Windows 10 - 4K Displays Scaling Secrets | Make texts larger and easier to read! by Art Suwansang

[@Allan-dy3ze]

Artis, thank you for this informative video. I've been shopping for a new 27-inch monitor for the past week, but the multitude of specifications is mind-numbing . You answered many of my questions less than 8 minutes. Now that I'm retired, I'd like to get deeper into photo and video editing , but I don't want to struggle with font sizes when I switch from photo/video editing to word processing, web browsing and emailing. Your little lecture has provided the basic information I was lacking when I started shopping. Thanks again.

[@ArtIsRight]

@Allan, you're welcome. Something to consider too is to get a 2K display rather than a 4K. :)

[@Allan-dy3ze]

@@ArtIsRight Yes, thank you!

[@ArtIsRight]

@Allan, anytime.

[@kevinsantoso8048]

very informative! I think that the scaling should be the power of 2 (200%, 400%, 800%, 50%, 25%, etc) so that the pixel aligns.

[@ArtIsRight]

@Kevin Santoso, thank you!

[@sheunglunchu]

hi @ArtlsRight, thanks for the video. I just changed to a 4k displayed but i have to scale the text to 200% to see them clearly, however, i find out that the wallpaper i'm using, even in 4k resolution, are shrunk to pretty small size, is there any way i can solve this issue please? Thanks in advance.

[@ArtIsRight]

Wall paper should remain independent of the scale resolution, I'm not sure why this is happening.

[@michbest]

That was a great explanation. Thanks!

[@ArtIsRight]

@michbest you’re welcome.

[@Crossfire2003]

@ArtIsRight Great video. How about certain menus and pages in Windows 10/11 that do not scale well on 4K displays? (As an example, if you type into Run the following command: "tpm.msc". That page, which is being opened, doesn't take advantage of the general scaling option, so the writing looks blurry). Is there a way to solve all of the blurriness inside of the Windows menus?

[@ArtIsRight]

Not really that is a function of Windows. And that is the issue that comes with Windows scaling method compared to the Mac, both have their ups and down.

[@patrick.991]

Thanks this was helpful! Found this information nowhere online … There is only one important question left: Does the scaling affect the sharpness of the displayed photo in Lightroom? I’ve read some negative reports about this. I’m not sure if I should go with a 27 inch 4k or QHD monitor. 😕 (For Lightroom, Web Design, watching KZbin videos, office/writing) I now have a 24 inch FHD which is a bit too small and I can see the pixels, hate that. Do you know if this wouldn’t be the case with a 27 inch QHD? Or should I go for 4k? (32 inch 4k would be great but I don’t have the space for it)

[@ArtIsRight]

27" QHD you'll see the pixels as well, 4K you won't. That is the trade off. LRC is fine sharpness wise. If you don't want to see pixels go 4k and scale

[@patrick.991]

@@ArtIsRight thanks a lot!

[@oidenis]

Congrats Suwansang, your content is so enlightening. I find out really difficult to search for this solution to my problem of ghosted black text on light-colored background when displaying from my PC to a 4K HDR TV display at 2160p@60Hz... That's just one of the problems that I'm dealing with to get everything properly set up togheter. I'm only an enthusiast and it's difficult to describe those issues and get accessible content about these tecnologies envolved, such as pixel format (4:4:4, 4:4:2, 4:4:0? sRGB? YCbCr?), color density (why I'm only getting 8bit on a 10bit Display?), ghosted and hard to read text (done solved thanks to you) and whased or shaky shimmering colors with HDR enabled. I'm not using that TV as a main monitor for my PC setup, that's a better job for my 1080p ultrawide display. But I want my living room TV ready to display my Windows desktop PC at its full potential for entretainment scenarios, there should be nothing wrong with that. I know what a 4K HDR content should looks like, I'm sure that my AMD GPU can push out that signal to its HDMI 2.0 output and Windows 11 has the up to date drivers directly installed from each manufactor download center (AMD graphic drivers, ASUS motherboard and chipset drivers installed without being messed by Windows Update own ones), that my HDMI 2.0 cable can transfer it to my 4K HDR Samsung TV on its HDMI 2.0 input which is properly enabled to receive HDR content from that port, also HDMI 2.0 is enough to transfer HDR content up to 2160p@60Hz and that display can handle it as said in his own menu settings and manual. The default settings result is a disappointing inferior image quality than FullHD. Your channel is the only place so far I could find helpful guidance to check the settings up right. Good job!! I'm now looking to your other videos to learn more about it and finding a lot of interesting subjects about digital image processing and representation.

[@ArtIsRight]

Thank you!

[@atf56]

Thanks! I just ordered an acer 28inch UHD and was concerned about this! Windows scale perfectly on premiere too?

[@ArtIsRight]

Windows don't really scale the resolution per say, so you are fine.

[@atf56]

@@ArtIsRightthanks! I was worried because I today checked premiere pro with 125 % scaling on my current fullHD monitor and it was horrible..Premiere ui texts were blurred! Hope this is not the case with uhd. My order is on the way only arrive on Tuesday

[@ArtIsRight]

That is the interface zoom, so Windows will run the OS in native resolution or that is recommended anyway and if you want to see the UI bigger they recommend zooming in and that in itself is a whole new set of glitches and bugs that comes up.

[@primetiming5846]

Sir i want to buy 4k 32 inches but i sit only 23 inches away, will there be issue? i run adobe creative cloud all apps and ms office?

[@ArtIsRight]

should be fine, that is a personal thing

[@primetiming5846]

@@ArtIsRight how would be windows scaling if i use 150%, will apps text gets blurry?

[@ArtIsRight]

No

[@primetiming5846]

@@ArtIsRight windows 10 scaling will be fine in apps too? i dont want apps be pixalated?

[@ArtIsRight]

Pixelated and blurry are 2 very different and opposite attribute of pixel manipulation. The issue herein is perception, I'll see it one way and think that it is ok. You might see it differently and could come to the conclusion that it is or it is not OK. This is a difficult answer to give. From where I stand technically, Windows scaling has issues and it is not a perfect system like that of Mac, which has different issue. From where I stand I don't see these issues, but you might. My best recommendation is to go try it at a store or buy from a store with good return policy so that you can test out.

[@retroflics]

I'm having that vision problem which hits after the age of 40. I'm using a 24" FHD monitor and I sometimes have to use glasses. I'm planing to buy a 27" monitor. After watching this video, I think 4K is not for me. I don't play games, I mostly use Dreamweaver for web developing and I surf the web a lot. What if I buy the BenQ 27" EX2710? It's FHD, some say fonts look a bit pixelated on this size and resolution. Would this cause some eye strain?

[@ArtIsRight]

This is a personal preface but at 27" and FHD resolution, yes, you will see pixelation. I think that you should be ok with eye strain, but they best thing that you can do is try it out for yourself. Again every biology, preferences and need are different.

[@rxlky]

this is important and informative yet I still a bit doubt which one to buy 24 inch 2K or 27 inch 4K? this is for WFH general use like excel, coding lines, few graphics, dashboards of charts and sometimes a little time to watch movie any suggestion?

[@ArtIsRight]

If you want more pixel real estate plus the ability to scale choose 4K. If you want none of these and just overall easy readability then go with 2k

[@rxlky]

@@ArtIsRight thanks 🙏

[@ArtIsRight]

👍🏼

[@squatch545]

So if you use the system % scaling or the application's own % scaling (as opposed to the resolution scaling), text will stay sharp as you increase size? Is this correct?

[@ArtIsRight]

On windows yes.

[@theswagler5648]

I'm update one of my apps to 'Per Monitor DPI Aware'. I have always locked my font & font height so couldn't be tampered, but 1440p and 2160p are forcing me to start incorporating DPI aware. I have too may custom controls that do not work when fonts and scaling are messed with. I've worked on MicroStation, AutoCAD, Steinberg Nuendo... in days past needing to increase resolution to 1600x1200, but 4k-8k??? Anyhow, writing app dpi aware looks great, auto changes dragging between monitors, no need to log-off... but a hell of a lot of additional work.

[@ArtIsRight]

@Theswagler this is really geared more for photography and video. I understand totally about your custom needs and thank you for sharing the DPI aware program. I'll check it out too!

[@theswagler5648]

@@ArtIsRight - See all my releases at: swaglertools.cf/ Audio Playback Control (Per Monitor DPI Aware version) should have been released by now, but hasn't. It is my prototype before tackling my other much more complex apps.

[@ArtIsRight]

@theswagler thank you for the clarification!

[@RafaelCasacurta]

Is better 4k 125% or 3k 100%, phisically they are the same... but for vga 3k is more speed/performance, how about graphically?

[@ArtIsRight]

That would largely depend on your GPU for speed/performance. Graphically that is a personal preference. Choose what works for you, not what other says or recommend.

[@RafaelCasacurta]

​@@ArtIsRight So, thinking in the showed physical size of the things in screen 4k (3840x2160) in 125% scale of windows is the same of 3k (2880x1620) in 100% scale... so i was think if i will see a video, if the graphically quality will be the same showed in tv... because for the GPU performance, is better i use the 3k than 4k...

[@ArtIsRight]

I have not observed this closely, but if you are on Windows that would depend on the program and how it scale. Chances are the program might play back native resolution and only scale the interface in Win.

[@Lekks25]

I'm used to 125% on a 1440p 27" monitor, it's the sweet spot for me as I sit 95 cm (about 3 foot) away from the monitor, but am considering getting a 4k monitor. Would it be possible to get a similar scaling on a 4k monitor that matches the size on a 1440p one at 125%?

[@ArtIsRight]

You are probably going to pick a different percent zoom/scale but that can be done on a 4K

[@Edmundostudios]

4K emulating 1440p in terms of real estate makes the most sense on a 27 inch. The higher resolution just gives crisper text. Problem with Windows is that the scaling is pretty flakey and some apps behave differently. If you play games at a lower res and come back to desktop it can really mess things up.

[@ArtIsRight]

@Edmundo studios, I know windows can be wonky on scaling the apps. Mac implement it differently, some like it some hate it. This is one of those USS Kobayashi Maru scenario.

[@redapple1683]

If I change the scaling for the monitor, will it change the scaling on my laptop screen as well? Thank you.

[@ArtIsRight]

Scaling is display independent, it will only change both if you mirror the displays.

[@DIMITRISNECONOMOU]

Thanks for that! Excellent presentation! I do office work on windows 10 pro (office 365 and adode acrobat mainly). I consider buying a 27" FHD 1920 x 1080 monitor with 60hz refresh rate OR a 27" 2K @ 100 hz. My concern is that if I go with the 2K I will face scaling problems. I will be using it at 150 scaling (roughly) as my eyesight is not that great (wearing glasses) and that kind of defeats the purpose of the 2K monitor. Please let me know what do you think. Also, is a FHD 1920 x 1080 27" decent for office or is it 'pixelated'. I am mainly worried about the text as I will be typing for hours mainly copy pasting text from 2-3 documents. Thanks!

[@ArtIsRight]

FHD on a 27" you'll see the pixel even more than you would with the 2K. Because you use Windows scaling for the app type that you use should work fine. Personally I have been using 2K for more than 10 years now. It is hard to go back.

[@DIMITRISNECONOMOU]

@@ArtIsRight thanks for your time. Maybe 2K is a better choice after all I guess for office skype zoom etc I can sort out the scaling without much trouble. Do I need to adjust the scaling of windows and software every time I turn on the PC? Thanks again😀

[@ArtIsRight]

set once and leave it. it can be app specific as well

[@DIMITRISNECONOMOU]

@@ArtIsRight PS. so even if I upscale windows (i.e. downscale the monitor) I still get better quality and slightly more space?

[@ArtIsRight]

So for windows, the recommendation is to run the display at native resolution and just use scaling to for the apps, this can be app specific or one settings across all app. The quality on the 2K would be better but that is my opinion.

[@beck1763]

What is the gain of having 4K when you're sacrificing readability or clear picture? It's ridiculous. I can't believe I have to return my 4K PC due to the scaling issue and downgrade to a 1080p display!

[@ArtIsRight]

I would not classify it as a gained, more so as a workflow choice. Most of the time creatives choose 4K so that they can review their 4K video footage at 100% with no scaling. For practical use 4K at native resolution is terrible, which is why there are scaling options available. Scaling on Windows 10 can be temperamental at times. In general for creative work I recommend a 2K display, 1080 has a lot of limitation and it can not show that much content on the screen.

[@azzinny]

I guess, if you choose "Extend Displays," Windows 10 does not recommend the weird resolution.

[@ArtIsRight]

That could be

[@acooks4968]

Thanks because i have a 27 inch dell monitor

[@ArtIsRight]

:)

[@nikolamilosevic6334]

in short windows scaling its terrible

[@ArtIsRight]

Hi @Nikola, I would say different. It is more application base scaling rather than screen resolution based scaling like the Mac.

[@nikolamilosevic6334]

@@ArtIsRight using any then my normal resolution looks quite terrible,tray icons are affected also

[@ArtIsRight]

@Nikola I know. I usually run the app zooming at 150% or 200% depending on the native screen resolution and what Win10 recommends. But that sometime still does not work correctly. They really have not though through HDDPI well.

[@dat-e.z3352]

voice does not match😂, but great video thanks👍

[@ArtIsRight]

ok

[@marynarkw]

If you need scaling you don't need 4K

[@ArtIsRight]

That is one way to look at it, there are other perspectives as well.

[@MaxRiley]

In a few words: if you're gonna scale a 4k monitor to 200%, just buy a fullHD 1920x1080p same inches as the 4K and it's quite the same.

[@ArtIsRight]

@Massimo Cavalieri d'Oro, thank you for the comment. Somewhat yes, I would go with a 2K 2560 x 1440 rather than a 1080 or 1200 height for photo editing. 1080 or anything in HD resolution is really limiting. The other thing to consider too is the individual needs, it would be great to say that no one needs 4K but that is not the case. For instance I edit on a 4K screen but I dynamically scale my resolution depending on what I do. If I am editing in LR then yes scaled down a 4K to 2K, but for web browsing or video editing, I am using 4k all the way for screen real estate.

[@michaelanderwald4179]

Except the image is 4 times as sharp, which is the main reason why you'd get this display anyway. Improved sharpness is the whole purpose of HiDPI, and also the way Apple and Android handle it. So what do you suggest? Leave the scaling at 100% and reduce the distance to your screen to about 15cm?

[@ArtIsRight]

@Michael Anderwald, only if you eyes can handle it full time, as far as 4 times as sharp, I would say 4 time smaller and make the perception seem sharper. For windows, I would run the OS at native resolution and scale the app, normally, I do either 200, 250 or 300% depending on the app. I primary run macOS and scaling is implemented differently there. But when I run Win 10, it is some where in that range. You would have to choose your own preference on this one.

[@saf1729]

Wrong, scaling at 200% is the way to go. Look at this comparison: 1080p native vs 4K with 200% scaling on two monitors with the same size - imgur.com/a/pONoruo

[@MaxRiley]

@@saf1729 Don't be difficult. The size for text, icons etc is the same.