Pioneer Plasma Calibration using ColorHCFR and an EyeOne Pro - Step by Step

[Turbe]

NOTE: This is work in progess!

Make sure you download and burn your own AVS HD 709 disc, details here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=948496
This Guide assumes you are using AVS HD 709 as your Pattern Source.

INSTALLATION AND SETUP

Download ColorHCFR v2.1.0 here: http://www.homecinema-fr.com/colorimetre/release/Setup_v2_1_0.exe
NOTE: Current Versions can be found here: http://www.homecinema-fr.com/colorimetre/index_en.php

Download and Install the i1Diagnostics (http://www.xrite.com/product_overview.aspx?ID=1014&Action=support&SoftwareID=506) for the EyeOne Pro.
Copy the EyeOne.dll driver to where you installed ColorHCFR - the DLL must be in the same directory as ColorHCFR.exe.

Launch the ColorHCFR Software and follow the screen shots below to setup and configure ColorHCFR to calibration your Pioneer for a HD Source.


Start a New Session:
http://i42.tinypic.com/95pj0i.jpg


Pattern Generator Selection:
http://i41.tinypic.com/161lrx4.jpg

Sensor / Meter Selection:
http://i41.tinypic.com/cjnh4.jpg

Configure Sensor / Meter
http://i40.tinypic.com/14sgzkl.jpg

Eye One Parameters - Use these settings for the EyeOne Pro:
http://i43.tinypic.com/2vue9as.jpg

Select xyY:
http://i39.tinypic.com/1z21vgm.jpg

Configure Preferences:
http://i39.tinypic.com/29f82kh.jpg

Configure Color Space and Gamma Settings:
http://i44.tinypic.com/16qnly.jpg


Select Display Gamma only for Gamma Calculation:
http://i41.tinypic.com/34fjo6u.jpg

[Turbe]

Take Readings using AVS HD 709 1.2b:
http://i43.tinypic.com/2ajqtkm.jpg

[Turbe]

Calibration Diary from a Forum Member (MS Word Format) attached - Using an Display 2 meter (not EyeOne Pro).

[Turbe]

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[goro007]

Hi guys. I've just got the Eye One Display 2 and have taken readings for a Pioneer Lx508. My calibration results look good ie luminance, measures etc. However I get a steady gamma drop off from about 50% IRE no matter what I do. DRE is off, black level is off and gamma is 2. Readings taken after 60 mins warm up with sensor touching the screen. Any suggestions? Thx

[AV_mike]

Just a few ideas,
If you're using a PC to generate the test patterns, check how the video card is setup to ensure that it is not sending out a weird gamma function.
If you're using a BluRay player and a disc ( the best method) make sure to select windowed patterns, as plasma cannot drive full screen full brightness.
Can you try the meter on someone else's screen, just to eliminate it?

Posting the measurements screen might be more helpful than just the gamma.
Best of luck.

[goro007]

Hi Mike
Thanks the ideas. I'm using a PS3 to display the images and chosen the windows view. Good idea about using another display though. I'll give that a shot. I've posted my graphs as you suggested. Do these look fine? Cheers.

[AV_mike]

Hi,
Your luminance graph shows the problem. The program always lines up the actual and preferred 100% points, so it appears that the luminance errors are occurring further down the scale, but they are not!
It does seem as if your panel is running out of output at the higher luminance points, giving you the poor gamma. It may be that you are setting the contrast too high, what luminance reading are you getting at 100%? In a dim viewing environment you should be aiming for between 30 & 35fL.
Are you using the AVSHD test pattern disk? Your RGB tracking looks good.

[goro007]

Hi AV_Mike - thanks for the heads up. I dropped my contrast and brightness and got the following graphs. It seems much better but the gamma curve still dives but less so. What do you think of the graphs?

I appreciate the help

[AV_mike]

The graphs do indeed look better.
The gamma being very high at the lower luminance levels means that the panel is coming out of black too slowly, it should be increasing brightness more quickly.
You must use a good 'pluge' pattern to accurately set the brightness (more correctly called the black level control). Both AVSHD and Spears & Munsil disks have perfectly usable patterns. Brightness and contrast interact, so go back and forth until the black level and maximum output are both correct for your panel type.
You may still have too high a contrast, as your RGB channels start diverging at the extreme high levels - this often means that one or more channels are clipping and cannot give enough output.
Have you tried looking at other people's posted settings, to see if they have their options set the same as you? Also it help to see if your control values are in the same ball park as others, each panel will be different - but wild variations usually mean something else is wrong. Just a suggestion.
Regards, Mike.

[goro007]

Hi Mike - I think I'm nearly there.

On the Kuro I have DRE Picture set to 'low', ACL (Auto Contrast Limited) ='off' and Black Level = 'on'. Are these all best to be off when calibrating?

Thanks

Mark

[AV_mike]

Hi goro,
I have all "enhancements" set to OFF, at all times, not just when calibrating. DRE ( low) has been used by some people as it can extend the range of whiter than whites, and consequently appears to prevent clipping. My set clips at extreme levels, above about digital level 245, but that's well over the White point of 235, and still allows for specular highlights. DRE introduces strange edge enhancement at very low levels, so I prefer not to use it.
Once again, best to turn all specials OFF, the sets don't really need them.
Regards, mike.

[goro007]

Thanks Mike. My gamma curve now is 2.19 which I'm happy about. Another question though. With the Pioneer can we only in fact address the gray scale through the 9 calibration points or does this directly affect gamma? Im a bit confused as I can only see RGB sliders although you can select a 'gamma' point from the drop down? That is, does the RGB mix have a direct impact on the gamma curve? Again thanks for your help!

[AV_mike]

Hi goro,
In the ISF interface accessed via ControlCal you have the standard two point greyscale adjustment via RGB High and Low, plus the 9-point gamma where RGB can be adjusted individually. The problem is finding out how the 9-point controls actually work and interact, in theory they give you a 9-point greyscale control, but I found them to be very coarse in some areas and ineffectual in others. Eventually I gave up on the ISF modes and have stayed with the Pure Mode on my KRP. If you decide to give it a go I would suggest making small adjustments, saving all settings, exiting ISF, and then do full greyscale/gamut runs to check the results. Then go back into ISF mode and continue making small incremental changes. It's long winded but gives more consistent results, also it stops the auto time out causing you to lose settings.
I've never seen any posted settings that use 9-point values greater than +/-2, and normally they are no higher than 1.
Good luck.
Regards Mike.