HIGH PW lighting REQUIRED for good reading

sirmaru · 10-08-2012, 10:45 AM

I've read all the complaints here about Paperwhite defects running from light specks, to clouds and colored lines on the units.

I believe almost all the "defects" are ILLUSIONS caused by light reflections between the various layers of the PW screen. These "defects" have probably caused far too many returns to Amazon.

These illusions are caused by using the PW at LED low light levels to "conserve" battery use. That is a huge mistake. For example, LED flashlights have almost unlimited lifetimes for their LED elements. Regular flashlight bulbs have much shorter lives. Plus, those LED flashlights use very little power from their batteries. I have four of them being used with NIMH rechargeable batteries which have yet to be recharged after SIX YEARS of use.

Keeping the PW light at the default of 22 will end almost all the illusionary defects. If a defect still bothers the user, just turn up the LED light to the maximum of 24. That is the probable level Amazon used to make their promotional pictures and videos.

In low light environments it is unnecessary to turn down the LED light level. Those LEDS are using REFLECTIVE light which does not have the same effect as direct light similar to LCD use in the Kindle Fires which do require adjusting light levels to the environment for comfortable viewing.

One can replicate these PW screen illusions by taking several panes of glass and placing them side by side. Viewing through them will produce all kinds of illusions. Using a camera on a multi-layer glass screen will also produce the illusions especially if the lens is adjusted to higher closeups.

Illusions like this are very common in deserts where multiple layers of sand in bright sunlight cause all kinds of light variations. In deep snow areas it also happens as the multiple layers of snow cause the same effect.

Barty · 10-08-2012, 11:08 AM

22 is uncomfortably bright for me, unless I'm in a bright room or outdoors, in which case the light doesn't much come into play.

I keep it around 15. For me, I want a more print like experience, not a more LCD like experience. I know it's front lit (well, more parallel lit, really), not back lit, but when it's that bright, it feels like an LCD.

Edit: just tried max light again as you suggested. Now I remember the other reason I don't do that: the blobs are even more noticeable. I have a stark white screen with teal and plum blobs in the middle. It's kinda artistic, actually

jswinden · 10-08-2012, 11:11 AM

On my PW running the light at level 20 or above even in a well lit room makes the screen way too bright. It seems like many people are using a mid-level between 10 to 16 for well lit rooms. If yours requires level 22 it could just be your eyes or you might have a PW with a dimmer light than most.

Trauma Doll · 10-08-2012, 11:14 AM

My PW looks like this:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61sXC7P7cJL.jpg

A higher backlight level makes it worse.

Anyone who thinks the above unit does not have a problem should be happy contenting themselves with their 'perfect' units and worry less about convincing those of us with legit problems that we're hallucinating, or "doing it wrong".

aceflor · 10-08-2012, 11:28 AM

Some units are definitely NOT OK. And this is not a collective hallucination.

Skydog · 10-08-2012, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trauma Doll

My PW looks like this:

A higher backlight level makes it worse.

Anyone who thinks the above unit does not have a problem should be happy contenting themselves with their 'perfect' units and worry less about convincing those of us with legit problems that we're hallucinating, or "doing it wrong".

@Trauma Doll - I agree. My PW looks identical to yours and only becomes worse/more pronounced as the brightness increases.

sirmaru · 10-08-2012, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aceflor

Some units are definitely NOT OK. And this is not a collective hallucination.

According to wikipedia: "The term illusion refers to a specific form of sensory distortion. Unlike a hallucination, which is a distortion in the absence of a stimulus, an illusion describes a misinterpretation of a true sensation."

Thus, illusions can be shared by a group in the desert at twilight. Hallucinations are all in one person's mind. Illusions can even be PHOTOGRAPHED as was the case in the mass "flying saucer" viewings AND photographs.

I still think almost all these defects, even when photographed, are ILLUSIONS.

Turn the PW light up to 22 or 24 and leave it there for a few days. You will adjust to the higher light level and the "defects" will probably disappear. Leaving it high for just a moment will NOT have the proper effect.

The "white" screen on the PW at high PW light levels is also an illusion but benefits the reading experience.

By the way, the LED light is directed down to the bottom layers from the top layer. It does not project upwards to the user like an LCD screen. It is like having a built in lamp reflecting light off the fonts and background screen. The PW light is NOT a backlight. It is a down facing FRONT light.

Also, leave Page Refresh on all the time to prevent the ghosting illusion.

How we "feel" with the brighter light should be ignored at the beginning. One's eyes will adjust to the new light level and become comfortable in a few days.

murraypaul · 10-08-2012, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirmaru

In low light environments it is unnecessary to turn down the LED light level. Those LEDS are using REFLECTIVE light which does not have the same effect as direct light similar to LCD use in the Kindle Fires which do require adjusting light levels to the environment for comfortable viewing.

That just doesn't make sense.
If you are reading a night in a dark room, you will want to turn the light down, or it will be uncomfortably bright. There are no such thing as REFLECTIVE photons.

Quote:

By the way, the LED light is directed down to the bottom layers from the top layer. It does not project upwards to the user like an LCD screen. It is like having a built in lamp reflecting light off the fonts and background screen. The PW light is NOT a backlight. It is a down facing FRONT light.

So what?
If you can see it, then photons are entering your eyes.

sparklemotion · 10-08-2012, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skydog

@Trauma Doll - I agree. My PW looks identical to yours and only becomes worse/more pronounced as the brightness increases.

I agree as well. It's the same for mine. Any issues become more pronounced the higher the light is set. Also, putting the issues aside, the very high light settings are uncomfortably bright for me to read with in general.

sirmaru · 10-08-2012, 12:33 PM

In another thread JSWINDEN posted pictures of his replacement PW at his comfortable low light level. I still saw plenty of defects in his REPLACEMENT.

When you folks get your replacements, we will finally know what is really happening. If the defects are still photographable, then either Amazon has a huge QC problem or they have injected a mass negative illusion on their unsuspecting customers.

If you still see defects on the replacement, then you may want to exchange your PW's for a Kindle Fire HD 7". That model uses LCD screens where the light can be dimmed without any adverse illusory effects.

I also ordered a Kindle Fire HD 7" 32 Gb which is expected to be delivered on Oct 25.

I use my Kindle Fire 1st Gen with the light dimmed all the way down. Its great but still shows light reflections if any overhead light source shines directly on it. Its useless in bright sunlight due to heavy glare even with the anti-glare screen.

My PW works for me just fine in bright sunlight and in dark rooms with my PW light setting always set at 22. Glare is not a problem with that unit.

Frankly, for just reading eBooks I much prefer my PW at light setting 22 over the Fire. I use the Fire for Android Apps, music and videos. I use it to read eBooks at my desk at night since the Marware custom cover for it opens to a great desk stand. The PW has no desk stand like that.

aceflor · 10-08-2012, 12:47 PM

This is still not about what YOU prefer. I have tried to explain this before, to no avail it seems.

jswinden · 10-08-2012, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trauma Doll

My PW looks like this:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61sXC7P7cJL.jpg

A higher backlight level makes it worse.

Anyone who thinks the above unit does not have a problem should be happy contenting themselves with their 'perfect' units and worry less about convincing those of us with legit problems that we're hallucinating, or "doing it wrong".

Yeah I got angry and some posters early last week when they were acting like this was an Apple forum and trying to say we were imagining the defects! Bleeping ##%#^@!

I would definitely get a replacement on yours, it looks as bad as my first one did.

vxf · 10-08-2012, 02:37 PM

Wow, what a surreal thread.
Why not suggest people just poke themselves in the eyes with sharp sticks?
"Pain and eye watering will prevent the user from noticing any problems with the screen".

Skydog · 10-08-2012, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aceflor

This is still not about what YOU prefer.

Ditto.

7hir7een · 10-08-2012, 05:47 PM

Some people cannot read in the dark with the equivalent of a flashlight shining in their eyes without severe discomfort and headaches. If I was going to read in an extremely bright room (the only way having the light turned up this far could ever come close to comfortable to me), I wouldn't need a front light. Thus, I wouldn't have any use for the Paperwhite. My interest in lit e-ink readers is to read at night in the dark. I think you've set up a paradox with your suggestions. What use is a light in this case?

10-08-2012, 10:45 AM	#1
sirmaru Wizard Posts: 2,426 Karma: 6561538 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Kindle PW 2013, HDX 2013, Galaxy S5 2014	HIGH PW lighting REQUIRED for good reading I've read all the complaints here about Paperwhite defects running from light specks, to clouds and colored lines on the units. I believe almost all the "defects" are ILLUSIONS caused by light reflections between the various layers of the PW screen. These "defects" have probably caused far too many returns to Amazon. These illusions are caused by using the PW at LED low light levels to "conserve" battery use. That is a huge mistake. For example, LED flashlights have almost unlimited lifetimes for their LED elements. Regular flashlight bulbs have much shorter lives. Plus, those LED flashlights use very little power from their batteries. I have four of them being used with NIMH rechargeable batteries which have yet to be recharged after SIX YEARS of use. Keeping the PW light at the default of 22 will end almost all the illusionary defects. If a defect still bothers the user, just turn up the LED light to the maximum of 24. That is the probable level Amazon used to make their promotional pictures and videos. In low light environments it is unnecessary to turn down the LED light level. Those LEDS are using REFLECTIVE light which does not have the same effect as direct light similar to LCD use in the Kindle Fires which do require adjusting light levels to the environment for comfortable viewing. One can replicate these PW screen illusions by taking several panes of glass and placing them side by side. Viewing through them will produce all kinds of illusions. Using a camera on a multi-layer glass screen will also produce the illusions especially if the lens is adjusted to higher closeups. Illusions like this are very common in deserts where multiple layers of sand in bright sunlight cause all kinds of light variations. In deep snow areas it also happens as the multiple layers of snow cause the same effect. Last edited by sirmaru; 10-08-2012 at 10:52 AM.

10-08-2012, 11:08 AM	#2
Barty doofus Posts: 2,523 Karma: 13088847 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kindle Voyage	22 is uncomfortably bright for me, unless I'm in a bright room or outdoors, in which case the light doesn't much come into play. I keep it around 15. For me, I want a more print like experience, not a more LCD like experience. I know it's front lit (well, more parallel lit, really), not back lit, but when it's that bright, it feels like an LCD. Edit: just tried max light again as you suggested. Now I remember the other reason I don't do that: the blobs are even more noticeable. I have a stark white screen with teal and plum blobs in the middle. It's kinda artistic, actually Last edited by Barty; 10-08-2012 at 11:33 AM.

10-08-2012, 12:33 PM	#10
sirmaru Wizard Posts: 2,426 Karma: 6561538 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Kindle PW 2013, HDX 2013, Galaxy S5 2014	In another thread JSWINDEN posted pictures of his replacement PW at his comfortable low light level. I still saw plenty of defects in his REPLACEMENT. When you folks get your replacements, we will finally know what is really happening. If the defects are still photographable, then either Amazon has a huge QC problem or they have injected a mass negative illusion on their unsuspecting customers. If you still see defects on the replacement, then you may want to exchange your PW's for a Kindle Fire HD 7". That model uses LCD screens where the light can be dimmed without any adverse illusory effects. I also ordered a Kindle Fire HD 7" 32 Gb which is expected to be delivered on Oct 25. I use my Kindle Fire 1st Gen with the light dimmed all the way down. Its great but still shows light reflections if any overhead light source shines directly on it. Its useless in bright sunlight due to heavy glare even with the anti-glare screen. My PW works for me just fine in bright sunlight and in dark rooms with my PW light setting always set at 22. Glare is not a problem with that unit. Frankly, for just reading eBooks I much prefer my PW at light setting 22 over the Fire. I use the Fire for Android Apps, music and videos. I use it to read eBooks at my desk at night since the Marware custom cover for it opens to a great desk stand. The PW has no desk stand like that. Last edited by sirmaru; 10-08-2012 at 12:44 PM.

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10-08-2012, 11:11 AM	#3
jswinden Nameless Being	On my PW running the light at level 20 or above even in a well lit room makes the screen way too bright. It seems like many people are using a mid-level between 10 to 16 for well lit rooms. If yours requires level 22 it could just be your eyes or you might have a PW with a dimmer light than most.

10-08-2012, 11:14 AM	#4
Trauma Doll Addict Posts: 219 Karma: 1009108 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: Gave up on PW. Using Kindle Keyboard.	My PW looks like this: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61sXC7P7cJL.jpg A higher backlight level makes it worse. Anyone who thinks the above unit does not have a problem should be happy contenting themselves with their 'perfect' units and worry less about convincing those of us with legit problems that we're hallucinating, or "doing it wrong".

10-08-2012, 11:28 AM	#5
aceflor Wizard Posts: 3,470 Karma: 48036360 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: where the sun lives, or so they say Device: Pocketbook Era, Pocketbook Inkpad 4, Kobo Libra 2, Kindle Scribe	Some units are definitely NOT OK. And this is not a collective hallucination.

10-08-2012, 12:47 PM	#11
aceflor Wizard Posts: 3,470 Karma: 48036360 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: where the sun lives, or so they say Device: Pocketbook Era, Pocketbook Inkpad 4, Kobo Libra 2, Kindle Scribe	This is still not about what YOU prefer. I have tried to explain this before, to no avail it seems.

10-08-2012, 02:37 PM	#13
vxf Guru Posts: 944 Karma: 1490348 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Norman, OK Device: Sony PRS 350, 900, 950; Kindles (ALL of them!); Kobo Aura One	Wow, what a surreal thread. Why not suggest people just poke themselves in the eyes with sharp sticks? "Pain and eye watering will prevent the user from noticing any problems with the screen".

10-08-2012, 05:47 PM	#15
7hir7een Reader of Books Posts: 204 Karma: 178096 Join Date: Oct 2012 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kindle Basic (11th gen)	Some people cannot read in the dark with the equivalent of a flashlight shining in their eyes without severe discomfort and headaches. If I was going to read in an extremely bright room (the only way having the light turned up this far could ever come close to comfortable to me), I wouldn't need a front light. Thus, I wouldn't have any use for the Paperwhite. My interest in lit e-ink readers is to read at night in the dark. I think you've set up a paradox with your suggestions. What use is a light in this case?