diff --git a/src/reasonableDefaults.test.mjs b/src/reasonableDefaults.test.mjs
index 9f90ba1be..bc9f125fd 100644
--- a/src/reasonableDefaults.test.mjs
+++ b/src/reasonableDefaults.test.mjs
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ test('detection-on-by-default is a default, not an operator override', () => {
   // A factory default is not that. If applying the baseline set the flag, a
   // fresh session would silently lose the style auto-enable behaviour — a
   // separate landed feature, taken out by an unrelated change.
-  const applyDefaults = uiBlock('  _applyGlobalPostDefaults() {', '\n  }\n');
+  const applyDefaults = uiBlock('  _applyGlobalPostDefaults({ keepHudVariant = false } = {}) {', '\n  }\n');
   assert.match(applyDefaults, /this\._setDetectionMode\(defaults\.detectionMode\)/,
     'the baseline still goes through the real detection path');
   assert.doesNotMatch(applyDefaults, /_detectionUserOverridden/,
diff --git a/src/ui/cyberTheme.test.mjs b/src/ui/cyberTheme.test.mjs
index 4c8b40dff..193680eed 100644
--- a/src/ui/cyberTheme.test.mjs
+++ b/src/ui/cyberTheme.test.mjs
@@ -316,13 +316,13 @@ test('a shared scope opacity is restored and rides in the next share state', asy
   });
   let shown = null;
   owner.store = { publish: (view) => (shown = view.scope) };
-  await owner.restoreShareState({ scopeOpacityPct: 40 });
-  assert.equal(getScopeMaskOpacity(), 0.4);
-  assert.equal(shown.opacityPct, 40);
+  await owner.restoreShareState({ scopeOpacityPct: 60 });
+  assert.equal(getScopeMaskOpacity(), 0.6);
+  assert.equal(shown.opacityPct, 60);
   // A state without it leaves the opacity alone.
   await owner.restoreShareState({ scopeFeatherPct: 80 });
-  assert.equal(getScopeMaskOpacity(), 0.4);
-  assert.equal(shown.opacityPct, 40);
+  assert.equal(getScopeMaskOpacity(), 0.6);
+  assert.equal(shown.opacityPct, 60);
   Object.assign(owner.services, {
     getDetectionTuning: () => ({ allocationStrategy: 'ELASTIC' }),
     getDetectionMode: () => 'OFF',
@@ -332,7 +332,11 @@ test('a shared scope opacity is restored and rides in the next share state', asy
     getScopeTerminusOverride: () => null,
   });
   owner.readCelestialRing = () => null;
-  assert.equal(owner._readShareState().options.scopeOpacityPct, 40);
+  assert.equal(owner._readShareState().options.scopeOpacityPct, 60);
+  // A link asking for less than the floor opens at the floor, and says so.
+  await owner.restoreShareState({ scopeOpacityPct: 20 });
+  assert.equal(getScopeMaskOpacity(), 0.5);
+  assert.equal(owner._readShareState().options.scopeOpacityPct, 50);
 });
 
 test('a scene shot saved with the retired Snow style plays on Normal', async (t) => {
diff --git a/src/ui/displayBindings.js b/src/ui/displayBindings.js
index 827cd51cd..aae9c1e9e 100644
--- a/src/ui/displayBindings.js
+++ b/src/ui/displayBindings.js
@@ -179,7 +179,9 @@ export class DisplayBindings {
       resetVisual: () => {
         this.shareLinkManager?.claimRestoreLane?.('visual');
         this.setStyle('normal', { userInitiated: true });
-        this._applyGlobalPostDefaults();
+        // The HUD layout follows the Normal style, as choosing it does: the
+        // Cyber HUD stays Cyber.
+        this._applyGlobalPostDefaults({ keepHudVariant: true });
         this._setDetectionAllocation('ELASTIC');
         this._setScope({ enabled: true, featherPct: 100, opacityPct: 100 });
         this._setModels3dEnabled(true);
diff --git a/src/ui/displayPanel.test.mjs b/src/ui/displayPanel.test.mjs
index 5b9489f39..c9550a5d2 100644
--- a/src/ui/displayPanel.test.mjs
+++ b/src/ui/displayPanel.test.mjs
@@ -108,7 +108,11 @@ test('bloom and sharpen render their state, slider and readout', async (t) => {
   await nextTick();
   assert.equal($('bloom-toggle').classList.contains('active'), false);
   assert.equal($('bloom-slider-row').classList.contains('visible'), false);
-  assert.equal($('bloom-intensity-value').textContent, '140%', 'the amount stays');
+  assert.equal(
+    $('bloom-intensity-value').textContent,
+    '140%',
+    'the amount stays',
+  );
 });
 
 test('a publish never rewrites a slider the user is dragging', async (t) => {
@@ -326,36 +330,50 @@ test('scope opacity renders what VisualSettings shows and sets the mask', async
   assert.equal($('scope-opacity-slider').value, '100');
   assert.equal($('scope-opacity-value').textContent, '100%');
 
-  owner._setScope({ opacityPct: 42.4 });
+  owner._setScope({ opacityPct: 62.4 });
   await nextTick();
-  assert.equal(mask.opacity, 0.42);
-  assert.equal($('scope-opacity-slider').value, '42');
-  assert.equal($('scope-opacity-value').textContent, '42%');
-  assert.equal(store.view.scope.opacityPct, 42);
+  assert.equal(mask.opacity, 0.62);
+  assert.equal($('scope-opacity-slider').value, '62');
+  assert.equal($('scope-opacity-value').textContent, '62%');
+  assert.equal(store.view.scope.opacityPct, 62);
+
+  // No fainter than the floor, where the view would read as Scope off.
+  owner._setScope({ opacityPct: 10 });
+  await nextTick();
+  assert.equal(mask.opacity, 0.5, 'floored');
+  assert.equal($('scope-opacity-value').textContent, '50%');
+  assert.equal($('scope-opacity-slider').min, '50');
+
+  // A value that is not a number changes nothing.
+  owner._setScope({ opacityPct: Number.NaN });
+  await nextTick();
+  assert.equal($('scope-opacity-value').textContent, '50%');
 
   owner._setScope({ opacityPct: 180 });
   await nextTick();
   assert.equal(mask.opacity, 1, 'clamped');
   assert.equal($('scope-opacity-value').textContent, '100%');
 
-  owner._setScope({ opacityPct: 30 }, { apply: false });
+  owner._setScope({ opacityPct: 70 }, { apply: false });
   await nextTick();
   assert.equal(mask.opacity, 1, 'only shown');
-  assert.equal($('scope-opacity-value').textContent, '30%');
+  assert.equal($('scope-opacity-value').textContent, '70%');
 
   owner._setScope({ enabled: false });
   await nextTick();
   assert.equal($('scope-opacity-slider').disabled, true, 'off with the scope');
-  assert.equal(store.view.scope.opacityPct, 30, 'kept while off');
+  assert.equal(store.view.scope.opacityPct, 70, 'kept while off');
 });
 
 test('the Visual panel groups its controls and words its on/off pills', (t) => {
   const { $ } = fixture(t);
   const panel = $('pp-toggles');
   assert.deepEqual(
-    [...panel.querySelectorAll('.pp-section-heading, .visual-presets__heading')].map(
-      (el) => el.textContent.trim(),
-    ),
+    [
+      ...panel.querySelectorAll(
+        '.pp-section-heading, .visual-presets__heading',
+      ),
+    ].map((el) => el.textContent.trim()),
     ['Look', 'MAP SOURCE 3D', 'Overlay', 'Effects'],
   );
   assert.equal(panel.querySelector('.pp-header-label').textContent, 'VISUAL');
@@ -384,7 +402,10 @@ test('the 3D aircraft group renders what AircraftDisplay shows', async (t) => {
   assert.equal(coreClasses(button), 'pp-toggle-btn active');
   assert.equal(button.getAttribute('aria-pressed'), 'true');
   assert.equal(row.classList.contains('visible'), true);
-  assert.equal($('models3d-mode-proximity').getAttribute('aria-checked'), 'true');
+  assert.equal(
+    $('models3d-mode-proximity').getAttribute('aria-checked'),
+    'true',
+  );
 
   // The button leaves the row to its own sync.
   owner._setModels3dEnabled(false);
@@ -400,7 +421,10 @@ test('the 3D aircraft group renders what AircraftDisplay shows', async (t) => {
   await nextTick();
   assert.equal(all.classList.contains('active'), true);
   assert.equal(all.getAttribute('aria-checked'), 'true');
-  assert.equal($('models3d-mode-proximity').classList.contains('active'), false);
+  assert.equal(
+    $('models3d-mode-proximity').classList.contains('active'),
+    false,
+  );
   assert.deepEqual(params.at(-1), ['military', { models3dMode: 'all' }]);
 
   owner._syncModels3dFromLayerState({
@@ -429,12 +453,18 @@ test('the Draw controls render what the draw tool publishes', async (t) => {
   assert.equal(segment('area').getAttribute('aria-label'), 'Area');
   assert.equal(segment('area').title, 'Area');
   assert.equal(segment('area').textContent, 'pentagon');
-  const swatch = (color) => document.querySelector(`#draw-colors [data-color="${color}"]`);
+  const swatch = (color) =>
+    document.querySelector(`#draw-colors [data-color="${color}"]`);
   assert.equal(swatch('primary').getAttribute('aria-checked'), 'true');
   assert.equal(swatch('amber').getAttribute('aria-label'), 'Amber');
   assert.equal($('draw-hint').textContent, '');
 
-  store.publishDraw({ active: true, shape: 'line', color: 'amber', hint: 'Click to add points.' });
+  store.publishDraw({
+    active: true,
+    shape: 'line',
+    color: 'amber',
+    hint: 'Click to add points.',
+  });
   await nextTick();
   assert.equal(swatch('amber').getAttribute('aria-checked'), 'true');
   assert.equal(swatch('primary').classList.contains('active'), false);
@@ -530,7 +560,10 @@ test('the imported files render what the file import publishes and keep focus',
   assert.equal(document.activeElement === button(first, 'toggle'), true);
   assert.equal(button(first, 'toggle').getAttribute('aria-pressed'), 'true');
   assert.equal(button(first, 'fly').title, 'Fly to <b>a</b>.geojson');
-  assert.equal(button(first, 'remove').getAttribute('aria-label'), 'Remove <b>a</b>.geojson');
+  assert.equal(
+    button(first, 'remove').getAttribute('aria-label'),
+    'Remove <b>a</b>.geojson',
+  );
 
   await press(button(first, 'remove'));
   assert.equal(rowsNow().length, 1);
@@ -646,7 +679,11 @@ test('VisualSettings publishes a style’s parameters and writes a moved slider
   assert.equal(store.parameters, null, 'the sliders go with their owner');
   assert.equal($('param-slider-panel').classList.contains('active'), false);
   assert.equal(store.act('setStyleParameter', 'grainAmt', 0.2), undefined);
-  assert.equal(owner.stages.noir.uniforms.grainAmt, 0.3, 'a stopped owner no longer answers');
+  assert.equal(
+    owner.stages.noir.uniforms.grainAmt,
+    0.3,
+    'a stopped owner no longer answers',
+  );
   // An older owner's stop leaves a newer owner's rows.
   const newer = { style: 'noir', rows: [] };
   owner._parameters = { style: 'noir', rows: [] };
@@ -658,10 +695,16 @@ test('VisualSettings publishes a style’s parameters and writes a moved slider
 test('the four Cockpit groups teleport to the published slots and back to their places', async (t) => {
   const { store, $ } = fixture(t);
   const groupOf = (id) => $(id).closest('.pp-toggle-group') ?? $(id);
-  const ids = ['hud-toggle', 'detection-toggle', 'param-slider-panel', 'models3d-toggle'];
+  const ids = [
+    'hud-toggle',
+    'detection-toggle',
+    'param-slider-panel',
+    'models3d-toggle',
+  ];
   const body = $('pp-toggles').querySelector('.pp-panel-body');
   const order = () =>
-    [...body.children].filter((el) => el.matches('.pp-toggle-group, #param-slider-panel'))
+    [...body.children]
+      .filter((el) => el.matches('.pp-toggle-group, #param-slider-panel'))
       .map((el) => el.id || el.querySelector('[id]')?.id);
   const home = order();
   const popover = document.body.appendChild(document.createElement('div'));
diff --git a/src/ui/displayPanelActions.test.mjs b/src/ui/displayPanelActions.test.mjs
index 59cb064dd..feb123cba 100644
--- a/src/ui/displayPanelActions.test.mjs
+++ b/src/ui/displayPanelActions.test.mjs
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ test('the Visual panel’s scope opacity, reset and presets call their actions',
     ],
   });
   await nextTick();
-  input($('scope-opacity-slider'), 40);
+  input($('scope-opacity-slider'), 60);
   document.querySelector('#pp-toggles .pp-reset-btn').click();
   const presets = document.querySelector('#pp-toggles .visual-presets');
   presets.querySelector('[data-style="noir"]').click();
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ test('the Visual panel’s scope opacity, reset and presets call their actions',
   chips[0].click();
   chips[1].click();
   assert.deepEqual(calls, [
-    ['setScopeOpacity', 40],
+    ['setScopeOpacity', 60],
     ['resetVisual'],
     ['setStyle', 'noir'],
   ]);
@@ -290,7 +290,8 @@ test('DisplayBindings sets the scope opacity and resets Visual to its defaults',
     elements: { _locationSearch: document.createElement('input') },
     operations: {
       setStyle: (style, options) => calls.push(['style', style, options]),
-      _applyGlobalPostDefaults: () => calls.push(['postDefaults']),
+      _applyGlobalPostDefaults: (options) =>
+        calls.push(['postDefaults', options]),
       _setDetectionAllocation: (value) => calls.push(['allocation', value]),
       _setScope: (scope) => calls.push(['scope', scope]),
       _setModels3dEnabled: (on) => calls.push(['models3d', on]),
@@ -310,10 +311,10 @@ test('DisplayBindings sets the scope opacity and resets Visual to its defaults',
   bindings._initUI();
   t.after(() => bindings.destroy());
   calls.length = 0;
-  input($('scope-opacity-slider'), 35);
+  input($('scope-opacity-slider'), 65);
   assert.deepEqual(calls, [
     ['claim', 'visual'],
-    ['scope', { opacityPct: 35 }],
+    ['scope', { opacityPct: 65 }],
     ['share'],
   ]);
   calls.length = 0;
@@ -321,7 +322,7 @@ test('DisplayBindings sets the scope opacity and resets Visual to its defaults',
   assert.deepEqual(calls, [
     ['claim', 'visual'],
     ['style', 'normal', { userInitiated: true }],
-    ['postDefaults'],
+    ['postDefaults', { keepHudVariant: true }],
     ['allocation', 'ELASTIC'],
     ['scope', { enabled: true, featherPct: 100, opacityPct: 100 }],
     ['models3d', true],
diff --git a/src/ui/views/panels/DisplayPanel.vue b/src/ui/views/panels/DisplayPanel.vue
index 876982e86..b3adbb6f1 100644
--- a/src/ui/views/panels/DisplayPanel.vue
+++ b/src/ui/views/panels/DisplayPanel.vue
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ const allocationOptions = computed(() => [
   <p class="pp-section-heading">{{ t('Overlay') }}</p>
   <Teleport :to="cockpitPortal?.hud ?? 'body'" :disabled="!cockpitPortal?.hud">
   <div class="pp-toggle-group">
-    <button class="pp-toggle-btn" :class="{ active: hud?.visible }" id="hud-toggle" @click="act('toggleHud')" :title="t('Intelligence HUD (H)')">
+    <button class="pp-toggle-btn" :class="{ active: hud?.visible }" :aria-pressed="String(Boolean(hud?.visible))" id="hud-toggle" @click="act('toggleHud')" :title="t('Intelligence HUD (H)')">
       <span class="pp-icon">&#x25CE;</span>
       <span class="pp-label" translate="no">HUD</span>
     </button>
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ const allocationOptions = computed(() => [
     </div>
     <div class="pp-slider-row visible" id="scope-opacity-row">
       <span class="pp-slider-mini-label">{{ t('Opacity') }}</span>
-      <UiSlider class="pp-slider" id="scope-opacity-slider" @update:model-value="act('setScopeOpacity', $event)" min="0" max="100" :model-value="scopeOpacity" :disabled="!scopeOn" :aria-label="t('Scope opacity')" :title="t('How dark the scope shades the view outside the keyhole')" />
+      <UiSlider class="pp-slider" id="scope-opacity-slider" @update:model-value="act('setScopeOpacity', $event)" min="50" max="100" :model-value="scopeOpacity" :disabled="!scopeOn" :aria-label="t('Scope opacity')" :title="t('How dark the scope shades the view outside the keyhole')" />
       <span class="pp-slider-value" id="scope-opacity-value">{{ pct(scopeOpacity) }}</span>
     </div>
   </div>
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ const allocationOptions = computed(() => [
     </UiButton>
   </div>
   <div class="pp-toggle-group">
-    <button class="pp-toggle-btn" :class="{ active: view?.bloom.active }" id="bloom-toggle" @click="act('toggleBloom')" :title="t('Bloom / Glow')">
+    <button class="pp-toggle-btn" :class="{ active: view?.bloom.active }" :aria-pressed="String(Boolean(view?.bloom.active))" id="bloom-toggle" @click="act('toggleBloom')" :title="t('Bloom / Glow')">
       <span class="pp-icon">&#x2728;</span>
       <span class="pp-label">{{ t('Bloom') }}</span>
     </button>
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ const allocationOptions = computed(() => [
     </div>
   </div>
   <div class="pp-toggle-group">
-    <button class="pp-toggle-btn" :class="{ active: view?.sharpen.active }" id="sharpen-toggle" @click="act('toggleSharpen')" :title="t('Sharpening')">
+    <button class="pp-toggle-btn" :class="{ active: view?.sharpen.active }" :aria-pressed="String(Boolean(view?.sharpen.active))" id="sharpen-toggle" @click="act('toggleSharpen')" :title="t('Sharpening')">
       <span class="pp-icon">&#x1F50D;</span>
       <span class="pp-label">{{ t('Sharpen') }}</span>
     </button>
diff --git a/src/ui/visualSettings.js b/src/ui/visualSettings.js
index 3282038d0..ad11f86c4 100644
--- a/src/ui/visualSettings.js
+++ b/src/ui/visualSettings.js
@@ -46,6 +46,13 @@ import { cyberVisualDefaultsForHudTransition } from '../hudLayouts.js';
 const DETECTION_ALLOCATION_STORAGE_KEY = 'gev:detection-allocation:v1';
 
 /** Own visual preferences, detection overrides and display-control state. */
+/**
+ * The faintest the Scope mask goes. Below about half, the view reads as if
+ * Scope were off while labels still fade outside the keyhole and the HUD gets
+ * no backplates, so the slider stops here.
+ */
+export const SCOPE_OPACITY_MIN_PCT = 50;
+
 export class VisualSettings {
   async restoreShareState(state) {
     const { setScopeTerminusOverride, clampScopeTerminusPct } = this.services;
@@ -511,8 +518,11 @@ export class VisualSettings {
    * given stays as it is. `apply: false` only shows the mask's state.
    */
   _setScope({ enabled, featherPct, opacityPct } = {}, { apply = true } = {}) {
-    if (typeof opacityPct === 'number') {
-      const pct = Math.max(0, Math.min(100, Math.round(opacityPct)));
+    if (Number.isFinite(opacityPct)) {
+      const pct = Math.max(
+        SCOPE_OPACITY_MIN_PCT,
+        Math.min(100, Math.round(opacityPct)),
+      );
       if (apply) this.services.setScopeMaskOpacity?.(pct / 100);
       this._scopeOpacityShown = pct;
     }
@@ -846,7 +856,11 @@ export class VisualSettings {
     if (det.mode) this._setDetectionMode(String(det.mode).toUpperCase());
   }
 
-  _applyGlobalPostDefaults() {
+  /**
+   * @param {{keepHudVariant?: boolean}} [options] `keepHudVariant` leaves the
+   *   HUD layout to the style, as choosing a style does (Visual's reset).
+   */
+  _applyGlobalPostDefaults({ keepHudVariant = false } = {}) {
     const defaults = GLOBAL_POST_DEFAULTS;
     if (typeof defaults.bloom?.intensity === 'number') {
       this._setBloomIntensity(clampBloomIntensity(defaults.bloom.intensity), {
@@ -865,7 +879,7 @@ export class VisualSettings {
       this._setSharpenEnabled(defaults.sharpen.enabled);
     }
 
-    if (defaults.hudVariant) {
+    if (defaults.hudVariant && !keepHudVariant) {
       this._setHudVariant(defaults.hudVariant);
     }
     if (typeof defaults.hudVisible === 'boolean') {