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NVIDIA HDR Issue In Bottles Flatpak: KWIN WSI Layer Bug

Alex Johnson
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NVIDIA HDR Issue In Bottles Flatpak: KWIN WSI Layer Bug

Is your High Dynamic Range (HDR) looking washed out in Bottles Flatpak when using NVIDIA KWIN WSI? You're not alone! Many users have reported this frustrating issue where HDR, while toggleable, doesn't function correctly, resulting in a washed-out display. This article dives deep into the NVIDIA KWIN WSI HDR layer bug encountered in Bottles Flatpak, exploring its causes, symptoms, and potential solutions. We'll also compare this issue with Steam Native, where HDR works seamlessly, to understand the problem's scope and provide a comprehensive guide for troubleshooting and resolving this visual glitch.

Understanding the NVIDIA KWIN WSI HDR Layer Bug

The core of the issue lies within the interaction between the NVIDIA drivers, the KWIN window manager, and the WSI (Window System Interface) layer within the Bottles Flatpak environment. HDR, or High Dynamic Range, is a technology that expands the range of colors and contrast in a display, resulting in a more vibrant and realistic visual experience. The WSI layer is responsible for handling the communication between the application and the display server, ensuring that the HDR information is correctly transmitted and rendered. When the NVIDIA KWIN WSI HDR layer malfunctions, this communication breaks down, leading to a washed-out or incorrect HDR output.

The problem specifically manifests in Bottles Flatpak, a containerization technology that isolates applications from the host system. While this isolation provides benefits like security and dependency management, it can also introduce complexities in how applications interact with system-level components like graphics drivers and display servers. The bug seems to affect applications running within Bottles that rely on HDR output, causing the displayed colors to appear dull and lifeless. This discrepancy between expected HDR visuals and the actual washed-out output is a clear indicator of the issue.

One key observation is that Steam Native, which runs directly on the host system, does not exhibit this problem. This suggests that the issue is not inherent to NVIDIA drivers or KWIN itself but rather arises from the specific environment created by Bottles Flatpak. The fact that Steam Native handles HDR correctly points towards a potential misconfiguration or compatibility problem within the Flatpak environment that is interfering with the proper functioning of the NVIDIA KWIN WSI HDR layer.

Symptoms and How to Reproduce the Bug

Identifying the problem is the first step towards finding a solution. Here are the common symptoms and steps to reproduce the NVIDIA KWIN WSI HDR layer bug in Bottles Flatpak:

Symptoms

  • Washed-out colors: The most prominent symptom is the dull and lifeless appearance of the display when HDR is enabled in-game. Colors lack vibrancy, and the overall image looks faded, as if a filter has been applied.
  • HDR toggleable but not working: The HDR option might be available in the game's settings, and you can toggle it on or off, but the visual output remains washed out, indicating that the HDR signal is not being correctly processed.
  • Inconsistent HDR behavior: HDR might work correctly in some applications or games outside of Bottles Flatpak but fail within the environment, highlighting the issue's localized nature.

Steps to Reproduce

  1. Install Proton-GE or Proton-Cachy: Use a recent version of Proton-GE or Proton-Cachy, custom compatibility layers for running Windows games on Linux.
  2. Configure the environment: Set the following environment variables within Bottles:
    • PROTON_ENABLE_HDR=1: Enables HDR support in Proton.
    • ENABLE_HDR_WSI=1: Activates the WSI layer for HDR.
    • PROTON_ENABLE_WAYLAND=1: Enables Wayland support (if you're using Wayland).
  3. Run a game: Launch a game known to support HDR, such as "Outer Worlds 2" or any other title that exhibits this issue.
  4. Select HDR in-game: Navigate to the display or graphics settings menu within the game and enable HDR.
  5. Observe the washed-out display: If the bug is present, the screen will appear washed out, indicating that the WSI layer for KWIN is not functioning correctly.

Analyzing Debugging Information and Logs

When troubleshooting technical issues, debugging information and logs are invaluable resources. They provide insights into the system's state, potential errors, and the sequence of events leading to the problem. In the case of the NVIDIA KWIN WSI HDR layer bug in Bottles Flatpak, analyzing the debugging information can help pinpoint the root cause and guide the search for a solution.

Key Debugging Information

The debugging information provided in the initial bug report includes several key sections that shed light on the system configuration and potential issues:

  • Official Package: true indicates that Bottles is installed from an official source, such as Flathub.
  • Version: '51.24' specifies the version of Bottles being used.
  • DE/WM: plasma identifies the desktop environment as KDE Plasma, which utilizes the KWIN window manager.
  • Display:
    • X.org: true and X.org (port): :1 indicate that the X.Org display server is running.
    • Wayland: true suggests that Wayland support is also enabled, although the primary display server might still be X.Org.
  • Graphics:
    • The vendors section provides details about the graphics drivers:
      • vendor: nvidia confirms that NVIDIA drivers are in use.
      • The envs section shows environment variables related to NVIDIA Prime, which is used for managing hybrid graphics systems (laptops with both integrated and dedicated GPUs).
      • icd: /usr/share/vulkan/icd.d/nvidia_icd.json specifies the path to the NVIDIA Vulkan ICD (Installable Client Driver), which is necessary for Vulkan-based applications to interface with the NVIDIA GPU.
      • nvngx_path: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/GL/nvidia-580-95-05/lib/nvidia/wine indicates the path to NVIDIA NGX libraries, which are used for features like DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) in Wine.
    • The prime section shows that both integrated and discrete GPUs are null, which might be unexpected and could indicate a configuration issue.
  • Kernel:
    • Type: Linux confirms the operating system.
    • Version: 6.17.5-1-cachyos-eevdf-lto specifies the kernel version.
  • Disk and RAM: Provide information about disk space and memory.
  • Bottles_envs: null indicates that no custom environment variables are set within Bottles (besides the ones configured for HDR).

Interpreting the Information

Based on the debugging information, here are some potential areas to investigate:

  • Hybrid Graphics Configuration: The prime section showing null for both integrated and discrete GPUs is concerning. This could indicate an issue with NVIDIA Prime configuration, preventing the system from properly utilizing the dedicated NVIDIA GPU for rendering. If the dedicated GPU isn't correctly engaged, HDR output might be affected.
  • Wayland vs. X.Org: While Wayland support is enabled, the system might still be running on X.Org. HDR support on Wayland can be more complex and might require specific configurations. It's worth testing if the issue persists when explicitly using X.Org.
  • Driver Version: While the NVIDIA driver version (580.95.05) isn't explicitly problematic, it's always recommended to use the latest stable drivers to ensure compatibility and bug fixes.

Troubleshooting Logs

Unfortunately, the initial bug report doesn't include any troubleshooting logs. Logs can provide valuable clues about errors or warnings that occur when the application is running. To gather logs, you can try the following:

  • Run Bottles from the terminal: Launch Bottles from the terminal to see any error messages or warnings printed during startup and runtime.
  • Check Proton logs: Proton generates logs that can provide insights into compatibility issues and errors. You can usually find these logs in the game's prefix directory within Bottles.
  • Use journalctl: journalctl is a system logging tool that can capture logs from various system components, including graphics drivers and display servers. You can filter the logs by time or application to find relevant information.

Potential Solutions and Workarounds

While a definitive solution to the NVIDIA KWIN WSI HDR layer bug in Bottles Flatpak might require a fix from Bottles developers, NVIDIA, or the Proton project, there are several potential solutions and workarounds you can try:

  1. Verify NVIDIA Prime Configuration: Ensure that NVIDIA Prime is correctly configured to utilize the dedicated NVIDIA GPU. You can use tools like nvidia-settings or prime-run to manage GPU offloading. If the system isn't using the dedicated GPU, HDR output will likely be affected.
  2. Test with X.Org: If you're using Wayland, try switching to X.Org to see if the issue persists. While Wayland is the future of Linux desktop display servers, HDR support can be less mature compared to X.Org. If HDR works correctly on X.Org, the issue might be specific to Wayland.
  3. Update NVIDIA Drivers: Make sure you're using the latest stable NVIDIA drivers. Newer drivers often include bug fixes and performance improvements that can resolve compatibility issues.
  4. Experiment with Proton Versions: Try different versions of Proton-GE or Proton-Cachy. Sometimes, specific Proton versions might have better compatibility with certain games or hardware configurations. Reverting to an older version or trying a newer one might resolve the issue.
  5. Modify Bottles Environment Variables:
    • Disable WSI Layer: Try removing the ENABLE_HDR_WSI=1 environment variable. This will disable the WSI layer, and HDR might be handled differently, potentially resolving the issue. However, this might also impact performance or compatibility with some games.
    • Force a Specific Vulkan ICD: You can try explicitly specifying the path to the NVIDIA Vulkan ICD using the VK_ICD_FILENAMES environment variable. This can ensure that the correct ICD is being used.
  6. Check KWIN Configuration: While less likely, there might be specific KWIN settings that are interfering with HDR. Review your KWIN settings related to display and compositing to see if any options might be causing conflicts.
  7. Use Native Steam as a Workaround: As mentioned earlier, Steam Native doesn't seem to exhibit this issue. If you primarily encounter the bug with games available on Steam, using Steam Native might be a temporary workaround.

Conclusion

The NVIDIA KWIN WSI HDR layer bug in Bottles Flatpak is a frustrating issue that can significantly impact the visual experience of games and applications relying on HDR. By understanding the symptoms, analyzing debugging information, and trying the potential solutions outlined in this article, you can increase your chances of resolving the problem or finding a suitable workaround. While a definitive fix might require updates from the developers of Bottles, NVIDIA, or Proton, your troubleshooting efforts can contribute to identifying the root cause and helping the community find a lasting solution.

For further information on HDR and display technology, visit a trusted resource like DisplayHDR. This website provides comprehensive information about HDR standards and technologies, helping you stay informed about the latest advancements in display technology.

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