Roku reveals ‘TV dimming’ trick that makes colors ‘more vivid’ and gives you sharper picture instantly
ROKU has released a simple TV dimming trick to boost color while watching your favorite show.
The streaming app says you’ll enjoy sharper picture quality as a result.
The Roku Channel is a streaming app that’s available on a range of devices – including the Amazon Fire Stick. It bundles more than 80,000 movies and TV shows on an on-demand basis.
“Some Roku TV systems have an advanced picture control setting,” said Roku.
This setting is called local dimming, or local contrast, technology.
It allows your TV to dim the area of the screen where it is supposed to be darker, while keeping the bright parts of the screen bright, according to LG.
“In addition, local dimming can increase the contrast ratio to form a better image,” the electronics firm added.
MORE VIVID COLORS
“Achieving more realistic blacks in this way causes you to see a sharper image with colors that appear more vivid and whites that seem brighter,” said Roku.
“Local dimming technology improves the contrast performance of your Roku TV system.”
It does this by fading parts of the screen that should be dark, while not altering the parts of the screen that should be bright.
HOW DOES LOCAL DIMMING WORK?
The backlight structure behind the front LCD screen on your TV is divided into numerous zones of tiny lights, or LEDs.
“Each zone is dimmed or lit up individually depending on the contrast and lighting of each scene,” explained Roku.
“When local dimming is enabled, the amount of dimming in each zone is automatic with dynamic scene-by-scene detection of brightness and contrast levels.”
HOW TO ADJUST LOCAL DIMMING
The feature is available in the advanced picture settings submenu of the options menu.
Don’t forget, though, that not all TV models offer a local dimming option.
If this feature is not listed in the advanced pic settings submenu, then your TV does not support it.
The Roku Channel – what you need to know
Here's the lowdown...
The Roku Channel is a streaming app that’s available on a range of devices.
It offers more than 400 live TV channels.
And it promises over 80,000 movies and TV shows on an on-demand basis.
Roku says that the app is available on:
- Roku streaming devices
- Compatible Samsung Smart TVs
- Compatible Amazon Fire TV devices
- TheRokuChannel.com website
- Roku mobile apps (iOS and Android)
Roku notes that the app is only available in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It’s also available in Mexico, but only on Roku devices.
First, to adjust local dimming, begin playback of a movie or TV show on a streaming channel.
Or, switch to the Antenna TV, HDMI, or AV input.
After playback begins, press the star options button on your TV remote to open the the options menu.
Then, simply scroll and select advanced picture settings, followed by the local dimming (or local contrast) selection.
The next step is to choose your preferred local dimming effect level using the directional pad on your TV remote.
For example, off: Local dimming turned off and backlight is no longer controlled individually by each zone.
Low: Local dimming enabled with small dimming range.
Medium: Local dimming enabled with medium dimming range.
High: Local dimming enabled with large dimming range.
“When local dimming is enabled, the dynamic contrast setting (if it exists on your TV) is off and disabled automatically,” added Roku.
If your picture quality is inadequate, simple device placement mistakes might be to blame, according to Roku.
That’s because streaming via Roku devices depends on your internet connection.
It has released a list of changes to instantly “improve the Wi-Fi” on your Roku streaming gadget.