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Why Should You Run This Test?

If you notice blocky transitions in photos, video playback, or games — especially in sky, shadow, or gradient scenes — your monitor may have color banding. This test quickly tells you whether the issue is your panel or your content.

Common Symptoms

• Visible "steps" or bands in sunset photos or dark movie scenes
• Posterization in Photoshop or Lightroom when editing gradients
• Noticeable banding in game skyboxes or loading screens
• Colors look "chunky" instead of smooth

What Causes Color Banding?

Hardware Causes

• 6-bit panel — Budget monitors use 6-bit panels with only 262K colors. Banding is inherent and cannot be fully fixed.
• 8-bit panel without dithering — Some 8-bit panels skip temporal dithering, reducing effective color depth.
• Low-quality display cable — A damaged or inadequate cable (e.g., VGA instead of DisplayPort) can reduce color depth.

Software Causes

• GPU color output set to limited range — Check GPU settings: use "Full" RGB range (0-255), not "Limited" (16-235).
• Incorrect bit depth in OS — Windows may default to 8-bit even on 10-bit panels. Check display adapter settings.
• Compressed video streaming — Streaming services compress gradients, causing banding in the source content itself.

How to Read Your Results

How to Fix or Reduce Banding

• Enable 10-bit output — In NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Settings, change color depth to 10-bit if your panel supports it.
• Set RGB range to Full — GPU settings → Display → Output Dynamic Range → Full.
• Use DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0+ — Older cables limit color depth. Use DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.0 for full bandwidth.
• Enable temporal dithering — Some monitors have a dithering option in their OSD menu. This simulates extra colors.
• Calibrate your monitor — Use built-in calibration tools (Windows: Color Management) or a hardware colorimeter.
• If banding persists — The panel itself is the limitation. Consider upgrading to a 10-bit display for professional work.