diff --git a/ui/observatory/js/hud-controller.js b/ui/observatory/js/hud-controller.js
index ddc9fdf2..0fc0de1c 100644
--- a/ui/observatory/js/hud-controller.js
+++ b/ui/observatory/js/hud-controller.js
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export const SCENARIO_NAMES = [
 ];
 
 export const DEFAULTS = {
-  bloom: 0.2, bloomRadius: 0.25, bloomThresh: 0.5,
+  bloom: 0.08, bloomRadius: 0.2, bloomThresh: 0.6,
   exposure: 1.3, vignette: 0.25, grain: 0.01, chromatic: 0.0005,
   boneThick: 0.018, jointSize: 0.035, glow: 0.3, trail: 0.35,
   wireColor: '#00d878', jointColor: '#ff4060', aura: 0.02,
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export const DEFAULTS = {
   scenario: 'auto', cycle: 30, dataSource: 'demo', wsUrl: '',
 };
 
-export const SETTINGS_VERSION = '4';
+export const SETTINGS_VERSION = '5';
 
 export const PRESETS = {
   foundation: {},
diff --git a/ui/observatory/js/post-processing.js b/ui/observatory/js/post-processing.js
index 4ad33116..02186e38 100644
--- a/ui/observatory/js/post-processing.js
+++ b/ui/observatory/js/post-processing.js
@@ -77,9 +77,9 @@ export class PostProcessing {
     // Bloom — tuned for green wireframe glow
     this._bloomPass = new UnrealBloomPass(
       new THREE.Vector2(size.x, size.y),
-      1.0,   // strength (less aggressive than before)
-      0.5,   // radius
-      0.25   // threshold
+      0.08,  // strength — subtle glow, overridden by settings
+      0.2,   // radius
+      0.6    // threshold
     );
     this.composer.addPass(this._bloomPass);