[PCM2]

Hi Jaye,

I’ve merged your thread with this one as it’s a suitable place. As covered here Low Blue Light (LBL) settings achieve the blue light reduction primarily by reducing the blue colour channel. They also make varying adjustments to the remaining colour channels to help balance things out, though extreme adjustments here come at the expense of contrast. We always explore LBL settings in our reviews – even those that aren’t listed as the main LBL setting but still serve the purpose. So I’d certainly recommend looking at some of them for reference on how different manufacturers implement this. It’s also important to reduce brightness, which some LBL settings will do by default – you can usually just do this manually yourself, which maximises the effect. The figures some manufacturers give will just refer to their standard setting ‘as is’ with the brightness it sets – they’re there for marketing and easy to surpass on any monitor. You could even create your own LBL setting that was highly effective by simply making manual adjustments to colour channels and reducing brightness, though that’s less convenient and with extreme adjustments you’ll upset the image balance and contrast significantly.

Some models will also shift the peak of blue light to less energetic wavelengths, referred to as a ‘Hardware Solution’ rather than ‘Software Solution’ by certification board TÜV Rheinland. The best example of this would be models which are ‘Eyesafe’ certified, such as the Acer XV282K KV we’ve reviewed. This doesn’t affect the image balance like traditional LBL settings, but it also doesn’t reduce blue light at all wavelengths and therefore isn’t something you should consider a replacement to traditional LBL settings in the evenings. Most manufacturers will still offer traditional LBL solutions even on models which offer this ‘Hardware Solution’. From the XV282K KV review:

“This monitor is certified as ‘Eyesafe’ by TÜV Rheinland, which means it incorporates patented ‘always on’ Low Blue Light (LBL) technology developed by US-based company Eyesafe. Specialised filtering materials are used to shift the blue light peak to less energetic wavelengths – from the more common ~450nm to ~460nm whilst also reducing the amplitude of the peak. There’s also a subsequent reduction in even more energetic wavelengths such as 435 – 440nm. Combined with software-level adjustment (colour channel pre-correction), this ‘always on’ feature integrated into the Acer is designed to greatly reduce energetic blue light output without imparting the sort of tint associated with traditional LBL implementations. This can be beneficial from a viewing comfort perspective. But there are many facets to viewing comfort, so this doesn’t guarantee a comfortable viewing experience in isolation. Reducing exposure to stimulating blue light of all wavelengths in the hours leading towards bed is particularly important to aid a restful night’s sleep. Cutting out the most energetic wavelengths alone is helpful, but even the less energetic wavelengths of blue light affect sleep [relaxation state]… To help with this, the monitor includes additional ‘Low Blue Light’ (LBL) functionality in the ‘Picture’ section of the OSD. “

[PCM2]

Whilst I would still advocate using Low Blue Light (LBL) settings of your choice (be in through the monitor or via software), a very enlightening update can be found on in another thread. It seems the link between melatonin suppression and blue light you’d be exposed to from screens isn’t as clear-cut as many in ‘the industry’ would like us to believe. I’m definitely of the opinion that it’s a good thing to cut out if your eyes feel more comfortable that way and that it can help provide a more relaxing viewing experience that is more appropriate in the evening. But the reasons for this aren’t as clear-cut as I thought. 🙂

[kaneda]

I see monitors, like the HP 3223qe, on paper look amazing but the low blue light is always on, is this bad for color accuracy?

[PCM2]

kaneda – I’ve merged your thread with this one as it’s a suitable place. There is discussion at the top of this page regarding the ‘Hardware Solution’ for Low Blue Light (LBL) to which you’re referring.

[kaneda]

Ummm.. still no sure, seems like yes and no depending on the manufacturer.

[PCM2]

Sorry if it wasn’t clear. Note I said at the top of this page – which specifically discusses ‘Hardware Solution’ LBL which you were asking about – not the start of the thread. It depends on whether a ‘Hardware Solution’ or ‘Software Solution’ is used – these are two distinctly different approaches to LBL.

As per my earlier post (top of this page), a ‘Hardware Solution’ is specifically designed to reduce energetic blue light output by shifting the wavelength of blue light and in some cases slightly muting the amplitude. This light is still blue, it is just a slightly different wavelength of blue. It does not impact colour accuracy or impart an odd tint, that’s really a key advantage compared to a ‘Software Solution’ (i.e. adjusting colour channels). There can certainly be some differences in for example the representation of white, even at the same colour temperature (a form of metamerism), but that applies to different backlight types in a broader sense with different phosphors, QDs and diodes being used. Differences which your eyes adjust to readily when a screen is used in isolation and wouldn’t affect colorimeteric colour accuracy.

[Momchil]

Hello, today I got the Samsung LS27A600UUUXEN.
The matte coating is better on this one (as I expected). There is a little graininess, but I don’t mind it.

My problem with it is that it doesn’t have TÜV Low Blue Light (Hardware Solution) certificate.
It has only TÜV Intelligent Eye Care certificate – https://www.certipedia.com/quality_marks/0217008574?locale=en
In the monitor’s menu there is a Eye Saver Mode (low/high) which makes the picture really yellow-ish.
And also there is a Adaptive Picture which automatically optimizes brightness and blue light based on the lighting environment, which also makes the screen very yellow and unusable for me.
This looks like a software solution to reduce the visible blue light. But what about the HEV blue light?

To my understanding there are two types of blue light – first one is the somewhat dangerous in the long run and invisible to the human eye – ~450nm blue light (HEV light) and the other one is connected with the production of melatonin, which is not dangerous, just harder to fall a sleep after using a screen without this yellow-ish look.

The Dell S2721D actually have TÜV Low Blue Light (Hardware Solution) and Flicker Free (as tested on rtings) certificate – https://www.certipedia.com/quality_marks/1111254286?locale=en&certificate_number=50586185

Should I be worried about the Samsung’s lack of TÜV Low Blue Light (Hardware Solution)?
Also there is a similar model Samsung, which has TÜV Low Blue Light (Software Solution) certificate, but without TÜV Intelligent Eye Care.

My conclusion is: Software Solution = visible low blue light (yellow-ish, bad colors), Hardware Solution = good colors, without the HEV blue light?
Thanks!

[PCM2]

Momchil,

I’ve merged your thread with this one as it’s a suitable place. I’d also advise reading through it in addition to this thread as supplemental reading. The amount of blue light you’re going to be exposed to from a monitor is miniscule compared to natural daylight. And even some room lighting, for that matter. Some people may find models with a reduced blue peak or more balanced spectrum more comfortable, visually, but the notion that the light that a monitor will output causes long term damage is industry scaremongering. In part from people who market and license LBL technologies or other accessories to combat blue light.

Most people have the opposite problem of being exposed to insufficient blue light (from natural daylight, where it is wonderfully abundant), though I still agree that minimising exposure after sunset is advised. So whilst I would certainly suggest applying a Low Blue Light (LBL) setting where possible to reduce blue light exposure in the evening, this is to create a more relaxing viewing environment rather than protect the eyes from damage. I’d advise doing the same on models with a shifted blue peak as well, because you actually want to reduce blue light of all wavelengths and achieve a warmer look which is more restful on the eyes.

[Momchil]

I’ve read a lot of this topic here and the main article and It’s much more clear now! Thanks again. This forum is such a great place.
I do actually prefer somewhat warmer temperature (if there is not such preset, I just manually reduce the green and blue channels), but I can’t stand more aggressive LBL filters.

[Momchil]

I just wanted to add that I noticed if a monitor has a visible graininess, that graininess is becoming a little more noticeable with the blue light filter on.
It’s bothering me more than on a monitors without visible graininess like the Dell S2721D or PA278QV.

[PCM2]

Yes, different settings on the monitor and indeed different lighting environments can make graininess more or less noticeable. You might find it more noticeable with a lower brightness setting on the monitor or in a dimmer room, too.

[Author]

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