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HCFR - Open source projector and display calibration software

2M views 16K replies 1K participants last post by  nathan_h 
#1 · (Edited)
Hi and welcome to the open source HCFR software thread.
Updated Jan. 27th - 2018

I love working and tinkering on the program but given the amount of time I've invested over the past year on improvements I'm going to start accepting donations. If you feel the program has been of value to you since I started working on it about 3 years ago please consider a contribution via the link below. Thanks!

https://www.paypal.me/zoyd
(or via direct paypal to vze262tr@verizon.net if paypal.me is not supported in your country)

Thanks to the following for recent donations! [LarryInRI, Barsk, 22point, LastButNotLeast, Dominic Chen, Brian M., Wayne L., Andrej S., Arturs J., Douglas P., John G., mo949, Eric V., David S., BlueChris, EXT64, Nihat S., Luis E., J. F., Miiku Joao F., Luis M., Nate W., Don H., Stahinja M., Jeff H., Pedro C., Howell A., Myat M., Carlos F., Webster D., SiegeX, Jörg O., Enrico B., Gert M., Marlon K., Jacob R., John G., Kari T., Ryan T., Franck P. ]

HCFR uses ArgyllCMS for the operation of the probes, so please help ensure that ArgyllCMS remains available in the future, by making a financial contribution to the argyllcms project:

www.argyllcms.com

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This thread was originally started by JohnAd who had the nice idea of creating an open source fork of the original HCFR Colormeter software to integrate the existing GUI and all of it's calibration features, with the meter handling code of ArgyllCMS. Since ArgyllCMS is continually adding and improving meter support, HCFR benefits by staying current with these developments. The software is frequently referred to as HCFR or colorHCFR where HCFR is short for "Home Cinema-FR", a French forum where some of it's members originally developed the code to support their home-brew colorimeter in 2005. Along with the meter handling improvements introduced by ArgyllCMS, I have been working on improving and adding features to the color engine and internal pattern generator. Please use this thread for bug reports, usage questions and suggestions for improvement. Anyone wishing to help with code development should join the developers mailing list.

The latest version of HCFR (3.5.1.4) can be found here. Changelog

Help Wanted (pm zoyd)
  • Language translation
  • Update French and German with recent changes
  • Full Spanish, Italian, others? needed
  • Help file updates
  • PDF Quick Guide

User wl1 has provided some useful links for beginners to display calibration as well as links to helpful posts within the thread. Please take a look before posting to see if your question has already been answered. There is also a FAQ section below that may be helpful.

Useful Links
Display Calibration - Part I
Curtpalme - Calibration Guide for Dummies
Basic Guide to Color Calibration using a CMS (updated and enhanced)
ArgyllCMS Probe installation notes
Spears and Munsil
Choosing a Color Space | Spears & Munsil
The Secrets Blu-ray Player HDMI Benchmark Part 1 and Part 2
Original version 2 avsforum discussion thread
Another version 2 discussion thread
How-to: Use HCFR to profile your colorimeter

Links to Tools & Utilities
AVSHD709 Test Disk
GCD Disk
Mascior's Calbration Disc
dispcalGUI (front-end to ArgyllCMS)
Ted's LightSpace CMS Calibration disk (now with pointers for use with HCFR) [Set-up Instructions]

Thread Summary (from Post 792, New Scientist)
Post No. Comment
#151 to #155 - installing i1Display Pro

#159 - use of i1Display 3 3/1/2012 (march 1st)

#161 - removal of non-free code (for accessing meter)

#162 - x-rite driver (.dll) use

#165 - spotread

#167 - spotread

#174 - problems with i3D3

#180 - observations re use of i1D3

#183 - reply to #180

#189,#196 - x-rite drivers

#198 - x-rite drivers

#202 - installation i3D3

#226 - a first attempt at calibration

#227,#236 - i1D3 not requiring calibration

#231 - ccss

#248,#253 - i1D3 not requring drivers from x-rite to work with HCFR

#257,#258 - i3D3 with HCFR

#263 to #270 - analysis of #258

#275 - spreadsheet for setting gamma

#277 - spreadsheet uses

#325 - HCFR v3.0.1.0

#397 - using i1D3

#416 - graphs from testing i1D3

#425 - EDR and i1D3ccss too
l
#426 - v3.0.2.0 issues re i1D3

#428 - generate .ccss files from i3D3 disk

#442 - v3.0.3.0

#487 - v3.0.4.0

#507 - what is .ccss

#509 - refresh and i1D3ccss.exe

#514 - what is .ccss and .EDR

#519 - i1D3ccss usage

#528 - where should the .ccss files go?
#534 - ARGYLL_COLMTER_CAL_SPEC_SET environment variable
#540 - some addtional ccss file info (plasma displays)

#552 - ccmx file

#600 - i1D3 not showing in Sensor list

#610 - "Use measured colors", in Preferences -> General, option

#678 - i1D3 and i1 Display Pro differences

#682 - comment re issue with v3.0.4.0 and i1D3

#688 - which driver to use

#717 - i1D3ccss tool

#732 - do I need drivers or not?

#786 - spectral sample files

#824 – Steps to load Driver

#841 – i1D3 reds on Plasma - matrix

#876 – ColorMunki Display guide

#898 - 904 – Pana Window sizes

#1008 – Comparison of HCFR 2.1 and 3.0.4.0

#1083 – HTPC Cal. Suggestion

#1105 – Updating and removing Argyll Drivers

#1114 – Plasma Essential Reading

#1122 –i1D3Pro - initial accuracy study/background to meter matrices

#1146 – Matric Correction file info

#1150 – Import Matrix file into HCFR

#1205 – 2 point V 10 point Calibration

#1215 – Warming up meter

#1241 – profiling Meters

#1250 – Matrix file for Display LT2

#1258 – errors in HCFR ? Red push?

#1260 – GT30/VT30 Experiences

#1270 – WARNING – HCFR Matrix different than CP or CM

#1280 – Zoyd Steps in - Installation package and baseline Integration value

#1285 and 1299 – The fixes explained – instability @30%IRE

#1303 – Argyll Driver suggestions

#1336 –build from Zoyd – USB fixes

#1337 – Plasma/LCD – definitive Refresh settings and Calibration of meter (>50%)

#1344 – Lots of changes to HCFR

#1352 – List of more changes – BT1886 gamma target

#1354 – More info link on BT1886

#1357 & 1360 & 1370 – Answers about changes – and gamma recommendations

#1380, 1390 – another build

#1398 – Fork of a Fork

#1411 – Luminance and Delta E – Yes or No? Colour or Grey?

#1420 & 1426 – 3.0.4.1 Changes

#1424 – Use of GCD Disk Colour Checker Pattern

#1512 & 1515 & 1558– Version 3.0.4.2 Changes

#1521 – Run HCFR with Admin Privileges

#1523 – Projector questions and suggestions
#1537 – Explanation of Change to HCFR calculation of gamma
#1647 – LCD and LD ON/OFF? Plasma and ABL – guidleines
#1648 – Preferences -> General -> gray levels rounding assumption to unchecked? AVCHD,DVD=checked, GCD,internal patterns=unchecked
#1650 – Can I use matrix from D3 for LT2? No – see 1651

#1663 – BT.1886 or not? Depends on if you have 10 point control

#1702 – BT1888 is not meant to be flat

#1722 – Samsung D & E -75%A and 75%S recommended

#1774 – Explanation of affect of Patterns to gamma and light output results


FAQ:
Do I need to install a driver for the i1Display Pro (i1D3)?
No. This meter as well as the Huey, ColorMunki Display, and ColorHug use the system HID driver.

Which probes are supported?
Any probe that ArgyllCMS supports.

How do I install the right driver for my probe?
Assuming your device is not one of those above, the driver .inf file is located in the drivers sub-directory of the main HCFR folder (by default this is c:\Program Files (x86)\HCFR Calibration\Drivers). You do not need to install the full ArgyllCMS program but useful driver installation hints can be found here. After plugging in your meter go to the system devices in your control panel, find the meter and right click to update the driver. Point the update dialog to the HCFR drivers folder.

Which deltaE formula is the most accurate?
All the deltaE formulas represent a measure of the distance between your measured color and the reference color. So they are just rulers with different scales, use the one recommended if you aren't sure. For gray scale measurements the recommended formula provides more sensitivity to chromaticity (x,y) errors so it's easier to use for "tuning" your controls. The dE94 or dE2000 formulas are generally the most acceptable for "proofing" as they are the most uniform in perceptual space and a unit of error in one part of the gamut has the same visual impact as the rest of the gamut.

How can I import Chromapure probe profile data in HCFR?
Calculate the matrix correction using the spreadsheet from this post where z=1-x-y and then enter it in the sensor matrix tab.


How do I use the Casino Royale images to check my calibration?
There is a nice guide here on what to look for at those particular timecodes.


What do the different parameters for the BT.1886 gamma formula do?
The recommended value (default) for the exponent in the formula is 2.4. This value will be used when you enter 0 for absolute in the BT.1886 box. If you want to tailor the function to make the picture have a little more or less contrast then enter a different number here. If you enter 2.4 for example the actual exponent used will be adjusted so that the target gamma has a value of 2.4 at 50% stimulus. You might use that for a dark environment and 2.2 for a brighter environment.

The other parameter (% Input Offset) will change the shape of the curve near black up through about 20% stimulus. The default value will target a gamma that should provide plenty of detail in the shadows. If you find the shadow detail is being lifted too much when you calibrate to this curve, adjust this value lower (try 50%) and this will raise the target gamma near black and darken the shadows. Note that in most cases you must have multipoint gamma adjustment ability to get a good match to a BT.1886 curve. Also note that if you have a zero black level (e.g. OLED) the target point gamma curve will be flat.


What should I use to generate test patterns?
Most people start out using DVD/Blu-ray test disks to generate their test patterns and run HCFR in manual mode. The assumption being that the BD player is somehow altering the test pattern and not following industry standards for the rendering and transmission of video and that these errors must be "calibrated out". However, this assumption is usually overblown and most often you'll find that while there may be some single bit rounding errors being generated they are not large enough to have any perceptual effect on the signal. I recommend that once you get a good feel for the calibration process using a DVD/BD that you move on to automatic pattern generation (see next question) and then cross-check against your BD player results for sanity.


How do I set-up automatic test patterns?
HCFR has three options for automatic test pattern generation, it's own generator, madTPG, and the Chromecast device. The first two require some set-up of the video card to ensure accuracy while the third requires no set-up. All three options are very accurate test pattern generators with the following characteristics:

HCFR generates all of it's triplet targets in 8-bit video levels (16-235) so when used in a video level path both the internal generator and madTPG will provide technically reference triplets. When used in a PC level (0-255) path the internal generator will expand the video levels to PC level and this will produce rounding errors. While small it is recommended that you use madTPG if you want to calibrate in PC levels because it will dither the output levels and reduce or eliminate any rounding errors. A good summary of the various levels combinations can be found here(h/t @SiegeX).

The Chromecast device produces Y'C'C' output and while not technically a reference device because the levels it produces have rounding errors, it is also dithered to reduce these errors below perceptual limits. The advantage to this device is cost ($30) and ease of set-up (it really is "plug-and-play")

To set-up your laptop/PC for pattern generation (either internal or madTPG) you will need to ensure your video card has linear gain tables loaded (i.e. no profile installed). madTPG does this for you automatically, otherwise you'll need to research your card settings to determine how to do this. It is also easiest to get the correct levels set-up if you force the card to output it's normal 0-255 range when connected to your display over HDMI as some cards will default to 16-235 levels, which in some cases is undesirable. The madVR package has a utility for doing this (madLevelsTweaker) or your card may have this option in it's control panel.

Once you have the card set-up select 16-235 in the HCFR view images settings (or 16-235 in the madVR settings) for a display set to video levels. If the display is set to expect PC levels choose 0-255 in HCFR or the same in madVR. There are no level settings required when using the Chromecast as your pattern generator.

All three pattern generators have settings for window size as percent of screen area and background level as percent average picture level. Which settings you use depends on your particular display so it's best to consult an owners thread for specific recommendations.
 
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#8,321 · (Edited)
But it does not work, HCFR can not save the file at this location or in any other location where i have admin rights.
The OS is Windows 10 x64, my user is in the administrator group and UAC is disabled.
I think the problem is that HCFR can not write in the Program Files folder.
I'm running Windows 10 Pro x64 with default UAC, and was able to save with 3.4.1 and 3.4.2.
 

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#8,322 ·
Hello, I'm a newbie when it comes to using a colorimeter for calibration. Based on what I've read here and elsewhere I decided to buy an i1 Display Pro and downloaded HCFR. I've been trying to calibrate both my BenQ w1070 projector and my Panasonic GT50 plasma tv. I've followed the curtpalme guide (http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10457) but since that was written many years ago, I have some questions that I'm hoping you can answer for me.

1. Do I need to be using some special correction matrix or calibrate the i1 before using it for the projector or the plasma tv? And if so, where can I get those matrix settings?

2. In the HCFR guide, it says to never adjust green, just stick to high and low adjustments for red and blue. In what situation would I/should I adjust the green then?

3. For measuring color, I've been using the 100% IRE, but I've seen some people say to use 75%. Does it matter? Which should be used?

Thanks to whoever can help me!
 
#8,324 · (Edited)
1. Do I need to be using some special correction matrix or calibrate the i1 before using it for the projector or the plasma tv? And if so, where can I get those matrix settings?
Ideally, the i1D3 should be profiled against a spectrophotometer on the same display that it's being used on. However, the i1D3 does come with a few "generic" profiles that you can choose from the drop-down list.
[EDIT] DisplayCal has a database of colorimeter correction files here.

2. In the HCFR guide, it says to never adjust green, just stick to high and low adjustments for red and blue. In what situation would I/should I adjust the green then?
That's one of the "rules" you don't need to follow religiously. Green has the biggest impact on the luminance (72% for green, vs 21% for red, 7% for blue), but if the colour balance shows an excess of green, you can safety reduce it. The alternative of increasing red and blue may lead to clipping in those colours.
3. For measuring color, I've been using the 100% IRE, but I've seen some people say to use 75%. Does it matter? Which should be used?
You can first measure the primary colours at 100 IRE to see if they are close. You can then run a saturation sweep to see how the colour tracks at 25%, 50% and 75%. Depending on the results, you can decide if 75% or 100% gives you the best overall result.
 
#8,325 ·
3. For measuring color, I've been using the 100% IRE, but I've seen some people say to use 75%. Does it matter? Which should be used?
Hi, think that Luminance of 75% Stimulus Patterns has about 50% of the luminance of 100% Stimulus, so your adjustment point is at the center of the color luminance range.

Using 100% Stimulus Patterns your adjustment point is at the highest end of the luminance range but you will probably have larger errors at lower luminance levels.

This works for some displays / don't work to others, some display has better tracking, so even using 100% Luminance / 100% Saturation pattern, it tracks good other saturation/luminance levels, but needs to test your own display to find out.

There displays where you get better final results when you use 100% Saturation than from 75% Saturation, there others where when you use 100% Saturation Patterns, you have great performance to 100% area more errors to the lower Saturation levels.



When you have to calibrate a display using it's internal available calibration controls, because the gamut control points are only a few (1-Point per color) you have to try to find out which patterns you have to use for your gamut calibration which will provide you less average errors to all measured saturation levels + colorchecker.

There is not any golden rule which says which type of patterns to use to calibrate the CMS for each display model, you have to try to your display these 4 options.

(75%/75% - 75%/100% - 100%/75% - 100%/100%) to find out which type of patterns will provide you lower dE overall, try to calibrate based to one of these options (for example 100SAT/75AMPL) and at the end, measure using 4-Point Saturation / 4-Point Luminance / ColorChecker / Fleshtones.

Later re-calibrate your display using another option (for example 75SAT/75AMPL) and remeasure at the end with Saturation/Luminance/ColorChecker etc... and compare these 2 reports to see what patterns are providing you lower dE numbers.



The average Caucasian skin tone resides well away from any grey scale, or primary color. That's why you have to check ColorChecker because it contains skin tones, grass, sky, etc.; which are memory colors.

Initially it will take some time to measure these 4 pattern options to find which patterns are providing better performance but next time you will know which patterns to use for that specific display you are calibrating.

This is happening because you have only 1 control point for each color of Gamut Calibration, so you have to find which point you will use (% Saturation/ % Luminance)...think that you have a display with 1-point Grayscale.....where you have to test to see which grayscale pattern will balance better the whole grayscale and provide the lower errors, from 10% Gray till 100% White.

Usually it's better to do 75% Saturation / 75% Intensity or 75% Saturation / 100% Intensity calibration, where you will improve the color tracking of primary color saturations internally; which is more important from having better performance (less dE errors) only to the gamut edges (100% Saturation).

For problematic display where you want to have the best possible performance at every area, you have to move to 3D LUT calibration/profiling, this will correct multiple saturation/intensity/hue levels.
 
#8,326 ·
Hi Dominic,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, your are right : i've got an i1d3 and the default file location is :
C:\Program Files (x86)\HCFR Calibration\Etalon_Argyll

But it does not work, HCFR can not save the file at this location or in any other location where i have admin rights.
The OS is Windows 10 x64, my user is in the administrator group and UAC is disabled.
I think the problem is that HCFR can not write in the Program Files folder.
Since Windows 7 or maybe 8, it's forbidden.
You can change the permissions on the folder tree for the installation directory using the icacls command-line tool:

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753525(v=ws.11).aspx

You will have to run icacls from an elevated command prompt to make the changes:

http://winaero.com/blog/how-to-open-elevated-command-prompt-in-windows-10/
 
#8,329 ·
Ideally, the i1D3 should be profiled against a spectrophotometer on the same display that it's being used on. However, the i1D3 does come with a few "generic" profiles that you can choose from the drop-down list.


That's one of the "rules" you don't need to follow religiously. Green has the biggest impact on the luminance (72% for green, vs 21% for red, 7% for blue), but if the colour balance shows an excess of green, you can safety reduce it. The alternative of increasing red and blue may lead to clipping in those colours.

You can first measure the primary colours at 100 IRE to see if they are close. You can then run a saturation sweep to see how the colour tracks at 25%, 50% and 75%. Depending on the results, you can decide if 75% or 100% gives you the best overall result.
Dominic, thank you. By generic profile, do you mean on the second window where I can choose display type, like LCD, Plasma, etc? Or is it supposed to be the use existing correction matrix on the first window when you start a file? Because that part is totally blank for me.
 
#8,330 ·
By generic profile, do you mean on the second window where I can choose display type, like LCD, Plasma, etc?
Yes, that's what I meant.
Or is it supposed to be the use existing correction matrix on the first window when you start a file? Because that part is totally blank for me.
You will see an entry there only after you have created a meter correction file, or if you have copied some correction files into the Etalon/Argyll directory.
 
#8,331 · (Edited)
Just returning to display calibration from a long hiatus. Installed HCFR and an i1 meter. Seems to work in manual/DVD mode, but the automatic pattern generator doesn't work for me. I get dE in the +100 range. My display and PJ is not THAT bad :) How can that be? Is it a bug in HCFR or is there a way to make it work?

HCFR defaults to xyY but i can also select RGB, XYZ, xyz. For the life of me I cant remember which to use for calibrating for commercial video content on my PJ. Is xyY the correct setting?


EDIT: Put the generator in GDI mode. That seem to work.
 
#8,332 ·
HCFR defaults to xyY but i can also select RGB, XYZ, xyz. For the life of me I cant remember which to use for calibrating for commercial video content on my PJ. Is xyY the correct setting
Hi, use xyY, in CMS errors in Hues or Saturation are visible to CIE Chromaticity Chart (which is 2-dimensional) with (xy) coordinates, Luminance (Y) errors are not visible, it's the 3rd dimension, but you will see the luminance errors reported by HCFR as dE Luminance +-x.x%.
 
#8,334 · (Edited)
OK. I see that. Thank you! :)
I find it easiest to set up HCFR like this (see attached) when adjusting the colours. You can see the CIE diagram, xy values, delta E, delta luminance, etc. all on the same screen.
 

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#8,335 ·
Hi,

I noticed a bug when i want to "mesure everything" (Full tilt boogie).
The gray scale is correctly filled but the gamma graph is not displayed.
The contrast measure seems also buggy if i use madVR (madTPG) as generator.
HCFR seems to use GCD for that purpose which appears wrong to me, but i am not sure...
Contrast ON/OFF = 1:1 / ANSI = undefined

Thx
 
#8,336 ·
HCFR and ICC profiles?

Is it possible to use HCFR to create an ICC profile for a PC monitor? I used HCFR and the monitor's onboard controls to get it as good as possible but it's still some way off (10-pt gamma and low-end white balance, especially - loads of +R errors in the dark grays).

If this isn't possible, does anybody know of a free utility that can take the calibration data and create an ICC profile? I tried i1 Match but I can't get it to work with my i1 Display 2.

Cheers.
 
#8,337 ·
I noticed a bug when i want to "mesure everything" (Full tilt boogie).
Some of the issues may be specific to 3.4.2. Have you tried reverting back to 3.4.1?
 
#8,338 ·
Is it possible to use HCFR to create an ICC profile for a PC monitor? I used HCFR and the monitor's onboard controls to get it as good as possible but it's still some way off (10-pt gamma and low-end white balance, especially - loads of +R errors in the dark grays).
No, HCFR does not create ICC profiles

If this isn't possible, does anybody know of a free utility that can take the calibration data and create an ICC profile? I tried i1 Match but I can't get it to work with my i1 Display 2.
Try DisplayCAL
 
#8,340 ·
No, I have not tried but i will. Thanks Dominic
I just tried running 3.4.1 and 3.4.2 and they both worked correctly; however, I didn't use madVR.
Did the contrast measurement work properly on its own (not as part of Full Tilt Boogie)? Can you post the HCFR data file (.chc)?
 
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