color on windows xp

[Arigatomina]

I've known for a while that there's something 'off' about the settings on my computer - everything is darker than it is on other computers (namely comparing mine to a windows ME, both hewlet packard comps). Trying to adjust the brightness just makes everything look washed out - it doesn't give me the clear colors my videos have when I watch them on other computers. It's either dark or washed-out.

Now...when I go to the control panel and look at the profile in charge of color display, it says MX75. There are 4 other 'icm' files I could replace this with, but I'm wary of trying them out and screwing things up further.

My Adapter is "S3 Graphics ProSavageDDR".

I have an option titled "S3 Gamma Plus" that lets me adjust individual colors (red, green, blue, and white). I've played with this to try and get something lighter that isn't 'washed out', but I haven't had much success.

Any tips on what sort of settings to use, or whether or not I should try the other 'icm' profiles, please let me know. I'd try just reverting to the 'default' settings, but my default is *dark*. It's been like that sinece I purchased the computer.

[NeoQuixotic]

I just recalibrated my monitor since it was a little off using the Adobe Gamma tool (probably similar to the S3 Gamma Plus). It helped alot to fix my "offness". However, it still isn't perfect. What I've come down to is the monitor itself. Depending on the quality, age, and type the brightness and color accuracy will vary. I currently have a 3 year old Dell M992 19" flat shadowmask CRT and it is great. However, I also have a 7 year old Dell 17" CRT and it is always dark and washed out no matter what I do. From what I've heard, the older a monitor gets, the more likely it is to fade out. When buying a computer or monitor by itself don't sacriface quality for a cheap price. The $100 monitor may seem as good as the $350 one, but if you look closer it is in fact better. Also, the cheap one will be giving you grief a few years down the road.

Well thats my spiel at least

[Arigatomina]

I was hoping it was the graphics card. ^_^; The monitor was pretty expensive back when I bought it (2003). But the color hasn't faded - it was dark from day one.

I'll try changing the monitor settings, though. It's been a while since I tried that (I stopped when I found the desktop settings gave more options). o.o

/clueless

[Flint the Dwarf]

Sounds like a gamma issue, which could be a video card problem. Have you done the typical things like making sure you have the most recent driver? It sounds like you're getting a high amount of brightness for a low amount of contrast. Are you able to easily change the contrast? Usually monitors only allow you to change the brightness and contrast from the controls on the exterior, but some are much better.

[Arigatomina]

Sounds like a gamma issue, which could be a video card problem. Have you done the typical things like making sure you have the most recent driver?

I tried that a few times (waiting a month between tries - this has been a problem since I got the comp). But it keeps saying I have the best/only version and that nothing else is available. It doesn't find any errors in the driver, and so far win xp (or windows?) hasn't made any update for it.

This wouldn't be something service pack 2 would fix...would it... I've been refusing that update for months now and I really don't want to install it.

It sounds like you're getting a high amount of brightness for a low amount of contrast. Are you able to easily change the contrast? Usually monitors only allow you to change the brightness and contrast from the controls on the exterior, but some are much better.

The exterior controls actually did help some. Now I can tell the difference between 'medium-dark' blue and black. Things that come out as regular blue on my work computer are still very dark bluish-black on this one, though. That's where I was playing with the 'gamma' settings in the control panel - I can get the 'blue' setting to come out normal, but then the red and green are screwy. I can adjust any one of them separately, but the only way to get them all visible (so the dark colors don't appear to all be black) is to increase the brightness till the screen blinds me.

There's also an rgb setting (aside from the blue/red/green/white options), but it doesn't seem to do anything except make the screen brighter/darker. I'll try adjusting contrast more.

I just wish there were a way to compare my settings to a 'normal' computer to see how I should adjust it. I can't even compare anime colors to my television, since the color displays are different depending on which tv I use. It's really frustrating. I just stopped adjusting brightness/darkness in anime footage, assuming it would look normal to others that way. ^_^;

[Scintilla]

Sounds like a gamma issue, which could be a video card problem. Have you done the typical things like making sure you have the most recent driver?

I tried that a few times (waiting a month between tries - this has been a problem since I got the comp). But it keeps saying I have the best/only version and that nothing else is available. It doesn't find any errors in the driver, and so far win xp (or windows?) hasn't made any update for it.

This wouldn't be something service pack 2 would fix...would it... I've been refusing that update for months now and I really don't want to install it.

Nope. The drivers should be issued by S3, and considering that the ProSavage DDR is a pretty old card (I've also got an integrated ProSavage DDR 266 card, and my comp's from 2002), we probably can't expect any new versions to be released past whatever the version you have is.

I don't believe Microsoft makes updates for any third-party drivers...

[Flint the Dwarf]

Bah, I have an S3 card and it hasn't been updated in years.

This wouldn't be something service pack 2 would fix...would it... I've been refusing that update for months now and I really don't want to install it.

Nope. I wouldn't bother installing SP2 unless you just reformatted. I find SP2 works fine on clean hard drives, but is very susceptible to error on a "dirty" one (not implying anything about the material stored on your hard drive ).

From what I've read, your gamma setting was very likely too high. A higher gamma, I believe, makes things appear darker. So a high brightness would appear washed-out.

I just wish there were a way to compare my settings to a 'normal' computer to see how I should adjust it. I can't even compare anime colors to my television, since the color displays are different depending on which tv I use. It's really frustrating. I just stopped adjusting brightness/darkness in anime footage, assuming it would look normal to others that way. ^_^;

There is supposed to be a way to set it to the default, but I guess it depends on the monitor. The monitor I'm using now (not really mine, but my stepdad's) has a color reset button. My monitor had a very nice pop-up box that I could navigate and do all sorts of things with. On all the monitors I've used, I found it best to have contrast up all the way (or nearly), and brightness between 1/2 and 3/4.

[Arigatomina]

There is supposed to be a way to set it to the default, but I guess it depends on the monitor. The monitor I'm using now (not really mine, but my stepdad's) has a color reset button. My monitor had a very nice pop-up box that I could navigate and do all sorts of things with. On all the monitors I've used, I found it best to have contrast up all the way (or nearly), and brightness between 1/2 and 3/4.

The default is the dark setting I started with - I switch it back to the default dark after each experiment with washed out brightness. ^.~

I'll try those settings - on my comp they're round knobs that adjust percentages (brightness, gamma, and contrast). I haven't really tried turning down the gamma setting before playing with the other two. >.> I didn't know what it does...

[Arigatomina]

Nope. The drivers should be issued by S3, and considering that the ProSavage DDR is a pretty old card (I've also got an integrated ProSavage DDR 266 card, and my comp's from 2002), we probably can't expect any new versions to be released past whatever the version you have is.

Figures. ;p

The way they advertised the graphics on the computer, I thought it was something good. But I guess it wasn't that old in 2003 (I have the exact same card - ProSavage DDR KM266). Just gives me another reason to get a newer card with more options.

[Flint the Dwarf]

The default is the dark setting I started with - I switch it back to the default dark after each experiment with washed out brightness. ^.~

Oh, right, I misread what you were saying.

This might help though...

You should be able to see all the patches below as 21 distinct squares from black to white on the top level and in reverse on the bottom level.

That might help you judge how closely you can get to the norm. You'd need to put the image up against a pure white background though. It would also help if you still had any sort of manual that came with your monitor. I'm not quite sure if it's the monitor or the video card that most affects gamma. But you'll want to be sure before you make any sort of investment.