How to Use This Test

Tip: For best results, ensure your monitor has been on for at least 30 minutes and adjust room lighting to avoid reflections. Set monitor to default/standard color mode.

Test Patterns:

1.
Red Gradient: Black to pure red
2.
Green Gradient: Black to pure green
3.
Blue Gradient: Black to pure blue
4.
Grayscale: Black to white gradient
5.
Grayscale Steps: 0% to 100% in steps
6.
Color Bars: Standard SMPTE bars
7.
Rainbow: Full spectrum gradient

What to Look For:

•
Banding: Visible steps instead of smooth gradients
•
Color Shifts: Tints in grayscale (pink/green)
•
Crushing: Loss of detail in dark/bright areas
•
Uniformity: Uneven brightness/color

Monitor Types & Expected Performance:

IPS Panels

Best color accuracy, minimal shift

VA Panels

Good colors, possible dark crushing

TN Panels

Limited colors, visible banding

Understanding Color Accuracy

What Affects Color Accuracy?

Color accuracy depends on multiple factors including panel technology, color gamut coverage, calibration, bit depth, and processing quality. Professional monitors typically offer better color reproduction than consumer displays.

Key Color Metrics

Metric	What It Means	Good Values
sRGB Coverage	Standard color space coverage	95%+ for general use
Delta E	Color accuracy measurement	<3 acceptable, <1 excellent
Bit Depth	Color gradation smoothness	8-bit minimum, 10-bit ideal
Gamma	Brightness curve accuracy	2.2 standard

Common Color Issues

Banding: Usually indicates 6-bit panel or poor processing
Color Shift: Often viewing angle related (especially TN)
Oversaturation: "Vivid" modes that distort colors
Gray Tinting: Poor factory calibration
Black Crush: Loss of shadow detail (common in VA)
White Clipping: Loss of highlight detail

Color Accuracy Requirements by Use

Professional Photo/Video Editing:

• 99%+ sRGB, 90%+ Adobe RGB coverage
• Delta E < 2 (ideally < 1)
• 10-bit color depth minimum
• Hardware calibration support

Graphic Design:

• 95%+ sRGB coverage minimum
• Accurate color reproduction
• Good uniformity across screen
• Matte finish to reduce glare

General Use/Gaming:

• 90%+ sRGB acceptable
• Smooth gradients (no severe banding)
• Decent gray tracking
• Personal preference for vibrancy

Calibration Reminder:

Even the best monitors benefit from calibration . Consider a hardware calibrator for color-critical work. Basic calibration can improve any monitor's accuracy.