6 replies to this topic

[Skywalkman-GB]

Televisions are designed to work with a limited range of RGB numbers; 16-235. This means that anything black is output at 16, and white is at 235 RGB.

Monitors on the other hand are designed to work with the full 8-bit RGB range, which is 0-255. 0 being black, 255 being white.

Both limited and full versions look identical as long as both the source and screen have the same setting.


When connecting a Wii U to a monitor, you need to make sure you change the HDMI RGB color range on the monitor it self to 16-235 as this is what the Wii U setting is default at. I tested this and can confirm that the 16-235 setting has more contrast and the colours are richer.

For monitors that dont have the HDMI Colour range change option, Hopefully Nintendo will release a hotfix much like Microsoft did for the Xbox 360 to enable the colour range to be changed in the console's menu.

[Jeremygts]

I didnt have to do any of this. I just plugged in my HDMI cable and set it up HDMI input and my monitor was displaying Wii U.

[Skywalkman-GB]

yes it will display the wii u, mine does what ever setting, BUT monitors are default 0-255 rgb range because thats what computers use, But consoles however are designed to be used with tv's, and seen as tvs standard is 16-235. that means the wii u has been defaulted to that.

So if you are connecting your wii u to a computer monitor, to get the BEST picture possible, you need to set the rgb range on the monitor to 16-235 to match the wii u's. If you dont, you will have washed out colours and blacks and whites wont display as they are supposed to.

Edited by Skywalkman-GB, 12 December 2012 - 08:57 AM.

[Alex Atkin UK]

I'm not convinced the washed out colours are related to the Limited RGB output at all. Why? Because no matter what settings I try on my TV the Wii U always looks washed out compared to PS3, Xbox 360, SkyHD, Sony Bluray player, my PC.

Netflix by far looks the worst, its totally unwatchable to me. ZombiU also looks quite washed out, but that might be intentional as it even seems a bit washed out (though not as bad) on the GamePad.

Interestingly of all is that LoveFilm appears to be the only thing that looks normal, perhaps a little too dark actually. It makes me wonder if perhaps the issue is fixed in a newer version of the Wii U SDK (as LoveFilm was the last thing to be released on Wii U) and that all the older apps/games just need patching with the new version to fix.

Edited by Alex Atkin UK, 12 December 2012 - 10:54 PM.

[Lebon14]

Washed out?! I don't know but the colors looked fine to me!

[Skywalkman-GB]

if your monitor has the hdmi rgb 16-235 option, try it, you will see instant results

[Alex Atkin UK]

Like I said, I don't think its the RGB issue while games are only slightly washed out, Netflix is HUGELY washed out.

Also I tried switching the Black Level between High/Low on my TV and I already had it on Low for all my other equipment, I could only make it MORE washed out or a duller, but still washed out picture, by fiddling with that and the brightness, etc.

I'm confused why so many people are claiming "its fine for me", because its a HUGE difference compared to every other device I own. Like I said, LoveFilm on Wii U is fine, so I highly suspect its a Netflix app problem.

That said, I always felt the cinema was too washed out, much preferring HDTVs which can have much lower black levels, higher contrast. This improved with digital projection though.

Edited by Alex Atkin UK, 13 December 2012 - 12:50 PM.