i turned on the elmb sync but now my game looks super dark, can't see anything in shadows

Diagnosis

This issue is caused by the way the ASUS VG28UQL1A handles backlight strobing. ELMB (Extreme Low Motion Blur) works by rapidly switching the backlight on and off to eliminate ghosting and motion blur. When you enable "ELMB Sync," the monitor attempts to synchronize this strobing with a Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) signal. However, the physical act of strobing the backlight significantly reduces the total amount of light reaching your eyes because the backlight is literally off for a portion of every frame. This creates a perceived drop in luminance, which manifests as "crushed blacks" or overly dark shadows, making it nearly impossible to see enemies or objects in low-light areas of a game.

Furthermore, if you are using an HDR-enabled title, ELMB Sync can conflict with the peak brightness mapping of the panel. The monitor struggles to maintain the high-nit output required for HDR while simultaneously pulsing the backlight for motion clarity. You can confirm this is the cause if the brightness returns to normal the moment you toggle ELMB off or switch the monitor back to a standard 60Hz fixed refresh rate without strobing enabled.

How to Fix It

To restore your visibility while maintaining the best possible image quality, follow these precise steps to reconfigure your display settings:

1. Reach behind the bottom right edge of the monitor and press the 5-way OSD joystick to open the main menu.
2. Navigate to the GameVisual menu. If you are currently in "scenery" or "sRGB" mode, some brightness adjustments are locked. Switch the mode to Racing or FPS to unlock full control over the backlight and color gamma.
3. Move the joystick to the Gaming tab and locate the ELMB Sync option. Switch this to Off. This will stop the backlight strobing and immediately restore the full luminosity of the panel.
4. While still in the Gaming menu, navigate to Adaptive-Sync and ensure it is set to On. This allows G-Sync Compatible or FreeSync Premium to handle screen tearing without sacrificing brightness.
5. Go to the Image menu, select Brightness, and manually increase the slider to 80-100% to compensate for any remaining shadow depth.
6. If you are using Windows 10 or 11, right-click your desktop, go to Display Settings > HDR, and ensure "Use HDR" is toggled On, then adjust the SDR Content Brightness slider to balance the desktop UI with the game's brightness.

If That Didn't Work

• Adjust Gamma Settings: If the screen still feels too dark in the shadows, go to the OSD menu, navigate to Image > Gamma. Change the setting from 2.2 to 2.0. This lifts the mid-tones and makes shadow detail much more visible without washing out the entire image.
• Disable HDR in-game: Some titles have poor HDR implementation that conflicts with the VG28UQL1A's peak brightness. Turn off HDR within the specific game's video settings and use the monitor's "Racing" GameVisual mode for a more consistent, brighter image.
• Check NVIDIA/AMD Control Panel: Open your GPU software and check the "Digital Vibrance" (NVIDIA) or "Saturation" (AMD) settings. Increasing these slightly can help distinguish objects in dark areas when the monitor's hardware brightness is maxed out.
• Perform a Factory Reset: If you have tweaked multiple settings and the brightness feels "off," go to System > All Reset in the OSD. This clears any conflicting internal profiles that might be limiting the backlight output.

Heads Up

• Eye Strain Warning: Using ELMB for extended periods can cause significant eye fatigue and headaches for some users due to the high-frequency flickering of the backlight. If you notice flickering or a "shimmer" in the image, disable ELMB immediately.
• Refresh Rate Lock: Be aware that when ELMB is active, the monitor may lock your refresh rate or disable certain VRR features depending on the firmware version; always check your Windows Display settings to ensure you are still running at the intended 144Hz.
• Cable Matters: To ensure ELMB Sync and Adaptive-Sync function without flickering, use the included DisplayPort 1.4 cable. Using an older HDMI 2.0 cable can lead to bandwidth bottlenecks that cause the screen to black out when switching modes.
• Heat Management: Running the monitor at 100% brightness with high refresh rates increases the heat output of the internal power board. Ensure the vents on the top of the chassis are clear of dust to prevent thermal throttling of the panel.