FAQ1

Q: What is "ISF Calibration"?

A: ISF stands for Imaging Science Foundation. They provide the training and certification for technicians to set high definition displays (HDTVs) to the exact same technical color standards as used in the television and movie industry. An ISF calibrated display will show the very same colors and details as the original theatrical production. Calibration means "to set to a known standard or reference."

Q: Who should get their HDTV ISF Calibrated?

A: Everyone should deserve to get the best possible performance from their home theater equipment! You invested in the equipment, shouldn't it perform to it's potential? Why buy a Ferrari if you will only drive it in the first gear only?

Q: Why should I get my HDTV ISF calibrated?

A: Today's technology has produced extraordinary improvements in video picture quality, making it possible to have cinema-quality video right in your home. ISF calibrating a television not only prolongs the life of your set, but it adds a three dimensional realism, a "film-like" look to the picture. When a film or program is broadcasted, or transferred to DVD, Film Directors and Directors of Photography watch the results of their work on television monitors that have been calibrated to NTSC standards of D6500K. They use these calibrated monitors to make all their image color corrections. By having your television calibrated to the same standard, you are able to view the images as closely as possible to the way the creators intended. Simply put, ISF calibration allows an HDTV to display at its full potential.

Q: Aren't those "Do-It-Yourself" calibration DVD's just as good?

A: Most people who are not video technicians will find them very confusing and difficult to understand and use. And the only imput that is being calibrated is the dvd input! The picture displayed while watching off-the-air, satellite, DTV, or cable has not been calibrated at all! An ISF calibrator can input the proper signals from a professional test pattern generator on all of the display's inputs. These DVDs help you "tweak" your display once it has been ISF calibrated to the proper gray scale. However, the makers of the DVDs and the consumer magazine reviewers will all tell you that there is no substitute for ISF calibration because it is impossible to calibrate the gray scale by eye. A recent article in "Sound & Vision" by Al Griffin, wrote:

"Calibrating your TV's grayscale reproduction- its ability to accurately display the 'color' of gray over a range of brightness levels- generally needs to be done only once, which is why it makes sense to hire a trained professional. The practical reason you couldn't calibrate your own set is that the tools needed to do it properly likely cost more than the set itself...Many professional TV calibrators take classes with Imaging Science Foundation (ISF), an organization that specializes in training and certifying TV-calibration technicians..."

Q: Why is "gray scale calibration" so important?

A: It has to do with how a color TV works. The color portion is layered over the black and white portion of the picture. The "gray scale" is the ten graduated steps from black to complete white. If an exact color is to be reproduced accurately, it must be layered on top of the reference color of white (known as D65). This is the exact same standard used by the television and movie industry. Calibrating a display to this point precisely can only be achieved by balance of the primary colors red, green and blue with professional calibration equipment. Even with the right equipment, all changes affects other settings, so that is why it is a science to calibrate a display. And depending on the display, it may require going into the service mode to properly calibrate.

Q: Professional ISF calibration seems expensive. Isn't those "Do-It-Yourself" calibration kits cheaper?

A: Those "Do-It-Yourself" kits often cost as much as a professional ISF calibration and you still need to calibrate it yourself. Then all you have is an expensive toy that will still not calibrate to ISF standards because it is not ISF certified. In addition, you aren't using the TVs service mode (which you should not do on your own) and you are using an un-calibrated source. In comparison with the price of your home theater set-up, the cost of professional ISF calibration is really quite small, and yet it is the single best investment you can make to insure that all of your home theater investment is well spent. ISF calibration makes the less expensive displays (HDTVs) look as good as the professional monitors. It is considered the perfect finishing touch to any home theater system. It makes no sense at all to spend thousands for a first rate display and NOT get it calibrated.

Benefits Of Calibration & F.A.Q

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