Surface Pro 2017 Backlight Bleed

I have had 4 different Surface Pros and I can categorically say that NONE had the "exact same error on all devices". The error was definitely appearing on a specific side of the device but with different size and shape. To claim that it's the exact same error which can be fixed by a static image adjustment issimply not true.

Thanks, Light Bleeder. I'm now convinced that it's the exact same error on all the devices. Probably TCON / LCD controllers being incorrectly programmed or tuned.

Maybe some people are still not convinced that there could be a solution (not to mention Microsoft who is in denial there is a problem in the first place). While I do not think a program that floats on top is as elegant of a solution as implementing a pixel shader (or fixing the LCD controls for that matter), I want to give people a proper proof of concept. Fortunately, such programs have been written. We'll rely on an old piece of software. The idea is to implement the quadratic correction as an alpha-compositing filter, using PNG files. Unfortunately, this software is far from perfect. It uses low bit depth alphas, which gives visual artifacts/blocks, but only if you look very closely. More annoyingly, it doesn't rotate the filter when the screen orientation is rotated, you'll have to do it manually. I don't have time to code, but their source code is available to adapt, for the enterprising reader. (I have no relation with the developers and do not bear any responsibility whatsoever for the use of their software and, for that matter, doing any of the below. Proceed at your own risk.)

1. Download and unzip Custom Desktop Logo somewhere easy to access.
2. Install it by running the main file, which really only installs the .NET framework. Make sure it's running in your taskbar as a green icon (a sample logo may show).
3. Navigate to the System\Images folder where you unzipped it.
4. Create two new folders, "Filter Landscape" and "Filter Portrait"
5. Download the filter-landscape.png and filter-portrait.png files, and put them in the corresponding folders.
6. From the task bar, right click on the green icon, and choose settings. (If you can't see it, run the program again. Whenever you open the settings, only minimize, closing it closes the program.)
7. Under the [Select Images] tab, choose the desired filter orientation folder. Under [Location], choose Z-Level Topmost, Display Location Center, and Offsets X and Y both 0. Under [Size], set to 0.58 (strange, but it's what scales right). Under [Animation/Graphics] set Frames Per Second and Delay both to 0, and Opacity to 255 (max)

To test it quickly, flip your Surface, if you haven't selected the portrait filter, right click on the green icon, under [Select Images] choose the portrait filter folder. You may need to reselect Display Location as Center, if it's not centered. Then minimize the program, and fire up OneNote. Note away without light bleed![EDIT: Because of undue criticism I received below for my optimistic claims, I have to say here that you may see *reduced* light bleed, based on your system. It could still be a positive thing. After all, I didn't just assume, I asked you to ... (read next line).]

Tell me if it works.

PS: Note that this won't work on the Ctrl+Alt+Del screen, or when OneNote is in fullscreen mode, or for the Sketchpad. Somehow the filter won't stay on top in those cases (it does work for MS Paint fullscreen) . Also it won't affect some screen objects, like the mouse cursor. Finally, it will affect taking screenshots (they'll have the filter/compensation burnt-in). For all these reasons you see why a DWM pixel shader is a much better solution than this. But hey... proof of concept.

Please do suggest better software that could do the same thing (allows alpha compositing transparency with PNG files or the like, floats on top of all/most applications, and passes clicks and touch/pen inputs through). These are generally known as image overlay software, but they don't always do the alpha compositing right.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Opening the image SS posted FIXES the light bleed I have on the left side of my screen in portrait mode!   It's like magic!  I couldn't even tell which side had the light bleed until I flipped the machine around 180 and saw the atroucious light bleed on the right side without the gradient. AMAZING!

Microsoft - please read the above and fix this with an update!  

Maybe someone can create a lightweight app that floats below all windows and applies a transparent gradient similar to what SS posted. The app could allow the user to fine tune the density of the black on the left side.  I know It's a band aid to a larger problem but for many it would be adequate.

I bought the top tier surface pro i7, 16gb, 1tb 2017 model. I was hoping this would replace my MBP.  I also just realized that I'm out of my return period since I didn't take it out of the package until after the return period. I work with photoshop everyday and the light bleed is forcing me to work in landscape mode only which is really pathetic. 

I am now considering selling this and just getting the iPad Pro 12.9. I can use the iPad pro with Astropad to do my Photoshop work but it's not as good as having a real computer. Please FIX THIS!

New test! (For those who haven't given up in frustration...)

Download this corrected OneNote screenshot and see if it displays without "bleed" when in full screen. Use MS Paint. To lure people in I'm inserting this as an image below, but don't use it since it's not at full resolution. Here's the original screenshot for comparison. As a service to the community and to test this idea further, I'm happy to "correct" the first handful of your own suggested screenshots if you upload somewhere and give a link here.

If it works for all/most people, then Microsoft can fix this by implementing a simple pixel shader into the Desktop Window Manager (DWM). It should run very fast and with imperceptible impact on system performance. Just apply this equation to the bottom 200 pixels (= Offset), preferably at the highest bit precision possible:

IF (Ycoordinate > 1824-Offset) THEN R/G/B value = R/G/B value * [1 - Scale*(Ycoordinate-1824+Offset)^2]

It's a simple quadratic correction for the extra light. A value for Scale of roughly 6e-6 seems to work best for me, and may be adjusted along with the Offset. It could even be implemented as a lookup table. A fancier version will also make sure there are no banding effects, say by dithering with very small amounts of noise, but it's not necessary. (Here's a bonus "screenshot" to illustrate this, just for kicks!)

It doesn't seem like we can hook into the DWM easily as developers. So listen up Microsoft. I have given you a solution. Please implement. At the very least, the fact that the correction is so simple should point at the source of the problem and then maybe a better solution can be found (perhaps reprogramming the TCON board?).

That is appalling. Not only they ignore the issue but also admit what they think about their user base. How they can expect pros to have trust in the brand when they behave this way. Shame on you Microsoft.