diff --git a/renderdoc/data/glsl/checkerboard.frag b/renderdoc/data/glsl/checkerboard.frag
index cf0a2ffee..e48396e67 100644
--- a/renderdoc/data/glsl/checkerboard.frag
+++ b/renderdoc/data/glsl/checkerboard.frag
@@ -42,10 +42,10 @@ void main(void)
 		(ab.x > 64 && ab.y > 64)
 		)
 	{
-		color_out = vec4(sqrt(lightCol.rgb), 1);
+		color_out = vec4(darkCol.rgb*darkCol.rgb, 1);
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		color_out = vec4(sqrt(darkCol.rgb), 1);
+		color_out = vec4(lightCol.rgb*lightCol.rgb, 1);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/renderdoc/data/hlsl/debugdisplay.hlsl b/renderdoc/data/hlsl/debugdisplay.hlsl
index 2aceae9a2..1b00950a0 100644
--- a/renderdoc/data/hlsl/debugdisplay.hlsl
+++ b/renderdoc/data/hlsl/debugdisplay.hlsl
@@ -303,10 +303,10 @@ float4 RENDERDOC_CheckerboardPS(float4 IN : SV_Position) : SV_Target0
 		(ab.x > 64 && ab.y > 64)
 		)
 	{
-		return float4(sqrt(WireframeColour.rgb), 1);
+		return float4(WireframeColour.rgb*WireframeColour.rgb, 1);
 	}
 
-	return float4(sqrt(Channels.rgb), 1);
+	return float4(Channels.rgb*Channels.rgb, 1);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/renderdoc/data/spv/checkerboard.frag b/renderdoc/data/spv/checkerboard.frag
index 0fd2bdeaf..c5223944a 100644
--- a/renderdoc/data/spv/checkerboard.frag
+++ b/renderdoc/data/spv/checkerboard.frag
@@ -39,10 +39,10 @@ void main(void)
 		(ab.x > 64 && ab.y > 64)
 		)
 	{
-		color_out = vec4(sqrt(checker.lightCol.rgb), 1);
+		color_out = vec4(checker.darkCol.rgb*checker.darkCol.rgb, 1);
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		color_out = vec4(sqrt(checker.darkCol.rgb), 1);
+		color_out = vec4(checker.lightCol.rgb*checker.lightCol.rgb, 1);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/renderdoc/replay/replay_output.cpp b/renderdoc/replay/replay_output.cpp
index 376370afa..5ef6d7d47 100644
--- a/renderdoc/replay/replay_output.cpp
+++ b/renderdoc/replay/replay_output.cpp
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ void ReplayOutput::DisplayContext()
   if((m_Config.m_Type != eOutputType_TexDisplay) || (m_ContextX < 0.0f && m_ContextY < 0.0f) ||
      (m_RenderData.texDisplay.texid == ResourceId()))
   {
-    m_pDevice->RenderCheckerboard(Vec3f(0.666f, 0.666f, 0.666f), Vec3f(0.333f, 0.333f, 0.333f));
+    m_pDevice->RenderCheckerboard(Vec3f(0.81f, 0.81f, 0.81f), Vec3f(0.57f, 0.57f, 0.57f));
     m_pDevice->FlipOutputWindow(m_PixelContext.outputID);
     return;
   }
@@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ void ReplayOutput::DisplayMesh()
     m_pDevice->BindOutputWindow(m_MainOutput.outputID, false);
     m_pDevice->ClearOutputWindowColour(m_MainOutput.outputID, color);
     m_pDevice->ClearOutputWindowDepth(m_MainOutput.outputID, 1.0f, 0);
-    m_pDevice->RenderCheckerboard(Vec3f(0.666f, 0.666f, 0.666f), Vec3f(0.333f, 0.333f, 0.333f));
+    m_pDevice->RenderCheckerboard(Vec3f(0.81f, 0.81f, 0.81f), Vec3f(0.57f, 0.57f, 0.57f));
 
     return;
   }
@@ -588,7 +588,7 @@ void ReplayOutput::DisplayMesh()
   m_pDevice->BindOutputWindow(m_MainOutput.outputID, true);
   m_pDevice->ClearOutputWindowDepth(m_MainOutput.outputID, 1.0f, 0);
 
-  m_pDevice->RenderCheckerboard(Vec3f(0.666f, 0.666f, 0.666f), Vec3f(0.333f, 0.333f, 0.333f));
+  m_pDevice->RenderCheckerboard(Vec3f(0.81f, 0.81f, 0.81f), Vec3f(0.57f, 0.57f, 0.57f));
 
   m_pDevice->ClearOutputWindowDepth(m_MainOutput.outputID, 1.0f, 0);
 
diff --git a/renderdocui/Interop/FetchInfo.cs b/renderdocui/Interop/FetchInfo.cs
index 34f21cbf8..3d067bec6 100644
--- a/renderdocui/Interop/FetchInfo.cs
+++ b/renderdocui/Interop/FetchInfo.cs
@@ -659,8 +659,8 @@ namespace renderdoc
 
         public float offx = 0.0f, offy = 0.0f;
 
-        public FloatVector lightBackgroundColour = new FloatVector(0.666f, 0.666f, 0.666f);
-        public FloatVector darkBackgroundColour = new FloatVector(0.333f, 0.333f, 0.333f);
+        public FloatVector lightBackgroundColour = new FloatVector(0.81f, 0.81f, 0.81f);
+        public FloatVector darkBackgroundColour = new FloatVector(0.57f, 0.57f, 0.57f);
 
         public TextureDisplayOverlay overlay = TextureDisplayOverlay.None;
     };
@@ -712,8 +712,8 @@ namespace renderdoc
         public int channelExtract = -1;
 
         public AlphaMapping alpha = AlphaMapping.Discard;
-        public FloatVector alphaCol = new FloatVector(0.666f, 0.666f, 0.666f);
-        public FloatVector alphaColSecondary = new FloatVector(0.333f, 0.333f, 0.333f);
+        public FloatVector alphaCol = new FloatVector(0.81f, 0.81f, 0.81f);
+        public FloatVector alphaColSecondary = new FloatVector(0.57f, 0.57f, 0.57f);
 
         public int jpegQuality = 90;
     };
diff --git a/renderdocui/Windows/TextureViewer.cs b/renderdocui/Windows/TextureViewer.cs
index ecb69ba90..8178a78e9 100644
--- a/renderdocui/Windows/TextureViewer.cs
+++ b/renderdocui/Windows/TextureViewer.cs
@@ -2293,13 +2293,13 @@ namespace renderdocui.Windows
             int numX = (int)Math.Ceiling((float)rect.Width / 64.0f);
             int numY = (int)Math.Ceiling((float)rect.Height / 64.0f);
 
-            Brush dark = new SolidBrush(Color.FromArgb((int)(255 * Math.Sqrt(Math.Sqrt(darkBack.x))),
-                                                       (int)(255 * Math.Sqrt(Math.Sqrt(darkBack.y))),
-                                                       (int)(255 * Math.Sqrt(Math.Sqrt(darkBack.z)))));
+            Brush dark = new SolidBrush(Color.FromArgb((int)(255 * darkBack.x),
+                                                       (int)(255 * darkBack.y),
+                                                       (int)(255 * darkBack.z)));
 
-            Brush light = new SolidBrush(Color.FromArgb((int)(255 * Math.Sqrt(Math.Sqrt(lightBack.x))),
-                                                        (int)(255 * Math.Sqrt(Math.Sqrt(lightBack.y))),
-                                                        (int)(255 * Math.Sqrt(Math.Sqrt(lightBack.z)))));
+            Brush light = new SolidBrush(Color.FromArgb((int)(255 * lightBack.x),
+                                                        (int)(255 * lightBack.y),
+                                                        (int)(255 * lightBack.z)));
 
             for (int x = 0; x < numX; x++)
             {
@@ -2330,10 +2330,7 @@ namespace renderdocui.Windows
             renderContainer.Invalidate();
             if (m_Output == null || m_Core.Renderer == null)
             {
-                if (backcolorPick.Checked)
-                    e.Graphics.Clear(colorDialog.Color);
-                else
-                    DrawCheckerboard(e.Graphics, render.DisplayRectangle);
+                DrawCheckerboard(e.Graphics, render.DisplayRectangle);
                 return;
             }