2. Calibration

The first thing I do with all test displays is to watch different source material to get a feel for any obvious strengths and weaknesses. I'll make some initial image adjustments if the factory settings are "far from ideal", which is often the case. After some time viewing the display, additional fine-tuning to the image might be necessary. Once completed, I will then run it through a calibration program if needed.

I do not use a great deal of equipment/software to calibrate review units, relying mostly on real-world viewing and comparative analysis between the test display and calibrated reference images. If I use any calibration DVD, it is Digital Video Essentials, which has some good basic calibration screens for brightness, contrast and color.

Image Comparison/Reference Images

My reference display where I create reference screenshots is a Dell 1905FP 19" LCD Computer Monitor, which I calibrated with ATI Graphics Catalyst control center and then further tweaked with Pixel Persistence Analyzer, a freeware software product that helps with Gamma Correction. Once the Dell 1905FP is calibrated, I take several photographs of screenshots and use them as reference images. The 1905FP has a native resolution of 1280x1024, making the screenshots 1280x720, or 720p quality. Here are the screenshots I normally use:

This video-based HD image helps illustrate color accuracy and saturation
Korean Broadcast - SBS HD - 1080i

This film-based image helps illustrate color saturation and contrast performance.
Pirates of the Caribbean - INHD2 - 1080i

This film-based image helps illustrate shadow detail and color accuracy.
Invincible - INHD2

This film-based image helps illustrate color accuracy and saturation.
Departed -