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Getting started
Beamline gives games the character of a CRT display, an LCD panel, or VHS tape. Set it up for a game, launch the game as usual, and choose your look while you play.
Draft guide
This is an early guide. Beamline is still pre-1.0, and compatibility varies by game and platform. Ready means set up, not guaranteed compatibility or developer approval. Beamline does not detect anti-cheat or verify compatibility with it. Check the game's rules before using it; when in doubt, don't set up that game.
Before you start
Open Beamline from its complete application package. On Windows, it runs as a Windows app. On Linux and SteamOS, the app runs through Proton and also needs the Linux components included in its package; a Windows-only package is not enough.
The steps below use the English interface labels and a keyboard or mouse.
Try Beamline Jump
Jump is the built-in minigame for trying Beamline's setup and in-game controls.
Open Help and choose Play Beamline Jump. If Jump is already ready, this launches it immediately. The first time, choose Set Up on its game page, then choose Play Beamline Jump once it shows Ready.
Hold Space or the left mouse button, then release to jump. Press Home to open Beamline's overlay, or use your chosen overlay shortcut.
Jump includes an introduction to the controls. You can return to it from Help.
Set up a game
Close the game first. In Beamline, open Library, select an installed game, and choose Set Up. Follow any prompts and wait for Ready. If setup needs attention, read the message before continuing.
Setup prepares that game for Beamline without launching it or changing your saves. It can add files beside the game and adjust game configuration or Proton settings. Some native Linux games also need a reversible change to their executable. Review any request to replace existing files; Cancel leaves them unchanged.
Launch and choose a look
After setup, you can close the Beamline app. Launch the game through Steam or your usual shortcut. Keep using Steam's normal launch choices, including its Proton choice on Linux and SteamOS.
Once the game is visible:
- Press Home to open the overlay.
- Set Enabled to On.
- Change Look to CRT, LCD, or VHS, then try the available options.
Use Up/Down to select a row, Left/Right to change a value, and Enter to activate an action, or click the controls. Changes apply immediately and save automatically after a short pause. If a settings error appears, your latest changes may not have been applied or saved. Press Home again or Escape to close the overlay. Set Enabled to Off whenever you want to turn the effects off.
You can change the key in the Beamline app under Settings → Overlay shortcut. A new shortcut takes effect the next time the game starts. If you've changed it, use that key wherever this guide says Home.
See Using the overlay for the looks, picture options, and optional pixel-grid controls.
If the game slows down with effects enabled, see Performance.
Optional: fine-tune the pixel grid
You can enjoy Beamline without detecting a grid. For pixel-art games using CRT or LCD, the optional pixel-grid controls may help match the effect to the game's pixels. VHS does not need a pixel grid.
Remove a game's setup
Close the game, select it in Library, and choose Remove under Game Setup. Review the confirmations and wait for the result. This removes its Beamline setup, not the game or the Beamline app.
Removing a setup and uninstalling Beamline are separate steps. Before uninstalling the app, use Settings → Remove All Setups to remove its game integrations and resolve any reported removal failures.
See Updates, repair & removal for confirmations, removal failures, and what to do before uninstalling Beamline.
If something isn't working, start with Troubleshooting & support.