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This article provides a detailed guide on calibrating your computer screen to ensure accurate color and brightness settings. Screen calibration is crucial when using your display for creating or editing visual projects for others, as improper calibration can result in a loss of sharpness or dull colors when viewed on someone else's screen.
Steps
Preparing for Calibration
Know when to calibrate your screen. Generally, high-resolution desktop monitors (such as 4K displays) require calibration to ensure accurate color and detail representation. Incorrect calibration can lead to blurry or unclear visuals.
- Lower-quality screens (e.g., 720p) — especially those used for gaming or general tasks — do not necessarily need calibration, though it won't hurt to do so.
- Integrated screens like laptop displays rarely require calibration, but you can still follow the same process used for external monitors.
Spike Baron
Network Engineer & Desktop Support
Network Engineer & Desktop Support
Expert Insight: Not all screens require calibration. Typically, newly purchased monitors display well without needing adjustments. These screens come pre-calibrated for resolution, but you can always tweak the settings if desired.
Clean the screen (if necessary). If the screen is dirty or dusty, take a moment to wipe it clean before starting the calibration process.
Place the monitor in a neutral lighting environment. Avoid glare or direct light on the screen; for optimal results, position the monitor where it won’t be affected by natural or artificial light sources.
Connect the monitor using a high-quality cable. If possible, use a DisplayPort cable to connect the monitor to your computer.
- You can use an HDMI cable if DisplayPort isn’t available, but avoid using DVI, VGA, or lower-quality connections.
Turn on the monitor for at least 30 minutes before proceeding. This allows the screen to warm up properly.
- If the computer is in sleep mode or uses a screensaver, remember to move the mouse every few minutes to prevent the screen from turning off.
Reset the monitor's resolution to its default settings (if necessary).WindowsStart
Settings
SystemDisplayKeep changesMacApple menu
System Preferences...DisplaysDisplay⌥ OptionScaledCalibrating on Windows
Open the calibration tool. Type calibrate display, then click Calibrate display color at the top of the Start menu.
Ensure the calibration tool is applied to the correct screen. If using dual monitors, you may need to move the calibration window to the second screen.
Click Next. This option is located at the bottom-right corner of the page.
Select the default color settings for your monitor. If necessary, press the "Menu" button on your monitor and choose the default color settings from the on-screen menu.
- This step is unnecessary if you’ve never adjusted the monitor's color settings (not the computer's settings).
- Skip this step if you’re using a laptop.
Click Next. This option is located at the bottom-right corner of the page.
View the "Good gamma" sample box, then click Next. The "Good gamma" box is displayed in the center of the page. Aim to adjust your gamma settings to match this example.
Adjust your monitor's gamma. Click and drag the slider on the left side of the page up or down to increase or decrease gamma, ensuring the cube in the center resembles the "Good gamma" sample from the previous step.
Click Next twice. This option is located at the bottom-right corner of the page.
View the "Good brightness" example, then click Next. If using a laptop, click Skip in the center of the page and skip the next two steps.
Adjust the screen's brightness. Open the monitor's menu by pressing the "Menu" button, then select the "Brightness" section and increase or decrease the brightness as needed.
- The brightness should be set so that the screen meets the display conditions shown below the image in the center of the page.
Click Next. This button is located at the bottom-right corner of the page. It will take you to the "Contrast" example.
View the "Good contrast" example, then click Next. Again, if you're using a laptop, skip the next two steps.
Adjust the screen's contrast. Use the monitor's menu to increase or decrease the contrast until the image in the center of the page matches the display conditions shown below it.
Click Next twice. This option is located at the bottom-right corner of the page.
Adjust the color balance. Click and drag each slider at the bottom of the page left or right until you see a neutral gray (without green, red, or blue tones) in the adjustment bar at the top of the page.
Click Next, then review the changes. You can click Previous calibration to see how the screen looked before adjustments and Current calibration to compare.
Click Finish. This option is at the bottom of the page. The calibration settings will be saved.
Calibrating a Mac Screen
Click System Preferences…. This option is in the displayed menu. The System Preferences window will appear on the screen.
Click Displays. This option is in the System Preferences window. Another window will appear on the screen.
Click Color. This tab is located at the top of the Displays window.
Click Calibrate… on the right side of the page.
Click Continue. This option is at the bottom-right corner of the page.
Follow the on-screen instructions. Depending on your monitor, the options in the window may vary; however, in most cases, you’ll simply click Continue at the bottom-right corner of the page until you reach the password entry section.
Enter your password when prompted. Type your login password into the "Password" field, then click OK.
Click Done when asked. This will save your screen calibration settings.
Using a Colorimeter
Understand why you might need a colorimeter. This device attaches to your screen and works with integrated software to calibrate color and brightness, accounting for ambient light and other factors.
Choose and purchase a colorimeter based on your needs. Personal colorimeters cost around $150 (approximately million VND), while professional models can exceed $1,000 (around 23 million VND); select one that fits your budget.
- Spyder colorimeters are often considered reliable and high-quality.
- Ensure the colorimeter is compatible with your computer's operating system. Most work with Windows, macOS, and Linux, but cheaper models may lack support for certain systems.
Ensure you've completed the screen preparation steps. If the screen isn't in a neutral environment or hasn't been warmed up, do this now.
- Also, make sure the screen is free of smudges, as any marks can interfere with the colorimeter's accuracy.
Install the colorimeter's software (if required). Some colorimeters come with a CD for installing their software.
- Depending on the colorimeter, you may need to do this after connecting the device rather than before.
- The colorimeter might automatically install the appropriate software upon connection.
Connect the colorimeter. Plug the colorimeter's USB cable into an available USB port on your computer.
- Use a USB port directly connected to the computer, avoiding USB hubs or keyboard ports.
- Ensure the colorimeter is powered on before proceeding.
Follow the on-screen prompts. Once the computer recognizes the colorimeter, a window will appear; follow the instructions or prompts provided in the window.
Place the colorimeter on the screen. Position the colorimeter snugly against the center of the screen's bezel, with the lens facing the display.
- Most colorimeter software will display an outline matching the device's shape to guide proper placement.
Begin the calibration process. Click Next or Start (or a similar button) in the displayed window to launch the calibration software. The software will run until calibration is complete, and you'll receive a notification to remove the colorimeter.
- You may need to click certain options or follow on-screen prompts before and during the calibration process.
Tips
- The free website "Lagom LCD monitor test" offers multiple pages you can use to manually calibrate your screen.
- Some monitors have or develop uneven backlighting. To check for this, drag an image around the screen and observe if certain areas appear brighter or darker. There's no fix other than replacing the monitor, but knowing this can help you focus on a specific screen area during calibration to avoid skewed results.
Warnings
- If your computer has multiple calibration programs, ensure you only use one at a time to avoid conflicts.
- Avoid using the monitor's automatic calibration option, as this typically adjusts the screen rather than producing optimal calibration results.
