PS CS6 10bit with Quadro K4000 and 30" Dell U3011. My experiences...

hello everyone.  had searched quite extensively when looking solution color banding on ancient apple 30" cinema display on it's last leg.  search led me 10bit , it's surprisingly obscure implementation in ps.  allow me share experiences others doing google searches can potentially helped, , pose few questions nvidia not answer me.

 

first, running windows 7 x64, latest drivers/patches on everything.  includes:

 

pny quadro k4000

dell u3011 via displayport

windows 7 x64

photoshop cs6 x64

2560 x 1600 desktop resolution

 

so long story here did not think combination working.  tried ramp.psd amds website, , saw absolutely no change.  frustrated, hit internet, , unfortunately, found plethora of amd/ati based help, very little nvidia quadro support, msot due "it works" mentality (http://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3049/~/how-to-enable-30-bit-color-on-wi ndows-platforms).  files quadro , ps detect ability use 10bit color depth , use it, there no way confirm that combination in fact compatible without seeing result.  no screen overlays, no checkboxes in driver (as far confirmation goes).  can force 10bit in quadro driver, doesn't tell it's working. 

 

so got on live support helpful tech nvidia , got bottom of it.  things learned:

 

- photoshop maximized @ 2560 x 1600, 10bit did not work of flyout panels open.  number 1 hair-puller, , why thought not working @ entire time.  had history panel out.  @ point while chatting nvidia rep decided take photoshop off of full screen see both ps , chat window @ same time. ps window occupied maybe 70% of screenspace , poof.. bands disappeared.  drag corner of screen out make larger , @ point bands pop in.  odd.  maximize close flyout history panel , poof, bands disappear.  if i'm fullscreen , hit tab hide shelves , panels, smooth butter well.  nvidia rep summized had opengl overlays interfering, had nothing offer in way of resolution/screen size issue.

 

so either have view 10bit toggle, or not use pallets flyouts in main ps window, or not maximize ps.

 

so, i'm sure there other people running combo, i'd love hear results.  ati/amd cards different driver set, , thus, totally different results.  nvidia claims there no resolution limit 10bit written driver, resolution being problem did not make sense them.  laid blame purely on photoshop.  i'd love hear adobe on matter. 

 

in case, helps struggling why see no difference on gradient image.  literally night , day, if aren't seeing "pop," it's not working.

 

i must that, i've read in countless other posts, in actual photos, 10bit can minimal improvement, noticeable in of shots have color grads on skintones.  red burn gone, , it's smoother transition.  insanely evident in purely cg created gradients or gausian blurred overlays, however.  have few cg-assisted background hotspots addition of gausian blurred screen of white, , has helped quite bit.

 

i, one, welcome out 10bit overlords.  hope helps someone.

 

cheers

 

- justin

great post, sharing experience.

 

i'm not nvidia user, looking @ getting dell u3013 when released, , have been interested in 10 bit saga, because hoping able use it.

 

have tried disabling desktop composition (aero glass)?  have heard there can conflicts there prevent drivers enabling full 30 bit color.

 

something i've been curious about, since have ability 10 bit color under conditions...  if create 16 bit dark gray gradient in prophoto rgb color space, see color inaccuracies (reddish , cyannish banding) in display?  24 bit color can noticeable.  here's test gradient file can check with...  click on make full-sized, save disk, , open in photoshop.

 

 

 

-noel

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