Imagine that in the evening we sit down in front of the television, ready for a screening of our favorite movie. The lights dim, drinks and snacks are at hand, and we await the moment when the image on the screen will completely immerse us in another world. We hope for realistic colors, perfect details, and deep blacks that will make us forget about reality and transport us right into the action. However, it often happens that the effect does not meet our expectations - colors look too bright and details disappear in the dark areas of the image. What causes this? Many of you may think that when taken out of the box, the television is ready to display images perfectly. Unfortunately, factory settings are often adjusted to attract attention in brightly lit stores, rather than to provide subtle experiences in the comfort of a home living room. This is where display calibration comes into play - a process that allows us to extract the maximum image quality and elevate our viewing experience to a whole new level. In this article, you will learn a bit about display calibration, the myths associated with it, and references to information available online.
What is Calibration and Why Does it Matter?
Calibration is the process of precisely adjusting the display parameters – such as colors, contrast, brightness, and white balance – to obtain an image that most accurately reflects reality. While factory settings may look appealing at first glance, they are usually designed to attract customers' attention in bright, well-lit store conditions. Such settings often have boosted colors and contrast, which may seem impressive at first, but in reality, can be far from natural.
Display calibration is like tuning a musical instrument. The original factory settings can be compared to loud playing on an out-of-tune guitar – the sound is there, but it lacks harmony and precision. Similarly, a display without calibration may show an image that seems attractive at first glance, but does not capture the subtleties and nuances of visual content.
What Equipment is Used for Display Calibration?
Display calibration is a process that requires the right tools. Contrary to what one might think, simply changing the settings in the TV menu is not enough to achieve professional results. Here are some key devices that are used to carry out precise calibration:
JETI SpectraVal 1511 HiRes and Specbos 1211 spectroradiometers - 10000 USD and 15 500 USD
Klein K10 and Klein K80 colorimeters - 7 500 and 10 000 USD
Murideo Six-G, Seven-G 8K signal generators - 3 300 and 8 700 USD
Reference player, films, and test material - 750 USD
Calman 5 Ultimate, ColourSpace, LightSpace CMS, VirtualForge software - 4000 USD
As can be seen, display calibration tools are not the cheapest. A professional colorimeter or spectrophotometer is an investment that can range from several hundred to several thousand zlotys, depending on the model and accuracy of the device. For those who want to ensure they know how to properly carry out the calibration process, it is worth considering participation in specialized training. To acquire skills and certification, it is often necessary to attend courses conducted by professionals. Such a four-day course, culminating in obtaining certification, costs around 2,5K USD/EURO. We have all of them on board: THX, isf, and PVA.
Internet Settings – Why Are They Not Always Ideal?
One can often find recommended image settings for TVs and monitors on the internet that are supposed to improve the quality of the displayed image. Although they can serve as a good starting point, they are not an ideal solution for every device. The reason is simple: each display, even the same model, can differ in parameters due to individual characteristics of the panel, the age of the device, or usage conditions.
Professional calibration is tailored to a specific unit and takes its specifics into account, allowing for optimal results. Settings found online may deliver correct effects, but they cannot replace the precision provided by calibration carried out on-site, using the appropriate tools.
Market Calibration, also known as optimization
Many sellers offer basic "calibration" at a low price. This procedure involves a quick optimization of settings to make the screens look better, but based on the subjective perception of the viewer rather than a reference image. Although it gives a noticeable effect, it is far from the ideal parameters that can be achieved through professional calibration. As a result, televisions may look good in bright light, but lose their magic in the comfort of home.
What Are the Benefits of Calibration?
Natural Colors: Calibrated displays present colors that match reality – from subtle skin tones to deep greens of forests.
White Balance and Brightness: Professional calibration eliminates white tint and adjusts brightness so that the image is neither glaring nor too dark.
Better Experience: Watching movies, playing games, and editing photos becomes a pleasure, and the image is close to the creators' intent.
Preservation of Details in Dark and Bright Areas: Calibration helps bring out details in very bright and dark areas of the image, making night scenes or sunlit ones more readable and realistic.
Reduction of Eye Strain: A calibrated screen provides more natural and balanced light, making watching less tiring, especially during long sessions or while working at the screen.
Myths About Calibration
Many myths have arisen around display calibration, which often discourage people from taking this step. Below we present some of the most popular ones:
“Calibration is only for professionals”: This is a common myth. Although professionals in graphics, photography, or film production often use calibration, casual viewers or gamers can also benefit from accurately rendered colors and improved image quality.
“Factory settings are sufficient”: TVs and monitors are set in factories to attract attention in bright retail conditions. This means that colors are often overly saturated, and brightness is set at a very high level. Calibration allows for adjusting the screen to home conditions, providing a more natural image.
“Calibration damages the lifespan of the display”: This is a misunderstanding. Calibration adjusts brightness, contrast, and color reproduction to ensure better image quality, but it does not negatively affect the lifespan of the screen. On the contrary, optimal settings can even extend the device's lifespan by reducing the intensity of the backlight.
“Calibration voids the warranty”: This is a mistaken belief. Calibration simply involves changing settings on the device, without interfering with the physical components of the device. Manufacturers understand that users may want to adjust image parameters according to their preferences, and such changes do not affect the warranty. If necessary, factory settings can easily be restored, further confirming that calibration has no impact on warranty conditions.
“Calibration is expensive and not worth it”: Many people believe that professional calibration is a costly investment that does not yield noticeable results. Although calibration may require a one-time fee, the benefits in terms of improved contrast, color reproduction, and tonal fluidity make it worthwhile to consider this option.
Smart Calibration Samsung – Does It Work?
Samsung advertises smart calibration as a way to quickly and seamlessly adjust image parameters. Unfortunately, our tests showed that the effects of such calibration may be more negative than positive. Maciej talked about this more here:
Professional Calibration – Our Technical Background calibratetv.co.uk
Display calibration is an essential element that allows us to achieve real and reliable testing results. That is why we have specialists in our team from https://calibratetv.co.uk/ . It is thanks to them that our displays are properly tuned, which you can see in the reviews and tests published on our site. Their knowledge and experience allow us to show how a given screen performs after calibration and what can actually be extracted from it during everyday use.
Choosing calibration at https://calibratetv.co.uk/ ensures a satisfaction guarantee – if you find that the result does not meet your expectations or you are disappointed, the calibration will be removed, and you will incur no costs.
