Tip for nVidia users using HDMI and getting accurate color format

EDIT: With driver 347.09+ color range has now been resolved.

http://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/80913/en-us

---Original Post---

This is only for nVidia users who are using HDMI on their display.

If you're display supports Full RGB, which most do, you may notice you aren't getting the right colors and the blacks don't seem so black and the whites don't seem so white. This is because despite under Display->Adjust Desktop Color Settings your digital color format being set at RGB, its actually by default set at Limited RGB, not Full. And you will see there is no option for Full RGB. Don't use ycbcr444 as it will oversaturate reds and magentas.

Full RGB is available only under Video->Adjust Video Color Settings, but this doesn't affect your games, applications, etc. Only videos.

The trick to enable Full RGB for everything is a reg hack, and luckily you can use a tool to do instead. Find it here

You must use this tool every time you install a new driver.
Next, complain to nVidia to let this be a option in future drivers here:
http://surveys.nvidia.com/index.jsp?pi=6e7ea6bb4a02641fa8f07694a40f8ac6

 

No offence, but I'll wait to hear some feedback on this before I try it out.

 

Well I can tell you my feedback: my overall image quality in games is much improved.

If Full RGB doesn't look good or improved, then there is also an option in the tool to go back to Limited RGB.

 

Agreed it works just fine, thanks.

I've just moved from ATI to NV and was wondering if my eyes were going with age or something as all my HD content (MKv etc) was less detailed and top white and bottom blacks were just not there. I then found this thread, and then Google it. The reg key hack has been around for sometime, with some writing a C# program to do the same thing, others posting the actual keys. But this little exe seems to work just fine. You see with ATI drivers you have an overall color format drop down and can toggle the various options which work over HDMI as well as DVI.

I'm very surprised its not the same for NV, and cannot understand why they do not include this same option.

One question with this though, does it clean its self and also what will happen when/if NV change the reg key names in future driver releases.

Other than that, this works perfect and I can now see full range RGB once again over HDMI using Zoomplayer 8.5 + MadVR + Reclock.

 

Noticed the difference as soon as my desktop loaded, the difference it's made to web browsing is nice yet to try it in game, why on earth isn't this built into the drivers in the first place!!!

Awesome try it out guys looking good here

 

My (rather old) Sony tele only supports limited RGB and the Nvidia driver defaults to full RGB not limited. As a result I have to use ycbcr444 to avoid black crush and it looks a bit crap. I'd love to be able to select limited RGB for desktop programs but Nvidia will never add that despite a lot of complaints over the years.

 

The last couple of these tools I tried didn't work. This one does and in Win8. Saves me the hassle of editing the nv_disp.inf file and needing to disable driver signing to clean install a driver.

HeavyHemi Recommended.

 

Thanks for this, i was using this tool (SetFullRGB.exe) posted here http://forums.guru3d.com/showpost.php?p=4429846&postcount=53 but after upgrading to Windows 8 i forgot to download it again.

This one has a UI as well. :cheers:

 

I found I needed to just run the windows 7 screen calibration tool again for my LG 50" plasma to just gamma correct a little. Rechecked my TV sets Black level and Dynamic contrast. Checked the black and white scale via this popular site checker here
This will show a smooth gradient if using 0-255 and some banding if 16-235.

Although your TV set's own settings and windows gamma calibration could also affect it slightly. I see a nice smooth black to white gradient, which along with my HD content tests using Zoomplayer + MadVR etc I now know I'm set at full RGB.

 

Thanks for the heads up.

 

Wow - massive difference on my Panasonic Viera. Love this forum; thanks for posting! :cheers:

 

If you uninstall or reinstall your driver, you will have to re-run this tool again.

 

This tool can allow you to pick Limited RGB as well.

I do not recommend ycbcr444 for traditional displays, as it oversatures reds and magentas. And also adds a slight blur, as its a compressed signal format, unlike RGB which is uncompressed.

Glad everyone is happy with it. Like I said, submit your feedback to nVidia to include this option in their future driver releases!

 

I know this is about Nvidia drivers but I was wondering if anyone knows how to get the same result for Intel drivers? I use my laptop to watch movies sometimes an it uses the Intel video for playback I think. I have to select the ycbcr mode because the screen is too bright without that checked in the Intel drivers.

 

Tried setting it to limited RGB and it doesn't work on my display. The only way I can get limited RGB working for desktop programs with this tele is to use an AMD card.

 

I suggest we make a thread for this over on the Nvidia forums and complain about it until they say they can fix it.

 

I have and I also notified two known nVidia employees.

But as I said, spread the word via their feedback system and get your friends to do it as well!

 

how do i use this if i have 2 monitors?
i only need to set my second Monitor(HDTV) to full rgb.
My first monitor is allready at full. since its an crt.

Also, would that fix my prob im having when using HDMI?

Im at VGA Cable now lol..and teh picture is 1000 times better then with hdmi.
Its darker, blacks are black, and its sharp..
with the hdmi cable its all washed out and sooo blurry i cant read anything..

If someone would tell me that this would fix that i would be happy..also how to use it only on my second monitor..

Thanks

 

Guess this does count with DisplayPort?

 

Interesting, bookmarked for future reference .. will give feedback to nvidia soon.