Color banding test
Click the gradient to fill the screen, then look for visible steps in the neutral, near-black, red, green, blue, and skin-tone ramps.
Color banding test workspace
How to use
3 short steps.
Click the gradient to go full screen
Start with the neutral ramp in a dim room. Note where the first visible step appears rather than counting every band.
Move to the near-black ramp
Press Space or an arrow key. Shadow banding shows here first, and it is the kind that shows in dark film scenes.
Check red, green, blue, and the warm ramp
Banding in one color channel points to a color or bit-depth setting. The warm ramp shows what banding looks like on skin.
What the result means
Match what you see to one of these.
If you see clear steps in the neutral ramp, something is dropping bits
If the gray ramp breaks into flat bands, the display is receiving or showing fewer than 8 bits per channel, or a setting is limiting the range. Check output color depth and range in the graphics settings first.
If only the near-black ramp bands, check the range setting
If the shadows step but the full ramp looks smooth, a limited versus full range mismatch or a black level setting is crushing the darks.
If the ramp is smooth, the display is not the cause of banding in videos
If all six ramps look smooth here, banding you see in films or games comes from the source, its compression, or HDR conversion.
Troubleshooting
If the test fails, try these in order.
Set output to 8-bit or higher and full range
In the graphics driver, set color depth to 8 or 10 bits per channel and the range to full, then look at the neutral ramp again.
Turn HDR off
Windows and some TVs convert content when HDR is on, which can add banding. Turn it off and check the ramps again.
Try another cable or port
A cable that cannot carry the bandwidth for your resolution can drop to a lower bit depth. Swap it and look at the ramp again.
Compare with the contrast and gamma tests
If the steps are only at the ends of the ramp, use the contrast test to check for clipping. If the middle looks wrong, use the gamma test.
What this test can't tell you
Where a browser check stops.
- A gradient in the browser cannot tell you whether the panel is 6, 8, or 10 bit, or whether it is using dithering.
- Browser, operating system, graphics card, cable, and display processing all shape the ramp, so a smooth ramp only proves the whole chain is clean.
FAQ
Common questions about this test.
What does color banding look like?
It looks like visible stripes or blocks of flat color where a gradient should fade smoothly, most often in dark skies, shadows, and skin tones.
Does banding mean my monitor is 6-bit?
Not necessarily. A 6-bit panel with dithering can look smooth, and an 8-bit panel can band because of a range mismatch, HDR conversion, or a cable that limits bit depth. Check the settings before blaming the panel.
How do I fix color banding on my monitor?
Set the graphics output to 8 or 10 bits per channel and full range, turn HDR off unless you need it, and use a cable rated for your resolution. Then check the gradient again.
Why does banding look different in another browser?
Browsers use different color management and compositing paths. A difference tells you the browser is part of the chain, not that the display is faulty.