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Color & Calibration

Greyscale & Banding Test

256-step ramp and smooth gradient to reveal color banding.

How to use

  1. 1Click Start to view the gradient full-screen.
  2. 2Use ← / → to switch between the smooth gradient and the 256-step ramp.
  3. 3Look for visible bands or abrupt jumps instead of a smooth transition.
  4. 4Press Esc to exit.

FAQ

What causes color banding?

Banding appears when a panel can't render enough distinct shades — common on 6-bit + FRC panels, or from aggressive compression and low-bit-depth output settings.

Tips

  • Step back from the screen — banding is far easier to see at a distance.
  • If the smooth gradient shows distinct bars, try setting your GPU output to full RGB and 8-bit+ color depth.

Related tests

Color TestDisplay pure black, white, red, green, blue and more, full-screen.Black ScreenA pure black full-screen for backlight, dust, and OLED checks.White ScreenA pure white full-screen for cleaning, lighting, and uniformity.Color GradientSmooth RGB gradients to judge color transitions and gamut.

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 before the return window closes.How to Calibrate Your Monitor Without a ColorimeterGet noticeably better color and contrast by eye using built-in tools and test patterns — no hardware required.What Is Color Banding and How Do You Reduce It?Those visible steps in a sky or gradient have several causes. Learn which are the panel and which are the content.Gamma Explained: Why Your Shadows Look WrongGamma controls how brightness is distributed between black and white. Here's how to check and set it.