Picture calibration is the process of making fine adjustments in brightness, color, tint, contrast and sharpness, among other visual qualities. Virtually every TV has a menu that lets you make subtle (or dramatic) changes along these lines. The best ones have an extremely broad adjustment range that's really meant for professional installers, not the more typical end user. But don't be intimidated, because any TV can look better – often dramatically better – with just a few minutes of effort.
Why Do You Need Calibration?
When a new TV leaves the factory, its picture is deliberately pre-adjusted to grab your eye – "pop," in industry lingo -- on the retailer’s show floor. While these settings do make the picture more noticeable in a store, they’re completely out of place in your home. They’re too bright to be comfortable to watch, especially in a dark room. Colors have been set for commercial, not residential lighting. Contrast and sharpness are almost always exaggerated.
An uncalibrated TV is often an energy hog too. Because the light output has been goosed so high, an uncalibrated TV consumes a lot more electricity than it should. This is true even for TVs that boast about their Energy Star ratings. A few minutes of adjustments not only makes your picture better, it makes your TV (and household) more green.
