A. Monitor Calibration

If some of the images on my website seem a bit dark that's because I seem to have a preference for dark images! However, to ensure that the images are being shown correctly, your monitor should be calibrated and set to a luminance level of 90 cd/m2 (ie 90 candelas per square metre). The ideal way would be to use a hardware-based calibration device. In lieu of this, a "quick fix" process for getting your monitor brightness/contrast to an approximately correct level is to make use of the gradient chart shown on this page.

Step 1:

Set the monitor "CONTRAST" level to the maximum value. If image distortion occurs then lower CONTRAST until the distortion is reduced.

Step 2:

Adjust the monitor "BRIGHTNESS" level so that you can see all 21 distinct shades in the test bar shown below.

It helps if the room lighting is not too bright, and that the monitor has been in use for at least 30 minutes. Not all monitors will be able to pass this demanding test. In particular, unless ambient lighting is very low it may be difficult to differentiate between the two darkest levels.

I have found that a number of LCD/TFT monitors exhibit quite noticeable colour artefacts such that each greyscale bar appears to have a different tint from other greyscale bars resulting in some looking red, some green, etc. You'll have to decide for yourself if you want to (or even can) rectify this.

If my images still appear dark, then sorry, that's the way that I've done them. I did say that I prefer dark images!

A lot of new flat-panel monitors (eg LCD monitors) being sold today have white luminance levels factory-set at 200+ cd/m2 which is VERY bright. These high white luminance values certainly make the images stand out! So, in general, those using older CRT monitors may see darker images than those using newer LCD monitors. When I first got an LCD monitor after retiring my CRT, it took me a long time to dial down to 90 cd/m2 on my LCD monitor instead of using the factory default of 190 cd/m2...at first 90 cd/m2 appeared too dim. You may experience the same! Why have I used 90 cd/m2 white luminance level? Simple...so that the images on the screen match those printed out.

For even more information, calibration charts and links to free software monitor calibration tools then please visit Norman Koren's site and The Lagom LCD monitor test pages. Highly recommended.

B. My display settings

1. Colour temperature = 6500K

2. Gamma = 2.2

3. White Level Luminance = 90 Candelas per square metre

4. Black Level Luminance = 0.26 Candelas per square metre