i just got my first plasma. its a 42" panasonic, anyway though, when using setup patterns and calibration tests, how can you set the contrast on a plasma screen? with the standard thx pattern that shows the 8 white boxes, the plasma is a fixed pixel / direct view display and the differences in the white boxes can't bleed into each other and blend the lines between them so that you know how high is too high. so how do you tell when the appropriate adjustment is reached on this type of television? also on the color adjustment test pattern, you are supposed to keep the red from bleeding, and that will not happen on a direct view screen like this either. any advice? thanks a lot.

Simple... watch a football game in hd and turn down contrast until the sideline markers stop glowing orange.

To me just watching things and setting color by eye is the best method. I just watch an HD DVD and adjust the color control until it looks good. If you set it at what looks good what need is there for anything else? As for the contrast, if there is no white crush on the test patterns set it to whatever you want. I actually have mine set all the way up for certain things.