If your monitor doesn’t have any gamma adjustments, you can skip this step. Hopefully, your gamma is accurate! Otherwise, make sure your preset is 2.2, and ready your meter and software.
To measure gamma, you’ll need to take readings from gray window patterns that range from at least 20 to 100 percent. We measure from 0 to 100 for our reviews. A package like CalMAN automates this process so all you have to do is click one button. If you are controlling your patterns manually, you’ll have to change them between each measurement. Start at the bottom and work your way up. Your software should give you a graph and the raw numbers.

A graph like this one from CalMAN makes it easy to see how close your display is to 2.2. In this example, there are slight dips at 10 and 90 percent. Dips mean that particular point is too bright. Here are the raw numbers from this measurement run.
| Signal Level | Y (cd/m2) | Target Y | Gamma |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 0.40 | 0.00 | 2.20 |
| 10% | 2.02 | 1.53 | 2.08 |
| 20% | 7.36 | 7.02 | 2.17 |
| 30% | 17.35 | 17.13 | 2.19 |
| 40% | 31.73 | 32.25 | 2.22 |
| 50% | 52.06 | 52.69 | 2.22 |
| 60% | 76.9 | 77.38 | 2.21 |
| 70% | 108.99 | 108.89 | 2.20 |
| 80% | 145.97 | 146.33 | 2.21 |
| 90% | 190.37 | 189.88 | 2.18 |
| 100% | 239.68 | 239.68 | 2.20 |
If it were possible to improve on this result, you would have to adjust each point until the Y value matched the target. This example is as good as it gets. But how would you make those tweaks with just presets available? Using multi-point gamma control. We haven’t seen a computer monitor with this feature, but we have used them on a few high-end TVs and projectors.
If you get results like our sample, then you’re ready to move on. If not, try the other presets to see if you can get closer to 2.2. Not every display returns a value of 2.2 just because the preset is labeled that way. You’ll have to do a full measurement run of each gamma option to find the best configuration.
We have our monitor set for maximum dynamic range and correct gamma. Now it’s time to adjust the grayscale.
- The Two Reasons To Calibrate Your Monitor
- Levels: The Key To Contrast And Detail
- Gamma: The Key To Maximum Image Depth
- Grayscale: Why White Is The Color Of Everything
- Gamut: What Color Is Your Monitor?
- Application: How To Adjust Levels
- Application: How To Adjust Gamma
- Application: How To Adjust Color Temperature
- Application: How To Adjust Color
- Calibrate Your Monitor For A Better Picture
I have no idea how my monitor was off until i saw the patterns
Now perfectly set for brightness/contrast:first,third,and fourth pattern(although on this i notice cliping on the blue).
However second pattern couldn't set it right.Darkest bar which should be almost cliping to the background is too "black",and the next "12" bar is more closely match to the background in colour.
Any thoughts someone? I use Philips 227Eqha IPS monitor.
I love these articles. =)
Seems to be an interesting read so far, and I've really wanted to read an article like this, so thanks in advance!
It's written the other (incorrect?) way around in the article, i think.
Shouldn't it be "above D65"?
It's written the other (incorrect?) way around in the article, i think.
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/gamma-correction.htm
That's incorrect. It actually works backwards/opposite from what one might think. Color temperature originates from the color a flame radiates in relation to the temperature at which it burns. Think back to grade school and playing with the Bunsen burner... the hottest part of the flame (i.e., higher Kelvin) is in the darkest blues, not the reds (i.e, lower temperature/Kelvin). This simple picture helps explain the difference.
Shouldn't it be "above D65"?
Warm (reddish) colors are below 6500K, whereas cool (bluish) colors are above 6500K.
Try installing a full featured driver from your video hardware manufacturer.
But don't most monitors have a "backlight" option which changes how bright the image without adjusting the contrast & brightness? This can used to effectively adjust liminance, but at superficial global adjustment level rather than a granular control. None the less, one can then put preference on the brighter or darker end depending on their use case(s).
Grayscale can be confusing too. As the temperature gets lower, the color is said to get warmer.
Ojas, the photo on page 2 showing a higher black level is correct. As you raise the black level, blacks get brighter and become more gray.
-Christian-
But don't most monitors have a "backlight" option which changes how bright the image without adjusting the contrast & brightness? This can used to effectively adjust liminance, but at superficial global adjustment level rather than a granular control. None the less, one can then put preference on the brighter or darker end depending on their use case(s).
Unfortunately, very few monitors have separate backlight and brightness controls. None of the screens we've covered this year (16 including reviews not published yet) have a backlight control. This kind of thing is common on HDTVs but not computer monitors and that is a shame. With brighter screens, it's really nice to be able to move the dynamic range up or down to get better blacks or brighter whites, depending on application.
-Christian-
It's written the other (incorrect?) way around in the article, i think.
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/gamma-correction.htm
That's incorrect. It actually works backwards/opposite from what one might think. Color temperature originates from the color a flame radiates in relation to the temperature at which it burns. Think back to grade school and playing with the Bunsen burner... the hottest part of the flame (i.e., higher Kelvin) is in the darkest blues, not the reds (i.e, lower temperature/Kelvin). This simple picture helps explain the difference.
Shouldn't it be "above D65"?
Warm (reddish) colors are below 6500K, whereas cool (bluish) colors are above 6500K.
Grayscale can be confusing too. As the temperature gets lower, the color is said to get warmer.
Ojas, the photo on page 2 showing a higher black level is correct. As you raise the black level, blacks get brighter and become more gray.
-Christian-
Thanks for clarifying that! I even changed gamma on my monitor to see what happens before i posted, i guess i misinterpreted what was happening.
That would be very useful, along with some recommendations of affordable "meters".