diff --git a/cl_screen.c b/cl_screen.c
index 191cd70a5..27e603b57 100644
--- a/cl_screen.c
+++ b/cl_screen.c
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 
 cvar_t scr_viewsize = {CF_CLIENT | CF_ARCHIVE, "viewsize","100", "how large the view should be, 110 disables inventory bar, 120 disables status bar"};
 cvar_t scr_fov = {CF_CLIENT | CF_ARCHIVE, "fov","90", "field of vision, 1-170 degrees, default 90, some players use 110-130"};
-cvar_t scr_conalpha = {CF_CLIENT | CF_ARCHIVE, "scr_conalpha", "1", "opacity of console background gfx/conback"};
+cvar_t scr_conalpha = {CF_CLIENT | CF_ARCHIVE, "scr_conalpha", "0.9", "opacity of console background gfx/conback (when console isn't forced fullscreen)"};
 cvar_t scr_conalphafactor = {CF_CLIENT | CF_ARCHIVE, "scr_conalphafactor", "1", "opacity of console background gfx/conback relative to scr_conalpha; when 0, gfx/conback is not drawn"};
 cvar_t scr_conalpha2factor = {CF_CLIENT | CF_ARCHIVE, "scr_conalpha2factor", "0", "opacity of console background gfx/conback2 relative to scr_conalpha; when 0, gfx/conback2 is not drawn"};
 cvar_t scr_conalpha3factor = {CF_CLIENT | CF_ARCHIVE, "scr_conalpha3factor", "0", "opacity of console background gfx/conback3 relative to scr_conalpha; when 0, gfx/conback3 is not drawn"};
@@ -744,10 +744,10 @@ void SCR_DrawConsole (void)
 	if (key_consoleactive & KEY_CONSOLEACTIVE_FORCED)
 	{
 		// full screen
-		Con_DrawConsole (vid_conheight.integer - scr_con_margin_bottom);
+		Con_DrawConsole (vid_conheight.integer - scr_con_margin_bottom, true);
 	}
 	else if (scr_con_current)
-		Con_DrawConsole (min(scr_con_current, vid_conheight.integer - scr_con_margin_bottom));
+		Con_DrawConsole (min(scr_con_current, vid_conheight.integer - scr_con_margin_bottom), false);
 	else
 		con_vislines = 0;
 }
diff --git a/console.c b/console.c
index 21782f7f4..a33264c19 100644
--- a/console.c
+++ b/console.c
@@ -1975,7 +1975,7 @@ Draws the console with the solid background
 The typing input line at the bottom should only be drawn if typing is allowed
 ================
 */
-void Con_DrawConsole (int lines)
+void Con_DrawConsole (int lines, qbool forcedfullscreen)
 {
 	float alpha, alpha0;
 	double sx, sy;
@@ -1997,7 +1997,7 @@ void Con_DrawConsole (int lines)
 	r_draw2d_force = true;
 
 // draw the background
-	alpha0 = cls.signon == SIGNONS ? scr_conalpha.value : 1.0f; // always full alpha when not in game
+	alpha0 = forcedfullscreen ? 1.0f : scr_conalpha.value; // always full alpha when not forced fullscreen
 	if((alpha = alpha0 * scr_conalphafactor.value) > 0)
 	{
 		sx = scr_conscroll_x.value;
diff --git a/console.h b/console.h
index 10da88f08..8eaabbe2b 100644
--- a/console.h
+++ b/console.h
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ void Con_CheckResize (void);
 void Con_Init (void);
 void Con_Init_Commands (void);
 void Con_Shutdown (void);
-void Con_DrawConsole (int lines);
+void Con_DrawConsole (int lines, qbool forcedfullscreen);
 
 /// Prints to a chosen console target
 void Con_MaskPrint(unsigned additionalmask, const char *msg);
diff --git a/gl_draw.c b/gl_draw.c
index 8eaf3932a..3eb4c131c 100644
--- a/gl_draw.c
+++ b/gl_draw.c
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ dp_fonts_t dp_fonts;
 static mempool_t *fonts_mempool = NULL;
 
 cvar_t r_textshadow = {CF_CLIENT | CF_ARCHIVE, "r_textshadow", "0", "draws a shadow on all text to improve readability (note: value controls offset, 1 = 1 pixel, 1.5 = 1.5 pixels, etc)"};
-cvar_t r_textbrightness = {CF_CLIENT | CF_ARCHIVE, "r_textbrightness", "0", "additional brightness for text color codes (0 keeps colors as is, 1 makes them all white)"};
-cvar_t r_textcontrast = {CF_CLIENT | CF_ARCHIVE, "r_textcontrast", "1", "additional contrast for text color codes (1 keeps colors as is, 0 makes them all black)"};
+cvar_t r_textbrightness = {CF_CLIENT | CF_ARCHIVE, "r_textbrightness", "0.25", "additional brightness for text color codes (0 keeps colors as is, 1 makes them all white)"};
+cvar_t r_textcontrast = {CF_CLIENT | CF_ARCHIVE, "r_textcontrast", "1.25", "additional contrast for text color codes (1 keeps colors as is, 0 makes them all black)"};
 
 cvar_t r_font_postprocess_blur = {CF_CLIENT | CF_ARCHIVE, "r_font_postprocess_blur", "0", "font blur amount"};
 cvar_t r_font_postprocess_outline = {CF_CLIENT | CF_ARCHIVE, "r_font_postprocess_outline", "0", "font outline amount"};