Monitor Calibration

In order to preserve as much quality as possible, the photographs on this site are designed to look best
with the screen resolution set at 1024 x 768 (800 x 600 min.), 24 bit color depth (16 bit min.).
We apologize if this exceeds your computer specifications.

In order to best view the photographs on our site, we recommend that you follow the instructions below:

Make your screen at least wide enough to see both arrows on this line:




The image below should appear as a rainbow starting and ending with red.
There should be a smooth transition from color to color with no banding and no little dots.
(The background for this page is gray)

The following image is not a smooth transition.
If you have only limited colors the above rainbow might look something like this:

If this is the case, more video RAM, or a different video board, would improve your viewing.

Contrast Settings.

Below are some boxes, one should be absolutely black.
Nothing on your monitor should be darker than the black box.
Look at the black border around the edge of your monitor.
It should be as black as that box. Nothing should be lighter than the white box.

You should adjust your monitor's contrast and brightness levels to achieve this.

Crossover is when the Red, Green, and Blue guns don't have linear curves.
The chart below should have boxes that go black to gray to white
No colors: no pink, yellow, or green cast at all!

If the boxes pick up a color, one of your monitor's guns is out of adjustment.

You should be able to detect very subtle changes in the shades between pure white (255) and pure black (0).
Adjust your brightness and contrast levels to achieve this.

Contrast Settings.

Step back from your monitor.
One of these numbered boxes is about the same shade as the surrounding.



This is your "screen gamma."
Many photographer's web pages are designed for 1.8 Gamma.
"Wintel" computers and TV monitors are calibrated for 2.2 Gamma.
Windows 98, Photoshop, and Apple's Quicktime, among others, offer ways to change your gamma, if you so desire.

Back to the Photographic Gallery Index Page

Thanks to Stanley Rowin Photography for the use of this calibration page.
If you visit Stanley, his site will open in a separate window. To return here, just close the new window.