ICC color profiles and the ASUS vg248qe!!

[46andtool]

Okay, I have an asus vg248qe and the picture is CRAP. I installed a color profile, and I am sure I have the profile in the correct location, but the picture is exactly the same as it was before. Anyone have any idea as to what I'm doing wrong, this monitor is a washed out mess as is.

Thanks

 

[Worthington]

I've found the WIN7 icc profile function to be pretty random (read terrible). I could never get my profiles loaded without some sort of 3rd party help.
In the 120hz sticky I think there is a link to a little applet called DisplayProfile.exe. That works like a charm to get your profiles loaded and unloaded. Try that and see if it makes a difference.

 

[Black Octagon]

Okay, I have an asus vg248qe and the picture is CRAP. I installed a color profile, and I am sure I have the profile in the correct location, but the picture is exactly the same as it was before. Anyone have any idea as to what I'm doing wrong, this monitor is a washed out mess as is.

You're not doing anything wrong. This monitor has a TN panel, a very high refresh rate, minimal pixel response time and input lag. Everything about it is designed to deliver the fastest (read: smoothest motion) shooter experience that gamers can get out of an LCD monitor, especially when using LightBoost to minimise motion blur.

A fairly well-documented downside of this is that the image quality - especially the color - is less than stellar.

Example, see this review: http://pcmonitors.info/reviews/asus-vg248qe

That same review provides you with links to the ICC profiles and tells you what to do with them. Have you followed those same steps?

In any case, don't expect the picture to improve that much, even after the profiles are installed. Color reproduction is simply not an area where this monitor is intended to shine.

 

[blackened23]

Okay, I have an asus vg248qe and the picture is CRAP. I installed a color profile, and I am sure I have the profile in the correct location, but the picture is exactly the same as it was before. Anyone have any idea as to what I'm doing wrong, this monitor is a washed out mess as is.

Thanks

This is "working as intended". Lightboost panels are good for gaming and gaming alone, but color reproduction is horrible. Once you're not in a game and staring at a desktop application, the color reproduction and viewing angles are garbage, this is a side effect of TN panels - and this is also why I don't bother with lightboost/120hz panels despite the motion clarity.

If you want better color accuracy and picture quality for something outside of games, you need an IPS panel.

 

[Worthington]

He's saying it's exactly the same. Even with a TN panel installing a good profile will make a world of difference. I know, I have that panel and I use a colorimeter to create profiles for that (because yes, it really is that bad out of the box).

Edit. and this is coming from someone who used to have one of the NEC 20GXWs. Yeah, the TNs are worse even at best. But it's not like they aren't useable.

 

[46andtool]

He's saying it's exactly the same. Even with a TN panel installing a good profile will make a world of difference. I know, I have that panel and I use a colorimeter to create profiles for that (because yes, it really is that bad out of the box).

Edit. and this is coming from someone who used to have one of the NEC 20GXWs. Yeah, the TNs are worse even at best. But it's not like they aren't useable.

Thats right, while I understand that TN panels don't compare to IPS panels as far as color reproduction goes, I have read from reputable reviewers that once you calibrate the ASUS it looks as good as the best TN panels. Which may not be saying much but once I install the CC profile nothing changes, the picture is identical to the way it was when I first hooked the monitor up.

 

[46andtool]

I've found the WIN7 icc profile function to be pretty random (read terrible). I could never get my profiles loaded without some sort of 3rd party help.
In the 120hz sticky I think there is a link to a little applet called DisplayProfile.exe. That works like a charm to get your profiles loaded and unloaded. Try that and see if it makes a difference.

This sounds promising, I'll check out DisplayProfile when I get home from work, thanks

 

[Black Octagon]

Thats right, while I understand that TN panels don't compare to IPS panels as far as color reproduction goes, I have read from reputable reviewers that once you calibrate the ASUS it looks as good as the best TN panels..

Interesting. I had heard that the "best" TN panels in terms of colour were those found in the Samsung 750/950 series, and that this ASUS would never approach that level of colour reproduction, no matter how well-calibrated. I've never actually seen the ASUS, however, so maybe what I read was wrong

 

[46andtool]

Interesting. I had heard that the "best" TN panels in terms of colour were those found in the Samsung 750/950 series, and that this ASUS would never approach that level of colour reproduction, no matter how well-calibrated. I've never actually seen the ASUS, however, so maybe what I read was wrong

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01C91O2CTpw

That right there was one of the reviews I was referring to. But basically my problem is that the picture I have is glaring bad as of right now and I know that with the correct color profile it could be much better. And when I install a CC profile the image quality stays the same.

The best or not, I probably couldn't tell the difference in quality between a well calibrated ASUS vs the samsung you mentioned unless they were side by side or if someone was pointing out the variations to me.

 

[Black Octagon]

Thanks, I see what you mean. Indeed, he concludes that the crappy out-of-the-box colours that you experience in LightBoost mode are significantly improved by using the ICC profiles.

...not sure what else to say, except again ask: Did you use the same profile-installation process linked in the PCMonitors.info page that I referred you to in my first post? The specific steps are here: http://pcmonitors.info/articles/using-icc-profiles-in-windows

If you're following that and there is still literally 'no' improvement then I am officially stumped.

On the plus side, I will say that your user name made my grin

 

[hans030390]

Make sure you're using the NCX profiles, and you have to use different profiles if you switch between LightBoost on and off:

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1730425

As for using profiles, you shouldn't have to put the files anywhere. Go into your color management settings, and I believe there's a box you have to check so you can use custom ICC profiles. Browse, add it, set it as default. Sometimes you have to go into the advanced default settings and mess with stuff before it applies correctly. Load up the profiles for with and without LightBoost. You should be able to see a clear difference in picture change if you switch between them. If nothing changes, you are not doing it right and the profiles aren't applying.

Colors aren't too bad on my monitor now with ICC profiles. The main problem is the low contrast ratio, which is worse with LB on. It does give for a washed-out look. FWIW, the contrast ratio appears to improve as the monitor warms up over maybe 20 minutes or so after being turned on...either that or my eyes adjust and it's placebo.

 

[Mark Rejhon]

Regarding LightBoost image quality, it does vary a lot between monitors.

If one cares about LightBoost color quality and don't need to save money:
1. Get the VG278H. It has twice the LightBoost contrast ratio.
2. Adjust picture settings in accordance to LightBoost FAQ.
The VG278H LightBoost colors are good enough that I leave it 24/7, including at the Desktop. There is no purple tint or gamma washout on the VG278H's LightBoost, just dimmer than non-LightBoost.

 

[toyota]

the monitor will look like crap no matter what you do. you cant even move 1 inch without colors and brightness changing. on certain pages you can see just how much darker the top of the monitor is than the bottom. hell if I move my head at all in a dark game I will see something on the edge of the screen that I could not even see before. dark movie scenes, even at 1080p, look horrible with crushing, banding and pixelation. I love the fast response rate but in many ways its the crappiest TN panel I have ever used.

 

[hans030390]

Viewing angles are surprisingly not much of an issue for me with LB on. I mean, it's not great, but I've seen a lot worse on monitors with overall better PQ.