Video Calibration Myths

There are many claims about video calibration—mostly having to do with hardware—that get routinely repeated over and over throughout the years that simply do not stand up to careful scrutiny.

Myth #1: Filter-based colorimeters are acceptable for CRTs, but not for other types of more modern digital displays.

Myth #2: Filter-based colorimeters are acceptable for measurements of white, but not for measurements of color. Thus, if you want to do simply a grayscale calibration, then colorimeters are fine. However, if you want to calibrate a display's gamut using a color management system (CMS), then you must use a spectrophotometer.

Myth #3: The luminance readings of filter-based colorimeters are inaccurate at very low light levels.

Myth #4: The qualities that make for a good display are the following in order of importance:
- Contrast
- Color Saturation
- Color Accuracy
- Resolution

Myth #5: Tristimulus colorimeters, such as the Chroma 5, require special calibration tables to work well with LED-backlit LCD displays.