Dynamic Tone Mapping (DTM) vs HGIG - There's actually no "versus" (Patreon)

One of the most discussed, complex, therefore controversial topic around HDR gaming in the last years was the "ultimate" choice to do between Dynamic Tone Mapping algorithms or ("no tone mapping at all") HGIG approach for games.

Which is "always best"?

What someone should "set it and forget it" between the two for playing HDR games, especially on LG OLEDs from 2019 onward?

After analyzing over 190 HDR games between Xbox and Playstation (as I'm writing this article), the most comprehensive and simple answer which I can give to you is that: there's not a clear winner and it depends on a game by game basis.

I'll try to explain this in the simplest way possible for everyone to understand:

• Dynamic Tone Mapping (or Active HDR) was initially created and implemented by LG in 2017 OLED series exclusively for improving HDR Movies "adaptation" to their OLED TV Panel real luminance at the time. Considering most of all HDR movies' Peak HDR Luminance target at the time was 4.000 nits, which obviously you can't change like in games, the LG OLEDs most accurate "HDR Cinema" preset was pre-calibrated to accomodate and adapt a standard 4.000 nits EOTF curve for its "base tone mapping" (when no metadata is available) and then did have DTM: On by Default ON TOP of this 4.000 nits base tone mapping in order to "fix" those cases in movies where there where only few scenes which did actually reach that high luminance and (with DTM: Off) all other scenes, especially on night time or darker ones, may have looked "too dim" for its 800 nits panel to compensate for only those isolated cases of very high luminance elements. DTM: On actually helped and still helps to restore an acceptable HDR luminance on previous LG OLEDs also to all other scenes and not only the high Peak HDR ones. Since 2017, even today DTM is On by default in pre-calibrated "HDR Filmmaker" presets on 2022 and even 2023 LG OLED series including C2/C3/G2 and G3s for the exact same reasons
• HDR Game preset had the same, identical, 4.000 nits base tone mapping curve by default (as there's no metadata by definition in games) same as HDR Cinema/Filmmaker preset since 2017 Series up to 2023 Series;
• Dynamic Tone Mapping was introduced also for games only starting from 2018 series onward;
• HGIG was then added as a new option in the "Dynamic Tone Mapping" settings starting from 2019 LG OLED Series onward and is expressly meant to be used for games only. What's happening when enabling HGIG is that you ask the TV to immediately stop using any tone mapping algorithms at all. This means that if the LG OLED TV panel can only Peak around 800 nits in real world (or 1.000 nits fo G2 or 1500 nits for G3), anything higher in HDR games (and movies) will just be "cut off" and lost from the picture with HGIG, you won't see it and will lose any highlight detail meant to be shown above that range. HGIG is very logical and good/better for games in theory because, opposite than movies, when you can actually adjust in-game Peak HDR Luminance slider to 800 (or 1.000 or 1.500) nits everything will be even more accurate than any tone mapping and what you see is what the HDR range actually is without any additional "adaptation" for the TV.

Now.

With all this in mind it sounds "logical" that HGIG is better for all HDR games and the case is closed, but then real world results arrive...

In real world:

• There are still A LOT of HDR games which won't let you adjust Peak HDR Luminance at all, exactly as it happens for movies. In those cases, using HGIG is not ideal as, same for HDR Movies, DTM: On will work better there to adapt those fixed curves to the real luminance capabilities of the TV, especially when also metadata won't be available to help;
• If ALLM (Automatic Low Latency Mode) is not supported on a specific console or on PC and you use it not only for playing HDR Games but also for watching HDR Movies, you would be stuck with HDR Game preset + HGIG also for movies which is not ideal for the reasons above, so you should always remember to manually switch HDR Game preset + HGIG for games to HDR Cinema or Filmmaker with DTM: On to be sure to have the correct picture on both contents type;
• Even if HDR games actually support changing their Peak HDR Luminance and HGIG will objectively produce the most accurate results with it, you should keep in mind that this way you should always play those game in a completely dark room for best results. If your room is mildly lit and/or you still find those games + HGIG too "dim" for your tastes, you should use DTM: On for them and tweak it thinking those games as they were movies (with no metadata) too (so DTM: On + in-game Peak HDR Luminance = 4.000 nits whenever possible, for better results).

As you can see, taking ALL of this into consideration, there's not a clear winner or a real "set it and forget it" method which will 100% guarantee you the best results whatever content you see (that's also one of the main reasons why I created this Patreon project in the first place).

TL;DR

• Some HDR games will look better with DTM: On (no Peak HDR Luminance control or "dim" appearance with HGIG in not completely dark rooms);
• Some HDR games will look better with HGIG (actual Peak HDR Luminance control = e.g. 800 nits for B/C LG OLEDs' Series or 1.000 nits for G2 + dark rooms);
• All HDR games will look better using the Game Optimizer Menu (with ALLM: On) + HDR Filmmaker Mode + DTM: On + HDR Black Level set to 48 on G3/C3 (with Peak HDR Luminance set to the 4.000 nits base tone mapping, as this will both preserve specular highlights accuracy, the new "Dynamic Color Boosting" technology which noticeably improves colors' luminance AND low input lag at the same time);
• All HDR movies will look better with DTM: On (that's also why DTM is On in pre-calibrated HDR Cinema and Filmmaker presets on LG OLEDs, but only HDR Cinema preset on 2023 series will provide the "old" DTM which is better in making all HDR movies less dark/muted);
• Always keep an eye to this Patreon page/project to always be sure to use the best settings for the TV, Consoles, Accessories AND on a Game-by-Game basis.

That's it and I hope this "vs" is finally a bit more clear to all of you now.

Enjoy! ;)

-P