Gamma / Brightness Fix (Half-Life 2)

Overview

A solution to fix gamma being excessively light or dark, by modifying the dynamic range with console commands in Half-Life 2.

What Broken Gamma Looks Like

Gamma or brightness not functioning correctly is sometimes hard to notice. Depending on your monitor and system settings this problem may not even be an issue for you.

The following example screen captures will allow you to confirm if this guide can help you, and the potential dynamic range of your monitor.

Full Dynamic Range Displays

Brightness Adjustment Appears To Do Little Or Nothing The screen captures below both have gamma set to the darkest slider setting. The “barley visible” text is still clear on the incorrect side.

Incorrect

Correct

Note: The game must be running in full screen mode for the gamma/brightness slider to work at all. This is a common problem users have but this guide discusses a issue independent of that, as this issue still happens even in full screen mode.

Everything Looks Washed Out It can be noted that black levels are too bright on the left hand side screen captures. Where as on the right even though the shadows are much darker, none of the detail is lost.

Incorrect

Correct

Limited Dynamic Range Displays

Highlight Or Shadow Clipping Clipping refers to when something is so dark or light that all definition is lost. In the correct screen capture the darkest and lightest areas still have detail. On a limited dynamic range display no amount of gamma adjustment will correct the clipping.

Highlight & Shadow Clipping

Correct

Highlight Clipping

Shadow Clipping

Note: The clipping is simulated and exaggerated in the above screen captures to demonstrate the effect. This issue is sometimes only observable between the monitor and your own eyes. Henceforth if you are viewing this on a limited dynamic range display things may look different than described.

The Fix

These solutions aims to bypass, reverse, or set a correct dynamic range inside the game. This will allow for the game to look optimal, while correcting potential misconfiguration.

Full Dynamic Range Displays
Ways to fix a washed out picture.

Disable TV Monitor Gamma The game may be detecting your monitor as a TV, or you are using a TV with full dynamic range.

Old Setting:

New Setting:

mat_monitorgamma_tv_enabled 1

mat_monitorgamma_tv_enabled 0

Force Full Dynamic Range With “mat_monitorgamma_tv_enabled 1” there are two other settings that override the dynamic range. These settings can be tweaked to allow for full dynamic range.

Old Setting:

New Setting:

mat_monitorgamma_tv_range_max 255

mat_monitorgamma_tv_range_min 16

mat_monitorgamma_tv_range_min 0

Limited Dynamic Range Displays
Ways to compensate for shadows or highlights with no definition.

Clamp Dynamic Range With “mat_monitorgamma_tv_enabled 1” we can tweak the same two settings to optimize for limited dynamic range. A range of 16-235 is a common range for limited displays.

Old Setting:

New Setting:

mat_monitorgamma_tv_range_max 255

mat_monitorgamma_tv_range_max 235

mat_monitorgamma_tv_range_min 16

These ranges can be modified until a desired look is achieved. This works well for trying to calibrate for over dark shadows or blown out highlights. This is a rare problem on modern displays; but with old LCDs, old CRTs, new TVs, and cheep Monitors it is still common, as they can lack good dynamic range.

Note: This guide assumes that you are familiar with the developers console, configuration files, and modifying launch options.

Thanks For Reading!

Complex feedback or section suggestions? Visit my group discussion! Posting is publicly open.

After spending an hour or two trying to solve this problem on my own, I decided this problem needs an easy to find solution.

If you enjoyed this guide, please consider giving it a Like and or Favorite! Truth be told I hate asking, but it seems to be the trend.

Half-Life 2 Guide

Overview

What Broken Gamma Looks Like

The Fix

Thanks For Reading!