HD Test Pattern via Satellite

For the record, the color patterns being compatible with the AVIA filters is not likely to be the important issue.


The problem is that the filters are designed for SMPTE color standards, and I don't know of a single television manufacturer that faithfully follows that standard (or many others, for that matter). I think the Princeton monitor from 4 or 5 years ago might have been an exception to that.


The only reasonably certain way of using the color patterns to set your color balance is to isolate the blue CRT by turning off or covering up red and green.


You might as well toss your filters in the trash.

Quote:
There's a healthy body of ISF professionals over at the spot - and while they would certainly agree that AVIA (or DVE) do not provide a spot-on accurate color calibration, they certainly give the average user a tool to more closely achieve accurate colors. Saying you'd "toss them in the trash" just comes across as haughty, as not all AVS'ers have the ability to pay $400 - 800 for calibration.


Regards,


Brian

So what use is SMPTE if the signals we are getting aren't calibrated to the SMPTE standard?

If these are the usual HDnet test patterns, then they are probably best used for adjusting overscan and convergence on RPTVs.

Thanks, guys, for throwing some light on the subject of video calibration. I can stlll hope, but I won't be expecting so much.

Just to reiterate -- the problem is not AVIA or the test patterns that might be shown over the air by HDNet. The problem is the filters, which are designed to be used with displays that use standard SMPTE color phosphors. Because every TV manufacturer tries to make their picture look different from their competitors, none of them adhere to the SMPTE standards for color.


Maybe the suggestion of throwing the filters in the trash is a bit extreme, but in most cases the filters will lead you seriously astray. I've seen this repeatedly where AVIA or VE owners cheerfully accepted the results of the filters even though it left color balance far from correct.


If you have the option (rear-projection) and you have the technical confidence, you'd do much better to cover up the red and green CRTs when trying to align the blue bars. Also, some RPTVs provide you with the ability to turn off selected CRTs.


yellow_fox -- feel free to private message me if you'd like more info on this.

HTPC generated test patterns rule over all!!!

Quote:
Could you expand on this? I could make color bars on the PC, but what are the required blends of color? If you have a link to where this is being discussed, please share.

For the record, HDNet has been doing this for a while, but with the HD PVR's coming out, I imagine that interest will increase. Its hard to do much with these patterns without recording them.

gpflepsen


do a search for test patterns only in the HTPC forum.


There was this one VERY good thread where all the test pattern generators were listed and rated.