Modern televisions now allow us a great degree of control over how they look and sound. If you’ve ever flicked through the settings menu on your TV, you’ve likely noticed all manner of adjustable toggles that allow you to control contrast, saturation, and brightness. The trouble is, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by all of these various settings. Which ones should you play around with? And what settings should you settle for?
This is where calibration comes into play! Many TV enthusiasts would recommend that you spend some time calibrating your TV after first plugging it in. In order to get the best overall experience. But what exactly is calibration? Why is it so important? And how do you do it for yourself?
Want to ensure you get the most from your TV? Want it to look better than ever? Join the Reliant tech experts below, as we take a look at what exactly calibration involves, and most importantly, how you can do it for yourself!
What Is TV Calibration?
Put simply, TV calibration is a process that involves toggling the visual settings of your TV to achieve the perfect experience. TV calibration can also be applied to audio settings, but for the sake of clarity, we’ll be focusing on visual settings throughout this guide.
From model to model, TVs can differ massively in terms of their visual capabilities. As such, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for calibrating a TV. It all comes down to finely tuning each visual setting to achieve a perfect balance.
TV calibration is a process that involves fine-tuning the visual settings of your TV to achieve the perfect visual experience. It’s worth doing because it brings out the full potential of your TV.
The visual settings involved in TV calibration range from contrast, tint, sharpness, and brightness. It’s important to balance all of these settings to achieve a view that’s natural, comfortable on the eyes, and that preserves the original look of your favourite films and shows.
Why Is TV Calibration Important?
TV calibration brings out the best performance from your unique TV model. Without calibration, you may find that certain aspects of the viewing experience are hampered in some way. For instance, you might find that white values on the screen appear to be tinted blue or white. You may also find that the TV struggles with creating sharp black values due to overly high brightness.
Many people often rely on professionals to help calibrate their TVs, in order to get a truly balanced experience. The trouble is that the specialised equipment required for professional TV calibration is very costly. So, it’s not always a suitable solution for everyone!
In order to successfully calibrate a TV, you’ll need to use reference images that are displayed directly on the screen. As you adjust the visual settings, you’ll notice certain improvements in the image. For instance, you’ll be able to notice finer details in a densely-populated image. But, you can’t just use any image.
Professional TV calibrators make use of calibration tools, which are made up of specially crafted images that adjust as the visual settings are changed. For instance, one calibration image may have a series of colours in an organised pattern. The goal is to get all of the colours to look totally accurate.
How Do You Calibrate Your TV?
Many TV enthusiasts would recommend that you hire the services of a calibration professional to do the job. As we highlighted before, these experts use highly specialised tools designed to bring out the best in your TV. Many of these tools require specialised knowledge and come with a high price tag. As such, you may have to spend quite a lot in order to achieve a professional service.
Luckily, it is possible to calibrate your TV yourself. However, you will need to make sure you have the right images to get the job done right. Many TV manufacturers and calibration specialists sell calibration DVDs and Blu-rays, each packed full of specialised calibration images. These are much more affordable than the services of a calibration professional, but they’re not always easy to find.
There are a few ways to calibrate the visual settings of your TV. One way is to rely on a professional. If you want to save money, you can also do it alone using specialised calibration images!
But don’t despair, because you can still calibrate your TV for free, all by yourself. Many websites host free calibration images that you can simply download. Then, all you need to do is display them on the TV, and use them to gauge the best calibration settings for the display!
Don’t worry too much about finding the “Perfect” settings for the TV. Ultimately, it should come down to what you think looks best. Optimal TV visual settings can differ massively from person to person, and TV model to TV model! So don’t fret too much!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is TV Calibration?
Calibrating your TV involves adjusting the visual settings until you achieve the perfect visual experience. It involves fine-tuning and balancing each of the various settings, such as contrast and colour warmth. It’s a little more involved than simply toggling a few settings. Instead, you’ll need to use special calibration images to ensure you’re moving in the right direction!
How Long Does TV Calibration Take?
The process of TV calibration can vary quite a lot in terms of length. In some cases, it can take around 90 minutes to adjust the visual settings just right. In other cases, it can take a little bit longer. Ultimately, it comes down to the TV’s existing visual settings and the kind of visual experience you’re looking to create!
