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Picture Modes and TV Calibration

August 3, 2020

Evaluating Picture Modes Before Calibration

 

Before beginning any display calibration, start by reviewing the picture modes available on the display. Each mode applies a different set of picture adjustments and operational behaviors, and some modes are far more suitable for calibration than others.

Most displays ship in a default picture mode designed for retail showrooms—often labeled Dynamic or Vivid. These modes emphasize extremely high brightness and exaggerated color to attract attention under harsh store lighting. User adjustments are often limited or not saved at all, making these modes poor choices for calibration.

Instead, identify one or more picture modes that allow full control of calibration settings and provide a stable baseline. Depending on the manufacturer and model, certain modes may offer better accuracy, additional white-balance controls, or improved color-management access.

Picture Adjustments:
Operational Characteristics:
  • Adjustable vs. locked picture controls
  • Availability of calibration tools (e.g., 2-point / multipoint white balance, CMS)
  • Environment-specific modes (e.g., Day / Night)
  • Lockable calibration presets (e.g., Expert 1, Expert 2)
  • Pre-calibrated modes (e.g., IMAX, THX or Filmmaker Mode)
Quick Recommendation for Choosing a Viewing Mode
  • If you want a fast starting point that’s typically closest to a proper BT.709 calibration and offers the most control, begin with a Filmmaker, Movie, Theater, or Cinema picture mode. These modes generally default to more accurate picture settings, disable most automatic picture processing (such as Auto Black or Dynamic Contrast), and provide broad access to calibration controls. In most displays, the warmest color temperature option in these modes is usually closest to D65, which is the standard white point for BT.709 calibration.
Viewing Mode Selection
  • To provide the best starting point for video display calibration, you should select a video display picture viewing mode that:
    • Enables adjustment of the Brightness and Contrast, White Balance, and Color Management controls.
    • Produces colors of Red, Green, and Blue as close as possible to the RGB targets on the Gamut CIE chart, but preferably not inside the reference gamut triangle.
    • Sets the color of white fairly close to the white reference target (usually D65).
Automatic/Dynamic Picture Functions
  • Any automatic picture processing that adjusts the colorspace based on content must be disabled before calibration. These functions can alter the way test patterns and content are displayed, leading to inaccurate or failed calibration results.
  • The specific functions vary by display model, but common examples include features with names like:
    • Dynamic…
    • …Enhancer
    • Smart…
  • They may also be found under Eco Power, Energy Savings, or Power settings. Always ensure these functions are turned off to maintain consistent and accurate calibration results.
Lighting Environment Modes:
  • For Night mode, select an ISF1, ISF Night, Expert1, Custom, or User mode to enable calibration control, or select the Movie/Cinema/Theater mode.
  • For Day mode, select an ISF2, ISF Day, or Expert2 mode (if available), or another mode (Standard, Natural, Sports, etc.) that provides the most calibration control.
  • For viewing sports in a brightly lighted environment, Sports mode is often desirable, although this mode often offers limited adjustment capability.

Picture Modes and High Dynamic Range (HDR) Content

 

Most TVs treat HDR10 and Dolby Vision content as separate picture modes within the video processing pipeline, though this distinction is not always obvious.

On many displays, the active HDR mode is clearly indicated, for example, a standard Cinema mode may change to HDR Cinema or Cinema-HDR, or the picture mode menu may show HDR Picture Mode or Dolby Vision Mode.

On some TVs, however, the original picture mode name remains unchanged, with an HDR or Dolby logo/indicator added elsewhere in the menu. Always confirm that the display is in the correct HDR mode before performing any calibration or adjustments.