Calibrating your HDTV picture

If you decide to play with your HDTV factory default settings and calibrate them to better suit your viewing environment, there are couple of options available out there. Depending on how much perfection you are seeking in picture quality and how much money and time you want to spend, these options range from using freely available calibration software, to buying a calibration disc, to using the services of a professional calibration technician. While individual viewing preferences may vary, the free/low cost calibration software would definitely help improve the picture quality. For even better results, you can go for a professional calibration.

In either case, knowing a bit about the picture related terminology helps you make a better decision. Picture quality can be improved by adjusting TV's Brightness, Contrast, Sharpness, Color, Backlight and Tint. Advanced options like Color Tone, Dynamic Contrast, Gamma, White Balance, Edge Enhancement and Flesh Tone can be used to further improve the quality. Note that different TV manufacturers may use different terminology to refer to these advanced options. Table below lists color settings for a typical HDTV:

Parameter	Value
Backlight	7
Contrast	95
Brightness	45
Sharpness	6
Color	50
Tint (G/R)	G50/R50

Below is a list of popular disc based calibration software tools:
* THX optimizer (available free on every THX certified DVD, Blu-ray disc)
* Digital Video Essentials
* Sound & Vision Home Theater Tune-up
* Imaging Science Foundation calibration wizard
* Avia Guide to Home Theater