Tomasz Wadowski
Imagine we sit down in front of the TV in the evening, ready for a screening of our favourite movie. The lights dim, drinks and snacks are at hand, and we anticipate the moment when the image on the screen draws us completely into another world. We count on realistic colours, 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 – the colours look too bright, and the details vanish in the dark parts of the image. What causes this? Many of you might think that once out of the box, the TV is ready for perfect image display. Unfortunately, factory settings are often tailored to catch attention in brightly lit stores, not for subtle experiences in the comfort of a home lounge. This is where display calibration comes in – a process that allows for extracting maximum image quality and takes our viewing experience to a whole new level. In this article, you will learn a bit about display calibration, the myths surrounding 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 colours, contrast, brightness, and white balance – to produce 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. These settings often have boosted colours and contrast that may seem impressive initially but are, in fact, far from natural.
Display calibration is like tuning a musical instrument. The original factory settings can be compared to playing loudly on an untuned guitar – the sound is there, but it lacks harmony and precision. Similarly, a display without calibration may show an image that appears 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 you might think, simply changing the settings in the menu of the television 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 - 44,300 and 66,500 PLN
Klein K10 and Klein K80 colourimeters - 27,500 and 44,000 PLN
Murideo Six-G, Seven-G 8K signal generators - 13,800 and 38,700 PLN
Reference player, films, and test material - 3,000 PLN
Calman 5 Ultimate, ColourSpace, LightSpace CMS, VirtualForge software - 16,600 PLN
As you can see, display calibration tools are not among the cheapest. A professional colourimeter or spectrophotometer is an investment that can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars, 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 participating in a specialised training course. To gain skills and certification, it is often necessary to attend courses led by professionals. Such a four-day course, ending with certification, costs around 10 thousand dollars. We have all of them on board: THX, isf, and PVA.
Internet Settings – Why Aren't They Always Ideal?
Often, one can find recommended picture settings for televisions and monitors online that are meant to improve the displayed image quality. While they can serve as a good starting point, they are not the perfect solution for every device. The reason is simple: every display, even of the same model, can vary in parameters due to the individual characteristics of the panel, the age of the device, or the usage conditions.
Professional calibration is tailored to a specific unit and takes into account its specifics, allowing for optimal results. Settings found online may provide correct effects, but they cannot replace the precision offered by calibration carried out on-site, using the appropriate tools.
Market Calibration or optimisation
Many sellers offer basic "calibration" at a low price. This procedure involves a quick optimisation of settings so that the screens look better, although this is based on the subjective perception of the viewer rather than a reference image. While this does provide 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 Colours: Calibrated displays present colours that are true to life – from subtle skin tones to deep greens of the forests.
White Balance and Brightness: Professional calibration eliminates white tint and adjusts brightness so that the image isn’t glaring or too dark.
Better Experience: Watching movies, playing games, and editing photos becomes a pleasure, and the image is close to the creators' intentions.
Detail Preservation in Dark and Bright Areas: Calibration helps bring out details in very bright and dark areas of the image, making night scenes or sunlit images clearer and more realistic.
Reduction of Eye Strain: A calibrated screen provides more natural and balanced lighting, making viewing less tiring, especially during long sessions or while working at the screen.
Myths About Calibration
Around the calibration of displays, many myths have developed that often discourage taking this step. Below we present some of the most popular:
“Calibration is only for professionals”: This is a common myth. While professionals in graphics, photography, or film production often indeed use calibration, so too can those watching movies or playing games benefit from accurately reproduced colours and improved picture quality.
“Factory settings are sufficient”: Televisions and monitors are set up in factories in a way that attracts attention in bright retail conditions. This means that colours are often overly saturated, and brightness is set to a very high level. Calibration allows for adjusting the screen to home conditions, ensuring a more natural image.
“Calibration destroys the lifespan of the display”: This is a misunderstanding. Calibration adjusts brightness, contrast, and colour reproduction to provide better picture 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 backlighting.
“Calibration voids the warranty”: This is a false belief. Calibration merely involves changing the settings in the device without interfering with the physical components of the device. Manufacturers understand that users may wish to adjust picture parameters to their preferences, and such a change does not affect the warranty. If needed, factory settings can be easily restored, which further confirms 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 visible results. While calibration may require a one-time fee, the effects in terms of improved contrast, colour reproduction, and tonal smoothness make it worth considering this option.
Samsung Smart Calibration – Does It Work?
Samsung advertises smart calibration as a way to quickly and easily adjust image parameters. Unfortunately, our tests have shown that the effects of such calibration can be more negative than positive. Maciej discussed this more here:
Professional Calibration – Our Technical Background skalibruj.tv
Calibrating displays is an essential element that allows us to achieve real and reliable testing results. That’s why we have a team of specialists from skalibruj.tv. Thanks to them, our displays are properly tuned, which you can see in the reviews and tests published on our site. Their knowledge and experience enable us to show how a given screen performs after calibration and what can really be squeezed out of it in everyday use.
By choosing calibration at skalibruj.tv, you are assured of 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.
