| The default settings on any new | | | | upwards until the point when the grey |
| television are not necessarily the ones | | | | just becomes white. |
| that will produce the best picture at | | | | Brightness: Brightness is the intensity |
| home in the living room. Settings that | | | | of black within the picture on the |
| are too high or too low can result in an | | | | television. With brightness turned up to |
| early demise of the screen or simply | | | | maximum, blacks will become grey. The |
| provide a poor picture. Ideally the | | | | level should then be slowly reduced |
| picture settings on the television | | | | until it first becomes black again. |
| should be adjusted to coincide with the | | | | Sharpness: A television with the |
| lighting conditions in the room where it | | | | sharpness set too low can have a blurry |
| will be viewed. Settings on all | | | | picture while having it set too high can |
| televisions can be adjusted and some | | | | result in a "grainy" picture. |
| even allow resetting the controls for | | | | Color/Saturation: Adjusting the color is |
| the various input devices. | | | | important to achieve a realistic |
| Picture control settings can be accessed | | | | picture. Many automatic settings are |
| through the television set up menu. It | | | | insufficient. When unable to use a test |
| is easiest to make the appropriate | | | | pattern, many experts advise using skin |
| adjustments by purchasing or renting a | | | | tone as a good guide in adjusting color |
| test pattern DVD although it is possible | | | | to the optimal level. |
| to use other pictures on the screen with | | | | Basically, the important thing to |
| known colors to determine the new | | | | remember is that factory set controls on |
| settings. An example of a known color | | | | a television are not set up for the |
| would be a scene with a snow covered | | | | viewing conditions in most homes and to |
| landscape when adjusting contrast or the | | | | get the outstanding picture consumers |
| white within a picture. | | | | pay for and to assure the longevity of |
| The following modifications are common: | | | | the television, some adjustment is |
| Contrast: Contrast is the intensity of | | | | necessary. Video Essentials and AVIA are |
| white within the picture on the | | | | two test pattern tools that are |
| television. If the intensity of white | | | | available to assist in adjusting setting |
| is too high there can be a loss of | | | | on the television for clear, vivid, |
| detail in the picture or increased | | | | color accurate images. |
| deterioration of the phosphors in a | | | | Get the most out of your television or |
| plasma or CRT screen. By adjusting the | | | | shop for a new one at homemedias.info, |
| contrast to the lowest setting, white | | | | the author's online home electronics |
| will become somewhat grey. From here | | | | store. |
| the contrast is advanced gradually | | | | |