Additional new touch-screen controls include on-screen sliders for adjusting brightness and Scene Effect Adjustment, which offers controls specific to the scene mode in use.

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The Advanced Gamma Adjustment function has been improved in the PT-AE8000U, enabling users to control the gamma curve and more precisely calibrate the projector by adjusting brightness Y and R, G and B at any of 15 points.

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Moreover, it can reduce energy consumption by adjusting the backlight brightness.

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You'll also find a few software additions, including a Creative Shot mode that duplicates the image you just captured and applies "Intelligent Scene Analysis, " cropping the frame and adjusting color and brightness without overwriting the original file.

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Dubbed "THX tune-up, " the app slings videos, photos and test patterns to televisions and projectors to guide users through gauging and adjusting their kit's aspect ratio, brightness, color, contrast and tint.

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For what it's worth, I left the brightness to its own devices, automatically adjusting itself based on ambient light available.

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Even after adjusting the gamma and blackness controls, transitions from scene to scene often resulted in blinding brightness or darkness so intense that, when I turned away, I couldn't make out individual items on a desk.

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