Symptoms
- Visible bands or stripes in smooth color gradients
- Most noticeable in sky photos, gradients, or video
- Banding is worse in dark scenes
- Colors look fine in solid blocks, just not gradients
Likely causes
- CommonDisplay set to 8-bit or lower color depth instead of 10-bitLower color depth has fewer available shades, making gradients step more visibly.
- CommonHDMI/DisplayPort color format set to a compressed or limited modeSome connections default to chroma-subsampled or limited-range color, worsening banding.
- PossibleVideo or image itself is already compressedHeavily compressed video or JPEG images can have banding baked in regardless of your display.
- PossiblePanel's native color depth is limited (6-bit + dithering)Some budget monitors use a lower native bit depth and simulate more colors with dithering, which can show banding.
What to do
- In the graphics driver's control panel, set output color depth to the highest supported option (10 bpc if available) and color format to RGB or 4:4:4 if using DisplayPort/HDMI.
- Check Windows or Mac display color settings to ensure the correct ICC profile is applied.
- Test with a known-good gradient test image or video to rule out the source content being compressed.
- If using an older or budget monitor, accept that some banding on gradients is a panel limitation rather than a fixable setting.
- Update your graphics driver to the latest version, since banding-related bugs are occasionally fixed in updates.
- Try a different cable if the current one may not support full-bandwidth, uncompressed color at your resolution and refresh rate.
Tools and parts
- None
When to call a pro
This is largely a settings and panel-quality issue; if banding is severe on a higher-end monitor after checking all settings, contact the manufacturer to rule out a defective unit.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.