Understanding Dark Scene Issues in Streaming: Why Dark Areas Appear Pixelated

Have you ever watched a movie or TV show on a streaming service and noticed that dark scenes or black screens appear pixelated or lack the detail you expect? This can be frustrating, but fear not! There are several technical and environmental factors at play. Let's delve into why this happens and how you can improve your viewing experience.

Compression Artifacts

Streaming services often have to compress video files to reduce bandwidth usage. This compression is essential for efficient transmission and storage, but it can lead to visible artifacts, especially in dark areas. Compression algorithms struggle to accurately encode the fine details in these scenes, resulting in blockiness, pixelation, or a lack of subtlety.

Color Depth

Most consumer displays use an 8-bit color depth per channel, meaning they can represent 256 shades of each color: red, green, and blue. In dark scenes, this limited color depth can cause banding, where smooth gradients appear as distinct bands of color instead of a gradual transition. This effect is more noticeable in darker images, making them look less realistic.

Display Technology

Different display technologies, such as LCDs and OLEDs, handle black levels differently:

LCDs

Typically, LCDs use a backlight, which can lead to light bleed in dark scenes. As a result, blacks may appear grayish rather than true black, detracting from the overall quality.

OLEDs

OLED displays can achieve true blacks because individual pixels can turn off completely, but if not calibrated properly, they can still exhibit issues with black levels. Calibration ensures that each pixel functions optimally to produce the darkest blacks possible.

Bitrate Limitations

The bitrate of the stream significantly affects video quality. Lower bitrates can lead to more noticeable pixelation in dark areas due to insufficient data to represent the image accurately. Higher bitrates generally maintain better quality, especially in challenging scenes with low light. Always opt for higher bitrate streams when possible.

Environmental Factors

The viewing environment can also impact the perceived quality of dark scenes:

Ambient Light：A well-lit room can make dark scenes look less impressive. Conversely, a darker room can enhance the perception of black levels. Room Setup： Position the display correctly to avoid backlight bleed and ensure an optimal viewing angle.

Encoding Techniques

The way video is encoded influences how well dark scenes are rendered. Different codecs handle low-light scenes differently. For example, HEVC (H.265) is more efficient than older codecs like H.264, but the implementation of encoding settings can vary between streaming services.

Conclusion

To improve the appearance of dark scenes in streaming, consider adjusting the settings on your display, such as brightness and contrast. Using a higher-quality streaming plan with a higher bitrate, and watching in a darker environment can also significantly enhance your viewing experience. Additionally, opt for content that uses higher bitrates and newer compression standards for the best overall quality.

What's Next?

Are you still facing issues with dark scenes? Experiment with the settings on your display and streaming service. If you require further support, reach out to customer service or consult professional reviews for additional insights.