LostCitizen on 3/3/2015 at 19:14
Yes, it sounds like a stupid remark, however, I have this feeling ever since I had to reinstall T2 due to my HD crash 2 months ago. I had no such issues with my previous installation 3 years ago, which was manual, I remember I had to manually update to 1.18 and then further. But it was the same laptop.
I reinstalled T2, this time via Tafferpatcher. My first issue was gamma problem-I couldn't adjust it. It was probably due to Intel graphics, so I applied the latest Nvidia Geforce 525 m drivers. I could now adjust gamma (I also tried removing the semicolon in front of "d3d_disp_no_rgb10_buf" in cam.ext.cfg), but then realised it was probably because I had no Nvidia drivers installed.
The situation was better only until I realised that something is different than before (my HD crash). I played some FMs and downloaded some savegames from original missions. I would not say I am 100% correct, maybe it is only my imagination, but I have a feeling that now the game is too dark in the shadows (please dont laugh :cheeky:), and there are no details there. I could barely recognize an object in the shadows. I have to raise the gamma to about 75-80% in the slider to improve the situation; I remember previously my gamma was at most at 50%.
Secondly, I thought my monitor brightness was an issue, but in control panel it is still at 100%. I raised it manually through Intel panel, and it helped, but I feel I am losing colour this way. And I had to restore default settings when not in the game, every time, because when browsing internet, it was too bright.
Thirdly, today I uninstalled and reinstalled Nvidia drivers and Thief 2 again. I even applied older drivers from 2011, because I heard maybe it would help. But it did not. Especially it became the case in my latest fan mission played (Redemption), in the dark I couldn't see even the glimpse of the sleeping woman in the floor near the entrance of the factory (where you get flash bombs).
I made some screenshots from original missions, but please note (and this is also strange for me), that they don't correspond to the gamma changes. Even if I put the gamma on full, pictures will still be too much dark-in reality they are a little bit brighter, especially the first two. My current gamma is around 0.85-0.80.
Inline Image:
http://i.imgur.com/WWhob4K.jpgIn one of the houses at the start of Blackmail.
Inline Image:
http://i.imgur.com/1QhEp18.jpgSame mission, another dark corner. I had to raise the gamma to almost full to recognize what it is.
Inline Image:
http://i.imgur.com/n9LYcGo.jpgStarting area in Casing the joint, to the right everything black, there is a small roof there.
Inline Image:
http://i.imgur.com/7RHT7vf.pngMasks. My feeling (does not mean it is right) is that the darker half of the doors is too much black.
And ideas, suggestions? What is your gamma number on average? Could it be that everything is ok and I am just exaggerating...
I am using Dell Inspiron laptop, I7, Windows 7 64 bit, 2Ghz, 6GB Ram.
Thanks!
EDIT: Overlooked there is a section for Technics and troubleshooting, so you can move the post there...
PsymH on 4/3/2015 at 08:11
The screens look normal for me. It seems that your monitor can be the problem. Just my guess.
Have you already tried to rise the gamma? Or the brightness of your monitor?
LostCitizen on 4/3/2015 at 10:09
Quote Posted by PsymH
Have you already tried to rise the gamma? Or the brightness of your monitor?
I did, both, however I wonder why before this was not an issue.
The gamma is quite satisfactory if I raise it to around 75-80% of the slider, I believe this is near 0.64-0.60 in cam.cfg. Just I don't recall I had to raise it that high before. But that way I am losing a little bit of contrast.
I tried to manipulate with it and with screen brightness also. In the Intel panel I set the brigthness to 10 and raised the contrast a little. It was much better in the dark, but in general again I lost come colour and contrast because of that white-grey curtain because due to higher brightness. The shadows were better, though. Maybe I need to experiment more.
Also, when I close the game, I have to restore default monitor settings, because for surfing it becomes too bright, too white. Again-I didn't need to do this before.
EDIT: I experimented more and realised that it is very likely connected to the monitor brightness, but still don't know why. I have installed T2 on my father laptop (AMD) and compared screenshots and they look better on his computer, the shadow on the door is not 100% black, but shows some more contrast. So I have modified brightness and contrast according to that shot. But still have to manually restore default settings when not in game, otherwise, e.g. this forum is very very white. :)
LostCitizen on 15/3/2015 at 15:15
Sorry to bump the topic... loaded a new fan mission and the problem I described has highlighted the best here. At first I thought raising the monitor brightness and gamma would help and it did a little, but I realised this is not the main issue. I now believe the problem lies in my computer or graphic card rendering the shadows, not so much with monitor brightness.
Even in the well lit areas, when there are shadows, they appear pure black with no contrast. If I raise the brightness and gamma, the other (lit) areas become too bright.
Like in some room, a chair is bright lit, but its rear part is almost complete black. The second example, a kitchen storage room, also lit, the glasses and vases appear brown to black, like they are in a shadow, but in my opinion they should not be. On the wall there is a switch, but if I don't highlight it, it appears almost like pure black square. Then, the lit room with big dining table with loot, its upper part is well lit, but when I am searching for potential loot down, I can barely see the chair legs. I would upload screenshots, but I fear you wouldn't notice the differences, because the issue seems to be graphic card specific. To sum up: I believe there is too much difference between shadows (dark) and lit areas (in the same room(s)) and that the shadows are too black.
I have now the latest Nvidia drivers from February 2015, GE 525 m. I have read in some older threads that newer drivers are not very good for Thief. Do you have maybe an idea-should I adjust some options in my Nvidia control panel?
