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<title>Video</title>
# Video
This is where you configure the basic settings of the graphics engine to best suit your needs (and to best fit your computer's graphic and processing power).
-- screenshot with the "video" section highlighted --
<!-- ### Graphics (maybe use this stuff in some form)
The graphics system to be used by the game. Currently only OpenGL is supported by the current versions of the [FSO][]![][li].
**Historical note**: The original engine reliably supported only Microsoft's DirectX technology, but the [SCP][]![][li] upgraded the engine to work well in OpenGL mode and removed DirectX support to make the game multiplatform. -->
## Options supported on all platforms
### Resolution
The number of pixels you see on the screen when playing the game. Chosing a bigger resolution increases the quality of the graphics output of the engine but requires more processing power. If the game runs sluggish, try lowering the resolution.
**TODO is this actually true about sluggishness? sounds iffy.**
### Depth
Bit depth (also called *color depth* or *screen depth*) describes the number of bits used to represent the color of a single pixel. In game terms, this means that a 32-bit depth creates a more vivid image than a 16-bit depth mode.
**Note**: Although a 32-bit mode requires a bit more processing power than 16-bit, this option should be set to the same value as your Windows bit depth (usually 32-bit nowdays), as using a different bit depth can cause *major* slowdowns. If your graphics card is having difficulty running FSO, the SCP suggests that you change other graphics settings and leave this one where it is now.
## Options currently supported on Linux and Mac OS X only
### Texture filter
The texture filter determines the method used to blend the pixels you see on a textured object/model in game with that of neighbouring pixels to create the illusion of a continuous surface. The more advanced the method, the better the result. The cost is a slight performance loss.
### Anisotropic
Anisotropic is a second filter applied to the textures you see in-game to correct blurriness when the textured surface is at an oblique angle. Since most of the textures in-game are viewed at oblique angles, it is a good idea to turn this on. Like most other options, choosing a larger correction factor results in a slight performance loss.
### Anti-aliasing
Anti-aliasing is a technique that minimizes the "jagged edges" of any object you see in-game. Check this [Wikipedia article on anti-aliasing][aa]![][le] for a more detailed explanation.
**TODO need to say something about FXAA**
**Tip**: In a furious dogfight, you won't notice any difference if this is turned off or set to maximum, but if you want to admire the beautiful world of FreeSpace, it could be worth using it.
**Warning**: Using a large anti-aliasing factor can cause a considerable drop in performance, depending on your system configuration.
[li]: /images/li.png
[le]: /images/le.png
[fso]: /50TechnicalStuff/02Terminology.help
[scp]: /50TechnicalStuff/02Terminology.help
[aa]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-alias
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