Custom Calibrations

[Cordre69]

I did a bit of searching but I can't find a good source for 'ideal' calibration settings for specific TVs. I have a KDS-60A2020 that I have looking pretty good for Blu Ray, but the same settings seem to have weird effects on standard DVDs. Like...Mulder was kind of green
Anyone have any advice?

[MouseRider]

If by "ideal calibration settings" you are referring to settings that you can just punch into your display and have it look great, you're going to have a tough time and your mileage will vary.

Display calibration depends on factors of your viewing room, such as light source as well as difference source devices such as brand of DVD player, BD player, etc.

Even if you have the exact same TV and a PS3, one person's settings might not work exactly for you but you might come somewhat close if you have similar tastes.

If you are looking to calibrate your display, cheapest way is to use a DVD or BD that has patterns on it like most Sony BDs or a disc like Ratatouille which has pretty good patterns on it.

Next way is to go buy a calibration disc, unfortunately we're still waiting on a consumer version for BD.

Then there is the professional calibration which is a paid option, do a search on the forum, plenty of discussions on that.

And more likely than not, you'll have settings that will be different for each video source as different devices don't always output the same image even if they're playing the exact same disc. It should, in a perfect world, but we don't live in one.

[Cordre69]

Thanks for the reply!
I guess it is too much to ask for some miracle settings then...

[Cwoodall334]

Originally Posted by MouseRider

If you are looking to calibrate your display, cheapest way is to use a DVD or BD that has patterns on it like most Sony BDs or a disc like Ratatouille which has pretty good patterns on it.

I've tried using the calibration on the sony BD, but I have no idea what I'm looking at. I know I'm an idiot, but could somebody explain how you're suppose to use this to help calibrate?

[MouseRider]

Originally Posted by Cwoodall334

I've tried using the calibration on the sony BD, but I have no idea what I'm looking at. I know I'm an idiot, but could somebody explain how you're suppose to use this to help calibrate?

While I know they are there, I haven't used or seen the Sony patterns but here's something that was posted elsewhere, allegedly by a Sony employee:

"
here are a few adjustment where the included test patterns can be particulary useful for getting the best possible picture. Most of our discs have at least 4 test patterns included, SMPTE bars, monoscope, ramp and cross hatch. The first adjustment I usually concern myself with is the black level or "brightness". Bring up the colorbar signal and pause your player. Turn up your monitor "brightness" and confirm that all 3 pluge chips are visible in the lower right hand corner of the screen. If all three can be seen, then you have confirmed that your player and monitor are passing signals "below black". Next, adjust the brightness control down until the right chip is just visible. You now have an optimum black level setting. Put the player back into play mode and chapter skip to the next pattern, the monoscope and pause once again. Ideally, you should see a complete image with 16:9 shown at the corners and no truncating of the triangles. If you don't see the full image, check if you monitor supports "full pixel", "dot by dot" or some other description of a mode that allows a 1:1 relationship between the incoming signal and the pixels on your display. Some displays do not allow the disabling of "overscan" so you will not be able to make this adjustment. The monoscope is also useful for checking over sharpening, or filtering of the image. Ideally the round patterns comprised of wedges should be clear, sharp with no asymetrical gray bars or ovals. Distortions in the pattern usually indicate that a scaler is being used in the display. Also check that the squares comprised of 2x2 pixel black squares are distinct. If sharpening is used, the black or white portions of these squares is often exaggerated. And finally can you read the text on the bottom of the pattern for the company that created it? If you can, you are likely getting a full 1920 x 1080 image.

Of course there are many other important settings for Contrast and color, but these settings need to be adjusted according to your average room light. I recommend turning off all of the processing that is available in todays displays such as Noise reduction, DRC (Sony) or whatever a given CE company happens to be calling their image enhancement feature. If you have a good blu-ray disc, "Black Hawk Down" for example, you should be able to see the film grain from the original master faithfully reproduced. If it looks mottled or irregular, there is a good chance your display is using noise reduction or other processing and hurting, rather than helping the picture quality.
"

[WickyWoo]

Much better, Buy or rent Ratatouille and use the one on there

then buy or rent digital video essentials in march

[Joker]

i bought the monster HDTV Calibration Wizard off of eBay for $20.00 and it made a great difference in my viewing of all kinds of video i highly recommend it . Good luck to you.

[MouseRider]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Much better, Buy or rent Ratatouille and use the one on there

then buy or rent digital video essentials in march

I agree, Disney/Pixar has done a good job creating patterns that are consumer-ready as opposed to the standard SMPTE patterns.

[CptGreedle]

I still think a professional calibration is by far the BEST option. But for the price, a DVD/BD calibrator is the cheapest option.

[Psiweaver]

Professional calibration is the way to go because you can also get day/night settings for each source. Allows you to really maximize your displays look.