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Video Calibration


With these files you should be able to test contrast, brightness, saturation, gamma and audio levels on computer screens (both CRT, Trinitron, TFT and possibly also OLED) and both normal and high-def TVs and even certain .avi enabled DVD players.

These video clips are all 60 seconds long. Audio is mp3 format, 48 KHz, stereo. If you don't know which file to choose, i recommend the first one.

Calibration Files

File Resolution Framerate Luma range Audio Recommended for
PAL 720 x 576 25 fps 0-255 1 KHz, 0 dB Playing video on a computer screen (typical)
PAL 720 x 576 25 fps 16-235 1 KHz, 0 dB Playing video that seems contrast-less (due to faulty YUV-RGB conversion)
HDTV 1280 x 720 30 fps 0-255 1 KHz, 0 dB Playing high definition video on a computer screen
HDTV 1280 x 720 30 fps 16-235 1 KHz, 0 dB Playing high def. video that seems contrast-less (due to faulty YUV-RGB conversion)
PNG 800 x 600 - 0-255 - Calibrating a computer screen

The following guides will not work for all devices, as adjustment controls may differ.

CRT and Trinitron step-by-step adjustment guide:

  • Display the PNG image
  • Adjust brightness on your TV (the "sun" icon) until the background is as dark as possible, but 3 out of 4 of the dark squares in the box in the middle are still visible.
  • Adjust contrast to a comfortable level
  • Adjust saturation so that the colored boxes get a pure and non-fainted color. If the green or yellow boxes seem brighter than the white box in the middle, turn down saturation.

Computer screen overlay settings adjustment guide:

  • Loop the .avi file in your favorite media player.
  • Disable any color corrections in the mediaplayer and video codec.
  • Find the Video Overlay Settings in your control panel or Catalyst control center
  • Adjust Brightness and Contrast so that the white area in the middle is as bright as possible and the dark area above it is as dark as possible, while you can still see all 8 squares.
  • Turn saturation up as much as possible without the 4 squares in the red, green and blue boxes left dissappear.