About Video Calibration

Ever notice in the video store that every video display seems to look different?

Which one is "right"?

What is "right"?

Video displays (common term: TV sets) come from the factory "pre-set" to sell on the showroom floor.  This may vary based on the particular philosophy of the manufacturer, as well as the physical condition of the set (manufacturing tolerances, etc.) and the "tweaking" (usually for personal preference) by store personnel and customers who may have gotten into the display's user menu.  Common "tricks" to make the picture sell are:
  • Make white bluer to make it appear brighter.  (Think adding bluing to laundry).
  • Drive contrast high (never mind that highlights will be clipped).
  • Distort blacks (eliminating shadow detail) to make the display appear to have "better" blacks.
  • Tweak Red ("Red push") to overcome the added blue in white.
  • Add artificial "enhancement" to image edges to make the picture look sharper (and "pop").
Many manufacturers do provide picture modes and other user adjustments that allow the user to "tame" the display somewhat - but the question remains:

What is right?
In the  video industry "right" is fully defined by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE).  The Imaging Science Foundation (isf) has promoted meeting these standards in consumer level equipment.  Part of their effort is working with industry to promote the ability of consumer displays to meet these standards, as well to train personnel in adjusting consumer displays to meet these standards.

Isf calibrators are trained (and certified) in the science of meeting these standards.  Doing that (true isf calibration) is what we are all about.   We are not about getting the most "pop" in a picture - we are all about getting the most accurate picture.  The whole idea is that the customer will see the same picture that the director intended the viewer to see.


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