Goes full screen. Use arrow keys or tap to step through 15 patterns, Esc to exit. Best run on the TV itself, in a dark room.
What are TV calibration test patterns?
TV test patterns are reference images that show exactly how your screen reproduces brightness, contrast, color, geometry and fine detail - so you can set the picture controls correctly and spot faults. This free suite runs full screen right in your TV browser, with 15 professional patterns covering everything from black level to overscan. No download, nothing to install.
How to calibrate with the patterns
- Open the patterns on the TV itself, in a dimly lit room, and pick a neutral picture mode (Filmmaker, Cinema or Movie).
- Black level: on the PLUGE pattern, raise Brightness until the darkest bar just disappears.
- Contrast: on the peak white pattern, raise Contrast until the brightest steps stop separating, then back off slightly.
- Check the rest: step through color bars, grayscale, uniformity, geometry, sharpness and overscan and adjust where needed.
What is in the suite
- Color bars - check overall color reproduction and saturation.
- Grayscale steps - check the spread from black to white and any color tint.
- Black level (PLUGE) - set Brightness so shadows are deep but not crushed.
- Peak white - set Contrast without clipping the brightest whites.
- Uniformity fields (white, gray, red, green, blue) - spot tinting, vignetting and dirty-screen-effect.
- Color discrimination - see how many fine shades your panel resolves (6-bit vs 8-bit vs 10-bit).
- Gradient - reveal color banding in smooth transitions.
- Gamma and viewing angle - a solid grey beside fine black-and-white stripes; from a distance the two should look equally bright on a calibrated screen, and any off-axis shift shows up here.
- Sharpness and overscan - check edge clarity and whether the image is cut off at the edges.
- Geometry crosshatch - check straight lines, round circles and centering.
- Checkerboard - check contrast and local dimming behavior.
Test patterns FAQ
What are TV test patterns used for?
Test patterns are reference images that reveal how a TV or monitor reproduces brightness, contrast, color, geometry and detail. They are used to set picture controls like brightness and contrast and to spot faults such as poor uniformity, banding or overscan.
What is the PLUGE / black level pattern?
PLUGE shows bars just above black. You raise the TV's brightness control until the darkest bar disappears and the next bars are only just visible, which sets the correct black level without crushing shadow detail.
How do I check for overscan?
Open the sharpness and overscan pattern. If you can see the full outer frame at the very edge of the screen, there is no overscan. If the frame is cut off, turn on Just Scan, Screen Fit, 1:1 or Full Pixel in your TV settings.
Do these patterns calibrate my TV automatically?
No. They are reference patterns you use by eye to set the basic controls and find problems. A full color-accurate calibration needs a colorimeter and software, but these patterns get the basics right for free.
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