Calibrate Your HDTV

[crackinhedz]

Thought it would be appropriate to start (another) thread to be stickied in the Display section that would stress the importance of calibrating your television, new or old. I feel that many new adopters to the HDTV world may not understand why the need for such adjustments should be made.

Not only can a proper calibration produce a pristine picture, but it could also add a longer lifespan to the set. As most of you well know, the settings right out of the box are usually way off and leaving it set incorrectly could pose a risk over time as well as produce a sub-optimal picture. That is why it is important to properly adjust your TV display settings (Brightness,Contrast,Color,Tint,Sharpness...etc) for each and every input connected to the television.

The best form of calibration is to have a professional do it for you. Which is termed an ISF Calibration. This method involves having a professional come to your home and using special equipment can make accurate adjustments to the various TV settings. It is highly accurate and is the most beneficial way to calibrate a television. But it does come with a price tag. You're looking at least a couple hundred dollars.

Another way is to use a Calibration DVD. This is a very simple way to "do it yourself" and is very inexpensive compared to an ISF calibration. Although it is not as thorough and precise as the ISF, it can be very beneficial to each and every television. There are a couple of different calibration dvd's out there, but two of the most popular are Digital Video Essentials and AVIA Guide to Home Theater. You could potentially save yourself money in the long run by owning a calibration DVD, not to mention producing a much better looking picture. NOTE: The DVD versions will help you adjust for standard definition but may not be ideal with an HD source.

For HD calibration, there are a couple of ways to do this. For instance all SONY bluray titles contain an "easter egg" with test patterns. At the menu screen press the numbers 7-6-6-9 and hit enter. Maybe someone can post with an easy way to explain how to use these test patterns as it is not for beginners? Another way is an extra that is provided on the bluray movie Ratatouille which also contains test patterns but comes with somewhat of an instruction on how to use.

Also in March there is a Bluray version release of Digital Video Essential: HD Basics
which I would highly recommend to anyone.

Hopefully this will help bring others a better viewing experience to their movie's because nothing beats a properly calibrated picture.




*Share Your Custom Display Settings*: If you cannot afford an ISF Calibration or do not own a calibration dvd, then take a look in these threads. They are not meant to replace true self/professional calibration, but may benefit you more than the factory settings.


Additional info:

ISF Forums

How To Use Color Bars

Digital Video Essentials (DVE) Overview

HDMI Enhanced Black Levels, xvYCC and RGB

Basic Television Setup Tips

Monster HDTV Calibration Wizard

Tune Up Your Television

Picture perfect: HDTV tune-up tips

Precision Video: "Helping You Enjoy the View"

Pro HDTV calibration: rip-off or money well spent?

What Adjustments Are Made With An ISF Calibration?

TweakTV.com (*TV List)

LCD TV Calibration

Greyscale Calibration for Dummies

SpyderTV - Do It Yourself Calibration