Database Users

[Q] Wallpaper - ugly banding in gradients

I've been searching, and have seen lots of threads about similar problems with the Evo and it's fairly low-color screen, but I was under the impression that the Droid X has a 24bit color screen so this shouldn't be an issue.
Anyway, I've got some wallpapers (cropped and resized for the Droix X from the originals at Ultralinx)
They look fantastic on the computer. They're the right dimensions. Tried saving as JPG and 24 bit PNG, but the outcome is the same. When I copy them to the phone and set them as wallpaper, the gradients don't look smooth; there is color banding all over the place.
I've got screenshots and originals up on the web, but can't link to them until my account is approved by a mod.
EDIT: Added attachments instead, but the forum super-compressing the images doesn't help their clarity at all.

Hey,
i've got the same problem.
That's not funny at all, I really don't know how to save it, that it looks like on my desktop pc!

4tticuz said:
Hey,
i've got the same problem.
That's not funny at all, I really don't know how to save it, that it looks like on my desktop pc!
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Sorry to be off topic but I cant help but stare at your notification bar. What theme is it?

It's my own notificationbar.
Have to search the files first

It doesn't seem to be the screen. I dropped those images into my dropbox, and opened them in whatever viewer dropbox opened by default. The image was smooth as I zoomed in, until I zoomed in far enough to see a moire pattern. I also opened it in Astra's built in viewer; again there was no banding. However, when I set the image to be my wallpaper, I see the same banding you are seeing.
Bad news is, I don't know what the problem is; good news is it doesn't seem to be a screen limitation.

Thanks so far!
But what's the problem than?
I really have no idea :/

Ah ha! Google turned up this app: "Wallpaper Set and Save" (Sorry, can't post a link because I'm new, apparently. I attached an image of the QR code instead.)
It says it hasn't been updated for 2.x, but it worked fine on my droid x (running the stock rom with launcher pro.) Using it to set the exact same wallpaper, I now see no banding (although I did in the preview screen.) It's worth a try, although I'd still like to know what is causing this issue (since it obviously isn't a hardware issue.)
I attached a screen capture so you can see for yourself.
Edit: The forum's image compression adds some artifacts; it looks even smoother on my screen capture. Even here it's a big improvement over the others though!

Its probably the gallery app that is re-compressing the wallpaper and creating the bands

[Tip] How to change DPI settings on NST

Protip :
tutorial on howto increase Nook's "resolution" by changing /system/build.prop
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=823522

Can someone do a compare?
I scanned the thread and performed the following actions:
First I used the "test" commands to experiment with settings. I discovered that I liked a density setting of 133 best.
# setprop qemu.sf.lcd_density 133
# busybox killall system_server
So I modified my /system/build.prop by changing the line
#ro.sf.lcd_density=240
to
ro.sf.lcd_density=133
and rebooted.
So, everything is certainly smaller, but as I have only one NST, I cannot determine if I think the text is sharper because I can't do a side-by-side comparison. So, is there somebody out there with two NSTs who is willing to make this change to one of them and then do a side-by-side comparison and report back?

David0226 said:
So, everything is certainly smaller, but as I have only one NST, I cannot determine if I think the text is sharper because I can't do a side-by-side comparison. So, is there somebody out there with two NSTs who is willing to make this change to one of them and then do a side-by-side comparison and report back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can do few screenshots and compare them side-by-side.

screenshots?
how do you do a screnshot on nook? , ( for those of us that don't know) , thanks

steelworker said:
how do you do a screnshot on nook? , ( for those of us that don't know) , thanks
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dude...wtf?
Just type "screenshot android" into your search engine.
I use 'ddms' via adb.
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-capture-screenshots-with-your-android-mobile-phone/

No real difference
Here are two screen shots I took. (Thanks for the link osowiecki). The first was taken with the density set to 160 (standard) and the second with it set to 120. There is some difference in the size of the header and footer lines, but I see no real difference in the size of the book text. Setting the density to 120 does allow the standard B&N library app to display nine titles on one screen instead of six. Otherwise I see no difference when using the standard B&N reader.
I did these tests using the LCDDensity app.

Here are screenshots of the library app in each density ...

I can't confirm any changes for text based books, but it definitely helps with converted comics. No idea why the screenshots are green, used "screenshot" tool from within adb shell. Tried with default DPI, 133, 120, and also pulled the image from the unconverted CBR for comparison.

neoman4426 said:
No idea why the screenshots are green ...
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My screenshots taken with the screenshot tool in ADB shell were green also. You will get better results by following the procedure outlined in the link in osowiecki's post.

Was the first thing I tried, couldn't get it to recognize my device. I'm not sure if it's a wired ADB only thing, or a "doesn't work on Linux for some reason" thing or what. ah well, I kind of like the green look

Remove Black Bars on HDMI Output

So I've discovered that a simple terminal command fixes the black bars on the left and right when outputting through HDMI. It's caused by the tablet outputting a 1280x800 display to a 1280x720 signal. This is easily fixed by changing the device's resolution with the following command:
wm size 720x1280
To revert to the tablet's original resolution, use:
wm size reset
You may need to run the "su" command first for these commands to work, and you do need to be rooted in order for it to work. This will cause some things to get wonky, like the nav buttons disappearing in landscape orientation or the status bar being hard to pull down (perhaps solvable with a change to the DPI), but if you're planning to use this trick for gaming (which was my reason), using something like Smart Launcher 2 with a controller makes this a non-issue. If you want a quick and easy way to switch back and forth, try QuickTerminal on the Play Store and set up both terminal commands as "Quick Commands", or at least that's how I've done it. Now, the picture on your TV will fill the screen. This is as close to Console Mode as we'll probably ever see on this device, so I thought this might help a few people out!

rchrdcrg said:
So I've discovered that a simple terminal command fixes the black bars on the left and right when outputting through HDMI. It's caused by the tablet outputting a 1280x800 display to a 1280x720 signal. This is easily fixed by changing the device's resolution with the following command:
wm size 720x1280
To revert to the tablet's original resolution, use:
wm size reset
You may need to run the "su" command first for these commands to work, and you do need to be rooted in order for it to work. This will cause some things to get wonky, like the nav buttons disappearing in landscape orientation or the status bar being hard to pull down (perhaps solvable with a change to the DPI), but if you're planning to use this trick for gaming (which was my reason), using something like Smart Launcher 2 with a controller makes this a non-issue. If you want a quick and easy way to switch back and forth, try QuickTerminal on the Play Store and set up both terminal commands as "Quick Commands", or at least that's how I've done it. Now, the picture on your TV will fill the screen. This is as close to Console Mode as we'll probably ever see on this device, so I thought this might help a few people out!
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I've been doing something similar with the NOM Resolution Changer app but I can't get the DPI settings right to match the 720x1280 res. It gets a bit tricky getting back into settings etc after changing the res as my app drawer is inaccessible after doing so. I always just resort back to default with the fail safe timer, I really don't want to get stuck in a resolution which i can't get back out of.

Andy4Shurr said:
I've been doing something similar with the NOM Resolution Changer app but I can't get the DPI settings right to match the 720x1280 res. It gets a bit tricky getting back into settings etc after changing the res as my app drawer is inaccessible after doing so. I always just resort back to default with the fail safe timer, I really don't want to get stuck in a resolution which i can't get back out of.
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I haven't had that probably making the change manually, and I do believe I tried the app you mention and had the same issue, so you might wanna try testing the terminal command out; if it messes up, you can always reboot the tablet and everything will properly reformat for the lower resolution and then you should be able to change it back with "wm size reset".

rchrdcrg said:
I haven't had that probably making the change manually, and I do believe I tried the app you mention and had the same issue, so you might wanna try testing the terminal command out; if it messes up, you can always reboot the tablet and everything will properly reformat for the lower resolution and then you should be able to change it back with "wm size reset".
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Click to collapse
Thanks rchrdcrg, yeah I'll give it a whirl that way. It is really annoying having those black end sections on the output!!
I've got a chromecast and been trying to get the 'cast screen' option to work using r3pwn's method here http://forum.xda-developers.com/hardware-hacking/chromecast/experimental-enable-mirroring-device-t2812193/page167#post55119152
I thought that might be worth a shot to see if the output res remains at 1200 x 800 for the mirror but I can't get a picture to display, only sound, when it connects and tries to cast screen. I'm thinking it probably won't make a difference though as I have just bought a miracast ezcast m2 dongle too and that still displays at the 1200 x 800 resolution when miracast is used. It probably is just a rom limitation at the moment.

Andy4Shurr said:
Thanks rchrdcrg, yeah I'll give it a whirl that way. It is really annoying having those black end sections on the output!!
I've got a chromecast and been trying to get the 'cast screen' option to work using r3pwn's method here http://forum.xda-developers.com/hardware-hacking/chromecast/experimental-enable-mirroring-device-t2812193/page167#post55119152
I thought that might be worth a shot to see if the output res remains at 1200 x 800 for the mirror but I can't get a picture to display, only sound, when it connects and tries to cast screen. I'm thinking it probably won't make a difference though as I have just bought a miracast ezcast m2 dongle too and that still displays at the 1200 x 800 resolution when miracast is used. It probably is just a rom limitation at the moment.
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Click to collapse
Yeah, I "borrowed" a Chromecast from Best Buy and could never get screen casting to work. You might want to see if changing the resolution fixes this issue with Miracast as well... I have a suspicion it will, and that might be useful to some folks. I sure wish I knew how to force the HDMI output to 1080p; it switches over when playing a 1080p video, so I know it's possible, but I don't know enough about development stuff to know how it's doing that, and forcing the resolution to 1080x1920 with the "wm size" command just displays a 1080p picture downscaled to 720p.

try vlc beta off the play store
here's a sort of rant and with a video playback only solution. Not sure how to hide the rant part. I don't forum anything much.
I bought a Belkin miracast adapter off amazon, and have had trouble getting videos playing properly in full screen. It would mirror the 1280x800 with videos played with regular video apps ( MX player, Archos player, stock) which would be 16:10, and would have those bars on either side on both my 1080p insignia tv and our pseudo 720p panasonic (actual res was 1024x768, but at 16:9, which should be illegal to market as a hdtv). I know from previous experience with my galaxy s4, which the samsung video app would mirror only the video at the correct tv resolution, leaving the phone as the remote. You could also use other apps while any video was playing through the samsung watchon (video) app. So randomly downloaded the vlc beta off the play store. It works for the tegra note 7 the same way samsung set up theirs, minus the multitasking(so far). It took me weeks on and off being frustrated with apps that wouldn't recognise that mirroring was enabled to take advantage of the external display. It's kinda whatever now seeing how much time I spent trying to get the video to play properly by itself, for my s4 I tried mhl cables, chromecast, dlna. this works a lot better
So if you just want videos to play, use the vlc player beta. you can use miracast or hdmi. works the same with both. Only if I could miracast surround sound. that would be nice.

I've just started using my tablet and a HDMI cable to run XBMC. This tip has saved me much frustration.
I already use Tasker which can send terminal commands as an action to make it easier. Tasker does have a HDMI plugged state which should allow this to be automated but for some reason tasker doesn't seem to detect it, not sure why yet.

So I've been fiddling a bit more to optimiser the HDMI experience. I've discovered an app called second screen that let's you sert display profiles and launch then the HDMI is plugged in. Thee app sets the size, resolution, dims the screen and force closes the UI to make sure the new settings actually come into effect. It will also revert the changes when the cable is removed. Does need to run on a rooted device but mine is already.

(Root) Always 4K Screen Resolution

When it comes to screen Sony definitely tops the list above other manufacturers but our Xperia Z5 Premium doesn't always use 4K HD Resolution Screen, only when watching 4k video or things right? so why not to make it work in always 4K mode? more pixels- more fun
Warning: Note that on high brightness battery usage will be much more than 1080p screen mode
it requires Rooted device also
1.Download Terminal Emulator from play store
2. open app and write "su" without quotes
3. give it root access and write " wm size 2160×3840 " also without quotes
Screen will became "ugly", to fix it now type "wm density 820" also without quotes. after that all should work fine, play any video and you'll notice color changes and much More improvements, however there's always a way back to 1080p
to do it
wm size 1080×1920
wm density 420
Don't forget to click Thanks Button

感谢楼主的分享，支持楼主！

Just thank you! It gave it a different and nice appearance but I noted two things. First the phone works a little slower and the other thing is when I tried to make a call the caller interface didn’t open so I was not able to make the normal functions like turning off the microphone, hanging up the call, etc. Unfortunately I had to put it back to 1080p.

you don't need root for this, you can do it with adb command though a pc without root
"adb shell wm size 2160×3840"
"adb shell wm density 820"
cheers

Elfmirth said:
you don't need root for this, you can do it with adb command though a pc without root
"adb shell wm size 2160×3840"
"adb shell wm density 820"
cheers
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Click to collapse
its really good

Zur75 said:
Just thank you! It gave it a different and nice appearance but I noted two things. First the phone works a little slower and the other thing is when I tried to make a call the caller interface didn’t open so I was not able to make the normal functions like turning off the microphone, hanging up the call, etc. Unfortunately I had to put it back to 1080p.
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Is there any way to solve the problem for now?

HD2killers said:
Is there any way to solve the problem for now?
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Click to collapse
Hi Guys! I know you have lurking about that unutilized 4k screen of our phone, Why not enjoy "1440x2560" density of 534 works perfectly fine the only down side are glitchy looking start-up since it was designed to in 1080p and multi tasking has no thumbnails on it about it looks and feels good!
Just do
adb shell wm size 1440x2560
adb shell wm density 534 <-----------IMO this is the density, fonts looks smaller but legible.
ENJOY!

"You can do the same also on your Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4 Tablet, Z5, Z5 Compact ..... and on your crapold device, because this is not changing the display resolution
Seriously guys..... this is changing the resolution of the VIRTUAL display (not the physical one), so like this you are getting 4k emulation on 1080p physical resolution.
To change the physical display resolution you need to do "quite a few more steps", which cannot be done in a simple way like this (and surely not without root).
Moreover, even if -- yes, there is a way -- it's not doable on stock ROMs, as it misses the required implementation.
I am almost done here so, on Open Devices, you will be able to get real [email protected] whenever you want."
Copied from this discussion...

I wana buy Xperia Z5 Premium only for VR to watch 4K videos. Is still good? Can I play UHD 180° videos smooth, without any reboot with this mod?

hi does anyone have issues taking screenshots with these settings enabled? every screen shot says error app does not allow?

crusader0071 said:
hi does anyone have issues taking screenshots with these settings enabled? every screen shot says error app does not allow?
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I try resurrection os but disabled

4K option or forced 1080p?

Was wondering if this display shows native 4K all the time or has user selectable option for it?
Was super pissed with my XZ Premium being forced to render at 1080p in all but a few apps.
4K is only useful on this size screen for VR, so won't make the same mistake again.

gaijin1% said:
Was wondering if this display shows native 4K all the time or has user selectable option for it?
Was super pissed with my XZ Premium being forced to render at 1080p in all but a few apps.
4K is only useful on this size screen for VR, so won't make the same mistake again.
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Forced 1080p but you could make the xz 4k all the time through adb look it up

ariy11 said:
Forced 1080p but you could make the xz 4k all the time through adb look it up
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Thanks for the reply. You answered my question.
Actually, the adb method was only emulated 4K, not native. Still selected the resources from xxhdpi folders and blew them up. Doesn't even select the xxxhdpi higher resolution images for 2K. For the best I guess. then it would scale it down to 1080p before enlarging to 4K adding extra blur.

ariy11 said:
Forced 1080p but you could make the xz 4k all the time through adb look it up
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What command in adb can force this screen resolution?

For the XZ Premium apparently the following would have worked:
In an ADB shell:
wm size 2160×3840
wm density 820
In my case the wb size command gives me:
Error: bad size 2160×3840
Probably we need another resolution

After change it to 4K, the screenshot have an issue ( not capturing the whole screen as 4k but the screen at a corner with other space in black. How do you guys solve this issue?

wm size 2160×3840
wm density 820
In my case the wb size command gives me:
Error: bad size 2160×3840
Try....2160x3840
Not ....2160*3840

I just placed my xz2p into native 4k mode with the dpi set at 640/xxxhdpi. I really like the increase in real estate and the integer scaling makes everything look crisp.
That said, I've currently got two hiccups (not already mentioned, I also have the screenshoting issue hereto described) related to dpi change:
(1) The monochrome viewfinder is behaving strangely, but still serviceable (wrong aspect ratio & tap to focus doesn't move the focus indicator)
(2) The rotation animation is really broken and is either firing twice or has some other timing related issue.
#1 I can live with, but #2 is a real drag. I've turned the transition animations off in the dev setting, but it still looks really weird when i rotate.
Any ideas? It seems like sony has made some additional changes to deal with the 4k/1080p pop in and out. Simply setting the WM mode doesn't appear to manipulate those hidden settings. Perhaps one of the on phone apps needs to be disabled?
Edit: https://forum.xda-developers.com/xz...20hz-quest-t3852052/post78603665#post78603665
...according to the xzp forums, its not actually 4k? how can one verify this?
Edit2: Saying things that will have me eating crow in no time!
I'm at least somewhat convinced the xzp peps are wrong. I have been swapping the phone from [email protected] dpi to [email protected] dpi. If they are correct either both would look exactly the same or the 4k version would look worse (because of the double scaling). It clearly looks better. A good test to try; make the icons and text as large as you can in nova launcher and switch between the two. If you look at the top and bottom of the dark ring inside the camera icon you'll see clear aliasing at 1080p and smooth curves at 4k. Just a reminder anything that is not a perfect multiple of 160 will always cause scaling on android. same with dpi values over 640.
I've got a pretty decent canon camera(xc10) with 10x optical zoom, once I find the charger for it I'm going to try to get some clean photos of the screen in the two mode and post 100% crops here.

blinksilver said:
I've got a pretty decent canon camera(xc10) with 10x optical zoom, once I find the charger for it I'm going to try to get some clean photos of the screen in the two mode and post 100% crops here.
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Can you do that? Also a comparison of Instagram, or VSCO high quality photos?