Finding Your Monitor's Color Gamut: A Step-By-Step Guide

The colour gamut of a monitor is the range of colours it can display. It is usually shown as a triangle on an xy chromaticity diagram, with each point on the triangle representing a colour that can be displayed by the monitor. The colour gamut of a monitor can be tested using online tools, which show a series of test patterns, or by using built-in colour calibration tools in your operating system. Online tests can show you a 3D view of your monitor's colour range, while built-in tools can help you adjust your monitor's settings to achieve accurate colour reproduction.

Calibrate your monitor

Monitor calibration is an important task, especially for photographers, graphic designers, and other professionals who rely on accurate colour representation. Calibration ensures that the colours on your screen are displayed accurately, and it can also improve your viewing experience when enjoying photos, videos, or other entertainment.

Preparation:

• Allow your monitor to warm up for at least 30 minutes (LCD monitors) to an hour (LED monitors) before calibration.
• Set your monitor to its native resolution. On a PC, go to the Control Panel, select Settings and Appearance, then Personalisation, and adjust the screen resolution. On a Mac, go to System Preferences, then Displays, and ensure "Default for display" is selected under Resolution.
• Check your room's lighting—moderate, ambient lighting is best. Avoid direct light or harsh glares that can affect your calibration.
• Familiarise yourself with your monitor's display settings, such as colour, contrast, and brightness. You can usually find these in the Control Panel or System Preferences under the Display tab.

Calibration:

• Use built-in calibration tools: Both Windows and Mac have built-in calibration tools that guide you through the process. On Windows, search for "Calibrate display colour" in the Start menu. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Displays, then click on the Color tab and select Calibrate. Follow the on-screen instructions to adjust gamma, brightness, contrast, and colour balance.
• Use online calibration tools: Websites like Eizo, Lagom, W4ZT, and Calibrize offer free online tools to test and adjust your monitor's colour, sharpness, pixels, and viewing angle.
• Use a colourimeter: For the most accurate calibration, invest in a colourimeter (a hardware calibration device). The X-Rite ColorMunki Smile and the Spyder5Elite are recommended options that offer accurate calibration for standard and wide-gamut displays. More expensive options provide additional features.

Remember, monitor calibration is an ongoing process. It is recommended to calibrate your monitor at least once a month, as ambient lighting conditions, display settings, and other factors can affect the accuracy of your screen colours over time.

Check your monitor's colour range

The colour gamut of a monitor is the range of colours it can display, usually shown as an enclosed triangular area of primary colours (red, green, and blue) on a chromaticity diagram.

There are several online tools available to check your monitor's colour range. These tests are a quick and easy way to configure your monitor's colour accuracy and settings like contrast and sharpness. Before running any test, make sure to let your computer warm up for at least 30 minutes for LCD monitors, 50 minutes for CRT monitors, and 70 minutes for LED monitors. Additionally, set your monitor to its native resolution.

• Eizo: A simple test to check your monitor's colour, sharpness, pixels, and optimum viewing angle.
• Lagom: A detailed but user-friendly colour test website suitable for those with a decent understanding of computers.
• W4ZT: A straightforward and quick test ideal for those who aren't tech-savvy.
• Calibrize: A downloadable tool that helps you adjust your monitor's colour in three simple steps.

For a more comprehensive test, you can also upload your monitor profile to a free website that provides a 3D view of your monitor's colour range. This method only works for calibrated monitors with a V2 profile. You can find your monitor profile in the following locations:

• Windows: C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\color
• Mac: Mac HD/Library/ColorSync/Profiles or Mac HD/Users/\/Library/ColorSync/Profiles

After uploading your profile, you can compare your screen's colour space with the sRGB colour space to visualise the differences in the 3D model.

It's important to note that a wide colour gamut does not necessarily equate to high image quality. The controls used to realise the full capabilities of an LCD panel with a wide colour gamut are crucial. Additionally, a monitor with a colour-gamut conversion function will allow you to adjust the displayed colours to fall within a specific colour gamut, such as sRGB or Adobe RGB.

Understand the difference between sRGB and Wide-Gamut colour space

When it comes to colour accuracy, it's important to understand the difference between sRGB and Wide-Gamut colour spaces. sRGB was designed by Microsoft and HP in 1996 to standardise the colours displayed by electronic devices, and it has since become the norm. It is the standard colour space for Windows environments and covers 35.9% of the visible colours specified by the CIELAB colour space.

Wide-gamut RGB colour space, on the other hand, is a colour space developed by Adobe Systems that offers a much larger gamut by using pure spectral primary colours. It can store a wider range of colour values than sRGB, covering 77.6% of the colours specified by the CIELAB colour space.

The difference between the two colour spaces becomes apparent when it comes to colour accuracy and reproduction. While sRGB is widely used, it does not offer sufficient colour coverage for professional applications, particularly in printing and high-end photography. Wide-gamut colour spaces, such as Adobe RGB, are better suited for these applications as they offer a wider range of colours.

However, it is important to note that a wide colour gamut does not necessarily mean high image quality. The quality of the controls used to realise the full capabilities of an LCD panel with a wide colour gamut is crucial. Additionally, when working in colour spaces with a large gamut, it is recommended to work in 16-bit per channel colour depth to avoid posterization effects.

Use a colour test website

Using a colour test website is a quick and easy way to check your monitor's colour accuracy and configure its settings. Before you start any test, there are a few things you should do. First, let your computer warm up for a bit – 30 minutes for LCD monitors, 50 for CRT monitors, and 70 minutes for LED monitors. This is because monitors take a while to reach their full brightness. Next, set your monitor to its native resolution. To do this on a PC, go to the control panel, select settings and appearance, then personalisation, and finally adjust the screen resolution. Click the drop-down menu and select the resolution that's marked 'recommended'. On a Mac, go to System Preferences, then Displays, and select 'Default for display' under Resolution. Check your room's lighting – it should be moderately bright and well-lit. Finally, familiarise yourself with your monitor's display settings, such as colour, contrast, and brightness. You can find these settings in your control panel or system preferences under the Display tab, or on the side of your monitor.

Now you're ready to run a test. Online monitor colour tests are free and will show you a series of test patterns. Based on what you can and can't see, you'll adjust your monitor's colour settings. BuddyCompany recommends the following colour test websites:

• Eizo – a simple test that enables you to test your monitor's colour, as well as other attributes like sharpness, pixels, and optimum viewing angle.
• Lagom – a detailed but relatively easy-to-use test site. Good for those with a decent understanding of computers.
• W4ZT – a very simple and straightforward test page. Ideal for those who aren't tech-savvy.
• Calibrize – not an online test; you'll have to download this one. Calibrize helps you adjust your monitor's colour in three simple steps.

Additionally, DamienSymonds.net offers a free website where you can see a 3D view of your monitor's colour range. This method is a bit more involved than the previous sites. First, go to the "Upload" page and hit the "Browse" button. Then, navigate to your monitor profile saved on your hard drive. For Windows, your profile should be in C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\color. For Mac, it will be in either Mac HD/Library/ColorSync/Profiles or Mac HD/Users//Library/ColorSync/Profiles. After you've uploaded your profile, go to the 3D COLOR SPACE page. Choose your uploaded profile in the first column (sRGB will be chosen by default in the second column) and hit "Calculate 3D". A 3D model will appear, which you can click and drag to move around and see from all sides. The colour block is the monitor profile, and the wireframe is sRGB.

Compare colour gamuts

To compare colour gamuts, you can use a free online tool or software. These tools will allow you to see a 3D view of the colour range of your monitor and compare it with other colour spaces.

Online Tools

There are several online tools available to compare colour gamuts:

• Eizo—A simple online test that enables you to test your monitor's colour, as well as other attributes like sharpness, pixels and optimum viewing angle.
• Lagom—A detailed yet user-friendly colour test website.
• W4ZT—A straightforward and quick test page, ideal for those who are less tech-savvy.
• Calibrize—A downloadable tool that helps you adjust your monitor's colour in three simple steps.

Software

There are also several software options available for comparing colour gamuts:

• GamutVision—A free tool for Macs and Windows that offers a large number of features, including a 3D gamut display of profiles.
• Viewgam from ArgyllCMS—Generates an HTML page with a rotatable 3D view of colour gamuts.
• PerfX—A downloadable program that provides a 3D gamut viewer.
• ColorSync—A free tool for Macs that shows the gamut in 3D and allows you to compare two gamuts.

Other Methods

In addition to using online tools or software, you can also compare colour gamuts by plotting the chromaticity coordinates from the manufacturer on an X-Y coordinate graph. This method does not require any software and can be done by hand.

Preparation

Before comparing colour gamuts, it is important to ensure that your monitor is properly configured and calibrated. Here are some steps to follow:

• Allow your computer to warm up before the test—30 minutes for LCD monitors, 50 minutes for CRT monitors, and 70 minutes for LED monitors.
• Set your monitor to its native resolution—the actual number of pixels physically built into your monitor.
• Check your room's lighting—ensure moderate ambient lighting that is neither too bright nor too dark.
• Familiarise yourself with your monitor's display settings, such as colour, contrast, and brightness.

By following these steps and using the available tools and software, you can effectively compare colour gamuts and ensure accurate colour representation on your monitor.

Frequently asked questions