Colors noticeably darker after latest update (Plasma/kernel)

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1

Hi all,

After the latest Fedora update (kernel 7.2.4-200.fc44.x86_64, KDE Plasma 6.7.5), I’ve noticed the overall color scheme looks different. Specifically, dark UI elements appear noticeably darker than before. For example, the Dolphin file explorer’s dark background used to look like a standard dark gray, but now it’s much darker, almost black.

image
image1069×743 50.6 KB

Did the theme change, or did some misconfig happen?

Here are the updated packages

Packages altered:
  Action   Package                                           Reason          Repository
  Install  kernel-0:7.2.4-200.fc44.x86_64                    User            updates
  Install  kernel-core-0:7.2.4-200.fc44.x86_64               User            updates
  Install  kernel-modules-0:7.2.4-200.fc44.x86_64            User            updates
  Install  kernel-modules-core-0:7.2.4-200.fc44.x86_64       Dependency      updates
  Install  kernel-modules-extra-0:7.2.4-200.fc44.x86_64      User            updates
  Install  libbabeltrace2-0:2.1.2-5.fc44.x86_64              Dependency      fedora
  Upgrade  aurorae-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                     Group           updates
  Upgrade  bluedevil-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                   Group           updates
  Upgrade  breeze-cursor-theme-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.noarch         Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  breeze-gtk-common-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.noarch           Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  breeze-gtk-gtk4-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.noarch             Weak Dependency updates
  Upgrade  breeze-gtk-gtk3-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.noarch             Weak Dependency updates
  Upgrade  flatpak-kcm-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                 Group           updates
  Upgrade  kactivitymanagerd-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64           Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  kcm-plasma-keyboard-1:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64         Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  plasma-keyboard-1:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64             Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  kcm-plasmalogin-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64             Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-login-manager-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64        Group           updates
  Upgrade  kde-cli-tools-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64               Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  kdesu-1:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                       Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  libkworkspace6-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64              Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  plasma-workspace-common-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64     Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  plasma-workspace-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64            Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-lookandfeel-fedora-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.noarch   Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  plasma-workspace-libs-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64       Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  kde-gtk-config-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64              Group           updates
  Upgrade  kdecoration-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                 Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  kdeplasma-addons-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64            Group           updates
  Upgrade  kernel-headers-0:7.2.4-200.fc44.x86_64            Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  kernel-tools-0:7.2.4-200.fc44.x86_64              Weak Dependency updates
  Upgrade  kernel-tools-libs-0:7.2.4-200.fc44.x86_64         Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  kglobalacceld-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64               Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  kinfocenter-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                 Group           updates
  Upgrade  kmenuedit-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                   Group           updates
  Upgrade  knighttime-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                  Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  kpipewire-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                   Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  krdp-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                        Group           updates
  Upgrade  krdp-libs-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                   Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  kscreen-1:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                     Group           updates
  Upgrade  kscreenlocker-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64               Group           updates
  Upgrade  ksshaskpass-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                 Group           updates
  Upgrade  ksystemstats-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  kwayland-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                    Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  kwin-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                        Group           updates
  Upgrade  kwin-common-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                 Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  kwin-libs-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                   Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  libplasma-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                   Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  kwrited-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                     Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  layer-shell-qt-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64              Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  libchewing-0:0.13.1-4.fc44.x86_64                 Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  libkscreen-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                  Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  libksysguard-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  libksysguard-common-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64         Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  ocean-sound-theme-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.noarch           Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  pam-kwallet-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                 Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-activities-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64           Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  plasma-activities-stats-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64     Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  plasma-breeze-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64               Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-breeze-common-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.noarch        Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  plasma-breeze-qt6-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64           Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  plasma-breeze-qt5-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64           Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  plasma-browser-integration-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64  Weak Dependency updates
  Upgrade  plasma-desktop-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64              Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-desktop-doc-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.noarch          Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-disks-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-drkonqi-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64              Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-integration-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64          Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  plasma-integration-qt5-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64      Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  plasma-milou-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                Weak Dependency updates
  Upgrade  plasma-nm-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                   Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-nm-vpnc-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64              Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-nm-pptp-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64              Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-nm-openvpn-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64           Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-nm-openswan-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64          Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-nm-openconnect-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64       Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-nm-l2tp-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64              Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-pa-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                   Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-print-manager-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64        Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-print-manager-libs-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64   Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  plasma-setup-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-systemmonitor-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64        Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-systemsettings-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64       Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  plasma-thunderbolt-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64          Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-vault-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-welcome-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64              Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma-workspace-wallpapers-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.noarch Group           updates
  Upgrade  plasma5support-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64              Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  polkit-kde-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                  Group           updates
  Upgrade  powerdevil-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                  Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  python3-perf-0:7.2.4-200.fc44.x86_64              Weak Dependency updates
  Upgrade  qqc2-breeze-style-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64           Dependency      updates
  Upgrade  rsync-0:3.5.0-2.fc44.x86_64                       Group           updates
  Upgrade  spectacle-1:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64                   Group           updates
  Upgrade  xdg-desktop-portal-kde-0:6.7.5-1.fc44.x86_64      Dependency      updates
  Replaced aurorae-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                     Group           @System
  Replaced bluedevil-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                   Group           @System
  Replaced breeze-cursor-theme-0:6.7.4-2.fc44.noarch         Dependency      @System
  Replaced breeze-gtk-common-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.noarch           Dependency      @System
  Replaced breeze-gtk-gtk3-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.noarch             Weak Dependency @System
  Replaced breeze-gtk-gtk4-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.noarch             Weak Dependency @System
  Replaced flatpak-kcm-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                 Group           @System
  Replaced kactivitymanagerd-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64           Dependency      @System
  Replaced kcm-plasma-keyboard-1:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64         Dependency      @System
  Replaced kcm-plasmalogin-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64             Group           @System
  Replaced kde-cli-tools-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64               Dependency      @System
  Replaced kde-gtk-config-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64              Group           @System
  Replaced kdecoration-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                 Dependency      @System
  Replaced kdeplasma-addons-0:6.7.4-2.fc44.x86_64            Group           @System
  Replaced kdesu-1:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                       Dependency      @System
  Replaced kernel-headers-0:7.1.3-200.fc44.x86_64            Dependency      @System
  Replaced kernel-tools-0:7.1.13-200.fc44.x86_64             Weak Dependency @System
  Replaced kernel-tools-libs-0:7.1.13-200.fc44.x86_64        Dependency      @System
  Replaced kglobalacceld-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64               Dependency      @System
  Replaced kinfocenter-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                 Group           @System
  Replaced kmenuedit-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                   Group           @System
  Replaced knighttime-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                  Dependency      @System
  Replaced kpipewire-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                   Dependency      @System
  Replaced krdp-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                        Group           @System
  Replaced krdp-libs-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                   Dependency      @System
  Replaced kscreen-1:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                     Group           @System
  Replaced kscreenlocker-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64               Group           @System
  Replaced ksshaskpass-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                 Group           @System
  Replaced ksystemstats-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                Dependency      @System
  Replaced kwayland-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                    Dependency      @System
  Replaced kwin-0:6.7.4-2.fc44.x86_64                        Group           @System
  Replaced kwin-common-0:6.7.4-2.fc44.x86_64                 Dependency      @System
  Replaced kwin-libs-0:6.7.4-2.fc44.x86_64                   Dependency      @System
  Replaced kwrited-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                     Dependency      @System
  Replaced layer-shell-qt-0:6.7.4-2.fc44.x86_64              Dependency      @System
  Replaced libchewing-0:0.13.1-1.fc44.x86_64                 Dependency      @System
  Replaced libkscreen-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                  Dependency      @System
  Replaced libksysguard-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                Dependency      @System
  Replaced libksysguard-common-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64         Dependency      @System
  Replaced libkworkspace6-0:6.7.4-2.fc44.x86_64              Dependency      @System
  Replaced libplasma-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                   Dependency      @System
  Replaced ocean-sound-theme-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.noarch           Dependency      @System
  Replaced pam-kwallet-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                 Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-activities-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64           Dependency      @System
  Replaced plasma-activities-stats-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64     Dependency      @System
  Replaced plasma-breeze-0:6.7.4-2.fc44.x86_64               Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-breeze-common-0:6.7.4-2.fc44.noarch        Dependency      @System
  Replaced plasma-breeze-qt5-0:6.7.4-2.fc44.x86_64           Dependency      @System
  Replaced plasma-breeze-qt6-0:6.7.4-2.fc44.x86_64           Dependency      @System
  Replaced plasma-browser-integration-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64  Weak Dependency @System
  Replaced plasma-desktop-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64              Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-desktop-doc-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.noarch          Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-disks-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-drkonqi-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64              Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-integration-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64          Dependency      @System
  Replaced plasma-integration-qt5-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64      Dependency      @System
  Replaced plasma-keyboard-1:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64             Dependency      @System
  Replaced plasma-login-manager-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64        Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-lookandfeel-fedora-0:6.7.4-2.fc44.noarch   Dependency      @System
  Replaced plasma-milou-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                Weak Dependency @System
  Replaced plasma-nm-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                   Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-nm-l2tp-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64              Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-nm-openconnect-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64       Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-nm-openswan-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64          Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-nm-openvpn-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64           Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-nm-pptp-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64              Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-nm-vpnc-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64              Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-pa-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                   Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-print-manager-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64        Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-print-manager-libs-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64   Dependency      @System
  Replaced plasma-setup-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-systemmonitor-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64        Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-systemsettings-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64       Dependency      @System
  Replaced plasma-thunderbolt-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64          Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-vault-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-welcome-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64              Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-workspace-0:6.7.4-2.fc44.x86_64            Group           @System
  Replaced plasma-workspace-common-0:6.7.4-2.fc44.x86_64     Dependency      @System
  Replaced plasma-workspace-libs-0:6.7.4-2.fc44.x86_64       Dependency      @System
  Replaced plasma-workspace-wallpapers-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.noarch Group           @System
  Replaced plasma5support-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64              Dependency      @System
  Replaced polkit-kde-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                  Group           @System
  Replaced powerdevil-0:6.7.4-2.fc44.x86_64                  Dependency      @System
  Replaced python3-perf-0:7.1.13-200.fc44.x86_64             Weak Dependency @System
  Replaced qqc2-breeze-style-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64           Dependency      @System
  Replaced rsync-0:3.5.0-1.fc44.x86_64                       Group           @System
  Replaced spectacle-1:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64                   Group           @System
  Replaced xdg-desktop-portal-kde-0:6.7.4-1.fc44.x86_64      Dependency      @System
3

What theme are you using?

4

The default one breeze-dark

5

I noticed the same thing after updating yesterday. It seems darker like it now has a higher contrast and is noticeable in all programs but I’m using GNOME.

I went to settings → Color management and noticed there was a new profile, though I’m not sure if it was there before but in the details it does say it was created today.

6

I noticed this as well, but didn’t think much of it, I just his the brightness button (F3 on my Lenovo) and everything works as normal.

Also, my Dark style i very fresh and gives a very good contrasts.

7

Possibly from this change in Plasma 6.7.5? core/iccprofile: fall back to BToA0 if BToA1 isn’t available

(Addresses this KDE bug ticket: HDR ICC profile in KWin 6.7.4 crushes PQ blacks and compresses midtones)

8

Sorry, I didn’t see this was a KDE issue, my favorite choice is Gnome.

9

Update: I have found out that it’s specifically caused by kernel-7.2.4. If I downgrade to kernel-7.1.13, the color accuracy issue goes away completely and everything looks normal again.

On 7.2.4, switching my external monitor’s refresh rate to 100Hz fixes the darker colors. At 60Hz the darker colors and broken brightness/color accuracy happen consistently.

10

I guess that’s a change in the kernel GPU drivers then, for AMD or Intel (whichever you have). So it would affect KDE and GNOME users alike.

11

I have AMD

13

So it appears to be specific to AMD GPUs. And this could be some fixes and changes they did to the amd gpu driver in the linux kernel, which I believe it might have been running in the “Limited color range” and now it has changed to “Full”, though I don’t know how to check that.
These commits could be the ones that changed the color space for people who was using AMD gpus and caused it to be darker.

14

Found the root cause. It was caused by a monitor setting, not a kernel issue.

My Samsung monitor has a setting called “Black Level” that optimizes picture brightness and contrast by adjusting the black level of the video signal. It was set to Low, which was causing darker colors, specifically at 60Hz. After changing the Black Level from Low to Normal in the monitor’s OSD menu, colors are now looking normal.