Monitor calibration

In order to work with templates (as well as with any other digital graphics), it is essential to have a monitor that displays colors correctly. Most modern monitors have correct color reproduction due to the factory profile, but sometimes factory settings can be knocked down for some reason or other.

This problem can become obvious if you work in a team, where a template can be sent from one designer to another. In this case some defects may become visible only to one of the designers.

Please follow the recommendations below to improve the color reproduction of your monitor.

• Your monitor should not be exposed to direct sunlight, and it should not be lit by any bright light.
• When working with the monitor, avoid bright light shining directly into your eyes. It is also worth remembering that your position relative to an LCD monitor affects how you see the colors on it. Before you start calibrating your monitor, position yourself in front of it so that your gaze is directed to its center, perpendicular to the screen plane.
• Study the control panel of your monitor (these are mechanical or touch buttons, usually positioned at the bottom of the monitor). For further actions, you must have access to Contrast, Brightness and Color temperature (usually called Color) settings.
• Install the latest versions of video card and monitor drivers. A color profile for the monitor that meets its technical features and color reproduction capabilities, is usually installed together with the driver.
• Check the availability of calibration programs that are supplied with the monitor installation CD, as well as are available on the manufacturers website.
• If the monitor manufacturer provided a calibration program, then you should use it. If there is no such program, use calibration tools available in Windows instead.
• Before you start calibrating your screen, refer to the scales below. Both scales contain the numbers from 1 to 5. If all 5 digits are visible on both scales, then your monitor has been calibrated correctly. 3 visible digits on both scales can be considered a satisfactory result.

  

• After you have adjusted your monitor, go back to the scales and check if the digits are displayed better now.
• You can also use standard configuration tools available in Windows to calibrate your monitor. Use the step-by-step instructions to improve brightness, contrast, gamma and color balance settings.
• In Windows, open the Start menu and type in ‘calibrate’ in the search field. Next, select Calibrate display color from the listed options and go through all the necessary calibration steps.