To brighten up dark computer games i turn up the Adobe gamma settings. It used to be that most games internal gamma setting was cumulative with my computers, but lately these same games have been alot darker, as if they are not taking into account the adobe gamma variable. This is true across a number of different games whose settings i haven’t changed. Why would this be and how can i correct it? I have the brightness and contrast on my monitor all the way up.
I’m not sure what might have changed unless Adobe Gamma isn’t loading properly. Have you checked to make sure it is still in your startup group? Also, have you updated your video drivers lately? Some video drivers have gamma adjustments as well, which might be part of the equation as well.
I haven’t had this exact problem, but I think I can give you some other advice. First off, monitors usually will not give the best picture with both brightness and contrast all the way up. The best, truest picture is usually with the contrast at 85-100 % and brightness at 0-20 %. Of course this varies with monitor. My monitor (a Hitachi CM 815+ is set with contrast at 95% and brightness at 10%, for example. This gives the best color accuracy and nice contrast. With the brightness all the way up, the picture is terribly washed out and so bright it’s almost hard to look at!
Here’s what I’d recommend you try: First, make sure you have a good color profile for your monitor. You can generally download one from the manufacturer’s website, if you don’t already have one. Then, make sure that your video card drivers aren’t interfering with the gamma in any way. Not all of them even have an adjustment for this, but lots of them do. Leave it set at the hardware defaults. Then go back through the Adobe Gamma wizard, follow the instructions on setting up your monitor, then go ahead and do the gamma calibration. Let Adobe Gamma update your monitor profile. Now, if all your games are still too dark, try adjusting the video card’s gamma. If some games are fine, but others are dark, adjust their own internal gamma.
I suspect you may have too many things adjusting your gamma at the same time. Some of those adjustments could be compensating for each other, and end up making the image too dark or muddy. I’ve had this happen before with one of my computers. Let us know if this helps.
Thanks enigma,
I did forget about the video card gamma. I didnt have the 3dfx tools installed but once i did i was able to chg the gamma. For some reason however it still didn’t affect my games much. Even with older games i have been using with my existing drivers. Im beginning to think my monitor is on the blink because it also has some white lines in it. Thanks again -KC
I just realized something - it seems that with gamma, the brights get brighter but the darks don’t. So now there is extreme contrast in my screen but the darks are still too dark. Does this help anyone make a more specific diagnosis?