What is the IPS Glow and how to fix it? 6 Possible Ways to Reduce the Perception of the IPS Glow

by Lim, March 12, 2018 9:00 pm

 

But, How does it look like and how can I reduce the amount of it? Simple, easy, and fast tips & tricks to reduce the amount of perception of the IPS Glow on your gaming monitor. It is indeed not a real "IPS Glow fix" (since such a fix also does not really exist) but these tips will improve the image quality and combined with it the perception of the black level and contrast drastically. So, how to remove the IPS Glow? Everything clarified in this article.

IPS Glow vs Backlight Bleed and how does it look like?

          IPS Glow vs Backlight Bleeding - The same thing?

What causes the IPS Glow and Backlight Bleeding?

How can I test my monitor in terms of the IPS Glow?

How much IPS Glow is normal or acceptable?

          Do other monitors have less IPS Glow than gaming monitors?

          30 Minutes full black screen video

Lim's Cave 6 tips & tricks to reduce the perceptive amount of the IPS Glow

          #1: Increase your ambient lights

          #2: The right monitor adjustments

          #3: Lower the monitor brightness

          #4: Massage the panel with a microfiber cloth

          #5: Increase the distance to the monitor panel

          #6: Try to lose the panel frame construction

Conclusion

 

Did you already have tried out some fixes? What is your opinion and which one offers the best result in your case? Do you have any other ideas, tips, and tricks? Let us know in the comments section here or in the YouTube video.

 

 

 

The IPS Glow and Backlight Bleeding can really be exhausting when buying a new monitor. It is most visible on the edges of an IPS monitor in a darker environment (and especially when combined with it higher monitor OSD brightness settings). It can appear with a brownish, light bluish, yellowish, or greyish tint and the amount and color can differ in each individual unit. Backlight bleeding refers to areas of bright light on the monitor that are primarily visible when viewing dark or black screens in the darker environment. These light areas usually appear along the edges or corners of the monitor.

 

The difference between the amount of the IPS Glow in a room with ambient lights vs a pitch black room.

 

Short answer: No.

Long answer: The IPS Glow is strongly depending on the viewing angle, on the distance, on the panel frame construction as well as on the ambient light. The brighter your environment, the less visible the IPS glow. The IPS Glow also can differ in terms of the IPS Glow color tint. Current WQHD high refresh rate gaming monitors have a brownish or bluish IPS Glow (depending on your individual unit) whereas 100Hz ultrawide gaming monitors have a more yellowish IPS Glow (LG Panel built in the Asus PG348Q, Acer X34A, Alienware AW3418DW, Acer X34P). Some other IPS panels with 60 Hz have a more white/grey tint in the IPS Glow. The IPS Glow is visible only in the corners/edged of a screen. However, the IPS Glow also is visible in bright image content or rather on a fully white screen when looking from an angle. At a harsher angle, it looks like the panel is coated with an oil filter.

 

The amount of backlight bleeding increases the more the panel frame pressures against the panel/display. It also can increase the amount of the IPS Glow when it pressures against the panel/display near the edged.

 

Backlight Bleeding otherwise occurs when the led backlit behind the panel or borders is placed faulty or when the panel frame construction causes too much pressure on the display. Unlike the IPS Glow, it does not depend on the distance to the monitor or the angle at which you look at the display. Sometimes, it is possible to lose the panel frame also a bit. In this case, you can observe that the amount of Backlight Bleed will decrease. However, Backlight Bleed often is visible also near the edged, because the panel frame at this part is mostly tighter and stiffer compared to the bottom center for example.

 

 

What causes the IPS Glow and Backlight Bleed

Already during the production, it is decided if a panel has bad, acceptable or very good IPS Glow and Backlight Bleed conditions. A panel has different layers included the anti-glare coating surface and the inner panel housing which is made out of metal. In the end, it depends on how well a panel is manufactured and how much pressure and tension the individual panel has. Incidentally, it is currently technically not possible to build an IPS panel without IPS Glow.

 

 

To test your individual unit for IPS Glow you simply just have to open a full black screen on your monitor and dim your ambient lights in your room (Lamps, lights from outside, windows etc.). The darker the room the more IPS Glow and Backlight Bleed you will be able to observe. You can follow this link where I have created a full black screen video on YouTube with a length of 30 minutes.

 

Of course, you also can test your unit in terms of the IPS Glow in normal conditions, since some units also can have such a bad IPS Glow, that this is even visible in a fully lit room.

 

 

 

How much IPS Glow is normal or acceptable?

• A camera usually picks up the glow better than the naked eye
• Depending on with which panel type or rather how strong the contrast is with which you are looking for test images and videos the IPS Glow and black level can differentiate. The less contrast the panel with which you are watching the test screens, better the blacks, and the Glow will appear.

Do other monitors have less IPS Glow than gaming monitors?

 

 

 

This will already drastically improve the amount you perceive in terms of the IPS Glow. In addition, you will get a better perception of the black level of your gaming monitor and a better overall perceived contrast ratio. 

 

#3 and #1 probably will reduce the IPS Glow probably most. Many people are using their gaming monitor at extreme brightness settings (above 80 in the OSD). In a direct 1:1 comparison a lower brightness monitor always will look worse with a less vibrant picture and clarity but I strongly recommend to get used to a lower brightness around 120 cd/m. Already after some days you will get used to the lower brightness and when switching back to your old brightness settings you will ask yourself how you just could stand such a high brightness. Btw, your eyes also will be thankful (: and in addition, you will get a much better black level.

 

This one is probably a myth but I simply want to mention this since several people on different forums swearing that this one can help. Simply take a microfiber cloth and massage your panel (edges) for around 20-30 Minutes. In my case, it did not help on around 10 monitors - So I gave it up.

 

Yes, you actually will get a smaller panel size when increasing the distance to the panel but if the IPS Glow bothers you a lot, you should simply try it out. If you cannot increase the distance further, you can try to wall-mount the monitor or simply lean back in your chair. I do recommend a distance around 80-120 cm. The farther the less visible the Glow of course.

 

This part is a bit tricky and you should be very carefully, especially with credit cards. DO NOT use credit cards to lose the panel frame simply because of two reasons:

Different units from different manufacturers will have different constructions and closing mechanisms so that you have to figure out how to open your monitor model. In my case, with the Viewsonic XG2703-GS, removing the panel frame only helped a tiny bit in terms of Backlight Bleeding. Losing the inner panel frame is not really possible and even when I was able to increase the gap between the inner panel frame and the display it also sometimes has increased the Backlight Bleed, probably because the backside of the inner panel frame became more tension.

 

 

If you cant stand the IPS Glow in any case OR if you just cannot get used to a lower brightness and you simply want to play in a pitch black room, an IPS panel is not suited for your needs. If you already got an IPS Panel then let us know if you have some other tips & tricks or if some of these tricks did help you. However, with some tricks we can already drastically reduce the perception of the amount of the IPS Glow and improve the overall image quality and dive into some awesome games (:

 

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