NVIDIA GPU = Limited color range (NVIDIA owners READ PLEASE)

[Mystik]

Since i usually go into too much detail when it comes to tech, i'm gonna try and be as clear as i can this time

No need to read any further if you don't have a discrete NVIDIA GPU. Laptop users can check this too if you have an NVIDIA mobile GPU, as i dunno how this will be in laptops :P

So the deal is, NVIDIA GPUs default to a limited RGB range when using HDMI (and DisplayPort for me). This means that the driver / software is limiting the displays full color capability. Note that this can also affect your GPU, and if you update to the latest drivers you can try the limited and full ranges on your laptop also! Please note that if you use an old HDTV as a display, it's better to keep the range limited, as old HDTVs can't display the full range anyways.

The way i noticed this the easiest was in dark images, like this full black image: >>Click here<< For me, when i had the range limited, the previous image looks like it's a dark grey, rather than full black, but after applying the fix, it looks as it's supposed to look - a deep black

More technical explanation of the problem in spoiler:

Source: PCGAMER

If you're using HDMI output with an Nvidia graphics card, you likely aren't getting full and accurate color range, specifically at the black and white ends of the spectrum. For some reason, Nvidia cards default to Limited RGB (16-235 levels of differentiation per color) when using HDMI, despite a PC display's ability to support full RGB (0-255 colors).This driver issue has been affecting the HDMI output of Nvidia cards for years, and could be limiting your color range without you knowing it. Luckily there's a fix.

PC Gamer contributor and all-around PC modding hero Peter "Durante" Thoman has released a simple patch to fix the Nvidia color issue. Before Thoman's patch, the only way to fix the issue was via editing your driver's .ini files before installation.

Limited RGB is a setting designed for TVs, which use a video range of 16-235. In full RGB, each of the three additive primary colors (red, green, blue) has a full range of zero to 255 color value, but in limited RGB the extremes of that spectrum are stripped away. Any color value of 16 or below is just displayed as 16, and anything in the 235-255 range defaults to 235. Presumably, using HDMI output made Nvidia cards think they were displaying to a TV, locking into the TV-designed limited RGB setting even when a full RGB-capable monitor was in use.

A quick test to see if you're experiencing the issue is to open this image, courtesy of a helpful Reddit poster. If you see four distinct shades, two white on the left, two black on the right, then you're in the clear. But if you only see a black and a white column, you have the problem.
Being forced into limited RGB meant not getting the full colors you should be able to display. Why settle for muted grey when you could have deeper blacks and brighter whites? Thoman's patch takes care of the issue, but you will have to reinstall it every time you update your drivers.
Despite this having been a problem for years, Nvidia seems to have finally taken notice of the issue. According to a screenshot of a conversation with an Nvidia rep, the issue will be fixed in the next driver branch release. That driver is still in development, so there's no ETA, but at least it's on the way.

General RGB Color range fix

Now, let's first check which one you have and then change it to full:

1) Update to the latest NVIDIA drivers (If you won't update, you might not see the option in the NVIDIA control panel. At least 34x driver required i think)
2) Open NVIDIA control panel (NVIDIA icon in system tray)
3) Go to Change resolution and scroll down
4) Check what value you have on the box Dynamic range (if there is no such box, then you have drivers earlier than 35x, so check under Adjust desktop color settings on the left menu for a similar box)
5) If the value is Full, then everything is as it's supposed to be. But if the value is Limited change it to Full, and press Apply




Video RGB color range fix

Now, let's fix this for hardware accelerated video! (For example if you use VLC to watch movies, this will blow your mind)

1) Go to Adjust video color settings (Yes we are still in the NVIDIA CP)
2) Choose With the NVIDIA settings
3) Change to Advanced tab
4) Change Dynamic range to Full (0-255) and press Apply



Now your VLC videos will look better! But how can you tell? Well i did the work for you. Here is American Sniper 1080p Sparks with limited and full color range. Cursor not over image = limited RGB range & Cursor over image = full RGB range.

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/128487
Just look at those dark parts...

Advanced users (read: nerds) can also play with the VLC Settings -> Video -> Use YUV->RGB conversion setting to see how that affects (shouldn't affect much after doing the fix in NVIDIA CP)

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Disclaimer: I'm not responsible for anything, deal with it :cool:. But i will try to help you with any questions / problems, as i love you all <3
PS: Big thanks to Fury for helping me out <3

[TechN9NE]

Thanks a lot for the info bro!