How to Adjust Brightness and Contrast on a Monitor

To get the best performance out of your computer, be sure to adjust the brightness and contrast of the monitor carefully. The colors will be more accurate, and you'll avoid eye strain that can make you less productive. Here are some simple step-by-step instructions for adjusting your monitor properly.

Instructions

1. Boot up your computer and display your Windows Desktop. Make sure your monitor stays on for at least half an hour before you begin, so that it is properly warmed up.

2. Set a pure black image on the monitor so you can adjust the brightness. To get a pure black image, do the following: Choose Start, then Control Panel, then Display. This will open the Display Properties dialog box. Click the down arrow next to the representation of the desktop color in the Color field. Choose black from the color palette, then click OK.

3. Maximize the Brightness control on your monitor, then slowly reduce it until the black of the image perfectly matches the black at the edge of the physical screen. This puts the brightness at the proper setting.

4. Open a screen with a plain white background so you can adjust the contrast. One of the best ways to do this is to open a word-processing document without any text in it. Gradually reduce the contrast setting of your monitor until the white area of the screen begins to look slightly gray or off-white. Then gradually increase the contrast until the white area on your monitor is pure white. This will give you the proper white balance. Now you've got your monitor ready for peak performance.

Tips & Warnings

• Take these settings as your baseline. Since we all see somewhat differently, don't be afraid to make slight changes to suit your preferences.