How to calibrate your monitor

If you’ve recently purchased a new monitor or feel that the colours on your screen are not displaying as intended, then properly calibrating it can make a huge difference and get things looking the way they should.

When you calibrate your monitor, you’re basically adjusting its settings to make sure the colours you see are true to the original image or video. This is important because an uncalibrated monitor may display colours incorrectly, with whites appearing too yellow and blues appearing overly bright. Therefore, to help you get the best possible viewing experience, here’s an in-depth guide on how to easily calibrate your monitor.

What to do before calibrating your monitor

There are a few things to do before you start calibrating your monitor. Namely, resetting your display’s settings to the default or recommended settings. Here’s how to go about doing the same.

On Windows laptops and desktops

Before you start calibrating your monitor, it’s always a good idea to get both the monitor and the surrounding space ready. First and foremost, turn on your monitor and let it warm up for at least 30 minutes. Next, change your monitor’s resolution to its default setting. On Windows laptops and desktops, you can do this by opening Start, then clicking ‘Settings,’ followed by ‘System and Display.’ Then click the ‘Resolution’ drop-down box, select the ‘Recommended’ resolution, and then click ‘Keep changes’ when prompted.

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On MacBooks and iMacs

If you’re on a MacBook or iMac, open the Apple menu, then click ‘System Preferences and Displays.’ Click the ‘Display’ tab and hold down the ‘⌥ Option’ button while clicking Scaled. Then, select your connected display, and check the ‘Default for display’ box. Also, make sure your monitor is in a well-lit space without any glare or direct light hitting it. Ideally, put it somewhere where it won’t be affected by direct sunlight or harsh indoor lighting.

Now you’re all set to calibrate your monitor.

How to calibrate your monitor

There are two ways in which you can calibrate your monitor. One is by using your operating system’s built-in tools, while the second is a colorimeter hardware tool.

Using built-in calibration tools

Both Windows and macOS come with basic calibration tools to help you adjust the display’s brightness, contrast, colour and more for a more accurate viewing experience. Here’s how you can calibrate your monitor using your laptop’s or desktops built-in tools.

On Windows

1. Open the calibration tool

In Windows 11, type “Calibrate” into the Windows search bar and select ‘Calibrate display colour.’ If you’re using Windows 10, search for ‘Colour Calibration’ and then select the corresponding result. For older versions of Windows, you can find the ‘Colour Calibration’ utility in the ‘Display’ section of the Control Panel under ‘Appearance and Personalisation.’

2. Set factory-default colour settings

Adjust your monitor to its factory-default colour settings. Press the ‘Menu’ button on your monitor if needed, then select factory default colour settings from the menu.

3. Adjust Gamma and brightness

Follow the on-screen prompts and review examples provided to adjust your display’s gamma and brightness.

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4. Adjust contrast and colour balance

Continue with adjusting the contrast and colour balance to make sure neutral greys are achieved.

5. Review changes and save settings

Finally, review your changes using the ‘Previous calibration’ and ‘Current calibration’ options and once you’re satisfied, click ‘Finish’ to save your calibration settings.

On macOS

1. Open the calibration tool

You can find the calibration tool on macOS by going into ‘System Preferences,’ then clicking on the ‘Displays’ tab and navigating to the ‘Colour’ section. If you are unable to find it, simply use Spotlight and search for “calibrate” to locate the Display Calibrator Assistant.

2. Follow the on-screen instructions

Once you’ve opened the tool, follow the step-by-step instructions on your Mac to adjust various settings. Usually, you will need to choose a ‘White Point’ (typically D50 or D65 to avoid tint issues), adjust the colour settings and give your profile a name for future reference.

3. View and adjust tags

You can click on each tag to see details and adjust it as needed.

Using a colorimeter

While built-in tools can be a great place to start for basic calibration, a colorimeter is usually the way to go if you want the most accurate results. For the uninitiated, a colorimeter is a physical device that you place on your screen to measure the light output. Based on the light output, it generates a calibration profile specific to your monitor. Here’s how you can use a colorimeter to calibrate your monitor:

1. Purchase a colorimeter

First, you’ll need to start by buying a colorimeter, which can be ordered either online or bought from a computer hardware store. Colorimeters vary widely in price, ranging from around a thousand rupees to over Rs. 20,000, so choose one that fits your budget and needs. Additionally, most colorimeters work with Windows, macOS, and Linux, but it’s a good idea to double-check compatibility to avoid any issues later.

2. Plug in your colorimeter and install the software

Once you have the colorimeter, plug it into your desktop to power it on. Your desktop should recognise it right away, and automatically install the calibration software.

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3. Follow the on-screen instructions

Now, run the newly installed calibration software and follow the prompts and instructions.

4. Position the colorimeter

 Next, you’ll be asked to place the colorimeter in the middle of your screen with the lens facing the monitor. The calibration software will usually show an outline to help you position it correctly.

5. Start the calibration process

Once you’ve got the colorimeter in place, click on “Next” or “Start” to begin the calibration. The software will guide you through the steps. You might also need to click through a few more options or follow some extra on-screen prompts during the process. When it’s done, you’ll be asked to remove the colorimeter.

Using these two methods, you can calibrate your screen to ensure a faithful and accurate recreation of colours on your monitor, to ensure a comfortable and immersive viewing experience. We hope this helps.