As my calibrator of choice will not be passing through my area for a number of months I decided to try a local calibrator with the idea that (i) the picture quality would be improved over its current state and (ii) the picture quality would be further improved (i.e. optimized) when my calibrator of choice visits.
As I am less than expert in video calibration I thought that I would (i) describe the process (ii) describe why I believe/think that the key calibration components were not done and (iii) invite your feedback SO THAT I CAN INCREASZE MY LEARNING.
CALIBRATION PROCESS
Projector is an InFocus 7210
Video Processor is a Lumagen VisionHDP
1. Calibrated the projector's brightness, contrast and grayscale by DIRECTLY connecting a SENCORE unit to the projector to generate the necessary test patterns with ColorFacts software to getting readings therefrom.
The SENCORE unit fed a 720p signals to the projector as this is the projectors native rate.
This seemed to go as I thought except for the following:
-- Color was never calibrated meaning (i) primaries were not adjusted closer to their ideal values (as I was told that the projector does not have this capability) and (ii) using an SMPTE test pattern
-- Hue was never calibrated;
-- Gamma and gamut were not calibrated. Moreover, when I asked about these parameters I was told that "if the grayscale is right then the gamma and gamut are right". This does not seem right to me;
-- Grayscale was not, at this point, possible to get "spot on" as my projector has what he called a "color error" meaning that it is not possible to get BOTH the low IRE and the high IRE flat but rather 0-40 IRE flat, 40-50 IRE has a spike and 50-100 IRE is flat. This does not seem right to me; and
-- Sharpness was never calibrated.
2. Calibrated one input on the video processor by (i) calibrating grayscale by using the 11 point calibration process within the video processor (ii) calibrating the brightness, color , contrast, hue, and sharpness by feeding 720P test patterns from the SENCOR to the video processor.
The resulting settings were then copied to all other inputs on the video processor such that the settings for my two input sources (i.e. cable box and dvd player) were the same.
This seemed to go as I thought except for the following:
-- Brightness, colour, contrast, hue, ans sharpness were not calibrated sepatrately for either (i) different input sources, (ii) different input resolutions from a given source (i.e. cable box outputs 480i, 720p, 1080i) or (iii) different lighting conditions (i.e. I watch movies without light on and cable with/without light). The explanation, which does not seem right to me, was that the difference in settings are so small that there is little/no point in creating separate settings;
-- Gamma and gamut calibration request were once again answered as above.
WHAT WAS NOT DONE/WENT WRONG
1. Colour, hue and sharpness on the projector were never calibrated;
2. Brightness, colour, contrast, hue, and sharpness on the video procssor were not calibrated sepatrately for (i) different input sources (i.e. cable box and dvd) (ii) different input resolutions from a given source (i.e. cable box outputs 480i, 720p, 1080i) or (iii) different lighting conditions (i.e. I watch movies without light on and cable with/without light);
3. Gamma and gamut, on both the projector and the video processor were, for the reasons noted above, never calibrated. Should these be done for different light conditions, different sources and/or different resolutions;
4. Grayscale post calibration charts, for both the projector and the video processor, were not provided although the deltaC*, as shown in a spreasheet, was within 3.00. The post projector cailbration spike between 40-50 IRE had a deltaC* of 2.00. Should grayscale be done for different light conditions, different sources and/or different resolutions;
5. Other items that I believe shouls have been calibrated/checked but were not include:
-- Colour level (i.e. matching the colour level -- PC/Video -- with each input source);
-- Colour points, through either the projector or the video processor, were not adjusted closer to their ideal/standard values for either of REC 601 or REC 709.
A final point, at least for this section, is that the entire process took 3.5 hours which seemed long to me given that, at the end of the day, not much more that a grayscale calibration was done.
COMMENTS/FEEDBACK
At this point -- BECAUSE I AM INTERESTED IN LEARNING -- I would appreciate your comments/feedback on the above. I ammost interested in how the process should have been improved, which settings need to be done for separate input sources, input resolutions and light conditions, and finally, what should have been done that was not done.
LUMAGEN COMMENTS/QUESTIONS
In addition I noticed the following with the respect to the operation of the Lumagen which I would apprecaite feedback on:
1. Although the grayscale settings from input 1 to input 2 we properly copied I noticed that the settings fro input 2 had to be adjusted/tweaked. I do not understand why this would be the case given that the test patters are internally generated and all parameters/settings were the same.
2. Although the copy feature worked well it would be convenient/helpful to have the parameters copied to all input resolutions for a givgen input (i.e. brightness, color, contrast, etc.) parameters were not copied uniformally for ALL input resultions within a given input? Is there a reason for this? Would it be possible to add this feature?
3. After upograding to firmware version 122206 depressing the ENTER/OK key when watching a DVD whose signal comes into the video processor as 480p (i.e. can not do 480i over HDMI) the message "IN2A 16:9 Z1 480/576P-60 AUTO1" is displayed. What does the Z1 mean as I have never seen this before?
4. Appear to have an overscan problem in that there is information/noise at the top of the signal from the cable box. Am I correct in assuming/understandintg that the best way to adjust this is MENU->OUT->RES->SIZE?
5. Suggestion...it would be GREAT were Lumagen to provide a list of parameters/variables that are (i) gloab (ii) input specific and (iii) input/resolution specific.
And finally, thanks in advance to everyone who will respond to this thread!!
As I am less than expert in video calibration I thought that I would (i) describe the process (ii) describe why I believe/think that the key calibration components were not done and (iii) invite your feedback SO THAT I CAN INCREASZE MY LEARNING.
CALIBRATION PROCESS
Projector is an InFocus 7210
Video Processor is a Lumagen VisionHDP
1. Calibrated the projector's brightness, contrast and grayscale by DIRECTLY connecting a SENCORE unit to the projector to generate the necessary test patterns with ColorFacts software to getting readings therefrom.
The SENCORE unit fed a 720p signals to the projector as this is the projectors native rate.
This seemed to go as I thought except for the following:
-- Color was never calibrated meaning (i) primaries were not adjusted closer to their ideal values (as I was told that the projector does not have this capability) and (ii) using an SMPTE test pattern
-- Hue was never calibrated;
-- Gamma and gamut were not calibrated. Moreover, when I asked about these parameters I was told that "if the grayscale is right then the gamma and gamut are right". This does not seem right to me;
-- Grayscale was not, at this point, possible to get "spot on" as my projector has what he called a "color error" meaning that it is not possible to get BOTH the low IRE and the high IRE flat but rather 0-40 IRE flat, 40-50 IRE has a spike and 50-100 IRE is flat. This does not seem right to me; and
-- Sharpness was never calibrated.
2. Calibrated one input on the video processor by (i) calibrating grayscale by using the 11 point calibration process within the video processor (ii) calibrating the brightness, color , contrast, hue, and sharpness by feeding 720P test patterns from the SENCOR to the video processor.
The resulting settings were then copied to all other inputs on the video processor such that the settings for my two input sources (i.e. cable box and dvd player) were the same.
This seemed to go as I thought except for the following:
-- Brightness, colour, contrast, hue, ans sharpness were not calibrated sepatrately for either (i) different input sources, (ii) different input resolutions from a given source (i.e. cable box outputs 480i, 720p, 1080i) or (iii) different lighting conditions (i.e. I watch movies without light on and cable with/without light). The explanation, which does not seem right to me, was that the difference in settings are so small that there is little/no point in creating separate settings;
-- Gamma and gamut calibration request were once again answered as above.
WHAT WAS NOT DONE/WENT WRONG
1. Colour, hue and sharpness on the projector were never calibrated;
2. Brightness, colour, contrast, hue, and sharpness on the video procssor were not calibrated sepatrately for (i) different input sources (i.e. cable box and dvd) (ii) different input resolutions from a given source (i.e. cable box outputs 480i, 720p, 1080i) or (iii) different lighting conditions (i.e. I watch movies without light on and cable with/without light);
3. Gamma and gamut, on both the projector and the video processor were, for the reasons noted above, never calibrated. Should these be done for different light conditions, different sources and/or different resolutions;
4. Grayscale post calibration charts, for both the projector and the video processor, were not provided although the deltaC*, as shown in a spreasheet, was within 3.00. The post projector cailbration spike between 40-50 IRE had a deltaC* of 2.00. Should grayscale be done for different light conditions, different sources and/or different resolutions;
5. Other items that I believe shouls have been calibrated/checked but were not include:
-- Colour level (i.e. matching the colour level -- PC/Video -- with each input source);
-- Colour points, through either the projector or the video processor, were not adjusted closer to their ideal/standard values for either of REC 601 or REC 709.
A final point, at least for this section, is that the entire process took 3.5 hours which seemed long to me given that, at the end of the day, not much more that a grayscale calibration was done.
COMMENTS/FEEDBACK
At this point -- BECAUSE I AM INTERESTED IN LEARNING -- I would appreciate your comments/feedback on the above. I ammost interested in how the process should have been improved, which settings need to be done for separate input sources, input resolutions and light conditions, and finally, what should have been done that was not done.
LUMAGEN COMMENTS/QUESTIONS
In addition I noticed the following with the respect to the operation of the Lumagen which I would apprecaite feedback on:
1. Although the grayscale settings from input 1 to input 2 we properly copied I noticed that the settings fro input 2 had to be adjusted/tweaked. I do not understand why this would be the case given that the test patters are internally generated and all parameters/settings were the same.
2. Although the copy feature worked well it would be convenient/helpful to have the parameters copied to all input resolutions for a givgen input (i.e. brightness, color, contrast, etc.) parameters were not copied uniformally for ALL input resultions within a given input? Is there a reason for this? Would it be possible to add this feature?
3. After upograding to firmware version 122206 depressing the ENTER/OK key when watching a DVD whose signal comes into the video processor as 480p (i.e. can not do 480i over HDMI) the message "IN2A 16:9 Z1 480/576P-60 AUTO1" is displayed. What does the Z1 mean as I have never seen this before?
4. Appear to have an overscan problem in that there is information/noise at the top of the signal from the cable box. Am I correct in assuming/understandintg that the best way to adjust this is MENU->OUT->RES->SIZE?
5. Suggestion...it would be GREAT were Lumagen to provide a list of parameters/variables that are (i) gloab (ii) input specific and (iii) input/resolution specific.
And finally, thanks in advance to everyone who will respond to this thread!!
