distortion (dual display)

[Tango]

Some screen distortion on the second display in both endpoints of screen.

Both display to Automatic
Screen 1: 1600x1200
Screen 2: 1280x720 via HDMI on a TV
Graphic Card: ATI HD 3800 driver version Catalyst 08.11
OS: Windows XP SP2

A picture showing left side

[feldon34]

Tango, hope you don't mind I created a new topic for this issue.

[Tango]

No problem.

I posted in the beta forum also so I try to delete that post.

[feldon34]

Got it.

[Jim Sachs]

This is the problem with allowing multimonitors. There's a whole uiniverse of possible configurations out there which will put the camera in unplanned-for positions. You can't just create an infinite world which looks OK from every angle - it has to end somewhere.

[Edgar]

Do you have it set to display same image in all displays?

Jim, I think I might have a possible for this.

[Tango]

Yes the setting it set to: Render same image on all monitors = ON

A workaround is:
Don't use the Displaymode Automatic , set the resolution hard.


//Christer

[cjmaddy]

Jim, - I truly believe that most multi-monitor problems will completely disappear, (and won't even exist!), where screens are of the same configuration. - Both my monitors are the same size, and therefore are set to the same resolution. The only time I see anything strange now, (or the camera appear to be in an odd position), is if I reduce the resolution in one of the screens. - And the only time I do that is if I try to reproduce a fault that someone else has reported.... The misalignment effect that I've previously described, - being the main/only fault that I have found recently, since those early Alpha testing days. - Yes, the angle we see things at across two screens, is very different to that seen on a single monitor, but I think you've solved maybe 99% of the 'originally-unplanned-for' camera position problems.

That is why I would urge you to point out, in the final release, that if MA3 is to be viewed spread across more than one monitor, then all monitors should ideally be the same size, and set to the same resolution. Otherwise, alignment problems are likely.

[Jim Sachs]

OK.

[Tango]

I know the dual monitor is a secondary feature so this is just info on my finding's

Updated the driver to ATI HD 3800 driver version Catalyst 08.12 an now the errors reappears.

The panning goes to far on both side's on monitor 2, around 4 inch of the Tongue Coral on left side and the Bulb Anemone on the right side.

//Christer

[cjmaddy]

Tango, - I'm not certain that I follow what your setup is, but from trying out a few tests, it might be worth setting both the MA3 resolutions to be the same as each other, (ie, in the 'MA3 Display Settings'), irrespective of what your hardware settings might have to be, (ie, in your 'Windows Display Properties Setting').

I find that I can change my monitor's resolutions so that they are different to each other. But keeping the MA3 resolutions the same, corrects the problems that the first change caused. .... If that makes any sense!!!

Bottom line, - try setting Screen 2 (in MA3's 'Display Settings'), to 1600x1200, - if that is available!

[Tango]

Ok I try to explain.

Monitor 1 = Computer monitor aspect ratio 4:3 set to 1600x1200.

Monitor 2 = Samsung Slimfit CRT TV "HD Ready" aspect ratio 16:9 set to 1280x720. (Default HD resolution)

On Monitor 1 the viewing window stop just when it have pan across the Tongue Coral on left side and the Bulb Anemone on the right side.
But on Monitor 2 the viewing window go 4-5 inch more before it stop.
And it's in the endpoints the display error is seen (Look at the picture in post one).

Because the different aspect ratio it's not possible to display same resolution on both monitors. (OK you can patch the graphic driver)

So to get rid of the error is to stop the panning window on Monitor 2 at the same point as on Monitor 1.

Hope I explained so you can understand the scenario.

//Christer

PS: But as Jim writes programming for a second monitor is not so trivial, so i can live with the error. Better to concentrate on a good monitor 1 display.

[Jim Sachs]

Christer - can you try setting Monitor 1 to something near the resolution of Monitor 2 - maybe 1024x768 ?

[Edgar]

Jim,
I haven't had a chance yet to play with the fix for this.

The temporary solution is to make the narrower display as the main display monitor in Windows.

Edit: Never mind. That fails too at this time. I guess you have to try Jim's suggestion.

[Edgar]

It is the opposite, you would want the wider screen to be the main display monitor as a work around for now.

[Tango]

Hi Jim and Edgar

I tested some display resolutions:

First as you suggested setting the monitor 1 to 1600x1200 and monitor 2 to 1024x768 this give the same result on both display (the panning window stop at the same place on both monitors).

I then tested monitor 1 to 1600x1200 and monitor 2 to 1280x720 which give the display error (the panning window goes longer on both sides 4-5 inches).

I then tested monitor 1 to 1600x1200 and monitor 2 to 1280x768 which also give the display error but not so much (the panning window goes not so long on both sides 1-2 inches).

I then tested monitor 1 to 1600x1200 and monitor 2 to 1280x800 which give the same display on both monitors (the panning window stop at the same place on both monitors).

So the more picture height resolution gives less horizontally errors, rather confusing I could understand if it was the other way around.

Maybe it has to do with my TV it's a Widescreen 16:9 CRT TV capable of showing HDTV resolutions on a HDMI input.

//Christer

[Jim Sachs]

What I was asking you to try was set monitor 1 to 1024x768. I have always suspected that setting the height to be roughly the same (regardless of the width) would fix the problem.