Alan Wake 2 - HDR Optimized Settings
Added 2023-10-27 07:19:08 +0000 UTC
The game DOES USE/APPLY Xbox , Playstation and PC HDR Calibration app settings.
The title has a good HDR implementation by actually leveraging the system level HDR calibration and also providing correct black levels in HDR.
There are some instances where in-game actual peak brightness could have been higher (like the sun and the sky) but it seems having it dimmer is (another questionable) creators' intent as there are other elements (like torches or lamps) which confidently get closer to max luminance instead.
Luckily the game is also offering additional picture controls:
After Night Springs DLC and Game Update v1.1 HDR picture quality is changed a bit.
Set the Game Brightness slider to 63 to improve the luminance intensity of those dimmed highlights without raising blacks or ruining the whole picture (or you can leave it at 50 to preserve original "creators intent" if you prefer), while you can keep the UI Brightness slider to default 50
BONUS:
Use Performance Mode on XSX|PS5: this will allow the game to run at 60fps while maintaining an acceptable picture quality. Just make sure to have VRR enabled in order to smooth out any fluctuation from the 60fps target
Disable Film Grain: in order to improve image clarity
Enjoy :)
-P
Comments
No, all the same
P40L0
2024-10-28 22:25:04 +0000 UTCDid hdr or picture quality change in lake house dlc update?
haris mohammad
2024-10-28 21:45:11 +0000 UTCI would keep that on as it's an artistic choice for the game
P40L0
2024-06-14 21:57:59 +0000 UTCI saw lens distortion as a new option, I'm assuming disable that too
David Soto
2024-06-14 21:28:01 +0000 UTCDon't manually switch back and forth presets, you don't need to
P40L0
2023-11-04 11:19:12 +0000 UTCWait my FMM does that also , goes extremely dim about 5 seconds in, what can I do to not make that happen
Cornell Dixon
2023-11-04 11:02:22 +0000 UTCHGIG in a dark room, DTM in a dim/bright room for C2
P40L0
2023-11-03 10:51:17 +0000 UTCWould this look better using HGIG or DTM on a 2022 c2? On Xbox
Dylan Ryan
2023-11-03 10:41:36 +0000 UTCNo, better to stick to Game Mode with C2 as input lag will noticeably increase outside it. DTM with +25 clicks = 4.000 nits is good
P40L0
2023-11-03 09:34:37 +0000 UTCShould I use fmm on my C2? Also, is it better to use DTM after calibrating ps5 to +25 clicks?
Josh Trebilcock
2023-11-03 09:32:46 +0000 UTCThank you! I will do that.
Roman
2023-10-30 15:37:21 +0000 UTCThat's the difference you see between the "old" DTM of Cinema and Game presets (which will also considerably raise gamma) and the "new" DTM of FMM which will leave gamma alone and only increase highlights' luminance. When you switch back and forth between them the change won't be instant but gradual. That said, you don't need to use Game mode anymore for gaming on G3/C3: just stick with FMM coupled with ALLM and/or VRR along with all my other suggestions for it. For HDR movies you can keep using HDR Cinema.
P40L0
2023-10-30 10:24:02 +0000 UTCI want to clarify the FMM mode in HDR on my G3. When switching between modes, especially between Cinema, Cinema Theatre and Game optimizer, I noticed this thing. After the Game, Cinema mode looks good brightness level and does not drop for the next 10 seconds. But if immediately after I turn on FMM, the brightness at the beginning is flawless and the one I would like to see, but literally in the next 5-6 seconds I see a gradual dimming of the picture. What could this be related to? I did everything according to your settings and I like them, but I don't understand why there is a decrease in brightness, what else can I try to look at (Control panel on pc is installed).
Roman
2023-10-30 08:45:05 +0000 UTCFTDA is correct at -4 both for SDR and HDR when VRR is active, compared to VRR: Off. The game also has correct black levels so you don't need to further lower it. On G3 it's better to totally avoid Game mode and use ALLM + Filmmaker Mode with the new DTM + VRR, which will be very similar to calibrated HGIG with the additional benefits of preserving the new dynamic color boosting of 2023 series, having an higher average luminance and working good even when you have no Peak HDR Luminance control. For Alan Wake 2, the default Game Brightness slider at 50 is deliberately dimmed down as average as a "creative choice", but you can put it to 90 to make highlights as sun/sky/neon lamps as bright as possible while still not ruining black levels or the overall look of the game.
P40L0
2023-10-28 10:57:09 +0000 UTCthis channel said to use tune dark areas to -8 when using dtm on g3 what do you say to this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpkKiHgCArc or better to use hgig instead of dtm
SKE
2023-10-28 10:41:08 +0000 UTC