Monitor Expert |
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A utility
for monitor testing
This software utility helps you
choose a high quality display and adjust it for
an optimum performance, through the use of many
test images that allow you to easily tune the
monitor settings. It can be controlled using
both computer keyboard and mouse buttons, but
also includes touch tests that were specially
designed for Tablet PCs. Monitor Expert improves
the visual experience and reduces eyes fatigue
by allowing the computer user to obtain a proper
tuning of the monitor controls. It is suitable
for LCD, LED (and even older CRT) desktop
monitors and laptop or tablet displays, with or
without touch-screen capabilities. The option to
cycle through all test pages, at 3 seconds
interval, can be very useful in showrooms, shops
or service departments for looped presentations.
What's new in this
version?
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Optimized code for Windows 8, either
desktop, laptop or tablet use;
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A simple
and ergonomic design, with larger fonts and big buttons;
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Touch screen tests
through simple or multi-touch gestures;
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A sound test is available for monitors/systems
with stereo speakers;
Here are a few pictures of
the program's test patterns and information pages; you
can click on each picture to enlarge it. All the program
pages are carefully designed to let you find out the
optimum level of the monitor controls, in order to have
bright and vivid colors on your screen, clear images.
This way you can enjoy a more comfortable
working experience for prolonged hours in front of your
monitor, either for regular use or graphic applications.
How it works?
This utility has six pages
containing the thumbnail pictures of the included test
patterns. You can click on any of these to get the full
screen picture. When moving the mouse cursor to the
left/right/up/down quarters of the screen, big arrows
appear and therefore, a mouse click in these screen
zones allows the navigation through all the program
pictures, without returning to the main menus. The big
buttons with left/right arrows change the current page,
'I' shows the Information page, '=' the settings one,
'?' takes you to this page and 'x' exits the program.
The main test pictures can
be displayed by clicking the program icon or by pressing
the '1' key, allowing a faster view of the: monitor
sharpness, RGB purity, dark color visibility,
synchronization, contrast and white level.
A transparent Information
bar can be enabled / disabled in the Settings menu.
It shows the name of the current test, the screen color (R G B
values) under the cursor and the cursor position (X Y
values) in pixels.
In order, you can see
pictures with solid colors, pixel and line patterns,
gradient colors and gamma tests. These are helping you
to check the color purity, moiré interferences and to
watch for lighter or darker areas, as well as for color
uniformity.
The vertical colored
lines, 1 or 2 pixel width, on a black background, for
LCD monitors with analog inputs, can help checking for a
good horizontal synchronization / clock; only same width
lines should be displayed. No interferences are
present on good monitors, even on the old CRT ones. The
color scales should be displayed, starting from Black
(left side) to the brightest color (right side). If
a color depth of 24 bit or more is set, no vertical edges should be
seen. The gamma value indicates how well the
brightness level of your monitor reflects the input
signal. It could be estimated on the gamma pages, where
a horizontal bar is most faded into the background. Be
careful, on most LCD monitors (the video mode has to
be equal to the native one) the gamma factor depends on
brightness and is extremely sensitive with the viewing
angle.
For most monitors, the value will be
around 2.2 during
normal use (check online resources for more info and
formulas
here).
Next page is showing
antialiased Arial fonts, of different sizes and colors,
on colored backgrounds, square patterns and 16 levels
gradient colors.
On page four are located
pixel grid patterns, circles and tests for the dark /
light values of the color intensity.
If correct adjustments are set, all dark
squares should be visible.
Page five contains tests for
medium color values, line gradients, 256 level grids,
and simple, 1px colored grids.
Finally, the sixth page
brings White / Black test (solid colors) and five other
pixel patterns. An ideal monitor does not flicker and
does not show ghost shadows on these tests. The monitor
response time / persistence can be checked with the
animated B/W boxes, which are moving to the right side
at 100, 200 and 400 pixels per second. Clear, sharp
boxes indicate a good response time, and that the monitor is
suitable for fast video applications. There are five
more B/W/RGB/CMY bar tests, horizontally or vertically
suites, for verifying the main colors purity at the
current monitor settings. We have selected seven special
photos, allowing to check the monitor adjustments you
have made. You have to see the equilibrium of all the
nuances and the color saturation, the gamma and the
white temperature calibration. No dark or uniform areas,
and neither blurred zones have to be seen. Thanks to
1Art.ro
for this material and their designing advices; no one can
copy, use or publish these photos without a prior
permission from the author.
Several tests for touch and
multi-touch screens are available here: single tap or
five finger taps, pan, zoom, rotate and 'press and tap';
they can be simply performed on the colored area or on
the flower photo from the middle of the screen. Windows
7 or newer is required for enabling these touch and
gesture tests, as well
as a laptop/tablet with this screen features.
Shareware
This program is a
demo version. You can test it ten times; to continue
using this utility after this period, you have to buy
it. The program license allows you to use Monitor Expert on a single computer, for an unlimited period of
time, with any upgrade available for free. For other license options please contact us
via e-mail.
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