ATI Gamma Hotfix available for the 4.2, 4.3s and 4.4s

[OWA]

http://www.ati.com/support/infobase/4501.html

The information in this article applies to the following:
CATALYST 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4 Display Drivers

Upon making changes to certain monitor calibration software, the gamma settings will not be applied or loaded for the display. Color and gamma profiles for third party applications and games are also affected.

Users who are experiencing this issue are advised to download and install this driver hotfix.

A future CATALYST release is expected to address this issue. Further information will appear on this page as it becomes available.


INFO-BASE file # 4501

Keywords: ALL PRODUCTS for PC COLOR CALIBRATION DESKTOP GAME GAMMA

Edit: Anyone try this yet to see if it works?

[saturnotaku]

Edit: Anyone try this yet to see if it works?

That's exactly what I'd like to know. Someone fire up the original Unreal Tournament in OpenGL mode and see if you can adjust the gamma from within the game without having to switch from 32-bit to 16-bit then back.

[saturnotaku]

I'm surprised no one else has tried this. Well, I have and happily, Unreal Tournament (the original) is fixed. Oni is not. Actually, it was made worse with this. Not only do the gamma settings not stick when I launch the game, when I exit, the gamma settings I had in-game stick to my desktop! I have to go through the control panel/color tab to get my default desktop settings back. Other games seem to be fine so this isn't a big deal.

At least ATI recognized that there was a problem (finally).

[vampireuk]

So the gamma fix in fact fixes something and breaks something else? I suppose I should get this, but I just want a more reliable source than Ed :angel:

[ChrisRay]

This has nothing to do with OpenGL does it? it was an issue with Adobe IIRC...

Where ATI was controlling the master gamma settings.

[saturnotaku]

It doesn't say anything about OpenGL, which is true. But it just happens to fix that particular issue.

And vamp, it doesn't "break" Oni per se. It was already broken. ATI just broke it further.

[vampireuk]

It doesn't say anything about OpenGL, which is true. But it just happens to fix that particular issue.

And vamp, it doesn't "break" Oni per se. It was already broken. ATI just broke it further.

Now we are getting into semantics :eek:

[saturnotaku]

And the gamma settings don't stick in UT either. But it's easier to change them now. eesa, if you're watching this thread, you need to get your people to fix the gamma adjustments to the way they were in the 3.9 drivers. Everything worked great there.

[OWA]

it was an issue with Adobe IIRC...

Where ATI was controlling the master gamma settings.
From the blurb on their web page...

Color and gamma profiles for third party applications and games are also affected.

[eesa]

And the gamma settings don't stick in UT either. But it's easier to change them now. eesa, if you're watching this thread, you need to get your people to fix the gamma adjustments to the way they were in the 3.9 drivers. Everything worked great there.

lol, "my people" eh? You're going to get me into trouble and I haven't even started work yet. And even then I'm just some lowly coop, but sure :)

Depending how busy first few days are, I'll go ask terry about that "opengl/unreal gamma problem that everyones been complaining about" and take it from there.

Keep in mind starting monday I can't make a regular habit of posting here anymore... technicalities,...

[vampireuk]

Still no joy for SOF2 :(

[eesa]

hey, well I finally got around to talking with terry. From that all I can say is that they're definitely aware of the gamma issue and are working on it. I'll let you know if there are any significant developments. My 2 cents made it into one of the threads. We'll see what happens.

[vampireuk]

Cheers for the update :)

[eesa]

hey, well I finally got around to talking with terry. From that all I can say is that they're definitely aware of the gamma issue and are working on it. I'll let you know if there are any significant developments. My 2 cents made it into one of the threads. We'll see what happens.


oh yes, and uhh... I don't have time to go through all your threads, but a quick summary of what games you're having trouble with is appreciated and what you're seeing. For example, for myself I've witnessed it in unreal and UT2003. Can't change gamma in OGL... with hotfix desktop keeps old gamma... However, I don't have any problems with q3, so this doesn't apply to all OGL games...

This is not a bug reporting thread. Please keep it short and simple or else I'm going to have to kill you :)

[vampireuk]

In Soldier of Fortune 2 the gamma always drops. For example when you quit a game, press ctrl alt del in game, a contact signs in on msn. The gamma setting is still the same in the options but the screen is darker. To turn it back to normal you press the gamma bar and it goes back to its usual setting.

[eesa]

are you saying that when you switch to the desktop and switch back, the gamma settings from the game are dropped? (I want to confirm that this isn't MSN specific)

Also what drivers does does happen on (as many different ones as you observed) and if things ever worked corrected in a previous driver release.
And what was the effect of the hotfix? (if any)

I have SOF2 myself but have never tried switching desktop so never experienced any problems. I think I'll try it if I have some time tonight.

This doesn't seem like the same issue as the one saturn was complaining about though. More like that MSN popup turned flamefest issue. I mentioned that thing as well.

<looks like there's no way from keeping this from becoming a driver discussion, but oh well.>

[saturnotaku]

As I said before, the hotfix did seem to resolve the adjustment issue itself in UT and UT2003. However the settings you've chosen once you've exited out of the game do not stick - eg you have to reset the gamma to your preferred settings every time you launch the game. So they would need to take a look at that.

Now with regard to Oni. Prior to the hotfix, gamma adjustment from within the game did work, however the settings would not save (like in UT/2003 after the hotfix). After the hotfix, not only do the settings not stay fixed, when you exit out of the game, the gamma settings you chose from within the game carry over into your desktop. The only way to reset it back to pre-game-launch is to go into the advanced display properties through control panel and clock on the "color" tab. That will restore the gamma back to its prior desktop setting.

[eesa]

As I said before, the hotfix did seem to resolve the adjustment issue itself in UT and UT2003. However the settings you've chosen once you've exited out of the game do not stick - eg you have to reset the gamma to your preferred settings every time you launch the game. So they would need to take a look at that.

They're aware of that. I'm just wondering if there's any other games you know (other than unreal based) that are affected.

Now with regard to Oni. Prior to the hotfix, gamma adjustment from within the game did work, however the settings would not save (like in UT/2003 after the hotfix). After the hotfix, not only do the settings not stay fixed, when you exit out of the game, the gamma settings you chose from within the game carry over into your desktop. The only way to reset it back to pre-game-launch is to go into the advanced display properties through control panel and clock on the "color" tab. That will restore the gamma back to its prior desktop setting.

I understand. This behaviour does make sense considering what I've been told. Just want to confirm that you did not have any of these issues with 3.9? What about 3.10? AFAIK, there should not have been any major changes between those releases... but then what do I know.

[saturnotaku]

3.9 drivers do not have this problem. In 3.10, Oni crashes (due to a problem with OpenGL extension limits within the game, this is not a Catalyst issue).

[vampireuk]

are you saying that when you switch to the desktop and switch back, the gamma settings from the game are dropped? (I want to confirm that this isn't MSN specific)


You are correct, it happens when certain things occur. Also when I set a contact alert to tell me when a certain person has come on, it happens then. When I quit the game and go back into it later somtimes it is darker than it should be. It was fine until I switched to the 3.10 drivers. With the 3.9 cats this doesn't happen at all. A sure fire way though is to hit ctrl alt del while playing and then switch back to the game, this is happening with the 4.4s under windows 2000.

[eesa]

3.9 drivers do not have this problem. In 3.10, Oni crashes (due to a problem with OpenGL extension limits within the game, this is not a Catalyst issue).

but concerning this gamma issue, and specifically the unable to adjust in game, at what driver release did this break for you? It makes no sense for this to happen between 3.9 -> 3.10, as I'm aware of when notable changes were made and I don't believe that transition was one of the places. I'm just looking for some sort of confirmation. Only games which exhibit the unreal engine like behaviour - you can't adjust gamma at all. Which games are they and between which driver releases did this stop working for you?

If the game previously worked correctly (with the new drivers) and only now with the hotfix it does not restore the desktop gamma settings once you quit the game (such as oni), that is not of concern as it will be addressed.

[saturnotaku]

It started in the 4.1 drivers.

[eesa]

It started in the 4.1 drivers.

hmm... are you absolutely certain it wasn't going from 4.1 to 4.2?

also, I just want to make sure what you are saying is that once you made the switch to 4.1 from 3.12 (there was a 3.12 right? Or was that 3.11?), the gamma was not adjustable inside unreal games using OGL though it was working fine with the release just before 4.1? I'm relying on you here, since I don't have any time to do any testing myself (it's 3am and I have work tomorrow!) so I need to be absolutely clear about the facts. Thanks.

[saturnotaku]

I messed up on that one. The broken gamma for Unreal did start with the 4.2 drivers. :spank: However I'm almost positive vamp and others have had trouble with the MSN thing since 4.1. He would have to respond here, or you can look through this thread (http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=23762&highlight=Catalyst+4.1) for info on those particular drivers.

Also, according to this (http://www.ati.com/support/products/radeonwinxppreviousdrivers.html) page there never was a 3.11 or 3.12 release.

Thanks again for all your help on this. I was seriously thinking of selling off my card, but now that you're involved here I'm gonna hold onto it. :)

[vampireuk]

Oh I just found out the graphics corruption is not just caused by msn either, I was downloading a map pack while playing sof2. The file finished and the all files have been completed notice came up in firebird and voilla! Graphic corruption again :(

It also caused the gamma change too.