Gradient Display Problems

So I was doing more work in Photoshop today, and I ran into a problem where gradients are not being displayed properly. In a gradient from (0,0,0) to (255,0,0) there is a thick band were the gradient suddenly looks as though it is completely (255,0,0). Hopefully this makes a little sense...

I am wondering if other people have this problem. I'm on a 17" MBP C2D. If you have the problem, then it should be fairly apparent on the following picture:
http://home.comcast.net/~scott.beatson/gradient_copy.jpg

If it doesn't look like it, it is in fact a smooth gradient (I have confirmed it on several other computers). I've got a reservation at the Apple store in the next couple of days.

Hmm... quite annoying.

17" C2D MacBook Pro/3GB/160GB, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Nov 22, 2006 8:58 PM

45 replies

tlbtr

Level 1

0 points

Nov 30, 2006 3:23 PM in response to Scott Beatson

I don't know what I've done, as I have been spending a loooong time messing about with LCDTest, rawing gradients in Photoshop, and checking how changing my color profiles in system prefs/displays affects them, but suddenly your gradient test http://home.comcast.net/~scott.beatson/gradient_copy.jpg is displaying ok in Safari!

Another weird thing - when I open the image in Preview. it's brown!

Finally, the default MBP prfolile (Color LCD) gives the WORST banding in any app (except now Safari doesn't seem to care)

I am confused!

Nov 30, 2006 4:02 PM in response to tlbtr

Wow, I'm not totally sure that just having it working in Safari isn't quite worth it having it show up brown in Preview and horrible banding in every App.

I hope you can get everything back to "normal"!

tlbtr

Level 1

0 points

Nov 30, 2006 4:50 PM in response to Scott Beatson

Well, so far I have found that if I set the color profile in system prefs to Generic RGB it all looks sort of ok (no banding, reds ok, but not really glowing) I hope they can fix it so we can have good colour all round, but at least that horible banding has gone

I have spent way too long on this - time for bed!

peace to you in Michigan - I stayed in a place called Gull Lake when I was a kid

PS you need to relaunch apps after changing the color profile to see it properly

Dec 1, 2006 3:27 PM in response to Zebra1

Zebra1, I am curious. Did you download the gradient image in question and view it in Preview (ie. not in your browser)?

On my MBP C2D 15" I did not see it at first in Photoshop, then read the response that mentioned to download the image and view it in Preview. Once I did that, I saw the gradient issue.

So, if you have, and still do not have the problem, you are a lucky man. If not, do so, and return and report.

younker

Level 1

0 points

Dec 8, 2006 3:30 AM in response to Scott Beatson

I don't see the band, but I have a serious problem too.
I made a gradient picture with gimpshop, which display fine on my ViewSonic 2025WM display, but it has some problem with my mbp c2d, it sames there are wrinkle on the picture, like the color not displayed correctly, also in preview, when switch to full screen mode, I can see obviously the phenomenon like wind blow on the face of water.

I don't think this is an effect that apple provide to us, it must be serious defect.

I hope that my mbp can be recalled and send me one with smooth display.

Dec 8, 2006 7:48 AM in response to Scott Beatson

AAIIIII this is bad ... very bad

the red part of the LCDtest gradient is pixelated
1 big red spot in the corner
banding al over the place

hooked op my 23" ACD and tested the gradient 🙂
everything is smooth - no banding no pixelating the colors are bright

the mbp screen is VERY bad

Dec 11, 2006 10:11 PM in response to Scott Beatson

I remember reading a thread a while ago that explained it's just how the screen is made. I mean, the graphics card might support millions of colours, though the screen is 6bit instead of 8bit. So it's a 'feature' not a defect ^_^;;

PLEASE don't take this as fact, I'm getting confused with this myself. Especially since someone else said, on this thread or another recent one that the gradient issue doesn't manifest itself in all programs.

I definately want to test this out properly when I get my mac back. Though I can't say I found it a problem before. 🙂

Dec 16, 2006 8:34 AM in response to Scott Beatson

FWIW: I've just bought a MPB C2D 17", and came to the forums as I'm not very happy with the display. I haven't done any calibration yet, so I can just say that the gradient image displays with a band as indicated in both Safari & Preview (on a MBP 'straight out of the box').

Reading this thread on my old desktop G4 & a modest Formac LCD (which has been calibrated) both apps display the image without a gradient.

Dec 16, 2006 5:00 PM in response to William Davies

Does it display like that in every other application? What about Firefox?

Dec 17, 2006 2:37 AM in response to Sarkastik

I haven't installed many applications - I'm waiting till Monday before I contact Apple & then decide what options I have. If I get a chance today I'll try downloading Firefox - I also have the Aperture demo installed so I could try importing into that. But I'm not going to calibrate the monitor or install Photoshop (needs activating) if the machine is going back....

PaulNYC

Level 1

105 points

Dec 17, 2006 3:31 AM in response to William Davies

Unfortunately, I think it's becoming clear that Apple used 6-bit displays in the MBPs (both 15" and 17") that are simply incapable of display the number of colors needed. They are capable of 262000 colors natively (or whatever the number is) and the dithering doesn't make up for the 6-bit quality of the display. Here's a brief article:

http://compreviews.about.com/od/multimedia/a/LCDColor.htm

Dec 17, 2006 5:18 AM in response to PaulNYC

GAH! I just looked at some of the gradient pics and it's true, there is definately banding happening, it's worse on certain wallpapers I have.

I'm not really annoyed by it, the dithering seems to be working quite well. Yet I'm annoyed at Apple for not being upfront about this! I wasn't expecting such an issue on a MacBookPro, I just don't get it, isn't this the notebook professionals are supposed to use???

Apple's answer will probably be, get an Apple Cinema Display! >_<

PaulNYC

Level 1

105 points

Dec 17, 2006 6:37 AM in response to Sarkastik

GAH! I just looked at some of the gradient pics and
it's true, there is definately banding happening,
it's worse on certain wallpapers I have.

I'm not really annoyed by it, the dithering seems to
be working quite well. Yet I'm annoyed at Apple for
not being upfront about this! I wasn't expecting such
an issue on a MacBookPro, I just don't get it, isn't
this the notebook professionals are supposed to
use???

Apple's answer will probably be, get an Apple Cinema
Display! >_<</div>

There really is no excuse for this when my six year old powerbook can display gradients perfectly, not to mention my previous powerbook G4 15". However, it seems as though display manufacturers are pushing toward LCDs that have quicker response times, but sacrifice everything else. The article above is quite clear.

Still, couldn't Apple have purchased 8-bit displays? surely somebody still makes them?

whuggy

Level 1

110 points

Dec 17, 2006 8:30 AM in response to PaulNYC

It says here on http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/specs.html:

Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors.

Now, how can Apple back that up?

MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Dec 17, 2006 9:07 AM in response to Scott Beatson

FWIW: Firefox doesn't show the extreme band on the left hand side (as indicated by the 2 black lines above the graphic). However the gradient is not smooth, certainly not as smooth as it appears on a relatively modest 3 year old Formac LCD display. I hope to put together some pictures of the display if I have time today.

G4 MDD & PowerBook G3 Firewire Mac OS X (10.4.5)

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Gradient Display Problems