Dolby Vision Issues (Look Green, Purple, Yellow, Grainy)


Anyone who values quality entertainment will tell you how important it is to have the perfect TV colors. Dolby Vision improves how the pictures look, but in an unfortunate twist, sometimes the system makes the scenes look grainy and dull or gives them a purple, green or yellow tinge.

So, why is Dolby Vision green? The main reason for the screen turning green when using Dolby Vision is due to incompatibility issues with the TV or other connected devices. If your TV model lacks support due to its brand, design, or year of manufacture, it is expected to run into such complications since it will keep struggling to achieve Dolby’s high standards. Running outdated firmware can also contribute to the problem; only updating the system can help.

You may have color issues on your TV, which may ruin the entire movie experience. Sometimes everyone’s face randomly takes a green or purple tinge, and you cannot concentrate on the show unless you know why that is happening and what you can do about it.

Incompatibility is the primary reason for color issues on the Dolby Vision. If your devices and accessories do not support it, you can expect the system to struggle to transmit the right colors. Your TV model, cables, and other connected aspects must be compatible first.

It may also be a problem with your TV’s firmware if it is outdated, for which you need to update the system. You can make a few tweaks on Dolby and the TV to restore the display’s standard color.

You invest heavily to buy a high-quality TV and expect that using Dolby Vision will maintain and improve the viewing experience. The display’s color is a huge deal; you cannot ignore it because it will ruin your shows.

Some users complain that they see a green or purple tinge or a combination of both instead of the natural colors when they use Dolby Vision. This inconvenience is not usual for the system, which is supposed to make the images brighter and better.

One aspect worth addressing is compatibility. Such hitches like abnormal color occur when there is no smooth transmission between the devices and the software. The type of TV and its capabilities play a significant role in determining Dolby’s performance. If you use an old model or one that doesn’t fully support Dolby, the system will strain, showing through such hiccups.

Secondly, even when your TV is compatible, you should check that all other connected devices can accommodate the setting, including every aspect in the chain, from the receiver to the server and cables.

The green-purple tinge may also occur due to the system wrongly interpreting the BT.2020 as BT.709, and you may have to adjust some aspects to alter this. It may also help to download dual-layer DV files instead of single-layer that may fail on many setups.

Some users also opt to buy Dolby Vision and HDR Blu-Rays and then connect them to their screens to access downloaded content. The entire system performance increases, and you can discover the incredible capabilities of your TV.

The color changes may also result from the TV system running on outdated software. You can check whether there are newly released systems and download them, and you may be lucky to restore the colors if it was a bug error.

Besides making updates, you can also try a few rebooting remedies. You can power off the TV, detach the connectors and any other linked accessory, and long-press the power button for about 20 seconds, then release it.

Afterward, reattach the power and turn on the setup to check for color changes. If you have a 4K Fire Stick, you can also make a quick fix through the settings where you go to the display, then Dynamic Range Settings, and finally, click “Adaptive.”

Why Is Dolby Vision Yellow?

Dolby Vision is among the significant HDR formats working impeccably to ensure that your shows and movies look fantastic for a better cinematic experience. On the downside, some users complain about the screen looking yellow, and you want to know why if you are also affected. 

The yellow color you see in Dolby Vision content may be due to settings issues on your monitor or TV. Also, devices with DV Cinema Home as the default picture mode may show the yellow tinge before a movie begins, but the shade disappears before the video starts. The yellow tint on the HDR should not worry you because you can resolve it through simple settings or wait to confirm that it disappears as the show starts.

Dolby Vision boasts the highest color depth of all other HDR formats, offering some of the most precise images you can find on a television, monitor, or streaming platform. If scenes appear significantly yellowish, then there must be a problem, most of which is due to the settings on the device. For instance, the warm image TV settings may look yellowish in Dolby Vision.

In this case, your best bet would be resetting the TV to normal for balanced and clear images. If you switch to Dolby Vision from an alternative HDR, the display may also turn yellow for a moment before you launch a video. However, it is a temporary effect that doesn’t affect the images appearing later on unless you have not updated the settings to normal or Dolby Vision Dark mode.

Any unusual yellow color different from the natural hues of the image requires immediate attention. Dolby Vision aims to offer the best HDR displays, and it is rare to encounter any issues while using it, but if the problem persists and quick fixes are not working, your last resort may be to seek professional help. Luckily, the abnormal tinge on DV is usually easy to solve.

Besides the pre-video yellow tinge that appears when you launch Dolby Vision on your television, any other persistent yellowish hue would require your attention. Before anything else, you can go to image settings and slightly tweak them to get the most vivid and brightest visuals. If there is no improvement, you can disconnect all the cables linking to your display device and turn the TV or monitor off.

Next, pair everything as they were and try playing DV content to see whether the problem disappears. Additionally, you can try running a different HDR, revert to Dolby Vision, and see if there are any changes. If all your attempts fail, the last resort is to contact the television manufacturer or a professional for assistance. Otherwise, letting the yellow tinge persist can affect your viewing experience, defeating Dolby Vision’s purpose. 

Why Does Dolby Vision Look Grainy or Washed Out?

Besides being the second most highly adopted imaging technology, Dolby Vision still stands out in matters of offering the finest and brightest displays. The impressive contrast and apex coloring are synonymous with HDR, but sometimes users complain that the images on their TVs or monitors appear dull or grainy.

Dolby Vision may appear washed-out or grainy if the TV or connected devices are incompatible with the HDR content. It also happens when the title you are playing is old and doesn’t level up to Dolby Vision’s technologies. Calibrating your television may be the most effective initial move, but chances are that the grainy appearance and washed-out look may not be due to using the DV HDR but a firmware problem.

The grainy look on your display could be from the content you watch. If the videos were filmed in dark settings or with analog cameras, the images might be grainy since the editors can force the scenes to brighten. Therefore, the washed-out look may have started from the content creation and is not an issue with your TV or Dolby.

On the other hand, the washed-out appearance may result from improper settings; failure to tweak the TV setup correctly can lead to the poorest display. Ensuring that your television or monitor can run HDR helps you smoothly maneuver such issues. If you want the ultimate and crisp color depth, it may help to check the content and device compatibility first before you start watching your shows.

You may blame Dolby Vision’s imaging, yet it is not responsible. To avoid the grainy and washed-out effects on your display, it would be wise to confirm whether the content and the screen support Dolby. If either of them lacks support, you can downgrade to a less powerful HDR that is backward compatible for uniformity and let the system play at its level. 

Therefore, if you are a DV fan, ensure that the videos you watch can play in that format and your television supports the system. After restoring compatibility, the next thing to do is to check the device setup.

The display settings on your television may also need adjustments for a crispier look. Tweak the lighting and other aspects moderately and avoid extreme adjustments that can worsen the situation.

You can tweak the brightness level to read 50%, then enhance the contrast and leave the image sharpness at standard for best results. You can also use the manual for DV HDR settings for a more refined outcome. However, if you play DV content on a device that supports it, it is rare to bump into issues like grainy screens and faded display colors. 

How To Solve Color Issues on Dolby Vision

You may run into issues with Dolby Vision displaying unwanted green-purple or yellow colors, or sometimes it may be a problem with your TV. You may need to calibrate the setup or make a few adjustments to ensure that the images display in their natural colors.

The best way to solve color issues on Dolby Vision is by using color calibration, which involves altering the tinge of the display to a perfect level. You can use a LUT correction (look-up table) or a manual color management program to control the images. There are also software solutions and professional calibrators that can help.

Alternatively, it may not be a Dolby issue but rather a problem with your TV, for which you can make some simple tweaks. You can tighten the cable connections, make picture settings, or update or restart the TV.

Dolby Vision issues mainly occur due to system incompatibility with the TV and other connected devices. In such instances, the only remedy is to switch to using supported device versions, or the hitches will keep occurring.

Otherwise, if you are confident that every aspect of your setup supports Dolby, the issue may be with the settings. HDR usually runs on some calibrations that interfere with the color if not correctly set.

For instance, the color Gamut should be BT.2020, the peak luminate stays at 1000 nits, and the white point rate is D65. This calibration is the system’s display adjustment, aiming to maintain the primary and natural colors based on the content.

You can use a calorimeter that you place on the display to filter the pallets and generate the data you need for adjusting. You can also use software programs for a more convenient calibration.

Besides issues with Dolby, it is also common for users to complain about their TVs having green screen hitches. Luckily, such color problems are simple to solve with a few adjustments. The first and obvious fix is to restart your TV, which removes temporary system errors and returns it to normal operations. Start by turning off the TV, detaching any connected cables and devices, then wait for 60 seconds before long pressing the power button.

Next, release and re-plug the cables and turn on the TV but if that doesn’t work, you can try making updates and resetting the TV. Constantly updating the software helps you get fixes to common bugs from the manufacturer, which also solves color issues.

Similarly, resetting can eliminate improper settings you unknowingly made that interfere with the display’s colors. If none of the methods above work, it may be time to contact maintenance staff or seek help from the manufacturer if you have a valid warranty.

Wrap Up

Dolby Vision is one of the most popular HDR systems, and fans love how it helps achieve the best picture qualities for their shows. On the downside, sometimes it runs into problems like color issues where the screen takes an abnormal green, purple or yellow tinge or turns grainy and dull.

You don’t have to panic if you experience these hiccups since they can go away with a few tweaks. Glitches often occur when the TV and other linked devices are incompatible with Dolby, leading to strains and poor performance.

Otherwise, it may be due to the TV running on outdated software for which updating can help. If calibrations and quick fixes don’t work, you can seek a professional’s services or contact your manufacturer.

Bal Kang

Bal Kang is a technology expert based in the UK, with experience across a number of technology areas from phones, tablets, computers to gaming.

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