This
is the first in a series of articles that aims to examine picture
enhancement technologies. These systems are often highly visible in
stores and used by sales staff as selling points to persuade buyers
towards one model/brand over another. All the major brands have their
own 'enhancement' system and the overall objective of the articles will
be to explain the pros and cons in plain English so as not to make an
already tricky buying decision even more confused.
Picture
Enhancement Technologies - Samsung DNIE
Part 1: Samsung DNIE -
Enhancement or Gimmick?
14th June 2007
Picture enhancement technologies are the various sysytems or effects
that TV manufacturers use to improve the quality of viewing on there
televisions. As you might expect these are most commonly found on the
newer and usually larger screens like Plasma (PDP), LCD and DLP
screens.
Over the coming weeks we are going to explore each in turn and try to
come to some conclusions as to the worth (if any) of the various
enhancing techniques and how (if at all) it should affect your buying
decisions.
Samsung DNIE is the first under the microscope. DNIE is an acronym for
Digital Natural Image Engine. Actually in this case it is four engines.
So what do we mean by an engine. All Plasma and LCD TVs have a
processor which controls which pixel on the screen to light, at which
colour and intensity. When we refer to an engine in this sense we are
talking about a function of the processor which 'analyses' all or parts
of the image and looks for 'features' or mathematical patterns, that,
based on what the egg heads at Samsung have told it could do with being
altered slightly. Of course by altered slightly I mean enhanced
(hopefully anyway).
The four engines are a Colour, Contrast, 3d Motion and Detail.
The
colour engine.
It is designed to enhance extremes of colour. Most notably the
subtleties of skin colour which are awkward to represent in many
mediums. The colour engine uses mathematical formulas to add elements
of Red, Green and Blue to try and make a more vivid and realistic
representation of human skin. When I tried it out I got mixed feelings
as to the performance. Sometimes for example on a close up of a human
face it did appear to slightly deepen the skin tone. On a more distant
face however it seemed to make it appear, well, fake. An almost
cartoony effect.
Samsung say, "This makes
it possible for Samsung DNIe Vision to reproduce perfect skin tones and
whites of remarkable clarity. "
I would agree it does make it possible
but it doesn't always do it and more
often it actually
spoils the picture.
The Contrast Engine.
As the name
suggests this is a set of
mathematical formulas that mess with the contrast. It is true that the
contrast between subtly different extremes of light or dark are often
blurred creating a slightly distorted picture. This feature is an
attempt to computationaly fix this. I found that it did enhance the
variation between subtle contrast differences but not in a manner that
enhanced the picture. And when watching a dark scene where smooth
gradient from black to not quite black is required it did absolutely
nothing! And considering this is just the type of contrast situation
which is reknown for being poor on especially LCD screens but also on
PLasma as well it was very dissapointing. especially as Samsung
themselves state, "This revolutionary digital approach to achieve
contrast details results in a picture rich in contrast even in the
tiniest details. "
3D
Motion
Engine.
This
is meant to
reduce blur around a fast moving image on screen. I tried finding this
effect on sports programmes, computer games, several action scenes from
movies and could find absolutely no eveidence that this 'enhancement'
even exists. At least with the previous two engines. There was a
visible effect and it would be possible for Samsung to argue as to
weather it was an enhancement or not. So moving swiftly on.
Detail Engine.
Samsung
say on
their web site, "With Samsung DNIe Vision you can enjoy the beauty of a
dew drop on a leaf or a flower in all its pristine glory. " Well yes
and no. I find that on a digital
broadcast or modern DVD I do any way.
And that switching DNIE on was in no way adding to this wonderfull
effect. It changed the image detail. It seemed to harden the lines of
any given detail. I suppose if you were hunting for some small element
of a picture then this might help you find it. But that is not what TV
is for. Is it? Again I am afraid I have not got anything positive to
say about DNIE other than at least this doesn't actually spoil the
picture it just changes it a bit. And of course as this is only my
opinion another viewer might possibly consider it an enhancement.
Samsung
DNIE In summary.
After looking
closely at the first of
several image enhancement technologies my views are unchanged with
regard to how they should affect a purchase decision. Quite simply
choose your PDP, LCD TV or any television/screen based on the other
factors and if a particular picture alteration system gives
what you
percieve to be an enhancement in a specific situation then consider it
a bonus.
If
you think I am just having a dig at Samsung, please believe me that is
not my intention. Just that DNIE does NOT appear to enhance anything
(accept the TV salesmans spiel) and I would switch it off. I am
perfectly happy to state that Samsung have some fantastic Plasma and
LCD screens with beautifull pictures, I am merely giving my opinion
that they are in no way enhanced by DNIE.
If you are near to makeing a purchase decision and are now concerned
about choosing a Samsung. Please don't be. Just read my article on 'how
to get the best picture possible' and if after following
those
guidlines you end up choosing a Samsung then buy with confidence.
WOW
microfibre
cloth screen wipes have the uncanny ability to simply absorb things
which other cloths cannot. Things like finger prints, very fine dust
and splashes from coughs and sneezes.
TFT/LCD
Plasma
Laptops
PDA's
Apple Ipod
Compaq Ipaq
Regular CRT Monitors
Camera Lenses
Spectacles
Normal TV
Sony PSP
Nintendo DS/ Gameboy Advance (inc SP)
Mobile Phones
cd or dvd disks.
