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Color & Calibration

Gamma Test

Stripe-vs-patch pattern to read your display's gamma.

How to use

  1. 1Click Start and step back a little (the stripes should blur into solid grey).
  2. 2Compare each labelled patch (γ 1.8–2.4) against the striped background.
  3. 3The patch that most disappears into the stripes is your display's gamma — aim for 2.2.
  4. 4Press Esc to exit.

FAQ

What gamma should I target?

2.2 (sRGB standard) for general use. If the lower-value patches blend in, your gamma is too low (washed out); if the higher ones match, it's too high (crushed shadows). Adjust the monitor's gamma preset or OS calibration.

Tips

  • Step back until the stripes blur into solid grey before comparing the patches.
  • Aim for the 2.2 patch to disappear; if a lower value blends in your image is washed out, a higher one means crushed shadows.

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Related guides

Learn more about what this test reveals and how to act on the results.

The Complete New-Device Screen Test ChecklistA 10-minute routine to inspect any new laptop, monitor, phone, or TV for dead pixels, bleed and tint before the return window closes.How to Calibrate Your Monitor Without a ColorimeterGet noticeably better color and contrast by eye using built-in OS tools and test patterns — no hardware required, and no guesswork either.Gamma Explained: Why Your Shadows Look WrongGamma controls how brightness is distributed between black and white. Here's how to check yours, why 2.2 is the standard, and how to set it.Color Accuracy and Delta E (ΔE), ExplainedWhat ΔE numbers mean, what counts as 'good enough' for print and for web, and why accuracy matters more than vividness in creative work.