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How Do I Choose the Best Television Calibration Software?

G. Wiesen
G. Wiesen

When choosing television calibration software, it is important to consider your particular needs and the value of such software for your purposes. One thing you should consider is how old a program is and how often it has been updated to ensure that any software you use was developed to function with the type of TV you own. You should also look for reviews of different programs to see how effective they have been for other people and whether you have the technical knowledge to use them. Depending on how often you plan on using your television calibration software, you should also consider how much money you want to spend on such a program.

Television calibration software is a program to properly calibrate the video quality and picture display settings on a television, especially a high definition television (HDTV). These programs are usually provided on a disc, often a digital versatile disc (DVD) or Blu-ray disc, that can be played to provide instructions on changing settings on a television. Such programs may be available from the manufacturer of a television, though they are often created by third-party companies that specialize in TV picture quality testing and calibration.

Many high definition televisions need to be calibrated to produce the best images.
Many high definition televisions need to be calibrated to produce the best images.

When you consider a television calibration software disc, you should look at when the program was developed and if it has been updated. As technology for televisions changes, some older programs may include outdated information that you should not use when calibrating your TV. You might also consider what type of TV the television calibration software you choose was developed for, especially with regard to the differences between standard and HDTVs.

There are a number of technology websites you can use to learn more about television calibration software. Many of these sites include information about the differences between various programs and reviews of how well those programs work. You should look for these reviews to consider how effective others have found the programs. Such reviews can also help indicate the type of user these programs are intended for, so you can find software that is as complicated or as simple as you prefer.

The value of a particular television calibration software program to you may also vary, depending on your needs. If you are only going to use a program one time, then you should try to find software that is effective while also affordable. On the other hand, if you need this type of program for setting up multiple displays at a business conference or exhibition, then it may be worthwhile to invest in a more expensive program. There are also hardware devices that can be fairly expensive but allow you to more accurately detect light settings in the environment around your display and calibrate your television accordingly.

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    • Many high definition televisions need to be calibrated to produce the best images.
      Many high definition televisions need to be calibrated to produce the best images.