solved Unusual Graphics Distortion on menu screens

[Hare Ball]

I had to do a clean reinstall of DCS OpenBeta following an issue with a GPU driver update.

I’ve got the sim up and running now, but am seeing a strange graphics issue I never had on the previous install. 

On the opening menu screen, when first entering the game, the image/wallpaper/text are all as normal. But the first time the mouse is clicked - on a selection, or just clicked, there is a slight distortion to the graphics shown, such that the text looks a little less smooth and more angular, and lines in images are more jagged. It’s almost like the screen is just ever so slightly out of a proper ratio (I run at 16:9). It’s present in the mission editor too. 

It doesn’t seem to impact the game itself, and it does not change any menu functionality. I tried to take a before and after screenshot of the distortion for an example but interestingly, the captured screen shot shows no distortion even though the display is distorted.

I expect it’s a graphics setting issue but I have no idea where to start to look.

Has any one else seen a similar issue? 

Edited February 11, 2023 by Hare Ball
Added info

[Flappie]

Hi. Do you own an AMD 6000 or 7000 series?

[Hare Ball]

17 minutes ago, Flappie said:

Hi. Do you own an AMD 6000 or 7000 series?

No, I run a GeForce 3060Ti.

I’ve tried a couple of other programs that use the GPU. They seem alright. Only seems to be impacting DCS. It’s like lines and curves aren’t being smoothed out properly.

 

[Flappie]

It seems an external app does this to DCS.

See if changing Fullscreen mode in your DCS graphics options helps (try on and off).

Just in case, please attach your dcs.log from Saved Games/DCS.../Logs.

A screenshot showing the issue might help us identify what's going on.

[Hare Ball]

2 hours ago, Flappie said:

It seems an external app does this to DCS.

See if changing Fullscreen mode in your DCS graphics options helps (try on and off).

Just in case, please attach your dcs.log from Saved Games/DCS.../Logs.

A screenshot showing the issue might help us identify what's going on.

Thanks Flappie

I tried the fullscreen mode; no change. The last log is attached. There's a bunch of community mods installed; this issue was present before the mods were loaded. 

I haven't been able to do a screen grab because when I save the image it doesn't show the distortion that is visible on the monitor. I've snapped a couple of videos of the screen; it's hard to make out but you will see the image and the text noticeably change at a point in each video. That occurs on the first mouse click once entering the game - the screen loads fine with no distortion but on the first positive interaction with it, the image shifts slightly as shown. It's not a great image either but you can see the jagged edge of the JDAM in the still shot - it should normally be much smoother than that.

Thanks again for looking at it

dcs.log

[Hare Ball]

I’ve done a little more fault finding. It does seem connected with screen resolution, somehow.

If I set to 1920 x 1080, non-full screen, it’s good; no distortion.

Set to 1920 x 1080, full screen enabled, there’s distortion

2176 x 1224, non full screen - no distortion

2176 x 1224, full screen enabled, distortion

2560 x 1440 (highest res available) either with or without full screen enabled, there’s distortion.

Outside of DCS, my monitor resolution is 2560 x 1440, without any issues, and my previous install had been running DCS without this issue at this resolution too.

Does this give any ideas?

[Flappie]

I checked DCS settings in your dcs.log, and I don't fidn anything unusual.

Are you using ReShade or any other exernal shader tool with DCS? If so, disable it, run a DCS repair, and see if it solves your issue.

 

[Hare Ball]

On 2/12/2023 at 9:57 PM, Flappie said:

I checked DCS settings in your dcs.log, and I don't fidn anything unusual.

Are you using ReShade or any other exernal shader tool with DCS? If so, disable it, run a DCS repair, and see if it solves your issue.

 

Thanks again for having a look at it for me.

I tried the repair but it didn’t have an effect. I’ve decided to do another clean install, so I’ve given everything a good scrub and will download and install over the next couple of nights. We’ll see how that goes. If it’s no different I’ll probably just have to put up with it and hope it works itself out eventually.

[Flappie]

28 minutes ago, Hare Ball said:

If it’s no different I’ll probably just have to put up with it and hope it works itself out eventually.

As long as you're willing to get rid of this issue, I'll be here trying to help. I'll wait for your feedback.

[corn322]

It looks to me like some sort of image sharpening is being applied as soon as you click. Did you clean out the /user/saved games/DCS folder during your reinstall?

[Hare Ball]

51 minutes ago, corn322 said:

It looks to me like some sort of image sharpening is being applied as soon as you click. Did you clean out the /user/saved games/DCS folder during your reinstall?

Yeah, I’ve done that. I thought my most recent install might have fixed it, but no - still happening. Your description is pretty much spot on - it does look like an over-sharpened image when it occurs.

[corn322]

No strange settings in nvidia control panel? Either global or DCS specific.

[Hare Ball]

On 2/15/2023 at 9:58 AM, corn322 said:

No strange settings in nvidia control panel? Either global or DCS specific.

I don’t think so. Seems to occur regardless of whether I let it auto-manage settings, or if I manually manage them. It doesn’t seem to be an issue in any non-DCS programs using the GPU either.

[corn322]

Check if image scaling is on in nvidia control panel.

[Hare Ball]

9 hours ago, corn322 said:

Check if image scaling is on in nvidia control panel.

I think you’ve got it.

I just had a play with that setting before I saw this message of yours, and it looks like it might have fixed it. Seeing this message now, I think we’re on the right track. I’ll see how it goes over the following days but I reckon you might have it.

Thanks for the help!