Monitor Calibration >

# Adjusting Black Level and Picture Settings

All monitors come with controls to adjust brightness and contrast. Brightness affects the black level setting of the monitor; contrast controls the picture setting.

You should adjust these settings when you first unpack and connect the monitor. When you adjust the monitor, make sure lighting conditions in the room are what they usually are when you are working. Adjust brightness to set the black level first, and then adjust contrast to control the picture setting.

You should not have to change these settings provided you always use your system under consistent lighting conditions. These settings are perception-based, so do not worry about getting perfect results. In the end, you are trying to ensure that black looks black and white looks white.

Brightness (black level) offsets the red, green, and blue signals. Adjust the black level to display black as black without losing the distinction between black and very dark greys. Note the following:

- When the black level is too high, true black appears slightly grey.
- When the black level is too low, dark greys appear black, so you lose subtle details in shadows.

Contrast (picture setting) applies gain to the red, green, and blue signals. Adjust the picture setting to display white properly on the monitor. Note the following:

- If the picture setting is too low, white appears off-white on your display.
- If the picture setting is too high, very light grey is the brightest colour the monitor displays, so you lose subtle detail in highlights.

For more information about adjusting the black level and picture settings of your monitor, read Charles A. Poynton's monitor adjustment guide at:

http://www.poynton.com/notes/brightness_and_contrast/index.html

To adjust the black level setting:

1. Load a black frame (RGB 0, 0, 0) to the Storyboard. See Creating a Cut with Shots in the Library.

   The black frame appears in the Player. Use this image to set your black level.

   TipYou can also create a black frame (RGB 0, 0, 0) in the Curves menu by dragging the RGB curves down.
2. In the Main menu, click Setup, and then click Interface to display the Interface menu.
3. Set Background to the default value of 30.

   A value of 30 creates a subtle contrast between the background colour and the black frame.

4. On the monitor, set Contrast to the minimum value.
5. On the monitor, set Brightness to the minimum value.
6. Slowly increase Brightness on the monitor to increase the black level. When the black image appears lighter than the surrounding background, stop increasing brightness and then decrease it a little.

   You should have a good black level value.

To adjust the picture setting:

1. Adjust the black level as described in the previous procedure.
2. Load a white frame (RGB 1023, 1023, 1023 in Log mode) to the Storyboard. See Creating a Cut with Shots in the Library.

   The white frame appears in the Player. Use this image to set your picture settings.

   TipYou can also create a white frame (RGB 1023, 1023, 1023) in the Curves menu by dragging the RGB curves up.
3. In the Main menu, click Setup, and then click Interface to display the Interface menu.
4. Set Background to the default value of 30.

   A value of 30 creates a good contrast between the background colour and the white frame.

5. On the monitor, set Contrast to the maximum value.
6. Slowly decrease Contrast on the monitor to adjust the picture setting. When you begin to see that the white frame turns light grey, stop decreasing contrast and then increase it a little.
   TipIf anything, err on the side of dark. Sensitivity to monitor flicker increases with the Contrast value. For the most part, the end result of monitor adjustment processes should be good blacks and whites on a screen you are comfortable looking at.