{tocify} $title={Table of Contents}
What Are Ghosting and Black Smearing on VA Panels, and Why Do They Happen
Ghosting on VA (Vertical Alignment) panels happens when pixels don’t change colors quickly enough, leaving a faint afterimage or residual image behind moving objects.
Black smearing, a type of ghosting, specifically happens when dark pixels, such as those transitioning from black to gray, change slower than expected. This delay creates a visible dark trail or blur during fast-moving dark scenes.
AOC 22B20JGN2 Key Specifications
- Screen Size & Type: 21.45” VA Panel
- Resolution & Refresh Rate: Full HD (1920×1080), 100Hz (HDMI) / 75Hz (VGA)
- Response Time: 1ms (MPRT)
- Adaptive Sync: Yes
- Connectivity: HDMI 1.4 × 1, VGA × 1
- Design: 3-Sided Frameless, Tilt: -5° to 15°
How to Reduce Ghosting and Black Smearing of 22B20JHN2
First, make sure the refresh rate is at the highest available—100Hz.
Method 1: Using sRGB
The image below shows a comparison between the monitor's default factory settings (top) and the adjusted settings (bottom) that reduce ghosting and black smearing.
This setting only changes two options to ensure that the black on this VA panel still looks good enough.
- Color Setup (Color Gamut)
- Game Setting (Overdrive)
Color Setup:
- Change Color Gamut to sRGB.
- You might sometimes notice bad pixelation in dark area or during dark scenes on Youtube or Twitch because the panel is not as dark as before.
Game Setting:
- Change Overdrive to Medium
Method 2: Using Bright Frame
If you want to have control on the brightness of black, try these settings:
Color Setup:
- Color Gamut: sRGB or Native Panel
Picture Boost:
- Bright Frame: On
- Frame Size: 100
- Brightness: 41 to 42 (sRGB), 48 to 50 (Native Panel)
Game Setting:
- Overdrive: Medium
Method 3: Reduce Black Smearing By Sacrificing the Quality of Black
If you don't mind with black looking slightly 'grey', change these settings:
- Color Setup → Color Gamut: Panel Native
- Luminance → Gamma: Gamma 3
- Game Setting → Shadow Control: 60, Overdrive: Medium
My Recommendation or What I Prefer
Of all these 3 methods, I would recommend using method 2.
- Color Setup → Color Gamut: Native Panel
- Picture Boost → Bright Frame: On (at 48 brightness)
- Game Setting → Overdrive: Medium