Any easy way of calibrating the colors of my monitor?

[jfrost]

I just bought an LCD monitor and colors are just terrible. Is there an easy way to calibrate it without having to spend hundreds of dollars on software?

[s1mplehumar]

I don't know of any particularly difficult methods for calibrating a monitor, just mildly time-consuming ones. You should find what you're looking for here: http://www.avsforum.com/

[Anapan]

Yup, AVS forum will have everything if you search or request it.
Here's an old post I made with some stuff:
http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 17&t=15077
Some test images:
http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/arti ... mages.html
http://www3.telus.net/anapan8/vc/test_pattern.gif
http://www3.telus.net/anapan8/vc/testpattern2.png
Gamma tests:
http://images.google.ca/images?q=gamma%20test
Monitors are usually set to a gamma of 2.2 - that's what professional productions are set to be viewed at tho with lcd it's a bit more difficult...
You could try these freeware calibration programs:
http://www.calibrize.com/
http://www.hex2bit.com/products/product_mcw.asp
Tho again with LCD monitors my attempts with them have been mixed. If an LCD can't get the bright colors you want these will take the best color your LCD can manage and dull the rest to compensate.
If your graphics card has any built-in controls, you might try messing with them. My best results on LCDs have been with Nvidia's "Digital Vibrance" controls in the advanced color corrections section of it's device settings.
Finally, with LCDs viewing angle is usually important, it may be necessary to adjust the tilt angle of the screen. On my mom's LCD, I have an old pocket radio wedged under the back of the support stand because it doesn't have any tilt control and the extra forward tilt makes viewing darker images possible without reverse-coloring/caustics showing up.

[RCBH928]

I miss CRT
you just switch it on and it works

I bought a Samsung 2220wm and sold it for less than half price around a year later after almost not using it, I hate the colors and adjusting it was a nightmare

any tips on good lcd brands

[jfrost]

Thanks, s1mplehumar and Anapan. You were really helpful.

In the end I just did everything manually and now the colors are good, but like our kingmohd said, I can't but miss the good times I had with my CRT. Actually, this is the first time I've ever used LCD and because of that I'll keep my 17" Samsung CRT around for a while more.

[Niode]

What monitor have you bought?

Most, if not all, cheap to mid range LCD monitors use Tn+film technology which are well known for their poor colour ranges and accuracy. I can guarantee that you won't get great colours on these panels. The quality varies wildly from crap, to acceptable. It's impossible to get tn+film panels that are anywhere close to S-IPS LCD panels. However a good tn+film such as the one on the Dell SP2309W will be around the same quality as a mid range PVA panel.

I use this website for adjusting my displays: http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/

[jfrost]

It's a cheapish monitor. This one: http://www.lge.com/br/informatica/monit ... W2043S.jsp (Sorry, couldn't find a page for it in English.)

[Niode]

It always makes me giggle when manufacturers state 30,000:1 contrast ratios (dynamic or not) on LCD. It's not even close to being possible to achieve that kind of contrast ratio on LCD. A plasma or CRT, yes, LCD not in a million years. It's literally impossible, well black to black anyway. That's the measurement that matters, not the phony grey-grey one they use.