THE THX CALIBRATION PROCESS EXPLAINED

• The problem 

Manufacturers typically preset their TVs to look as bright and colourful as possible so that their product stands out in the brightly lit show room. However, this does not make for an accurate picture. Whites can be blown out so that clouds, snow and other bright scenes lose detail, and blacks can be crushed so that you miss out on essential information in the shadows of your dark movies and TV programmes. There can also be significant colour shifts that give a distinct, usually blue, tint to your picture. Colours are also often pumped up so as to draw your eye in the store. You’ll also find that other typical out of the box settings which are designed to impress you in the showroom look poor when you get your new TV home. Resolution can be reduced by incorrect aspect ratio settings and inappropriate motion settings can make motion look unnatural. 

In any case, it’s just not possible to manufacture TVs and projectors that are perfectly set up from the factory floor since every TV or projector is different (even those of the same make and model) and requires it’s own unique optimisation in relation to the surroundings it will be used in. This reflects the slight deviation in performance in the thousands of consumer grade components which go into every TV or projector. 

Room environment also affects the displayed image. The colour of your walls, ceiling, floor and furniture, together with the amount of ambient light in a room, all have an effect on the picture and must be taken into account. That is why every TV or projector can and should benefit from a thorough professional calibration in the home. 

The need to have your TV or projector calibrated becomes even more apparent when we consider that all movies and TVs are produced to a clear set of industry standards – Rec 709, D65 for high definition material. If your TV or projector isn’t precisely reflecting these standards then you aren’t seeing the picture ‘as the director intended’!

• The Solution

A THX certified calibration by our technician can take around 5 to conduct. We hope that you, as the valued customer, will choose to be present throughout the process as there is much to explain and demonstrate which will hopefully enhance your understanding and appreciation of your newly calibrated display device. A calibration from DisplayCalibration.co.uk is also an interesting educational experience!

Greyscale Before & After (Samsung 64″ D8000) 

• Our technician will ensure that your TV or projector is displaying the full resolution of images and will set up your display for optimal sharpness. Using reference signals and professional measuring equipment the technician will set brightness and contrast correctly, making sure that there are no subsequent colour shifts and or white clipping/black crush. Lumen output will be set correctly so that extended periods of viewing do not cause eye fatigue. The technician will work on the greyscale of your device to ensure that errors in these settings are as low as possible as this is critical to an accurate image. The technician will also manipulate your display’s colour and tint controls or (if present) the colour management system (CMS) to ensure that colour errors are as low as possible. Gamma will also be set as close as possible to reference levels. 

• Our technician will calibrate as many inputs as necessary and, where possible, provide day and night settings for viewing in controlled and ambient light conditions. The service also includes separate calibration of 3d where present.

• Following the calibration you will receive a copy of our calibration report which graphically shows the improvement in the accuracy of your display’s picture. You will also receive a THX certificate and records of your TV/Projector’s new settings – so rest assured, you can recover your calibrated settings should they be wiped or altered be accident. Your reports will also be submitted to THX HQ in the USA for approval and for your added peace of mind. 

Call us on 079 888 62134 to book your THX certified display calibration or email julian@displaycalibration.co.uk!