Fix DLSS Ghosting and Smearing in Games (2026)

If DLSS leaves trails behind moving objects or smears fine detail during turns, you are almost certainly running an old preset, not broken hardware. The fix is a dropdown change, and most players never make it because the default hides the newer model.

Key takeaways

• Ghosting is a preset problem, not a hardware defect, in the vast majority of cases.
• The 2nd-generation transformer model (Preset M) fixes most trailing and is available to all RTX cards.
• Many games default to an older preset even in Quality mode, so you are often not using the best model without knowing it.
• Let the game pick its preset first; forcing an override can sometimes make ghosting worse.
• If a newer preset drops performance, Preset K is the faster fallback.

Why DLSS ghosts in the first place

DLSS reconstructs each frame using data from previous frames plus motion vectors. When that temporal data is handled poorly, fast-moving objects leave a faint trail, and fine detail like cockpit gauges or foliage smears as the camera turns. Newer DLSS models are trained specifically to suppress this.

The catch is that not every mode uses the newest model by default. Many gamers running Balanced or Quality mode are not actually using the latest transformer model, because those modes can default to an older preset that still relies on a first-generation approach. So you can have a top-tier card and still see artifacts that a one-click change would eliminate.

Switch to the transformer model (Preset M)

The 2nd-generation transformer model, referred to as Preset M, is the current best-quality option and specifically addresses ghosting. Here is how to get onto it.

1. Open the game's graphics settings and find the DLSS section.
2. If the game exposes a DLSS preset or model dropdown, select Preset M (the transformer model).
3. If the game has no dropdown, open the NVIDIA app, go to the game's settings, and set the DLSS Override to the latest model.
4. Return to the game and check a fast-motion scene for trailing.
5. If performance drops noticeably, switch to Preset K, which is faster but keeps most of the quality gains.

Some games ship with an older default profile that causes smearing, and simply updating to a newer model resolves it. This is a common cause of cockpit smearing in flight and driving titles.

Preset picking: which one for which situation

You do not always want the newest preset. Match it to what you are seeing and the performance you can spare.

Symptom or goal	Preset to try	Notes
Trailing behind moving objects	Preset M (transformer)	Best ghosting suppression
Smearing on gauges or fine detail	Preset M (transformer)	Fixes most cockpit smear
FPS dropped after switching	Preset K	Faster, still strong quality
High-motion competitive play	Recommended / Model M	Optimized for motion
Game forces an old default	Manual override in NVIDIA app	Bypasses the stale default

If artifacts persist even on Preset M, do not force an override; let the game choose its preset first, because a mismatched forced override can reintroduce ghosting. For a broader look at upscaler choice across vendors, see our DLSS vs FSR vs XeSS guide.

When it is not the preset

Occasionally ghosting has a different root. Rule these out after you have confirmed the transformer model is active:

• Frame generation on a low base frame rate makes interpolation artifacts more visible. Raise your base FPS first.
• Aggressive sharpening filters can exaggerate trails; dial in-game sharpness back.
• A stale GPU driver can ship an older DLSS runtime; update to the latest driver.
• Forced overrides in third-party tools can override the game's tuned preset with a worse one.

If you also enabled Multi Frame Generation, our guide on DLSS 4.5 multi-frame generation override covers how to force it correctly without introducing new artifacts.

What to do right now

• Open the game's DLSS settings and look for a preset or model dropdown.
• Select Preset M (the transformer model); if there is no dropdown, override it in the NVIDIA app.
• Test a fast-motion scene and check for trailing or smearing.
• If FPS falls too far, switch to Preset K instead.
• Update your GPU driver so you have the latest DLSS runtime.
• Remove any forced DLSS overrides in third-party tools that fight the game's own preset.

Frequently asked questions

Does the DLSS transformer model work on older RTX cards?

Yes. The 2nd-generation transformer model (Preset M) is available to all RTX cards, not just the latest generation, so even RTX 30 and 40 owners can use it.

Why is my DLSS Quality mode still ghosting?

Because Quality mode can default to an older preset. Even at Quality, some games do not use the newest transformer model unless you select it manually or override it in the NVIDIA app.

Will switching to the transformer model hurt my FPS?

Slightly, in some titles. If the drop is too large, fall back to Preset K, which is faster while keeping most of the quality and ghosting improvements.

Should I force a DLSS override in an external tool?

Only as a last resort. Let the game pick its preset first. A forced override can sometimes reintroduce ghosting if it does not match how the game was tuned.