HDTV Dos and Don'ts

[SOBAY310]

I have NEVER made a mistake .... and that's what I told my Lawyer.

I'm sure your lawyer told you the same thing, LOL!

[hdtvjunkie]

I have NEVER made a mistake .... and that's what I told my Lawyer.

Her I.D. looked real didn't it!!!!!

[highdefjeff]

What you are saying is correct, for the most part. But it depends on the TV manufacturer. Finding 65k is the ultimate goal.

This is exactly why WOWVision! exists. You will find MANY differences in the WOWVision! website versus all the rest of the "cut-and-paste" HDTV websites that have been made. These differing views have come from field proven results and research.

For example, I have a little experience in regards to light, but I hadn't encountered light in the context of video calibration. So, like all the rest of the websites, I did my research and posted use the "warm" setting.

After the first few calibrations I started to notice that the picture was still a little "hot" (what I say to describe too much red). The picture had definitely improved but I wasn't seeing . Time after time, the Spyder Pro Colorimeter picked "warm" settings and I would tweak the settings afterward. I realized that I COULDN'T get the proper picture on the warmer settings.

Then the website read "Everyone else suggests "warm" but I say you choose." Then when I was convinced enough to post the last version, where I say use the "low" or "Cool" settings. I just amended it to read:

"Temperature - Use the "Low" or "Cool" or 6500K setting - or whichever setting is opposite of warm." Yes, opposite.

I will attempt to explain the relationship between 65K/6500 Kelvin and the "Cool" temperature setting on the television. Perhaps I could bring some "light" to the subject in what I will call:

Why is the temperature of a WARM white light 2000 degrees COOLER than a COOL white light?

I am attaching a couple of light temperature charts that should shed some lig...that should be very helpful in this exploration.

Here is a part of the problem. We have two conflicting arenas for description, and even two seemingly "contradictory" sets of terms to describe light. We describe light by its color, by it's temperature, and by its "feel".

To illustrate this, let's consider fluorescent light bulbs. We have fluorescents that are termed "Warm White" and "Cool white" and also, "Daylight".

"Warm white" fluorescents are found in rooms and places where you desire a "warm emotional atmosphere". They are generally dimmer than the others and they emit a more red spectrum of light. This light is considered to "feel" warm. Red as a color is described intuitively, as warm. The red coals of your fire are around 2100K. They glow with a red light, and the coals are cozy and warm. We attribute the "feeling" of warmth, to the color red. When the quality of this light is quantified on the Kelvin scale, it has a Kelvin temperature of around 2100k. (Kelvin temperature scale refers to the light emission of a black body heated to a specific degree, like a charcoal briquette that glows red.)

The cool white lamps are what is most commonly found in fluorescent fixtures today. Without a trained eye or a side-by-side comparison, these lamps are perceived as white, thus the white of "Cool white". Cool white's color emissions, however, are in the yellow visible spectrum and the lights are indeed yellow. COOL white registers on the Kelvin scale around 4100k; that's 2000 degrees HOTTER, than WARM white. Cool white emotionally "feels" cooler than the red light. Want a hot room? Paint it red. Cool room? Paint it blue.

In the last few years it has come to lig...it has been found that the yellow "Cool white" fluorescents cause eyestrain, computer screen glare, and mood swings, ushering in the days of the Daylight fluorescents.

What is so special about the Daylight bulbs? "Special" is called "Full Spectrum" in lighting or light. These lights emit THE spectrum where WHITE light resides. These lamps give you vibrant colors in a store, and make everything look cleaner. They are also good for your health (complete like sunlight), used to treat bilirubin deficiencies and depression. These are one type of lamp used in color matching and they are also great for use as grow lamps! (Settle down out there!) And guess what? They come in at 6500 on the Kelvin scale. These are truly the white lights because for something to emit the "color" white in light, all of the colors of the spectrum have to be there, because white light is comprised of all of the colors. (Don't confuse this color mixing in light with painting or pigment! In pigments, the opposite is true. Gee that helps, too.)

The reason why Daylight bulbs produce the most vivid color, is that all of the colors of the palette are available in white light. The reason why 6500k is desirable in a television is exactly the same.

Now reference the color charts and take a look at how the mix of terms and temperatures clash.

Now add the television manufacturer's who can't or won't standardize a remote control, user menu, or even the same term for the

"aspect ratio/format/ZOOM/Picture" button. Did I miss any?

Anyway, some manufacturers use LOW/MEDIUM/WARM, some use COOL/NORMAL/WARM, and there are still others. (We'll find out soon enough.)

To refer once again to the lighting situation, why does the warm white fluorescent lamp produce a redder room, and why does a cool white lamp produce a yellower room? Because they lack the parts of the spectrum to produce white, in other words, they don't have all of the colors available to produce white.

What if you use the "warm" temperature setting like everyone else recommends?

I believe that within the calibration world there is a bit of unintentional confusion on this one. That would explain why EVERY television is "hot" on the red.

One thing I am certain of is this: It doesn't take a week to see a great picture, or WOWVision! would have been named, "Call-you-in-a-week-Vision!"

http://www.mediacollege.com/lighting...mperature.html
http://www.lightbulbsdirect.com/page/001/CTGY/ColorTemp

[DigitalDoctor]

I will admit it is a bit confusing and each manufacturers color temp settings leave a lot to be desired (with a few exceptions) which why I was pleasantly surprised to see one of last years Panasonic plasma models to have a THX mode which was the closest to 65k I have seen from factory settings (not including Pioneer KURO).

Sometimes it's a real crap shoot, as you know and some TV's have so much red push it requires a professional calibration to get it even in the ballpark of 65k.

Thanks for your insight and experience regarding this...

And for those who aren't aware, bilirubin deficiencies are generally referred to as jaundice.

[dsskid]

I will admit it is a bit confusing and each manufacturers color temp settings leave a lot to be desired (with a few exceptions) which why I was pleasantly surprised to see one of last years Panasonic plasma models to have a THX mode which was the closest to 65k I have seen from factory settings (not including Pioneer KURO).

Sometimes it's a real crap shoot, as you know and some TV's have so much red push it requires a professional calibration to get it even in the ballpark of 65k.

Thanks for your insight and experience regarding this...

And for those who aren't aware, bilirubin deficiencies are generally referred to as jaundice.

My Panasonic TH58PZ700U model was very close to 65k when in standard mode, with the temp set to warm. I think it read something like 6403, so it was really easy to get it to 65K.

[vetteforme]

what a great site for calibration..super Ive have my samsung now for over a year and didnt know I was so off on all the colors..I Have directv and it beautiful now thanks great job