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Monitor Color Issues

The color on my monitor looks terrible. What can I do to improve it?

If sections of your screen look reddish or greenish, or there are color fringes around the characters on the screen, your monitor probably needs degaussing. On most monitors, this is as simple as pushing a button on the front of the monitor. One some it requires calling up the monitor control software and clicking on a button on screen. Some monitors automatically degauss when they are turned on. Check your monitor's manual.

However, if the problem is that the colors are "off" all across the screen, you need to adjust your monitor's controls, such as color balance, contrast, and brightness.

The simplest thing to do about poor color is adjust your monitor by eye. You can also get software that will help you set your monitor. Those of you who want the greatest color accuracy and money is no object, can use a hardware calibration system.

For most of us, it's enough to use the controls on the front of our monitors to get the colors to where they look good. First, make sure your monitor has been on for at least 30 minutes to give things time to stabilize. Then check your monitor's manual for the controls and where they are located on your system. The more common ones, such as brightness and contrast, will be on the front just below the screen. Some monitors have the more specialized controls for color balance and such on the back of the monitor.

To adjust color, you really need a color standard of some sort. The easiest one to use is a photograph, preferably one you have taken yourself or of a subject you know well. Just use the monitor's controls to get as close as you can to the original. Then take a look at a couple of other pictures to see if you've got it.

If you need more accuracy, there are a variety of calibration tools available that will help you set your colors more precisely. They range from tools you can purchase to tools you can use online.

Professional users and those who need absolute color accuracy, probably will require a hardware calibrator. These systems include a photocell that attaches to your screen and provides feedback while you adjust your monitor to match it to color standards. The equipment is more expensive than the other approaches, but it produces a standardized color image.

Also, keep in mind that a monitor's color and brightness tend to change over time. If your screen has become so dark that you need to crank the brightness all the way up to get reasonable color, you're probably going to be in the market for a new monitor pretty soon.