Modern display technology has changed the way we view visuals by offering breathtaking resolution and color gamut. However, one common issue that might ruin the experience is called “Black Crush.”
What Is “Black Crush” on a Display?
Black crush is a form of display anomaly that makes darker portions of an image lose detail, merge into black instead of the nuances of shades, and therefore shows abrupt transitions between dark tones, which are totally absent in the case of very low light scenes. The subtlety in details is not captured by viewers, which, in turn, can affect the overall visual experience.
This issue occurs more often with low contrast ratios or on incorrectly calibrated settings. Black crush happens in a lot of types of screens, but it’s particularly common in these:
- LCDs: Particularly in those without full-array local dimming.
- OLED: Especially when using over-aggressive processing to combat burn-in causes dark details to get clipped.
- Budget Monitors and TVs: The budget often reflects the amount of technology implemented into the product that will produce true black.
How to Check for Black Crush Issues
Black crush on a display is relatively easy to identify. Here are a few methods you can use to detect the issue:
Test Patterns
Use a grayscale gradient or black level test pattern image. These are available on the internet. Display the test image on your screen and look for all dark shades, particularly near black. If they seem to run into black, your display has a black crush problem.
Movie Scenes
Play a movie or video scene with important shadow details. Dark scenes from movies like Blade Runner 2049 or The Dark Knight can be good benchmarks. If shadow areas lack detail, it could indicate black crush.
Causes of Black Crush
Black crush can result from a number of factors, including:
Poor Display Calibration
Incorrect brightness, contrast, or gamma settings cause black crush. Some displays come with factory settings that favor vivid colors over true black levels.
Video Processing
Complex algorithms to make the picture appear better may occasionally clip the shadows, thus producing black crush.
Content Compression
Low quality content with heavy compression may not include sufficient shadow detail, which only worsens black crush.
Is Black Crush A Hardware Problem?
Depending on the case, black crush is either hardware-dependent or a software problem. Here are a few cases to consider:
Hardware-Dependent
In certain cases, black crush is purely a hardware-based problem. This is especially so in budget panels with low contrast ratios or aged OLED panels where fine shadow detail cannot be achieved due to their hardware.
Software and settings
One of the main causes is incorrect settings of black crush; most of these problems can easily be solved if the gamma or brightness and/or contrast is properly adjusted. Often, black crush is also triggered by old firmware or poor optimisation of the color profiles.
Both
In some cases, black crush can be contributed to by a combination of hardware and software causes. The better displays allow for advanced calibration that minimizes the effects of black crush; though lower-tier devices cannot achieve the same kind of flexibility.
Solutions to Black Crush
Update Firmware:
Check if your display’s manufacturer has released firmware updates. These updates often address known issues, including black crush.
Enable Dynamic Range Settings:
For HDR-compatible displays, ensure that HDR mode is enabled and configured correctly. Proper HDR settings can enhance shadow detail.
Conclusion
Black crush can be a nuisance when it comes to an otherwise immersive viewing experience, but understanding the causes and solutions can help you mitigate the problem. It’s possible to change the display settings, update the firmware, or use better quality content. Black crush can be solved in a few ways, but if it’s an issue with your viewing experience, then perhaps a display upgrade is in your future. Calibrated with the proper tools and gadgets, you can enjoy the fine details and the rich colors without the black crush.
