Question:

How to calibrate display colors when using a 4K HDR smart TV as a laptop screen?

I have a TCL C835 smart TV that I use as a monitor for my Asus ROG laptop, which has a 3070 GPU and a Ryzen 7 5800H CPU on Windows 10. I want to achieve the best color accuracy and quality possible, but I find it difficult to calibrate the display colors using the TV settings and the Windows calibration tool. The colors often look oversaturated, especially red, and the HDR effect makes them even more pronounced. I am not sure if I am following the right steps or if I need to use a different method or tool. What is the best way to calibrate display colors when using a 4K HDR smart TV as a laptop screen? Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Answer:

Using a 4K HDR smart TV as a laptop screen can offer a stunning visual experience, but it can also pose some challenges when it comes to calibrating the display colors. Unlike conventional monitors, smart TVs have different picture modes, backlight settings, and HDR options that can affect the color accuracy and quality of the image. Moreover, the Windows calibration tool may not be sufficient or compatible with some smart TV models, especially when dealing with HDR signals. Therefore, you may need to use a different method or tool to achieve the best results.

One option is to use a test disc that contains various patterns and instructions for adjusting the picture settings on your TV and laptop. A test disc can help you fine-tune the brightness, contrast, color, tint, sharpness, and gamma of your display, as well as check for any errors or artifacts. A popular test disc is the [Spears & Munsil Benchmark and Calibration Disc], which is available as a standard 1080p Blu-Ray disc or a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc. You will need a compatible Blu-Ray or Ultra HD Blu-ray player to use the disc, such as a PlayStation 5, Xbox One X, or Xbox Series X. You can follow the [instructions] provided by PCMag on how to use the test disc to calibrate your TV.

Another option is to use a colorimeter, which is a device that measures the color and brightness of your display and generates a custom profile that matches the color standards. A colorimeter can provide more accurate and consistent results than a test disc, but it is also more expensive and requires additional software. Some popular colorimeters are the [Datacolor SpyderX], the [X-Rite i1Display Pro], and the [Calman ColorChecker]. You can follow the [instructions] provided by PCWorld on how to use a colorimeter to calibrate your monitor.

Regardless of which option you choose, you should also make sure that you are using the best picture mode for your TV and laptop. Generally, the most accurate picture mode is the one that is labeled as “Movie”, “Custom”, “Expert”, or “Calibrated”. You should avoid using modes that are labeled as “Standard”, “Dynamic”, “Vivid”, or “Sports”, as they tend to enhance or distort the colors for a more eye-catching effect. You should also turn off any picture enhancements or features that may interfere with the calibration process, such as dynamic contrast, edge enhancement, noise reduction, or motion smoothing. You can find more information on how to choose the best picture mode for your TV [here].

Finally, you should also consider the viewing environment and your personal preferences when calibrating your display colors. The ambient light, the distance from the screen, and the angle of the screen can all affect how you perceive the colors. You may also have a different preference for how bright, warm, or saturated you want the colors to be. Therefore, you should adjust the settings to suit your own needs and tastes, as long as they do not compromise the overall color accuracy and quality. You can find more information on how to color calibrate your monitor [here].

By following these steps, you should be able to calibrate the display colors when using a 4K HDR smart TV as a laptop screen. This will help you enjoy a more realistic and immersive visual experience, whether you are watching movies, playing games, or working on your laptop. We hope this article was helpful and informative. Thank you for reading.