How to Diagnose and Fix Color Banding > 자유게시판

Color banding is a visual artifact that appears as distinct bands or stripes of color instead of a smooth gradient.

It commonly occurs in digital images, ریسو videos, and on displays when there isn't enough color depth to render subtle transitions.

You’ll most often spot it in expansive gradients like clouds, ocean horizons, or twilight skies.

Tackling banding successfully involves evaluating source data, display settings, and post-processing workflows.

First, determine if the banding is coming from the source file or the display.

Try viewing the file in alternative software like DaVinci Resolve, GIMP, or VLC.

If the banding disappears on another screen, the issue is likely with your monitor’s color settings or capabilities.

Low-cost screens frequently employ temporal dithering to stretch limited color gamuts, causing noticeable banding.

Professional-grade displays with true 10-bit color render subtle transitions with far greater accuracy.

Verify that your display is not being artificially limited to 8-bit output.

On Windows, go to Display Settings, then Advanced Display Settings, and ensure the color depth is set to 10 bit if your monitor supports it.

On macOS, check the display settings under System Preferences and make sure you’re not limiting color output.

Outdated NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel drivers can suppress 10-bit output.

Always preserve high bit depth throughout your editing pipeline.

Images saved as JPEGs with heavy compression often suffer from banding because JPEG uses 8 bit color and loses subtle gradients.

Avoid JPEG until the final export stage.

Enable 16-bit depth in Preferences or Project Settings for precision editing.

Use the highest quality setting available—never push compression beyond 80%.

Even at high quality, JPEG still has limitations—use only for web delivery.

Always grade with banding in mind and use tools to mitigate it.

Use curves and levels cautiously on gradient-heavy areas.

Use tools like noise or grain overlays to mask the effect.

Enable "Dither" or "Noise Shaping" in export settings for H.264, HEVC, or ProRes.

Even a small amount of noise can make gradients appear much smoother to the human eye.

It’s essential for accurate color decisions in editing and grading.

Use a hardware colorimeter to profile your display accurately.

Even if your monitor doesn’t show banding during calibration, proper calibration ensures you’re seeing colors as they truly are, which helps you make better editing decisions.

Finally, consider your viewing environment.

Use blackout curtains or turn off competing light sources.

A monitor shade blocks stray light and enhances contrast perception.

For color-critical work, always use IPS or OLED displays.

IPS panels offer consistent color reproduction from any angle.

Color banding is often a combination of hardware limitations and software settings.

When all variables are optimized, gradients become seamless and lifelike