Select Luminance Mode
Help Index
Advanced Feature
Most users will select Visual for the Luminance Mode setting. Measured is an advanced
mode – if you select Measured, you will also be asked to provide the Luminance
Values that you desire to use. The difference between these two modes is in how the
user is instructed to adjust the Luminance controls during the Calibration process.
The Purpose of This Step
When calibrating most monitors, in addition to setting the Tone Response (which
controls the Gamma) and White Point (which controls the color, not the luminance, of
white), it is also possible to adjust the Black Luminance and White Luminance levels.
This screen allows you to specify whether you want to set the Luminance levels by
eye, using visual images and incorporating information from your viewing conditions,
or by measuring with the instrument.
The Long Answer
When
Visual
is selected, your monitor will be calibrated to produce the most White
Luminance it can without being over-driven. The Black Luminance will be set as low as
possible to produce a good black without losing shadow detail. This is ideal for most
users who are not attempting specialized matching modes with more than one monitor
in the same viewing area.
The user is prompted to adjust each Luminance level based on observation of a visual
image. While this may seem unscientific, optimal luminance is affected by ambient
light. Since this is the case, a visual judgment by the user that takes into account
ambient light often yields a more practical result than using a predetermined number.
Measured
Luminance Mode uses the instrument to measure the Black Luminance and
White Luminance levels. The measured levels are compared to the desired values and
the user is prompted to adjust the controls on the monitor to achieve the desired