Calibrating Your Monitor

Overview

We cannot overemphasize the importance of adjusting your monitor for proper color. While this page is not meant to be a comprehensive guide to calibrating your monitor, it is a basic introduction that should get you closer to neutral or standard color. The instructions apply primarily to Windows.

Viewing Conditions

All critical color adjustments and viewing should be done in a room with subued light. At a minimum, make sure your monitor is shielded from direct light to reduce glare on the screen. Also, be aware that brightly colored clothing or walls can cast color onto your monitor and influence your color perception.

Monitor Settings

If your monitor has control buttons, adjust contrast and brightness until you can see distinct levels on the gray scale target.

Graphics Card Settings

Choose Start, Control Panel, Display.

In Display Properties, choose the Settings tab.

Under the Settings tab, click on the down arrow under Color.
   Select True Color [32 Bit] if available.
   Under Screen Area, choose 1024x768 or higher.

Note: There is a tradeoff between Color & Screen. You should try to get the highest screen resolution that suits you while still preserving True Color. Once you have completed the adjustments, click OK. Again, we recommend you run at least 1024x768 if possible.

Now go back in as before under the Display Properties tab. Click on the Advanced button.

This is where you may be able to adjust the color balance of your monitor. Look for a tab that says Color Management or something similar. If your video card does not support advanced color management, you may not have this tab. In that case, you will need to upgrade your video card.

If you do have advanced controls, adjust the controls until you get a neutral gray. The controls will vary depending on your graphics card. If possible, make adjustments while viewing the color target images on the right side of this screen. The top image enlarges and will give you a better view of the gray scale.

If you're serious about color, get the Eye-one Display 2 monitor calibrator. We use it and recommend it highly.