CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

**kal** · Last edited by kal on Tue Jun 23, 2026 9:14 pm; edited 53 times in total

This guide has moved here: https://www.curtpalme.com/ChromaPure_grayscale_and_color_calibration_for_dummies.shtm

Cheers!

Kal

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Sweet Kal!! Good work!!!

I just bought my Parents a Samsung Plasma so this will help if I get stuck with all the added controls flat panels have compared to CRT's

Nashou

donthenovice · Joined: 15 Feb 2014 Posts: 3 Location: Ca

I’ve just received by replacement tv (E701i-A3) from Vizio. It has a new added feature (CMS). Under this menu it provides for an 11pt greyscale calibration. It starts at 5% and then goes to 100% by 10’s. For each point there is an adjustment for red, green and blue. Under this menu there is also a color tuner. This has red, green, blue, cyan, magenta and yellow. Each color has settings for hue, saturation and brightness. The red, green and blue have an additional adjustment for offset and gain. If I were doing a 2pt greyscale calibration I guess I would use just the color tune and the gain and offset. However if I use the 11pt option do I need to use the offset and gain found under the color tuner?
Regards,
Don

**kal** · Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 5:07 am Post subject:

If you're doing a greyscale calibration you need to use the R/G/B for greyscale, likely not controls in any color menus as that is probably part of the CMS. I really depends on the manufacturer and how they have laid things out however.

If I understand correctly you're asking how the specific controls in your TV work and what they actually do. Every manufacturer offers different controls so you need to work with your display and figure out what each of the controls actually control and go from there. Unfortunately there are quite literally 100's of TV manufacturers all with different controls. We cannot offer detailed instructions for each TV model, nor do we have an in-depth understanding of each of the 100's of models that exist.

Good luck!

Kal

donthenovice · Joined: 15 Feb 2014 Posts: 3 Location: Ca

Thank you for the quick reply. I guess I'm wondering what the "offset" and "gain" are for which is under the "color tuner" and apply to the red green blue only. I realize this may be outside your ability as there aren't any real naming conventions or the like. If you have any guesses please feel free to elaborate.
Regards,
Don

**kal** · Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 2:51 pm Post subject:

I don't know Don. As you mention every manufacturer seems to do things differently. That would be a question for them. Write down the initial values and try them. If you have questions on how to calibrate your specific display, I would start a new thread about it and others can chime in.

Kal

donthenovice · Joined: 15 Feb 2014 Posts: 3 Location: Ca

I have two more questions and then I'm ready to use your greyscale&Color calibration for dummies. 1. My set has the offset and gain for a 2 pt cal and also a 11pt way to do it. Do I do the 2 pt then a 11pt or go straight to the 11pt. 2. My set is an edge lit LED. Do I use full screen or window for greyscale and color? btw I'm using you old ver because I have the old eye one and all the software loaded. Nice piece of work you did.
Regards,
Don

**kal** · Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 4:01 am Post subject:

Do 2 point and then use 11 as required to get things more accurate. Doesn't matter if you use window or full screen on your display. Both will work. It's only CRT and Plasma that must use window. Good luck!

Kal

ccsjnw · Joined: 17 Mar 2014 Posts: 2 Location: UK

Kal, thanks for producing a 2nd edition of the guide.

I notice that the new guide omits the section on Chroma Meter orientation.
I'd like to see this section included at the end of the Introduction, after introducing the equipment that will be required.

Thanks.

**kal** · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 6:59 pm Post subject:

ccsjnw · Joined: 17 Mar 2014 Posts: 2 Location: UK

Kal,

The words are there, but I think the pictures that were in the original guide did a better job of explaining where the meter should go. The pictures provided that extra degree of clarity.

Regards,

James.

**kal** · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 11:53 pm Post subject:

Understood. I never took a picture of it. If you want to be sure, play with the angle until you maximize the light output reading.

Kal

FreSte · Joined: 01 Oct 2012 Posts: 3 Location: Italy

Hi all,
I have just purchased a license for Chromapure and now I would like to use it for calibrating my LED TV Sony KDL-46HX855. Maybe it would be more appropriate in my case to speak about "attempting to improve the quality of the image" instead of "calibrating". Rolling Eyes

I wondering if with the screen technology of this TV (i.e. LED TV with front gorilla glass) it would be better to place the meter directly in contact with the screen or place it on a tripod back some inches or a foot from the screen. I should be grateful if someone may advise on this regard.

Thank you
Stefano

**kal** · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 7:56 pm Post subject:

With LCD you can place it directly against the screen.

Kal

FreSte · Joined: 01 Oct 2012 Posts: 3 Location: Italy

Hi again Kal,
I read the outstanding guide and during the past week-end I experienced my first TV calibration.
Now I would like to perform one for SD TV channel. Is there any specific advice / Chromapure setting to be applied for this calibration?

Regarding the usage of the Chromapure internal test patterns. I can read in the guide that you recommend to use 75% setting for Signal Intensity: what is the impact on the calibration using 100% intensity?

Thank you
Stefano

**kal** · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 1:38 pm Post subject:

FreSte · Joined: 01 Oct 2012 Posts: 3 Location: Italy

Thanks a lot Kal for the clarifications.

I am novice in this matter so my questions may be not so meaningful consdering that I am approching this experince for the first time!

Stefano

Hagar · Joined: 24 Nov 2009 Posts: 2

So when were talking low gamma or high gamma, (gads this is going to seem stupid) Sad

Were saying going up (higher) 2.3 2.4 2.4 is a lower darker gamma, and going down (lower) 2.2 2.1 2.0 is a higher brighter gamma?

Straighten me out. Shocked

high is low and low is high, I feel like I'm taking crazy pills or something

Hagar · Joined: 24 Nov 2009 Posts: 2

I think you forgot to mention the "Video EQ Pro" which is currently selling for $499.

http://videoeq.com/

It may not do up-scaling, ( I don't care) but what it does it does well. Cool

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG0bn9J806I

Cheers

**kal** · Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 9:16 pm Post subject: Re: Just to clarify