Panel & Backlight
Sharpness & Text Clarity Test
Pixel-level lines, checkerboards and text to expose scaling blur and oversharpening.
▶ Start full-screen test1-pixel lines← / → or tap the sides to switch · Esc to exit
How to use
- 1Click Start and view each pattern full-screen at your normal distance.
- 21-pixel lines and checkerboards should look crisp and evenly striped. Grey mush or wavy moiré means the image is being scaled.
- 3Text clarity (→): small text should be sharp, and red or yellow text shouldn't smear.
- 4Sharpening halos (→): turn the screen's Sharpness setting down until the outlines around the lines and rings disappear.
- 5Press Esc to exit.
FAQ
Why do the fine lines look grey and blurry?
Something between the page and the panel is resampling the image: a non-native resolution, display scaling that isn't a whole number, browser zoom, or the TV's own scaling. Set your output to the screen's native resolution and test again.
Why does red text look smeared on my TV?
Many TVs and some HDMI connections carry color at reduced resolution (chroma subsampling, 4:2:2 or 4:2:0). Colored text smears while black-and-white text stays sharp. Use the TV's PC or Game mode, or set the output to RGB / 4:4:4.
Tips
- Check at your normal viewing distance first, then up close.
- Display scaling of 100%, 150% or 200% keeps fine detail cleaner than in-between values.
Related tests
Dead Pixel TestFull-screen solid colors to find dead, stuck, and bright pixels.Open test→Backlight BleedReveal LCD backlight leakage and IPS glow in a dark room.Open test→Brightness UniformityA 50% gray field, a 9-zone grid and a panning gray to spot uneven backlighting.Open test→Blooming TestA bright object on black to judge local-dimming halos.Open test→
Related guides
Learn more about what this test reveals and how to act on the results.
PPI and Pixel Density: How Sharp Is Sharp Enough?Resolution alone doesn't tell you how sharp a screen looks — pixel density and viewing distance do. Here's how to work out what you need.Setting Up an External Monitor Right (Mac & Windows)Resolution, refresh rate, scaling, and color-range settings people miss when plugging in a second screen — on both macOS and Windows.