Help me understand calibration?

[Rossmeister2]

(I'm sorry if this should be in another thread or section)

Hi guys.

I just got DVE, and I think I have a fairly basic idea about how to calibrate my TV. However, there are some things I don't understand.

I'll list my questions so it'll be easier for you guys to reply.

1: I'm done with all my settings, but I still think my display is too dark. Is it only possible to correct this by using backlight? With backlight at 0, I can crank my contrast all the way up by correctly using brightness and contrast test bars and still have the two last black bars be indistinguishable (ie, too dark).

2: How do I know if I have to adjust the individual colours by using the colour space settings? DVE only teaches me how to use one setting when it comes to colours (well two, if you count tint).

3: How do I know if I have to change white balance? How do I measure this without technical equipment? If that's even possible.

4: Gamma. Do I have to change this at all if I'm happy with my black level having used the contrast setting? More broadly, what is gamma?

These are my current settings for my Samsung LE65x-series. The room has been completely dark under calibration, with blue lights behind the display (to reduce eye strain etc, you know the deal). I'm only interested in calibrating for HD watching per now.

My BDP is a Samsung BD-P 2500.

Mode: Movie
Backlight: 0
Contrast: 100
Brightness: 48
Sharpness: 0
Colour: 51
Tint: G50/R50


Black Adjust: Off
Dynamic Contrast: Off
Gamma: -1 (not changed in Movie mode)
Colour space: Auto
White Balance: (No changes, 25 on all offsets and gains)
Flesh tone: 0
Edge enhancement: Off
xvYCC: Off


Colour tone: normal
Size: Auto Wide/Just scan
Screen mode: 16:9
Digital NR: Off
DNle: Off
HDMI Black level: Normal
100 Hz: Off
Blue mode: Off(course)

[jomari]

have you tried to see if anyone else has the same set as yours?

there are a number of people who may have posted their settings on board, and maybe give it a shot.

here also is a good link to start off your calibration or enhance what you've already done... sticky thread

personally, im not as advance as others here on display units, and prefer others may help out.

[Clark Kent]

Here is a page explaining the gamma curve in detail with examples:

http://www.photoscientia.co.uk/Gamma.htm

[Rossmeister2]

Originally Posted by jomari

have you tried to see if anyone else has the same set as yours?

there are a number of people who may have posted their settings on board, and maybe give it a shot.

here also is a good link to start off your calibration or enhance what you've already done... sticky thread

personally, im not as advance as others here on display units, and prefer others may help out.

Thanks, and yes I have. I've checked other settings, and the thread you linked to.

I want to understand colour gain and offsetting and the other things I mentioned, not just copy settings.

I see a lot of people that use Warm1 or Warm2 on their Sammy's.. I just don't get that. I think even Warm1 makes whites unnaturally brown in colour.

I can understand the cooling blue effect that people don't like, but the reddish-brown whites in Warm1/2 just put me off completely.

[jomari]

Originally Posted by Rossmeister2

Thanks, and yes I have. I've checked other settings, and the thread you linked to.

I want to understand colour gain and offsetting and the other things I mentioned, not just copy settings.

I see a lot of people that use Warm1 or Warm2 on their Sammy's.. I just don't get that. I think even Warm1 makes whites unnaturally brown in colour.

I can understand the cooling blue effect that people don't like, but the reddish-brown whites in Warm1/2 just put me off completely.

as much as id like to learn more about these settings, i guess on my end, i dont really benefit from such. being color blind, i have to stick to what i have that works well with. my hearing, thus making me more inclined into assisting people with their audio component of the system.

[crazybat_07]

I've been wanting to correctly calibrate my lcd tv and i'm having trouble doing so. I went and asked the people at BestBuy (Geek Squad) to see if they can help and they do come over to your house and have your TV "professionaly" calibrated. The only problem is they charge a hefty $299.00 price tag to do so........

My question is this, can an average person get the same results as the people from Bestbuy dong it themselves or is it a BIG ripoff????

[dadkins]

Originally Posted by crazybat_07

I've been wanting to correctly calibrate my lcd tv and i'm having trouble doing so. I went and asked the people at BestBuy (Geek Squad) to see if they can help and they do come over to your house and have your TV "professionaly" calibrated. The only problem is they charge a hefty $299.00 price tag to do so........

My question is this, can an average person get the same results as the people from Bestbuy dong it themselves or is it a BIG ripoff????

Other questions you ought to think about asking folks -
How long with that $300 calibration last?
When will the next outlay of a few hundred dollars be "required"?

[jomari]

good questions on calibrations.

will tackle this in two parts,

Best buys services, and professional ISF calibrations done by a certified technician, are definitely two different services. sure the BB guys would have a number of tools and software for it, but to be certified is another story. second comparison would be having a nice tire alignment machine that you can find in a service dealer, and having an average joe use it.

technicalities aside, they would also indicate the before and after specifications that your television had prior to the calibration. as my friend mentioned, like speakers, some people 'love' the tweaked up treble and bass, and eventually (i hope most people do) learn how to live without such.

most displays found in major retailers, are tweaked to a point where they want it to 'pop', this isnt what calibrating is about. calibrating a set is about accuracy, and a great amount of balance instead of the glorified image.

tweaking your set using an avia or test patterns you can find on other disc is a great start, but there is a significant difference when we have it properly done by a technician.

heres a great example site/technician showing the benefits:

6500k calibrations

[Junior1683]

Our geek squad techs get into certain parts of your tv that you cant access without the possibility of bricking your tv. The $300 is well worth it since other companies charge much more than that.

anyone can play with the settings under your picture menu but we go into the hardware on the tv and adjust individual colors and settings.

our calibrations last as long as your tv does unless you get the main board replaced on your tv. you can't erase a calibration.

[jomari]

Originally Posted by Junior1683

Our geek squad techs get into certain parts of your tv that you cant access without the possibility of bricking your tv. The $300 is well worth it since other companies charge much more than that.

anyone can play with the settings under your picture menu but we go into the hardware on the tv and adjust individual colors and settings.

our calibrations last as long as your tv does unless you get the main board replaced on your tv. you can't erase a calibration.

surely, at $300 its definitely a bargain. with no disrespect, i guess id feel comfortable paying a premium, working with a reputable company whos been doing calibration for years. are your geek squad techs ISF certified? for how long? skill and experience is key in my opinion, and not just 'ISF trained'. if im not mistaken you have two ISF calibrators on board per district and are subject to the ISF's regulations at any point.

in regards to going into the hardware of the tv, and adjusting the settings, do i really want to save on that considering the expense already paid for on a premium display unit?

in respect to BB, you can also find people there who might be an excellent calibrator, but just dont care. that includes some companies out there. thats why you want a respectable, reputable company to work on your display unit. remember this is your investment, and to add value to it is to have it professionally calibrated.

you are going to end up watching tv for many years, right?

[Betamax]

One thing I would add is that all displays dim over their life. Calibrate today, and then have it rechecked at about the 1/2 way mark. Also remember that calibrating will absolutley lengthen the life of the set.

[warpig]

i had my tv calibrated by David Abrams from avical and it is in no way too dark,simply looks amazing.avical i would highly recommend.

[bmwone]

Not sure if this was posted before, http://www.tweaktv.com/tweak-my-tv/

Give those settings a try for your TV

[Sammy]

Having money for retirement and NO DEBT is WAY more important than paying anybody to adjust the settings on your t.v.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by Sammy

Having money for retirement and NO DEBT is WAY more important than paying anybody to adjust the settings on your t.v.

And, how does your comment contribute to the topic of the thread?

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by warpig

i had my tv calibrated by David Abrams from avical and it is in no way too dark,simply looks amazing.avical i would highly recommend.

I'm gonna give a +1 on this idea, simply because the guys at avical have different "packages" for different sets and i've heard their setup package for Samsung DLP's are unrivaled. If you wanna spend $300 on a calibration, have them do it instead of best buy. If you don't wanna spend the money, but wanna tinker, then go to avs.com and find the owners thread for your set. This is what i've done for mine and the results are much improved over what came out of the box.

[Sammy]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

And, how does your comment contribute to the topic of the thread?

I am just saying to save the money and adjust the settings yourself.

[SilverFox2]

Try this Test Pattern set.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=948496

Find the flashing bars an advantage together with the fact that all the primary and secondary colours are available for calibration.
Had real problems with my darkness, this sorted it.

[john_1958]

I still say a perfect hdtv would have PhlatLight with auto settings like
>>--------contrast
>> -------brightness
>>-------color

then a person wouldn't have to worry about readjusting settings with power clean http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn7oE3sP1To with http://www.luminvision.co.uk/videos.htm technology holoscreens

[[1080-p]]

Originally Posted by john_1958

I still say a perfect hdtv would have PhlatLight with auto settings like
>>--------contrast
>> -------brightness
>>-------color

then a person wouldn't have to worry about readjusting settings with power clean http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn7oE3sP1To with http://www.luminvision.co.uk/videos.htm technology holoscreens

I would consider buying that kind of tv set!