What is gamma?
Gamma refers to the adjustment of midtones within an image or video. Midtones refer to the regions that aren't overly bright or excessively dark, sitting between the highlights and shadows. Highlights indicate the brightest areas, shadows represent the darkest, and midtones capture the light levels in the middle.
By changing gamma settings, you can brighten or darken the mid-range tones without affecting the darkest shadows or brightest highlights as much.
Does gamma affect picture quality?
Adjusting the gamma settings helps make details more visible and improves the visual quality of the footage. Editors use this to fix footage that appears flat or washed out.
What should I set my gamma to?
For everyday use and most monitors, 2.2 is ideal. It provides a natural balance between shadows and highlights.
Is a higher gamma better?
Not necessarily. A higher gamma darkens midtones, suitable for dark rooms, but can lose detail in bright environments.
What should gamma be for HDR?
HDR typically uses a gamma of 2.2 to 2.4, enhancing dynamic range and color depth.
Which is better: 2.2 or 2.4 gamma?
2.2 is best for well-lit environments, delivering balanced brightness, while 2.4 works better in darker settings, offering deeper contrast and shadows.
Is a 1.2 gamma good?
No, a 1.2 gamma makes images overly bright and washed out, reducing contrast and detail.
