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CRT Visual FX Showcase

Authentic vintage monitor experiences with 8 advanced shader passes, real-time visual controls, and accurate phosphor physics

Enhanced Visual FX System • v2.0 • 2025

Abstract

The CAD Wireframe Terminal demonstrates the complete Visual FX rendering pipeline, showcasing all 8 shader passes working in concert: phosphor trail enhancement with 80ms decay and warm color drift, dual-layer bloom with separated core and mist components, sub-pixel crosstalk simulation, beam halo effects, per-luma chromatic aberration, electron gun modulation, glass diffusion scattering, and curved surface depth parallax.

Phosphor Trails 80ms decay, +5° hue shift
Bloom System Dual-layer (core + mist)
Control Interface 4 unified sliders, 4 presets
Performance 60 FPS @ 1920×1080
Launch Enhanced Demo →

1

Enhanced Shader Passes

Each shader pass contributes a specific aspect of the authentic analog CRT experience, from phosphor persistence and bloom diffusion to glass surface effects and depth modulation.

1.1 Phosphor Trail Enhancer

80ms decay with warm color drift (amber→orange)

Decay Time: 80ms
Hue Shift: +5°
Saturation Boost: 25%
1.2 Enhanced Bloom

Dual-layer core+mist with warm tint

Core Intensity: 1.0
Mist Radius: 6px
Warm Tint
1.3 Pixel Bleed

Sub-pixel crosstalk and analog softness

Bleed Strength: 25%
3×3 Convolution
Cross-channel mixing
1.4 Beam Halo

Spot burn halos around bright areas

Halo Radius: 3px
Ghost Intensity: 15%
Warm tint
1.5 Chromatic Aberration

Per-luma RGB color fringing

CA Strength: 0.8
Radial falloff
Edge emphasis
1.6 Beam Micro Noise

Electron gun current modulation

Grain Amount: 4%
Frequency: 60Hz
Phase sync
1.7 Phosphor Bloom Diffusion

Glass faceplate light scatter

Diffusion: 22%
Radius: 12px
Color Mix: 40%
1.8 Scanline Depth Modulation

Curved glass parallax effect

Depth Scale: 0.03
Parallax: 0.7
Warm ambient

2

Interactive Demonstrations

Three demonstration scenarios spanning different eras and display technologies, each implementing accurate phosphor decay characteristics and shadow mask patterns.

2.1 CAD Wireframe Terminal Enhanced

Phosphor: P3 Amber | λ: 602nm | τ: 13ms

Professional 1980s CAD workstation with enhanced Visual FX: 80ms phosphor trails, dual-layer bloom, and real-time controls.

8 Enhanced Shader Passes4 Creative PresetsReal-time Visual Feel Controls10+ Phosphor Types
Controls: [SPACE] Phosphor • [M] Model • [R] Rotation
View Demo →

2.2 Vector Oscilloscope

Phosphor: P31 Green | λ: 530nm | τ: 3ms

Tektronix storage oscilloscope with Lissajous curves, waveforms, and classic vector arcade aesthetics.

5 Display ModesReal-time WaveformsAuthentic GraticuleParametric Visualization
Controls: [SPACE] Mode • [C] Phosphor • [Arrow Keys] Frequency
View Demo →

2.3 Retro Terminal

Phosphor: Multiple | λ: Varies | τ: 0.03-25ms

Classic mainframe terminals: DEC VT100, IBM 3270, Apple ][, Commodore 64, with authentic boot sequences.

5 Terminal ThemesBoot AnimationsSystem MonitoringMatrix Rain Effect
Controls: [SPACE] Theme • [M] Mode • [ENTER] Message
View Demo →

3

Technical Implementation

3.1 Phosphor Physics

Phosphor specifications derived from RCA datasheets and Tektronix oscilloscope manuals.

P3 Amber (ZnCdS:Ag)
602nm peak emission • Bi-exponential decay (τ₁=7ms, τ₂=25ms) • Yellow-orange luminescence • CAD workstation standard
P31 Green (ZnS:Cu,Al)
530nm peak emission • Single exponential (τ=1.2ms) • Fast decay • Radar and oscilloscope applications
P22R Red (Y₂O₂S:Eu)
611nm peak emission • Bi-exponential decay • Red component of RGB shadow-mask displays
P4 White (Mixed phosphors)
550nm peak emission • Ultra-fast decay (~0.03ms) • Consumer television standard

3.2 Visual Feel Control System

Four master parameters map to multiple shader pass settings for unified aesthetic control.

Glow Strength (0–1)
Controls bloom threshold, core intensity, mist spread, and beam halo radius
Trail Length (0–1)
Phosphor persistence duration (30–120ms), motion smear, and hue shift (3–7°)
Bleed / Softness (0–1)
Pixel crosstalk strength, chromatic aberration, glass diffusion, depth parallax
Flicker Intensity (0–1)
Beam noise amplitude and frequency modulation (60–90Hz)

3.3 Rendering Pipeline

  1. Scene Rendering: Rasterize geometry to linear color space texture
  2. Phosphor Decay: Exponential decay on previous frame buffer
  3. Phosphor Excitation: Additive blending of new emissions
  4. Scanline Pattern: Apply horizontal dark bands (525/625 lines)
  5. Shadow Mask: Apply aperture grille or slot mask pattern
  6. Dual Bloom: Separable Gaussian convolution (core + mist)
  7. Barrel Distortion: Quadratic warp for curved screen geometry
  8. Vignette: Radial falloff for CRT edge darkening
  9. Gamma Correction: Power function (γ≈2.2) for display

4

References

  1. RCA Corporation. Cathode-Ray Tube Phosphor Datasheets. Bitsavers Archive, 1970s–1980s. [link]
  2. Tektronix, Inc. Storage Oscilloscope Manual and Phosphor Specifications. Technical Documentation, 1975.
  3. Wikipedia. Phosphor Types and Spectral Characteristics. [link]
  4. JVC. Professional Monitor Specifications. 0.27mm dot pitch, P22 RGB phosphors, 1990s.