How to Fix Blurry Graphics | Doom: The Dark Ages
Image Credits: id Software, DOOM: Dark Ages
Running Doom: The Dark Ages on high settings but still getting soft, smeared visuals? That’s probably why you’re here.
Several settings, especially default ones, can make the game look blurrier than it should.
Here's how to sharpen things up and get the visuals looking like they actually match your GPU.
1. Turn Off Film Grain
This is the #1 culprit for that fuzzy, old-movie look.
Go to Settings > Video
Find Film Grain
Set it to 0%
The game defaults to a noticeable grain overlay. Turning this off instantly clears up the screen.
2. Check Your Upscaling Mode
If things are blurry at a distance, it's likely your Resolution Scaling Mode is set to something weird.
Go to Settings > Video
Set Resolution Scaling Mode to OFF for native resolution rendering
(Or use DLSS Quality / FSR Quality if you're targeting higher performance with sharp visuals)
Avoid lower-quality modes like Balanced or Performance unless you’re on older hardware.
3. Adjust the Sharpness Slider
Even with Film Grain off, the game can still look soft, this is where the Sharpness setting comes in.
Find Sharpness under Video Settings
The default is 1.50, but bump it up to 2.00 or higher for a crisp image
Don’t go too high or it’ll look oversharpened, but pushing it above default helps tremendously.
4. Disable Motion Blur (Optional)
This isn’t technically part of the blur issue, but it adds to the visual mush, especially at high speed.
Motion Blur: Set to OFF (or Cinematics Only, if you want the dramatic look just for cutscenes)
5. Make Sure You're Actually Running at Native Resolution
It sounds obvious, but check:
Resolution: Confirm you're playing at your monitor's full native res (e.g. 1920x1080, 2560x1440, 3840x2160)
If you're using any kind of downscaling or rendering below native, visuals will suffer
6. DLSS/FSR Settings (Advanced)
If you're using NVIDIA or AMD upscalers:
DLSS: Use Quality mode, and if possible, force DLSS 4 via the NVIDIA App for cleaner results
FSR: Stick with Ultra Quality or Quality. Avoid lower modes unless absolutely necessary
Final Blurb
Doom: The Dark Ages has a darker, grittier style than Eternal, but that doesn't mean it should look like a smeared oil painting.
Flip off film grain, bump sharpness, double-check your upscaler, and your screen will go from blurry mess to crispy demon-slaying glory.
You bought a GPU for a reason; don’t let default settings hold it back.
FAQ
Q: Why does the game still look blurry at 4K?
Check if Resolution Scaling Mode is turned on. It might be rendering at a lower internal resolution.
Q: What's the best DLSS or FSR setting for sharp visuals?
Use Quality or Ultra Quality modes. Anything lower sacrifices clarity.
Q: Should I always turn film grain off?
Yes. Unless you love retro haze, film grain usually just muddies the image.
Q: Sharpness setting still isn't enough, what else can I do?
Try adjusting contrast and gamma for more punch, and turn off Chromatic Aberration under Video settings.
Q: My game still looks weird; could it be my monitor?'
Maybe. Check that your monitor isn’t applying extra filtering like "Dynamic Contrast" or “Vivid Mode.” Those can mess with clarity.
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