Last updated: 17NOV2024 (see Changelog for details)
In this guide we’re going to figure out how to use a combination of screen settings and effects – including shaders, filters, and overlays – to enhance the visual experience of retro handhelds. We’ll mostly focus on the most common screen aspect ratio (4:3) and resolution (640×480) found on handheld devices, but these fundamentals can be applied to a wide variety of screen types.
Note that even though this is a LONG guide, I would still consider it to be a STARTER GUIDE. The whole world of screen effects is both wide and deep, and there are enthusiasts who devote countless hours to designing and tweaking these images to perfection. This guide will walk you through the very basics and give you enough tools to improve your visual experience without earning a PhD in Pixelology.
The majority of this guide will rely on a basic understanding of how RetroArch works — how to enter the RetroArch Quick Menu, and the interplay between configuration files, overrides, and so on. If you need a refresher, I recommend my RetroArch Starter Guide.
Special thanks to community member and GBC game developer Ben Jelter (Jeltron) who helped me conceptualize and package this guide. Be sure to check out his website and some of his video games!
Continue reading “Guide: Shaders and Overlays on Retro Handhelds”
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