PSA: Your Default Gamma Is Way Too Low!

blu22 · Sep 2, 2015

Default Gamma Is Way Too Low!

Edit: Seems as though this may be due to corrupt game files. Thanks for all the help and feedback!

furrycat · Sep 2, 2015

Do a proper colour calibration on your monitor(s) and I guarantee you that you will never complain about or feel the need to tweak the default gamma settings on any game ever again.

S~P · Sep 2, 2015

I have no problems with gamma set to default, try checking your settings to make sure you have correct settings.

xondk · Sep 2, 2015

There's a lot of things that factor into gamma, not least of all is how bright stuff is around you, if you have day light streaming in, then you will need to correct for that, but then when it is dark it can seem too bright.

You might want to look into colour calibrating your monitor

rootsrat · Sep 2, 2015

I also think it's your monitor, not the in game gamma setting. What platform/OS you're on? Windows has a great built in screen calibration utility. There is also this website: http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/

If you use the latter, do the following sections: Contrast, Gamma, Black and White Levels. Try to get all 4 as accurate as possible, as per the instructions and you'll see a massive difference

mono · Sep 2, 2015

ED messes with the brightness on my monitor, have to tweak it pretty much every time I start.

I'm assuming it's some dynamic contrast setting my monitor has (LG 34UM95) but there's no way of shutting off (on the monitor). It seems to be doing it more since upgrading too Win 10 (from 7).

xxThe_Dice_manxx · Sep 2, 2015

Greetings

Indeed I just calibrated my monitor lately and the difference is amazing, I highly recommend doing so before changing gamma etc via the software.

Zieman · Sep 2, 2015

rootsrat said:
I also think it's your monitor, not the in game gamma setting. What platform/OS you're on? Windows has a great built in screen calibration utility. There is also this website: http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/

If you use the latter, do the following sections: Contrast, Gamma, Black and White Levels. Try to get all 4 as accurate as possible, as per the instructions and you'll see a massive difference

This.

And related to the black levels, check that your GFX output actually gives full scale black level signal to the monitor:
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=56173

Morbad · Sep 2, 2015

Default gamma is fine. If anything it's a little too bright to accurately reflect the lighting conditions in the screens.

Yes, some details are easier to make out when you jack up the gamma to the point you may as well be able to see in the dark...not the point.

blu22 · Sep 2, 2015

Thank you for all the links to help adjust the gamma. But, after reading the instructions and adjusting my gamma, I've found it was too high?!... the monitor's gamma was actually too high already. That mean elite's default gamma is even darker than I thought it was.... It dosent matter if it's day or night...lights on or off.... it still makes the beautiful milky way backdrop turn to pure black when the gamma setting is at the middle. Could this be a bug? I've deleted and repaired the configuration files but no difference in visuals.

It makes the game quite bleak when everywhere you go, space is the same pitch black color.... it's not supposed to look like that! I am just afraid people will miss out on the true beauty of the galaxy because of this gamma funkiness...

Perhaps ED should come with one of those gamma adjustment pictures that many modern games pop up when you first launch it... and again when you adjust the in-game gamma. That might solve many of the problems.

OamodSias · Sep 2, 2015

To nobody in particular: Why on earth would you want super-bright, I-can-see-everything-now gamma? I put mine to lowest for the most authentic feel I could.

Space is dark, bro.

Morbad · Sep 2, 2015

blu22 said:
it still makes the beautiful milky way backdrop turn to pure black when the gamma setting is at the middle. Could this be a bug? I've deleted and repaired the configuration files but no difference in visuals.

How close are you to the system's sun? If you are near other bright light sources, you won't see as much of the sky as you would if you moved further away.

I run with my gamma where it's intended to be, and the milky way can be painfully bright.

Phyl · Sep 2, 2015

I wonder if you have some kind of gamma calibration on your graphics card or some other override that is incorrect? As these are screeshots, your own monitor setting should not come into it when I view them on my screen. Your max gamma setting are closer to what I see than your default gamma settings - in fact I think my defaults are slightly brighter than your max settings. I have never touched the gamma settings have never had to.

blu22 · Sep 2, 2015

Morbad said:
How close are you to the system's sun? If you are near other bright light sources, you won't see as much of the sky as you would if you moved further away.

I run with my gamma where it's intended to be, and the milky way can be painfully bright.

Yes you're right. near suns.... the galaxy is pitch black because of the light pollution.... but that's not the issue here....

Phyl said:
I wonder if you have some kind of gamma calibration on your graphics card or some other override that is incorrect? As these are screeshots, your own monitor setting should not come into it when I view them on my screen. Your max gamma setting are closer to what I see than your default gamma settings - in fact I think my defaults are slightly brighter than your max settings. I have never touched the gamma settings have never had to.

I am now becoming convinced this is a bug in my ED installation. My systems gamma is calibrated perfectly.... and as you pointed out... my max gamma is closer to your medium.

Perhaps a reinstall is in order. I may try that. Thanks everyone for the help and feedback!