PS3 image problem: Color banding

Hi everyone!

I have realized few weeks ago about a problem with the PS3 image. There are some places (games, videos, XMB) where color banding is quite noticeable and annoying.

The problem is certainly easy to explain when you know how is it called: Colour banding (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_banding). You can specially notice the effect within the XMB display when it is twelve o'clock in the morning, and the TV display is blue. The colour degradation from different blue tonalities, abrupt changes between shades of the same colour makes this effect. There are like 'borders' between same colour with different tonalities. This effect is also noticeable on dark zones in games, like motorstorm (take a look on mountain shades), appearing this effect too on different tonalities black .

One of the most horrible scenes where banding is noticeable is on Resistance:FOM. For example, on the Nottingham stage, you go out from a little tunnel. When you go out, look to the sky (which is gray) you can notice this effect a bit. But if you continue looking up and up til make a 90º degrees with the floor, the effect is terribly scaring. Concentring banding zones that move on and move on...

In Motorstorm is also visible in the blue sky. When you jump over a ramp and you almost just see on screen the sky in 'movement', the sky 'borders' of blue moves quite clearly too!!!

This is not a TV problem, because I have tried with different ones, FullHD, very expensive ones,..., as well as with different connections (hdmi, components, av) , and the effect is the same on all of them.

Lots of people are seeing this effect, in the UK forum is discussed, also in US forum and spanish forum (official Playstation 3 forum). So we are almost sure about this is not a LCD display problem, because some people with expensive LCDs are seeing the same.

Anyone has solved this problem?

You can see it clearly on XMB on the following situation:

Go to one of your friends added, and click on triangle button (this test must be done at nigh, when screen is dark). The submenu that appears is gray, with different tonalities. Look carefully at the gray part of the submenu: You will see clearly the separation between two tonalities of gray, with a 'frontier' kind that separates them.

Don't know if it is common or not in LCD. But what we have seen with some tests done is that is not specific LCD problem. The test was done in LCD (different qualities), Plasma and on CRTs, and the banding is there in all cases.

When the quality of the connection decreases (i.e. components instead of hdmi) banding was less visible, but still. When falling from LCD to CRT banding was less visible, but still.

Why is less visible but still? The answer is simple. When the input is better (hdmi), all image increases 'quality' because the details are more visible, biggest resolutions, and so. But, as well, defects are also more visible. Thats why with greater quality, banding is more visible.

Every TV kind (plasma, lcd and crt) shows color banding, this is the fact. So, the problem is comming from the source, it is, the PS3. We think it is some programming problem within XMB and games or within PS3 image output, or within PS3 color interpretation.

Banding is a common problem on LCDs of any quality.teebeenz

Really? I've notice the Sky bit the TC was talking in MotorStorm... And I do have a LCD. :P

Hi!

I have tried everything. In fact, I have entered the hidden service menu of my samsung, and no way. But it is normal that modifiying lcd settings does not make any difference because it is not an LCD problem. We haver tried with Sony Bravia, Phillips Ambilight, Samsungs, Sharps, ... The problem is the same in all of them. The brightness level can make you notice more or less depending of the level, but the problem is still there.

You can see the banding easily on the places I have remarked.

Color banding can be from the TV's lack of color depth or the source.

I notice very little color banding on my Samsung DLP.

You can try calibrating the TV to lessen the effect. If it's really that bad, it's most likely your TV and not the PS3. Also, have you tried setting the PS3 to Full RGB and Super White?

Every single option has been tried, and no solution. Calibration does not solve the problem.

As I said before, every single TV has this color banding effect. Two clear situations. Try it please, then you will see what I am talking about:

1) XMB: At 22 PM set on your PS3. Go to the menu section where your friends appear. Mark one and push triangle button. On the submenu, the vertical gray bar has banding: gray tonalities are clearly visible, separated by some kind of 'borders'.

3) XMB at 12 o'clock or 14 o'clock. The blue scree of the XMB goes from light blue to dark blue. This gradient has visible banding; between different blue tonalities are clear separations, clear borders, not a smooth gradient.

2) For those with Resistance. (ONLY 2 MINUTES, try this) Select and start NOTTINGHAM stage. You will start in a short tunnel. Go ahead til you get out of the tunnel. Now you can see banding on the walls and the ceiling, like shadows that 'moves with you'. But this is not what I want you to see. After going out the short tunnel, look to the gray sky. Start looking up and up, with the pointer til you reach a 90 degree angle with the floor. Then you will now what I am talking about: here banding is TERRIBLE.

In all the other games, and BD and so you can see banding represented in other ways. As I said before, it is not an LCD problem, this is for sure. All TVs are affected this way. IT IS TESTED.

Ok, then you have seen this one. It is sure that there is some rendering issue there, but also banding (the bad gray gradient representation on this scene is not a rendering issue, is a banding issue).

In Motorstorm is also visible in the blue sky. When you jump over a ramp and you almost just see on screen the blue sky in 'movement', the sky 'borders' of blue moves quite clearly, another banding example.

On the XMB, look the submenu when you push triangle on one of your friends. The gray gradient showed there has some 'lines' delimiting gray tonalities. This can be seen at 22h for sure, with black schreen in the background. Too at 12h simply looking to the blue background. Look on the blue gradiente between light blue and dark blue.

This effect appear in all PS3 games I have tried (f1, motorstorm, oblivion, resistance), on the XMB and on BD. And is a GLOBAL PROBLEM. Look at the other examples...

What we only want is to have what we have supposed to pay, to pay expensively. This problems must no appear!

Banding on a BD? Your crazy. No pics, no proof, no credibility. End this thread now.teebeenz

i thnk his talking bs

Well, on 007: Casino Royale, when you see the Sony logo with blue aura, there is a light banding in this aura. That is what I saw on BD on my test.

try puttingin a 360 or Wii on your lcdtv.

it's not PS3's fault LCD technology is still new, and not even close to CRT colors. LCD generally simulate 16 or 32 bit colors.

(heck I have a dvd player using progressive 480p and i get banding, shot!!!! HDTV has banding )

it's your LCD

¿Really annoying? If you don't want to hear the truth, simply don't read it.

Don't make me laugh. It is a problem that is affecting ps3 users, and not only here, in every place in the world. You can see threads like this in lots of forums around the world.

Don't want anyboy to close a thread simply because you don't want to hear (read) the truth.

i have a 12 bit panle wich is hdmi 1.3 billion colour i get no banding you only get banding if you have a 8 bit 16.7million colourpanle as most old ones do except sony and samsung from 2006 rangeIQT786

i have a 12 bit panle wich is hdmi 1.3 billion colour i get no banding you only get banding if you have a 8 bit 16.7million colourpanle as most old ones do except sony and samsung from 2006 rangeIQT786

Exactly what i was saying , however he also said crt's and plasmas have the same problem.

I dunno

I call Shenanigans??

Ok maybe Plasmas may have the problem, but crts? I wanna see where they say that at.

Banding problems happen on most tvs because technology hasn't caught up yet. (and if it has it's really expensive)

Now PS2 and Wii shouldn't have this problem because they are not in HD. (I'm assuming)

I know everyone seems defensive, but personally I've been around 360 on a lcdtv and I've seen banding also. I've seen banding on HDDVD and BD on tv's. Some plasmas (maybe older ones) and definitely LCDs. PS3 outputs raw HD maybe lcd tvs don't like it?

Please include links to the "others" that have this problem on CRTS and plasmas. (remember there are fanboys that want to see PS3 fail). Actually I have badning problems on my computer's LCD right now.

PS3 just outputs raw information, your monitor is the one displaying it for you to see. If you think about it, your computer has a video card just like the PS3 does. Now I had a video card and everything looks amazing on a crt I had. Insane frequencies, 32 bit colors (not simulated like many LCDs). However when I went to lcd monitor I noticed alot of banding let alone in te specs it is only capable of 16.7 mil colors. it simulates 32bit. What are the specs to your LCDtv??????? (Don't trust the internet 100%, it's like trusting tv 100%)

what cables you use? HDMI or Component? HDMI is still new so some monitors don't like it, however component cables may eliminate this problem.

oh and here are some links to 360's color banding notice the responses (and some other forums talking about lcds thathave banding)

http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/showthread.php?t=51927

http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/67909965/m/781008635831

http://www.xbox360wire.co.uk/2007/02/12/component-or-vga-vga-or-component/

http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/26/2007wfp-experiencing-severe-banding-on-gradients/

http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/index.php?topic_id=10882

Oh, ok. My TV is an LCD Samsung 2007 series, S66 model. On big shops where ps3 is exposed, banding is seen on brand-new Sony Bravias. schn3id3r

ok it's still a LCDtv

oh and can you just pick it out from the site?

http://www.samsung.com/Products/TV/index.asp

I just want to see the specs of the tv. Just because it isa new tv doesn't mean anything if the specs are crap, let alone lcd tvs even now has the banding problem. Did you look at the links I provided? It's not just only onthe PS3 but dvd players, 360, computers, so singling out the PS3 at your house or at a store doesn't mean anything, sorry.

Well, don't know why you don't see banding... As I said, its tested with lots of LCDs... you can see this UK post talking about the problem, and lots of people say the same: color banding exists.

http://community.eu.playstation.com/showthread.php?t=103114

I started it, as well as here, but you can see that is common in the other users. If you don't see it, lucky you (but I am not sure at all you are telling the truth).

Well, don't know why you don't see banding... As I said, its tested with lots of LCDs... you can see this UK post talking about the problem, and lots of people say the same: color banding exists.

http://community.eu.playstation.com/showthread.php?t=103114

I started it, as well as here, but you can see that is common in the other users. If you don't see it, lucky you (but I am not sure at all you are telling the truth).

schn3id3r

whoa whoa

I'm not saying it doesn't exists. I'm saying that PS3, 360, HDDVD, BD, DVD etc aren't the problems it's the monitor and how it acts with the type of cable connection.

http://gear.ign.com/articles/719/719789p1.html

Oh my god. Well, here there are some from motorstorm:

http://img413.imageshack.us/my.php?image=motor3sw4.jpg

http://img80.imageshack.us/my.php?image=motor4ho0.jpg

http://img524.imageshack.us/my.php?image=motor1rv1.jpg

where's your XMB color banding?

Oh my god. Well, here there are some from motorstorm:

http://img413.imageshack.us/my.php?image=motor3sw4.jpg

http://img80.imageshack.us/my.php?image=motor4ho0.jpg

http://img524.imageshack.us/my.php?image=motor1rv1.jpg

schn3id3r

fyi to make link just type [ then type url then ] then paste the link then [ then a / then type url then]

like i said I know banding exists, shoot my tv has banding, whether old or new lcd hdtvs have problems with banding

However what some are trying to say is that it's not PS3's fault and to suck it up like the rest of the population, cause i'm sure many have the same problem, But it's not PS3 it's just LCD technology.

Well, first of all, I have just posted some banding appearing on motorstorm. Do you want to see all the places where banding appears. Simply, in my case (as I can see many of you don't have any problem at all, hehe, thats what you think) is appearing in all games and XMB. It appears specially on blue degradation scenes, like XMB on many hours.

But well, if you don't have any problem, say it and follow your way to other threads that you are more interested in. THis thread is for those that suffer color banding. It is nothing more. Be happy.

its your tv !

on a old sony tv i had the same problem, but on my new one its gone

or it could be pal problem

reason why people are coming on here like this is because of your title, and first post

it's no a PS3 problem, it's an LCD problem

There seems to be someone that says that the effect is 'noticeable'. So the effect exists... in all LCDs? Well, some of you says not... If it is inherent to LCD technology how is it possible? Maybe you have not noticed it, but it is? Mmmmm, take a look closely to your screen, maybe it is there.

As welll, if he thinks it is not important, it is ok. You have to give to the problem the importance you want, of course...

Dude, I looked at the pics. It's your TV. Get over it. I DO NOT have those banding issues on my Samsung DLP which is properly calibrated.

Look at my pics and notice the smooth transition of color on the XMB as well as the sky in MotorStorm.

It's your TV, not the PS3. And sometimes if you see banding on a BluRay movie, it is the compression used and/or the TV. IT IS NOT A PS3 PROBLEM.

wtf.... i dont get this. what is banding and whatever because i'ev plyed motorstorm, resistance and used the xmb durnig night and i havent noticed any problems....

wtf? even those pics i cant see the problems in them