I'm using Windows 11 with a Gigabyte G27Q, mainly for gaming. Whenever I enter a slightly dim area in a game, the screen becomes nearly pitch black and I can't make out any details. I've already set the monitor brightness to maximum and tried adjusting gamma, but the monitor only offers six preset options instead of a fine-grained slider. Minecraft is a good example: underwater areas and air pockets made with doors are almost impossible to see, and even nearby blocks are barely visible. I'm having similar problems in several games. Are there monitor, Windows, or in-game settings I should check?
1 Answer
Check both the monitor’s own picture settings and the game’s brightness setting. Minecraft can look extremely dark with its default brightness, so set its brightness to 100% first and compare. Also look for settings such as black equalizer, shadow boost, contrast, dynamic contrast, HDR, or local dimming in the monitor menu. A high contrast or HDR mode can crush shadow detail and make dark areas appear completely black.
I’ve been changing settings in both places, and Minecraft is only one of several games where the dark areas are almost impossible to see.