[bradinbrooklyn]

Hi all -


I've done some calibration on my new TV using AVIA (output is via my HTPC) and I'm wondering if there is a good list of test scenes on DVD and Blu Ray that I can look at to make some judgment of whether I've done a good job. Especially with contrast and brightness, which seems to test well on the disk but my movies feel a little washed out and I'm not sure if I'm just used to very dark settings. I've done a few searches but can't find any comprehensive lists.


Thanks,

Brad

 

[Michael TLV]

Greetings


If you follow the rules correctly ... then the movies look the way they do.


It doesn't mean anything if you boost the brightness and decide you can see more dark detail ... or stuff you are not meant to see. How do you know what you are supposed to see or not just by watching a film?


How do you know if the movie is stylized in some way? You don't.


The big thing here is ... did you follow the instructions correctly?


Many have told me yes ... and then when I see their TVs ... the patterns look all wrong. So much for following the instructions.


regards

 

[bradinbrooklyn]

Sorry if I wasn't clear on my request, I'm looking for some sample scenes and what to look out for that I can watch to help judge whether I've calibrated correctly... For example:


In the scene in ????? you should be able to see the detail on the wall in the background. If your contrast is off then it may appear solid black.

 

[JDLIVE]

The scene from LOTR - The Two Towers when they enter Moria and Gandalf lights up the caverns is pretty good for checking shadow detail.

 

[SOWK]



Quote:
Originally Posted by bradinbrooklyn /forum/post/16874919


Hi all -


I've done some calibration on my new TV using AVIA (output is via my HTPC) and I'm wondering if there is a good list of test scenes on DVD and Blu Ray that I can look at to make some judgment of whether I've done a good job. Especially with contrast and brightness, which seems to test well on the disk but my movies feel a little washed out and I'm not sure if I'm just used to very dark settings. I've done a few searches but can't find any comprehensive lists.


Thanks,

Brad

Two ways of knowing for sure you are not losing much or any shadow detail

* Some displays can not display the below with properly set brightness, if yours can't don't worry to much about it.


**Some displays can not display the below with raised brightness either.

1. If you have a home theater PC running RGB 0 - 255


using windows background color change you background to be all black (0 on the 0-255 scale.)


Red = 0

Green = 0

Blue = 0


Then change it 1 (1 on the 0-255scale)


Red = 1

Green = 1

Blue = 1


If you can see a change in lumination on the screen you can't get much better then that.



2. Use a Video level calibration disk with ramps 0 - 25 flashing


You should have it set to be black at 16 via software in the PC, if you can see 17 your good.

 

[tonyptony]

Apologies for latching on, but I wanted to ask about other types of test scenes. In particular any that are recognized for being dead-on accurate for skin tones and other natural colors. I recognize there are many shades of skin tone, many shades of green for grass etc, but we generally seem to know when natural colors like these look right. At least I think I do. I find that many of the scenes we tend to use for shadow detail also seem to be toned or stylized so that you really can't use them for color. Any suggestions?

 

[SOWK]

I find that older movies with little to no processing have the best color reproduction.



Even the BD of Batman with Adam West looks good to me from a color perspective.

 

[bradinbrooklyn]

Thanks all for the suggestions!

 

[GeorgeAB]



Quote:
Originally Posted by tonyptony /forum/post/16880151


....I recognize there are many shades of skin tone, many shades of green for grass etc, but we generally seem to know when natural colors like these look right. At least I think I do.....Any suggestions?

There is no "generally," other than the fact that human color perception can be very easily and reliably fooled. Color memory is also notoriously unreliable. Please review the opening post from this sticky thread above and the links it provides: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=849430 . The best images for visually evaluating display alignment are those professional test patterns specifically designed for the purpose. Once you understand the instructions on how to use them, they are profoundly reliable.


The color filters provided with some test discs are not as reliable as using a 'blue only' mode provided in some displays or instruments, but they are helpful. Some test patterns provide below black information, and some displays can render below black information in a program, however, below black information in programs is not intended to be seen by the consumer. Pluge patterns and the like are the best way to determine where black should be.


Best regards and beautiful pictures,

G. Alan Brown, President

CinemaQuest, Inc.

A Lion AV Consultants Affiliate


"Advancing the art and science of electronic imaging"