Picture Contrast

[Don Soriano]

I just upgraded my computer and shifted OS from 98SE to
XP. My video setting is set at 1024x768x16bit. While on
98SE my contrast was great and have no trouble reading the
letters. In XP the contrast is poor and the letters are
too small and hard to read. Any adjusting I need to do?

Don Soriano

 

[Larry(LJL269)]

Contrast efected by settings in:
monitor- it should be maxed
video card- u need to reset these.

Object size is affected by (assuiming monitor is same size)
resolution inversely proportional- as screen resolution
increases, all objects decrease in size.Text size can be
adjusted in IE & windows under Properties for each.

But the text in anything else will be affected by a font
size if app has a setting. If not, it is affected by DPI
setting under Display Properties & is directly proportional-
as DPI increases everything gets bigger.

Size of all windows from all apps is affected by DPI setting
under Display Properties. So u should set this 1st. I looked
at icons in a folder & increased DPI so I could see them.
Then u can adjust text in IE & Display Properties & other
apps. Warning - u can make DPI so large that non-resizeable
windows(like files properties) wont fit on screen so u cant
clk OK buttton.

Calibrating ur monitor is another kettle of fish entirely &
improvement is not normally noticed or cared about by other
than graphic artists & photo nuts like me.

I have 2 monitors - 17" flat screen @ 1024x768 & 27" TV @
800x600 , DPI=132 cause the 27" I use most of time & sit 10'
away.

Tried to give the big picture approach. Post back 4 details
after u've clicked around a bit. HTH - Larry

I just upgraded my computer and shifted OS from 98SE to
XP. My video setting is set at 1024x768x16bit. While on
98SE my contrast was great and have no trouble reading the
letters. In XP the contrast is poor and the letters are
too small and hard to read. Any adjusting I need to do?

Don Soriano

Any advise given is my attempt to show appreciation for all
the excellent help I've received here but I'm no MVP so it
may only apply NUGS (Normally, Usually, Generally, Sometimes

 

[Jeff N.]

Hi Larry, I do quite a bit of graphic work and realized I never attempted to
callibrate the monitor after upgrading, but just wondering if you know of
any other things that can be helpful in doing so. I know it's a tedious
process a bit rough on the eyes. I've use the Adobe Gamma, but wondering if
there are any others, or perhaps some color swatches you know of to check
against. I suppose I get confused to as to weather to mess with the display
adapter settings, or if Adobe Gamma is going to override that. Contrast on
display control panel cranked or just the monitor. It's a mess I know, just
wondered if you had any tips or guides. Everything has been blurry as of
late, and not sure if it's the monitor going out already, my eyes, or both!
Thanks.

 

[Larry(LJL269)]

Jeff- Some info is at
1- http://www.aim-dtp.net/aim/index.htm
2-
http://www.aim-dtp.net/aim/calibration/monitor_calibration/monitor_calibration.htm
3- http://www.aim-dtp.net/aim/calibration/main.htm where
u can DL Kodak Q60 card to use 2 calibrate everything. This
is used by BEST printers (Natl Geo) and has some very tough
colors to get exact.

Software- Some set gamma globally & some for app only. Adobe
I'm not sure but u can find out by opening Q60 in Adobe & W
Pic Viewer side-by-side. If they r identical, Adobe is
global. Video driver is 1st place to look & would be global.

I had some Software for global gamma by E-Color but their
website has disappeared. On my TV I found I could get close
by:
1-set monitor contrast to MAX on monitor controls
2- adjust gamma for all colors so color picker reads
greyscale on bottom of Q60 - each cell differs by 11 values
of grey. (0,11,22,33..)
3- Look at skin tones in right hand portion of Q60. Having
these correct is more important than whether yellow strip
has some orange in it(as mine does) cause everyone knows
what skin should look like & most pics have people in them.

These 3 steps should get u damn close. Another good source
for software help is NG's- search digital/graphics. However,
they & the URL's above can get into nit-picky minutae that
is mind boggling to me.

Fortunately I only have to do this every 2 years so
unfortunately I may have forgotten something. So post back
if something doesnt make sense.

HTH - Larry

Hi Larry, I do quite a bit of graphic work and realized I never attempted to
callibrate the monitor after upgrading, but just wondering if you know of
any other things that can be helpful in doing so. I know it's a tedious
process a bit rough on the eyes. I've use the Adobe Gamma, but wondering if
there are any others, or perhaps some color swatches you know of to check
against. I suppose I get confused to as to weather to mess with the display
adapter settings, or if Adobe Gamma is going to override that. Contrast on
display control panel cranked or just the monitor. It's a mess I know, just
wondered if you had any tips or guides. Everything has been blurry as of
late, and not sure if it's the monitor going out already, my eyes, or both!
Thanks.

Any advise given is my attempt to show appreciation for all
the excellent help I've received here but I'm no MVP so it
may only apply NUGS (Normally, Usually, Generally, Sometimes