Windows Display Calibration

​​Table of Contents

• ​Introduction
• Windows Display Color Calibration
• AMD
• Intel
• NVIDIA
• References
  • AMD
  • Intel
  • NVIDIA

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​Daybreak Games assumes no liability for property damage or loss of data as a result of any of the information contained in this guide.
​

Introduction

This document will explain how to calibrate the display settings of your Microsoft Windows PC. These settings include brightness, contrast, and gamma, among others. The Windows OS provides software tools that vary in functionality depending on the version. The display adapter installed in your PC also has device driver tools from its vendor (AMD, Intel, NVIDIA). The display monitor itself might have physical controls.

EverQuest players have adjusted their display settings to brighten the darker zones in the game. One common adjustment has been to increase the display gamma settings. Unfortunately, Windows support for adjusting display gamma has evolved over the years. With the introduction of DirectX 11 and Windows 10, Microsoft restricted gamma adjustment to exclusive full screen mode and it is subject to display adapter device driver support as well. Because of these limitations, EverQuest no longer supports gamma options with its initial DirectX 11 update. EverQuest introduces the Enhance Vision option that can increase night vision to compensate. One goal of this document is to help players adjust their display settings to factory default or otherwise acceptable values.

There are typically three places where Windows controls display settings:

1. Display monitor’s physical controls.
2. Display adapter’s device driver software tools.
3. Windows OS software tools

We will start with the Windows Display Color Calibration tool. This tool explains important concepts, provides guidance, and has simple controls for gamma and color balance. It will direct you to use other controls and tools to make actual changes at the display adapter level or with the display monitor.

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Windows Display Color Calibration

The Display Color Calibration tool is accessible via Windows Taskbar Search.
Typing “calibrate display color” into the search box reveals a link to the tool.

Click on the link to launch Display Color Calibration tool.

The Display Color Calibration tool has a wizard workflow and explains the topics and steps as you click the Next button. Each page offers instructions and might also have a link to Microsoft online documentation or support.

If you have an external display monitor with physical controls, it’s recommended that you follow its instructions to set your monitor to the factory default settings.

When you’re done reading the welcome instructions, click Next.
The Set basic color settings page explains the concept of display gamma.

When you’re done reading the instructions, click Next.
Modern display monitors have an industry standard default value of 2.2 for gamma.

When you’re done reading the instructions, click Next.
It’s recommended that you click the Reset button on the Adjust Gamma page.


When you’re done making the adjustment, click Next.
Most keyboards have function keys for display brightness that adjust the software settings.
Software control of contrast is usually accessible from the display adapter’s device driver tools.
When you’re done reading the instructions, click Next.

For information about brightness and contrast controls, for specific display adapter vendors, please see the sections for AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA. Go ahead and review the section for the vendor of your display adapter now. You may be using those controls next.

When you’re done reading the instructions, click Next.

Use the controls for your display brightness that you identified previously.
When you’re done making the adjustment, click Next.

Use the controls for your display brightness that you identified previously.
When you’re done making the adjustment, click Next.

When you’re done reading the instructions, click Next.

It’s recommended that you keep the default values.
When you’re done making the adjustment, click Next.

Congratulations! You’ve completed display calibration.
It’s recommended that you uncheck the Start ClearType button.
When you’re done comparing profiles, click Finish.

With display calibration completed, your display monitor should have acceptable brightness, contrast, and gamma.

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AMD

The AMD Radeon Software tool provides control settings for AMD display adapters. It has control sliders for: brightness, hue, contrast, and saturation. It can be launched by entering “AMD Radeon” into the Windows Taskbar Search. Alternatively, you may right click on the Desktop and select AMD Radeon Software from the popup menu.

After you’ve launched the tool, click on the Display menu item to access its controls.

Note: If you don’t have AMD Radeon Software installed, it can be downloaded and installed from this location:

• AMD Drivers and Support | AMD

Use these controls while calibrating your display in the Windows Display Color Calibration section.
To begin, click to enable Custom Color.

Adjust the brightness to produce the best image in the calibration window.
Adjust the contrast to produce the best image in the calibration window.
It is recommended that the hue and saturation remain set to default values, as shown.

When you are done adjusting the settings, close the tool.

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Intel

The Intel Graphics Command Center tool provides control settings for Intel display adapters. It has control sliders for: brightness, contrast, hue, and saturation. It can be launched by entering “Intel Graphics” into the Windows Taskbar Search.

After you’ve launched the tool, click on the Connected Displays button to access its controls.

Note: If you don’t have Intel Graphics Command Center installed, it can be downloaded and installed from this location:

• Intel Graphics Command Center | Intel

Use these controls while calibrating your display in the Windows Display Color Calibration section.

It’s recommended that you create a custom profile in which to make your adjustments. Click Restore to Original Colors to discard your changes and reset the profile to factory default values.

Adjust the brightness to produce the best image in the calibration window

Adjust the contrast to produce the best image in the calibration window.

It is recommended that the hue and saturation remain set to default values, as shown.
When you are done adjusting the settings, close the tool.

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NVIDIA

The NVIDIA Control Panel tool provides control settings for NVIDIA display adapters. It has control sliders for: brightness, contrast, gamma, vibrance, and hue. It can be launched by entering “NVIDIA Control Panel” into the Windows Taskbar Search.

After you’ve launched the tool, click on the Adjust desktop color controls menu item to access its controls.

Note: If you don’t have NVIDIA Control Panel installed, it can be downloaded and installed from this location:

• NVIDIA Control Panel | Microsoft Apps

Use these controls while calibrating your display in the Windows Display Color Calibration section.
It’s recommended that you click Restore Defaults and begin with factory default values as shown.

Adjust the brightness to produce the best image in the calibration window.
Adjust the contrast to produce the best image in the calibration window.
It is recommended that the vibrance and hue remain set to default values, as shown.
When you are done adjusting the setting, close the tool.

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References

This section contains links to AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA articles and tutorials that explain how to access and use their software to calibrate display settings.

AMD

• AMD Drivers and Support | AMD
• Custom Color Profile and Calibrate Display Color | AMD

Intel

• Intel Graphics Command Center | Intel
• How to Adjust Color Settings Using the Intel Graphics Command Center | Intel

NVIDIA

• How do I get the latest GeForce Control Panel? | NVIDIA
• Color Calibration | NVIDIA

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