How to Fine Tune an LCD TV
Did you fall in love with the vibrant, clear picture of an LCD television at a retail store? Many stores skew the calibrations on their televisions for the bright, fluorescent lighting in their showrooms. Ensure your picture matches up to your expectations when you get the television home. You don't need to hire outside help for LCD bliss; tailor your LCD television just for your home theater with a few easy do-it-yourself steps.
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Instructions
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Choose a movie or other program to view while you adjust your settings. It's best to pick something that features numerous dark scenes; this allows for optimal brigthness and contrast testing.
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Prepare the room to look as it will when you normally watch a movie. Sit where you usually sit. Use the same amount of lighting you traditionally have on during your viewing time. A single, dim light---located behind the television---is preferred for optimal viewing and decreased eyestrain.
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Access the on-screen display controls for your television (generally listed as "video settings" or "picture settings" within your television's menu).
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Test the brightness by choosing it within your television's menu. Pause your program during a dark scene. Increase and decrease the brightness level. Judge what level you think provides the most detail in the darker areas (allowing you to see the most in a dimly lit scene).
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Set the contrast level by choosing it within your television's menu. Cue up a scene in your program with many whites and/or light colors; pause the screen. The best contrast level shows details in the bright areas and keeps the borders between lighter objects and their surroundings.
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Adjust the color level by choosing it within your television's menu. Pause the screen when you find a scene with many colors (preferably many blues, greens and reds). Tweak the color setting until each color is vivid, but doesn't look unnatural.
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Tailor the tint (sometimes called "hue") level by choosing it within your television's menu. Pause your program during a scene with people. Move the tint settings and focus on the color of the skin tones to get the best setting.
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Re-do each step if your television uses different viewing modes (i.e., Movie, Sports, Day, etc.). Some televisions allow you to set and define different display levels determined by situation. If you can, set your different modes for at least a night/movie option and a day/light setting to ensure you have the best picture, regardless of lighting.
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Purchase a color-test DVD if you're still not satisfied with the results, or if you don't trust your ability to distinguish colors. Calibration tools range from $20 (basic, color test pattern DVD) to $150 (colorimeter tool with test DVD).
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