HDR appreciation thread

Borderlands 3 supposedly has HDR on PC. Will try it out as there are lots of neon lights and things in that game.
 
rofif said:
nah of course not. I have the proper settings.
Contrast is untouched, game optimizer mode, warm50, all common LG recommended settings. I know my LG settings. I am religious about this and I like reference settings/proper settings. not adding contrast etc. All sharpening and other ai crap also disabled.
One thing that I do differently is I do play with dynamic tone mapping calibrated to 4000 nits and not hgig though.

but it's the iphone doing the difference. Maybe it has trouble capturing the whole dynamic range + hdr is genuinely great.

I've got some comparison of SDR (ps5 HDR screenshot converted to sdr when copying from ps5) vs game running in HDR on ps5.
That's why I am so in awe with forspoken graphics. The game is genuinely breathtaking with HDR. Of course the iphone camera difference is purely relative. nothing absolute about this. Just to convey a feeling.
Also, these are old pics but still the same tv. It's just not ps5 pro etc.
U4ViNuq.jpeg

VMUoOC3.jpeg


8ZIJGG0.jpeg

FUIG3xV.jpeg

bZpwO3c.jpeg

etnA9pi.jpeg



Got some other cool HDR examples too:
Gqu48rN.jpeg

JkSEvzv.jpeg

X8qNiA2.jpeg
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Cool. You know your stuff. HGIG user here, but whatever suits your preferences. Enjoy that magnificent tv.
 
ChoosableOne said:
What are your thoughts on HDR? I think it should now be listed as a recommended feature in many games, just like SSDs.
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I'm currently using an LG C4 TV as a monitor and the HDR on this TV is of excellent quality, unlike the vast majority of HDR present on entry-level monitors (which shouldn't even exist in my opinion), and the quality of the technology is very good, it greatly improves the overall quality of the image. even in games where there is no native HDR support, Darksiders 3 which I'm playing now for example, the implementation that Windows 11 does is well done and greatly improves the quality of the game.
 
I love HDR to the point I don't get excited for 3D games that lack it, but RTX HDR is a life saver many times on PC. I started with the KS8000 on PC and have been a bit obsessed with HDR since. It was a headache on Windows back then, but now it's much better with Windows 11. Now I'd argue Windows is actually great for HDR as we get the system calibration, you don't need to worry about turning it on/off all the time and we are usually able to fix bad HDR with mods like ReShade / Special K. And we have RTX HDR / Auto-HDR as great fake HDR, especially the former.

The limiting factor now is the fucking in-game sliders, it drives me slightly insane. For instance I can still not get BG3 to look quite right even with bumped up contrast and so on. I hate some in-game calibration tools with a passion. Like "Turn down brightness until the symbol is barely visible", but there are 5 steps I could define as "barely visible", what do you mean... Or when sometimes it's like "choose your max nits on a scale from 0-100", what the fuck man at least use the correct scale.

The absolute best in-game calibration tool I've seen is Horizon Zero Dawn Remaster. A masterpiece of a calibration tool where highlights gets its own slider so you can get a punchy image in HGIG as well. In a lot of games I will just give up and run Dynamic tone-mapping even if it introduces some problems in many scenes. But I feel like it's a false to claim that HGIG is always the intended image as if it was Filmmaker mode, mastered to perfection as a part of an artistic vision. I feel like a lot of devs just don't bother to get it right and just tick the HDR check-box, one and done. Hopefully we will have better standardized HDR in the future so that we don't have to deal with this calibration bullshit.
 
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Does anyone know if DBZ Kakarot supports HDR? Playing it right now and it would really benefit from it with all the vibrant colours. Though the SDR picture is still very pretty.
 
I can't believe so many games being released are not in HDR. Back in 2018, playing Uncharted 4 on my Sony 900E, I would have guessed that six years later, it would be standard. It's disappointing.
 
Anyone know the best/correct settings for HDR on a Lg c1 and ps5? Internet gives to much conflicting information.

Should the console and TV both be set to limited or full for RGB range?
 
TheStam said:
I love HDR to the point I don't get excited for 3D games that lack it, but RTX HDR is a life saver many times on PC. I started with the KS8000 on PC and have been a bit obsessed with HDR since. It was a headache on Windows back then, but now it's much better with Windows 11. Now I'd argue Windows is actually great for HDR as we get the system calibration, you don't need to worry about turning it on/off all the time and we are usually able to fix bad HDR with mods like ReShade / Special K. And we have RTX HDR / Auto-HDR as great fake HDR, especially the former.

The limiting factor now is the fucking in-game sliders, it drives me slightly insane. For instance I can still not get BG3 to look quite right even with bumped up contrast and so on. I hate some in-game calibration tools with a passion. Like "Turn down brightness until the symbol is barely visible", but there are 5 steps I could define as "barely visible", what do you mean... Or when sometimes it's like "choose your max nits on a scale from 0-100", what the fuck man at least use the correct scale.

The absolute best in-game calibration tool I've seen is Horizon Zero Dawn Remaster. A masterpiece of a calibration tool where highlights gets its own slider so you can get a punchy image in HGIG as well. In a lot of games I will just give up and run Dynamic tone-mapping even if it introduces some problems in many scenes. But I feel like it's a false to claim that HGIG is always the intended image as if it was Filmmaker mode, mastered to perfection as a part of an artistic vision. I feel like a lot of devs just don't bother to get it right and just tick the HDR check-box, one and done. Hopefully we will have better standardized HDR in the future so that we don't have to deal with this calibration bullshit.
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When I noticed wukong and space marine 2 don't have HDR... I skipped the purchase. At least for now
 
Im playing FF7 remake on my Mini-led (Q27G3XMN) and the first time ifrit that did whole fire bombardment scene on screen, I couldn't help but go 'woah'.

Its bloody awesome. I guess that's one circumstance where the miniled can push that brightness to the extreme. 1200 nits roughly.

Also that initial battle with the big sentry bot was amazing in HDR. I always recommend PC gamers to think about it, it really is awesome now. You just need the right monitor to capitalise.

You can join the HDRden channel on discord to always get the recommended game settings - I find it particularly useful ;)
 
Adding HDR to games that sorely need it (and fixing half assed HDR support) is making me want to build a pc. Why are modders able to do what devs can't?
 
Bojji said:
This!

But you need good enough tv to see it. I had "HDR" 4k TCL and then Hisense with some local dimming - on both sdr looked better in some games...

Now on OLED, night and day difference. HDR is always better unless developers fuck up implementation (mostly can be fixed on pc).

So on OLED or higher end LCD - HDR is a win. On tvs/monitors than can't show it properly, don't bother.
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Curious,what series of tcl did you have?
 
My monitor has HDR, and I tried using it on Armored Core and my Switch 2, but it looks like ass. The picture quality is better with HDR off.
Then I learned that this is because my monitor is "HDR 400" or whatever which is basically fake HDR. Don't understand why all this stuff has to be so confusing. I mean I guess it is so they can sell more stuff marked as "HDR", but still.
 
Yes, looking forward to next week when my new tv arrives. Had an 12 year old Sony 4K tv and that just shortly came out before HDR was a thing…
 
rofif said:
What did you get
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The older Sony 55X90L. Was waiting for the new Bravia 5, but according to some reviews X90L is still better. Sure, could have also gone for Bravia 7, but if you have a wife, who wanted the cheapest of the cheapest, that is a compromise, I can live with.
 
I love HDR and have it on all the time on PS5 and Series X.

I calibrated it similar to how rofif rofif described in a different thread and it looks even better than before - I have a Samsung QLED.
 
analog_future said:
If you have a capable display, HDR brightness is an absolute game changer. Arguably just as impactful as resolution increases or ray tracing (but with little-to-no performance cost).
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Fixed it for you. From my experience with all the high end monitors and TVs it's the increased brightness that makes all the difference. HDR impact is very minimal.
 
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In some games, HDR can be truly transformative. Games such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Doom Eternal, Cyberpunk (although some people say the HDR is broken in this game, I was still impressed) and Assassin's Creed look much better with HDR on my 4K QD-OLED. The lighting changes from looking flat to looking vibrant and contrasty. Darker games like Dead Space are also much easier to play now thanks to the drastically improved shadow depth.

My previous LCD monitor supported HDR400, but it clipped highlights and wasn't nearly as bright as my current OLED monitor. The colours and contrast also didn't look right. Now, HDR picture look correct, and I can see bright highlights, such as stars, next to pure black.
 
Does anyone know what settings for paper white and peak brightness I should use in game settings for hdr on a S90D
 
I think we also need an HDR Condemnation Thread for all of the displays out there that claim to have HDR, but actually make the picture infinitely worse. There are way too many displays like that. Probably a vast majority, I'd bet.
 
Dacvak said:
I think we also need an HDR Condemnation Thread for all of the displays out there that claim to have HDR, but actually make the picture infinitely worse. There are way too many displays like that. Probably a vast majority, I'd bet.
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Switch 2 screen is a recent prime example, really.
 
ShaiKhulud1989 said:
Switch 2 screen is a recent prime example, really.
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It's so true, but that's hardly the worst offender. I'm staying with my buddy over the weekend, and he has a decent LCD that otherwise looks like absolute garbage when HDR is enabled. It's such a crime.

But also the Switch 2 has HDR issues even when using an excellent OLED TV. It took me so long to get it configured properly on my LG C1, and some of the HDR-enabled games still don't look great on it. What a headache.
 
Dacvak said:
I think we also need an HDR Condemnation Thread for all of the displays out there that claim to have HDR, but actually make the picture infinitely worse. There are way too many displays like that. Probably a vast majority, I'd bet.
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100% Agreed. I fell for this too. I thought HDR600 was epic - it was barely better than SDR. :messenger_grinning_sweat:
 
Flabagast said:
Can you share the calibration ?
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Sure.

So on Samsung turn off Game HDR - in PS5 go to HDR settings and set it to 25 clicks in the first 2 screens (roughly 4000 nits) - for the black screen set where you think is best, mines a few clicks up to just see the symbol.

Most games have HDR settings within them - my TV apparently does 850 nits brightness so I set in game HDR to that.

Thats pretty much it!
 
b0uncyfr0 said:
100% Agreed. I fell for this too. I thought HDR600 was epic - it was barely better than SDR. :messenger_grinning_sweat:
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HDR is not just about panel brightness; it's also about colour. Even HDR400 offers a far superior dynamic range and colours compared to SDR. On my OLED monitor, HDR400 absolutely destroys SDR, especially in games with good HDR implementation, such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Doom Eternal, or Uncharted 4. HDR has a wider range of colours, much more striking contrast and lighting. Finer shader details on textures in HDR also stand out thanks to the pixel-level brightness control. HDR1000 looks even better than HDR400 for sure (even on my OLED monitor than only has 1000 peak) but saying that HDR400 (yet alone HDR600) looks barely better than SDR is just not true.
 
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