Mura, motion artefacts, luminance ranges, uniformity, colour gamut, screen resolution, pixel defects, achievable contrast, ringing, chromaticity, contrast ratio, grey scale reproduction, streaking, delay time, image sticking, viewing-angle dependency, white-uniformity....
All these, and more (!) parameters need to be measured or characterised to be able to specify and assess the performance of a television picture monitor.
New EBU spec tells you what to do
But how do you measure these parameters? The new EBU TECHNICAL specification Tech 3325 "Performance Measurement of Studio Monitors", which was published during IBC 2008, answers that question. The document describes the measurement methods and procedures for video monitors used in a broadcast environment. The methods and procedures are independent of the classification of video monitors, and their application areas.
This much asked-for document is a result of the EBU P/DISPLAY Group. Chaired by BBC senior research engineer and display expert Richard Salmon, the Group not only wrote down how to perform the measurements, but also developed new test patterns to support those.
Wide range of products - wide range of quality
Mr Salmon noted: "Especially with the wide variety of displays available in our industry, it is essential to make sure to have the right references. It is quite amazing what display technology is on the market, but it is equally amazing how wide the range of quality differences is. We hope and are confident the new spec and test material will help broadcasters understand what they are buying."
Related documents in this series:
- Tech 3320 - User Requirements for Video Monitors in Television Production
- Tech 3321 - EBU Guidelines for Consumer Flat Panel Displays