How do I get the colors of my video correct on this cheap lcd display?

March 26, 2008 1:19 AM

I have LCD displays I need to display video on, but they displays were made on the cheap and the colors display strangely. The screens have no brightness/contrast adjustment options. How do I determine the contrast ratio/gamma of these screens so that I can make adjustments to my video files?

The LCD screens only accept CF card input (JPG, MPG etc) so calibration software is not an option. I can save JPGs or flat R, G, B and greys onto a CF if needed.

An example of my problem is yellows look almost red and colored (red 14px) type on a white bg is illegible.

I have Spyder2Express at me disposal and could possibly purchase a more useful gadget if it's not too expensive.

Once I have determined in which ways the LCDs are off my plan is to make the adjustments to the movie files in Apple Compressor, but I am open to other alternatives.

Yes, I HAVE TO use these LCD panels.

posted by mule to computers & internet (4 comments total)

I would guess that the best approach might be to create a kind of 'test card' image with areas of black, white, RGB and CMY. Display that image on the LCD and use it as a basis for colour correction with your Spyder2Express. Does the Spyder software have the ability to create colour profiles for use with Photoshop? If so, that might be a productive avenue...
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 2:27 AM on March 26, 2008

Try displaying nothing but full screens of white on the panels for at least 48 hours and see if their color rendering improves.
posted by flabdablet at 4:20 AM on March 26, 2008

Create a test image, display on your panels, then use a good quality digital camera to take a picture of that display. Set the camera's white balance to something fixed or shoot raw. You should be able to take that image of an image into photoshop and figure out how they are getting mangled.

Assuming you don't get swallowed into a video recursion paradox.
posted by chairface at 1:31 PM on March 26, 2008

The Spyder doesn't have the capabilities to work independently of it's software unfortunately.

I'm keen on chairface's solution and will give it a shot tomorrow.
posted by mule at 9:30 PM on March 26, 2008