Bug 503366 - Cursor outline is extremely dark with HDR enabled when it should be white.
Summary: Cursor outline is extremely dark with HDR enabled when it should be white.
Status: RESOLVED UPSTREAM
Alias: None
Product: kwin
Classification: Plasma
Component: colour-management (other bugs)
Version First Reported In: 6.3.4
Platform: Other Linux
: NOR normal
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: KWin default assignee
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2025-04-25 21:42 UTC by Elabajaba
Modified: 2025-04-29 13:49 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

See Also:
Latest Commit:
Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:


Attachments
The overly dark cursor when HDR is enabled. (198.61 KB, image/jpeg)
2025-04-25 21:42 UTC, Elabajaba
Details
The regular white outlined cursor in SDR mode. (135.55 KB, image/jpeg)
2025-04-25 21:44 UTC, Elabajaba
Details
The big (from wiggling mouse) cursor in HDR having a proper white outline. (50.06 KB, image/jpeg)
2025-04-25 21:45 UTC, Elabajaba
Details

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Description Elabajaba 2025-04-25 21:42:44 UTC
Created attachment 180664 [details]
The overly dark cursor when HDR is enabled.

SUMMARY

The cursor's white outline becomes a very dark grey with HDR enabled, which makes it very hard to see on dark backgrounds (tested with Breeze & Breeze Dark). The cursor outline brightness is effected by the Maximum SDR Brightness slider, but even at the maximum 500 nits it isn't quite as bright as it is in SDR, and at my usual 120nits setting it's nearly invisible on a black background.

If I wiggle the mouse so the cursor becomes large I get the expected white outline.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Enable HDR on an HDR capable display
2. Lower the Maximum SDR Brightness value in Display Configuration to a lower value than the display's maximum HDR brightness.
3. Look at the cursor.

OBSERVED RESULT

Cursor's outline is too dark, making it difficult to see on dark backgrounds.

EXPECTED RESULT

Cursor has a white outline.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Linux/KDE Plasma: Kernel 6.14.3-2-cachyos (64-bit)
KDE Plasma Version: 6.3.4
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.13.0
Qt Version: 6.9.0
Using Wayland

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Iirc this didn't happen on older Plasma 6 versions (eg. 6.0-6.2), but I might be misremembering. Display used is an LG CX with a VMM7100 dp->hdmi 2.1 adapter, 9070xt with Mesa drivers.
Comment 1 Elabajaba 2025-04-25 21:44:49 UTC
Created attachment 180665 [details]
The regular white outlined cursor in SDR mode.

I had to take photos of my screen due to screenshots showing the HDR cursor as having a regular white outline.
Comment 2 Elabajaba 2025-04-25 21:45:43 UTC
Created attachment 180666 [details]
The big (from wiggling mouse) cursor in HDR having a proper white outline.
Comment 3 Zamundaaa 2025-04-29 13:49:03 UTC
This is a driver bug, see https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/drm/amd/-/issues/4144