diff --git a/config.cpp b/config.cpp
index 8c2aa745..6befba07 100644
--- a/config.cpp
+++ b/config.cpp
@@ -442,6 +442,8 @@ EX void initConfig() {
   addsaver(vid.collignon_parameter, "collignon-parameter", 1);
   addsaver(vid.collignon_reflected, "collignon-reflect", false);
 
+  addsaver(vid.plevel_factor, "plevel_factor", 1);
+
   addsaver(vid.creature_scale, "3d-creaturescale", 1);
   addsaver(vid.height_width, "3d-heightwidth", 1.5);
 
diff --git a/geometry.cpp b/geometry.cpp
index 797167cc..fcdbaa53 100644
--- a/geometry.cpp
+++ b/geometry.cpp
@@ -121,6 +121,8 @@ struct geometry_information {
   ld asteroid_size[8];
   ld wormscale;
   ld tentacle_length;
+  /** level in product geometries */
+  ld plevel;
   
   /** various parameters related to the 3D view */
   ld INFDEEP, BOTTOM, HELLSPIKE, LAKE, WALL, FLOOR, STUFF,
@@ -553,6 +555,8 @@ void geometry_information::prepare_basics() {
       floorrad1 = rhexf * (GDIM == 3 ? 1 : .8);
     }
   
+  plevel = vid.plevel_factor * scalefactor;
+  
   set_sibling_limit();
   
   prepare_compute3();
diff --git a/hyper.h b/hyper.h
index 1a08dd6c..5aae6097 100644
--- a/hyper.h
+++ b/hyper.h
@@ -319,6 +319,7 @@ struct videopar {
   bool auto_eye;
 
   ld collignon_parameter; bool collignon_reflected;
+  ld plevel_factor;
   };
 
 extern videopar vid;
diff --git a/hypgraph.cpp b/hypgraph.cpp
index a034a259..4a0c4605 100644
--- a/hypgraph.cpp
+++ b/hypgraph.cpp
@@ -1379,8 +1379,8 @@ EX void optimizeview() {
     ld z = zlevel(tC0(View));
     View = mscale(View, -z);
     product::in_underlying_map(optimizeview);
-    if(z > product::plevel / 2) { product::current_view_level--; z -= product::plevel; }
-    if(z < -product::plevel / 2) { product::current_view_level++; z += product::plevel; }
+    if(z > cgi.plevel / 2) { product::current_view_level--; z -= cgi.plevel; }
+    if(z < -cgi.plevel / 2) { product::current_view_level++; z += cgi.plevel; }
     View = mscale(View, z);
     return;
     }
diff --git a/nonisotropic.cpp b/nonisotropic.cpp
index bc18703a..1ca18d4d 100644
--- a/nonisotropic.cpp
+++ b/nonisotropic.cpp
@@ -557,8 +557,6 @@ EX namespace product {
     pmodel = mdPerspective;
     }
   
-  EX ld plevel = 1;
-  
   EX int current_view_level;
   
   hrmap *pmap;
@@ -599,7 +597,7 @@ EX namespace product {
     cell* gamestart() override { return getCell(underlying_map->gamestart(), 0); }
   
     transmatrix relative_matrix(cell *c2, cell *c1, const hyperpoint& point_hint) override {
-      return in_underlying([&] { return calc_relative_matrix(where[c2].first, where[c1].first, point_hint); }) * mscale(Id, plevel * (where[c2].second - where[c1].second));
+      return in_underlying([&] { return calc_relative_matrix(where[c2].first, where[c1].first, point_hint); }) * mscale(Id, cgi.plevel * (where[c2].second - where[c1].second));
       }
   
     hrmap_product() {
@@ -619,7 +617,7 @@ EX namespace product {
   
   void drawcell_stack(cell *c, transmatrix V, int spinv, bool mirrored) {
     if(sphere) gmatrix[c] = V; /* some computations need gmatrix0 for underlying geometry */
-    in_actual([&] { for(int z=-5; z<=5; z++) drawcell(get_at(c, current_view_level+z), V * mscale(Id, plevel * z), spinv, mirrored); });
+    in_actual([&] { for(int z=-5; z<=5; z++) drawcell(get_at(c, current_view_level+z), V * mscale(Id, cgi.plevel * z), spinv, mirrored); });
     }
   
   void find_cell_connection(cell *c, int d) {
@@ -639,7 +637,7 @@ EX namespace product {
   EX hyperpoint get_corner(cell *c, int i, ld z) {
     dynamicval<eGeometry> g(geometry, underlying);
     dynamicval<geometry_information*> gc(cgip, underlying_cgip);
-    return mscale(get_corner_position(c, i), exp(plevel * z/2));
+    return mscale(get_corner_position(c, i), exp(cgi.plevel * z/2));
     }
   
   EX int wall_offset(cell *c) {