This article shows you how to calibrate a computer monitor to make sure the settings that adjust the color and brightness levels are correct. Monitor calibration is a very important aspect to consider, especially when working on graphic projects intended for other people, as an incorrectly calibrated monitor could generate lackluster colors and lights that would make your work appear dull or dull. on end-user computers.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Prepare for Calibration
Step 1. Understand when it's time to calibrate a monitor
Normally high resolution monitors intended for desktop computers (for example a 4K screen) need to be calibrated to obtain a correct display of colors, lighting effects and objects. Improperly calibrating this type of monitor can cause dull color display or blurry and unclear images.
- Low-end monitors (for example devices with a maximum resolution of 720p), especially those used to play video games or to perform other leisure activities, do not need to be calibrated even if doing so can only bring advantages.
- Monitors built into laptops rarely need to be calibrated, although no one forbids doing it by following the same procedure that is used to calibrate an external monitor.
Step 2. Clean the monitor screen if necessary
If the screen is dirty, you will need to take some time to clean it carefully before you can proceed with its calibration.
Step 3. Place the monitor in an environment where the lighting is as natural and neutral as possible
In order to perform a proper calibration, the screen should not be facing a direct light source and should not exhibit light reflections of any kind. Make sure you place it in a room that has neutral lighting and is not exposed to a direct natural or artificial light source.
Step 4. Connect the monitor to the computer using a quality cable
If possible, make sure your monitor is connected to your computer using a DisplayPort cable.
If in your case you can't use a DisplayPort cable to connect, use an HDMI cable. Always try to avoid using connection standards that ensure low video quality, such as DVI or VGA cables
Step 5. Turn on the monitor at least 30 minutes early before continuing
This will give you time to reach the optimal operating temperature.
If your computer is configured to automatically enter power-saving modes or to display the screensaver, be sure to move the mouse well in advance to prevent the screen from turning off
Step 6. Set the monitor's default video resolution if needed
By default, the monitor is automatically configured to use the maximum resolution available, which is required to perform an accurate calibration:
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Windows - access the menu Start clicking the icon
Windowsstart click the option Settings
Windowssettings click the item System, click the tab Screen, click on the drop-down menu "Resolution" and finally click the resolution that has the words "(recommended)". At this point click on the button Keep changes when required;
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Mac - access the menu Apple menu clicking the icon
Macapple1 click the item System Preferences …, click the icon Monitor, click the tab Monitor, hold down the ⌥ Option key while clicking on the option Optimize for, click the monitor you want to calibrate, then select the "Best for monitor" item.
Part 2 of 4: Calibrating the Monitor in Windows
Step 1. Access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop. Alternatively, press the ⊞ Win key on your keyboard.
Step 2. Launch the screen calibration tool
Type in the keywords calibrate screen, then click the item Calibrate the screen color appeared at the top of the "Start" menu.
Step 3. Make sure the calibration program window is displayed on the correct screen
If you are using a computer that has multiple monitors connected, you may need to move the calibration program window to the second screen.
Step 4. Click the Next button
It is located in the lower right corner of the program window.
Step 5. Set the factory default color adjustments for your monitor
If necessary, press the monitor's "Menu" key, then select the default color scheme using the device menu.
- This step is not necessary if you have never changed the monitor's default configuration settings (note not those of the computer, but those built into the monitor).
- If you are using a laptop, you can skip this step.
Step 6. Click the Next button
It is located in the lower right corner of the program window.
Step 7. Review the sample image labeled "Good Range", then click the Next button
The image shown is displayed in the center of the screen. In the ideal situation you will have to adjust the "Gamma" slider so that an image is displayed as close as possible to the reference one.
Step 8. Change the "Gamma" level of the monitor
Drag the slider on the left of the screen up or down so that the image displayed in the center is as close as possible to the reference image ("Good Range") shown in the previous step.
Step 9. Double click the Next button
It is located in the lower right corner of the program window.
Step 10. Examine the "Good Brightness" reference image
Click on the Next button. If you are using a laptop, click the button Ignore brightness and contrast adjustment visible in the center of the screen and skip the next two steps.
Step 11. Change the screen brightness
Access the main menu of the monitor by pressing the "Menu" key, then select the "Brightness" or "Brightness" option to be able to change the brightness level of the screen according to your needs.
In this step you should change the brightness level of the screen so that the image displayed in the center of the page is as close as possible to the reference image
Step 12. Click the Next button
It is located in the lower right corner of the page. You will be redirected to the screen where you will be shown the sample image of a good "Contrast" adjustment.
Step 13. Carefully review the "Good Contrast" reference image, then click the Next button
Again, if you're using a laptop, skip the next two steps.
Step 14. Change the contrast level
Use the monitor's main menu to increase or decrease the contrast, so that the image displayed in the center of the page is as close as possible to the reference image.
Step 15. Double click the Next button
It is located in the lower right corner of the page.
Step 16. Adjust the color balance
Use the sliders at the bottom of the page to adjust the saturation level of the red, green, and blue colors to view the grayscale image with the correct coloration, i.e. that does not tend to red, green or blue.
Step 17. Click the Next button to be able to review the changes you have made
Click on the button Previous calibration to check how the monitor displayed the images before the calibration you performed, then click on the button Current calibration to perform a comparison.
Step 18. Click the Finish button
It is located in the lower right part of the window. The new settings will be saved and applied.
Part 3 of 4: Calibrating a Mac Monitor
Step 1. Enter the "Apple" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Apple logo and is located in the upper left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 2. Choose the System Preferences… item
It is one of the options present in the drop-down menu that appeared. The "System Preferences" dialog box will appear.
Step 3. Click the Monitor icon
It is one of the options in the "System Preferences" dialog box. A new window will appear.
Step 4. Click on the Color tab
It is displayed at the top of the "Monitor" window.
Step 5. Click on the Calibrate… button
It is located on the right side of the "Color" tab.
Step 6. Click the Continue button
It is located in the lower right corner of the appeared window.
Step 7. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen
Depending on the type of monitor, the settings you will have available will differ. However in most cases you will have to keep clicking on the button Continues located in the lower right corner of the page until you reach the screen where you will need to enter your account password.
Step 8. Enter your login password when prompted
Type the same password you normally use to log in; use the "Password" field, then click on the button OK.
Step 9. Click the Finish button when prompted
In this way the new settings obtained from the calibration procedure will be saved and applied.
Part 4 of 4: Using a Colorimeter
Step 1. Understand that you will need to purchase a colorimeter
It is a hardware device that must be placed on the screen and which will work in conjunction with a special software to perform an accurate calibration of the colors and brightness of the monitor. This way, ambient lighting, sunlight and other external components will not interfere with the calibration process.
Step 2. Choose and purchase a colorimeter according to your needs
A device of this type, intended for personal use, has a price of around € 150, while professional colorimeters for industrial use can cost more than € 1,000. Make the choice according to your needs and your economic availability.
- Spyder line colorimeters are considered reliable and high-end devices.
- Make sure you purchase a colorimeter that is compatible with your computer's operating system. Most of these devices should be able to work with Windows, macOS, and Linux systems, but the cheaper ones might be dedicated to a specific operating system.
Step 3. Make sure you have prepared your monitor for calibration before continuing
If you haven't placed your monitor in a natural, neutral lighting environment and haven't allowed it to warm up enough, do so now.
It is very important that the monitor screen is perfectly clean, as even a small residue of dirt or a halo could interfere with the colorimeter sensor and lead to incorrect calibration of the monitor
Step 4. Install the colorimeter software on your computer if needed
Some devices are sold with a CD containing the colorimeter management software and drivers.
- Depending on the device you have chosen, you will need to install the management software only after connecting the colorimeter to the computer and not before.
- In some cases the software will be installed automatically as soon as the colorimeter is connected to the computer.
Step 5. Connect the colorimeter to the computer
Plug the device's USB cable into a free USB port on your computer.
- Make sure you connect the device to a USB port on your computer and that you are not using a USB HUB or a USB port built into the keyboard.
- You may need to turn on the colorimeter before you can continue.
Step 6. Follow whatever instructions appear on the screen
When the computer detects the device you will see a pop-up window appear on the screen; follow any instructions it contains, in order to complete the installation and configuration of the colorimeter.
Step 7. Place the colorimeter in contact with the monitor screen
You should place it in the center of the screen with the sensor lens facing the monitor.
Most colorimeter management software displays a small outline representing the device to indicate where it should be placed on the screen
Step 8. Start the calibration process
Click the button Next, Start, Come on, Start (or similar) present in the dialog box of the colorimeter management program to start the calibration. The software will automatically perform the monitor calibration procedure. At the end of the calibration process you will be asked to remove the colorimeter from the screen.
At this point, for the calibration to be effectively complete, you may have to execute some instructions or choose certain options among those proposed
Advice
- The free "Lagom LCD monitor test" website contains a large number of reference images that you can use to manually calibrate your monitor.
- Some monitors have uneven screen backlighting. To check if your device is also suffering from this defect, display an image on the screen and drag it to different places to see if it changes appearance by becoming brighter or darker in some areas. Unfortunately there is no solution to this problem, other than the replacement of the monitor, but being aware of this defect will allow you to refer to a specific area of the screen during the calibration phase, avoiding obtaining distorted results.
Warnings
- If you have more than one monitor calibration program installed on your computer, be sure to use one at a time, otherwise they may conflict with each other and perform an incorrect calibration.
- Normally it is better not to use the monitor's auto-calibration function, as this setting tends to calibrate the monitor in a standard way according to the factory settings and not according to the conditions that are present in the environment in which you have installed it, so it is difficult to can guarantee you an optimal result.
