Calibration

If you have a system that is not living up to your expectations, we would be glad to maximize its performance by upgrading wires, properly programming your equipment and calibrating your flat screen TV or projector. All of our Video calibration is done by Kevin Miller of ISF-TV. Besides being one of this countries premier video calibration experts, Kevin regularly writes for C-NET reviewing new equipment. Kevin Miller is a founding member of the Imaging Science Foundation and a contributing editor to CNET Electronics.

Kerry Bright doing color calibration on a new 42’inch Panasonic. In so many cases, equipment has not been hooked up and programmed properly. In some circumstances, simple changes can make a surprising difference. Please feel free to call and we would be glad to consult with you.

Kevin Miller, ISFTV As a charter member of the Imaging Science Foundation, Kevin has a keen interest in delivering the best video images possible in a home theater environment. Having been through the first ever ISF training course in February of 1994 he has more experience calibrating TVs than anyone else in the country. Kevin works closely with companies like Epson, Samsung, Mitsubishi, Sharp, Runco, Hitachi, Zenith/LG, Yamaha to insure quality with the product development process. Kevin provides his expert reviews of products as a guest writer on CNET.com and on his own web site Tweaktv.com

       

Basic Calibration Service includes:

Direct-view TVs: Calibration of the gray scale to 6500 degrees Kelvin as per the NTSC broadcast standard using a Philips Color Analyzer. Precise adjustment of all picture parameters (Contrast, Brightness, Color, etc.) using test patterns from the Video Essentials and AVIA test DVDs and correction of overscan and picture position when and if necessary.

Rear Projection TVs: Electronic focus of the CRTs (Red, Green and Blue), convergence of all aspect ratios, gray scale calibration to 6500 degrees Kelvin, precise adjustment of all picture parameters (Contrast, Brightness, Color, etc.) using test patterns from the Video Essentials and AVIA test DVDs and correction of overscan and picture position when and if necessary.

Front Projection Systems: Touchup of electronic focus of all three CRTs, touchup convergence of all aspect ratios, gray scale calibration to 6500 degrees Kelvin, precise adjustment of all picture parameters (Contrast, Brightness, Color, etc.) using test patterns from the Video Essentials and AVIA test DVDs and correction of overscan and picture position when and if necessary. For LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and DLP (Digital Light Processing) the basic calibration service includes gray scale calibration with an Optical Comparator, because a tri-stimulus color analyzer can't accurately read the color temperature of these devices.

Advanced Calibration Services include:

Advance calibration services only apply to CRT based rear projection and front projection displays. Separate HDTV input calibration for all HDTVs with the Accupel HDTV signal generator. Proper gray scale calibration for front projection systems and fixed pixel displays is done with the Joe Kane Approved The Visual Standard Optical Comparator.

Rear Projection: In addition to the above basic calibration services mechanical focus is also offered. This will seriously increase the time it takes to perform the job, and therefore significantly increases the cost of the service. While many people are getting it into their heads that this is a necessary part of a rear projection TV calibration, due mainly to the prolific amount of information/misinformation on the Internet, it should be noted that this is really rarely necessary.

Front Projection: Full setups from scratch are available. We require that the projector be properly installed before calibration, which means it needs to be positioned correctly with respect to the screen and securely mounted whether on the floor or the ceiling. This service includes mechanical, astigmatic and electronic focus of all three CRTs, geometry and convergence of all aspect ratios, gray scale calibration and precise adjustment of all picture parameters (Contrast, Brightness, Color, etc.) using test patterns from the Video Essentials and AVIA test DVDs.

Equipment Used: We are constantly upgrading our arsenal of test equipment, which includes:

New Gear: The Minolta CS-200 is designed to measure luminance, chromaticity, gamma and contrast of light emitting products, such as large flat panel and plasma displays, compact LCD's and OLED's, outdoor screens, high pressure lamps and instrument panels. In short, it can accurately read any type of display device. The CS-200 has 40 high accuracy sensors to calculate spectral response where as most color analyzers have only 3; 3 selectable measuring angles, and measurement speed as low as 0.5 seconds.

Sencore Color Pro 5000: This laptop software based meter has been developed mainly for the new fixed pixel displays like DLP, Plasma, and new forms of LCD like LCOS, because fixed pixel displays often have much different color space and gamma than traditional CRT based displays. This means old fashioned tri-stimulous meters like our trusty old Philips won't do the job as accurately as desired.

The Sencore 5000 has been compared to the industry standard calibration device, the Photo Research PR 650 Spectraradiometer on several occassions with many different types of displays, and has been proven to be as accurate if not more so than the Photo Research.

Sencore VP403 HDTV/SDTV signal generator with DVI Output and ATSC RF Output. The VP403 is the industry standard signal generator primarily because of its ATSC RF out, which allows us to go into an off-air or Satellite HDTV receiver's antenna input, and keep the set-top box in the signal flow making for much more accurate HDTV source calibrations.

Sencore CP5000 Color Analyzer

Philips Color Analyzer

Sencore CP288 Color Analyzer

The Visual Standard Optical Comparator

Accupel HDTV (720p, 1080i) HDTV signal generator

Sencore VP403 (480i/p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p NTSC and PAL) signal generator

Minolta CS-200 Colorimeter