HDTV Color Calibration

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

I was wondering what people are talking about when they say they get their TV's color-calibrated. I usually hear this talk when people are talking about HD video, and supposedly it helps get the best colors possible out of your HDTV.

How does this work? Is it something that a professional has to come and do? Is it a DVD that helps you calibrate your own TV? Now that I have HDDVD and Blu Ray, I'd like to do what I can to maximize the enjoyment. Any advice is appreciated!

 

[dwell]

An ISF certified calibration will run you from $250 on up.

The cheapest option is if you have a LucasFilms DVD to use the THX optimizer that comes on the disc. You may also want to order the glasses for $1 on the THX site.

http://www.thx.com/home/dvd/blueGlasses.html

GetGray is a $25 disc you download. It's made by someone from avsforums and works with modern displays:

http://calibrate.tv/

DVE is a DVD that does about the same as GetGray. It also comes on HD-DVD ($35):

http://www.videoessentials.com/

There's also AVIA, which is sort of dated at this point:

http://www.amazon.com/AVIA-Gui...&qid=1181609424&sr=8-1

 

[cKGunslinger]

The Avia disk is a bit old, but with it and some blue/red/green filters, you should be able to have your TV looking nice.

 

[venkman]

If you aren't a TV nerd then get Avia. It is MUCH easier to use and navigate then DVE HD. I can't speak for DVE SD but I've head the same complaints from people using that piece of software. Contrary to their corporate strategy, Monster makes a decent calibration disc for only $20.

 

[pennylane]

I have the DVE SD disk and it works okay. Navigation is a little unintuitive but I manage. I got it knowing relatively little about TV's, but I've found it very helpful.

To calibrate color properly, you really need those color filters.

I've never had a TV ISF calibrated, but from what I hear it's well worth it.