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Monitor calibration

An image on a computer monitor is a mere shadow of the same image displayed as a print or transparency. On a monitor, the colours are limited, the resolution is poor, and there is interference from fingerprints, dirt and reflections. Nevertheless, it is still worthwhile trying to make as much as we can of what we have.

There are commercial packages available that will help you calibrate your monitor. Examples include .... Photoshop users can use the Gamma Control Panel in the Application | Goodies | Calibration folder on the Photoshop CD. Alternatively, you can use the tests on this page to do some basic monitor calibration. The tests come in two parts.

The tests on this page will help you adjust your monitor to give the best possible rendition of this, and any other, web site. it's worth repeating the tests from time to time as some software, especially games, can mess up your monitor settings.

Carry out these tests after your monitor has been switched on for a while (at least an hour if you can, but half an hour will do at a pinch). If you can, carry out the tests in a semi-dark room, with just a little indirect lighting.

OK. Are you ready? Let's go.

Step 1

Look at the band of grey boxes below. The rightmost box should be black. Completely black. There should be nothing blacker than that box on your screen. The leftmost box should be white. Brilliant white. There should be nothing whiter than the box on the screen. The boxes in between should show a gradual change of shade from black to white. The edges of the boxes should just be visible. There should not be any hint of colour in the boxes. They should all be different shades of grey. Not blue, not yellow, not pink.

If the boxes aren't distinguishable, start by turning your monitor's contrast to a maximum. Then slowly reduce it until you can just distinguish the shades of the two rightmost boxes (the white one and the almost white one). Next, adjust your monitor's brightness until you can just distinguish the shades of the two leftmost boxes.

If the boxes have a slight magenta (or any other colour) cast to them, try waiting a little while longer (monitors often have a slight magenta cast whilst they're warming up). If that doesn't fix the problem, then one of the electron guns in your CRT needs correcting.

Step 2

The colour bar below should be red at both ends, with smooth transitions between the colours in between. If the colours are speckled or banded, you need to increase the colour depth of your monitor. Windows users can do this by going to the Control Panel and double clicking on Display and then the "Settings" tab. In the colours dropdown, select "True colour (32 bit)". Note: you won't be able to do this is your graphics card does not support this mode. In this case, select the greatest colour depth you can.

Your monitor should now be set up to display photographs as well as it can. Ian Lyons' Computer Darkroom site has a lot more information about monitor calibration, and is also a darn good read.