Windows 7 - Display Color Calibration

   Information

Calibrating your display helps to ensure that colors are represented accurately on your monitor. This will show you how to use Display Color Calibration to calibrate your display in Windows 7.

   Note

Display Color Calibration improves your display color by enabling you to change different color settings. After you adjust the different color settings using Display Color Calibration, you will have a new calibration that contains your new color settings. The new calibration will be associated with your screen display and used by color-managed programs.

The color settings that you can change, as well as how you change those color settings, depend on your monitor's display and its capabilities. Not all monitors have the same color capabilities and settings, so you might not be able to change all the different color settings when using Display Color Calibration.

   Tip

If you have a display calibration device that came with other software, consider using the color measurement device with the accompanying software instead of Display Color Calibration. Using the calibration device with the accompanying calibration software that often comes with it can help you get the best color on your display. In general, using a color measurement instrument to calibrate your display will result in a better calibration compared to the results of doing a visual calibration (which is done in Display Color Calibration).

   Warning

Before starting Display Color Calibration, make sure that your display is set to its native screen resolution. This helps to improve the accuracy of the resulting calibration.

1. Open the Start menu.

A) In the search line, type dccw and press enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This file is located at C:\Windows\System32\dccw.exe.

B) Go to step 3.

OR

2. Open the Control Panel (All Items View).

A) Click on the Color Management icon.

B) Click on the Advanced tab, and on the Calibrate display button. (See screenshot below)

3. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

4. Move the window to display on the display monitor that you want to calibrate, then click on Next. (See screenshot below)

5. Set the display that you want to calibrate to it's default basic color settings, then click on Next. (See screenshot below)

6. Read the how to adjust gamma instructions, then click on Next when ready. (See screenshot below)

7. Adjust your gamma settings, then click on Next. (See screenshot below)

8. If you want to adjust the brightness and contrast settings for the display, then click on Next and continue on to step 9. If not, then click on the Skip brightness and contrast adjustment button, then go to step 13. (See screenshot below)

9. Read the how to adjust brightness instructions, then click on Next when ready. (See screenshot below)

10. Adjust your brightness settings, then click on Next. (See screenshot below)

11. Read the how to adjust the contrast instructions, then click on Next when ready. (See screenshot below)

12. Adjust your contrast settings, then click on Next. (See screenshot below)

13. Read the how to adjust color balance instructions, then click on Next when ready. (See screenshot below)

14. Adjust your color balance settings, then click on Next. (See screenshot below)

15. The display is now calibrated. You can compare this new Current calibration with the Previous calibration. (See screenshot below step 17)

16. If you wish to start ClearType Tuner to help make the text on your screen sharp and clear after you click on Finish below, then leave the box checked. Uncheck the box if you do not want to have ClearType Tuner open. (See screenshot below step 17)

17. Click on Finish to save and use this new Current calibration, or click on Cancel to cancel these changes and use the Previous calibration. (See screenshot below)