the compatible legacy gamma: it affects wall and model textures, requires a resource or video-mode reload, and does not change the whole final frame.

Whole-frame gamma is the explicit live gamma of the final frame, neutral by default and inheriting no older value.

Hardware gamma applies the legacy curve through the driver and requires a video restart.

Everything about high dynamic range lives in the separate HDR guide.

6. Basic visual effects

Separate pages own separate groups:

Visual effects — fog, bloom, colour grading, sharpening, cel shading;

Post-processing — pixel mode, CRT, film, VHS;

Dynamic lighting — dynamic lights, glowing map sources, spawn points, sparks and shadows;

GL settings — vertical sync, texture filtering, anisotropy, detail, particles, beams;

Renderer settings — lighting, the pipeline, underwater warp, MD5 and texture bit depth.

Visual FX

Type	Section	Row	Variable or target	What it does
Section	Fog	Fog
Toggle	Fog	Fog	usefog	Enable client-side fog on maps that define fog. Applies immediately.
Slider	Fog	Fog density	fogdensity	Fog thickness: higher = denser haze and less far visibility. Applies immediately.
Slider	Fog	Fog hue	foghue	Fog color hue around the color wheel (0..1). Applies immediately.
Slider	Fog	Fog saturation	fogsaturation	Fog color saturation: 0 = gray, 1 = vivid. Applies immediately.
Slider	Fog	Fog lightness	foglightness	Fog brightness: 0 = dark fog, 1 = bright fog. Applies immediately.
Section	Lighting & style	Lighting & style
Toggle	Lighting & style	No glow	cl_noglow	Hide the colored power-up shell glow (quad/pent/invul tint) on players and weapons. Power-up state unchanged. Applies immediately.
Toggle	Lighting & style	Poly blend	gl_polyblend	Full-screen color flashes on damage, item pickup and underwater; off removes them. Applies immediately.
Toggle	Lighting & style	Colored lightmaps	gl_coloredlightmaps	Colored world lighting; off desaturates lightmaps to grayscale. Applies immediately.
Slider	Lighting & style	Brightness	gl_brightness	Adds brightness to world lightmaps; higher = brighter map. Applies immediately.
Slider	Lighting & style	Cel shading	gl_celshading	Black cartoon outline thickness around models; 0 = off. Applies immediately.
Section	Bloom & glow	Bloom & glow
Navigation	Bloom & glow	Bloom settings...	q2prox_bloom	Common bloom controls and source strengths from 0 to 100%.
Section	Color grading	Color grading
List	Color grading	Grading profile	gl_post_profile	Color-grading look for the final image: neutral, warm, arena or cinematic. Applies immediately. [off / neutral / warm / arena / cinematic]
Slider	Color grading	Contrast	gl_post_contrast	Image contrast; 1 = neutral, higher = punchier. Applies immediately.
Slider	Color grading	Vibrance	gl_post_vibrance	Vibrance: boosts muted colors most; negative = washed out. Applies immediately.
Slider	Color grading	Temperature	gl_post_temperature	Color temperature; negative = cooler/blue, positive = warmer/orange. Applies immediately.
Section	Sharpen	Sharpen
Slider	Sharpen	Sharpen	gl_sharpen	Edge sharpening of the final image; higher = crisper. Applies immediately.
Section	Submenus	Submenus
Navigation	Submenus	Dynamic lighting...	q2prox_dynamic_lighting	Dynamic lights, emissive map lights, spawn lights, sparks and model shadows.
Navigation	Submenus	Advanced effects...	q2prox_avfx	Open Advanced Visual Effects (AVFX): weather, sky, celestials and surface effects.
Navigation	Submenus	Visual fx info...	gl_visual_fx_info	Print current Visual FX cvar values and status to the console.
Navigation	Submenus	Visibility highlights...	q2prox_vis	Item, weapon and player highlights, including model-part colours.

6.1. Post-processing

Post-Process Effects

Type	Row	Variable or target	What it does
Toggle	Post-process	gl_postfx	gl_postfx: post-process master on/off Applies immediately.
List	Mode	gl_postfx_mode	Post-process look: Pixel, CRT, Film, VHS, Noir or Sepia (needs Post-process on). Applies immediately. [Off / Pixel / CRT / Film / VHS / Noir / Sepia]
Slider	Strength	gl_postfx_strength	Overall intensity of the active post-process effect; 1 = nominal. Applies immediately.
Slider	Mix	gl_postfx_mix	Blend of the effect with the raw image; 1 = full effect, 0 = none. Applies immediately.
Navigation	Pixel settings...	q2prox_postfx_pixel	Open Pixel Retro settings: resolution, grid, color levels, palette, dithering.
Navigation	CRT settings...	q2prox_postfx_crt	Open CRT settings: scanlines, mask, vignette, chroma, curvature, flicker.
Navigation	Film settings...	q2prox_postfx_film	Open Film settings: grain, vignette, chroma, lens dirt.
Navigation	VHS settings...	q2prox_postfx_vhs	Open VHS settings: noise, chroma bleed, jitter, tracking.
Navigation	Reset master...	set gl_postfx 0; set gl_postfx_mode 0; set gl_postfx_strength 1.0; set gl_postfx_mix 1.0	Reset post-process master/common to defaults

6.2. Dynamic lighting

Dynamic Lighting

Type	Section	Row	Variable or target	What it does
Section	Dynamic lights	Dynamic lights
List	Dynamic lights	Dynamic lights	gl_dynamic	Dynamic lightmap lighting: off, on, or only map switchable lights. Applies immediately. [no / yes / only switchable]
Slider	Dynamic lights	Dynamic light darkness boost	gl_dynamic_dark_boost	Boosts dynamic lights (blasters/rockets/explosions) on locally dark surfaces. 0=legacy; 1.55 default; 5..10 dramatic. Radius/color unchanged. Applies immediately.
Slider	Dynamic lights	Dynamic light radius	gl_dynamic_radius	Dynamic light radius scale. 1.0=legacy; lower=smaller projected spots on walls. Higher=stretched glow within marked surfaces. Applies immediately.
Slider	Dynamic lights	Dynamic light softness	gl_dynamic_softness	Falloff softness. 1.0=legacy linear; >1=softer diffuse edges; <1=concentrated pin-point core. Applies immediately.
Slider	Dynamic lights	Dynamic light alpha	gl_dynamic_alpha	Alpha/opacity of dynamic light projections. 1.0=legacy full; 0=invisible. Applies immediately.
Toggle	Dynamic lights	Sparks emit dlight	cl_q2prox_spark_dlight	Emit a short dynamic light at impact sparks (bullets / shotgun / screen / shield). Lets sparks light up the surrounding floor / snow. Default OFF. Applies immediately.
Section	Emissive map lights	Emissive map lights
Toggle	Emissive map lights	Emissive map lights	gl_emissive_lights	Local light from visible emissive map objects. Invisible compiler markers are ignored. Applies immediately.
Toggle	Emissive map lights	Surface lights	gl_emissive_lights_surfaces	Use visible non-water SURF_LIGHT faces as sources. Applies immediately.
Toggle	Emissive map lights	Spawn point lights	gl_emissive_lights_spawn_points	Opt-in: light player starts snapped to compact nearby floor/pad geometry. Raw invisible info_player_* origins and unrelated wall lamps are ignored. Also covers destination markers like misc_teleporter_dest. Applies immediately.
Section	Emissive tuning	Emissive tuning
Slider	Emissive tuning	Emissive intensity	gl_emissive_lights_intensity	Global intensity scale for emissive sources. 0=off; 1=baseline; up to 5x for dramatic. Applies immediately.
Slider	Emissive tuning	Emissive range	gl_emissive_lights_range	Per-source range cap in world units (smaller = tighter pools of light). Applies immediately.
Slider	Emissive tuning	Range scale	gl_emissive_lights_range_scale	Multiplier on per-source intrinsic radius (independent of cap). Applies immediately.
Slider	Emissive tuning	Flicker	gl_emissive_lights_flicker	Lamp-like low-frequency flicker amount (0 = stable, ~0.08 = subtle drift). Applies immediately.
Slider	Emissive tuning	Fade time	gl_emissive_lights_fade_ms	Fade-in/out time (ms) when a sub-cvar toggle changes which sources are active. With priority-based selection (default), no camera-driven activation. Fades only on user toggles. 0 = hard snap (debug). Applies immediately.
Toggle	Emissive tuning	PVS gate	gl_emissive_lights_pvs_gate	Optional: gate active sources by camera PVS visibility (big-map optimization). Default off. Leave off if you want truly static, always-on lighting that doesn't react to where you walk. Applies immediately.
Slider	Emissive tuning	Max active	gl_emissive_lights_max_active	Legacy V_AddLight emission cap. Strict slot reservation guarantees gameplay dlights (projectiles, sparks, explosions, flashlight) keep their MAX_DLIGHTS headroom. AVFX material UBOs use dedicated static families. Applies immediately.
Slider	Emissive tuning	Max cached	gl_emissive_lights_max_sources	Source-cache cap (built per map). 0 = effectively off. Applies immediately.
Section	Shadows	Shadows
List	Shadows	Shadows	gl_shadows	gl_shadows: 0=off, 1=basic hard shadows, 2=fade with distance, 3=soft model shadows Applies immediately. [off / basic / fade / soft]
Toggle	Shadows	Shadow light occlusion	gl_shadows_light_occlusion	Suppress projected model shadows when the model is under a solid ceiling. Does not affect AVFX flashlight dynamic shadows. Applies immediately.
Section	Service	Service
Navigation	Service	Reset to defaults	q2prox_dynamic_lighting_defaults	Reset every parameter in this submenu to its default value.

6.3. GL settings

Q2PRO-X / GL settings

Type	Section	Row	Variable or target
Section	Sections	Sections
Navigation	Sections	Sync and filtering...	q2prox_gl_sync_filter
Navigation	Sections	Shader compile and cache...	q2prox_gl_shader_cache
Navigation	Sections	Texture detail...	q2prox_gl_texture_detail
Navigation	Sections	Particles and beams...	q2prox_gl_particles_beams

6.4. Renderer settings

Q2PRO-X / Renderer settings

Type	Section	Row	Variable or target	What it does
Section	Sections	Sections
Navigation	Sections	Lighting model...	q2prox_renderer_lighting
Navigation	Sections	Level tessellation...	q2prox_bsp_tessellation	General WGL hardware tessellation for BSP world surfaces. Independent of Single Player Geometry Deformation and available in multiplayer. EGL uses the normal CPU world path.
Navigation	Sections	Water and fog...	q2prox_renderer_environment
Navigation	Sections	Pipeline and models...	q2prox_renderer_pipeline
Navigation	Sections	Texture overrides...	q2prox_renderer_texture_overrides

7. OLED protection

This is a set of protective effects for the cases where static elements stay in one place for a long time.

OLED Protection

Type	Section	Row	Variable or target	What it does
Section	Main	Main
Toggle	Main	OLED protection	vid_oled_enable	Master switch for the OLED burn-in protection suite. Applies immediately.
Section	Bar protection	Bar protection
Toggle	Bar protection	Bar protection	vid_oled_bar_protection	Slowly animate the aspect-fit pillarbox bars so they don't burn in. Applies immediately.
List	Bar protection	Bar preset	vid_oled_bar_preset	Bar animation preset: fade, random fade, or breathe. Applies immediately. [fade / random fade / breathe]
List	Bar protection	Bar color A	vid_oled_bar_color_a	First bar-animation color (one end of the breathing cycle). Applies immediately. [Black / Near black / Dim gray / Gray]
List	Bar protection	Bar color B	vid_oled_bar_color_b	Second bar-animation color (the other end of the breathing cycle). Applies immediately. [Black / Near black / Dim gray / Gray]
Slider	Bar protection	Bar start delay	vid_oled_bar_delay_sec	Delay before the first bar color transition, letting the bars settle first (seconds). Applies immediately.
Slider	Bar protection	Bar active time	vid_oled_bar_active_min	Minimum active-session length before bar animation may start. Stops brief sessions from triggering it. Applies immediately.
Slider	Bar protection	Bar idle interval	vid_oled_bar_interval_min	Minimum interval between bar color transitions; slower is less distracting (minutes). Applies immediately.
Section	Idle protection	Idle protection
Toggle	Idle protection	Idle screen protection	vid_oled_idle_protection	Dim the screen after a period of inactivity. Applies immediately.
Slider	Idle protection	Idle delay	vid_oled_idle_delay_sec	Idle time before the screen starts dimming (seconds). Applies immediately.
Slider	Idle protection	Idle fade time	vid_oled_idle_fade_sec	Fade-to-dark duration once idle protection triggers (seconds). Applies immediately.
Slider	Idle protection	Idle hold time	vid_oled_idle_hold_sec	How long the screen stays fully dim before optionally switching the monitor to DPMS off (seconds). Applies immediately.
Toggle	Idle protection	Idle monitor DPMS off	vid_oled_idle_monitor_off	Switch the monitor off via DPMS during the fully-dim HOLD_DARK phase. Windows, opt-in. Applies immediately.
Slider	Idle protection	Idle restore time	vid_oled_idle_restore_sec	Fade-back-to-normal duration when activity resumes (seconds). Applies immediately.
Toggle	Idle protection	Mute audio on idle protect	vid_oled_idle_mute_audio	Mute audio while the idle dimming is active. Applies immediately.
Section	Interface protection	Interface protection
Toggle	Interface protection	Interface alpha protect	vid_oled_ui_protection	Apply a slow breathing opacity to protected UI elements so static chrome doesn't burn in. Applies immediately.
Slider	Interface protection	Interface min alpha	vid_oled_ui_min_alpha	Dimmest point of the breathing opacity applied to protected UI. Applies immediately.
Slider	Interface protection	Interface max alpha	vid_oled_ui_max_alpha	Brightest point of the breathing opacity applied to protected UI. Applies immediately.
Slider	Interface protection	Interface cycle time	vid_oled_ui_cycle_sec	Duration of one UI opacity breathing cycle (seconds). Applies immediately.
Section	Service	Service
Navigation	Service	OLED info...	vid_oled_info	Print the OLED-protection status to console.

Bar protection applies only when Q2PRO-X owns the black bars itself — in desktop fullscreen with the aspect fit, for example. Idle protection and UI protection are not limited to that mode.

The vid_oled_info command prints the state of the protection and the reasons each stage is or is not active.

8. Visual highlights

Highlighting replaces no models and changes no game data. It is a visual layer over the local rendering: items, weapons, players, per-class colours, per-weapon colours and model-part colours.

The master switch:

Variable	Accepted values	Description
cl_vis_enable	0=layer off (no highlights) / 1=layer active	Master enable for the Q2PRO-X visibility / highlight layer. Controls item, weapon, and player highlighting as a single gate. When off, the layer is completely neutral (no shells, no tints, no scale changes).

The complete description of the layer, including the player highlight modes and the model-part setup, is in the separate visual highlights guide.

9. The demo visual profile

The main idea: while watching .dm2 and .mvd2, the visual settings should be the same regardless of which mod the recording was made in.

So during playback the local Q2PRO-X visual settings are written into:

baseq2\q2pro-x\demo_visual\q2pro-x.demo.cfg

That covers the highlights, the model colours, the demo-analytics colours and trail settings, the in-demo item timer colours and toggles, and the other local visual variables.

In practice:

1. Start a recording.

2. Configure the highlights, the analytics and the timers.

3. The save goes into the demo profile.

4. The next recording from a different mod uses the same viewing profile, not a foreign mod config.

The relevant commands are described in the cvars and cvar browser guide.

10. AVFX and visual presets

AVFX is the largest visual layer of Q2PRO-X: weather, sky, space, water, puddles, surface materials, volumetric media and map-authored scenes.

For a new user the AVFX layer is off. It is enabled in the AVFX menu or by a ready-made preset.

The quality scale of the shipped presets progressively reduces particle density, the distance LOD, the extra trails and the expensive effects.

The distance LOD skips small effects beyond a chosen distance with a soft fade; puddles, cascade flows and the rain particles themselves are not affected by it.

Details are in the AVFX settings, AVFX presets and AVFX advanced features guides.

11. Recommended starting profiles

Competitive play

the default backend;

desktop fullscreen;

render scale 100;

bloom and post-processing moderate or off;

player highlight mode Team or Auto;

item highlighting with low opacity so the model is not obscured.

Watching recordings

player highlight mode Model or Model parts;

the shell-and-tint style;

assign clear colours to the models;

enable demo analytics only when you need the event map;

enable item timers as needed.

Recording video

the win32egl backend — it is the explicit choice for capture;