--- title: Rendering is Darker or Lighter than the Real-time View description: Possible reasons for why the render result might be different from the preview. --- [Skip to content](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/rendering-is-darker-or-lighter-than-the-real-time-view#main-content) English Show submenu for translations ![KeyShot](https://support.keyshot.com/hs-fs/hubfs/keyshot-logo-blk-3d.png?height=40&name=keyshot-logo-blk-3d.png) - [Support Home Page](https://www.keyshot.com/support/) - [Sign Out](https://support.keyshot.com/_hcms/mem/logout) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Support Home Page](https://www.keyshot.com/support/) - [Sign Out](https://support.keyshot.com/_hcms/mem/logout) - English Show submenu for translations - [My Inbox](https://support.keyshot.com/tickets-view) [My Inbox](https://support.keyshot.com/tickets-view?hsLang=en) Tell us what's happening - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Support Knowledge Base](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base?hsLang=en) 2. [Technical Support](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/technical-support?hsLang=en) 3. [KeyShot Studio](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/technical-support?hsLang=en#keyshot-studio) # Rendering is Darker or Lighter than the Real-time View ## Possible reasons for why the render result might be different from the preview. #### ![](https://support.keyshot.com/hs-fs/hubfs/comparison-png.png?width=670&height=503&name=comparison-png.png) **Why does my render look darker or lighter when saved as an EXR file?** `EXR` files store linear color data without gamma correction, which makes them appear darker than `PNG` or **Real-time View** outputs that apply `sRGB` gamma correction (typically `2.2` gamma). To ensure consistent results with the `EXR` format, apply a gamma correction of `2.2` when converting or displaying the image. Other formats like `PNG` files and the **Real-time View** apply `sRGB` gamma correction (typically `2.2` gamma), making them appear brighter and more consistent with what is displayed on a standard monitor.   **Why does my render look different when using Custom Controls or a different render engine?** ![](https://support.keyshot.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jun-18-2025-02-39-25-5490-PM.png?width=670&height=275&name=image-png-Jun-18-2025-02-39-25-5490-PM.png) When using **Custom Controls**, a different algorithm and lighting settings are applied, which results in a different render output. Selecting a different **Render Engine** than the one used in the **Real-time View** may also produce slight visual differences, since there is currently no complete parity between `CPU` and `GPU` materials.   **Does Performance Mode affect the render output?** If the Performance Mode is enabled, it only affects the Real-time View, but not the rendering output. ![](https://support.keyshot.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jun-18-2025-02-43-03-1722-PM.png?width=149&height=111&name=image-png-Jun-18-2025-02-43-03-1722-PM.png) - [Technical Support](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/technical-support?hsLang=en#main-content) - [KeyShot Studio](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/technical-support?hsLang=en#keyshot-studio) - [Network Rendering](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/technical-support?hsLang=en#network-rendering) - [KeyVR](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/technical-support?hsLang=en#keyvr) - [Plugins](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/technical-support?hsLang=en#plugins) - [How-To](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/technical-support?hsLang=en#how-to) - [KeyShot Hub](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/technical-support?hsLang=en#keyshot-hub) - [KeyShot Web](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/technical-support?hsLang=en#keyshot-web) - [License Support](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/license-support?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Node-Lock](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/license-support?hsLang=en#node-lock) - [Floating](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/license-support?hsLang=en#floating) - [Subscription](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/license-support?hsLang=en#subscription) - [FAQs](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/faqs?hsLang=en#main-content) - [General FAQs](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/faqs?hsLang=en#general-faqs) - [Key VR](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/faqs?hsLang=en#key-vr) - [KeyShot Studio FAQ's](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/faqs?hsLang=en#keyshot-studio-faqs) - [KeyShot Web FAQ's](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/faqs?hsLang=en#keyshot-web-faqs) - [KeyShot Network Rendering FAQ's](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/faqs?hsLang=en#keyshot-network-rendering-faqs) - [KeyShot WebViewer](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/faqs?hsLang=en#keyshot-webviewer) - [Announcements](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/announcements?hsLang=en) - [Learning Content](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/learning-content?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Webinars](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/learning-content?hsLang=en#webinars) - [Quick Tips](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/learning-content?hsLang=en#quick-tips) - [Downloads](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/downloads?hsLang=en) - [Best Practices](https://support.keyshot.com/en/knowledge-base/best-practices?hsLang=en) [![Chill listening crop-3](https://support.keyshot.com/hs-fs/hubfs/keyshot-logo-blk-3d.png?width=63&height=24&name=keyshot-logo-blk-3d.png "Chill listening crop-3")](https://www.keyshot.com/) keyshot.com Help Center Copyright © 2026, KeyShot