PC calibration of the HDTV - good idea or not?

[Twinkle]

What are your opinions on whether to use PC calibration software/colorimeters for the TV itself? Ordinarily, I'd use the software/colorimeter to calibrate the system to an LCD monitor. In this case, the HDTV is basically one big LCD.

So, is it a good idea to run the PC calibration prior to adjusting anything within Sage or the TV itself? Or is it better to not do this at all?

[stanger89]

I think it's a great idea, provided you do it right. Calibrating your display should always be the first step in a calibration routine. What I do is use the baseline brightness contrast calibration using the standard test patterns available on many test discs.

Then I either use the appropriate test pattenerns, with my Spyder2 colorimeter and ColorHCFR to fine tune the greyscale tracking and color balance using the RGB gain/offset controls on my projector.

Then finally I use the Sage Capture Color setting to tweak the sources to match the software.

You really don't want to use the calibration software to setup the display because it has no effect on most/all HTPC software, and just in general, you want to do as little adjustment to the picture at the source as possible.

[Twinkle]

Originally Posted by stanger89

You really don't want to use the calibration software to setup the display because it has no effect on most/all HTPC software, and just in general, you want to do as little adjustment to the picture at the source as possible.

It was the calibration software I was referring to. So, using that (which would probably install a gamma loader at startup) wouldn't do anything for the color/brightness/contrast within Sage or PowerDVD? Do they override the system settings?

[stanger89]

It's really the video that's the issue. The video playback pipeline goes through a different path than (for example) the desktop. So the profiling that's done doesn't necessarilly apply to video.

For example, on AVS Forum a member has posted a Gamma "editor", that will update the video cards's LUTs, but it doesn't work with PowerDVD for example because of the way PowerDVD renders video.

[Opus4]

Calibration software intended for PC monitors, like EyeOne Match & so on, isn't really meant for TV calibration.

This software can use your existing colorimeter, if the meter is one it supports: CalMAN. It is probably better than the free TV calibration software, especially using EyeOne meters since they can make use of that hardware better.

DataColor's Spyder3TV is another hardware/software package intended for TVs, but I wasn't a big fan of their stuff for monitor calibration, so I'm not sure I would like their TV products either.

- Andy

[Twinkle]

Originally Posted by Opus4

Calibration software intended for PC monitors, like EyeOne Match & so on, isn't really meant for TV calibration.

As it applies to differing technologies, that's true, as you'd never use an LCD calibration suite to calibrate a projection or plasma display. But I'm not sure I see why it wouldn't do the job perfectly on an LCD TV. It's the same technology, isn't it?

[Twinkle]

Originally Posted by stanger89

It's really the video that's the issue. The video playback pipeline goes through a different path than (for example) the desktop. So the profiling that's done doesn't necessarilly apply to video.

For example, on AVS Forum a member has posted a Gamma "editor", that will update the video cards's LUTs, but it doesn't work with PowerDVD for example because of the way PowerDVD renders video.

I understand. Does that also mean that it won't cause any problems or detract from the video quality if I tried?

[stanger89]

It could give you a "false sense" that you've got the display calibrated when it's not.

[Twinkle]

Originally Posted by stanger89

It could give you a "false sense" that you've got the display calibrated when it's not.

No, I understand that. But, for example, when a video card's LUT is changed, the number of colors shown is often decreased. I would want to make sure that that wouldn't carry over to Sage (or PowerDVD).

[stanger89]

It's kind of hard to predict what will happen in that case.

[Twinkle]

Originally Posted by stanger89

It's kind of hard to predict what will happen in that case.

Gotcha. I'll see how the video quality is when I do the initial hookup and take it from there.

[stanger89]

So, are you trying to calibrate for some other purpose, and just making sure that it won't mess up video?

[Twinkle]

Originally Posted by stanger89

So, are you trying to calibrate for some other purpose, and just making sure that it won't mess up video?

Since Sage can't play Blu-Ray, I would have to use another app to do it - and if I'm going to use multiple apps for video, I'd like to minimize any conflicts between calibration attempts. Ordinarily, I'd consider calibrating the PC's display adapter first, and then deal with individual sources from within Sage. But if it's unknown what the PC calibration will effect, that leaves me with simply trying it.

But right now, I'm just trying to get all my prep work done - as I don't have Sage installed yet (since the HD PVRs are on backorder).

[stanger89]

Really, doing any "calibration" of the PC's output is just a last resort, you should be doing as much as possible with the display's settings. I know with almost certainty that the Spyder's calibration won't have an effect on PowerDVD or probably even TMT as they use Overlay (in XP at least), so if you've got Sage set to VMR you've got the real possiblity of having differing results.

I really wouldn't do a calibration on the PC output unless you've got a rather significant problem you can't fix with the display's controls.

[Twinkle]

Originally Posted by stanger89

I really wouldn't do a calibration on the PC output unless you've got a rather significant problem you can't fix with the display's controls.

I understand. I'll wait until I've got everything hooked up and see what's going on then. Thanks.