Video is very dark with a disctinct Red push

[empire29]

I've recently graduated from XBMC for the XBOX to using XBMC for Windows. My previous setup with a modded XBOX that connected to my HDTV via Component. The picture and color was very good using XBMC on my XBOX.

I finished building my HTPC which is running XBMC for Windows (so far its every bit as good as the xbox in functionality! kudos guys!!!). My HTPC is connected to my LCD HDTV via HDMI (DVI > HDMI cable) ..

Here's my issue. All the video has a severe red push to it, and everything had too high a contrast. Ive tried to play around with the Contrast/Brightness etc. but I cant seem to get anything to look as good as it did using my XBMC on my XBOX. Thughts on how to fix this?

Thanks

[m0gwai]

Hi,

The *darkness* you mention is most likely due to the change from Video Luma aka 16-235 (your xbox) to PC Luma aka 0-255 (you graphic card), this is easily fixed, the easier way is to use some test pattern all the THX certified DVD have them, so if you happen to have starwars DVD just use the THX optimizer and adjust your graphic card or LCD, or if you feel like going in a more in depth calibration here's a great read:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=523614

All of this should not have an impact on your colors, but again don't trust a graphic card to output perfectly calibrated colors (D65), this however is much more complex to correct.

[empire29]

m0g,

thanks for the response. i've been trying to follow some test patterns calibration guides.. Should I be changing the video settings (contrast/brightness/etc) in my Video Card's graphics settings? Or should I be changing them on the TV itself?

I tried doing a contrast test (gradient color bars) by changing the TVs contrast but doing that i could never make the leftmost (darkest) bars of the gradients to appear. Likewise I could never get the rightmost to have distinct banding.

Using the Video Card's graphic settings (in windows) I had alittle better luck except i could only get one end of the gradient spectrum to show up correctly and I had to crank my Contrast all the way up or all the way down.

This is really frusterating .. thanks.
(I found and am in the middle of reading that AVS Forum link btw)

[empire29]

FYI - I ended up launching XBMC in Windowed Mode and played a couple different TV shows and adjusted the Contrast/brightness in the NVIDIA Control Panel on my computer and I have a MUCH better picture now -- i think it still needs a little but of tweaking but its going to be very minor, i think im 95% of the way there. I didnt change any of my TV's picture settings.

[ashlar]

FYI - I ended up launching XBMC in Windowed Mode and played a couple different TV shows and adjusted the Contrast/brightness in the NVIDIA Control Panel on my computer and I have a MUCH better picture now -- i think it still needs a little but of tweaking but its going to be very minor, i think im 95% of the way there. I didnt change any of my TV's picture settings.In the Nvidia control panel there's an option that allows you to choose between 16-255 and 0-255 output. You should use that before messing with contrast/brightness.

[elupus]

That setting (fullrange or not) likely doesn't effect anything. They are usually just for overlay or video rendering. xbmc outputs fullrange opengl which is hard to change. (well for video it's easier).

You could also check your tv, some tv's you can select what range your hdmi input have. (samsung being one)

[empire29]

In the Nvidia control panel there's an option that allows you to choose between 16-255 and 0-255 output. You should use that before messing with contrast/brightness.

what exactly is this setting called? I don't remember seeing it ...

[empire29]

That setting (fullrange or not) likely doesn't effect anything. They are usually just for overlay or video rendering. xbmc outputs fullrange opengl which is hard to change. (well for video it's easier).

You could also check your tv, some tv's you can select what range your hdmi input have. (samsung being one)

I have a Toshiba 52XV545U .. i didnt see anything that would allow me to set the range - but ill check again.

[ashlar]

what exactly is this setting called? I don't remember seeing it ...Are you on latest Nvidia drivers?